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Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge

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Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge
Developer(s)Atomic Games
Publisher(s)Strategic Simulations Inc.
SeriesClose Combat
Release
Genre(s)Computer wargame
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge, sometimes known as Close Combat IV: 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. A remake, Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein, was released in 2008.[3]

Gameplay

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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

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The game was developed by Atomic Games, as the fourth game in the Close Combat series.[4] 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.[5][6] 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."[7] Atomic reacted by splitting from Microsoft and migrating to Mindscape's Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) label in April 1999,[5] in order to create Battle of the Bulge.[4]

Reception

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The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[8]

It was a finalist for Computer Games Strategy Plus' 1999 "Wargame of the Year" prize, although it lost to Panzer Campaigns I: Smolensk '41. The staff wrote, "Atomic Games’ innovative series finds a new home but retains its high-quality gameplay."[18] 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![19] The staff wrote that the former was the latter's only "serious competition" for the award, but was hampered by "AI quirks and mysteriously reincarnating units".[19]

Sequel

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Following the game, Atomic began work on a fifth Close Combat game with SSI in early 2000.[20] However, Mindscape had since been sold to Mattel when that company bought The Learning Company, Mindscape's parent, for $3.5 billion in 1999.[21][22][23] As a result, Close Combat V was published by Mattel Interactive,[24] 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".[24] 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."[21] The fifth Close Combat, subtitled Invasion: Normandy, was released in October.

References

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  1. ^ "Gone Gold : EuroGold". 2001-02-10. Archived from the original on 2001-02-10. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  2. ^ IGN staff (December 2, 1999). "Please Read This Story". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  3. ^ "Close Combat -- Wacht am Rhein Now Available". IGN. Ziff Davis. 29 October 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Geryk, Bruce (December 27, 1999). "Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 24, 2001. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Dunkin, Alan (April 28, 1999). "Mindscape Nabs Close Combat [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 20, 2000. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  6. ^ McDonald, T. Liam (May 1999). "Game Theory: Where Have All the Wargames Gone?". Maximum PC. Vol. 4, no. 5. Imagine Media. p. 41.
  7. ^ Dultz, Marc (April 28, 1999). "Mindscape Picks Up Close Combat". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000.
  8. ^ a b "Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  9. ^ Walker, Mark H. (December 21, 1999). "Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  10. ^ Albright, Willie (December 13, 1999). "Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on July 9, 2003. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  11. ^ Dultz, Marc (March 2000). "Mayhem in Miniature (Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 188. Ziff Davis. p. 117. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  12. ^ Quirk, Simon "Slim" (April 25, 2000). "Close Combat 4 : Battle of the Bulge [sic]". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 7, 2001. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  13. ^ Brenesal, Barry (January 28, 2000). "Close Combat IV: Battle of the Bulge Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 30, 2004. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  14. ^ Lafferty, Michael (December 3, 1999). "Close Combat IV: Battle of the Bulge Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on September 16, 2009. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  15. ^ Butts, Steve (December 8, 1999). "Close Combat IV: Battle of the Bulge". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  16. ^ Morris, Daniel (February 2000). "Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge". PC Accelerator. No. 18. Imagine Media. p. 74. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  17. ^ Trotter, William R. (March 2000). "Close Combat IV: Battle of the Bulge". PC Gamer. Vol. 7, no. 3. Imagine Media. p. 85. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  18. ^ CGSP staff (March 6, 2000). "The Computer Games Awards (Wargame of the Year)". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on April 1, 2005. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  19. ^ a b CGW staff (March 2000). "The 2000 Premier Awards (Wargame of the Year)". Computer Gaming World. No. 188. Ziff Davis. p. 75.
  20. ^ Udell, Scott (February 21, 2000). "Close Combat V in the works". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on April 6, 2005.
  21. ^ a b Asher, Mark (January 2001). "Mattel Dumps Games Division" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 198. Ziff Davis. p. 44. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  22. ^ "Pearson loses Mindscape". CNN. March 6, 1998. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005.
  23. ^ Zabalaoui, Keith (September 1999). "A Note From the President". Atomic Games. Archived from the original on June 11, 2000.
  24. ^ a b Mayer, Robert (September 18, 2000). "Close Combat Invasion: Normandy (Preview)". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on April 6, 2005.
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