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{{Short description|American video game developer}}
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'''Atomic Games, Inc.''' was an American [[video game developer]] based in [[Austin, Texas]], specializing in [[Computer wargame|wargames]]. The company was founded by Keith Zabalaoui in 1989, and is best known for developing the ''[[Close Combat (series)|Close Combat]]'' series of [[Real-time tactics|real-time]] wargames, as well as the ''[[V for Victory (video game)|V for Victory]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/113599/Interview_Atomic_Games_Tamte_On_New_Projects_Return_Of_Close_Combat.php|title=Interview: Atomic Games' Tamte On New Projects, Return Of Close Combat|first=Chris|last=Remo|publisher=}}</ref> In December 2000, due to the cancellation of a project titled ''[[Hammer's Slammers]]'', Atomic Games laid off its entire staff, only keeping three executives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brokentoys.org/?p=911|title=AND ANOTHER ONES GONE, ANOTHER ONES GONE… [Author: Arcadian Del Sol]|date=December 13, 2000|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/atomic-games-shuts-down/1100-2663819/|title=Atomic Games Shuts Down|first=Trey|last=Walker|date=May 17, 2006|publisher=}}</ref> Atomic Games was acquired by [[Destineer]] on May 6, 2005, while collaborating on ''Close Combat: Red Phoenix'' and ''[[Close Combat: First to Fight]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1044690/destineer.html|title=Destineer acquires Atomic Games|website=Macworld}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Destineer_Buys_Close_Combat_Developer_Atomic_Games|title=Destineer Buys Close Combat Developer Atomic Games – The Mac Observer|website=www.macobserver.com}}</ref> Atomic Games was developing a [[third-person shooter]], ''[[Six Days in Fallujah]]'', in cooperation with [[Konami]], until the latter decided to withdraw from the project in August 2009, causing significant layoffs at Atomic Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/rumor-atomic-games-is-pretty-much-dead/|title=Rumor: Atomic Games is 'pretty much dead'|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/115690/Atomic_Sees_Layoffs_As_Controversial_Fallujah_Fails_To_Find_Publisher.php|title=Atomic Sees Layoffs As Controversial Fallujah Fails To Find Publisher|first=Leigh|last=Alexander|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5331496/six-days-in-fallujah-causes-casualties-at-atomic-games|title=Six Days In Fallujah Causes Casualties At Atomic Games|first=Mike|last=Fahey|publisher=}}</ref> The company went on to finish the game, but never released it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/03/02/six-days-in-fallujah-finished-still-coming-out|title=Six Days in Fallujah Finished, Still Coming Out|first=Jim|last=Reilly|date=March 2, 2010|publisher=}}</ref> Atomic Games released the game called ''[[Breach (2011 video game)|Breach]]'', which is a multiplayer-only downloadable first-person shooter.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAX East 10: Atomic Games Wants to Level the Battlefield|website=IGN.com|first=Daemon|last=Hatfield|accessdate=March 25, 2010|date=March 25, 2010|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/03/26/pax-east-10-atomic-games-wants-to-level-the-battlefield}}</ref> Destineer also owned [http://www.gamespy.com/company/486/486839.html Bold Games], and [[MacSoft]], who also went down with Destineer
'''Atomic Games, Inc.''' was an American [[video game developer]] based in [[Austin, Texas]], specializing in [[Computer wargame|wargames]]. The company was founded by Keith Zabalaoui in 1989, and is best known for developing the ''[[Close Combat (series)|Close Combat]]'' series of [[Real-time tactics|real-time]] wargames, as well as the ''[[V for Victory (video game)|V for Victory]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/113599/Interview_Atomic_Games_Tamte_On_New_Projects_Return_Of_Close_Combat.php|title=Interview: Atomic Games' Tamte On New Projects, Return Of Close Combat|first=Chris|last=Remo|date=March 11, 2009|publisher=}}</ref> In December 2000, due to the cancellation of a project titled ''[[Hammer's Slammers]]'', Atomic Games laid off its entire staff, only keeping three executives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brokentoys.org/?p=911|title=AND ANOTHER ONES GONE, ANOTHER ONES GONE… [Author: Arcadian Del Sol]|date=December 13, 2000|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/atomic-games-shuts-down/1100-2663819/|title=Atomic Games Shuts Down|first=Trey|last=Walker|date=May 17, 2006|publisher=}}</ref> Atomic Games was acquired by [[Destineer]] on May 6, 2005, while collaborating on ''Close Combat: Red Phoenix'' and ''[[Close Combat: First to Fight]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1044690/destineer.html|title=Destineer acquires Atomic Games|website=Macworld}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/Destineer_Buys_Close_Combat_Developer_Atomic_Games|title=Destineer Buys Close Combat Developer Atomic Games – The Mac Observer|website=www.macobserver.com}}</ref> Atomic Games was developing a [[third-person shooter]], ''[[Six Days in Fallujah]]'', in cooperation with [[Konami]], until the latter decided to withdraw from the project in August 2009, causing significant layoffs at Atomic Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/08/07/rumor-atomic-games-is-pretty-much-dead/|title=Rumor: Atomic Games is 'pretty much dead'|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/115690/Atomic_Sees_Layoffs_As_Controversial_Fallujah_Fails_To_Find_Publisher.php|title=Atomic Sees Layoffs As Controversial Fallujah Fails To Find Publisher|first=Leigh|last=Alexander|date=August 6, 2009|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5331496/six-days-in-fallujah-causes-casualties-at-atomic-games|title=Six Days In Fallujah Causes Casualties At Atomic Games|first=Mike|last=Fahey|date=August 6, 2009 |publisher=}}</ref> The company went on to finish the game, but never released it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/03/02/six-days-in-fallujah-finished-still-coming-out|title=Six Days in Fallujah Finished, Still Coming Out|first=Jim|last=Reilly|date=March 2, 2010|publisher=}}</ref> Atomic Games released the game called ''[[Breach (2011 video game)|Breach]]'', which is a multiplayer-only downloadable first-person shooter.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAX East 10: Atomic Games Wants to Level the Battlefield|website=IGN.com|first=Daemon|last=Hatfield|accessdate=March 25, 2010|date=March 25, 2010|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2010/03/26/pax-east-10-atomic-games-wants-to-level-the-battlefield}}</ref> Destineer also owned [http://www.gamespy.com/company/486/486839.html Bold Games], and [[MacSoft]], who also went down with Destineer


