QuoteMatrix Games and Slitherine (www.slitherine.com) are excited to announce that starting June 6, and ending June 12, 2012, selected World War II strategy games will be sold at discount prices in memory of the important day when Allied forces invaded Europe by landing on the beaches of Normandy.
Titles ranging from Battle Academy to Close Combat: The Longest Day to Command Ops: Highway to the Reich and their expansions will be discounted in both physical and digital download form. Savings can reach up to 40% on certain titles, so players can rush in and nab the strategy game (or games!) that they've been eyeing in the past!
The full list of titles on sale are below. Please note that these are the download prices, boxed copies and promo contracts will be discounted but at different rates than the download copies.
Battle Academy PC and Mac - Originally $29.99, now $19.99!
Battle Academy: Blitzkrieg France PC and Mac - Originally $14.99, now $9.99!
Battle Academy: Market Garden PC and Mac - Originally $14.99, now $9.99!
Battle Academy: Operation Sealion PC and Mac - Originally $14.99, now $9.99!
Close Combat: Cross of Iron - Originally $39.99, now $29.99!
Close Combat: The Longest Day - Originally $39.99, now $29.99!
Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein - Originally $39.99, now $29.99!
Close Combat: Last Stand Arnhem - Originally $39.99, now $39.99!
Decisive Campaigns: The Blitzkrieg from Warsaw to Paris - Originally $39.99, now $29.99!
Advanced Tactics: Gold - Originally $39.99, now $29.99!
Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge - Originally $59.99, now $39.99!
Command Ops: Highway to the Reich - Originally $24.99, now $14.99!
Norm Kroger's Operational Art of War III - Originally $39.99, now $29.99!
Battles in Normandy - Originally $49.99, now $34.99!
Commander - Europe at War - Originally $29.99, now $19.99!
Be sure to get them while you can! The sale lasts from June 6 to June 12, 2012!
I would highly recommend popping on the Combat Ops titles. At that price they're a must-buy.
It also demonstrates that the Slitherine management team is breaking from the Matrix tradition of only rarely putting titles on sale. Now gamers can wait for sales to take place and pick games up at a discount, so that's a win.
Quote from: LongBlade on June 05, 2012, 11:55:42 AM
I would highly recommend popping on the Combat Ops titles. At that price they're a must-buy.
It also demonstrates that the Slitherine management team is breaking from the Matrix tradition of only rarely putting titles on sale. Now gamers can wait for sales to take place and pick games up at a discount, so that's a win.
Yeah, those are the ones I'm looking at..... like I need more games on my pile.... :P
Quote from: Barthheart on June 05, 2012, 12:04:22 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on June 05, 2012, 11:55:42 AM
I would highly recommend popping on the Combat Ops titles. At that price they're a must-buy.
It also demonstrates that the Slitherine management team is breaking from the Matrix tradition of only rarely putting titles on sale. Now gamers can wait for sales to take place and pick games up at a discount, so that's a win.
Yeah, those are the ones I'm looking at..... like I need more games on my pile.... :P
Worth it. I just finished playing Command Ops a few minutes ago. Forgot how much I missed it.
BFTB is absolutely worth it because of the video tutorials. Panther did a fantastic job with it and it's well worth getting.
Quote from: LongBlade on June 05, 2012, 12:06:44 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on June 05, 2012, 12:04:22 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on June 05, 2012, 11:55:42 AM
I would highly recommend popping on the Combat Ops titles. At that price they're a must-buy.
It also demonstrates that the Slitherine management team is breaking from the Matrix tradition of only rarely putting titles on sale. Now gamers can wait for sales to take place and pick games up at a discount, so that's a win.
Yeah, those are the ones I'm looking at..... like I need more games on my pile.... :P
Worth it. I just finished playing Command Ops a few minutes ago. Forgot how much I missed it.
BFTB is absolutely worth it because of the video tutorials. Panther did a fantastic job with it and it's well worth getting.
Have you tried the redo of HotR ?
Quote from: Barthheart on June 05, 2012, 12:09:12 PM
Have you tried the redo of HotR ?
Yes - with a caveat.
