:East India Company (video game)

{{Short description|2009 video game}}

{{Infobox video game

|title = East India Company

|image = East India Company Cover.jpg

|image_size = 250px

|developer = Nitro Games{{cite news|title=East India Company Sets Sail|url=http://www.paradoxplaza.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=571|publisher=Paradox Interactive|date=2009-07-31|accessdate=2009-07-31|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611234644/http://www.paradoxplaza.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=571|archivedate=2011-06-11}}

|publisher = Paradox Interactive{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/964/964819p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324013114/http://pc.ign.com/articles/964/964819p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2009|title=East India Company Announced|date=March 20, 2009|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2009-03-21}}

|designer = Kim Soares

|engine =

| released = {{vgrelease|NA|July 31, 2009{{cite web|url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/100/1005890p1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090731012604/http://pc.ign.com/articles/100/1005890p1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 31, 2009|title=East India Company Prepares for Voyage|date=July 21, 2009|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2009-07-22}}}}{{vgrelease|EU|August 14, 2009}}

|genre = Real-time strategy

|modes = Single-player, multiplayer

|platforms = Microsoft Windows

}}

East India Company is a real-time strategy video game developed by Finnish company Nitro Games and published by Paradox Interactive.{{Cite web| title = EIC press release| url=http://www.eic-game.com/content/press/20032009_paradox.html| accessdate = 2009-03-20 }}{{Cite web| title = Paradox Interactive press release| url = http://www.paradoxplaza.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=505&Itemid=129| accessdate = 2009-03-20| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090327200953/http://www.paradoxplaza.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=505&Itemid=129| archivedate = 2009-03-27}} It was released on July 31, 2009 in North America and on August 14, 2009 in Europe.

The game is based on the history of European conquest of South Asia and Southeast Asia by means of their East India Companies. In the game, the player takes on the role of the Governor Director of the East Indies. The task is to conquer India and establish a trade empire to rule over all others.

The game features real-time naval combat when enemy ships engage the player's fleets, and real-time land combat when the enemy tries to invade one of the player's colonies. East India Company combines trading, naval warfare, and management.{{Cite web |title=1Win User Agreement: What's important to know before you start playing |url=https://one-win-india.in/user-agreement/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=one-win-india.in |language=en-US}} Players can create a fleet to conquer the enemy with powerful warships and privateers.

Gameplay

There are eight playable nations to choose from: the Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Holy Roman Empire and Spain. Tasks may be given by the company or the crown to do various missions including diplomacy, war, and trade. The game is mainly based in the Indian Subcontinent.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-29 |title=Johan Björnsson Printz {{!}} Governor of New Sweden, Colonial America, Swedish-American {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Johan-Bjornsson-Printz |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}

There are 11 ship types in the game, including the schooner, sloop, brig, East Indiaman, frigate, and ship of the line.

Development

A Designer's Cut was made available for download on October 27, 2009. It offers several additional features.{{Cite web|title=EIC Site - Designer's Cut|url=http://www.eic-game.com/?page=designers_cut|website=East India Company - Official Game Website - Designer's Cut}}

Reception

The game was met with mixed reviews, with an average of 67% on Metacritic. IGN said that "players who are interested in the concept or the period will definitely find a worthwhile game here, but the appeal wears thin long before it should have".[http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/100/1009404p1.html IGN] IGN IT Reviews agreed, stating that the game was "a fun short-term challenge, just lacking the depth of play to ensure a lengthy shelf life".http://www.itreviews.co.uk/games/g608.htm {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913063738/http://www.itreviews.co.uk/games/g608.htm |date=2009-09-13 }} IT Reviews Total PC Gaming magazine called it "an enjoyable trading and strategy experience, let down by lacklustre combat" (Issue 23).

References

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