Battles In Normandy Goes Gold!

[David Heath]

Battles In Normandy Goes Gold! Latest in Decisive Battles Series Ready for Release

Staten Island, NY, September 9th, 2004 - Matrix Games and Strategic Studies Group (www.ssg.com.au) are pleased to announce that Battles In Normandy has officially “Gone Gold” and is due for worldwide release the week of September 13th. Interested wargamers will be able to purchase Battles In Normandy directly through the Matrix Games online store at www.matrixgames.com.

Battles In Normandy is the next wargame in the award-winning Decisive Battles series, which includes The Ardennes Offensive, Korsun Pocket and Across the Dnepr. Including a number of enhancements and scenarios for the full Normandy campaign, Battles In Normandy brings wargamers back to the western front with historical scenarios including two monster campaigns, and eight smaller historical scenarios as well as a hypothetical scenario that models Rommel’s plan for a more aggressive defense.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said, "We’re very excited about the many enhancements that have been made to the Decisive Battles engine for Battles In Normandy and we feel the new battles are the best yet. SSG have managed to improve on a five star system, something that is a tall order for any design team.”

Battles In Normandy is based on the design and engine that propelled Korsun Pocket to several outstanding “Wargame of the Year” reviews and awards in 2003. Battles In Normandy features a new Decisive Battles game engine with a host of special new rules for amphibious and airborne operations, plus a huge number of other enhancements.

Gregor Whiley of Strategic Studies Group added, “We thank all our customers for supporting the Decisive Battles series with excitement and enthusiasm. We believe you will find that Battles In Normandy does not disappoint. Enjoy!”

Game Features

New game engine with improved user interface New AI system New user friendly game and map editor Multiple resolution support Special rules for Amphibious and Airborne operations Carpet Bombing Naval Bombardment Mulberries (Artificial Harbors) Bridge building, minefield and strongpoint creation New supply rules New rules for anti-aircraft and anti-partisan operations New options for hidden units New rules for extended movement and refitting units Extensive Rollover Help function Auto email and security functions for PBEM games Extensive Tournament and Handicapping options for PBEM games Evolved Units can change their characteristics mid-game



Battles In Normandy is scheduled for release the week of September 13th, 2004.

For more information, visit the main Matrix Games page at http://www.matrixgames.com and the SSG / Run 5 page at http://www.ssg.com.au.

ABOUT MATRIX GAMES

Matrix Games produces, markets and publishes historical wargames as well as other computer gaming products. Since 2002, Matrix Games has published several award-winning games, including Korsun Pocket, Highway to the Reich, Uncommon Valor and Eric Young’s Squad Assault. Matrix Games is based in Staten Island, New York. For more information, visit the Matrix Games website at http://www.matrixgames.com/

ABOUT STRATEGIC STUDIES GROUP

Strategic Studies Group (SSG) was founded in Australia during the 1980s by Roger Keating and Ian Trout with the release of their first game, Reach for the Stars. Over the last twenty years and over fifty computer games, SSG has grown from a fledgling company to one of the driving forces in Computer Strategy in the world today. SSG’s Decisive Battles series has won as much acclaim as any modern wargame. Their work continues with an upcoming Decisive Battles title to follow Battles In Normandy. For more information, visit the SSG website at http://www.ssg.com.au/.

[U2]

Credit card ready and waiting [:)]

[Hexed Gamer]

Ok I will risk asking redundant questions, but hmm I suppose having the answers handy right HERE won't really be a major burden will it

Expected base Price? use US dollars I will survive needing to do the conversion. (base price = before tax/vat/shipping or any other hassle). Digital download yes/no? Will it contain the old Ardennes game like as was put in Korsun?

[Fred98]

ORIGINAL: Hexed Gamer

Will it contain the old Ardennes game like as was put in Korsun?

Korsun had Ardennes v3 this will have Ardennes version 4! Bastogne can't fall now!

But the main emphasis will be Normandy and the user made scenarios!

[Clipper1968]

ORIGINAL: Hexed Gamer

Expected base Price? use US dollars I will survive needing to do the conversion. (base price = before tax/vat/shipping or any other hassle). Digital download yes/no?

The price shoud be cheaper than WitP as the VAT issue has been resolve.[:@] I hope so...[;)]

In one of his previous post David has told that BiN will be available by DL.

[freeboy]

Great news David, How much will Bin cost?, I really was impressed that ATD, an add on was the low price it came out at. I am sure BIN will be a "full price item" but have no clue... any thoughts?

[David Heath]

Hi Guys

BIN will be $59.99 and will be a digital download. More information to follow.

David

[SlapBone]

ORIGINAL: David Heath

Hi Guys

BIN will be $59.99 and will be a digital download. More information to follow.

David

And Vebber called me a thief...sheesh.

[Toby42]

Well, unfortunately that takes me out of the "Ballgame". Bummer...

[owens641]

Please say it ain't so! $59.99US? [X(]

This is without doubt the most enjoyable operational level WWII system on computer. I've purchased the original TAO, Korsun, and AtD and enjoyed them all. I have the greatest regard for the designers and developers. Have been quietly skulking around these forums, reading the postings and waiting for BiN for months now. Was fully prepared to pay twice the price of AtD. Will not, however, pay $60 for a digital download of a battleset with an enhanced version of an existing system, no matter how good it is. It just ain't gonna happen. Hope ya'll reconsider before beginning sales.

