Matrix Games News

Gary Grigsbys War in the East Don to the Danube new screenshots released!

Sat, 17 Feb 2012 GMT

The first official expansion for award winning masterpiece, gets 8 new images in anticipation of imminent release.

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com), Slitherine (www.slitherine.com), and 2by3 Games (www.2by3games.com) are proud to release an additional set of screenshots for the upcoming Don to the Danube expansion for Gary Grigsby’s War in the East.

The critically and fan acclaimed Eastern Front mega-game Gary Grigsby’s War in the East just got bigger and better with Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: Don to the Danube! This expansion to the award-winning War in the East comes with a wide array of later war scenarios ranging from short but intense 6 turn bouts like the Battle for Kharkov (1942) to immense 37-turn engagements taking place across multiple nations like Drama on the Danube (Summer 1944 – Spring 1945). Don to the Danube and the War in the East system gives players unprecedented control over pivotal operations in the Second World War like Operation Uranus, the encirclement of the 6th German Army at Stalingrad, the Cherkassy Pocket and much more. Don to the Danube also takes full advantage of the hefty number of new features and rule changes that come with the massive 1.06.00 update and incorporates a full new Editor manual as well.

10 scenarios that are sure to add countless more hours of gameplay to the famous War in the East game engine
Smaller engagements to help players hone their skills for larger scenarios practice offensive tactics, air support, and more
Larger, multi-month operations that decide the fate of World War II and provide the epic scale War in the East fans love like the 1943/44 Soviet offensive in the Ukraine or the dramatic German retreat from Leningrad.
Don to the Danube takes full advantage of the hefty number of new features and rule changes that come with the massive 1.06.00 update.

Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: Don to the Danube is an expansion for War in the East and requires the base game to play.

About Gary Grigsby’s War in the East

Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: The German-Soviet War 1941-1945 is the spiritual heir to the great Eastern Front board and computer wargames of the past; a turn-based World War II strategy game down to the division and brigade level, stretching across the entire Eastern Front at a 10 mile per hex scale. Gamers can engage in massive, dramatic campaigns, including intense battles involving thousands of units with realistic and historical terrain, weather, orders of battle, logistics and combat results. As with all the award-winning titles made by the 2by3 Games team, factors such as supply, fatigue, experience, morale and the skill of your divisional, corps and army leaders all play an important part in determining the results at the front line.Gary Grigsby’s War in the East comes with 4 massive campaigns as well as many smaller scenarios all with different strategic and operational challenges.

Gary Grigsby’s War in the East represents a truly epic representation of the Second World War on the Eastern Front and is unparalleled in its scale, detail, and ambition!

Get more information on Gary Grigsby’s War in the East Don to the Danube from its official product page. Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: Don to the Danube is an expansion for War in the East and requires the base game to play.

Download the screenshots

http://www.matrixgames.com/products/423/downloads/

War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition is Updated!

Thu, 8 Feb 2012 GMT

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com), Slitherine (www.slitherine.com) and Henderson Field Designs are proud to release a major new update for their award winning WWII Pacific Theatre mega game, War in the Pacific – Admiral’s Edition! The new comprehensive v1.01.08r9 update contains hundreds of fixes, tweaks and improvements, including dozens of interface improvements!

Please note that while it is possible to continue existing games, players will need to start a new game to see the full effect of these data fixes and improvements.

Erik Rutins, Director of Product Development at Matrix Games, said “Unparalleled in its realism and scope, War in the Pacific – Admiral’s Edition is a must-have for any Pacific Theatre buff. This is the sixth official update since the release of Admiral’s Edition and it’s a big one! If you are thinking of starting a game of War in the Pacific, make sure you apply this update first! War in the Pacific: Admiral’s Edition just keeps getting better, and thanks to the dedicated development team and the active involvement of the community, it looks guaranteed to provide years of future enjoyment.”

War in the Pacific: Admiral’s Edition is the result of many additional man-years of development from a dedicated and experienced team including subject matter experts and experienced programmers. This has resulted in an improved War in the Pacific experience across the board. This is the entire War in the Pacific down to individual aircraft, vehicles, ships, guns and squads - more than just a game, it's an encyclopedia of the war compiled from many sources to an unmatched level of detail. Add in a much improved AI and more secure PBEM play and you have the makings of a new classic!

