Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge

Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge is a 1999 computer wargame developed by Atomic Games and published by Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI). A simulation of the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, it is the fourth game in the Close Combat series.

Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge
Developer(s)Atomic Games
Publisher(s)Strategic Simulations Inc.
SeriesClose Combat
Release1999
Genre(s)Computer wargame

Gameplay

Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge is a computer wargame that simulates the Battle of the Bulge during World War II, using real-time gameplay.

Development

Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge was developed by Atomic Games, as the fourth game in the Close Combat series.[1] Atomic had made the first three games for Microsoft, but the publisher had ended the series after the release of Close Combat III: The Russian Front.[2][3] While all three games had been profitable, Marc Dultz of CNET Gamecenter reported "indications that the company is now only interested in publishing games that have the potential of selling 250,000 units or more."[4] Atomic reacted by splitting from Microsoft and migrating to Mindscape's Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) label in April 1999,[2] in order to create Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge.[1]

Reception

Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge was a finalist for Computer Games Strategy Plus's 1999 "Wargame of the Year" prize, although it lost to Panzer Campaigns I: Smolensk '41. The editors wrote of Battle of the Bulge, "Atomic Games’ innovative series finds a new home but retains its high-quality gameplay."[5] The game was also a runner-up for Computer Gaming World's 1999 "Wargame of the Year" award, which ultimately went to Sid Meier's Antietam![6] The editors wrote that Battle of the Bulge was Antietam!'s only "serious competition" for the award, but was hampered by "AI quirks and mysteriously reincarnating units".[6]

Sequel

Following Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge, Atomic began work on a fifth Close Combat game with SSI in early 2000.[7] However, Mindscape had since been sold to Mattel when that company bought The Learning Company, Mindscape's parent, for $3.5 billion in 1999.[8][9][10] As a result, Close Combat V was published by Mattel Interactive,[11] a financially unstable company. Computer Games Magazine's Robert Mayer noted in September 2000 that "the future of this game series is up in the air—Mattel Interactive is perennially on the trading block, and Atomic ... has lost some key staff members in recent months".[7] Late in September, Mattel sold The Learning Company at a bargain price to The Gores Group. A spokesman for the new managers announced that they expected to make it "profitable within six months."[8] The fifth Close Combat, subtitled Invasion: Normandy, was released in October.[12]

Reviews

References
  1. Geryk, Bruce (December 26, 1999). "Reviews; Close Combat IV: Battle of the Bulge". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 24, 2001.
  2. Dunkin, Alan (April 28, 1999). "Mindscape Nabs Close Combat". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 20, 2000.
  3. McDonald, T. Liam (May 1999). "Game Theory; Where Have All the Wargames Gone?". Maximum PC. 4 (5): 41.
  4. Dultz, Marc (April 29, 1999). "Mindscape Picks Up Close Combat". CNET Gamecenter. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000.
  5. Staff (March 6, 2000). "The Computer Games Awards; The Best Games of 1999". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on March 24, 2005.
  6. Staff (March 2000). "The 2000 Premier Awards; The Very Best of a Great Year in Gaming". Computer Gaming World (188): 69–75, 78–81, 84–90.
  7. Udell, Scott (February 21, 2000). "Close Combat V in the works". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on April 6, 2005.
  8. Asher, Mark (January 2001). "News & Notes; Mattel Dumps Games Division". Computer Gaming World (198): 44.
  9. Staff (March 6, 1998). "Pearson loses Mindscape". CNN Money. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005.
  10. Zabalaoui, Keith (September 1999). "A Note From the President; Computer Games for the New Millennia!". Atomic Games. Archived from the original on June 11, 2000.
  11. Mayer, Robert (September 18, 2000). "Close Combat Invasion: Normandy". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on April 6, 2005.
  12. "GameSpace; Close Combat: Invasion Normandy". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 10, 2001.
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