Software:Airfix Dogfighter

From HandWiki
Short description: 2000 flight-combat video game
Airfix Dogfighter
North American cover
Developer(s)Unique Development Studios
Paradox Entertainment
Publisher(s)
  • SWE: Vision Park[1]
  • WW: EON Digital Entertainment
Designer(s)Daniel Nygren
Artist(s)Peter R. Andersson
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s)Action, vehicular combat
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Airfix Dogfighter is a flight-combat video game for Microsoft Windows; developed by Unique Development Studios and Paradox Entertainment, published by EON Digital Entertainment, it was released in late 2000 in North America and Europe.[2] 15 planes are at the players' disposal to re-enact World War II in a 1950s home.

The game is based on the Airfix brand of plastic models. Airfix Dogfighter lets players pilot detailed, miniature versions of World War II aircraft through a large, 3D-rendered house. The players can fly for the Allies or the Axis powers, each with a home base in a different room of the house. Dogfights take place in the yard or throughout a house full of curios, knick-knacks, canisters, and decorations, many of which can be destroyed and which contain special power-ups.

Gameplay

Weaponry

The Airfix Dogfighter engine supports 9 different weapons, 4 of which will become stronger as the player unlocks tech bonuses. The machine gun, cannon, rocket, and bomb weapons are available to both sides and can be upgraded through 5 different tech levels. Each side has two unique weapons in the single player campaign; the Axis can use homing rockets and a "particle beam" laser, but the Allied forces can use floating "paramines" and a Tesla coil capable of shocking multiple units. Lastly, both forces unlock an atomic bomb in the final campaign mission for their side. All of the special weapons start at the highest tech level and are unaffected by bonuses.

Bonuses

Players have 5 tech levels. They start with the first one, which is the simplest, but can acquire stars or crosses (stars for allies, crosses for axis), which are found in destroyed enemies or breakables (items in the surrounding environment that players can destroy). 10 stars upgrade players to the second level, 10 more for third level, 11 stars to the next, and 10 more to get to the final level, which makes destruction of most enemies easy.

Enemy Units

In the campaign, players fight some of the most popular tank designs in World War II, including the Churchill, Tiger Tank, and Sherman. Other units such as battleships, U-boats and personnel carriers are also included.

Territory

For most rooms, players must have a key to get in, which will be revealed depending on the mission. Unless otherwise specified, players cannot go upstairs in Axis or downstairs in Allies, or their airplanes will come under fire from powerful enemy anti-air defense batteries. At the end of the Allied Campaign, players can go wherever they want in the house.

Storyline

The game's plot is based on the invasion of Britain.

Multiplayer

In multiplayer, players can have their own insignia and aircraft. Players also can choose a campaign map or a map created in the editor. Players can also make special practice maps for themselves and can create buildings.

Editor

The editor is where players can create their own maps, choosing from a variety of pre-made rooms and objects.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic75/100[4]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSPStarStarHalf star[5]
CGWStarStarStarHalf star[6]
Eurogamer8/10[7]
GameSpot7.3/10[8]
GameZone9.5/10[9]
IGN8/10[2]
PC Gamer (US)79%[10]
PC Zone59%[11]

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Våra spel" (in sv). visionpark.com. http://www.visionpark.com/sv/our_games/games_top_ten.htm. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Butts, Steve (January 26, 2001). "Airfix Dogfighter". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/27/airfix-dogfighter. Retrieved November 23, 2017. 
  3. ↑ "PC Releases" (in en-gb). Eurogamer.net. 2000-11-03. https://www.eurogamer.net/article-29660. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Airfix Dogfighter for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/airfix-dogfighter/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved November 23, 2017. 
  5. ↑ Suciu, Peter (January 21, 2001). "Airfix Dogfighter". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on March 4, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030304151545/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/031/121/airfixdogf-01.html. Retrieved March 23, 2021. 
  6. ↑ Handy, Alex (May 2001). "Airfix Dogfighter". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (202): 90. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_202.pdf. Retrieved November 24, 2017. 
  7. ↑ Bye, John "Gestalt" (November 6, 2000). "Airfix Dogfighter". Gamer Network. Archived from the original on December 7, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001207195800/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/r_airfix. Retrieved November 23, 2017. 
  8. ↑ Varanini, Giancarlo (January 8, 2001). "Airfix Dogfighter Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/airfix-dogfighter-review/1900-2672421/. Retrieved November 23, 2017. 
  9. ↑ Da bomb mom (January 8, 2001). "Airfix Dogfighter Review". Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081002084756/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r14991.htm. Retrieved November 24, 2017. 
  10. ↑ Klett, Steve (June 2001). "Airfix Dogfighters [sic"]. PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 8 (6). Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060315135406/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/airfix_dogfight.html. Retrieved November 23, 2017. 
  11. ↑ PC Zone staff (2001). "PC Review: Airfix Dogfighter". PC Zone (Dennis Publishing). Archived from the original on June 10, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080610113900/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=2709. Retrieved November 24, 2017. 
  • Official site
  • 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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