Software:3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures

From HandWiki
Short description: 2006 video game
3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
Developer(s)Wanako Games
Publisher(s)Vivendi Games[lower-alpha 1]
Series3D Ultra Minigolf
Platform(s)Windows, Xbox 360
ReleaseWindows
December 20, 2006
Xbox 360
April 18, 2007
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures is a 2006 arcade golf video game for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 developed by Wanako Games and published by Vivendi Games under the Sierra Online label. The game released on December 20, 2006, for Microsoft Windows,[1] and April 18, 2007, for Xbox 360.[2] It is part of the 3D Ultra Minigolf series.

Gameplay

The game focuses on arcade elements rather than stick to a simulation way of miniature golf. While traditional stroke rules apply, there are power-ups to be found throughout each course, like making the player's ball jump, or the hole become a vacuum.[3] The original release of the game comes with three courses and overall 36 holes, which are set within space, a carnival, and a Wild West.[4] The courses have their own separate conditions and traps, like scorpions in the Wild West one. One of the features present is the course editor. It allows the player to customize all aspects of the course, including the ability to place hazards and power-ups in any location. There are two modes to play, either a single-player tournament or a multiplayer game both locally and online for 2-4 players.[3]

One of the main features is the map editor. It allows the player to customize all aspects of the course (ramps, intersections, turns), including the ability to place hazards and power-ups in any location. Tournament mode offers a choice between four characters, along with 3 control styles: Hold and Release, 3-Click, and Analog Control.[5]

Development

Sierra Online announced the development of 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures on September 27, 2006, saying that it would release on Xbox Live Arcade in the winter of the same year.[6] On July 25, 2007, the Lost Island expansion pack was added for Xbox Live, introducing another eighteen-hole course.[7]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(X360) 66/100[8]
(PC) 35/100[9]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer5/10[10]
GameSpot5.5/10[11]
IGN7.5/10[12]
OXM (UK)7/10[13]
OXM (US)7/10[14]
PALGN7/10[4]
TeamXbox7/10[5]
The New York Times(average)[3]

The Xbox 360 version received "average" reviews, while the PC version received "unfavorable" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[8][9]

Eurogamer said, "it's adequate amusement for the price, but still falls short of the gut-busting potential presented by online crazy golf".[10] IGN praised the multiplayer modes and graphics, while also adding that "3D Ultra Mini Golf Adventures is a fun multiplayer game".[12] Aaron Thomas of GameSpot criticized the pace of how the game plays and physics, but liked the multiplayer mode and the course creator. Thomas said that "3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures is an unremarkable game that fails to capture the fun of real miniature golf".[11]

Since its release, the Xbox 360 version sold 11,049 units worldwide by January 2011.[15] Sales of the game moved up to 34,413 units by the end of 2011.[16]

Sequel

A sequel titled 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures 2 was released in 2010.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures". Valve Corporation. https://store.steampowered.com/app/10140/3D_Ultra_Minigolf_Adventures/. 
  2. ↑ Branwell, Tom (April 17, 2007). "Live Arcade double header". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/live-arcade-double-header. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Herold, Charles (May 3, 2007). "Let's End the Nightmare of Peace and Tranquillity". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/technology/03game.html?ex=1178769600&en=b439972916c735c7&ei=5070&emc=eta1. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mitchell, Luke (November 2, 2007). "XBLA 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures Review - Xbox 360 Review". PAL Gaming Network. http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=9374. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ahearn, Nate (April 17, 2007). "3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures Review (Xbox 360)". IGN Entertainment. http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1315/3D-Ultra-Minigolf-Adventures/p1/. 
  6. ↑ Surette, Tim (September 27, 2006). "Sierra crashes Xbox Live Arcade". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sierra-crashes-xbox-live-arcade/1100-6158762/. 
  7. ↑ "Expansion - 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures: Lost Island". Microsoft. http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Expansion-3D-Ultra-Minigolf-Adventures-Lost-Island/00000000-0000-400c-80cf-000158410841. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures critic reviews (X360)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/3d-ultra-minigolf-adventures/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures critic reviews (PC)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/3d-ultra-minigolf-adventures/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Whitehead, Dan (April 23, 2007). "3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures (Xbox 360)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/3d-ultra-minigolf-adventures-review. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Thomas, Aaron (April 19, 2007). "3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures Review (X360)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/3d-ultra-minigolf-adventures-review/1900-6169380/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Miller, Jonathan (April 18, 2007). "3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures Review (X360)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/04/18/3d-ultra-minigolf-adventures-review. 
  13. ↑ "3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures". Official Xbox Magazine UK (Future plc): 95. June 2007. 
  14. ↑ "3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US): 87. April 2007. 
  15. ↑ Langley, Ryan (January 27, 2011). "In-depth: Xbox Live Arcade's 2010 Sales Revealed". Informa. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/in-depth-xbox-live-arcade-s-2010-sales-revealed. 
  16. ↑ Langley, Ryan (January 20, 2012). "Xbox Live Arcade by the numbers - the 2011 year in review". Informa. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/xbox-live-arcade-by-the-numbers---the-2011-year-in-review. 
  17. ↑ "Video Game Releases". Daily Herald (Paddock Publications). September 24, 2010. https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-237896465/video-game-releases. 
  1. ↑ Released under the Sierra Online brand
  • Official website (archived)
  • 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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