Software:2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge

From HandWiki
Short description: Ice hockey arcade game by Midway Games from 1995
2 On 2 Open Ice Challenge
Windows cover art
Developer(s)Midway Games
Avalanche Software (PS)
Publisher(s)Midway Home Entertainment
GT Interactive
Platform(s)Arcade, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
ReleaseArcade
  • NA: November 1, 1995
PlayStation
  • NA: December 13, 1996
Windows
  • EU: 1996
  • NA: August 31, 1997
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemMidway Wolf Unit hardware

2 On 2 Open Ice Challenge, also known as NHL Open Ice: 2 on 2 Challenge, or just NHL Open Ice, is an ice hockey arcade game released by Midway Games in 1995.[1] It features comically exaggerated hockey play, causing it to often be described as an ice hockey equivalent to Midway's NBA Jam.[2][3] It was ported to PlayStation in 1996. The game would be similar to its arcade counterpart with exception to the fact that the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix after the conclusion of the 1995–96 season, thus the Phoenix Coyotes replaced the Jets in the PlayStation port. In addition, much of the team's roster was changed, including its goalie, Tim Cheveldae being replaced by Nikolai Khabibulin, therefore Cheveldae was unable to be a goalie playing for any team in the PlayStation version.

Open Ice was released on PC (Windows) in 1996-1997 featuring the same roster and teams as the PlayStation version. This game is an official licensed product of the NHLPA (National Hockey League Players Association).

Development

Jack Haeger was lead game designer and an avid hockey player. The lead programmer was Mark Penacho, assisted by Bill Dabelstein. Sound design and music by Jon Hey. The skating sounds were recorded by Jon Hey at the Chicago Park District's only indoor ice rink, McFetridge Sports Center, which is just a block North of what was once Midway's Chicago studios. The announcer in the game is the famous voice of the Chicago Blackhawks Pat Foley. If a team achieves "On-Fire" status (made famous initially by Midway's NBA Jam), Pat Foley's voice will occasionally announce: "Toasty", a reference to Mortal Kombat. A version of 2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge for Panasonic M2 was in development and slated to be one of the launch titles but it never occurred due to the system's cancellation.[4]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
ArcadePCPS
AllGameStarStarStarStar[5]StarStarStarHalf star[6]StarStarHalf star[7]
CGSPN/AStarStarHalf star[8]N/A
CGWN/AStarStar[9]N/A
EGMN/AN/A6.25/10[10]
Game InformerN/AN/A7.5/10[11]
GameFanN/AN/A79%[12][lower-alpha 1]
GameSpotN/A7/10[13]7.1/10[14]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[15]N/AStarStar[16]
OPM (UK)N/AN/A3/10[17]

Reviewing the arcade version, Next Generation called the game "NBA Jam on ice", and said it would be particularly appreciated since arcade hockey games were almost unheard of at the time. They applauded the game's full NHL licensing and player rosters, flaming pucks, two-on-two mode, commentary, and overall depth and playability of its hockey action, and concluded that "Williams rarely makes a bad move, and Open Ice is testament to its conservative but consistent quality games."[15] Bruised Lee of GamePro similarly said the game "proves that Midway will continue to dominate the arcade sports market long after the success of NBA Jam." He praised the numerous Easter eggs, sharp graphics, fluid animation, and variety of moves.[18][lower-alpha 2] Brad Cook of AllGame called the same game "a must play for any hockey fan."[5]

In 1996 the arcade version was placed on display in the Hockey Hall of Fame.[19]

The PlayStation and PC versions divided reviewers. Jeff Kitts of GameSpot, The Rookie of GamePro, and Dean Hager of Electronic Gaming Monthly all agreed that it offered fun and fast NBA Jam-style hockey and was a faithful translation of the arcade version.[10][20][14] Kitts acknowledged problems with the animations but praised the inclusion of novelty power-up codes, and judged the game an overall refreshing break from realistic hockey sims.[14] The Rookie went so far as to say that it "shoots and scores at every level."[20][lower-alpha 3] In contrast, Hager's co-reviewer Kraig Kujawa said it "doesn't seem to capture the magic that made [NBA Jam] so popular", and that it compares poorly to its similar contemporary, Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey for the Nintendo 64.[10] Next Generation agreed that it simply lacked the spark of NBA Jam, and also "fails to capture the coin-op's flashy essence", citing smaller characters, missing frames of animation, a weaker color palette, and missing audio effects compared to the arcade version.[16] Official UK PlayStation Magazine said that players should "avoid the game at all costs."[17]

