Paradox Interactive today announced initial pre-order sales data for the upcoming team-based shooter, Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. In pre-orders solely for the PC, Paradox has confirmed sales of at least 2.4 billion copies.

In a brief statement made after an intense round of Lead and Gold from the game’s beta testing, Paradox Interactive CEO Fredrik Wester said, “There are so many inflated sales numbers in the gaming industry today that it feels especially good to present some actual numbers for once. This game is so incredibly awesome that the sales numbers don’t shock us at all. One beautiful thing about being a privately held company is that we really don’t need to provide proof, but everyone can just take our word for it. With console pre-order numbers are coming early next week which we expect will triple the sales numbers.”

For more life changing information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and www.leadandgold.com.

About Paradox Interactive
Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as publishing titles such as the Elven Legacy series, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on Twitter.

About Fatshark
Fatshark is a Swedish game development studio located in Stockholm. Comprised of experienced and skilled developers, the team members have been involved in the Swedish game development industry from its humble beginnings to its current elevated position. In addition to their previous experience, the Fatshark team has continued to evolve being involved as subcontractors in a number of AAA titles for consoles as well as for PC. Follow Fatshark at twitter, www.twitter.com/fatsharkgames or visit us at www.fatshark.se

Watch the release trailer for Mount & Blade: Warband here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwGxzdGqEDg

The sequel to the original Mount & Blade introduces grueling 64 player multiplayer battles in the action-RPG that truly sets the standard for equestrian combat. With a host of new features and improvements, including a new campaign, highly-detailed open environments, and the ability to find love amongst violence, the ultimate battle for the throne of Calradia starts today.

Mount & Blade: Warband Game Features:

• Multiplayer battles with up to 64 players. Multiplayer modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Conquest, Battle, and Siege.

• Graphical overhaul: State-of-the-art rendering technologies combine with a more informative interface, allowing new and advanced players alike to enjoy an unprecedented level of immersion.

• Seek adventure alone, or recruit and train an army fit for a king. You and your companions will gain experience and skills while your soldiers evolve into a deadly fighting force.

• New campaign allows you to become the ruler of a faction and convince lords to become your vassals.

• New ability to marry a lady of the realm for romance or cold political gain. Try to win a lady’s heart through poetry or bravery.

For more information visit: www.mountandbladewarband.com and join the Mount & Blade community on Facebook.

About Paradox Interactive

Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as publishing titles such as the upcoming Lead & Gold, Supreme Ruler 2020, Elven Legacy, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2 – The Fantasy Kingdom Sim. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on Twitter.

The following titles will be available for playable demo opportunities throughout the show:

Mount & Blade: Warband

Mount & Blade: Warband, the multiplayer sequel to the original Mount & Blade, will enable up to 64 players to fight for glory on a single map in team deathmatch style battles. Mount & Blade: Warband will be available in the US and via digital distribution on March 30th, 2010.

Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West

The exciting team-based multiplayer action of the Old West will soon hit consoles in the highly anticipated third-person shooter set for release late Q1 2010 from developer Fatshark. Get your guns locked and loaded with the chance to try out your shooting skills for yourself.

Magicka

A humorous action-adventure title based on Norse mythology, Magicka will transport players into a fantasy environment where four brave souls will be called upon to take on..well, you know the deal. Being developed by Arrowhead Game Studios for multiple platforms with a release set for Q2 2010, Magicka will offer players millions of spellcasting combinations in a parody and satire of a clichéd fantasy world.

Lionheart: Kings’ Crusade

Lionheart: Kings’ Crusade will pit players between the years of 1189-1192, calling upon warriors to enter the heart of the battle in one of the most vicious wars of all time. Players will have the opportunity to take on this challenge as either Richard the Lionheart or the Saracen commander Saladin when the game is released in Q3 2010.

Ship Simulator Extremes

Additionally, Paradox will showcase Ship Simulator Extremes, the upcoming ship simulator from developer Vstep. The title will feature a wide variety of ocean vessels to navigate ultra-realistic weather conditions and environments in an adventure on the open seas. Ship Simulator Extremes is scheduled for release in Q2 2010.

Meetings are available upon request from March 9-12.

For North America press, please contact: joe@triplepointpr.com to schedule a meeting.
For press from the rest of the world, please contact pr@paradoxplaza.com to schedule a meeting.

About Paradox Interactive

Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as publishing titles such as the Elven Legacy series, Mount & Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on Twitter.

The pre-order announcement coincides with the release of the Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 demo, offering a taste of the game’s focus on realism and both tactical and strategic depth.

For more info, visit www.paradoxplaza.com/games/achtung-panzer-kharkov-1943 or join the Achtung Panzer fan page on Facebook where one copy of the game will be given to fans daily leading up to the release of the game.