BTW, you guys have just made a liar out of me. I was a nondescript chunky, middle-aged white guy who came by your booth in the first hour of GENCON and asked you to demo BiN. Your rep couldn't get the beta to run.......I said "That's OK.......I'm gonna buy it when it comes out anyway". It never occurred to me that a download would be $60.

Mike

[Kevinugly]

Hmmmmm, this is $10 less than WitP so we should be looking at around £33 in the UK (WitP being £38.99). If this includes a suitable box etc. then I'd be quite happy but if this is only a digital download then forget it! For the moment I shall wait. I don't need another wargame at present, still less another one dealing with the Normandy campaign no matter how good the engine.

[Hexed Gamer]

Might put it on the christmas list.

Right now, I am having something of har*on over getting a Black and Decker "Navigator" powertool. Think mutant Jigsaw/powerhandsaw combination. 80 bucks Canadian. Spent an afternoon when it was first released commercially giving demonstrations of it in a Canadian Tire store, so I know its super cool.

59 bucks US though, well it will cost more than some of my other purchases, so what. I only worry about the games that are unproven eh.

I think my only real barrier is my payment method. Gonna need to scrounge up a willing credit card.

[freeboy]

59.00 a bargain to me, considering now I actually am learning the game, it is truly amazing in pbem and all my bad solo habits came back and bit me on the butt!!! thanks again David and all the elves in the north pole, isn't Staten Island near Nome? OK... I lived in Mineola so that is a little off... but thanks all the same

59.00 yea I can afford it yea yea

[Hertston]

So many games, so little time (and money [:(] ).

It's a fair price (and I'll happily take a download ahead of importing or a long delay for a Euro release anyday), but I'll hang on to my cash for CotA I think. I'm not sure I want two more Normandy games, and I always had a preference for the game formerly known as Battlefields! which I hope won't be too long.

[Gregor_SSG]

ORIGINAL: owens641

Please say it ain't so! $59.99US? [X(]

This is without doubt the most enjoyable operational level WWII system on computer. I've purchased the original TAO, Korsun, and AtD and enjoyed them all. I have the greatest regard for the designers and developers. Have been quietly skulking around these forums, reading the postings and waiting for BiN for months now. Was fully prepared to pay twice the price of AtD. Will not, however, pay $60 for a digital download of a battleset with an enhanced version of an existing system, no matter how good it is. It just ain't gonna happen. Hope ya'll reconsider before beginning sales.



Mike

I think there's two questions here, and I'll answer both.

Why digital download? The alternative is that we and Matrix make unsecured, interest free loans of tens of thousands of dollars to large corporations like Electronics Boutique, by giving them our games to sell . They sell them, and keep the money for 5-6 months, at the end of which, if you grovel enough, they may pay you, or they may say that they've only sold half the games, and require 'price protection' on the rest. Of course, we've had to give them a goodly discount for the privilege of lending them this money in the first place. There's no way that I'm going to subject myself to this business regime if there's an alternative. The US fought a war over slavery, (amongst other things), but the result hasn't filtered through to most large US corporations.

Why $59.95? Well, the short answer is because its worth it. BIN is much more than just a battleset. Over 75% of the code is new, and almost every area of the game has been reworked, and huge numbers of new features added. The map alone is a masterpiece, but its the result of hundreds of hours of work by Steve Ford and as we don't believe in slavery (see above), he needs to get fairly rewarded for his effort, as does everyone on the SSG team. Just on that point, I and everyone else in SSG made marginally more than unemployment benefits for our efforts with Korsun Pocket. If we can’t do better than that this time around with BIN, then we may as well just go straight to the beach, and avoid all the hard work and stress. We have a lot of great beaches down here…

Of course, you may not agree with my estimation of the game's value, and that's OK, I'm just giving my side of the story.

Gregor

[2gaulle]

There are some weeks ago, Paul Vebber had write

We have a very flexible pricing model with "budget" games like Campaigns on the Danube for as low as 25$ - mainstream games like StarShatter and Massive Assault for 40$ - "hard wargames" games like Korsun Pocket and HTTR for 50$ and "grognard" titles like WitP for 70$.

$60 US is 20% more![X(]

I hope you know what the demand elasticity is![&:] At $60 with other game like Rome Total War and CodeName Panzer at less than 50$ you are going to loose many customer.

