Software:Beach Head II: The Dictator Strikes Back

From HandWiki
Beach Head II:
The Dictator Strikes Back
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Bruce Carver
Producer(s)Chris Jones
Programmer(s)Roger Carver
Bruce Carver
Platform(s)Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
Release1985
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player or two-player

Beach Head II: The Dictator Strikes Back (also punctuated as Beach-Head II) is a 1985 video game for the Commodore 64, a sequel to Beach Head, developed and published by Access Software. It was designed by Bruce Carver and his brother, Roger, and was released for the Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit family, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot (Atari 8-bit)

Beach-Head II features the player pursuing the eponymous Dictator in several ways. There are four levels in the game. In the first level, called Attack,[1] the player deploys soldiers along a path with walls to cover him from the dictator's gun. The objective is to destroy the gun. The second level involves rescuing the prisoners from deadly obstacles by clearing them with a gun. The third level's objective is to escape from the area by flying a helicopter with the prisoners out of the dictator's fortress. Finally the player and the dictator face off, on opposite cliffs, separated by water. To defeat him, the player must make him fall in the water by throwing knives at him. The Dictator tries to do the same to the player.

In one-player mode there are three skill levels, harder modes resulting in faster movements and the computer opponent using better artificial intelligence.[2] In two-player mode, one player controls the usual side whilst his opponent controls the Dictator's forces.[3]

This game was notable for using synthesized speech (courtesy of Electronic Speech Systems, then of Berkeley, California). Known for its deathly scream (also heard in Epyx's Impossible Mission), laughing, "I'm hit",[3] "Medic", "Hey! Don't shoot me" and "You can't hurt me".[4]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Zzap!6490% (C64)[5]
Crash74% (Spectrum)[6]

Ahoy! reviewed the Commodore 64 version of Beach Head II, and stated that the first minigame, "Attack", was the best, but criticized the illogic of a player who chooses to control the Dictator still having to ferry people to safety in "Rescue". The review summarized Beach-Head II as "one of the best head-to-head games for the Commodore, and the computer makes a powerful solitaire opponent".[7] ANALOG Computing was more critical, calling the Atari version of the game 'mediocre', with "acceptable" graphics and "little action".[8]

Zzap!64 gave the Commodore 64 version of the game an overall score of 90%, calling it an improvement over its predecessor, and praised its "fantastic" graphics, "state-of-the-art" animations, and "first-class" synthesized speech. Zzap! praised Beach Head II's "varied" and "fun" action arcade gameplay, as well as its two-player mode, further calling the game "an absolute must".[5] Zzap!'s sister magazine, Crash, gave the ZX Spectrum version of Beach Head II a more modest 74%, with one reviewer criticizing it as 'lacking replayability', while another praised its "varied" gameplay. Crash further criticized Beach Head II, expressing that while its graphics are "crude", they work well, further stating that the Commodore 64 version's best qualities are its speech and graphics, which are missing in the Spectrum port, leaving a "pretty simple and boring game".[6]

References

  1. ↑ "ZZap_64_Issue_032_1987_Dec". https://archive.org/details/ZZap64Issue0321987Dec/page/n135/mode/2up?view=theater. 
  2. ↑ "ZZap!64 Magazine Issue 004". August 1985. https://archive.org/details/zzap64-magazine-004/page/n21/mode/2up?view=theater. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Commodore User Magazine Issue 22". July 1985. https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-22/page/n26/mode/1up?view=theater. 
  4. ↑ "ZZap!64 Magazine Issue 004". August 1985. https://archive.org/details/zzap64-magazine-004/page/n19/mode/2up?view=theater. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Rignall, Julian; Penn, Gary; Sumner, Paul (August 1985). "Zzap! Test: Beach Head II". Zzap!64 (Newsfield Limited) (4): 20–22. https://archive.org/details/zzapp_64_issue_004_600dpi/page/n19/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Reviews: Beach Head II". Crash (Newsfield Limited) (24): 13. January 1986. https://archive.org/details/crash-magazine-24/page/n11/mode/2up. 
  7. ↑ Katz, Arnie (October 1985). "Reviews: Beach-Head II". Ahoy! (Ion International) (22): 63–64. https://archive.org/stream/Ahoy_Issue_22_1985-10_Ion_International_US#page/n61/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ Panak, Steve (December 1986). "Panak Strikes! - Reviews of the latest software - Beach-Head II". ANALOG Computing (ANALOG 400/800 Corp.) (49): 97. ISSN 0744-9917. https://archive.org/stream/analog-computing-magazine-49/Analog_Computing_49_1986-12_8_Bit_Gift_Guide#page/n113/mode/2up. 
  • 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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