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{{GameInfobox | sortingname = Hearts of Iron 03 | developer = Paradox Interactive,Virtual Programming | publisher = Paradox Interactive | series = Hearts of Iron | predecessor = Hearts of Iron II | successor = Hearts of Iron IV | engines = Clausewitz Engine | version = 1.4 | us_rel = {{Release|2009|August|7|US|Microsoft Windows}}<ref name="Gamespy info">{{Cite web|url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/hearts-of-iron-3/|title=Gamespy Game Information, Hearts of Iron III|date=June 29, 2009|publisher=Gamespy|accessdate=2009-07-20}}</ref> | uk_rel = {{Release|2009|August|14|UK|Microsoft Windows}}<ref name="Gamespy info"/> | au_rel = {{Release|2009|September|24|AU|Microsoft Windows}}<ref name="Gamespy info"/> | ww_rel = {{Release|2009|December|4|WW|macOS}} | genre = Real-time strategy | features = Single-player, Multi-player | platforms = Microsoft Windows, macOS | wplatforms = Windows XP, Windows Vista }} '''''Hearts of Iron III''''' is a [[grand strategy wargame]] developed and published by [[Paradox Interactive]] that is the sequel to the previous ''[[Hearts of Iron]]'' games. It was announced on August 20, 2008 and was released on August 7, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamersgate.com/DD-HOI3/hearts-of-iron-3|title=gamer's gate's hearts of iron 3 page|date=August 7, 2009|publisher=Gamer's gate|accessdate=2009-08-07}}</ref> A Mac OS X version of Hearts of Iron III was announced by [[Virtual Programming]] on December 7, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.insidemacgames.com/news/story.php?ArticleID=18412|title=Hearts of Iron III Released|date=December 7, 2009|publisher=[[Inside Mac Games]]|accessdate=2010-08-20}}</ref> The game was available for purchase the same day. ==Gameplay== ''Hearts of Iron 3'' allows the player to take control of almost any nation that existed or even plausibly could have existed during the period of 1936β1948, guiding it through [[World War II]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/hearts-of-iron-3/902663p1.html|title=Hearts of Iron III Preview|publisher=GameSpy|accessdate=2009-01-24}}</ref> A variety of decisions regarding the [[armed forces]], production, research, diplomacy, politics and espionage is the focus of the game. The game centres around three factions: the Axis (Germany and its allies), the Allies (Britain and the Commonwealth, as well as the French empire), and the Comintern (the Soviet Union and its allies). All other nations can slowly align with one of the factions. Nations are more likely to side with those with similar ideology. Resources found in the game include: energy, metal, rare materials, and oil. The first three are required for industrial production, while oil is converted to fuel for vehicles, planes and ships. The scope of military organisation ranges from brigades to entire theatres of operation. ==Development== The first trailer<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamer.no/videoer/6056|title=First trailer at gamer.no|date=August 21, 2008|publisher=gamer.no|language=Norwegian site/English Trailer|accessdate=2008-08-22}}</ref> from the [[Games Convention]] in Leipzig showed new features such as 3D graphics. Paradox released a series of developer diaries<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hoi3.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=46:developer-diary&Itemid=62&layout=default|title=Developer diaries at hoi3.com|date=30 June 2009|publisher=hoi3.com|accessdate=2009-06-30}}</ref> and video showcases.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbR7o9YmlKM|title=Video showcases on YouTube|date=30 June 2009|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=2009-06-30}}</ref> Although happy with the scope of ''[[Hearts of Iron II]]'', lead designer [[Johan Andersson (game programmer)|Johan Andersson]] wanted to improve upon every aspect of the game, starting again with a new engine.<ref name="RPS interview">{{Cite web |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/05/31/interview-johan-andersson-on-hearts-of-iron-3/ |title=RPS interview |accessdate=2009-10-06 |publisher=www.rockpapershotgun.com}}</ref> The game's [[Game artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence]] (AI) was designed to be able to achieve strategic objectives and control forces delegated to it, including whole [[Theater (warfare)|theatres]] of operation.<ref name="Dev diary 27">{{Cite web |url=http://www.hoi3.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=96:dev-diary-27-ai-control&catid=46:developer-diary&Itemid=62 |title=Dev diary 27 |accessdate=2009-10-06 |publisher=hoi3.com}}</ref> The AI can also remember and compare strategic possibilities as circumstances change.<ref name="Dev diary 27"/> Changing to 3D graphics helped improve other areas, as Andersson explained: <blockquote> "Going 3d meant we could do another type of architecture where we could support more screen resolutions, and develop our maps in a quicker way. The biggest advantage from going 3d though was the ability to offload more to the [[Graphics processing unit|GPU]]. With the machine advances during the last decade this gives us the biggest benefits in development when it comes to gameplay and AI."