Achtung Panzer: Kharkov 1943 Main Features:

• Great replayability and flexible AI behavior: “smart” AI analyzes tactical movements of player and chooses the best strategy based on opponents’ behavior, rather than following scripts. It allows players to complete the same scenarios using different tactics as if playing with a human player.
• Painstaking landscape reconstruction of Kharkov region in scope and size
• Thorough re-creation of weapons, artillery and vehicles: all battle characteristics, including missile trajectories or number of crew, were modeled according to military archive materials and WW2 chronicles.
• Dynamic change of day & night, and weather effects that affect combat – terrain traversal, visibility on the battlefield, disguise abilities of all forces, etc.
• Destructible environment: blast and destroy almost everything, from ground terrain to houses and enemy defenses. All traces of previous battles (shell-holes, broken vehicles, corpses, etc.) are left on the battlefield until the end of the scenario.
• Real ballistics: bullets and projectiles follow authentic trajectories. Proper shot longitude, number of frags and their range are calculated.
• Real vehicle damage system: engine, suspension, weapons, aiming appliances can all be damaged separately, affecting the combat abilities of the vehicle.
• Real soldiers’ behavior: every soldier has some basic parameters, such as experience level, fatigue and morale that affect his behaviour and effectiveness.
• Military Encyclopedia with 3D model viewer and detailed data on all units, describing their historical and in-game characteristics.

About Paradox Interactive

Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as publishing titles such as the Elven Legacy series, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on Twitter.

The multiplayer sequel to 2008′s Mount & Blade will incorporate new gameplay based on marriage, in addition to intense 64 player combat on horseback, into the action-RPG that is set to release in March of 2010.

Join Armagan Yavuz, Lead Developer at Taleworlds Entertainment, as he takes players through the new marriage features in Mount & Blade: Warband during the Paradox Interactive Convention.

“It’s a very important aspect of real life and we wanted to translate that into the game,” says Armagan, as he speaks on romance in the title. “It’s a different kind of challenge.”

View the complete interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZacSv_JNCao

Mount & Blade: Warband will be available in the US and via digital distribution on March 30th, 2010.

Mount & Blade: Warband Game Features:

• Multiplayer battles with up to 64 players. Multiplayer modes include Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Conquest, Battle, and Siege.
• Seek adventure alone, or recruit and train an army fit for a king. You and your companions will gain experience and skills while your soldiers evolve into a deadly fighting force.
• State-of-the-art rendering technologies combine with a more informative interface, allowing new and advanced players alike to enjoy an unprecedented level of immersion.
• The ability to marry a lady of the realm for romance or cold political gain. Try to win a lady’s heart through poetry or bravery.

For more information visit: www.paradoxplaza.com/games/mount-blade-warband

The original Mount & Blade game is currently enjoying a 85%-off sale on Steam until the 15th of February.

About Paradox Interactive

Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as publishing titles such as the Elven Legacy series, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on Twitter.

Rise of Prussia takes players to an 18th-Century military conflict seldom covered in games or popular culture, placing them in charge of one of two sides involved in the Seven Years’ War. The development team’s focus on historical accuracy is evident throughout the game, as players lead the Prussian-British coalition or the alliance of Austria, Russia, France and others into battle. Can they repeat history and lead the Prussians to victory, or will one of the bloodiest conflicts of its time end differently in the player’s hands?

The video interview with AGEOD’s Philippe Thibaut can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlOFXZn3KAU

More information about Rise of Prussia will be revealed as the release date approaches.

For more info please visit http://www.paradoxplaza.com/games/rise-of-prussia

About Paradox Interactive
Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as publishing titles such as the Elven Legacy series, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on twitter.
About AGEOD
AGEOD was founded in 2005 by industry veterans Philippe Thibaut (original designer of historical strategy games Europa Universalis™, Pax Romana™, Great Invasions™ and World War One™) and Philippe Malacher (creator of the AGE engine). Since its start, AGEOD has released the famous turn-based strategy titles Birth of America™, AGEOD’s American Civil War™, Napoleon’s Campaigns™, War in America™ and, on a different engine World War One, 1914-1918™. AGEOD’s main goal is to offer players original cultural and gaming creations based on precise and serious research, with first emphasis placed on historical strategy games with original and innovative features. www.ageod.com

Preview the quest of four of the bravest wizards as they take on dragons, ice monsters and wield things that glow in an attempt to save the world from ultimate peril.

View the teaser trailer that bests all teaser trailers here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7EFHt2IL4E

Additionally, Johan Pilestedt, CEO and Game Director at Arrowhead Game Studios recently sat down at the Paradox Interactive Convention to discuss Magicka.

“The most important key feature is the dynamic spellcasting system where you can combine spells freely,” says Johan Pilestedt. “For example, combining two elements, like fire and water, creates steam. And if you then combine that steam with earth you create an earth projectile which, when it hits something, explodes in a steam cloud.”

View the complete interview here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jp7Y5oNOA4

Be prepared for intense fighting in fancy robes when Magicka releases on multiple platforms in Q2 2010.

For upcoming news visit Magicka on Facebook and www.paradoxplaza.com/games/magicka

Magicka Game Features:

• Innovative and dynamic spellcasting system with over a million possible combinations
• Up to four-player co-op in all game modes, as well as a single-player option
• Fight your way through 13 different levels in the campaign
• Explore an expansive realm of adventure to defeat the evilest of wizards
• Experience the parody and satire of a clichéd fantasy world

About Paradox Interactive

Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as publishing titles such as the Elven Legacy series, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on Twitter.