War in the Pacific:Admiral’s Edition is a stand-alone release which does not require ownership of War in the Pacific. The Admiral’s Edition installation process will not overwrite original War in the Pacific files, but instead the expansion installs along side the original installation of the game and runs as a separate game.

The individual features and improvements to Admiral’s Edition are far too numerous to mention in total in this announcement, but the product page link below goes into enough detail to please any War in the Pacific fan.

As our first "Collector's Edition", the boxed version also comes with a Full Color Printed 330 page manual!

War in the Pacific – Admiral’s Editionis a standalone release and does not require War in the Pacific to install and play.

This update is comprehensive and will bring all previous versions of War in the Pacific – Admiral’s Edition to version 1.01.08r9. The download link for the update can be found here. Matrix Games recommends that all owners of War in the Pacific – Admiral’s Edition update to this version. Get more information on War in the Pacific – Admiral’s Edition from its official product page.

Advanced Tactics: Gold Is Updated!

Tue, 6 Feb 2012 GMT

Many fixes and a new unit type is now ready for action

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com), Slitherine (www.slitherine.com) and VR Designs (www.vrdesigns.nl) are pleased to announce the release of the comprehensive 2.10 update for their acclaimed strategy game, Advanced Tactics: Gold. This new update contains mainly bug fixes as well as a new unit type (the Jeep), but also includes the many improvements, tweaks and fixes from previous updates.

Remember to also get your new free Advanced Tactics: Gold Strategy Guide, located at this link.

Erik Rutins, Director of Product Development at Matrix Games, said “Advanced Tactics: Gold is a powerful wargame construction kit that every grognard should own. Very satisfying gameplay, including advanced and realistic modeling of many wargame concepts, while offering near infinite replayability and both historical, random and casual scenarios, it has something for every wargamer and fits every schedule and budget!”

Building off of the enormous success of Advanced Tactics: World War II, the Gold edition gives players a more powerful game editor, much improved random game engine, many new features and abilities, and more. Advanced Tactics: Gold also comes with an updated manual and ever-changing and expanding wiki, a freshly revamped scenario bank, new graphics throughout the game, more troop types, as well as some new scenarios. VR Designs has also been hard at working listening to player feedback, so Advanced Tactics: Gold also comes with many incremental changes and improvements based on community feedback!

But perhaps the most exciting feature in Advanced Tactics: Gold is the near limitless potential for replayability. The strong mod community will be able to create engaging, rich scenarios with the vastly improved editor, and players looking to hop straight into the action can enjoy a much improved random game experience that comes with many new rules, actions, and gameplay mechanics.

Owners of Advanced Tactics: World War IIwill receive a $15 discount off the price of Advanced Tactics: Gold! Follow this link to obtain your discount code.

Just a few of the many features include:

Versatile Engine – The Advanced Tactics: Gold engine is capable of modeling a wide variety of warfare from historical and modern battles to science fiction conflicts and warring fantasy realms!
Improved Scenario Editor – The scenario editor is very powerful and allows the player to edit almost any aspect of the game in great detail.
Expanded Random Game Mode – Many new features and game mechanics like more unit types, unit fuel, climates and seasons, and more.
Many incremental improvements based on community feedback
A whole lot more!

Get the update here. The update is comprehensive and will bring all previous versions of Advanced Tactics: Gold to 2.10. Get more information on Advanced Tactics: Gold from its official product page.

Gary Grigsbys War in the East: Don to the Danube Announced!

Fri, 2 Feb 2012 GMT

The War in the East just got bigger and better with this exciting new expansion!

We are thrilled to announce Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: Don to the Danube, an expansion to the grand strategy masterpiece War in the East! Now gamers can enjoy this award winning wargame engine across many new scenarios and battles!

Grigsby’s War in the East: Don to the Danube will be released later this month and will be available for $14.99 Download / $24.99 Physical through the Matrix Games online store.

About Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: Don to the Danube

The critically and fan acclaimed Eastern Front mega-game Gary Grigsby’s War in the East just got bigger and better with Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: Don to the Danube! This expansion to the award-winning War in the East comes with a wide array of later war scenarios ranging from short but intense 6 turn bouts like the Battle for Kharkov (1942) to immense 37-turn engagements taking place across multiple nations like Drama on the Danube (Summer 1944 – Spring 1945). Don to the Danube and the War in the East system gives players unprecedented control over pivotal operations in the Second World War like Operation Uranus, the encirclement of the 6^th German Army at Stalingrad, the Cherkassy Pocket and much more. Don to the Danube also takes full advantage of the hefty number of new features and rule changes that come with the massive 1.06.00 update and incorporates a full new Editor manual as well.

Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: Don to the Danube is an expansion for War in the East and requires the base game to play.

Get more information on Gary Grigsby’s War in the East: Don to the Danube from its official product page.

Teaser Trailer launched for Team Assault: Baptism of Fire

Fri, 2 Feb 2012 GMT

Teaser video released on YouTube for upcoming strategy gem developed by Zeal

We are excited to announce the release of a Teaser Trailer for the upcoming game Team Assault: Baptism of Fire created by Swedish developer Zeal. The release of Team Assault is set for the 24^th of February. While the development team puts the final touches to the game, more and more images and videos will announced and published in the coming days.

About Team Assault: Baptism of Fire

Team Assault: Baptism of Fire is a 3D turn-based tactical game where players take command of infantry squads to engage the enemy in intense close combat. Using an objective-control system, players must use wits and the geography around them to secure tactically important points and dominate the enemy. Although the combat system is turn-based, the game play can be as fast paced and dynamic as you’d like. Dynamic turns, counter actions and continual feedback keep you constantly engaged while still giving you enough time to make important decisions to change the course of battle!

Team Assault boasts an in-depth combat system that booth favors realism and exciting gameplay. Weapon accuracy and penetration, cover versus weapon penetration, recoil, encumbrance and wounded soldiers are only some of the included features. Also included are near limitless customization options. The included map editor and force creator will allow you to design finely tuned squads that perfectly suit your needs and command styles. A map editor is also included so constructing all new tactical puzzles and environments is possible as well!

Just a few of the features include:

Area Control Gameplay – Control various key areas spread throughout the map to gain the tactical advantage.
Realistic Combat- Weapon accuracy and penetration, cover versus weapon penetration, recoil, encumbrance and wounded soldiers and more!
Turn-Based With Good Pacing – You’re never far from the action with dynamic turns, counter actions and continual feedback keeping you constantly engaged.
Force Builder - Create your own custom squads with various gear and upgrades for endless customization.

Get more information on Team Assault: Baptism of Fire from its official product page and from the Matrix Games product page.

Matrix Games is Hiring!

Wed, 31 Jan 2012 GMT

Seeking Web Developer and Network Administrator<

Matrix Games and Slitherine are seeking to add to its staff a new Web Developer/Network Administrator. This is a full-time paid position. Qualified candidates will have skills and experience in the following areas:

Programming experience in ASP, Javascript, JQuery, AJAX, XML, HTML, SQL
Database design and management in SQL Server 2008 R2 (including T-SQL, StoredProcedures, CLR, Indexes, etc)
Server administration and management in Windows Server 2008 R2
Experience with FTP, DNS, TCP/IP
Experience with Remote server administration, server virtualization and with server and network security, including an understanding of physical networking and advanced router/firew

Candidates who are already near or able to relocate to work at one of the main offices (US Office in Vermont, UK Office near London, Italian Office near Milan) will be given preference, but skill and experience are the primary considerations.

Excellent communication and organizational skills, a fast internet connection (if unable to work from one of the main offices mentioned above) and fluency in English are required.

If you feel that you qualify, please contact erikr@matrixgames.com with your resume and why you would like to work at Matrix Games.

Panzer Corps Grand Campaign 42 Released!

Wed, 31 Jan 2012 GMT

The war on the Eastern Front continues with this 4^th DLC release

Slitherine, Matrix Games, The Lordz Games Studio (www.thelordzgamesstudio.com), and Flashback Games are thrilled to release Panzer Corps Grand Campaign ’42, the fourth DLC installment to the highly successful Panzer Corps series. Now players can take their battle-seasoned troops into intense urban combat in Stalingrad along with several other famous Eastern Front battles!

If you haven’t already, check out what all the buzz is about and download the playable demo of Panzer Corps! See why critics have praised this smash hit as ”…nothing short of brilliant.”