I wasn't much of a fan of these games until BFTB came out with a tutorial to explain how the game worked. Prior to that I fiddled around briefly, got bored, and moved on.
So I can't contrast the original to this, but I was just playing a mission from HTTR 2 and had a boatload of fun.
Does that answer your question?
Quote from: LongBlade on June 05, 2012, 12:15:02 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on June 05, 2012, 12:09:12 PM
Have you tried the redo of HotR ?
Yes - with a caveat.
I wasn't much of a fan of these games until BFTB came out with a tutorial to explain how the game worked. Prior to that I fiddled around briefly, got bored, and moved on.
So I can't contrast the original to this, but I was just playing a mission from HTTR 2 and had a boatload of fun.
Does that answer your question?
Yep. 8)
Now to fine money my wife doesn't know about... gotta love digital downloads..... 8)
Advanced Tactics Gold is also excellent.
In the past, a sale at Matrix wasn't a great incentive 'cause the prices were so high it still didn't seem like a deal! Some of these one look OK. I hope they put some of their other titles on sale, too!
Shame-faced to admit how many of these I have.
Definitely will grab the HTTR pack for BFtB. There really isn't another game like BFtB out there...remarkable achievement.
I would also assume the Last Stand Arnhem "deal" is a typo?
Best,
Jim
"Cyrano"
:/7)
Quote from: Cyrano on June 05, 2012, 04:21:16 PM
I would also assume the Last Stand Arnhem "deal" is a typo?
No idea. That's the price on their forum post and is still the price on their website for the digital download: http://matrixgames.com/store/386/Close.Combat.-.Last.Stand.Arnhem
Who knows? If you want the title, maybe post a question in the forums?
Quote from: LongBlade on June 05, 2012, 12:06:44 PM
Quote from: Barthheart on June 05, 2012, 12:04:22 PM
Quote from: LongBlade on June 05, 2012, 11:55:42 AM
I would highly recommend popping on the Combat Ops titles. At that price they're a must-buy.
It also demonstrates that the Slitherine management team is breaking from the Matrix tradition of only rarely putting titles on sale. Now gamers can wait for sales to take place and pick games up at a discount, so that's a win.
Yeah, those are the ones I'm looking at..... like I need more games on my pile.... :P
Worth it. I just finished playing Command Ops a few minutes ago. Forgot how much I missed it.
BFTB is absolutely worth it because of the video tutorials. Panther did a fantastic job with it and it's well worth getting.
Agreed, particularly on the quality of the video tutorials. Previous command ops games did not "click" for me. The videos changed that in a big way.
BftB is an awesome operational game. Its been a few months since I played the HttR expansion but it is certainly worth the money even if not on sale.
Quote from: Bison on June 05, 2012, 08:15:40 PM
BftB is an awesome operational game. Its been a few months since I played the HttR expansion but it is certainly worth the money even if not on sale.
How easy is to get into if I have not really played many operational games before?
Quote from: TheCommandTent on June 05, 2012, 09:04:09 PM
Quote from: Bison on June 05, 2012, 08:15:40 PM
BftB is an awesome operational game. Its been a few months since I played the HttR expansion but it is certainly worth the money even if not on sale.
How easy is to get into if I have not really played many operational games before?
If you take the time to watch the excellent tutorial videos, its pretty easy to play. That being said there is a lot of depth to the game that will take some time to understand.
Quote from: Bison on June 05, 2012, 09:06:12 PM
Quote from: TheCommandTent on June 05, 2012, 09:04:09 PM
Quote from: Bison on June 05, 2012, 08:15:40 PM
BftB is an awesome operational game. Its been a few months since I played the HttR expansion but it is certainly worth the money even if not on sale.
How easy is to get into if I have not really played many operational games before?
If you take the time to watch the excellent tutorial videos, its pretty easy to play. That being said there is a lot of depth to the game that will take some time to understand.
Big +1
There are a number of video tutorials. It will take time to figure the game out, but the tutorials break it down and make it very accessible. Get it, you won't be sorry. At this price it's a must-buy.
