Software:Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy

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Short description: 2008 video game
Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy
North American box art
Developer(s)Budcat Creations
Publisher(s)Majesco Entertainment
Platform(s)Wii
Release
  • NA: June 10, 2008[1]
  • EU: April 3, 2009
  • AU: April 30, 2009
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy is a horizontally scrolling shooter for the Wii based on the Microsoft Windows game Tumiki Fighters created by Kenta Cho. Majesco Entertainment published the game on June 10, 2008 in North America. It was released in Europe as Blast Works: Build, Fuse & Destroy on April 3, 2009.

Gameplay

The player controls an aircraft on a two-dimensional plane. As the player destroys enemies, their debris fall off the screen below. If the player manages to touch these pieces of debris with their ship before they disappear from the screen, these pieces affix themselves to the player's plane in the positions they were caught, providing extra mass and firepower.

The extra parts, which reanimate and continue to fire their own unique weapons, can serve as shields against enemy projectiles (each part breaks into pieces and falls off upon hit), and all of the augmentations can be retracted into the original ship.

There are a wide variety of different enemies, which provide varying patterns of fire and numbers of points.

Editor

Blast Works comes with an editing tool to customize the game. Players can construct their own ships, enemies and bosses with the editor, as well as create their own backgrounds.

When designing enemies, the player can manipulate projectile patterns, sound effects, movement patterns, hit boxes, and more in the Ship Editor portion of the Blast Works Editor. The player also has the option of fully customizing the ship that they play as. For example, the ship builder lets the player view their ship from many different angles, allowing them to add new pieces, such as wings or weapons, simply by adding shapes to their ship. The basic shapes can be combined to create even more complex constructs, and there are a few moving shapes the player can add to give their ship a bit more life. The player is also given full control over the size, shape, and color of any object they create. This ranges from their main ship to buildings created for custom levels and even enemy craft.

The level designer (the same tool the game's developers used to create the built-in levels that come with the game) also features powerful capabilities. The player can set the basics, such as color scheme or background, then drag and drop enemies into their custom level from either a list of pre-built enemies or custom ships previously created. The player can also set trigger events that can change the orientation of your ship, the behavior of enemy ships, or the movement of the game camera. The player can also add a number of different special effects to their level such as a Virtual Boy-like effect, which turns everything in the level to red and black, or a water effect, to make background oceans or the level itself appear underwater. After constructing a level, the player can preview it before importing it into the game.

Development

TUMIKI Fighters was first released in 2004. It is written in the D programming language, with graphics drawn with OpenGL. Unlike the rest of Kenta Cho's shooters, TUMIKI Fighters has specific levels, non-random enemy placement, and a definite ending. The game was released as free software.

The game's name is derived from the Japanese word tsumiki (積み木), meaning "building blocks"; this word may also be romanized as tumiki.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic78/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid9/10[3]
Edge6/10[4]
Eurogamer8/10[5]
Game Informer8/10[6]
GameSpot8/10[7]
GameSpyStarStarStarStar[8]
GameTrailers8.4/10[10]
GameZone9/10[9]
IGN8.1/10[11]
Nintendo Power8.5/10[12]
Teletext GameCentral7/10[2]

Blast Works received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2]

It received multiple nominations from IGN in its 2008 video game awards, including Best Shooting Game[13] and Most Innovative Design.[14]

References

  1. ↑ "MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES 'BLAST WORKS: BUILD, TRADE, DESTROY' HAS GONE GOLD". Majesco Entertainment Company. May 15, 2008. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080625081235/http://www.majescoentertainment.com/news/display_news.php?id=313. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy Critic Reviews for Wii". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/blast-works-build-trade-destroy/critic-reviews/?platform=wii. Retrieved February 10, 2020. 
  3. ↑ Holmes, Jonathan (June 23, 2008). "Destructoid Review: Blast Works". Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-blast-works-91941.phtml. Retrieved February 11, 2020. 
  4. ↑ Edge staff (September 2008). "Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy". Edge (Future plc) (192): 88. 
  5. ↑ Pearson, Dan (April 17, 2009). "Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/blast-works-build-trade-destroy-review. Retrieved February 10, 2020. 
  6. ↑ Helgeson, Matt (July 2008). "Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy". Game Informer (GameStop) (183). http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/633638AC-6D41-4EAA-9B07-B7EB3BD9A635.htm. Retrieved February 10, 2020. 
  7. ↑ McShea, Tom (June 23, 2008). "Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/blast-works-build-trade-destroy-review/1900-6192863/. Retrieved February 10, 2020. 
  8. ↑ Theobald, Phil (June 30, 2008). "GameSpy: Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on July 4, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080704160620/http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/blast-works-build-fuse-destroy/885275p1.html. Retrieved February 10, 2020. 
  9. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (June 19, 2008). "Blast Works: Build, Trade & Destroy [sic - WII - Review"]. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006114025/http://wii.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r32909.htm. Retrieved February 11, 2020. 
  10. ↑ "Blast Works Review". Viacom. July 3, 2008. Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090305090120/http://www.gametrailers.com/game/6288.html. Retrieved February 10, 2020. 
  11. ↑ Hatfield, Daemon (June 6, 2008). "BlastWorks [sic Review"]. Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/06/blastworks-review. Retrieved February 10, 2020. 
  12. ↑ "Blast Works: Build, Trade, Destroy". Nintendo Power (Future US) 229: 90. June 2008. 
  13. ↑ "Best of 2008: Best Shooting Game (Wii)". IGN Entertainment. December 18, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081222040748/http://bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/8.html. Retrieved December 19, 2008. 
  14. ↑ "Best of 2008: Most Innovative Design (Wii)". IGN Entertainment. December 18, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081222040924/http://bestof.ign.com/2008/wii/24.html. Retrieved December 19, 2008. 

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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