Software:Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh

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Short description: 1987 video game
Arkanoid - Revenge of Doh
ZX Spectrum box art
Developer(s)Taito
Daiei Seisakusho (Famicom)[1]
Publisher(s)Taito
Romstar
Director(s)Yasumasa Sasabe
Designer(s)Kei Shimizu
Programmer(s)Yasumasa Sasabe
Artist(s)Tetsuro Kitagawa
Kozo Igarashi
Genya Kuriki
Composer(s)Hisayoshi Ogura (Arcade)
Peter Johnson (Amiga)
Noboru Koshinaka (Famicom)[2]
SeriesArkanoid
Platform(s)Arcade, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, MSX, Famicom, Windows, ZX Spectrum, Apple IIGS
ReleaseJune 1987: Arcade[3]
1988-89: Ports
Genre(s)Action, block breaker
Mode(s)Up to 2 players, alternating turns

Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh (also known as Arkanoid 2) is an arcade game released by Taito in 1987 as a sequel to Arkanoid.

Plot

The mysterious enemy known as DOH has returned to seek vengeance on the Vaus space vessel. The player must once again take control of the Vaus (paddle) and overcome many challenges in order to destroy DOH once and for all. Revenge of Doh sees the player battle through 34 rounds, taken from a grand total of 64.

Gameplay

Arcade version gameplay
The same level in the Amiga version

Revenge of Doh differs from its predecessor with the introduction of "Warp Gates". Upon completion of a level or when the Break ("B") pill is caught, two gates appear at the bottom of the play area, on either side. The player can choose to go through either one of the gates and the choice will affect which version of the next level is provided. The fire-button is only used when the Laser Cannons ("L") or Catch ("C") pill is caught.

The game has new power-ups and enemy types, and two new types of bricks. Notched silver bricks, like normal silver bricks, take several hits to destroy. However, once a short period of time has elapsed after destruction, they regenerate at full strength. These bricks do not need to be destroyed in order to complete a level. In addition, some bricks move left to right as long as their sides are not obstructed by other bricks.

The US version has an entirely different layout for Level 1 that feature a whole line of notched bricks, with all colored bricks above it moving from side to side.

On round 17, the player must defeat a giant brain as a mini-boss. After completing all 33 rounds, the player faces DOH in two forms as a final confrontation: its original, statue-like incarnation, then a creature with tentacles that break off and regenerate when struck.

Home versions include a level editor, which players can use to create their own levels or edit and replace existing levels.

Release

Revenge of Doh initially released in arcades in June 1987.[3] In June 1989, versions for the Tandy, Atari ST, Apple IIGS, and Commodore 64 were released.[4]

Reception

Reception
Award
PublicationAward
Your SinclairYS Megagame[5]

In Japan, Game Machine listed Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh on their July 1, 1987 issue as being the third most-successful table arcade unit of the month.[6] It went on to become Japan's eighth highest-grossing arcade conversion kit of 1988.[7]

References

  1. "Arkanoid II (NES)". https://tcrf.net/Arkanoid_II_(NES). 
  2. VGMPF
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Arkanoid 2" (in ja). Agency for Cultural Affairs. https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M728450. 
  4. Stovall, Rawson (June 9, 1989). "'World Geograph' recognized for excellence; new games included". Abilene Reporter-News: pp. 18. https://www.newspapers.com/image/764798457/?terms=%22The%20Revenge%20of%20Shinobi%27&match=1. ""Taito Software has announced the availability of "Arkanoid II: Revenge of Doh", for the IBM/Tandy, Atari ST, Apple IIGS, and C-64."" 
  5. Game review, Your Sinclair magazine, Dennis Publishing, issue 28, April 1986, page 85
  6. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (311): 19. 1 July 1987. 
  7. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: '88 / "Game of the Year '88" By Game Machine". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (348): 10–1, 26. 15 January 1989. https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/19890115p.pdf#page=6. 
  • 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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