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101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy

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101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy
Developer(s)Interactive Simulations
Publisher(s)Empire Interactive
Platform(s)Windows
ReleaseOctober 1998
Genre(s)Turn-based tactics, computer wargame
Mode(s)Single-player

101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy is a 1998 computer wargame developed by Interactive Simulations and published by Empire Interactive.[1] Key members of the team had previously worked at Random Games, developer of Soldiers at War and Wages of War.

Gameplay

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101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy is a turn-based computer wargame that simulates combat at the squad level, in a manner that has been compared to games such as X-COM. The game recreates the 101st Airborne Division's use of paratroopers during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II.[2]

Development

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101 was developed by Interactive Simulations, Inc. (ISI),[1] a team started by former members of Random Games, creator of Soldiers at War and Wages of War.[2] ISI president Tim Brooks said that he founded the studio to obtain "more control over deciding what went into the game and what didn't go into the game."[3] 101 was released in October 1998.[4]

Reception

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101 sold 10,000 copies in the United States by April 1999, according to Tim Brooks. James Fudge of Computer Games Strategy Plus called the game "semi-popular" by that time,[8] while Wargamer's Mario Kroll dubbed it a commercial flop in 2003. He explained that it had failed to secure the retail shelf space necessary to succeed: "copies of the game weren't available over Christmas after the release, and shortly thereafter its developer went belly-up, completely abandoned by its publisher", he wrote. Kroll noted that 101's distribution issues were part of a trend for less established development teams at the time.[9]

According to Kroll, 101 "received plenty of positive press".[9] CNET Gamecenter, GameSpot and Computer Games Strategy Plus nominated it for their respective "Wargame of the Year" prizes, which went variously to The Operational Art of War I: 1939–1955 and People's General.[10][11][12]

In Computer Games Strategy Plus, David Finn offered 101 a glowing review and hailed it as "probably the first tactical squad level wargame with this scope of realism and detail."[5] William R. Trotter of PC Gamer US was also positive.[1] Writing for GameSpot, Alan Dunkin remarked, "While the scope is limited and the level of detail can intimidate some, 101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy is a winner."[2]

Tim Carter of Computer Gaming World and Ian Marsh of Britain's PC Gaming World were critical of 101.[6][7] Marsh argued that "the gameplay sucks",[7] a complaint largely echoed by Carter: he wrote that the design "might be realistic, but it makes for a lousy game—especially with the incredible number of technical flaws that you are subjected to."[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Trotter, William R. (April 1999). "101: The 101st Airborne in Normandy". PC Gamer US. Archived from the original on December 1, 1999.
  2. ^ a b c d Dunkin, Alan (December 7, 1998). "101 Airborne: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 13, 2004.
  3. ^ Walker, Mark H. (July 20, 1998). "101: The 101st Airborne in Normandy Interview". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on March 19, 2005.
  4. ^ Jebens, Harley (October 14, 1998). "Normandy Invaded (Again)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 11, 2000.
  5. ^ a b Finn, David (November 9, 1998). "101st: Airborne Invasion of Normandy". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on March 19, 2005.
  6. ^ a b c Carter, Tim (February 1999). "Jumping Into Disaster". Computer Gaming World. No. 175. p. 226.
  7. ^ a b c Marsh, Ian (November 12, 1998). "101: The 101st Airborne In Normandy Review". PC Gaming World. Archived from the original on October 10, 1999.
  8. ^ Fudge, James (April 9, 1999). "101st Airborne in Normandy Sequel Being Considered". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on March 19, 2005.
  9. ^ a b Walker, Mark H. (June 25, 2003). Games That Sell!. Wordware Publishing. p. 194. ISBN 155622950X.
  10. ^ Staff. "GameSpot's Best and Worst of 1998". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000.
  11. ^ Staff (February 11, 1999). "The Best of 1998". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Archived from the original on February 3, 2005.
  12. ^ "The CNET Gamecenter.com Awards for 1998". CNET Gamecenter. January 29, 1999. Archived from the original on December 16, 2000. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
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