Software:Ballz

From HandWiki
Ballz
European Mega Drive box
Developer(s)PF.Magic
Publisher(s)Accolade
Platform(s)Sega Genesis, Super NES, 3DO
Release1994
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Ballz is a two-player 2.5D action fighting video game for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, the Super NES (SNES) and the 3DO. It was developed by PF.Magic and published by Accolade in 1994. The 3DO version was released as a director's cut in 1995. Ballz offered three difficulty levels over a total of 21 matches. Its distinguishing quality was that each of the characters were composed completely of spheres, granting a pseudo-3D look.[1]

Although the game was not a tremendous success, PF.Magic reused its graphics technology in a successful line of virtual pet titles, Petz, Dogz, Catz and Oddballz.

Development and publishing

The idea to use spheres to represent characters in the game was proposed by Keith Kirby, the team decided on implementing the idea as it would save processor power, as well as the fact that characters would look the same regardless of the angle the camera is situated at when they are constructed from spheres, which are also relatively quite easy to represent in the game's code.[2]

The Genesis/Mega Drive version was originally intended for use with the Edge 16, a modem system for multiplayer gaming which was eventually cancelled.[3]

The opening PF.Magic developed for the game stated "To be the champion, you gotta have Ballz!". Due to its racy double-entendre ("balls" may be used as a slang term for testicles), Nintendo demanded the wording be changed for the SNES version. The SNES version of the game states "...you gotta play Ballz", while the Sega version uses the original intro. The game was also notably bizarre for its lineup of fighters, which included a farting monkey, a jumping clown, a sumo wrestler, an ostrich, a caveman, a bodybuilder, a ballerina, a rhinoceros and a "superhero".

Fighters

These are the characters in the game's lineup of fighters:

  • Boomer: A clown from the circus. His air jumps and the tricks up his sleeves make him the most humorous fighter.
  • Bruiser: A bodybuilder who gets quite a workout. His buffed-up body and powerful blows make him a formidable fighter.
  • Crusher: An enraged rhinoceros who prefers to charge at his opponents directly.
  • Divine: A ballerina dancer who twirls around gracefully. She's the only female fighter and will sometimes give a spanking.
  • Kronk: A caveman from the dawn of civilization. He uses his club to cut his opponents down to size and hits them like a baseball.
  • Tsunami: A sumo wrestler who enjoys leaping on top of his opponents.
  • Turbo: A superhero who glides along the arena and blows as strongly as a hurricane.
  • Yoko: A monkey who often breaks wind. He enjoys ganging up on the opponent and slapping them silly.
  • Zombie: Only appears in the Director's Cut version of the game. He stalks and slashes at his enemies.

Bosses

These are the bosses who appear in One-Player mode. Each boss defeated earns a different colored belt, and these change the fighter's coloring scheme.

  • Guggler: The first boss in the game. Guggler is an ostrich who pecks at her opponents and tosses them around with her beak. Her "jump and kick" ability also makes her a boss to be reckoned with. Defeating her wins the Red Belt.
  • Bounder: The second boss of the game. Bounder is a kangaroo who wears boxing gloves and uses punches and kicks. He often jumps around and balances on his tail while using his legs to fling opponents across the arena. Defeating him wins the Green Belt.
  • T-Wrecks: The third boss in the game. T-Wrecks is a gigantic dinosaur who relies on an aggressive temperament as an attack. He will grab opponents in his jaws and creates devastating ground shock waves with a powerful tail. Defeating him wins the Blue Belt.
  • Lamprey: The fourth boss of the game. Lamprey is a mystical genie whose swift attacks and magical powers make him a formidable foe. He possesses the ability to turn himself into any creature, such as a bull, a scorpion, or a snake. Defeating him wins the Black Belt.
  • The Jester: The ultimate boss. The Jester is the one who challenged the fighters to duel in the tournament at the start. He dons a black-and-white outfit and can be seen juggling balls in the opening. As the final boss, he is the most difficult character to beat. He can disassemble himself and move about the floor, and has physical attacks that are very strong. The damage he does can take off much of the player's health. After being defeated for the first time, he reassembles and comes back for more. When the Jester finally falls, he grants the fighter's wish - to play as the bosses.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CVG3DO: 71/100[4]
SMD: 87/100[5]
FamitsuSNES: 28/40[6]
GameFanSMD: 81/100[lower-alpha 1]
GamesMasterSMD: 79%[8]
SNES: 58%[9]
Mega FunSMD: 63%[11]
Next Generation3DO: StarStar[13]
Nintendo PowerSNES: 3.125/5[lower-alpha 2]
Total!SNES: 69%[15]
Video Games (DE)SMD: 81%[16]
3DO Magazine3DO: StarStarStar[17]
Electronic GamesSMD: C+[18]
Entertainment WeeklySMD: A[19]
MegaSMD: 80%[20]
Mega ZoneSMD: 65%[21]
Sega MagazineSMD: 71/100[22]

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Genesis version a 6.2 out of 10 average, commenting that "The fighters were interesting, with their various taunts and other poses, and the whole idea is innovative, but in the end it just never really came together for me."[23] GamePro gave the Genesis version a positive review. They praised the balanced gameplay, smooth scaling effects, and humorous sound effects, and concluded, "Ballz takes the increasingly routine genre of fighting games and gives it a new bounce, injecting a wicked sense of humor into the action."[24] They were less enthusiastic about the SNES version, saying that the graphics are better than in the Genesis version, but the irritating new soundtrack, overcomplicated control configuration, and especially the frequent slowdown combine to make the game much less enjoyable.[25] The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly had mixed reactions to the SNES version. Two of them praised its original design and good graphics, and the other two praised the humorous sounds, but all but one felt the game was not as enjoyable as other fighting games, with the biggest problem being the fighters' limited set of moves. They gave it a 6.75 out of 10 average.[26]

