Paradox to publish a sequel to cult-hit strategy PC game; Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim set for early-2009 release.
Back in 2000, Cyberlore Studios' Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim took a novel approach to the PC empire-building strategy genre with its hands-off emphasis on heroes, and soon established itself as a cult hit. The game received an expansion the next year, but Cyberlore never got around to making a sequel, and put its rights to the series up for sale after shifting its focus away from game development.
Now, eight years after the game first hit shelves, Majesty is finally set for a sequel. Paradox Interactive today announced that it is planning to release Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim for the PC in the first quarter of 2009. Calling it the biggest title the company has published to date, Paradox executive vice president Fredrik Wester said in a statement the team is trying to rekindle fans' passion for the series while also broadening its audience.
Development on the game has been entrusted to 1C: Ino-Co. In an interview with GameSpot, the game's producer, Alexey Kozyrev, explained the approach the studio is taking to the game.
"Our goal is to reinvent as many aspects of the original game as possible, to bring them up to date, while keeping the charming atmosphere and sense of humor that was such an essential component of the original Majesty," Kozyrev said. "We also want to keep the core concept of indirect control that made the original Majesty what it was."
For more on what Paradox and 1C: Ino-Co have to live up to, check out GameSpot's review of the original Majesty.
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
I just played this game today, never heard of it before. But I was addicted to it in my first minutes of play. Looking forward to this, but... " the team is trying to rekindle fans' passion for the series while also broadening its audience." Most of the time that doesnt works BOTH ways. :\
first one was more than average but sequels don't click always. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'm excited but skeptical. I mean, I loved Majesty, but just look at what is being done to Fallout 3... Shame on you, Bethesda!
I don't remember what I was doing in 2000 but I know I missed out on the original of this, so after reading about it I am looking forward to this version.
Wooooooooooooot! I love the first Majesty, infact I still have it installed and I play it every so often, I'm glad to hear the same music as well. I'm excited to see it in a close up 3d surface it could be an extremely wonderful game. I'm very much looking forward to playing it. I hope they still have the rats that come out of the sewers, lolz.
Ohh my God... I've been looking for so many sequels, but from now on, this will be on the first place. I loved Majesty, which was a very unique game in the field of numberless and brainless strategy games. I hope they will make it as good as the first one. Better then this ogre on the trailer, which was making the same house breaking moves (very fragmented moves) 4-6 times at least.. :) Good looking graphics is not everything you know.... this game was always about the details, it should be again. Waiting until 2009.. now that will be a tough one... :D
@thekodaman: "If I want empires I'll play Medieval II, that's the best strategy game to date." -Majesty is a cross between Sim City and Dungeons and Dragons. Quite charming and unique in atmosphere. Lots of spells, heroes that level, monster invasions. Very different from Medieval II.
I was feverishly addicted to Majesty for a brief period of time. Some of the missions were quite tough, especially in the expansion. But, if the graphics are vastly improved and the game play is maintained, I'm in.
Thats sample picture looks alot like concept art more than an actual game screen , which one is it ?
It's about time! Majesty was and is a unique RTS game. All of you others should keep your eye on this game, and hopefully, it'll live up to the original.
Majesty was a fun game and very interesting. It's good to know a sequel is in the works.
Majesty is original, fun, and challenging, and it's a winning combination of real-time strategy and role-playing elements.
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