==With Avalon Hill==
==With Avalon Hill==
{{expand section|date=April 2018}}
{{expand section|date=April 2018}}
Atomic Games was signed to Avalon Hill in 1993 by the company's Jim Rose,<ref name=emrich6>{{cite journal| author=Emrich, Alan |title=How Goes the Battle? |date=November 1993 |issue=112| journal=[[Computer Gaming World]] | page=164 }}</ref><ref name=kzinterview>{{cite journal | author=Hawthorne, Don | journal=[[The General (magazine)|The General]] | title=Silicon Simulations |date=1993 | volume=29 | number=1 | pages=54, 55 }}</ref> and began developing ''Beyond Squad Leader'' and the ''World at War'' series for its new publisher.<ref name=kzinterview /><ref name=emrich1>{{cite journal| author=Emrich, Alan |title=Turning the Telescope Around; G-2 |date=November 1995 |issue=136| journal=[[Computer Gaming World]] | pages=253, 254, 256 }}</ref><ref name=emrich4>{{cite journal| author=Emrich, Alan |title=When in Illuria, Do as the ''Warlords'' Do; G-2 |date=August 1994 |issue=121| journal=[[Computer Gaming World]] | pages=101, 102 }}</ref> Rose, hired to lead Avalon Hill's computer game division in December 1992,<ref name=jimrosehired>{{cite journal | author=Rose, Jim | title=Silicon Simulations | journal=[[The General (magazine)|The General]] | page=57 | volume=28 | issue=4 | date=1993 }}</ref> had been tasked with reviving this section of the business in the face of flagging board game sales.<ref name=greenwood>{{cite journal | author=Greenwood, Don | journal=[[The General (magazine)|The General]] | title=The Avalon Hill Philosophy Part 161: A Tale of Two Companies |date=1994 | volume=29 | number=2 | page=3 }}</ref> The two companies' first collaboration, ''Operation Crusader'', reused the engine of the ''[[V for Victory]]'' series. ''[[PC Gamer US]]'' wargame columnist [[William R. Trotter]] named it one of the top-five wargames of 1994.<ref name=best1994>{{cite journal | author=Trotter, William R. | authorlink=William R. Trotter | title=The Desktop General; The Best and Worst of 1994 | date=February 1995 | number=2 | volume=2 | page=133 }}</ref>
Atomic Games was signed to Avalon Hill in 1993 by the company's Jim Rose,<ref name=emrich6>{{cite magazine| author=Emrich, Alan |title=How Goes the Battle? |date=November 1993 |issue=112| magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | page=164 }}</ref><ref name=kzinterview>{{cite journal | author=Hawthorne, Don | journal=[[The General (magazine)|The General]] | title=Silicon Simulations |date=1993 | volume=29 | number=1 | pages=54, 55 }}</ref> and began developing ''Beyond Squad Leader'' and the ''World at War'' series for its new publisher.<ref name=kzinterview /><ref name=emrich1>{{cite magazine| author=Emrich, Alan |title=Turning the Telescope Around; G-2 |date=November 1995 |issue=136| magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | pages=253, 254, 256 }}</ref><ref name=emrich4>{{cite magazine| author=Emrich, Alan |title=When in Illuria, Do as the ''Warlords'' Do; G-2 |date=August 1994 |issue=121| magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | pages=101, 102 }}</ref> Rose, hired to lead Avalon Hill's computer game division in December 1992,<ref name=jimrosehired>{{cite journal | author=Rose, Jim | title=Silicon Simulations | journal=[[The General (magazine)|The General]] | page=57 | volume=28 | issue=4 | date=1993 }}</ref> had been tasked with reviving this section of the business in the face of flagging board game sales.<ref name=greenwood>{{cite journal | author=Greenwood, Don | journal=[[The General (magazine)|The General]] | title=The Avalon Hill Philosophy Part 161: A Tale of Two Companies |date=1994 | volume=29 | number=2 | page=3 }}</ref> The two companies' first collaboration, ''Operation Crusader'', reused the engine of the ''[[V for Victory]]'' series. ''[[PC Gamer US]]'' wargame columnist [[William R. Trotter]] named it one of the top-five wargames of 1994.<ref name=best1994>{{cite journal | author=Trotter, William R. | authorlink=William R. Trotter | title=The Desktop General; The Best and Worst of 1994 | date=February 1995 | number=2 | volume=2 | page=133 }}</ref>


