Ever wonder what happened to AGEOD? Great interview!

[Tanaka]

https://strategyandwargaming.com/2021/12/08/interview-with-philippe-thibaut-creating-europa-universalis-ageod-and-sgs/

[Emir Agic]

Too bad they split apart. I really liked look, feel and mechanics of most Ageod games. They just needed to improve and polish their Adaptive Game Engine (AGE) regarding turn speed, multiplayer and better implementation of some rules. Instead, Philippe Thibaut moved to SGS and Philippe Malacher (aka Pocus) introduced completely new engine not much similar to previous one. Although there was positive reception of Empires, the first (and only) game developed on new engine, I have never managed to love it as much as their older games. Look, feel and scope was radically different from previous games and I simply lost the interest.

[Gusington]

Thanks for posting Tanaka, great article.

[W8taminute]

Sad to see them gone.  Although some of their titles frustrated me beyond belief I really did like the concept and engine. 

[Tanaka]

Too bad they split apart. I really liked look, feel and mechanics of most Ageod games. They just needed to improve and polish their Adaptive Game Engine (AGE) regarding turn speed, multiplayer and better implementation of some rules. Instead, Philippe Thibaut moved to SGS and Philippe Malacher (aka Pocus) introduced completely new engine not much similar to previous one. Although there was positive reception of Empires, the first (and only) game developed on new engine, I have never managed to love it as much as their older games. Look, feel and scope was radically different from previous games and I simply lost the interest.

I too love the old Ageod games and the time period these games portray as frustrating as they are. But I also like FOG Empires a lot and feel those things you said needed improvement were improved in FOG Empires. But yes the look and feel is very different. I think Pocus did a great job considering all things and the small team. And I am really looking forward to the upcoming FOG Medieval game...

With the new SGS titles I also love the historical periods presented but feel the AI is very weak and that is where the loss of Pocus comes in. SGS games are better for PBEM than single player it feels like to me. Like the Decisive Campaign series the SGS series has introduced playing cards. People either love or hate card decisions in games. I'm not a big fan of ultimate randomness in my games (where every turn and battle can be something completely different every time you reload) (Ageod and SGS games have very high randomness) I like to turn off dice/card rolls if available because I prefer consistency so I am not a huge fan of the cards.

Check out the games: https://strategygamestudio.com/

[Sparhawk]

Makes me want to revisit Pride of Nations.

[demjansk1942]

I would love to play the Russian Revolution game, just finished a book by Sean McMeekin 2017 called the same name but I is tough

[Gusington]

^Sean McKeekin is prolific in the Russian history field, I've got 4-5 books by him on Russian pre-war (WWI) history, the Russian Revolution and on into the 1930s.

[demjansk1942]

Yes, I read his ww1 book and liked the way he wrote, he has other books?  I'll look in my library

[Gusington]

Yes probably a half dozen on Russian history.

[Boggit]

Don't forget that Philippe Thibaut is a very active and original game designer and I hope he will do well with SGS. He is also very good friends and in touch from time to time with the talented Philippe Malacher, so I hope at some stage we will see a new AGEOD style golden age!