About Grand Campaign ‘42

Poland, Norway, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, France, Yugoslavia, and Greece. All of these nations have fallen under occupation, and it was assumed that Russia would quickly join their ranks. Not only has the Russia Bear survived the invasion of 1941, but its winter offensive is still in full swing! Take command of your forces once again in the latest installment of the Grand Campaign as you repel Soviet offensives and begin the fateful advance between the Don and Donets towards Stalingrad!

This DLC features 15 all new scenarios, a sprawling urban combat environment of Stalingrad, new campaign features, unique objectives such as escorting train convoys and smashing enemy reinforcements as they attempt to cross the Volga River, and the capacity to save your core force for use in future campaigns!

The Grand Campaign’s are a series of expansions for Panzer Corps and require Panzer Corps. Each campaign can be started with the core force from the previous Grand Campaign, so you can continue all Grand Campaign expansions carrying over all the core forces that completed the previous ones. Alternatively players can start with a preset core force and play each campaign on its own, or jump in to the Grand Campaign at any year.

Grand Campaign '42 requires the original Panzer Corps to play.

Get more information on Panzer Corps from its official on the Slitherine site or on the Matrix Games site. More information on Grand Campaign ‘42 is available from both Slitherine and Matrix Games as well.

Paypal Payment Method Available Again

Sat, 27 Jan 2012 GMT

Paypal is now available as a payment option in both the Matrix and Slitherine stores

Matrix Games and Slitherine are pleased to inform customers that Paypal is once again available as a payment option for both of their stores. We apologize again for any inconvenience the disruption in Paypal payment may have caused.

Command Ops: Highway to the Reich Is Now Available

Fri, 26 Jan 2012 GMT

The hotly awaited Battles from the Bulge expansion has been green-lighted and is headed for the drop zone!

Matrix Games, Slitherine, and Panther Games are thrilled to announce that Command Ops: Highway to the Reich! Serving as the first expansion to the famed Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge, Highway to the Reich parachutes players into the drama and intensity of Operation Market-Garden where they will have to use operational skill and cunning to take Holland and open a route to the heart of Germany!

Also, registered owners of the game will receive the strategy guide that came with the original Highway to the Reich game as a free download bonus from our Member’s Club! In addition, be sure to check out the brand new AAR and Scenario Feature at The Wargamer to see what Command Ops: Highway to the Reich has to offer.

About Command Ops: Highway to the Reich

As the first official expansion pack for the award winning Command Ops series, Command Ops: Highway to the Reich from acclaimed developer Panther Games brings us to the setting of one of the most epic and controversial battles of World War II: Operation Market-Garden. The Highway to the Reich expansion pack is a set of 13 scenarios covering all of the major actions that took place during the Market Garden Campaign in Holland during September 1944.

The scenarios cover every major engagement along Hell’s Highway, from the surprise capture of Joe’s Bridge by the Irish Guards a week before the offensive to the final battles on “The Island” south of Arnhem. The dramatic parachute and glider landings of the US 82nd and 101st Airborne, The British 1st Airborne and the Polish Brigade are all represented on some of the largest maps ever created for the series and the largest “campaign” scenario in this system to date. More than just a conversion of the old scenarios to play on the new system, the Expansion Pack represents a major update of Panther Games ground breaking classic game Highway to the Reich, incorporating numerous corrections to Maps, Orders of Battle, Unit Compositions, Reinforcement Schedules, and overall game play.

Command Ops: Highway to the Reichis an expansion for Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge and requires the base game to play.

Get more information on Command Ops: Highway to the Reich from its official product page.

New Screenshots for Command Ops: Highway to the Reich

Thu, 25 Jan 2012 GMT

A pack of images is headed for the drop zone to show off this anticipated wargame

Matrix Games, Slitherine, and Panther Games are excited to release a new pack of screenshots showing off the operational action coming with Command Ops: Highway to the Reich. Standing as the first expansion to the award-winning Command Ops series, Highway to the Reich chronicles the controversial Allied invasion of Holland, Operation Market Garden.

Command Ops: Highway to the Reichwill be released later this month and will be available for $24.99 Download / $34.99 Physical through the Matrix Games online store. Also, registered owners of the game will receive the strategy guide that came with the original Highway to the Reich game as a free download bonus from our Member’s Club!

