Close Combat: The Bloody First News

While media regularly share news about games disappearing from digital distribution, publishers like SNEG ensure that as many iconic titles as possible are easily accessible to players. The Warlords series and the five original Close Combat games, for the first time, are available on Steam. Generations of players grew up with these titles, and now access to them is easier than ever before.

CLOSE COMBAT COLLECTION

Today, eight classics fully optimized to the requirements of modern computers and operating systems make their debut on Steam, while the first installment of the Close Combat series premieres in digital distribution as a separate and fully functional title. The publisher has also made every effort to eliminate technical issues, with changes based on fan and community feedback.
The Close Combat series immerses players into the time of World War II, where they will encounter challenges across various sides of the conflict. In these games players command troops in diverse historical campaigns, engaging in intense battles across a variety of terrains and scenarios. The first installment hit the market in 1996, surprising players with a combination of strategic gameplay, great graphics, animation, and sound effects. Fans of military strategy games fell in love with attention to detail, historical accuracy, and challenging gameplay, which made these games unique from other titles available at the time. Starting from today, players will once again be able to engage in battle in the five original games from this series developed by Atomic Games that started it all.

• Close Combat – defeat the enemy in this classic, nonstop World War II battle action. Lead your men through the terror, fatigue, and hell of war to victory. Only you can bring them back alive! For the first time in history, Close Combat is available digitally as a standalone, fully functional game.
  
  
• Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far – take control of five strategic bridges in the most dramatic battle of World War II. From war-room strategy to gritty trench combat, battlefields come to life as you command Allied or Axis powers. It's a fight where every second counts.
  
  
• Close Combat 3: The Russian Front – command a fire brigade of soldiers on the Russian Front in this real-time strategy game set in World War II. Play as either the Soviets or Germans, orchestrating squad attacks, defenses, and survival over four grueling years of the grandest and bloodiest war the world has ever seen.
  
  
• Close Combat 4: The Battle of the Bulge – sneak attacks, stalwart defenders, spies, and saboteurs are among the exciting surprises lurking on both sides of the battle. Whether you command American or German troops, you decide when and where they will be deployed. Launch air attacks against the enemy, but keep your eyes on the skies; random weather patterns can wreak havoc on your offensives from above.
  
  
• Close Combat 5: Invasion: Normandy - Utah Beach to Cherbourg – WWII realism is brought back to the beaches of Northern France. Relive the campaign that gave the Allies a foothold on the doorstep of Fortress Europe. From Utah Beach to Cherbourg, Invasion: Normandy gives you strategic and tactical control of Allied or Axis forces in the pivotal battles that determined the fate of Europe.
  

Players who prefer battles in fantasy worlds can immerse themselves in three games from the Warlords series, developed by Strategic Studies Group. The first installment of Warlords was released in 1990, setting trends for the entire genre, thanks to its depth of strategy, immersive world-building, and engaging gameplay mechanics. As media mentioned at that time, Warlords game has everything to offer the strategy gamer who has a taste for a bit of the fantasy genre. To experience these, players can now reach for:

• Warlords I + II – compilation of two great award-winning games. Both bring different worlds to conquer, mighty armies to fight, and enemies to vanquish. Brave heroes, quests, diplomacy and magic are all employed to overwhelm your rivals and dominate the world!
  
  
• Warlords III: Darklords Rising – Enter a rich fantasy world of medieval warfare teeming with rage, revenge and bravery. This epic game of strategy and conquest now delivers a vastly larger world and deeper strategic gameplay that expands beyond the scope and depth of the original Warlords III: Reign of Heroes. Five epic campaigns and massive strategic battles serve as proving grounds that challenge the mettle of even the greatest Heroes and Warlords.
  

All of the above games are now available for purchase on Steam - separately for 5.99 USD each or in promotional bundles. During the launch week, players can look forward to some great deals with discounts up to almost 50%.
—
About SNEG:

SNEG is a boutique publisher focused on reviving old gaming gems. We have an admiration for classics and a desire to bring back more interactive entertainment from all eras of the video gaming culture.

Back in 2007, Matrix Games proudly presented Close Combat: Modern Tactics. A detailed, real-time war simulator based on an actual tool developed for and used by the United States Marine Corps. This fondly remembered classic still holds up today, thanks to its beautiful hand-drawn maps and the depth of the strategy available to players.

The attention to detail has been bested by few since, which is why we are now bringing it to Steam for the first time. This also completes the Close Combat collection for Steam users, who will now have access to all of the Close Combat franchise in one place.

To celebrate this launch, we are including a substantial 40% discount on Close Combat: Modern Tactics on Steam.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1367330/Close_Combat_Modern_Tactics/

We are also additionally having discounts on the various other Close Combat Series games.
Looking to complete your collection at a substantial discount? You can grab all the titles your missing, including Close Combat: Modern Tactics, in the complete collection:

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/14953/Close_Combat_Collection/

Note: Some discounts will not be available until after 6pm GMT (UK Time), if you do not find a discount on the Close Combat title you want, try refreshing the page after confirming it is 6pm GMT or later.

The first massive mod for Close Combat: The Bloody First is now available.

It is called Veteran and it was developed by a well-known modder in the community, Nomada_Firefox.