Quote from: LongBlade on June 05, 2012, 09:27:50 PM
Quote from: Bison on June 05, 2012, 09:06:12 PM
Quote from: TheCommandTent on June 05, 2012, 09:04:09 PM
Quote from: Bison on June 05, 2012, 08:15:40 PM
BftB is an awesome operational game. Its been a few months since I played the HttR expansion but it is certainly worth the money even if not on sale.
How easy is to get into if I have not really played many operational games before?
If you take the time to watch the excellent tutorial videos, its pretty easy to play. That being said there is a lot of depth to the game that will take some time to understand.
Big +1
There are a number of video tutorials. It will take time to figure the game out, but the tutorials break it down and make it very accessible. Get it, you won't be sorry. At this price it's a must-buy.
You guys know that my wife hates it when you talk to me all reasonable like....
I am very tempted we'll see what happens when the sale starts tomorrow.
Flowers?
It took me a long time to like the Command Ops games. I picked up Conquest of the Agean for cheap and I kept banging my head on the wall with it because it was a game that you feel that as a true aficionado of wargames you should enjoy.
I kept starting and then dropping it. Then one day it began to click and I began to understand the rhythm of the game, thinking with time and distance and how best to use the units so that they are positioned in the right place at the right time. Suddenly the game went from frustration to sublime and its my go to game when I travel. Command Ops Battle of the Bulge and Highway raised the bar even higher. Now my frustration is like a crack addict I keep coming back to certain scenarios trying to find a way to weasle a victory. "Curse you Elsenborn Ridge". I will win this scenario at greater than a marginal victory as the German commander someday! (No kidding I think I must have played this scenario to conclusion a half dozen times and maybe a dozen more to various stages trying out different and unsuccessful strategies). Hope that gives you an idea of how much enjoyment and value for money these games bring.
Con
Quote from: Con on June 05, 2012, 10:13:22 PMNow my frustration is like a crack addict I keep coming back to certain scenarios trying to find a way to weasle a victory. "Curse you Elsenborn Ridge". I will win this scenario at greater than a marginal victory as the German commander someday! (No kidding I think I must have played this scenario to conclusion a half dozen times and maybe a dozen more to various stages trying out different and unsuccessful strategies).
Con
+1
BFTB is a great game. I have it but don't play it a lot. It hasn't caught my fancy as much as the other games. With so many games vying for my attention, BTFB is a wallflower.
Quote
You guys know that my wife hates it when you talk to me all reasonable like....
I am very tempted we'll see what happens when the sale starts tomorrow.
lol...same here!
The BftB sale is nice for those who don't own the game yet and want it. The Battle Academy DLC prices are also nice.
I still think Matrix could lower prices from time to time. Sales like this illustrate that the prices of some games remain quite high even years after release. Look at Battles in Normandy, for example. I doubt many people will think "wow, a game released in 2004 is now 15 dollars cheaper and now costs 35 bucks, what a steal!"
A policy of minimal to no price reductions over time isn't going to lure in many more casual customers.
You got that right ComradeP....Battles in Normandy has always been of interest to me, I even played the demo and liked it. But $35 is still steep for an 8 year old game. I appreciate what Matrix is doing with the sale, but some of these really old titles might sell better with a bit more of a cut. Just my opinion.
I'm interested in the Close Combat titles...anyone have any recommendations? I am leaning towards the Market-Garden (arnhem) or Overlord (d-day) titles.
Quote from: Jack Nastyface on June 06, 2012, 11:00:03 PM
I'm interested in the Close Combat titles...anyone have any recommendations? I am leaning towards the Market-Garden (arnhem) or Overlord (d-day) titles.
Those are IMO the better 2 remakes of the 4. I enjoyed TLD alot, but that is most likely due to the fact I played it the most.
Got myself the Operationnal Art of War III and Operation Sealion for Battlefield academy.
I am falling more and more to the wargame side of the force....
Jack Nastyface: the recent super patch probably made all titles worth your money, although it does depend on what front/WWII period you're most interested in.
Quote from: anguille on June 07, 2012, 02:09:37 AM
Got myself the Operationnal Art of War III and Operation Sealion for Battlefield academy.
I am falling more and more to the wargame side of the force....
