Software:Armored Core: Formula Front

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Short description: 2004 video game
Armored Core: Formula Front
North American box art
Developer(s)FromSoftware
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Nozomu Iwai
Producer(s)Toshifumi Nabeshima
Programmer(s)Nobuhiko Yoshino
Composer(s)Tsukasa Saitoh
Ayako Minami
Hideyuki Eto
SeriesArmored Core
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2
ReleasePSP
  • JP: December 12, 2004
  • NA: December 15, 2005
  • AU: February 9, 2006[1]
  • EU: March 3, 2006
PlayStation 2
  • JP: March 3, 2005
Genre(s)Action, third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Armored Core: Formula Front is a mecha video game developed by FromSoftware and published by Agetec. It was a launch title for the PlayStation Portable in Japan, the 10th main installment in the Armored Core series.

Gameplay

The player assumes the role of an Architect. An Architect is a person who builds, programs and battles with a modified Armored Core known as a u/AC or an Unmanned Armored Core. u/ACs are AI controlled Armored Cores which compete exclusively in battling tournaments. u/ACs battle independent of the Architect's control, so the Architect must influence how the u/AC fights by customizing various part combinations and loading various program functions into the u/AC's AI. The North American version of the PSP game has since been modified to allow players the option of actually piloting their u/AC in battle instead of letting the AI fight. In the game, this is called a N-u/AC (N standing for Naked) and is supposedly notoriously hard to control.

Armored Core: Formula Front allows the player to build their own robot using 480 different parts. These part come in several categories. These categories are head, core, arms, legs, generator, fire control system, booster, radiator, extension, inside, right arm weapon, left arm weapon, back left weapon, back right weapon, right hangar unit, left hangar unit, and optional parts. Several different part types can also be available. For instance, there are three types of cores (OB, EO, and Standard). Other types of customization include paint, AI tune, Parts Tune, Repository, Sortie Order, Name Entry, Sample Emblem, and Edit Emblem.

Story

Setting

In the game's story, Formula Front is a worldwide competition in which unmanned, AI-controlled ACs [u-ACs] are pitted against one another in fiercely contested arena battles. The game takes place twenty-five years after Formula Front arena warfare was introduced. It is now the world's most popular form of entertainment. At the heart of Formula Front's success are the architects. These are the individuals responsible for assembling and programming the u-ACs entered into league matches.

Plot

As the player fights their way into the Regular League, they are confronted by a new team, BT Wyvern, and its architect, Linus. After two matches against BT Wyvern, Linus sends a message that he meet the player again. Rank after rank, the player again confronts a formidable opponent, Team Ogre, and its architect, Diablo. Though Ogre usually wins through harsh tactics, their battle against BT Wyvern was horrible. Fortunately, the player defeated Diablo. As the player gets nearer through the top ranks, they are again confronted by BT Wyvern with a new AC model, Force Wing X. Afterwards, Diablo confronts the player again with an AC similar to Linus' AC and has installed with a mysterious data in Diablo's AC. The player manages to defeat Diablo and Team Ogre was temporarily banned due to being accused of stealing the 'Master Data'.

After defeating the second rank Team Neonia and its architect, Raving, the player has the right to challenge Team Testarossa Artigiana ('Arti' for short) and FFA's top architect, Bren. After the player defeats Bren, they become the new top architect.

Release

Formula Front is the first Armored Core game to be released on multiple platforms, originally on the PlayStation Portable and later on the PlayStation 2. In Japan it was released simply as Armored Core: Formula Front. In North America, the game was modified and released on December 15, 2005 as Armored Core: Formula Front Extreme Battle, often mislabeled as Armored Core: Formula Front Special Edition;[2] however, the PlayStation 2 version was not released in North America. The then-upcoming American version of the game was re-released on November 17, 2005 in Japan entitled Armored Core: Formula Front International (アーマード・コア フォーミュラフロント インターナショナル, Āmādo Koa Fōmyura Furonto Intānashonaru); this re-released edition is considered to be the ultimate edition as it also contains a large amount of additional battles not found in the American version of the game, and includes both Japanese and English text options (except for the tutorial videos which are only in Japanese). Later released fan-made patch addressed the issue, translating the videos.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic66/100[3]
Review scores
PublicationScore
1Up.comB+[4]
Eurogamer6/10[5]
Famitsu(PSP) 30/40[6]
(PS2) 28/40[7]
Game Informer3.75/10[2]
GameSpot7.5/10[8]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[9]
GameZone7/10[10]
IGN6.5/10[11]
OPM (US)StarStarStarHalf star[12]
PALGN6/10[13]
Detroit Free PressStarStar[14]

The PSP version received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3] In Japan, Famitsu gave the game a score of 30 out of 40 (8/7/8/7) for the PSP version,[6] and 28 out of 40 for the PlayStation 2 version.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Jastrzab, Jeremy (December 19, 2005). "Updated Australian Release List 19/12/05". Archived from the original on January 12, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090112165500/http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=3603. Retrieved December 21, 2018. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Reiner, Andrew (November 2005). "Armored Core: Formula Front Special Edition [sic]". Game Informer (GameStop) (151): 180. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Armored Core: Formula Front - Extreme Battle for PSP Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/armored-core-formula-front-extreme-battle/critic-reviews/?platform=psp. Retrieved December 20, 2018. 
  4. ↑ 1UP staff (January 5, 2006). "Armored Core Formula Front [Extreme Battle"]. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100105222508/http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3146731&did=1. Retrieved December 21, 2018. 
  5. ↑ Whitehead, Dan (March 22, 2006). "Armored Core: Formula Front". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_armoredcore_psp. Retrieved December 21, 2018. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Famitsu review scores - with PSP scores". Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.. December 10, 2004. http://www.the-magicbox.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-10645.html. Retrieved December 20, 2018. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "アーマード・コア フォーミュラフロント [PS2"] (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=963. Retrieved December 20, 2018. 
  8. ↑ Mueller, Greg (December 16, 2005). "Armored Core: Formula Front [Extreme Battle Review [date mislabeled as "December 17, 2005"]"]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/armored-core-formula-front-review/1900-6141418/. Retrieved December 20, 2018. 
  9. ↑ VanOrd, Kevin (January 4, 2006). "GameSpy: Armored Core Formula Front - Extreme Battle". IGN Entertainment. http://psp.gamespy.com/playstation-portable/armored-core-psp/678025p1.html. Retrieved December 21, 2018. 
  10. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (December 20, 2005). "Armored Core: Formula Front Extreme Battle - PSP - Review". Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081007024147/http://psp.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r24550.htm. Retrieved December 21, 2018. 
  11. ↑ Roper, Chris (December 19, 2005). "Armored Core: Formula Front - Extreme Battle". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/19/armored-core-formula-front-extreme-battle. Retrieved December 20, 2018. 
  12. ↑ "Armored Core: Formula Front - Extreme Battle". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis): 96. March 2006. 
  13. ↑ van Leuveren, Luke (February 21, 2006). "Armored Core: Formula Front Review". Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081216020020/http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=3940&sid=264925394f279eaccc557b1d25dbe09a. Retrieved December 21, 2018. 
  14. ↑ Hoeger, Justin (January 29, 2006). "'Armored Core: Formula Front -- Extreme Battle'". Detroit Free Press (The Sacramento Bee) (Gannett Company). Archived from the original on 2006-09-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20060902103334/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20060129%2FENT06%2F601290320%2F1044. Retrieved December 20, 2018. 
  • Official website (in Japanese)
  • 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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