Battleground: Bulge-Ardennes

Last updated
Battleground: Bulge-Ardennes
Battleground - Bulge-Ardennes Coverart.png
Developer(s) TalonSoft
Publisher(s) TalonSoft
Platform(s) Windows
Release1995
Genre(s) Computer wargame
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer

Battleground: Bulge-Ardennes is a 1995 computer wargame developed and published by TalonSoft. It the first game in the Battleground series

Contents

Development

Battleground was the first game released by TalonSoft. It was made on the company's Battleview engine, designed to be reused in subsequent games. Battleground was designed by Jim Rose and John Tiller, [1] the latter of whom was "destined to become one of the most prolific and respected designers in all Grognardia", according to Rock, Paper, Shotgun . [2]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGW Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
PC Gamer (US) 91% [3]
Computer Game Review 86/83/86 [4]

Battleground: Ardennes was commercially successful. Terry Coleman of Computer Gaming World noted that it was "rare that a new wargame company makes much of a splash in terms of units sold, but TalonSoft is off to a solid start with this title." [5] In 1998, Computer Gaming World dubbed Battleground "the most successful wargame series". [6]

In PC Gamer US , William R. Trotter called Battleground: Ardennes "a most auspicious debut", and noted that he "eagerly await[ed] future releases in the Battleground Series." [3] PC Gamer US later nominated Bulge-Ardennes for its 1995 "Best Wargame" award, which ultimately went to Steel Panthers . [7]

Legacy

Battleground: Ardennes was the first game in Battleground series. PC Gamer US's William R. Trotter argued in 1996 that Battleground and its sequels had "single-handedly rejuvenated the hex-grid system, combining it with thrilling miniatures-style graphics and beautiful video." [8]

Related Research Articles

<i>Panzer General</i>

Panzer General is a 1994 computer wargame developed and published by Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI). It simulates conflict during World War II. The designers of Panzer General were heavily influenced by the Japanese wargame series Daisenryaku.

<i>Age of Sail</i> (video game)

Age of Sail is a 1996 naval combat computer wargame developed and published TalonSoft.

<i>Battleground 2: Gettysburg</i>

Battleground 2: Gettysburg is a 1995 turn-based computer wargame developed and published by TalonSoft. It the second game in the Battleground series.

Atomic Games, Inc. was an American video game developer based in Austin, Texas, specializing in wargames. The company was founded by Keith Zabalaoui in 1989, and is best known for developing the Close Combat series of real-time wargames, as well as the V for Victory series. In December 2000, due to the cancellation of a project titled Hammer's Slammers, Atomic Games laid off its entire staff, only keeping three executives. Atomic Games was acquired by Destineer on May 6, 2005, while collaborating on Close Combat: Red Phoenix and Close Combat: First to Fight. Atomic Games was developing a third-person shooter, Six Days in Fallujah, in cooperation with Konami, until the latter decided to withdraw from the project in August 2009, causing significant layoffs at Atomic Games. The company went on to finish the game, but never released it. Atomic Games released the game called Breach, which is a multiplayer-only downloadable first-person shooter. Destineer also owned Bold Games, and MacSoft, who also went down with Destineer

<i>Battleground 3: Waterloo</i>

Battleground 3: Waterloo is a 1996 computer wargame developed and published by TalonSoft. It is the third entry in the Battleground series.

<i>Battleground 9: Chickamauga</i>

Battleground 9: Chickamauga is a 1999 computer wargame developed and published by TalonSoft. A simulation of conflict during the American Civil War, it is the ninth and final game in the Battleground series.

<i>Close Combat</i> (video game)

Close Combat is a 1996 real-time computer wargame developed by Atomic Games and published by Microsoft. Set during World War II, it simulates the conflict between the United States' 29th Infantry Division and Germany's 352nd Infantry Division after the Invasion of Normandy. The player controls an artificially intelligent army whose behavior is dictated by psychological models: each soldier makes decisions based on the circumstances of the battlefield and can disobey the player's orders.

<i>Over the Reich</i>

Over the Reich is a 1996 computer wargame for personal computers operating the Microsoft Windows operating system. The game was released in North America and Europe. A prequel, Achtung Spitfire!, was released in 1997.

Battleground is a series of turn-based computer wargames developed and published by TalonSoft for Microsoft Windows between 1995 and 1999. Nine games were released in the series, each based on a different historical battle.

<i>Steel Panthers</i> (video game)

Steel Panthers is a 1995 computer wargame developed and published by Strategic Simulations. Designed by Gary Grigsby and Keith Brors, it simulates ground warfare during World War II, across the Western Front, Eastern Front and Pacific Theatre.

The Great Battles of Hannibal is a 1997 computer wargame developed by Erudite Software and published by Interactive Magic. Based on the board wargame SPQR, it is the sequel to The Great Battles of Alexander and the second game in the Great Battles computer wargame series.

<i>D-Day: America Invades</i>

D-Day: America Invades is a 1995 computer wargame developed by Atomic Games and published by Avalon Hill for the PC. It is the third game in the World at War series, following Operation Crusader and World at War: Stalingrad.

<i>Operation Crusader</i> (video game)

Operation Crusader is a 1994 computer wargame developed by Atomic Games and published by Avalon Hill.

<i>Decisive Battles of WWII: The Ardennes Offensive</i>

Decisive Battles of WWII: The Ardennes Offensive is a 1997 computer wargame developed by Strategic Studies Group (SSG) and published by Strategic Simulations, Inc.

<i>Battle of Britain</i> (1999 video game)

Battle of Britain is a 1999 computer wargame developed and published by TalonSoft. It was designed by Gary Grigsby and Keith Brors.

<i>East Front</i> (video game) 1997 computer wargame

East Front is a 1997 computer wargame developed and published by TalonSoft.

<i>West Front</i> (video game) 1998 computer wargame

West Front is a 1998 computer wargame developed and published by TalonSoft. It is the sequel to East Front and the second game in the Campaign series.

Wooden Ships and Iron Men is a 1996 computer wargame developed by Stanley Associates and published by Avalon Hill. It is an adaptation of the board wargame Wooden Ships and Iron Men.

Flight Commander 2 is a 1994 computer wargame developed by Big Time Software and published by Avalon Hill. It was designed by Charles Moylan.

<i>5th Fleet</i> (video game) 1994 wargame video game

5th Fleet is a 1994 computer wargame developed by Stanley Associates and published by Avalon Hill.

References

  1. 1 2 Miller, Patrick C. (January 1996). "Fear and Loathing in the Ardennes". Computer Gaming World (138): 310–312.
  2. Stone, Tim (December 26, 2014). "The Flare Path: Bulges". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Archived from the original on December 26, 2014.
  3. 1 2 Trotter, William R. (January 1996). "Reviews; Battleground: Ardennes". PC Gamer US . 3 (1): 285, 286.
  4. Snyder, Frank; Chapman, Ted; Kaiafas, Tasos (October 1995). "Tommy and Jerry". Computer Game Review . Archived from the original on December 21, 1996. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  5. Coleman, Terry (December 1995). "Holiday Hot 100; Wargames". Computer Gaming World (137): 150.
  6. Staff (September 1998). "100+ Hot New Games; Computer Gaming World's Annual Nostradamus Simulation". Computer Gaming World (170): 153, 156.
  7. Editors (March 1996). "The Year's Best Games". PC Gamer US . 3 (3): 64, 65, 67, 68, 71, 73–75.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  8. Trotter, William R. (September 1996). "The Desktop General; Becalmed in the Horse Latitudes". PC Gamer US . 3 (9): 158.