| Close Combat: Invasion: Normandy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Atomic Games |
| Publisher(s) | Mattel Interactive |
| Series | Close Combat |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | October 2000 |
| Genre(s) | Computer wargame |
Close Combat: Invasion: Normandy is a 2000 computer wargame developed by Atomic Games and published by Mattel Interactive for Windows. It is the fifth game in the Close Combat series. A remake, Close Combat: The Longest Day was released in 2009. [1]
Close Combat: Invasion: Normandy is a computer wargame with real-time gameplay, which focuses on military conflict in World War II.
Atomic Games began working on Close Combat: Invasion: Normandy in early 2000, following the release of the fourth Close Combat title, Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge . The previous game had been made for Mindscape's Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) label, and Invasion: Normandy began under that publisher. [2] However, Mindscape had since been sold to Mattel when that company bought The Learning Company, Mindscape's parent, for $3.5 billion in 1999. [3] [4] [5] As a result, Close Combat V was published by Mattel Interactive, [6] a financially unstable company. Computer Games Magazine 's Robert Mayer noted in September 2000 that "the future of [Close Combat] is up in the air—Mattel Interactive is perennially on the trading block, and Atomic ... has lost some key staff members in recent months". [2]
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." [3] Invasion: Normandy was released in October 2000. [7]
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Computer Gaming World |   [8] |
| CNET Gamecenter | 8/10 [9] |
According to Metacritic, Close Combat: Invasion: Normandy received "generally favorable reviews" from critics. [10]
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