I’m waiting Normandy a lot, each day since 3 month I was look at both Matrix and Run5 web site for information about the release date. I do not have beginning any pbem since 3 weeks to be sure to be free when Normandy will be release. But today at $80 Ca I must ask the question.[:@]

[Clipper1968]

59,99$ so it should be around 49,00€ through the Europe store which is a quite fairly price as most of PC games in France are sold for 50,00€.Unfortunately I am afraid that this price is not VAT inclusise and the final price would be around 59,00€ which will be over the average price.[:(]I am so dissappointed because I would have expected BiN to be sold at the same price as KP:49,00€ VAT inclusive.[:(] Does the difference in price could be justified by all improvements brought? I hope so...[&:] Although I understand that SSG team and Matrix should be rewarded for their efforts, if you buy KP you will get a nice box with labelled CD and a paper manual whereas BiN is only available through Digital download. Should I pay more for less?IMO I don't think so...[:-]

Don't misunderstand me;I like this game and have already bought every Decisive Battles of WW2.I enjoy them all and especially AtD lately where I have tried to achieve a decisive victory in vain yet but it is not hopeless...[;)]I just wanted to express my opinion and will probably buy this game sooner or later even for this excessive price.[:@]It will probably give me a lot of good time.[:)]Thanks for making so wonderful wargames.[&o][&o][&o]

Moreover could I possibly get a price reduction for purchasing BiN as I have been overpaid my purchase for WitP due to VAT problem which occured for European customers buying this game through the UK and Europe online store.I have honestly bought WitP and have overpaid for no good reason.IMO my request is legitimate. Could anyone from Matrix please answer my question?I am just wondering. Thanks in advance, whatever your response is.

[pterrok]

Back in the old days you bought a game, and it was what it was. The number of scenarios it had was important since that was all you got to play--until they game out with an expansion pack.

Some users would hack into it and make their own variant, but it was for themselves since it was hard to distribute except to your friends at the local computer store or maybe at a game convention.

Then bulletin boards started up and more people started tweaking things and giving 'em away, and then the internet was invented by Al Gore [:D] and things exploded...

Game companies released the internal tools that they used to make the scenarios and buyers of the game used them to make new scenarios. This was a clever move since it meant that you're never really buying a game anymore, you are buying a SYSTEM. Even if YOU will never make a new scenario, other people WILL.

Everyone reading this has access to the internet. All you'll need to do is head on over to Run5 which is merging with SSG (http://www.ssg.com.au) and you'll find a thriving community to support this series. So what if the released version comes with (I think?) two offical scenarios--within a short time there will be new scenarios released by the community.

And not just on D-Day and the time and environs thereabouts--there will be a Pacific theater game, an Italian theater game, a North African game, heck, there's nothing stopping anyone from making a Martian war game! The only thing that's stopping me is that I PLAY the dang game so much via email that I don't have time to make a new one--hats off to the SSG for actually WORKING instead of playing all the time! (I can't imagine you guys on the beach, but playing games all day--THAT I can imagine!)

Sure I LOVE getting paper manuals, but I can move with the times...Speaking of which, I bought an Apple ][+ computer back in 1979. I used to buy a LOT of games--most of them at $39.95--and that's in 1980 dollars. but I distinctly remember buying some SSI wargames at the hefty price of $59.95 simply because wargaming has always been and will always be a niche market as wargames don't sell as many copies as other games. So if I only have to pay $59.95 in 2004 dollars I'm WAY ahead of the 'real cost' curve compared to the old days. (And I was in school back them and still scrounged the cash somehow...)

So instead of thinking that you're paying $60 for a game, average out the cost against all the time that you'll play, and for me it's literally only pennies an hour! You do the math to see if it's more economical for you than buying a book or going to a movie...

[Hexed Gamer]

You can always spot the real wargamers from the I might have played a board game, but I am really not a wargamer types.

You can reeeeeeally spot the neo wargamers that really don't even have any board gaming wargames in their background, and only know of computer wargaming.

Ok reality check.

ASL rulebook currently is a 70 US article unless you are lucky in some way. It's just a manual, a rather intimidating manual too. And it has been on sale for more than a decade. And no, it isn't going to be a bargin bin purchase for 5 bucks EVER.

World in Flames, the actual World in Flames. 80 US assuming you just want a vanilla copy.

Those are board games people, no tutorial, no demo, no AI, get the picture But at least it doesn't have a problem with XP hehe.

ASL Annual, just a magazine for ASL. Two on Ebay will cost more than most computer games of any sort. In some cases an Annual or the newer Journals will fetch well over 150 bucks.

Some modules are able to claim 200 bucks.

Soooooo we come to this horrible price of 60 bucks for BiN a product you all think should be just given away, because it only builds on existing software.

God some of you "wargamers" are pussies.

60 bucks is just 60 bucks to me. Sure I have trouble finding 60 bucks. Much easier to find 5 bucks than 60 bucks. Just simple economics in my case. 60 is more than 5.

But the game if it is worth 60 is probably worth 70 or 80 as well. The only thing Matrix Games is dealing with here, is spoiled gamers that think every friggin game from whack a mole to cutting edge simulations should never exceed the magical sum of 40 bucks.

That is patently ludicruous.

To the $60 whiners, decide if you are really wargamers please. If you can't hack the hobby, pick another hobby.

[2gaulle]

But the game if it is worth 60 is probably worth 70 or 80 as well.

you are funny, like your president. doesn't mater if for you 60 bucks is good. you are convince about the product. Now the question is, does Normandy has been done only for run5 community?

somewhere is like consimworld, it's now a subscription-based model and it have lost more than 80% of the member for 18$...

When your friend made a mistake it's better to tell him