In addition, be sure to check out the brand new AAR and Scenario Feature at The Wargamer to see what Command Ops: Highway to the Reich has to offer.

About Command Ops: Highway to the Reich

Command Ops: Highway to the Reichis an expansion for Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge and requires the base game to play.

Get more information on Command Ops: Highway to the Reich from its official product page and be sure to check out the new screenshots.

Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge Gets an Update

Wed, 24 Jan 2012 GMT

A quick update to polish this operational hit before the release of its first expansion!

Matrix Games, Slitherine, and Panther Games (www.panthergames.com) are pleased to release the comprehensive 4.3.249 update for Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge.

The update comes only a few days before the release of the highly anticipated first expansion to the series, Command Ops: Highway to the Reich. The update includes several fixes and improvements like improved supply and some historical tweaks for scenarios.

About Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge

Acclaimed developer Panther Games brings us to the bitter cold of Western Europe during the Winter of 1944 with Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge. Although the Battle of the Bulge is ground that has been visited by wargamers before, it has never been done with this level of fidelity and historical accuracy. The most advanced and realistic model of command decision-making implemented to date in a commercial wargame, combined with thorough historical research on the battlefields and forces involved in this campaign sets Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge apart from the competition.

Set during the hard fighting of the Battle of the Bulge, Command Ops lets gamers assess, plan, order and react at the operational level just like a real Corps, Division and Brigade commander. Hundreds of hours of gameplay await armchair generals who will be challenged to fight their way across 27 scenarios that stretch from the initial German surprise offensive to the powerful Allied counter-attack.

Command Ops: Battles from the Bulgealso sports some of the most advanced and impressive AI ever devised in an operational-level wargame! It is your choice whether to manage every detail of your army, or have the friendly AI manage the war on a lower level while you plan the larger scale maneuvers designed to make short work of your enemy. Just as a historical commander, you can choose where you need to step in and when you need to stand back and let your subordinates do their jobs.

Get the update here. The update is comprehensive and will bring all versions of Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge to 4.3.249. Get more information on Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge from its official product page.

Command Ops: Highway to the Reich Is Announced

Tue, 23 Jan 2012 GMT

Take to the skies over Europe and secure the Highway to the Reich in this new expansion

Matrix Games, Slitherine, and Panther Games (www.panthergames.com) are thrilled to announce the latest addition to the award-winning Command Ops series, Command Ops: Highway to the Reich! This exciting expansion builds upon the award-winning Command Ops game engine, revered for its realism and modeling of command, to give players many new scenarios, much more modding ability, and even a mega scenario that can serve as a continuous mini-campaign!

Be sure to check out the brand new AAR at The Wargamer to see Command Ops: Highway to the Reich in action.

Command Ops: Highway to the Reich will be released later this month and will be available for $24.99 Download / $34.99 Physical through the Matrix Games online store.

About Command Ops: Highway to the Reich

Command Ops: Highway to the Reich is an expansion for Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge and requires the base game to play.

Get more information on Command Ops: Highway to the Reich from its official product page.

Panzer Corps Named Wargame of the Year by Usenet!

Sat, 20 Jan 2012 GMT

Plus Unity of Command brings home the bronze medal in this highly competitive category

Slitherine and Matrix Games would like to congratulate The Lordz Games Studio (www.thelordzgamesstudio.com) for winning the Usenet’s Wargame of the Year Award 2011! This coveted honor is bestowed upon the best historical wargame of the year and, given the near universal critical and fan acclaim of Panzer Corps, the award is no surprise!

Slitherine and Matrix Games would also link to congratulate 2x2 Games (www.unityofcommand.net) for taking the Bronze medal in the same category for Unity of Command. Although Unity of Command is 2x2’s first release, it’s been met with great success and this award is well deserved!

About Panzer Corps

Panzer Corpsis a brand new turn-based strategy game that reinvents a classic genre. Produced and developed by a team of experts and brought to perfection by a community of hundreds of fans, the game has evolved over 2 years to become what can be defined as a modern classic! Set in World War II, Panzer Corps puts the player in charge of Axis armies, taking their core force with them through the entire war. The use of combined-arms tactics requires each general to make use of the strengths and exploit the weaknesses of their opponents. Panzer Corps is designed to replicate the feeling of a classic wargame, but brings it up to 21st century standards and to a whole new generation of gamers.