GamePro gave the 3DO version a highly positive review, applauding the additions and improvements such as enhanced graphics, increased play speed, rendered backgrounds, new character, character-specific theme songs, and arena rotation, as well as the humor and "non-conformist attitude" of the game itself.[27]

Ballz was ranked seventh in a 2011 list of "Top Ten Fighting Games We'd Like to Forget", compiled by Game Informer. The author of the list, Dan Ryckert, criticized it for its sexual innuendo and its design representing more of a 2D look.[28]

Next Generation reviewed the 3DO version of the game, rating it two stars out of five, and stated that "If you accept its looks, it plays fine, but this is as much yesterday's technology as any sprite-based fighter attempting to get away with digitized characters. It's almost too bad, but it's just a game out of time."[13]

Notes

  1. ↑ In GameFan's review of the Genesis version, two critics scored it 80/100, another 82/100.[7]
  2. ↑ Nintendo Power gave the SNES port two 3.3/5 scores for graphics/sound and theme/fun, 2.9/5 for play control, and 3/5 for sound.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "How The Post reported on gender and video games in 1994". Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/03/21/how-the-post-reported-on-gender-and-video-games-in-1994/?noredirect=on. 
  2. ↑ "Good Deal Games - Classic Videogame Games INTERVIEW - Rob Fulop". http://www.gooddealgames.com/interviews/int_Rob%20Fulop.html. 
  3. ↑ "Who Has the Edge?". GamePro (IDG) (62): 57. September 1994. 
  4. ↑ Osmond, Andrew (October 1995). "Ballz: The Director Cut". Computer and Video Games (167): 56. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File%3ACVG_UK_167.pdf&page=56. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  5. ↑ Patterson, Mark (October 1994). "Ballz". Computer and Video Games (155): 91. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:CVG_UK_155.pdf&page=91. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  6. ↑ NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: 3次元格闘 ボールズ. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.333. Pg.30. 5 May 1995.
  7. ↑ Skid; K. Lee; The Enquirer (August 1994). "Viewpoint". GameFan 2 (9): 30–31. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_2_Issue_09/page/n29/mode/2up. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  8. ↑ Kirrane, Simon (September 1994). "Ballz". GamesMaster (21): 46. 
  9. ↑ Tucker, Tim (September 1994). "Ballz". GamesMaster (21): 44–45. 
  10. ↑ Myu, Mue (October 1995). "Ball Z, The Director's Cut" (in fr). Joystick: 122. https://archive.org/details/joystick064/page/n121/mode/2up. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  11. ↑ Götz (November 1994). "Ballz" (in de). Mega Fun: 110. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:MegaFun_DE_1994-11.pdf&page=77. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  12. ↑ Steve; Gus (October 1994). "Ballz 3D". Mean Machines (24): 80–82. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:MeanMachinesSega24UK.pdf&page=80. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Finals". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (9): 90. September 1995. 
  14. ↑ "Now Playing". Nintendo Power 66: 102–107. November 1994. https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Power_Issue001-Issue127/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20066%20November%201994/page/n109/mode/2up. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  15. ↑ Josse (October 1994). "Ballz". Total! (34): 40–41. https://archive.org/details/total-34/page/n39/mode/2up. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  16. ↑ Dirk (October 1994). "Ballz" (in de). Video Games: 98. https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=15610. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  17. ↑ "Ballz: The Director's Cut". 3DO Magazine (6): 40–41. October 1995. https://archive.org/details/3domagazineissue061995uk/3DOMagazine%20Issue%2006%20-%201995%20%28UK%29/page/n39/mode/1up. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  18. ↑ Yates, Laurie (September 1994). "Ballz!". Electronic Games: 72. https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-09/page/n71/mode/2up. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  19. ↑ "Mortal Kombat II; Way of the Warrior; Ballz". Entertainment Weekly. September 30, 1994. https://ew.com/article/1994/09/30/mortal-kombat-iiway-warriorballz/. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  20. ↑ Allbran, Damon (September 1994). "Ballz". Mega (24): 44–47. https://archive.org/details/mega24/page/n43/mode/2up. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  21. ↑ Sariban, Mark (January 1995). "Ballz". Mega Zone (47): 32. https://archive.org/details/megazoneau47/page/n31/mode/2up. Retrieved March 13, 2021. 
  22. ↑ Radion Automatic (October 1994). "Ballz 3D". Sega Magazine (10): 88–89. https://archive.org/details/sega-10/page/24/mode/2up. Retrieved February 27, 2021. 
  23. ↑ "Review Crew: Ballz". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (63): 38. October 1994. 
  24. ↑ "ProReview: Ballz". GamePro (IDG) (72): 56. September 1994. 
  25. ↑ "ProReview: Ballz". GamePro (IDG) (75): 134. December 1994. 
  26. ↑ "Review Crew: Ballz". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (65): 38. December 1994. 
  27. ↑ "ProReview: Ballz: The Director's Cut". GamePro (IDG) (85): 72. October 1995. 
  28. ↑ Ryckert, Dan. Top Ten Fighting Games We'd Like to Forget. Game Informer (April 2011). Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  • 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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