Hearts of Iron
Hearts of Iron (HoI) is a grand strategy computer game developed by Paradox Entertainment, set in the years 1936-1948. In the game you can control any one nation as World War II unfolds.
HoI is based on Paradox's successful Europa Universalis game engine, but has many improvements and new features:
- a very detailed tech tree divided in 14 sections (infantry/artillery/industry/armoured units/navy/etc.) with dozens of researchable technologies in each section and the ability to customize some units
- an economical model based on 4 natural resources: coal, steel, rubber and oil on which your army and industry will depend
- you can select military and political leaders
- dozens of military units, from colonial militia to ICBMs
- a weather model, affecting movement and combat efficiency of your units supply lines
Gameplay revolves around surviving (either before or during) World War II, and the player may cause or witness events different from how they historically occurred. Hearts of Iron is considered an alternate history game.
There are three main alliances in the game, the Allies, the Axis, and the Comintern (communist countries) that the player can either participate in or stay out of. The game ends when there is only one alliance left standing, though that hardly happens. The game also ends on midnight of December 31st, 1947, and the winning alliance is deterimined through a victory point system, giving points to alliances controlling key regions or cities.
The game was banned in the People's Republic of China because it shows Tibet, Sinkiang and Manchukuo as independent countries.