About Unity of Command

Unity of Commandlets you replay the epic conflict that was the Stalingrad Campaign of World War II. In this turn-based game of strategy and cunning, observe how opportunity leads the German army to advance recklessly into the steppes of southern Russia. And as the story unfolds, join the Soviet campaign to repel the invaders... As these legendary battles play out on the hex board, the tension of decision making and difficulties of conducting operations on a massive scale emerge. Command armies and fronts in maneuver warfare, thrust and encircle, capture cities and cross continents; but never, ever forget to watch your supply lines.

Experience the highly fluid, enormously large battles of maneuver in a turn-based strategy setting. Take command in this mobile, back-and-forth sort of war where logistics and poor weather are often the decider, and defeat and victory are sometimes just a mile, or a day, apart.

Get more information on Panzer Corps from its official on the Slitherine site or on the Matrix Games site and more information on Unity of Command from its Matrix product page.

Battle Academy Continues to Enjoy a Vibrant Modding Community

Fri, 19 Jan 2012 GMT

Well over a year after release Battle Academy remains a favorite among modders!

Slitherine and Matrix Games are proud recognize the lively and active Battle Academy modding community for their continued support of this revolutionary WWII strategy game and for giving gamers tons of extra content to enjoy!

Since Battle Academy’s release amazed the strategy community over a year ago, dozens of maps, mods, new units, and other great enhancements to the BattleAcademy experience have been released by enthusiastic gamers completely free of charge. A few of these fantastic efforts include:

The World War 1 Cambria Mod – Complete with a singleplayer and multiplayer battles, this superlative effort transforms BattleAcademy into a First World War tactical game with new units, maps and more.
Pacific Campaign 3 – Designed from the Japanese perspective, this custom campaign uses user-created Pacific-theater units, custom designed maps, and plenty more to creates a whole new Battle Academy experience.
A massive and growing list of high quality individual scenarios and campaigns including great additions like Hell’s Highway, Villers Bocage, D-Day, Desert Fox, and tons more all available for download and immediate play right from the in-game Battle Academy menus!
Many other incredible mods as well!

Philip Veale, Technical Director at Slitherine, said "We aimed to make it possible to modify almost every aspect of the game, and yet the scope and creativeness of some of the mods out there still surprises us. Customized rules, new units and textures, even WW1 - we've got a great group of modders, as well as a wider community always happy to show their appreciation to the authors of this great free content."

About Battle Academy

A turn-based strategy game like no other has landed.

Approachable, absorbing and visually impressive yet detailed, Battle Academy aims to revolutionize the strategy games market with a blend of intuitive design and compelling game play driven by cutting edge technical innovation. Inspired by an original online game concept devised by the BBC, the game has more than 30 battles in a range of theatres of war from the North African desert through D-Day to the to the snowy Ardennes mountains where the Allies battled to repel the final German offensive.

The team at Slitherine worked with Professor John Buckley, Military Historian at the University of Wolverhampton and a keen wargamer himself, to make sure that the strategy, tactics, scenarios and available firepower of the battles fought in WW2 were turned into realistic AI behavior, powering expertly crafted battles. The game engine is also completely script-driven, allowing players to create their own missions and scenario in a simple and effective way. The revolutionary server-based PBEM++ Slitherine system completes the package, for a gaming experience that will certainly please both hard core wargamers and newcomers.

Also don’t forget to check out the three Battle Academy expansions to bring your tactical gaming enjoyment to the next level: Blitzkrieg France, Operation Market Garden, and Operation Sealion.

Get more information on Battle Academy from its official product page.

Panzer Corps Continues Its Successful Campaign Across the World!

Thu, 18 Jan 2012 GMT

After a blockbuster release to the German retail market, Panzer Corps is now headed to Russia

Slitherine, Matrix Games, and The Lordz Games Studio (www.thelordzgamesstudio.com) are very proud to announce that they have reached a publishing agreement with Noviy Disk (www.nd.ru) to bring the critically acclaimed hit, Panzer Corps, to retail stores in Russia!

