Comments on: Paradox’s New Indie Label: Mezmer Games Interview

By: UK_John

UK_John — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:13:53 +0000

I have been a PC gamer for 25 years, so have seen this all before. This is the same thing as happened 15 years ago when Microprose, Access and SSI, etc were being bought up to add ‘synergy’ and within a couple years the label no longer existed and neither did their particular type of games!

This is about control. This is about making money out of the little guys!

I say to any indie company – stay independent. Or we’re going to be starting the same merry-go-round that has got us to the disastrous multiformat market PC gamers ave to deal with now!

By: Dan Eriksson

Dan Eriksson — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:51:12 +0000

I’m not even trying to say that piracy is the way to go, I’m just trying to explain why I think it can actually help both the consumers AND businesses by forcing new and modern ways of distribution that compete and offer consumers what they want (which isn’t just “for things to be free”).

Just like Steam. Just like… iTunes. Just like MEZMER for crying out loud! >_<

But nope.

By: Dan Eriksson

Dan Eriksson — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:19:04 +0000

Yeah I was member 101 on their site, for a day or two, until I got banned for having reacted to Fredrik (executive vice president) comparing piracy with arson. Regardless of what specific opinion you have in the subject – is that the way to reason, to handle a debate (and to handle a customer)?

Blatantly disrespectful.

By: AndyWiltshrieNZ

AndyWiltshrieNZ — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:35:06 +0000

So it’s just a social network….

By: cheeba

cheeba — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 00:48:06 +0000

Ooh, legio looks interesting. I could really go for a little more turn-based action right about now.

By: Pags

Pags — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:17:17 +0000

Oh, this made me laugh:

Paradox are no strangers to digital distribution

Given that it was a Paradox cock-up that meant people were able to get a hold of review code of M&B a fair while before release, I just thought there was some delicious irony there. No strangers to digital distribution indeed!

By: Ceremony

Ceremony — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:33:05 +0000

@Munin: I think they may be acting as a publisher for indie developers. As in, putting the games on Steam news, advertsing the games on Mezner site, etc. As well as being a hub for indie developers and gamers to interact. I could be wrong, however, which is why I asked as well.

By: PHeMoX

PHeMoX — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:13:07 +0000

The following would be reason enough for me not to buy a certain game if it’s somehow far cheaper to buy when I would reside in the US instead of say somewhere in Europe.

“Fredrik Wester: With no traditional retail pressure, we’ll be able to apply a “one world – one price” policy. We will charge the same for our games regardless of territory.”

I very much dislike Steam’s pricing policy at the moment.

By: Munin

Munin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:11:35 +0000

If Mezmer uses other download services for the games and does not develop games itself then, uh..what does it actually do?

By: Ceremony

Ceremony — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:38:33 +0000

So, the developers must release the game on Steam/other DD service first, or are you guys going to be doing that for them, then linking to it from Mezmer?

By: theleif

theleif — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:49:12 +0000

And, if it contains commissars as well as let you secure resource sites by building huge bronze statues, i will be a very, very happy old boy.

By: Heliocentric

Heliocentric — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:49:04 +0000

Other games that let you be stalin? Sim city with cheats on?