Software:Ballblazer Champions

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 video game
Ballblazer Champions
Developer(s)Factor 5
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Julian Eggebrecht
Designer(s)Brett Tosti
Julian Eggebrecht
Holger Schmidt
Thomas Engel
Programmer(s)Holger Schmidt
Thomas Engel
Jens Petersam
Artist(s)Mario Wagner
Tobias J. Richter
Composer(s)Rudolf Stember
Platform(s)PlayStation
Release
Genre(s)Action, sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Ballblazer Champions is an action/sports video game released for the PlayStation console. It was developed by Factor 5 and published by LucasArts in North America and by CTO SpA in Europe. It is a remake of the 1985 video game Ballblazer that was released for the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit computers.[3]

Plot

A one thousand year feud between four races - the Kraytons, the Mandalars, the Thilibies, and the Zaitecs - is planned to be settled by a Ballblazer knock-out tournament. Each race enters two of their best rotofoil pilots to take part in a series of 1v1 matches with the victor being crowned "Master Ballblazer". The race that wins overall gains control over the galaxy.[4]

Gameplay

The game takes place on an asteroid where an intergalactic BallBlazer competition is taking place, featuring creatures coming from throughout the galaxy. The player selects from one of eight characters, each with their own unique ship called a rotofoil. Each has differing stats in speed, handling, launcher and energy. Players travel around an arena in their rotofoils, armed with various weaponry, similar to the 1975 film Rollerball. The object is to score goals by shooting glowing balls known as "plasmorbs" with the rotofoil[5] into the goal. The winner of each round is the first to score five goals.[4] At the same time, opponents use their weapons to prevent goals from being scored.[6] When a ship has possession of the ball, the energy used to maintain its top speed drains.[7]

Development

At one point the game had been scheduled to be released in the fall of 1996,[8] before it was delayed to early 1997.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings64%[9]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarHalf star[10]
Edge6/10[12]
EGM7.125/10[13]
Famitsu22/40[15]
Game Informer6.25/10[16]
GameSpot8.6/10[6]
IGN6/10[5]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[17]

The game received mixed reviews. In Japan, where the game was ported and published by Bullet-Proof Software on October 23, 1997, Famitsu gave it a score of 22 out of 40.[15]

The game received a wide range of opinions from reviewers. Adam Douglas from IGN said that "For fans of the original game, BallBlazer Champions offers a nostalgic update. But for everyone else, stick to the normal sports."[5] Ward's biggest praise about the game was with the multiplayer mode, which he says adds to the game's replay value.[6] A Next Generation critic similarly described it as "A good one-player game, but even better with two players."[17] Contrarily, GamePro said that "Even though it has an interesting premise, BBC ultimately rockets its way into the 'who cares' bin."[18][lower-alpha 1] Shawn Smith of Electronic Gaming Monthly said "The different play modes were fun (my personal favorite being freeplay) and the competition was pretty fierce at times", while his co-reviewer Dan Hsu said that "The choppy and speedy animation combined with the loose controls make the game very difficult to follow, especially in the two-player mode."[13]

The most widely praised aspect of the graphics was the lighting effects.[13][17] Several critics found the game's sound uninspired.[6][13][18] Another common complaint was that the arenas are too large, frequently resulting in situations where the two players simply drive around in isolation from each other.[5][17]

The game was named the Best Multi-Player Game of the Year in PSExtreme Magazine's 1997 Extreme Awards.[citation needed]

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro gave the game 3/5 for graphics, two 2.5/5 scores for sound and control, and 2/5 for overall fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ "Sony PlayStation Available Software sorted by Release Date @ www.vidgames.com". 1998-06-11. http://www.vidgames.com/ps/software/release.html#1995. 
  2. ↑ "PlayStation Soft > 1998" (in ja). http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_SNC1_PS1998.html. Retrieved 2025-08-25. 
  3. ↑ "NG Alphas: Ballblazer Champions". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (20): 82. August 1996. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_20/page/n83/mode/2up. Retrieved July 27, 2021. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "First Sight: Ball Blazer Champions [sic"]. PlayStation Plus (EMAP) 2 (9): 36–37. June 1997. https://archive.org/details/PlaystationPlusUKVolume2Issue09/page/n35/mode/2up. Retrieved July 27, 2021. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Douglas, Adam (September 2, 1997). "BallBlazer Champions". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/09/03/ballblazer-champions. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Ward, Trent C. (April 17, 1997). "Ballblazer Champions Review [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ballblazer-champions-review/1900-2546730/. 
  7. ↑ EGM staff (April 1997). "Ballblazer Champions: Shoot and Score with this Updated Classic". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (93): 106. 
  8. ↑ "BALLBLAZER: A CLASSIC GAME GETS RECLASSIC-FIED FOR THE NEXT GENERATION". May 13, 1996. http://www.lucasarts.com/pages/Announcement.538.html. 
  9. ↑ "Ballblazer Champions for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/196689-ballblazer-champions/index.html. 
  10. ↑ Sutyak, Jonathan. "BallBlazer Champions - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7818&tab=review. 
  11. ↑ Chick, Tom (May 23, 1997). "BallBlazer Champions". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Ball/. 
  12. ↑ Edge staff (August 1997). "Ballblazer Champions". Edge (Future Publishing) (48): 86. https://retrocdn.net/images/5/50/Edge_UK_048.pdf. Retrieved July 27, 2021. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 EGM staff (July 1997). "Ballblazer Champs [sic]". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (96): 54. 
  14. ↑ Lucas, Victor (July 10, 1997). "BallBlazer Champions". Greedy Productions, Inc.. http://elecplay.com/review.html?article=212&full=1#mr_toppy. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "ボールブレイザー 〜チャンピオンズ〜 [PS"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=16990&redirect=no. Retrieved July 27, 2021. 
  16. ↑ "Ball Blazer Champions [sic"]. Game Informer (FuncoLand) (50). June 1997. http://www.gameinformer.com/june97/blazer.html. Retrieved July 27, 2021. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "BallBlazer Champions". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (31): 157. July 1997. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_31/page/n161/mode/2up. Retrieved July 27, 2021. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 The Rookie (July 1997). "Ball Blazer Champions [sic"]. GamePro (IDG) (106): 89. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_106_Volume_09_Number_07_1997-07_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n89/mode/2up. Retrieved July 27, 2021. 
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari




Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Ballblazer_Champions&oldid=4137115"