Stephen Poole of GameSpot said of the PC version, "NHL Open Ice isn't the kind of game you'll play for hours on end, but it is the kind that you can fire up just about any time for 20 or 30 minutes of fun, or leave running at your next party for your guests to enjoy. Except for the graphics in the full-screen mode, they'll think they're at the arcade - and with a game like this, you can't ask any more than that."[13]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ In GameFan's viewpoint of the PlayStation version, one critic gave it 73, and the other 85.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the arcade version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and control, 4/5 for sound, and 5/5 for fun factor.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation version 4/5 for graphics, two 4.5/5 scores for sound and fun factor, and 5/5 for control.

References

  1. ↑ "2 On 2 Open Ice Challenge". https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=6774. 
  2. ↑ EGM staff (January 1997). "Open Ice [sic]: Williams Puts their Arcade Action on Ice". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (90): 218. 
  3. ↑ "Sports Insider Previews: NHL Open Ice". GamePro (IDG) (99): 196. December 1996. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_089_December_1996/page/n199/mode/2up. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  4. ↑ "News - E3 '96: 3DO? - M2 Dream List". 3DO Magazine (Paragon Publishing) (12): 4. July 1996. https://archive.org/details/3DO_Magazine_Issue_12_1996-07_Paragon_Publishing_GB/page/n3/mode/2up. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Cook, Brad. "Open Ice (Arcade) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141116111335/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=10648&tab=review. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  6. ↑ Whittleton, Kasey. "NHL Open Ice (PC) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141116110927/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5902&tab=review. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  7. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "NHL Open Ice (PS) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115234144/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2212&tab=review. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  8. ↑ Lackey, Jeff (1997). "NHL Open Ice [2 on 2 Challenge"]. Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on May 23, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030523194338/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/005/100/open_ice_review.html. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  9. ↑ Goble, Gordon (February 1998). "Hockey Faceoff '98 (NHL Open Ice)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (163): 187. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_163.pdf. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean (February 1997). "NHL Open Ice [2 on 2 Challenge] (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (91): 151. 
  11. ↑ "[NHL Open Ice: 2 on 2 Challenge - PlayStation"]. Game Informer (FuncoLand) (46). February 1997. Archived from the original on October 21, 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/19971021144047/http://www.gameinformer.com/feb97/openice.htm. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  12. ↑ Jacques Strap; Joe Kidd (February 1997). "[NHL Open Ice (PS)"]. GameFan (Metropolis Media) 5 (2): 92. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_02/page/n93/mode/2up. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Poole, Stephen (September 17, 1997). "NHL Open Ice 2 on 2 Challenge Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-open-ice-2-on-2-challenge-review/1900-2543530/. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Kitts, Jeff (January 3, 1997). "NHL Open Ice Review (PS)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-open-ice-review/1900-2548809/. Retrieved February 9, 2018. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "NHL Open Ice Hockey [sic (Arcade)"]. Next Generation (Imagine Media) (12): 206. December 1995. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_12/page/n207/mode/2up. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Open Ice Challenge [sic (PS)"]. Next Generation (Imagine Media) (28): 120. April 1997. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_28/page/n121/mode/2up. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 OPMUK staff (January 1997). "NHL Open Ice". Official UK PlayStation Magazine (Future Publishing) (29): 116. https://archive.org/details/opm029/page/n115/mode/2up. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  18. ↑ Bruised Lee (February 1996). "Hot at the Arcades: 2 on 2 Open Ice Challenge". GamePro (IDG) (89): 46. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_079_February_1996/page/n47/mode/2up. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  19. ↑ EGM staff (February 1997). "Tidbits". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (91): 26. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 The Rookie (March 1997). "NHL Open Ice (PS)". GamePro (IDG) (102): 91. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_102_Volume_09_Number_03_1997-03_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n91/mode/2up. Retrieved December 28, 2020. 
  • 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 lengthy 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]

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. 
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