Software:Alter Echo

From HandWiki
Short description: 2003 video game
For the Dizzy Mizz Lizzy album, see Alter Echo (album).
Alter Echo
North American Xbox cover art
Developer(s)Outrage Games
Publisher(s)THQ
Designer(s)Andy Crosby
Programmer(s)Chris Pfeiffer
Artist(s)Matthew Long
Composer(s)Jerry Berlongieri
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Alter Echo is a third-person action-adventure video game developed by Outrage Games and published by THQ. It was released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox on August 20, 2003, in North America, September 12 in Australia, and on October 3, 2003, in Europe.

Plot

Alter Echo tells the story of a futuristic world where psychics, known as shapers, can use a special substance called Plast to form anything from weapons to buildings. The world's greatest shaper, Paavo, has made a breakthrough on a faraway planet, creating a new, more powerful Plast called EchoPlast. The player, a young shaper named Nevin, is stranded on the planet with his two friends when Paavo shoots their ship down. The EchoPlast, having achieved sentience, gives Nevin a new EchoPlast suit and tasks him with stopping Paavo from wiping out the entire human race.

Gameplay

Alter Echo is an action-adventure where the player controls Nevin from a third-person perspective. Battle is primarily focused on melee combat, though there is some emphasis on long-range weapons.

In battle, the player can morph Nevin's EchoPlast suit into three different forms. The primary form is the Sword form, which is merely Nevin holding a sword. The Sword form focuses on close-range combat. The second form is the Gun form, which morphs Nevin into a massive, slow-moving, gun-toting humanoid. In this form, Nevin can fire various forms of laser blasts and grenades. The Gun form also possesses an unwieldy melee attack. The final form is the Stealth form, which transforms Nevin into a frog-like creature which walks on all fours. This form can use its tongue in order to grab opponents or items and bring them closer to Nevin. This form also has an optional (though brief) cloaking feature to avoid detection, and Nevin can climb certain kinds of walls. Finally, he can latch onto enemies and unleash devastating melee attacks with his claws.

The game revolves around Nevin trying to free the EchoPlast from Paavo by taking control of various Master Nodes and Sync Nodes. To take control of them, the player must complete a puzzle.

A short period into the game, the player gains access to a time dilation power. By activating it in the presence of one or more enemies, a blank version of the node puzzles is presented to the player. The longer the player can keep the puzzle active, the more damage they will deal when it completes.

As the game progresses, the player earns experience points to improve their combat forms, health, and other attributes. Experience is earned through defeating enemies. Larger experience totals are rewarded when the player is able to string many hits in succession, known as combos. A multiplier is recorded at the top portion of the screen and applied when the player waits too long between attacks. It is applied automatically after reaching a certain point (40 for the Sword form, 35 for the others).

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS2Xbox
EdgeN/A4/10[4]
EGM5.67/10[5]5.67/10[5]
Eurogamer6/10[6]N/A
Game Informer8/10[7]8/10[8]
GameProStarStarStarStar[9]N/A
GameRevolutionC−[10]C−[10]
GameSpot7.5/10[11]7.5/10[11]
GameSpyStarStarStar[12]N/A
GameZone7.5/10[13]7.3/10[14]
IGN6.8/10[15]6.8/10[16]
OPM (US)StarStar[17]N/A
OXM (US)N/A7.5/10[18]
MaximStarStarStar[19]StarStarStar[19]
Aggregate score
Metacritic62/100[20]62/100[21]

Alter Echo received "mixed" reviews on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[20][21] Jeff Gerstmann, writing for GameSpot, commented: "It would have been nice to have seen some more variety in the environments, and the instances of backtracking through areas you've already visited are disappointing. But the game's exciting, free-form combat makes up for those deficiencies."[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Alter Echo XBOX". http://www.gamesmarket.com.au/details.cfm?ProdID=5432&cfid=5727&cftoken=80776729. 
  2. ↑ "Alter Echo". http://xbox.ign.com/objects/481/481818.html. 
  3. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (October 3, 2003). "What's New?". https://www.eurogamer.net/news031003whatsnew. 
  4. ↑ Edge staff (November 2003). "Alter Echo (Xbox)". Edge (Future plc) (129): 109. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Shawn Elliott; Jennifer Tsao; Jason Babler (October 2003). "Alter Echo". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (171): 135. Archived from the original on 2004-01-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20040101163001/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,4364,1304642,00.asp. Retrieved 2020-04-28. 
  6. ↑ Tom Bramwell (2003-10-06). "Alter Echo (PlayStation 2)". Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20140330222128/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_alterecho_ps2. Retrieved 2014-03-31. 
  7. ↑ Andrew Reiner (September 2003). "Alter Echo (PS2)". Game Informer (GameStop) (125): 107. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200309/R03.0821.1119.55498.htm. Retrieved 2020-04-27. 
  8. ↑ Andy McNamara (September 2003). "Alter Echo (Xbox)". Game Informer (GameStop) (125): 114. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200309/R03.0821.0930.04690.htm. Retrieved 2020-04-27. 
  9. ↑ Star Dingo (2003-08-19). "Alter Echo (PS2)". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on 2005-02-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20050212160329/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/29484.shtml. Retrieved 2020-04-28. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ben Silverman (September 2003). "Alter Echo Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 2015-10-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001121454/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/alter-echo. Retrieved 2020-04-28. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Jeff Gerstmann (2003-08-18). "Alter Echo Review". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20140330220810/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/alter-echo-review/1900-6073406/. Retrieved 2014-03-31. 
  12. ↑ Steve Steinberg (2003-08-27). "GameSpy: Alter Echo (PS2)". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2015-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20150912052653/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/alter-echo/497697p1.html. Retrieved 2020-04-28. 
  13. ↑ Louis Bedigian (2003-09-05). "Alter Echo - PS2 - Review". Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20081230175540/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20322.htm. Retrieved 2020-04-28. 
  14. ↑ Michael Knutson (2003-09-08). "Alter Echo - XB - Review". Archived from the original on 2007-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20071002044832/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r20322.htm. Retrieved April 28, 2020. 
  15. ↑ Aaron Boulding (2003-08-20). "Alter Echo (PS2)". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2016-01-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20160104214616/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/20/alter-echo. Retrieved 2020-04-27. 
  16. ↑ Aaron Boulding (2003-08-19). "Alter Echo Review (Xbox)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/19/alter-echo-review. Retrieved 2020-04-27. 
  17. ↑ "Alter Echo". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (73): 116. October 2003. 
  18. ↑ "Alter Echo". Official Xbox Magazine (Imagine Media): 102. November 2003. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Alex Porter (2003-08-19). "Alter Echo". Biglari Holdings. Archived from the original on 2003-10-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20031010120535/http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_5996.html. Retrieved 2020-04-27. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Alter Echo for PlayStation 2 Reviews". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2010-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20101023154917/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/alter-echo. Retrieved 2014-03-31. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Alter Echo for Xbox Reviews". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2013-05-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20130501002431/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/alter-echo. Retrieved 2014-03-31. 
  • 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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