Atomic and Avalon experienced creative friction during the development of their projects together.<ref name=retrospective>{{cite journal| author=Coleman, Terry |title=''Close Combat III''; Atomic for Power, Turbines for Speed |date=January 1999 |issue=174| journal=[[Computer Gaming World]] | pages=82, 83, 86 }}</ref><ref name=trotter2>{{cite journal | author=Trotter, William R.| journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | title=The Desktop General; Avalon Hill: On the Ropes or On a Roll? |date=December 1995 | volume=2 | issue=12 | pages=303, 304 }}</ref><ref name=emrich1 /> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' columnist Alan Emrich wrote in 1995, "To say there was no love lost between [...] Jim Rose and Atomic's Keith Zabalaoui would be a gracious understatement."<ref name=emrich1 /> By June 1995, Rose had left Avalon Hill to found [[TalonSoft]], and ''Beyond Squad Leader'' had entered alpha testing.<ref name=emrich5>{{cite journal| author=Emrich, Alan |title=Dealing with the Fog of War; G-2 |date=June 1995 |issue=131| journal=[[Computer Gaming World]] | pages=153, 154 }}</ref>
Atomic and Avalon experienced creative friction during the development of their projects together.<ref name=retrospective>{{cite magazine| author=Coleman, Terry |title=''Close Combat III''; Atomic for Power, Turbines for Speed |date=January 1999 |issue=174| magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | pages=82, 83, 86 }}</ref><ref name=trotter2>{{cite journal | author=Trotter, William R.| journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | title=The Desktop General; Avalon Hill: On the Ropes or On a Roll? |date=December 1995 | volume=2 | issue=12 | pages=303, 304 }}</ref><ref name=emrich1 /> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' columnist Alan Emrich wrote in 1995, "To say there was no love lost between [...] Jim Rose and Atomic's Keith Zabalaoui would be a gracious understatement."<ref name=emrich1 /> By June 1995, Rose had left Avalon Hill to found [[TalonSoft]], and ''Beyond Squad Leader'' had entered alpha testing.<ref name=emrich5>{{cite magazine| author=Emrich, Alan |title=Dealing with the Fog of War; G-2 |date=June 1995 |issue=131| magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | pages=153, 154 }}</ref>

==Games==
*''[[V for Victory: D-Day Utah Beach]]'' (1991)
*''[[V for Victory: Velikiye Luki]]'' (1992)
*''[[V for Victory: Market-Garden]]'' (1993)
*''[[V for Victory: Gold-Juno-Sword]]'' (1993)
*''[[Operation Crusader (video game)|Operation Crusader]]'' (1994)
*''[[World at War: Stalingrad]]'' (1995)
*''[[D-Day: America Invades]]'' (1995)
*''[[Close Combat (video game)|Close Combat]]'' (1996)
*''[[Close Combat: A Bridge Too Far]]'' (1997)
*''[[Close Combat III: The Russian Front]]'' (1999)
*''[[Close Combat: Battle of the Bulge]]'' (1999)
*''[[Close Combat: Invasion: Normandy]]'' (2000)
*''[[Close Combat: Marines]]'' (2004)
*''[[Breach (2011 video game)|Breach]]'' (2011)
*''[[Six Days in Fallujah]]'' (2023)


