Software:3D Lemmings

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Short description: 1995 video game

3D Lemmings
Developer(s)Clockwork Games[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Psygnosis
SeriesLemmings
Platform(s)DOS, PlayStation, Sega Saturn
ReleaseDOS
PlayStation
Saturn
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

3D Lemmings (Lemmings 3D in North America) is a 1995 puzzle video game developed by Clockwork Games and published by Psygnosis. The game adapts original Lemmings (1991) two-dimensional gameplay to three-dimensional space. It was released for DOS, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn across 1995 and 1996.

Gameplay

A level in 3D Lemmings

3D Lemmings is played by using four different, movable cameras to fly around and get an overview of the level. While some levels have fixed cameras, most of the time they can be freely moved at any time, although without the ability to tilt up or down. Another viewing option is the "virtual lemming" (VL) which allows the player to see through the eyes of a selected lemming.

All skills from the original game are available, while one new skill has been added due to the game's 3D nature: the turner. A turner is similar to a blocker, in that they stand in one place and can only be removed by being blown up or dug out from underneath. However, instead of making other lemmings turn back, they direct them 90 degrees either left or right, as chosen by the player. Diagonally positioned blocks in levels will also make lemmings move left or right (basically reflecting them).

One of the by-products of being 3D was the importance of the camera-handling. Even though most of the levels did not need complex camera setups, some levels could only be solved if the player was skilled enough to move the camera in the correct way - or by using the Virtual Lemming mode. For example, one level featured a massive indestructible block of wall with the lemmings arriving on top; the only way the player was able to deliver the lemmings to the bottom floor was by digging through a certain part of the block which was left destructible, and the only way to handle that was to use the VL mode, because the player was unable to fit the camera through the hole. Some levels include rooms or halls where the camera can not go (or come out from) and the player has to peek in through windows or use the VL mode.

The release rate buttons, i.e. to increase or decrease rate of lemmings; instant replay mode; and fast forward button all return from previous games. Levels are once again divided into four difficulty settings: Fun, Tricky, Taxing and Mayhem. There are 20 levels of each setting, with 20 more practice levels to learn about different game elements. Each level has a set amount of lemmings again, and can be returned to through the use of passwords.

Cutscenes are shown at the end of certain level milestones, which feature lemmings from the various 3D Lemmings themes (army, computer, etc.).

3D Lemmings Winterland

An additional level pack/playable demo named 3D Lemmings Winterland was released for 3D Lemmings on the PC, which included six new levels featuring a winter theme. The gameplay was identical to the standard game.

Development

The game was originally conceived as a 3D puzzle video game titled Cubewalker, in development by a team named Lunatic Software for the Amiga platform. The developers found the Amiga wasn't powerful enough to handle the game concept, so they switched development to the PC. After seeing the game, Psygnosis agreed to start full development. Following the recruitment of additional personnel, the studio underwent a name change, leading to the formation of Clockwork Games. In addition to the PC release, Sega Saturn and PlayStation versions were developed and released as well.[7]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM7.5/10, 8/10, 8.5/10, 8/10 (PSX)[8]
Sega Saturn Magazine75% (Saturn)[9]

The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly scored the PlayStation version an 8 out of 10, citing the "outstanding" 3D graphics and innovative, complex gameplay. Mark Lefebvre commented that "Multiple camera angles, a Training Mode for new players and an incredible interface to a very complex game are just a few reasons Lemmings 3D is a winner".[8] GamePro panned the game, contending that the 3D view is confusing, and exacerbated by poor controls and excessive menus to navigate through.[10]

Rob Allsetter of Sega Saturn Magazine commented that the 3D concept made the gameplay cumbersome and difficult to master: "Once you've familiarised yourself with the method it's a lot less hassle, but there are still those moments when, with only a split second left, you find yourself changing a camera angle to actually see what's going on rather than choosing lemming roles to save them." He also complained that the puzzles are highly frustrating, but acknowledged, "For the more even tempered among you with craniums the size of the superdome this might just fit the bill".[9]

PC Gamer US named 3D Lemmings the "Best Puzzle Game" of 1995. The editors wrote, "If you love puzzle games, 3D Lemmings should be in your collection."[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ Ported to Sega Saturn by Perfect Entertainment

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fountain, Steve (7 October 1995). "Look out for Lemmings". Manchester Evening News: pp. 38. https://www.newspapers.com/image/917526329. "3D Lemmings is planned for release on CD Rom and Sony PlayStation in the middle of October, priced 39.99." 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Perkins, Lee (10 August 1995). "PlayStation takes gaming up on to the top deck". The Age: pp. 58. https://www.newspapers.com/image/123067136. "Initial October releases will be:...3D Lemmings..." 
  3. ↑ "Lemmings 3D". PC Gamer: 12. August 1995. https://archive.org/details/pc-gamer-issue-15-august-1995/page/n13/mode/2up?q=lemmings. Retrieved 26 April 2024. 
  4. ↑ "Available Titles Released in 1995 (50) (50 Total)". http://www.vidgames.com:80/ps/software/release.html. 
  5. ↑ "Software List (Released by Sega)" (in ja). Sega. https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software.html. 
  6. ↑ Lomas, Ed (August 1996). "Checkpoint - The month's events and software releases at a glance. July–August". Computer and Video Games (Future Publishing) (177): 52. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ACVG_UK_177.pdf&page=52. 
  7. ↑ "3D Lemmings". Ultimate Future Games - Psygnosis (Future plc): 10–11. 1995. https://archive.org/details/ultimate-future-games-10-supplement-psygnosis-guide/page/n9/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Baran, Andrew; Lefebvre, Mark; Desmond, Mike; Parus, Scott (November 1995). "Review Crew". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (76): 48. https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/05b8bcef-8f15-4350-8a93-7c78370a0800. Retrieved September 22, 2025. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Allsetter, Rob (June 1996). "Review: 3D Lemmings". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (8): 72–73. 
  10. ↑ "Quick Hits: Lemmings 3D". GamePro (IDG) (90): 75. March 1996. 
  11. ↑ "The Year's Best Games". PC Gamer US 3 (3): 64, 65, 67, 68, 71, 73–75. March 1996. 
  • 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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