Software:Blades of Exile

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Short description: 1997 video game
Blades of Exile
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Developer(s)Spiderweb Software
Publisher(s)Diversions Entertainment
Designer(s)Jeff Vogel
Artist(s)Andrew Hunter
SeriesExile
Platform(s)Macintosh, Windows
ReleaseMac December 1997 Windows 28 February 1998
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Blades of Exile is a 1997 shareware role-playing video game developed and publsihed by Spiderweb Software. The game is the fourth and last title in the Exile series. It features an editor, allowing players to create, edit and share their own custom scenarios in addition to the three scenarios packaged with the game. Upon release, critics praised the addition of new gameplay features and the editor, although critiqued the game's simplicity and limited graphics.

Gameplay

Gameplay


Blades of Exile introduces several improvements over past Exile titles, including the addition of an automap and new dialog system.[1] It also features an editor to create, edit and play scenarios.[1][2] The scenario creator supports the ability to create dialogue and quests, and a palette system to quickly create terrain and scenery on scenario maps, as well as place and edit items, doors, structures, signs and monsters.[1][3] It was released as shareware, with players only able to complete the first scenario unless they registered the game.[4]

Plot

Blades of Exile contains three developer-created scenarios.[2] In The Valley of Dying Things, players must uncover the source of the valley's pollution. A Mild Rebellion sees players infiltrate a small band of outlaws, and The Za-Khazi Run sets players with twenty days to traverse a maze of caves to reach the titular fort to deliver supplies.[1]

Development

Blades of Exile was developed by Spiderweb Software, the independent studio of developer Jeff Vogel. In 2007, Vogel released the source code of Blades of Exile on his website under a Common Public License.[5] Following release, Vogel re-created the game's engine and scenario editor for Blades of Avernum, featuring more powerful scripting capabilities.[6][7]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
MacintoshPC
AllGame4.5[2]N/A
CGSPN/A4/5[1]

Lisa Karen Savignano of Allgame praised the "excellent" scenarios for their quality and replay value and improvements from previous Exile titles, but felt the combat was repetitive and the "biggest drawback of the series".[2] Computer Games Magazine similarly commended the "powerful and fully-functional" editor and the "amazing variety of user-created scenarios" created online. However, the publication also remarked that the game had "mediocre graphics" and lacked the sophistication of mainstream commercial products.[3] Describing the series as the best shareware role-playing title on the market, Andy Backer of Computer Games Strategy Plus enjoyed the new improvements in the series and the "sophisticated and elegant" editor, although felt the three scenarios were too small and the graphics were limited.[1] PC Zone considered the game would keep fans of the role-playing genre occupied, although stated "the graphics don't exactly look stunning".[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Backer, Andy (July 1998). "Blades of Exile". Computer Games Strategy Plus: 108. https://archive.org/details/computer-games-strategy-plus-july-1998/page/108. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Savignano, Lisa Karen. "Blades of Exile: Review". Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115141156/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14254&tab=review. Retrieved 15 November 2024. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bauman, Steve; Law, Caryn; Perkins, David; Vogel, Jeff (March 2000). "The Mod Squad". Computer Games Magazine (112): 66-7. https://archive.org/details/computer-games-magazine-issue-112-march-2000/page/n65/mode/2up?q=%22blades+of+exile%22. 
  4. ↑ Savignano, Lisa Karen. "Blades of Exile: Synopsis". Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115141157/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14254&tab=overview. Retrieved 20 March 2026. 
  5. ↑ Cohen, Peter (10 May 2007). "Blades of Exile game source code released". https://www.macworld.com/article/185607/blades.html. Retrieved 20 March 2026. 
  6. ↑ Truta, Filip (20 February 2007). "Avernum Maker Hates Fantasy RPGs". https://news.softpedia.com/news/Avernum-Maker-Hates-Fantasy-RPGs-47556.shtml. Retrieved 20 March 2026. 
  7. ↑ Vogel, Jeff (7 July 2004). "Blades of Avernum Wrap Report". https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/07/blades-of-avernum-wrap-report. Retrieved 20 March 2026. 
  8. ↑ "Blades of Exile". PC Zone (64): 142. June 1998. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_64_June_1998/mode/2up?q=%22blades+of+exile%22. 
  • Official website
  • 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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