Software:Asphalt: Urban GT

From HandWiki
Short description: 2004 video game
Asphalt: Urban GT
European cover art featuring the Lamborghini Murciélago
Developer(s)Gameloft Montreal
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Philippe Laurens
Designer(s)Guillaume Descamps, Stanislas Dewavrin
Programmer(s)David Nicolier
SeriesAsphalt
Platform(s)N-Gage
Nintendo DS
J2ME (Java 2 Micro Edition)
BREW
ReleaseN-Gage
  • EU: October 26, 2004
  • NA: November 15, 2004
Nintendo DS
  • NA: November 21, 2004
  • AU: February 24, 2005
  • EU: March 11, 2005
  • JP: June 30, 2005
J2ME
  • WW: December 2, 2004
BREW
  • WW: 2005
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Asphalt: Urban GT is a 2004 arcade-style racing video game developed by Gameloft Montreal[1][2] and published by Gameloft, known as the first title of the Asphalt series. It was released in October 2004 for the Nokia N-Gage and in November of the same year for the Nintendo DS,[3] making it one of the Nintendo DS launch titles. Mobile phone versions on J2ME and BREW were also released.

The game features manufacturer licensed cars and takes place in locations modeled after real-world counterparts. Gameplay features a nitro mechanic and allows drifting, and alongside standard races against opponents there are also modes such as cop chases.[4] The DS version has support for wireless multiplayer with up to four opponents.[4] Asphalt: Urban GT received mixed to favorable reviews. It was succeeded by Software:Asphalt: Urban GT 2 in 2005.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the franchise, Gameloft re-released Asphalt: Urban GT for free in the “20th Anniversary Event” section of the Asphalt website.[5]

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot (Nintendo DS)

Asphalt: Urban GT sports nine tracks modelled after real-world locations such as Paris, New York City, Miami, Las Vegas, Cuba, Bogotá, Chernobyl, Hong Kong and Texas Motor Speedway. The game's 23 cars are licensed from 14 real manufacturers such as Lamborghini, Hummer, Volkswagen, Nissan, Ford (Shelby), Audi, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Lotus, Morgan, TVR, Chevrolet, Saleen, and others including some of the fictional in-game manufacturers, and can be enhanced with over 30 add-ons. Game modes include instant play, road challenge, free race, time attack, and cop chase. In cop chase, the player takes the role of the police attempting to arrest the other racers.[6]

One distinctive feature of the gameplay is that after several rule violations (such as ramming a competitor’s car to take it out) triggers a police response. This can range from simple car chases to roadblocks set up along the track, and eventually the deployment of helicopters. To evade the police and outpace rival drivers, nitro power-ups are scattered across the circuit. Collecting them grants the player a significant speed boost. When pursued by a helicopter, the player can make sharp turns to avoid its missiles[7].

The game takes advantage of the DS's support for 3D graphics, while showing unaccelerated N-Gage's power to match DS's graphics, showing the action from three camera angles. The bottom screen of the DS is utilized to provide strategic tips and player info.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DSmobileN-Gage
EGM6/10[8]N/AN/A
Eurogamer3/10[9]N/AN/A
Famitsu27/40[10]N/AN/A
GameProStarStarStar[11]N/AN/A
GameRevolutionC−[12]N/AN/A
GameSpot7.5/10[4]8.2/10[13]7.5/10[14]
GameSpyStarStar[15]N/AN/A
GameZone7.9/10[16]N/AN/A
IGN5.5/10[17]7.5/10[18]N/A
Nintendo Power3.5/5[19]N/AN/A
Aggregate scores
GameRankings62%[20]67%[21]72%[22]
Metacritic60/100[23]N/A76/100[24]

The N-Gage version received "favorable" reviews, while the DS version received "mixed" reviews, according to video game review aggregator website Metacritic.[23][24] In Japan, Famitsu gave the latter version a score of one six and three sevens for a total of 27 out of 40.[10]

It received a runner-up position in GameSpot's 2004 "Best N-Gage Game" award category, losing to Colin McRae Rally 2005.[25]

References

  1. ↑ "Asphalt Urban GT 2 (2005)" (in en-gb). https://infinitgamer.com/games/369-asphalt-urban-gt-2.html. 
  2. ↑ "altarofgaming.com". https://altarofgaming.com/game/asphalt-urban-gt-2/. 
  3. ↑ "Asphalt: Urban GT" (in en). https://www.ign.com/games/asphalt-urban-gt. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Davis, Ryan (November 19, 2004). "Asphalt: Urban GT Review (DS)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/asphalt-urban-gt-review/1900-6113690/. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  5. ↑ "Asphalt Legends – 20th Anniversary" (in en). https://asphaltlegendsunite.com/event/20th-anniversary. 
  6. ↑ Davis, Ryan (November 19, 2004). "Asphalt: Urban GT Review (DS)". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/asphalt-urban-gt-review/1900-6113690/. Retrieved January 26, 2023. 
  7. ↑ "Creating a legend Asphalt Urban GT". https://www.gameloft.com/blog/players/creating-a-legend-asphalt-urban-gt. 
  8. ↑ EGM staff (February 2005). "Asphalt Urban GT (DS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (188): 114. 
  9. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (April 4, 2005). "Asphalt Urban GT (DS)". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_asphalturbangt_ds. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Khalid-S (June 22, 2005). "this week Famitsu Reviews". NeoGAF. http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52724. Retrieved January 28, 2016. 
  11. ↑ Four-Eyed Dragon (November 25, 2004). "Asphalt Urban GT Review for DS on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050212011155/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/ds/games/reviews/39830.shtml. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  12. ↑ Dodson, Joe (December 13, 2004). "Asphalt Urban GT Review (DS)". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/asphalt-urban-gt. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  13. ↑ Score, Avery (February 4, 2005). "Asphalt: Urban GT Review (Mobile)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/asphalt-urban-gt-review/1900-6118006/. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  14. ↑ Davis, Ryan (November 16, 2004). "Asphalt: Urban GT Review (N-Gage)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/asphalt-urban-gt-review/1900-6113256/. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  15. ↑ Kosak, Dave (December 22, 2004). "GameSpy: Asphalt: Urban GT (DS)". GameSpy. http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/asphalt-gt/575109p1.html. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  16. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (November 28, 2004). "Asphalt: Urban GT - NDS - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090210082902/http://nds.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r24713.htm. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  17. ↑ Harris, Craig (November 19, 2004). "Asphalt: Urban GT (NDS)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/20/asphalt-urban-gt-4. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  18. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (December 10, 2004). "Asphalt: Urban GT (Cell)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/10/asphalt-urban-gt. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  19. ↑ "Asphalt Urban GT". Nintendo Power 188: 114. February 2005. 
  20. ↑ "Asphalt: Urban GT for DS". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/ds/924894-asphalt-urban-gt/index.html. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  21. ↑ "Asphalt: Urban GT for Mobile". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/mobile/925146-asphalt-urban-gt/index.html. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  22. ↑ "Asphalt: Urban GT for N-Gage". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/ngage/920928-asphalt-urban-gt/index.html. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Asphalt: Urban GT for DS Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/asphalt-urban-gt/critic-reviews/?platform=ds. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Asphalt: Urban GT (ngage: 2004): Reviews". Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080913065357/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ngage/asphalturbangt. Retrieved October 30, 2014. 
  25. ↑ "Best and Worst of 2004". GameSpot. January 5, 2005. Archived from the original on March 7, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050307021607/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2004/. 
  • 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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