Software:Always Sometimes Monsters

From HandWiki
Short description: 2014 video game


Always Sometimes Monsters
Developer(s)Vagabond Dog
Publisher(s)Devolver Digital
Vagabond Dog (Switch)
Designer(s)Justin Amirkhani
Programmer(s)Jake Reardon
Artist(s)
  • Sarah Dario
  • Kelvin Put
  • Jessica Alves
  • Victor Cueva Rodriguez
  • Donovan Liu
  • Luis Emilio Aceves Amaya
Writer(s)Justin Amirkhani
Composer(s)Laser Destroyer Team
EngineRPG Maker VX Ace
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows
21 May 2014
OS X, Linux
8 January 2015
iOS, Android
28 May 2015
PlayStation 4
10 October 2017[1]
Nintendo Switch
8 April 2021
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Always Sometimes Monsters is a 2014 role-playing video game developed by Canadian studio Vagabond Dog and published by Devolver Digital for Microsoft Windows. A later update using the MonoGame framework brought the game to OS X and Linux on 8 January 2015, iOS and Android on 28 May 2015 and PlayStation 4 on 10 October 2017. After Vagabond Dog acquired the publishing rights to the game, a port to the Nintendo Switch were released.

The game puts players in the role of an author who receives notice that the love of their life is marrying someone else across the country within a month. After being evicted from their apartment on the east coast, players then head to the west coast in order to intercept the wedding and win back the love they lost.[2]

Gameplay

As the game starts, players are introduced to their character through a narrative sequence that allows the selection of their character and love interest. The player's relationship with their love interest can be both straight or gay, depending on their choice.[3] From there, the game begins its narrative, told through text windows supported by character portraits. Players make choices in dialogue and in action to alter the course of the story and change the fate of their protagonist.[4]

Players can walk around to explore city environments, interact with NPCs, and find the means to earn money so they may progress to the next location. This often means taking repetitive odd jobs for low pay, or compromising a concept of morality.[5]

The game plays out over a span of 30 in-game days,[6] with time progressing through morning, day, and night as activities and events are completed. Choosing how to spend time during the journey is a key component of the game, as some options disable others.[7]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PS4) 80/100[8]
(PC) 73/100[9]
(iOS) 60/100[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer(PC) 9/10[11]
GameRevolution(PC) 9/10[12]
GameSpot(PC) 5/10[13]
Gamezebo(PC) StarStarStarHalf star[7]
GameZone(PC) 7/10[14]
Hardcore Gamer(PC) 3/5[15]
Joystiq(PC) StarStarStarStar[16]
PC Gamer (UK)80%[17]
Polygon(PC) 8/10[18]
RPGamer(PC) 3/5[19]
TouchArcade(iOS) StarStarStar[20]

The PlayStation 4 version received "favourable" reviews, while the PC and iOS versions received "mixed or average reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[8][9][10]

Sequel

A sequel, Sometimes Always Monsters, was announced on 13 August 2015.[21] Although announced for 2016, it was eventually released on 2 April 2020 for Windows.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Fischer, Tyler (5 October 2017). "Always Sometimes Monsters Coming to PS4 Next Week". https://www.dualshockers.com/always-sometimes-monsters-coming-ps4/. 
  2. ↑ Birnbaum, Ian (30 August 2015). "Always Sometimes Monsters explores the most terrifying setting—the real world". Future plc. https://www.pcgamer.com/always-sometimes-monsters-explores-the-most-terrifying-setting-the-real-world/. 
  3. ↑ Campbell, Colin (18 December 2013). "The Hard Road To Always Sometimes Monster". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/12/18/5195130/always-sometimes-monsters. 
  4. ↑ Cooper, Lee (19 April 2014). "A Journey Through Always Sometimes Monsters". https://hardcoregamer.com/previews/pax-east-14-my-journey-through-always-sometimes-monsters/81690/. 
  5. ↑ Davison, Pete (29 August 2013). "Always Sometimes Monsters: A Different Take on Grinding". Gamer Network. https://www.usgamer.net/articles/always-sometimes-monsters-a-different-take-on-grinding. 
  6. ↑ Matulef, Jeffery (4 April 2014). "Realistic role-playing drama Always Sometimes Monsters dated for May [date mislabeled as "9 April 2014""]. Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/realistic-role-playing-drama-always-sometimes-monsters-dated-for-may. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Werner, Jillian (26 May 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)". https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/always-sometimes-monsters-review/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Always Sometimes Monsters for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/always-sometimes-monsters/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Always Sometimes Monsters for PC Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/always-sometimes-monsters/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Always Sometimes Monsters for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/always-sometimes-monsters/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad. 
  11. ↑ Starkey, Daniel (21 May 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review (PC) [date mislabeled as "9 February 2015""]. Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/always-sometimes-monsters-review. 
  12. ↑ Almogi, Gil (28 May 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/64242-always-sometimes-monsters-review. 
  13. ↑ Capozzoli, Nick (16 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/always-sometimes-monsters-review/1900-6415789/. 
  14. ↑ Donato, Joe (1 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review: Always interesting, sometimes annoying (PC)". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/always-sometimes-monsters-review-always-interesting-sometimes-annoying/. 
  15. ↑ Thew, Geoff (29 May 2014). "Review: Always Sometimes Monsters (PC)". https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-always-sometimes-monsters/86597/. 
  16. ↑ Conditt, Jessica (3 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review: Being human (PC)". Yahoo. https://www.engadget.com/2014-06-03-always-sometimes-monsters-review-being-human.html. 
  17. ↑ Webber, Jordan Erica (3 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review". Future plc. https://www.pcgamer.com/always-sometimes-monsters-review-2/. 
  18. ↑ Riendeau, Danielle (5 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review: working class hero (PC)". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2014/6/5/5765838/always-sometimes-monsters-review-working-class-hero. 
  19. ↑ Welhouse, Zach (27 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters - Staff Review (PC)". CraveOnline. https://archive.rpgamer.com/games/indie/asm/reviews/asmstrev1.html. 
  20. ↑ Musgrave, Shaun (17 July 2015). "'Always Sometimes Monsters' Review – Deeply Unpleasant". TouchArcade.com, LLC. https://toucharcade.com/2015/07/17/always-sometimes-monsters-review/. 
  21. ↑ Parlock, Joe (13 August 2015). "Sometimes Always Monsters is the follow-up to Always Sometimes Monsters". Gamurs. https://www.destructoid.com/sometimes-always-monsters-is-the-follow-up-to-always-sometimes-monsters/. 
  22. ↑ "Sometimes Always Monsters". Valve Corporation. https://store.steampowered.com/app/441440/Sometimes_Always_Monsters/. 
  • Official website
  • 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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