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 20:47, 1 July 2023

Atomic Games, Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1989 (1989)
FounderKeith Zabalaoui
DefunctMay 2011 (2011-05)
FateDissolved together with parent
Headquarters
Austin, Texas
,
U.S.
Key people
Peter Tamte
ParentDestineer (2005–2011)
Websiteatomicgames.com

Atomic Games, Inc. was an American video game developer based in Austin, Texas, specializing in wargames. The company was founded by Keith Zabalaoui in 1989, and is best known for developing the Close Combat series of real-time wargames, as well as the V for Victory series.[1] In December 2000, due to the cancellation of a project titled Hammer's Slammers, Atomic Games laid off its entire staff, only keeping three executives.[2][3] Atomic Games was acquired by Destineer on May 6, 2005, while collaborating on Close Combat: Red Phoenix and Close Combat: First to Fight.[4][5] Atomic Games was developing a third-person shooter, Six Days in Fallujah, in cooperation with Konami, until the latter decided to withdraw from the project in August 2009, causing significant layoffs at Atomic Games.[6][7][8] The company went on to finish the game, but never released it.[9] Atomic Games released the game called Breach, which is a multiplayer-only downloadable first-person shooter.[10] Destineer also owned Bold Games, and MacSoft, who also went down with Destineer

With Avalon Hill[edit]

Atomic Games was signed to Avalon Hill in 1993 by the company's Jim Rose,[11][12] and began developing Beyond Squad Leader and the World at War series for its new publisher.[12][13][14] Rose, hired to lead Avalon Hill's computer game division in December 1992,[15] had been tasked with reviving this section of the business in the face of flagging board game sales.[16] The two companies' first collaboration, Operation Crusader, reused the engine of the V for Victory series. PC Gamer US wargame columnist William R. Trotter named it one of the top-five wargames of 1994.[17]

Atomic and Avalon experienced creative friction during the development of their projects together.[18][19][13] Computer Gaming World columnist Alan Emrich wrote in 1995, "To say there was no love lost between [...] Jim Rose and Atomic's Keith Zabalaoui would be a gracious understatement."[13] By June 1995, Rose had left Avalon Hill to found TalonSoft, and Beyond Squad Leader had entered alpha testing.[20]

Games[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Remo, Chris (March 11, 2009). "Interview: Atomic Games' Tamte On New Projects, Return Of Close Combat".
  2. ^ "AND ANOTHER ONES GONE, ANOTHER ONES GONE… [Author: Arcadian Del Sol]". December 13, 2000.
  3. ^ Walker, Trey (May 17, 2006). "Atomic Games Shuts Down".
  4. ^ "Destineer acquires Atomic Games". Macworld.
  5. ^ "Destineer Buys Close Combat Developer Atomic Games – The Mac Observer". www.macobserver.com.
  6. ^ "Rumor: Atomic Games is 'pretty much dead'".
  7. ^ Alexander, Leigh (August 6, 2009). "Atomic Sees Layoffs As Controversial Fallujah Fails To Find Publisher".
  8. ^ Fahey, Mike (August 6, 2009). "Six Days In Fallujah Causes Casualties At Atomic Games".
  9. ^ Reilly, Jim (March 2, 2010). "Six Days in Fallujah Finished, Still Coming Out".
  10. ^ Hatfield, Daemon (March 25, 2010). "PAX East 10: Atomic Games Wants to Level the Battlefield". IGN.com. Retrieved March 25, 2010.
  11. ^ Emrich, Alan (November 1993). "How Goes the Battle?". Computer Gaming World. No. 112. p. 164.
  12. ^ a b Hawthorne, Don (1993). "Silicon Simulations". The General. 29 (1): 54, 55.
  13. ^ a b c Emrich, Alan (November 1995). "Turning the Telescope Around; G-2". Computer Gaming World. No. 136. pp. 253, 254, 256.
  14. ^ Emrich, Alan (August 1994). "When in Illuria, Do as the Warlords Do; G-2". Computer Gaming World. No. 121. pp. 101, 102.
  15. ^ Rose, Jim (1993). "Silicon Simulations". The General. 28 (4): 57.
  16. ^ Greenwood, Don (1994). "The Avalon Hill Philosophy Part 161: A Tale of Two Companies". The General. 29 (2): 3.
  17. ^ Trotter, William R. (February 1995). "The Desktop General; The Best and Worst of 1994". 2 (2): 133. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ^ Coleman, Terry (January 1999). "Close Combat III; Atomic for Power, Turbines for Speed". Computer Gaming World. No. 174. pp. 82, 83, 86.
  19. ^ Trotter, William R. (December 1995). "The Desktop General; Avalon Hill: On the Ropes or On a Roll?". PC Gamer US. 2 (12): 303, 304.
  20. ^ Emrich, Alan (June 1995). "Dealing with the Fog of War; G-2". Computer Gaming World. No. 131. pp. 153, 154.

External links[edit]


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