Victoria –An Empire Under the Sun Ships to North American retailers!

Montreal, Canada. November 24, 2003 –Strategy First and Paradox Entertainment have announced their latest title based on the award-winning Europa Universalis engine, Victoria –An Empire Under the Sun has shipped to retail stores in North America!

“Victoria covers the years from 1836 to 1920, letting history continue from the Europa Universalis series” says Steve Milburn, Director of Marketing for Strategy First. “All fans of deep strategic gameplay will find this game irresistible.”

In Victoria – An Empire Under the Sun your ultimate goal is to become one of the eight great powers of the era. To achieve this goal you must master the art of Diplomacy, Warfare, Economy & Industrialization, Colonization, Technological Research and Politics. Achieve global supremacy, by spanning the globe to become the dominant empire of the period and recreate history as you wish. While striving to simulate the conditions and prerequisites of the time period, Victoria - An Empire Under the Sun still leaves all the decision-making to the individual player.

“Victoria adds several new dimensions to strategy gaming, taking place in the dynamics of the 19th century”, says Fredrik W. Lindgren, VP Sales & Marketing at Paradox Entertainment.

Game Features

• Take sides in the American Civil War, crush the Zulus, or force open the Dardanelles in the Crimean War
• Revolutionary simulation of the Industrialization of the World, with a full economic system
• Political system simulating the change from absolute monarchism to the parliamentarian democracy of the modern world
• Let ironclads rule the seas while you develop gatling guns and repeater rifles for your land troops
• Full scenario editor and complete Multiplayer support for up to 32 players
• Developed by the team behind the award winning Hearts of Iron and Europa Universalis I and II

Victoria – An Empire Under the Sun will be distributed by Hip Interactive (www.hipinteractive.com) with a SRP of $39.99 and an ESRB of E for everyone. For more information on this title, please visit www.strategyfirst.com or www.paradoxplaza.com.

About Paradox Entertainment
Paradox Entertainment was created to build science fiction, fantasy and alternative history brands in cross-media platforms. The company management has a long experience in publishing, interactive media, film and TV entertainment. Its brand portfolio contains successful brands such as Conan the Barbarian, Mutant Chronicles, Europa Universalis and Heavy Gear. In less than two years the interactive games branch has earned worldwide recognition for producing best selling and award-winning PC games such as Europa Universalis I and II and Airfix Dogfighter and is currently producing Hearts of Iron, Crusader Kings and Mutant Chronicles Online.

About Strategy First Inc.
Strategy First Inc. is a leading developer and worldwide publisher of entertainment software for the PC. Founded in 1990, the company has grown rapidly, publishing major games in the industry and simultaneously developing its own in-house titles such as O.R.B., Disciples II, and Nexagon: Deathmatch. After winning numerous awards for games such as Disciples: Sacred Lands, Europa Universalis, Kohan: Immortal Sovereigns and Steel Beasts, Strategy First continues to push the gaming envelope with its own groundbreaking titles, while maintaining its reputation as a unique alternative for independent developers seeking to market their games to a worldwide audience.

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