Software:Battle Isle (video game)

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Short description: 1991 video game
Battle Isle
Developer(s)Blue Byte[1]
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)
  • Lothar Schmitt
  • Thomas Hertzler[3]
Programmer(s)Bernhard Ewers[3]
Artist(s)Thorsten Knop[3]
Composer(s)
  • Volker Struebing
  • Haiko Ruttmann
  • Chris Huelsbeck[3]
SeriesBattle Isle
Platform(s)Amiga, MS-DOS
Release1991[4]
Genre(s)Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Battle Isle is a 1991 turn-based strategy video game developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubi Soft for the Amiga and MS-DOS. It is the first game in the Battle Isle series. Two official expansion packs were released: Data Disk I in 1992 and The Moon of Chromos in 1993.[5][6] An unofficial expansion, Battle Field Creator, was released in 1994.[7] An Atari ST version was advertised but never released.[8]

Gameplay

The game is played on a hexagonal grid. The goal is to take control of an island by defeating the enemy. This can be achieved by eliminating all enemy units or capturing their headquarters. The gameplay has two phases: movement and action. In the movement phase, units can be moved around. During the action phase, you can attack other units, storm buildings, and defend your own units. The game includes 32 scenarios and a two-player mode.[1]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGW3.5/5 (Amiga, DOS)[10]
The One88% (Amiga)[1]
Play Time (magazine) (de)90% (Amiga, DOS)[2][11]

Amiga Format said: "The programmers, Blue Byte, have reinvented the war-game genre making a game fit for heroes. It's simple but possesses real gameplay depth."[9] The One commented: "Battle Isle retains all the best elements of traditional, board based strategy games, but adds the accessibility offered by a computer, The control interface is so well designed that it shouldn't take you more than a quarter of an hour to learn how to use it effectively."[1] Play Time (magazine) (de) said "Battle Isle is a brilliant product from the concept, playability, variety of details to the technically perfect execution."[2] Computer Gaming World gave a positive preview of the game but criticized the lack of mouse control support.[12] A year later, the game was called "[e]njoyable for the persistent gamer looking for new worlds to conquer."[10]

See also

  • History Line, Blue Byte's game that uses the same engine as Battle Isle

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Scotford, Laurence (December 1991). "The One Review - Battle Isle". The One (EMAP) (39): 89–90. https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-39/page/n87/mode/2up. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ippisch, Hans (November 1991). "Reviews - Battle Isle" (in German). Play Time (Computec Verlag) (11/91): 26–27. https://retrocdn.net/images/a/aa/PlayTime_DE_1991-11.pdf#page=26. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Blue Byte (1991). Battle Isle. MS-DOS. Blue Byte. Level/area: Title screen. "Program by Bernhard Ewers; Graphics by Thorsten Knop; Sound by Volker Struebing, Haiko Ruttmann; Intro Sound by Chris Huelsbeck; Project Manager: Lothar Schmitt, Thomas Hertzler" 
  4. ↑ "Game disk 1 (Amiga)". Battle Isle (Ubi Soft). https://www.mobygames.com/game/5812/battle-isle/cover/group-10852/cover-24236/. "© 1991 Blue Byte". 
  5. ↑ Hengst, Michael (August 1992). "Scenery Corner - Battle Isle Data Disk I" (in German). Power Play (Markt+Technik) (8/92): 126. https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1992-08/page/126/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ Broomfield, Mat (July 1993). "Game Review - Battle Isle 93 - The Moon of Chromos". CU Amiga (EMAP) (41): 70. https://archive.org/details/cuamiga-magazine-041/page/n69/mode/2up. 
  7. ↑ Schnelle, Michael (August 1994). "Games im Test - Battle Field Creator" (in German). Amiga Joker (Joker-Verlag) (8–9/94): 38. https://archive.org/details/Amiga_Joker_1994-08_Joker_Verlag_DE/page/n37/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ "Battle Isle" (in French). French Advertisement of the Game (Ubi Soft). http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-st-battle-isle_24621.html. "Disponible sur AG-ST-PC". 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Webb, Trenton (December 1991). "Screenplay - Battle Isles [sic"]. Amiga Format (Future plc) (29): 68–70. https://archive.org/details/AmigaFormatMagazine_201902/Amiga_Format_Issue_029_1991_12_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n67/mode/2up. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Brooks, M. Evan (November 1992). "Sci-Fi Survey - Battle Isle". Computer Gaming World (Russell Sipe) (100): 100. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_100.pdf#page=100. 
  11. ↑ Ippisch, Hans (March 1992). "Reviews - Battle Isle" (in German). Play Time (Computec Verlag) (3/92): 77. https://retrocdn.net/images/8/89/PlayTime_DE_1992-03.pdf#page=77. 
  12. ↑ Greenberg, Allen L. (December 1991). "Sneak Preview - An Ocean, an Island and a War". Computer Gaming World (Russell Sipe) (89): 84–85. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_89.pdf#page=84. 

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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