<ref name="RPS interview"/> </blockquote> Paradox had a vision for the style of the map, given that the player would spend the majority of their time looking at it: "...to create a map that feels like a WW2 map, like it could be a map which...a commander in the War would be looking at himself."<ref name="Dev diary 1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.hoi3.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59:thursday-16th-october-2008-map-philosophy&catid=46:developer-diary&Itemid=62 |title=Dev diary 1 |accessdate=2009-05-06 |publisher=HOI3.com}}</ref> The content of the map was also altered; the number of provinces increased to more than 10,000 over ''Hearts of Iron II's'' 2,600.<ref name="Dev diary 1"/> Customizable [[division (military)|division]]s, a first for the series, are available, each one containing two to five [[brigade]]s, with each brigade increasing the division's combat power and cost.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hoi3.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52:wednesday-26th-november-2008&catid=46:developer-diary&Itemid=62 |title=Dev diary 7 |accessdate=2009-05-06 |publisher=HOI3.com}}</ref> ==Reception== {{Reception | Title=Hearts of Iron 3 | state=plain | GameSpot = 8.5/10<ref>http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/heartsofironiii/review.html?mode=web&tag=scoresummary;critic-score</ref> | IGN = 8.5/10<ref>http://pc.ign.com/articles/101/1013881p1.html</ref> |rev1=Crispy Gamer |rev1Score=Buy<ref>Note: Crispy Gamer doesn't give numerical ratings</ref> |rev2=GamerLimit |rev2Score=75/100<ref>http://gamerlimit.com/2009/08/gamer-limit-review-hearts-of-iron-iii-review/</ref> |rev3=GamePro |rev3Score=70/100<ref>http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/211594/hearts-of-iron-iii/</ref> |rev4=Smartyweb! |rev4Score=65/100<ref>http://www.smartyweb.org/2009/08/17/hearts-of-iron-iii-a-world-of-hurt/</ref> |rev5=PC Zone UK |rev5Score=60/100<ref>November 2009 issue, p.76 [http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/heartsofiron3?q=hearts%20of%20iron%20III cited on] [[Metacritic]]</ref> |rev6=PC Gamer UK |rev6Score=81/100<ref>October 2009, p.88 [http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/heartsofiron3?q=hearts%20of%20iron%20III cited on] [[Metacritic]]</ref> }} ''Hearts of Iron 3'' initially received a mixed reception because the game shipped with a large number of bugs in the initial release.<ref>See official patch notes and change log 1.1-1.3 [http://games.softpedia.com/progChangelog/Hearts-of-Iron-III-Patch-Changelog-46721.html Patch Changelog]</ref> After several patches eliminated many bugs reception improved and the game got generally positive reviews. In 2009 December it had a combined average of a 77 on Metacritic"<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/heartsofiron3 2009 December score]</ref> and a 79% on Gamerankings."<ref>[http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/952508-hearts-of-iron-iii/index.html 2009 December score]</ref> [[Gamepro]] wrote "perhaps the worst problem is the interface itself, or more specifically, the amount of feedback it affords the player. In contrast to the old system, there is no instant way to assess how many divisions you have in each province, nor important values like their units' organization or combat values."<ref>[http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/211596/hearts-of-iron-iii-page-3-of-3 Hearts of Iron review from gamepro]</ref> On the other hand, the game has been praised as being "tailored for experienced strat heads and wargamers with a lot of patience, but the game is more accessible than either of its predecessors and a great jumping-on point for new players who want to make the leap into a grand strategy epic."<ref>http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/heartsofironiii/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review</ref> ==Expansions== On June 6, 2010, an expansion called ''[[Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi]]'' was released. It is only available as a download.<ref name="announce">[http://www.paradoxplaza.com/press/2010/4/hearts-of-iron-3-expansion-announced Semper Fi Announcement], Paradox Plaza</ref> The macOS version of the ''Semper Fi'' expansion pack shipped from [[Virtual Programming]] on July 23, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.macgamer.com/news/virtual-programming-releases-hearts-iron-semper-fi-europa-universalis-rome-gold|title=Virtual Programming Releases Hearts of Iron III: Semper Fi|date=July 23, 2010|publisher=[[MacGamer]]|accessdate=2010-08-20}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External Links== * [http://www.heartsofirongame.com/ Official Site] * [http://www.paradoxplaza.com/games/hearts-of-iron-iii Hearts of Iron III at Paradox] * [http://www.paradoxian.org/hoi3wiki/Main_Page HoI3Wiki - Official Wiki] * [http://twitter.com/heartsofiron3/ Hearts of Iron 3 Development Twitter]
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