Software:Back to Skool

From HandWiki
Short description: 1985 video game
For other uses, see Back to school (disambiguation).

Back to Skool
ZX Spectrum cassette cover
Publisher(s)Microsphere
Designer(s)David Reidy
Platform(s)ZX Spectrum
Release
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Back to Skool is an action-adventure game that is a sequel to Skool Daze. It was made by David Reidy (whose wife Helen was a teacher at the time[2][3]) with graphics by Keith Warrington for the ZX Spectrum and released by Microsphere in 1985. The gameplay is similar to - if more advanced than - Skool Daze, incorporating most of the same characters, elements, graphics and open world design.[4]

The game is ranked 19th in the "Your Sinclair official top 100"[5] Spectrum games of all time.

Gameplay

In-game screenshot

The game differs from its predecessor by an increase in the size of the play area (including a neighbouring girls' school) and a number of gameplay changes.

The girls' school incorporates its own new characters including undistinguished girls with hockey sticks, Hayley (girlfriend of the main character Eric) and Miss Take (the headmistress). Only at break time and lunch time are the girls allowed to mingle with the boys, in the central grassy playground, separated by a high gate. The opening and closing of the gate is controlled by the school caretaker Albert, a new character to the game. It is also possible for Eric to sneak over the gate and enter the girls' school during lessons, either by using the bicycle (after completing the challenge of locating its lock combination and then performing a tricky manoeuvre on it), by watering the flower beside the gate and jumping on top of it, or by kissing Hayley through the gate. When the girls and boys are allowed to mingle and when Eric gains access to the girls' school, he can kiss Hayley, who will then agree to do 1000 of his lines for him. This reduction method can be used up to six times before Hayley refuses to help Eric any more.

Elements added in Back to Skool include stink bombs (used to trigger the opening of windows), water pistols (used to make the potted plants grow and spill water onto the teachers), mice that can be released in the girls' school causing widespread panic, and sherry (which can be squirted into cups and used to "intoxicate" teachers by splashing it on them with correct timing).

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Crash93%[7]
CVG30/40[9]
Sinclair UserStarStarStarStarStar[8]
Your Sinclair9/10[6]
Computer GamerStarStarStarStar[10]
Awards
PublicationAward
CrashCrash Smash
Sinclair UserSU Classic

References

  1. ↑ "Back to Skool release information". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/sinclair/959679-back-to-skool/data. 
  2. ↑ "Skool Daze feature". Retrogamer magazine. August 6, 2010. http://pixelatron.com/blog/skool-daze-feature-retrogamer/. Retrieved 10 January 2013. 
  3. ↑ "LITTLE AND ROUND, WITH NO SHARP EDGES". Crash Magazine. http://crashonline.org.uk/25/msphere.htm. 
  4. ↑ "Page 2 | Retrospective: Skool Daze and Back to Skool". 31 October 2010. https://www.eurogamer.net/retrospective-skool-daze-and-back-to-skool-article?page=2. 
  5. ↑ "The YS Top 100 Speccy Games Of All Time (Ever!)". Your Sinclair (70): 31. October 1991. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/ystop100.htm. Retrieved 2006-09-04. 
  6. ↑ "Back To Skool". http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/backtoskool.htm. 
  7. ↑ "World of Spectrum - Magazines". http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue23/Pages/Crash2300011.jpg. 
  8. ↑ "World of Spectrum - Magazines". http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=SinclairUser/Issue045/Pages/SinclairUser04500021.jpg. 
  9. ↑ "World of Spectrum - Magazines". http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=C+VG/Issue053/Pages/CVG05300022.jpg. 
  10. ↑ "World of Spectrum - Magazines". http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ComputerGamer/Issue10/Pages/ComputerGamer1000075.jpg. 
  • 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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