Software:Aaargh!

From HandWiki

Aaargh! is a single-player action video game in which the player controls a giant monster with the goal of obtaining eggs by destroying buildings in different cities across a lost island. It was designed for Mastertronic's Arcadia Systems, an arcade machine based on the custom hardware of the Amiga, and was released in 1987. It was ported to a range of other platforms and released on these across 1988 and 1989. Electronic Arts distributed the Amiga version of the game.

Gameplay

Taking the role of a monster, the player must destroy buildings in search of eggs.

The goal of the game is to find the golden dragon's egg. The player controls one of two monsters who must destroy buildings in order to find Roc eggs, the discovery of each of which triggers a fight with a rival monster. When five eggs are found, the two monsters fight on a volcano to claim the dragon's egg.

The game is an action game with fighting game elements. The player chooses to play as either a Dinosaur[lower-alpha 1] or an Ogre[lower-alpha 2]; the character that the player does not select becomes the player's rival to obtain the egg. After an egg is located, the player must fight the rival monster in a one on one battle to lay claim to the egg. In the arcade version of the game either one or two players could play simultaneously, whereas on the ports only one player could play at a time.

Gameplay takes place across the ten cities of the Lost Island[lower-alpha 3], these include a Primitive village, a Pueblo village, a Wild West Fort, a Chinese Pagoda village, an ancient Egyptian city, a Colonial harbour town, a Medieval village, an Aztec city, an Ancient Greece city, and an Indian Temple city. The island's giant Volcano is the final level of the game. Each city is represented by a single static playing area that uses a form of 2.5D projection in order to give the impression of depth on the screen. The monsters can eat the natives or various giant food items (Pizza slice, Hamburger, Hot Dog, Taco) for health as well as a lightning bolt for a powerup. These items are hidden in the level's buildings.

As well, the monsters will be attacked by the native's weapons (catapults, cannons, and wagons), and various monsters that inhabit the island (Giant mosquitoes, giant bees, giant hornets, Rocs, giant flying lizards, and dragons).

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
ACE261/1000 (Amiga)[7]
Crash29% (Spectrum)[6]
CVG8/10 (Amiga)[2]
DragonX (Amiga)[8]
Sinclair User44% (Spectrum)[5]
Your Sinclair48% (Spectrum)[4]
Zzap!6487% (Amiga)[1]

The game received mixed reviews from gaming magazines across the platforms to which it was ported, with scores ranging from around 2/10[7] (or equivalent) up to almost 9/10.[1]

While reviewers praised the graphics and sound, particularly on the Amiga port, they criticised the gameplay. ACE magazine said that although the game had "good graphics, atmospheric sound and good gameplay" there was not enough challenge to the game and that players would "not want to spend much time playing a game you know you can beat easily."[7] ZX Spectrum reviewers were unimpressed by the fact that the game required levels to be loaded individually, with Your Sinclair magazine describing it as a "multi-level, multi-load, beat 'em, blowtorch 'em up which'll have you screaming its title each time you die and have to reload."[5][4]

The game was reviewed in 1989 in Dragon #141 by Patricia Hartley and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers normally assign a rating to a game ranging from 1 up to 5 stars, but they disliked this game so much that they ranked it with an "X" instead, stating: "This game is boring, violent without purpose, and lacks a solid plot".[8]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The monster is described as a Dinosaur on the box but the manual describes it as a Dragon being 18 feet tall
  2. ↑ The monster is depicted as a Cyclops and is described as being 20 feet tall in the manual
  3. ↑ The manual refers to the island as Darance, while ingame text refers to it as Forgotten Island

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Glancey, Paul; Evans, Matthew; Houghton, Gordon (October 1988). "Aaargh!". Zzap!64 (Newsfield Publishing) (42): 83. https://archive.org/details/zzap64-magazine-042/page/n105/mode/2up. 
  2. ↑ Boughton, Paul (July 1989). "Reviews: Aaargh!". Computer and Video Games (81): 41. https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-081/CVG_081_Jul_1988#page/n39. 
  3. ↑ Holmes, Chris (August 1988). "Reviews: Aaargh!". Amiga Computing (Database Publications) 1 (3): 43. ISSN 0952-3014. https://archive.org/details/Amiga_Computing_Magazine_003/page/n45/mode/2up. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ryan, Jackie (August 1989). "Reviews: Aaargh!". Your Sinclair (Dennis Publishing) (44): 68. https://archive.org/details/your-sinclair-44-1989-08/page/68/mode/1up. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Dillon, Tony (September 1989). "Games Review: Aaargh!". Sinclair User (Emap Business, Computer Publications) (90): 46–47. ISSN 0262-5458. https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-090/SinclairUser_090_Sep_1989#page/n45. 
  6. ↑ Dunn, Michael; Roberts, Nick (September 1989). "Reviews: Aaargh!". Crash (Newsfield Publishing) (68): 45. ISSN 0954-8661. https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-68/Crash_68_Sep_1989#page/n43. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Smith, Andy (August 1988). "Aaargh! - Smashing down the Melbourne House". ACE (Future Publishing) (11): 60. https://archive.org/details/ACEIssue11Aug88/page/n59/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hartley, Patricia; Lesser, Kirk (1989). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (TSR Inc) (141): 72. https://archive.org/stream/DragonMagazine260_201801/DragonMagazine141#page/n73/mode/2up. 
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari





Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Aaargh!&oldid=3950263"