Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge
{{Short description|1999 war video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Close Combat Battle of the Bulge.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| developer = Atomic Games
| publisher = Strategic Simulations Inc.
| series = Close Combat
| engine =
| platforms =
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|December 2, 1999{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/03/please-read-this-story | title=Please Read This Story | author=IGN staff | date=December 2, 1999 | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | accessdate=June 10, 2021}}|EU|December 24, 1999{{Cite web |date=2001-02-10 |title=Gone Gold : EuroGold |url=http://www.gonegold.com/golden/eurogold99.shtml |access-date=2023-10-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210220535/http://www.gonegold.com/golden/eurogold99.shtml |archive-date=2001-02-10 }}}}
| genre = Computer wargame
| modes = 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.{{cite web |title=Close Combat -- Wacht am Rhein Now Available |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/29/close-combat-wacht-am-rhein-now-available |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=5 March 2023 |date=29 October 2008}}
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
The game was developed by Atomic Games, as the fourth game in the Close Combat series. 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mindscape-nabs-close-combat/1100-2451763/ | title=Mindscape Nabs Close Combat [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000"] | author=Dunkin, Alan | date=April 28, 1999 | website=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000620194422/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/99_04/28_pc_cc/index.html | archive-date=June 20, 2000 | url-status=live | accessdate=June 10, 2021}}{{cite magazine | title=Game Theory: Where Have All the Wargames Gone? | author=McDonald, T. Liam | magazine=Maximum PC | publisher=Imagine Media | volume=4 | issue=5 | date=May 1999 | page=41}} 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."{{cite web | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2716,00.html | title=Mindscape Picks Up Close Combat | author=Dultz, Marc | date=April 28, 1999 | website=Gamecenter | publisher=CNET | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817173652/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2716,00.html | archivedate=August 17, 2000 | url-status=dead}} Atomic reacted by splitting from Microsoft and migrating to Mindscape's Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) label in April 1999, in order to create Battle of the Bulge.{{cite web | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/close-combat-battle-of-the-bulge-review/1900-2538360/ | title=Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000"] | author=Geryk, Bruce | date=December 27, 1999 | website=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124110200/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2538360,00.html | archivedate=January 24, 2001 | url-status=live | accessdate=June 10, 2021}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 81%{{cite web | url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/196941-close-combat-battle-of-the-bulge/index.html | title=Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge for PC | website=GameRankings | publisher=CBS Interactive | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525150043/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/196941-close-combat-battle-of-the-bulge/index.html | archivedate=May 25, 2019 | url-status=dead | accessdate=June 10, 2021}}
| CNG = 9/10{{cite web | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3551,00.html | title=Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge | author=Walker, Mark H. | date=December 21, 1999 | website=Gamecenter | publisher=CNET | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816094311/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3551,00.html | archivedate=August 16, 2000 | url-status=dead | accessdate=June 11, 2021}}
| CGSP = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/024/193/closec_review.html | title=Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge | author=Albright, Willie | date=December 13, 1999 | website=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030709140229/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/024/193/closec_review.html | archivedate=July 9, 2003 | url-status=dead | accessdate=June 10, 2021}}
| CGW = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_188.pdf | title=Mayhem in Miniature (Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge Review) | author=Dultz, Marc | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=188 | date=March 2000 | page=117 | accessdate=June 10, 2021}}
| EuroG = 8/10{{cite web | url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/cc4 | title=Close Combat 4 : Battle of the Bulge [sic] | author=Quirk, Simon "Slim" | date=April 25, 2000 | website=Eurogamer | publisher=Gamer Network | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010107194000/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/cc4 | archivedate=January 7, 2001 | url-status=live | accessdate=June 11, 2021}}
| GamePro = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine | url=http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/4489.shtml | title=Close Combat IV: Battle of the Bulge Review for PC on GamePro.com | author=Brenesal, Barry | date=January 28, 2000 | magazine=GamePro | publisher=IDG Entertainment | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041130222251/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/4489.shtml | archivedate=November 30, 2004 | url-status=dead | accessdate=June 11, 2021}}
| PCA = 9/10{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PCXL18Feb2000/page/n75/mode/2up | title=Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge | author=Morris, Daniel | magazine=PC Accelerator | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=18 | date=February 2000 | page=74 | accessdate=June 10, 2021}}
| PCGUS = 84%{{cite magazine | url=https://archive.org/details/PCGamerMarch2000/page/n99/mode/2up | title=Close Combat IV: Battle of the Bulge | author=Trotter, William R. | magazine=PC Gamer | publisher=Imagine Media | volume=7 | issue=3 | date=March 2000 | page=85 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315131831/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/close_combat_iv.html | archivedate=March 15, 2006 | url-status=live | accessdate=June 10, 2021}}
}}
The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.
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."{{cite web | url=http://cdmag.com/articles/026/150/strategy_war.html#war | title=The Computer Games Awards (Wargame of the Year) | author=CGSP staff | date=March 6, 2000 | website=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050401235615/http://cdmag.com/articles/026/150/strategy_war.html#war | archive-date=April 1, 2005 | url-status=dead | access-date=June 10, 2021}} 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!{{cite magazine | title=The 2000 Premier Awards (Wargame of the Year) | author=CGW staff | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=188 | date=March 2000 | page=75}} 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".
{{clear}}
Sequel
Following the game, Atomic began work on a fifth Close Combat game with SSI in early 2000.{{cite web | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/026/082/cc5.html | title=Close Combat V in the works | author=Udell, Scott | date=February 21, 2000 | website=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406160820/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/026/082/cc5.html | archivedate=April 6, 2005 | url-status=dead}} However, Mindscape had since been sold to Mattel when that company bought The Learning Company, Mindscape's parent, for $3.5 billion in 1999.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_198.pdf | title=Mattel Dumps Games Division | author=Asher, Mark | magazine=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=198 | date=January 2001 | page=44 | access-date=June 10, 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://money.cnn.com/1998/03/06/deals/mindscape/ | title=Pearson loses Mindscape | date=March 6, 1998 | website=CNN | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050216013850/https://money.cnn.com/1998/03/06/deals/mindscape/ | archivedate=February 16, 2005 | url-status=live}}{{cite web | url=http://atomic.com/new/page/note2.htm | title=A Note From the President | author=Zabalaoui, Keith | date=September 1999 | website=Atomic Games | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000611040019/http://atomic.com/new/page/note2.htm | archivedate=June 11, 2000 | url-status=dead}} As a result, Close Combat V was published by Mattel Interactive,{{cite web | url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/029/149/close_combat_5_preview.html | title=Close Combat Invasion: Normandy (Preview) | author=Mayer, Robert | date=September 18, 2000 | website=Computer Games Strategy Plus | publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406165531/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/029/149/close_combat_5_preview.html | archivedate=April 6, 2005 | url-status=dead}} 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". 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." The fifth Close Combat, subtitled Invasion: Normandy, was released in October.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/windows/close-combat-the-battle-of-the-bulge}}
{{Close Combat series}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Video games about the Battle of the Bulge
Category:Video games developed in the United States