After taking North America and Western Europe by storm, Panzer Corps has enjoyed an unchecked campaign of success including a highly successful release to the German retail market with distribution partner dtp entertainment (www.dtp-young.com/en/) that has taken Panzer Corps to the top 20 on the German PC Game Charts (and it’s fast approaching the top ten!). But sales aren’t always everything: Panzer Corps has also stormed the presses and captured an impressive 80% Metascore on Metacritic (with an 85% User Score).

JD McNeil, Chairman of the Slitherine group, said, “Slitherine/Matrix Games are always proud to support our developers and bring their games to a truly international market. We always aim to be a real commercial force behind their products. We will continue to maximize opportunities for our developers and market their titles worldwide and continue to seek further commercial opportunities across the globe.”

Curious what all the buzz is about? Then take Panzer Corps for a spin and try it out for yourself with our newly-released playable demo!

About Panzer Corps

Set in World War II, Panzer Corps puts the player in charge of Axis armies, taking their core force with them through the entire war. The use of combined-arms tactics requires each general to make use of the strengths and exploit the weaknesses of their opponents. Its multiplayer mode, an improved version of Slitherine’s award winning PBEM++ system, allows players to easily find opponents anywhere in the world and enjoy playing them with none of the hassle.

Panzer Corps is designed to replicate the feeling of a classic wargame, but brings it up to 21st century standards and to a whole new generation of gamers.

Get more information on Panzer Corps from its official on the Slitherine site or on the Matrix Games site.

Battle Academy - Operation Sealion Is Now Available!

Wed, 17 Jan 2012 GMT

Storm across the English Channel and tackle the latest expansion in this award-winning series!

Slitherine and Matrix Games are thrilled to announce the release of Battle Academy – Operation Sealion, the latest expansion to their highly praised WWII tactical game series, Battle Academy. The expansion chronicles the hypothetical German invasion of Great Britain and comes packed with new features and content!

To mark the release of Operation Sealion, we have released a pack of screenshots (download) showing off some of the intense tactical action raging across the British homeland!

About Battle Academy – Operation Sealion

It is September 1940, and the Germans launch their invasion of Britain. In this fictional "What If?" Campaign, you command the Home Guard's desperate counterattacks against German glider troops and the tenacious defense of the South Coast Sea Front. Mount "Butcher and Bolt" missions with the clandestine Auxiliary Units or land coastal raiders from Motor Gun Boats. Can you hold back the might of Operation Sealion?

Features:

New British Units - Homeguard, Sticky Bombers, Guy Armoured Car, MkVI Light Tank, A10 and A13 Cruiser tanks, 4inch Gun Lorry, Armadillo Armoured truck, Boyes Rifle Carrier, Auxilliary Unit Commandos and snipers, and Motor Gun Boats
Ten varied single player missions - new "silent kill" attacks allow for clandestine stealth missions, while naval units allow raiders to be transported around coastal maps.
New 1940s British Terrain and Building set, complete with red postboxes and telephone kiosks.

Operation Sealionis and add on for BattleAcademy and requires Battle Academy to be played.

Get more information on Battle Academy – Operation Sealion from its official product page.

Battle Academy Is Updated to 1.7.0

Tue, 16 Jan 2012 GMT

Some tweaks, changes, and unit balancing to get this hailed title ready for the Operation Sealion release!

Slitherine and Matrix Games are happy to release the comprehensive 1.7.0 update for the Battle Academy series. The update includes a sizeable list of minor bug fixes and some other optimizations plus a bunch of unit balance changes. The update comes just before the highly anticipated release of Battle Academy – Operation Sealion, the latest exciting expansion to the series that lets the player battle over the supremacy of Britain by embarking on the hypothetical German invasion plan called Operation Sealion!

The update is available for download from the Matrix Games Battle Academy Downloads Page or by running the in-game auto-updater.

About Battlefield Academy

Approachable, absorbing and visually impressive yet detailed, Battlefield Academy aims to revolutionize the strategy games market with a blend of intuitive design and compelling game play driven by cutting edge technical innovation.

Inspired by an original online game concept devised by the BBC, the game has more than 30 battles in a range of theatres of war from the North African desert through D-Day to the to the snowy Ardennes mountains where the Allies battled to repel the final German offensive.

