31 Mar 2003

Matrix Games and Panther Games Join Forces

Airborne Assault®: Highway to the Reich In Development

Woodbridge, NJ, March 31st, 2003 - Matrix Games and Panther Games are pleased to announce a new partnership aimed at producing outstanding new wargames based on the critically acclaimed Airborne Assault® engine. In development currently is Airborne Assault®: Highway to the Reich covering all three battles from operation Market Garden. This will include the battles for Arnhem ( with the British 1st Abn Division, as covered in their first game Airborne Assault: Red Devils over Arnhem ), Nijmegen ( with the US 82nd Airborne Division ) and Eindhoven ( with the US 101st Abn Div ). This will be the first in this series to be published through Matrix Games.

“Panther Games’ new Airborne Assault®: Highway to the Reich will showcase one of the most outstanding yet relatively unknown wargames of the past few years,” said David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, "We’re excited to have a chance to work with the Panther Games team and to bring their revolutionary designs to wargamers around the world."

Dave O’Connor, President of Panther Games, stated, “Over the last year, Matrix Games has shown itself to be a leader in wargame development, distribution and publishing. Forging a relationship with the fast-growing Matrix Games team will help us to reach as large an audience as possible with our wargames without watering down our designs.”

The Airborne Assault®: Highway to the Reich system features a pausable real-time movement and combat system with a very strong AI. This design allows the player to choose how much to delegate to subordinates and what to handle personally, without the usual concern involved with leaving formations in the computer’s hands. Realistic command delays and supply procedures are integrated with meticulous order of battle and equipment research to allow the player to experience combat and command challenges that are remarkably true to history.

A whole host of new features and enhancements are being developed for Airborne Assault®: Highway to the Reich, including significant improvements to the graphics, interface, AI, scenario and map editors. Users will also be able to modify the map graphics. Full details are available from http://www.matrixgames.com/.