Watch as Johan Andersson, Producer at Paradox Interactive, takes viewers through the title which calls upon players to guide their chosen nation from the era of absolute monarchies in the early 19th century through expansion and colonization, ultimately becoming a great power by the dawn of the 20th century.

“Victoria 2 is an economical game in its core,” says Johan, when stressing the title’s large focus on simulating the economy and political landscape during an era which featured the largest free market in the world. For fans of Paradox’s war strategy titles, Johan adds, “…there is of course, still war.”

Victoria 2 is scheduled for a Q3 2010 release.

The interview and teaser trailer are available for viewing here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzWY6ykHDFA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGDMgNJbaGQ

For more info, follow Victoria 2 on Facebook and on Twitter and www.paradoxplaza.com

Victoria 2 Main Features:

• Deep, engrossing political simulation with dozens of government types
• Detailed economy with over 50 different types of goods and various production factories
• Over 200 different playable countries, from 1835 to the onset of WWII and with the possibility to export a saved game at the end of the game into Hearts of Iron 3
• Advanced technological system with thousands of inventions to discover
• Advanced spheres of influence system, where the great powers battle over the control of the world

About Paradox Interactive

Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as publishing titles such as the Elven Legacy series, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2. Paradox stands poised to make an explosive entry onto consoles during 2010 with the release of Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on twitter.

Developed by Crystal Empire Games, a team formed within Paradox’s Europa Universalis II fan community, For the Glory is built upon the Europa Engine. The title is a product of the developers’ vision for the ultimate historical strategy game. Players take the reins of a country, guide domestic and foreign policy, navigate thousands of historical events, engage in various struggles and lead their country to prosperity – all in the name of glory.

The team has been actively discussing its efforts in a series of developer diaries that can be found on the For the Glory forums at the following address: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=444.

For more information on For the Glory: A Europa Universalis Game, please visit http://forum.paradoxplaza.com and follow Paradox Interactive on Twitter at @pdxinteractive.

About Paradox Interactive

Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy stable, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes original titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as the best published titles like the Penumbra series, Mount & Blade, Supreme Ruler 2020, Elven Legacy and the greatly-anticipated Majesty 2 – The Fantasy Kingdom Sim. Read more: http://www.paradoxplaza.com

About Crystal Empire Games

Crystal Empire Games is a development studio created in June 2008 after the announcement of the Europa Engine Licensing Program by Paradox Interactive. The unique strength of this studio is that the members come from all around the world, joining their talents and experience in the long-term Europa Engine-based “For the Glory” project. Many team members have been active in the Paradox Interactive community for years, contributing mods and tools dedicated to the company’s games. This is just the beginning of a new chapter for the team and represents a higher level of structured cooperation between passionate people to give the best possible experience to players.

Customers who pre-order East India Company: Privateer will be given early access to the free add-on “Designer’s Cut.” The add-on, which introduces new gameplay enhancements based off of input from both the game’s developers and East India Company fans on the Paradox forums, will release to the rest of the public on October 27.

East India Company: Privateer Features:

• Two new campaigns in which you play the game as a privateer and complete missions for different nations.
• New missions, including destroying forts, locating and either sinking or capturing enemy ships, blockading enemy ports and escorting friendly fleets.
• New commander skills to fit the life of a privateer, such as “False Colors,” which allows the player to get close to the victim without them perceiving a threat, and “Critical Hit,” which gives the player a chance to hit an enemy ship’s magazine, causing the enemy ship to explode.

East India Company: Privateer requires the original game East India Company, which is now available at 50% off for a limited time with the purchase of Privateer at most digital download portals. The expansion East India Company: Privateer will be exclusively available for digital download at all major digital download portals for a suggested retail price of €9.99 and $9.99.

For more information on East India Company: Privateer, visit the official East India Company website at www.eic-game.com.

About Paradox Interactive

Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global developer and publisher of PC-based strategy games. World-renowned for its strategy catalog, the company holds a particularly strong presence in the United States and Europe. Its steadily-growing portfolio includes originally developed titles such as the critically acclaimed Europa Universalis and the Hearts of Iron franchises, as well as publishing titles such as the Penumbra series, Supreme Ruler 2020, Elven Legacy, Mount&Blade and Majesty 2 – The Fantasy Kingdom Sim. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com and follow @pdxinteractive on twitter.

About Nitro Games

Nitro Games Ltd. is a Finnish game developer that produces high quality video games for worldwide distribution. Since it’s founding in 2007, the company has grown rapidly and become one of the largest game development studios in Finland producing games for both PC and Next-Gen console platforms. The company focuses on creating interesting titles with strong intellectual property values. Company offices are located in Kotka and Helsinki, both in southern Finland. The development team is comprised of skilled professionals who know what it takes to make a game that is fun to play and easy to sell. Read more at www.nitrogames.com.