The team at Slitherine worked with Professor John Buckley, Military Historian at the University of Wolverhampton and a keen wargamer himself, to make sure that the strategy, tactics, scenarios and available firepower of the battles fought in WW2 were turned into realistic AI behavior, powering expertly crafted battles.

Get the update here. The update is comprehensive and will bring all previous version of BattlefieldAcademyto 1.7.0. Get more information on Battlefield Academy from its official product page.

Empires in Arms Is Updated

Fri, 12 Jan 2012 GMT

This Napoleonic strategy classic gets updated and improved

Matrix Games, Slitherine, and Australian Design Group (www.a-d-g.com.au) are excited to release the comprehensive 1.08.07 update for their famous Napoleonic strategy game, Empire in Arms. The update includes many bug fixes, several improvements to the PBEM system, and a few other enhancements.

About Empires in Arms

Take command of one of the many factions in early 19th century Europe! Empires in Arms is a grand strategy turn-based race to prove which nation is the greatest in Europe. In a bid for mastery over the continent, players can succeed where Napoleon failed or try to stop the military genius quicker than his historical enemies could!

The game moves in monthly turns where diplomacy and builds are conducted. Within the monthly turns there are a variable number of impulses where corps and fleets move about. All movement is simultaneous with battles occurring at the end of the impulse. Battles are resolved by players both picking a strategy and fighting a series of rounds in an attempt to break the enemy. Make and break alliances, declare war, invade minor nations, propose peace terms, build armies of landwehr, regulars, guards, light cavalry, heavy cavalry and artillery. Many historical leaders from the period are included to command corps and fleets, from Admiral Nelson to Marshal Davout to the Pashas of the Ottoman Empires.

The slightest mistake could be the difference between the crown of Europe or exile to St. Helena. Step into history and find your destiny in Empires in Arms!

Get the update here. The update is comprehensive and will bring all previous versions of Empires in Arms to version 1.08.07. Get more information on Empires in Arms from its official product page.

Slitherine/Matrix Games Win the Take Charge Award for 2011

Fri, 22 Dec 2011 GMT

The world’s leading strategy/wargame publisher wins exclusive recognition for sales growth and quality!

Slitherine and Matrix Games are thrilled to announce that they have won the Plimus Take Charge Award for 2011! The Plimus Take Charge Award goes to companies with only the highest quality products, a superlative level of customer satisfaction, and an elite level of sales growth. Slitherine and Matrix Games are very proud to have been selected for this prestigious award and would like to thank their customers for making this possible.

JD McNeil, Chairman of the Slitherine group, said, “Slitherine and Matrix Games are committed to expanding the wargames and strategy games sector of the video games industry and this year we have experienced unprecedented growth combined with the highest levels of satisfaction from our customers. The Take Charge Award is a credit to our team and to the best bunch of developers in the business.”

About the Take Charge Award

In 2010 when Plimus launched the “Round Table” program, it was their intention that it would be another tool to help improve the sales of their larger sellers. As a result, they made improvements to their systems and processes and learned lessons that would be of benefit to sellers of all sizes. As a thank you – Plimus started a small recognition program called “Take Charge”, representing their top vendors who achieved the greatest growth. Plimus intended that the award will be a stimulus for expansion and good practice.

This year for 2011 Plimus awarded “Take Charge” to their top 30 sellers based on sales growth and volume. Also considered were the quality of products offered. As Plimus limited these awards it’s a pretty exclusive ‘club’ of businesses that have successfully taken charge of their businesses

More information about Slitherine and Matrix Games are available from their respective websites.

Happy Holidays from Matrix Games!

Wed, 20 Dec 2011 GMT

Santa’s wargaming elves at Matrix are going on holiday but our store is still hard at work getting gifts to you and yours!

Matrix Games would like to wish everyone a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year! In the spirit of holiday cheer, Matrix Games will be running with an abbreviated staff effective Friday, December 16th at 5PM EST until Tuesday, January 3rd. As a result, some replies from Matrix Games may be delayed.

Is there still a wargamer you know in need of a gift? Despite the holiday staffing break, the Matrix Games online store is still working hard to fill orders in time for Christmas. And don't forget we have a great holiday sale event going on right now. A huge selection of Matrix Games products are now on sale at up to 30% off or more, but act fast because this sale will end Midnight on January 8th!