Battle Academy is a nice intro game. Not a true wargame but it's a good starter. TOAW is a solid wargame. You're on to a classic. Look for custom scenarios for it.
I got a TOAW a couple of years ago and really struggled getting parts of the game. I played through some tutorials and read some guides. I even had someone offer to play a game with me where he would coach me through it and help me learn. Needless to say he wasn't very helpful and just rolled over me mercilessly. :-\ Needless to say that did not help me enjoy the game and I don't think I've touched it since then.
I should maybe reinstall it and give it another go.
Been tempted by Decisive Campaigns, I must admit, and I do need something to lure me away from Warlock for a while.
Decisive Campaigns is an excellent wargame.
I caved today and picked up both of the Command Ops titles.
I really enjoyed the original Highway to the Reich game. There are very few games that have motivated me to stick with the grand campaign through to completion, but Highway was one of them. I have high hopes for these new titles.
Quote from: Rekim on June 10, 2012, 06:39:07 PM
I caved today and picked up both of the Command Ops titles.
I really enjoyed the original Highway to the Reich game. There are very few games that have motivated me to stick with the grand campaign through to completion, but Highway was one of them. I have high hopes for these new titles.
I don't think you will be disappointed at all. They are fantastic games.
Heh, I forgot I still had a $15 discount for Advance Tactics Gold so with the sale and discount it only cost me $15. Cheapest game I've ever gotten from Matrix.
I bought BftB today and played the tutorial.
After securing all victory locations German reinforcements counterattacked and annihilated my tank batallion defending the high value victory objective, cut of supplies from 2/3rds of my army. Quickly a counter attack was organized and waiting started... After that i learned that sometimes troops need to be told not to rest. Oh and defeating the kingtigers cutting of my forces was no walk in the park. I think they gave up from exhaustion, being surrounded and being unable to shoot over the mounds of corpses i so sneakily had piled up around their defenses....
Loads of fun.
Quote from: Bison on June 10, 2012, 08:25:29 PM
Heh, I forgot I still had a $15 discount for Advance Tactics Gold so with the sale and discount it only cost me $15. Cheapest game I've ever gotten from Matrix.
That's just a great game! Reminds me I need to get back to playing it!
I suppose that with some of the purchasing sprees, during Matrix' sale, they're probably getting a boost in income right now.
I wonder if they're catching on to the PC publisher craze of regular blowout sales, and easing into it slowly?
Quote from: Nefaro on June 11, 2012, 07:15:13 PM
I suppose that with some of the purchasing sprees, during Matrix' sale, they're probably getting a boost in income right now.
I wonder if they're catching on to the PC publisher craze of regular blowout sales, and easing into it slowly?
Oh how I wish it were true.
Quote from: Rayfer on June 11, 2012, 08:37:28 PM
Quote from: Nefaro on June 11, 2012, 07:15:13 PM
I suppose that with some of the purchasing sprees, during Matrix' sale, they're probably getting a boost in income right now.
I wonder if they're catching on to the PC publisher craze of regular blowout sales, and easing into it slowly?
Oh how I wish it were true.
I have to agree...for them to stay relevant, they are going to have to do some price adjustments, especially for their old games. Kind of crazy in my opinion that a number of their games being fairly old, but still commanding high prices. I understand wargames are a niche and some people must be buying them at the current prices for Matrix to keep the prices the same and remain in business, but I know I would be one to buy/try a lot more if the prices were more reasonable. Lowering the prices would cater to the impulse shoppers like myself:) So maybe I should be glad they have high prices:)
Retail sales of non-essentials generally goes down around graduation season and the start of summer vacations. I doubt this is a sign that they will lower prices more often.
Quote from: Rekim on June 10, 2012, 06:39:07 PM
I caved today and picked up both of the Command Ops titles.
I really enjoyed the original Highway to the Reich game. There are very few games that have motivated me to stick with the grand campaign through to completion, but Highway was one of them. I have high hopes for these new titles.
I liked Conquest of the Aegean, but after months of CMBN I need an Eastern Front game or two, so I went to look at the sale and I think I'll get Operation Star which isn't on sale, has very mixed reviews and costs less than the games that are for sale in the sale.