Software:Auto Assault

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Short description: 2006 video game
Auto Assault
North American cover
Developer(s)NetDevil
Publisher(s)NCSOFT
Platform(s)Windows
ReleaseApril 13, 2006[1]
Genre(s)Vehicular combat, role playing
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Auto Assault was a massively multiplayer online game (or MMOG), developed by NetDevil and published by NCSOFT. It combined vehicular combat with role-playing elements, allowing the player to explore a post-apocalyptic future in customizable cars, motorcycles, semis, and tanks. It took inspiration, in part, from the Mad Max series of films.

Players could choose to play as one of three fictional factions—Humans, Mutants, and Biomeks—as well as a class to determine the type of character they would have. The majority of the gameplay took place in a vehicle, but the player could leave the vehicle when entering towns in order to purchase items, talk to contacts, etc.

The game servers were shut down on August 31, 2007, and players were no longer billed.[2][3][4] NetDevil issued a statement shortly after the shutdown news, citing an agreement with NCsoft to buy out the IP rights was not reached.[5]

Synopsis

After years of widescale open war between three factions—Humans, mutants, and the human-created Biomeks—the issues among the groups are largely pacified on the worldwide scale. Conflict between the three remain with small scale battles involving armored cars, trucks, motorcycles, semis and tanks that have advanced weaponry. This is the fictional, futuristic world the player starts and plays the game in.

Gameplay

The game takes place in the 23rd century, after the sterilization attempt that left the Earth in ruins. Players play as either a new generation of Mutants, a BioMek or one of the newly emerging Humans. Players fight in their race's area of control against non-playable characters (NPCs) and eventually reach Ground Zero, or GZ. There, they can either fight against NPCs or Players in two different "layers" known as instances. One "layer" is the PvP layer, where the player can fight against players of opposing races. The other "layer" is controlled by the faction you belong to. It is the non-PvP layer where players usually complete their quests from GZ. The PvP elements of the game are not available in this layer, since only other members of your faction are there. All NPC enemies are in both layers. The game centers on third-person vehicular combat using state-of-the-art weapons to fight foes.

Auto Assault takes place in two settings; towns and the outside world. The town is experienced by moving the player's customized character around, interacting with NPCs, other players, and environmental objects. Upgrades and vehicles can be bought here. When the player chooses to exit the city he/she is in, they are taken to the outside world, where they traverse the terrain in heavily armed vehicles. Combat is reminiscent of a third-person shooter game, with movement, aiming and firing being done in real time using the keyboard and mouse. There are also character skills, which activate special abilities.

Auto Assault differs from other MMORPGs as it does not have a Death Penalty and the player can die without consequence.

Shutdown

Due to lack of subscribers, a decision was made to terminate support for the product. This was communicated by the company on the Public Forums one month prior to shutting down. On July 2, 2007, it was officially announced that Auto Assault's servers would be shut down August 31 and the subscribers' accounts would be 'reconciled'. Offers to continue to run servers by various parties were denied, but additional “Parting Gifts” were sent via e-mail with, "...opportunities to take a part in some of our other products, including Richard Garriott’s Tabula Rasa and City of Heroes..."

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic72/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGW(average)[7]
Edge5/10[8]
Eurogamer7/10[9]
Game Informer7/10[10]
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[11]
GameRevolutionC+[12]
GameSpot7.2/10[13]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[14]
GameZone8/10[15][16]
IGN7.5/10[17]
PC Gamer (US)79%[18]

At the time of release, the game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6]

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Auto Assault for "Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year" at the 10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Contributor, GamesIndustry International (2006-03-22). "Release Date Confirmed As NCsoft's Auto Assault Revs Up" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/release-date-confirmed-as-ncsofts-auto-assault-revs-up. 
  2. ↑ "Latest News". Archived from the original on July 2, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070702054250/http://www.autoassault.com/news/. 
  3. ↑ "Auto Assault to End". July 2, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927012014/http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=78987. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  4. ↑ Crecente, Brian (July 2, 2007). "Rip: Auto Assault Goes Down in a Ball of Fire". Gawker Media. Archived from the original on July 5, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070705205114/http://kotaku.com/gaming/rip/auto-assault-goes-down-in-a-ball-of-fire-274467.php. 
  5. ↑ Sigoya (August 31, 2007). "Auto Assault: Thanks to Everyone in the Central Wastelands". Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090131085611/http://aa.warcry.com/news/view/76536-Thanks-to-Everyone-in-the-Central-Wastelands. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Auto Assault for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/auto-assault/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  7. ↑ Sharkey, Scott (August 2006). "Auto Assault". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (265): 88–89. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_265.pdf. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  8. ↑ Edge staff (June 2006). "Auto Assault". Edge (Future plc) (163): 90. 
  9. ↑ Superb, Egon (April 19, 2006). "Auto Assault". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_autoassault_pc. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  10. ↑ "Auto Assault". Game Informer (GameStop) (158): 117. June 2006. 
  11. ↑ Tenacious Moses (May 31, 2006). "Review: Auto Assault". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on June 13, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060613213450/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/55690.shtml. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  12. ↑ Ferris, Duke (April 28, 2006). "Auto Assault Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121003073322/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/auto-assault. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  13. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (April 27, 2006). "Auto Assault Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/auto-assault-review/1900-6148520/. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  14. ↑ Rausch, Allen (April 28, 2006). "GameSpy: Auto Assault". Ziff Davis. http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/auto-assault/703807p1.html. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  15. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (May 4, 2006). "Auto Assault Review". Archived from the original on February 5, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080205033736/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23864.htm. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  16. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (May 4, 2006). "Auto Assault Online Limited Edition - PC - Review". Archived from the original on December 23, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071223023422/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r27718.htm. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  17. ↑ McNamara, Tom (May 1, 2006). "Auto Assault". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/02/auto-assault. Retrieved May 18, 2018. 
  18. ↑ "Auto Assault". PC Gamer (Future US): 77. July 2006. 
  19. ↑ "2007 Awards Category Details Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2007&idGameAwardType=73. 

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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