An Interview with Cities: Skylines 2 developer’s CEO, Mariina Hallikainen

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Enlarge / Colossal Order CEO Mariina Hallikainen, from the corporate’s “Winter Recap” video.Colossal Order/Paradox Interactive/YouTube

It is not typically you see the CEO of a developer counsel their recreation is “cursed” in an official, professionally produced video, not to mention a video launched to have a good time that recreation. However Colossal Order is just not a typical developer. And Cities: Skylines 2 has not had something near a typical launch.
In a “Winter Recap” video up at the moment for Cities: Skylines 2 (C:S2), CEO Mariina Hallikainen says that her firm’s aim was to stop the primary situation they’d with the unique Cities: Skylines: persevering with work on a recreation that was “not a technical masterpiece” for 10 years or extra. The aim with C:S2 was to make use of the very newest expertise and construct every little thing new.
“We are attempting to make a city-building recreation that may final for a decade,” Hallikainen says within the video. “Individuals did not perceive; we aren’t utilizing something from Cities: Skylines. We’re really constructing every little thing new.” Henri Haimakainen, recreation designer, says Colossal Order is “like combating towards ourselves, in a method. We’re our personal worst competitors,” in attempting to ship not solely the unique recreation, however extra.
Cities: Skylines 2’s Winter Recap, with response to the sport’s launch from employees and plans for future updates, together with efficiency enchancment and a forthcoming enlargement pack.

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“The whole lot new” and “Extra” has typically meant “Not optimum,” as we famous after the sport’s launch. It has led to some exceptional candor from the developer, and its writer. Madeleine Jonsson, group supervisor at writer Paradox Interactive, says that with a view to work with gamers’ suggestions in regards to the recreation, “we’ve got to simply discuss these items insanely candidly.” That is why, in final week’s patch notes, and Colossal Order’s “CO Phrase of the Week,” gamers can learn not simply in regards to the typical “main bug fixes and efficiency enhancements,” however that Cities: Skylines 2 (C:S2) ought to see higher efficiency in areas with plenty of pedestrians—and, “sure, they now have stage of element (LOD) fashions.”
Simply earlier than Colossal Order issued that patch and went on vacation break, Hallikainen spoke with Ars at size about providing up that form of gritty element to gamers, the choice to launch C:S2, the issue of following up a recreation that noticed almost 10 years of energetic growth and greater than 60 downloadable content material packs, and extra on the particular points the crew is working with gamers to enhance. And why, out of every little thing that is developing for C:S2—together with a Ports and Bridges enlargement—modding assist is maybe probably the most thrilling for her.
Modding, one thing the Cities: Skylines group has already began with none official instruments, will additional reveal the promise of the simulation her crew has been engaged on for years now. And, presumably, it is an opportunity to look ahead to one thing thrilling and unknown, somewhat than pull issues from the previous ahead for re-examination—like I basically requested Hallikainen to do, repeatedly.
The interview has been edited and condensed for readability. It was performed on Dec. 12 between Hallikainen in Finland and the writer within the Jap US.

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