Software:Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding

From HandWiki
Short description: 2001 video game
Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding
Developer(s)Salt Lake Games Studio
Publisher(s)Microsoft Game Studios
Director(s)Brenner Adams
Designer(s)Carl Schnurr
Programmer(s)Lynn Eggli
Artist(s)Brian Johnson
Platform(s)Xbox
Release
  • NA: November 20, 2001[1]
  • EU: March 14, 2002
Genre(s)Snowboarding
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding is an snowboarding video game developed by Salt Lake Games Studio and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It is the first of the Amped video game series and was released as a launch title for the Xbox.

Released during the Xbox's launch, Amped is a snowboarding game focused on the tricks, instead of the racing style of play given by Electronic Arts SSX which launched with the PlayStation 2 in the previous year. The success of Amped was solidified by the successful launch of the sequels Amped 2 and Amped 3.

Gameplay

Utilizing the Xbox's built-in hard drive, Amped allowed for entire mountains to be loaded simultaneously, permitting completely free-style runs modelled on real resorts, rather than the linear courses of other snowboarding titles.

The game also contains snowmen which players must strike down in order to advance their Career Mode characters' exploration options.

The Xbox's built-in hard drive also allows users to create a custom soundtrack using their own music, as well as listening to the 150-plus tracks already offered in the game. Users can also listen to music by genre.

The game is also well known for helping to launch the career of pop punk band Yellowcard due to the in-game soundtrack consisting of the complete One for the Kids album on it. The video game also contains three songs from band Ink & Dagger's album The Fine Art of Original Sin.

As well, the game's instruction manual is written in a magazine-like format.

Lawsuit

Before its release, the game was met with derision from some due to Microsoft's marketing department Photoshopping lens flares onto what were supposedly actual game screenshots. Microsoft claimed they were unintentionally passed off as screenshots of the actual game.[2]

In 2005, former Ink & Dagger drummer Ryan McLaughlin sued Microsoft, claiming that three of their songs were used without the band's knowledge. The suit was settled out of court in 2006.[3][4][5]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic78/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStar[7]
Edge8/10[8]
EGM6.5/10[9]
Famitsu29/40[10]
Game Informer7/10[11]
GameProStarStarStarStar[12]
GameSpot6.7/10[13]
GameSpy86%[14]
GameZone8.9/10[15]
IGN8.5/10[16]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[17]
OXM (US)8.4/10[18]
The Cincinnati EnquirerStarStarStarStar[19]

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6] NextGen said, "While the game still has a few small issues – some minor collision problems, for example – it really is the first next-generation game to 'get' what snowboarding is all about."[17] In Japan, where the game was retitled for release as Tenku: Freestyle Snowboarding (天空 -Tenku- Freestyle Snowboarding, Tenkū -Tenku- Furīsutairu Sunōbōdingu) on February 22, 2002,[20] Famitsu gave it a score of one eight and three sevens for a total of 29 out of 40.[10]

References

  1. ↑ jkdmedia (2012-05-04). "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding Now Available" (in en-US). https://www.gamezone.com/news/amped_freestyle_snowboarding_now_available/. 
  2. ↑ "XBox Screenshot Flim-Flammery?". Slashdot Media. March 18, 2001. https://slashdot.org/story/01/03/18/2222252/xbox-screenshot-flim-flammery. Retrieved September 9, 2017. 
  3. ↑ "Microsoft hauled into court in piracy case", The Inquirer (Incisive Media), October 28, 2005 
  4. ↑ Gross, Dan (July 26, 2006). "Ink & Dagger suit settled.". Philadelphia Daily News (Philadelphia Media Network). Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110813052809/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-148668315/philadelphia-daily-news-dan.html. Retrieved September 9, 2017. 
  5. ↑ "Ex-Ink & Dagger sues Microsoft". Philadelphia Daily News (Philadelphia Media Network). October 26, 2005. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234914/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DN&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI%7CDN&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10D8111EA3AB5CE8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved October 19, 2021. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding for Xbox Reviews". Red Ventures. https://www.metacritic.com/game/amped-freestyle-snowboarding/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved September 9, 2017. 
  7. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115013220/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=33533&tab=review. Retrieved September 9, 2017. 
  8. ↑ Edge staff (Christmas 2001). "Amped [Freestyle Snowboarding"]. Edge (Future Publishing) (105): 72–73. https://retrocdn.net/images/8/8e/Edge_UK_105.pdf. Retrieved October 19, 2021. 
  9. ↑ EGM staff (January 2002). "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (150): 228. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Dan B. (February 20, 2002). "Xbox in Japan. First Famitsu scores.". https://www.hometheaterforum.com/community/threads/xbox-in-japan-first-famitsu-scores.43957/. Retrieved September 9, 2017. 
  11. ↑ Helgeson, Matt (December 2001). "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (104): 104. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200112/R03.0804.1802.56938.htm. Retrieved September 9, 2017. 
  12. ↑ Dan Elektro (November 19, 2001). "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050207113209/http://gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/reviews/18287.shtml. Retrieved September 10, 2017. 
  13. ↑ Satterfield, Shane (November 26, 2001). "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/amped-freestyle-snowboarding-review/1900-2827179/. Retrieved September 9, 2017. 
  14. ↑ Bub, Andrew S. (January 21, 2002). "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 17, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050217081457/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/january02/ampedxbox/. Retrieved September 10, 2017. 
  15. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (February 20, 2002). "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding Review". Archived from the original on June 11, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080611102148/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r18371.htm. Retrieved September 10, 2017. 
  16. ↑ Lopez, Vincent (November 21, 2001). "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/22/amped-freestyle-snowboarding. Retrieved September 9, 2017. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding". NextGen (Imagine Media) (85): 32. January 2002. https://archive.org/details/NextGen85Jan2002/page/n33/mode/2up. Retrieved October 19, 2021. 
  18. ↑ "Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding". Official Xbox Magazine (Imagine Media): 80. February 2002. 
  19. ↑ Kent, Steven (February 13, 2002). "Olympics aren't only games to hail from Utah". The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Company). Archived from the original on August 21, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080821211131/http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/021302_utahvids.html. Retrieved September 9, 2017. 
  20. ↑ "天空 -Tenku- Freestyle Snowboarding" (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=14237&redirect=no. Retrieved October 19, 2021. 
  • 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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