Software:The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian

From HandWiki
The Scorpion King:
Rise of the Akkadian
Developer(s)Point of View, Inc.
Publisher(s)Universal Interactive
Producer(s)Jon Sieker
Designer(s)Edward Linley
Programmer(s)Rich Rempel
Artist(s)Ivan Enriquez
Composer(s)Rik Schaffer
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, GameCube
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • NA: September 10, 2002[1]
  • EU: November 29, 2002
GameCube
  • NA: September 10, 2002[1]
  • EU: December 5, 2002
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian is an action-adventure game released in 2002 for both GameCube and the PlayStation 2. The game was developed by Point of View, Inc. and was published by Universal Interactive. The game serves as a prequel to the film The Scorpion King, and Dwayne Johnson provided the voice for Mathayus, whom he played in the film.

Plot

The game opens with Mathayus, his half-brother, Jesup and their friend Rama, training in the art of combat. After completing his training with his half-brother, the Akkadian king Urhmet sends Mathayus to assassinate the Lord of Khemet, who has murdered one of his loyal concubines.

Upon arriving in the warlord's chambers, he finds the warlord dead and eaten. Anubis himself appears before him and Mathayus fights him. Temporarily defeating Anubis, Magus reveals himself - he set Mathayus up so that he would run into Magus on purpose. He wants to employ Mathayus' services for his own ends and when Mathayus refuses, Magus imprisons him in his underground prison.

Mathayus meets Hammet, an old man who was also trapped there for refusing to help Magus. Mathayus and Hammet escape the underground prison and make their way back to the Akkadian village where Mathayus trained with his brothers. Magus had attacked the village and after fighting his troops off, Mathayus finds Rama gravely injured and vows to find Magus. He is attacked by Horus and is forced to kill them before he can leave.

He makes for the Isle of Crete, but is shipwrecked along the way. He finds out about a Minotaur threatening the Isle and causing trouble for the inhabitants. Mathayus says he will fight the Minotaur himself and kills all resistance on his way, and kills the Minotaur in the end.

After defeating the Minotaur, Mathayus finds himself in the land of the Sphinx. After killing the Sphinx and entering the Netherworld he hears the voice of Ptar telling him of the Sword of Osiris. Mathayus gathers the pieces of the broken blade and takes them to Ptar's chambers, where Ptar fixes the Sword of Osiris and gives it to Mathayus, warning him to never let it fall into the wrong hands. On his way back into the land of the living he is stopped by Apep, who tells him he must die because no living man is allowed in the Netherworld. Mathayus defeats Apep and leaves.

After leaving the Netherworld, Mathayus finds himself in Magus' gardens, and after making his way through and killing all opposition he arrives at the Tower of Babel, where Magus is said to reside. He scales the tower and finds Hammet at the top, who tells him that Magus still had troops in the mountains near his village, and kidnapped Jesup and Rama shortly after he left them. Mathayus cuts Hammet down with the Sword of Osiris, freeing him, but Hammet then attacks Mathayus and knocks him down. He reveals himself to be Magus in disguise, allowing him to surprise Mathayus and imprison him as well. He takes the Sword of Osiris and prepares to summon Set, the lord of Chaos and claim dominion over the world. He says he used Mathayus to enter the Netherworld and retrieve the Sword for him. Mathayus fights and defeats Magus, but Magus laughs at him, saying that in order to become Set, he needed to be defeated by his enemy. Thus, he transforms into Set and attempts to kill Mathayus and rule the world. However, Mathayus kills him with the Sword of Osiris and sets Jesup and Rama free. The three brothers walk out and leave the tower as it explodes and releases a beacon of energy into the sky.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GCPS2
Game Informer3/10[2]N/A
GameProN/AStarStarHalf star[3]
GameSpot4.2/10[4]4/10[5]
GameZone7/10[6]5.6/10[7]
IGN5.7/10[8]6.2/10[9]
NGC Magazine30%[10]N/A
Nintendo Power2.8/5[11]N/A
Nintendo World Report3/10[12]N/A
OPM (US)N/AStarStar[13]
X-PlayN/AStarStar[14]
Entertainment WeeklyD[15]D[15]
Aggregate scores
GameRankings46.70%[19]50.87%[18]
Metacritic49/100[16]47/100[17]

The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[16][17]

In his review of the GameCube version for GameSpot, Brad Shoemaker said the game was similar to the film, in that it had a "very thin plot" and was not "very interesting or entertaining". He found the combat "flimsy and frustrating" and found the graphics at best "serviceable", if a "little bland".[4] Jeremy Dunham writing for IGN, complemented "the inclusion of an RPG-like experience structure", as well as the collect-a-thon style gameplay. However, he thought that "ultimately, the game ends up being way to easy for its own good" because the combat system was so basic and concluded that the game was likely a "tragic victim of the hurried movie license".[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "PlayStation 2: The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian". 2004-04-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20040406061302/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/370/370600p1.html. 
  2. ↑ "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian (GC)". Game Informer (114): 87. October 2002. 
  3. ↑ Manny LaMancha (October 9, 2002). "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050212135244/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/26555.shtml. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Shoemaker, Brad (November 6, 2002). "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian Review (GC)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-scorpion-king-rise-of-the-akkadian-review/1900-2896894/. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  5. ↑ Shoemaker, Brad (September 24, 2002). "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian Review (PS2)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-scorpion-king-rise-of-the-akkadian/1900-2881403/. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  6. ↑ Knutson, Michael (September 18, 2002). "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian Review - GameCube". Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090502000524/http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19678.htm. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  7. ↑ Valentino, Nick (September 20, 2002). "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian Review - PlayStation 2". Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081005005630/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19678.htm. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dunham, Jeremy (September 18, 2002). "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian (GCN)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/18/the-scorpion-king-rise-of-the-akkadian. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  9. ↑ Dunham, Jeremy (September 10, 2002). "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian (PS2)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/10/the-scorpion-king-rise-of-the-akkadian-2. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  10. ↑ "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian". NGC Magazine. 2002. 
  11. ↑ "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian". Nintendo Power 161: 196. October 2002. 
  12. ↑ Kontras, Adam (October 21, 2002). "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian". http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/3975/the-scorpion-king-rise-of-the-akkadian-gamecube. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  13. ↑ Zuniga, Todd (November 2002). "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 188. Archived from the original on May 31, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040531200745/http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1489574,00.asp. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  14. ↑ Rubenstein, Glenn (October 14, 2002). "'Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian' (PS2) Review". X-Play. Archived from the original on October 21, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20021021172733/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3402254,00.html. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Brooks, Mark (September 27, 2002). "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian Review". Entertainment Weekly (674): 89. http://www.ew.com/article/2002/09/27/scorpion-king-rise-akkadian. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian for GameCube Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-scorpion-king-rise-of-the-akkadian/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian for PlayStation 2 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-scorpion-king-rise-of-the-akkadian/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved June 24, 2014. 
  18. ↑ "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian". https://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/537811-the-scorpion-king-rise-of-the-akkadian/index.html. 
  19. ↑ "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian". https://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/537810-the-scorpion-king-rise-of-the-akkadian/index.html. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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