| Close Combat: Invasion: Normandy | |
| Developer: | Atomic Games |
| Publisher: | Mattel Interactive |
| Series: | Close Combat |
| Platforms: | Windows |
| Released: | October 2000 |
| Genre: | 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, . 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 Magazines 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".
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." Invasion: Normandy was released in October 2000.[7]
According to Metacritic, Close Combat: Invasion: Normandy received "generally favorable reviews" from critics.[8]