He took upon himself the task of converting maps from Close Combat: the Longest Journey, as well as adding a lot more content. We were so impressed with it that we have worked to bring this content into the game as an optional addition you can directly download from the games client.

Nomada_Firefox's Veteran mod main features include:

• New content that covers the whole of the Normandy landings.
• Adds British and Commonwealth forces as well as many new units for US and German forces
• Two new campaigns, one Allied and one Axis
• Dozens of new battles and operations
• 20 new maps converted from Close Combat The Longest Day

You can now download the Veteran mod directly from the game's download system by doing the following:

1. Click the button ‘User Content’ which will appear on the game main screen next to the game title.
2. Select the ‘Veteran Normandy’ mod from the ‘User Content List’
3. Click ‘Download.’

We're also going to stream the mod on our Twitch channel tomorrow at 8 pm GMT+1.

Last but not least, Close Combat: The Bloody First is currently part of our Easter sale: If you don't have it yet in your game library, you can acquire it at 30% off by entering the "happyeaster30" coupon code. The offer is only valid on the Slitherine and Matrix Games stores.

 

Sword and Juno Beaches

Sherman Crab

The Battle of the Bulge or Hitler's last gambit is the bloodiest battle fought by American soldiers in WWII. If it had succeeded, it would have led to the destruction of 4 Allied armies and, possibly, a separate peace with Germany. Wehrmacht codenamed it Wacht am Rhein. 

Close Combat - Wacht am Rhein, originally released in 2011, is landed on Steam! This version benefits of many improvements and changes made specifically for this release, including new setting available for HD resolutions. 

Revive the battle the could have changed World War II.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1272110/Close_Combat_Wacht_am_Rhein/

To celebrate this important event, we have created a Close Combat Collection Bundle (The Bloody First, Gateway to Caen, Panthers in the Fog, Last Stand Arnhem, Wacht am Rhen) at 30% off! Check it out!

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/14953/Close_Combat_Collection/

Important note for Matrix users. Close Combat - Wacht am Rhein Matrix version will need to be uninstalled and installed again to get the improvements working.

Close Combat The Bloody First has been updated to version 1.1.1!
This is truly the Big 1 update and it is full of nice additions and improvements.

The most significative element in this update is the introduction of the Map Editor along with a full range of Modding Tools.

The new modding kit allows you to customize single battles, campaigns, scripting custom behaviours for a battle, adding new units and terrain models to the data set using the import tool, and many more additions!

The editor is accessible from the game launcher.

Take a look at the full changelog here below:

Version 1.1.1 Notes

Version 1.1.1

Map Editor Changes:
• Press ‘P’ key to toggle cursor terrain and coordinate display.
• Mouse over an object and hit PgUp/PgDn to cycle through the possible variations in model / texture.
• Better alignment of fences and walls when placing them in a row.
• Battle damage type objects (foxhole, gun pit, craters) cannot be created via the editor and no longer show up in the object list. May be implemented in the future.
• Fix for mods loading custom maps while using the stock campaign.
• Fixed missing default textures on dead cow objects.
• Fixed incorrect texture names in data file for low stone wall, low mud wall, high mud wall, and wreck objects.
• Fix for mouse handling when Scenario Editor screen is up.
• Fix for hang when mouse over exactly overlapping buildings.
• Fixes for texture loading and saving.


Content Creator Update
• Force Supply Level now updates correctly after each battle.
• Force Supply Level on Planning and Briefing screen now displays correct value.
• Fixed case where Kasserine Pass operation would not becoming available when it should.
• "PLAY " button only displays for Custom Battle or Saved Games lists if you have at least one item in the list.


• Multiplayer: Client now shows correct unit status icons for enemy in sight, firing, etc.
• Multiplayer: Unit action string now updated correctly on client during a co-op battle.
• Multiplayer: Queued orders are displayed correctly on the client.
• Multiplayer: Default Defend/Ambush order arcs appear correctly on the client.
• A unit's current order line/arcs are no longer displayed while unit is broken or routing.
• Tooltips added to the Soldier screen weapon, achievement, and medal icons.
• A battle map preview can now be accessed from the Force Selection screen (image in the upper left.)


• Fix for bridge not overwritting deep water terrain (Cerisy)
• Left click on a live soldier in soldier list centers camera on soldier.
• Fix for separated soldier failing to rejoin unit if unit aborted a movement order while soldier was separated.
• Game now allows a battle scenario to begin even if battle end conditions are already in effect.
• Vehicle kill chance and counter-kill chance now has more influence when choosing a default target.
• Soldier walking and crawling speeds now less effected by terrain and slope.
• Vehicle pathing and path-following updated.
• Vehicles will attempt to keep at least 1m distance from impassable terrain.
• Vehicles halt before entering impassable terrain and re-path as necessary.
• Drivers now follow unit movement path more closely.
• Drivers will adjust vehicle speed more precisely to avoid overshooting a turn.
• New game options to control Defend/Ambush arc display and behavior.
• Added the keybind "~" (the tilde key) to deselect all units. Remappable to ESC via OPTIONS.TXT.
• Fixed potential crash with current unit becoming unselected while queuing orders for that unit.
• Added 'Delete File' button on command screen to delete saved games and custom battles.
• Unsupported 'Fog' weather option no longer appears as a weather choice in the scenario editor.