Software:Bubble Bobble Revolution

From HandWiki
Short description: 2005 video game
This page is about the Nintendo DS video game. For the PSP video game, see Bubble Bobble Evolution.
Bubble Bobble Revolution
European cover art
Developer(s)Dreams
Publisher(s)
SeriesBubble Bobble
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • JP: 24 November 2005
  • EU: 2 December 2005
  • NA: 3 October 2006
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Bubble Bobble Revolution is a 2D platform game for the Nintendo DS. Developed by Dreams, it was released in Japan on 24 November 2005 by Taito as Bubble Bobble DS (バブルボブルDS, Baburu Boburu DS), in Europe on 2 December by Rising Star Games (distribution handled by (Atari Europe[1]) and in North America on 3 October 2006 by Codemasters.

Bubble Bobble Revolution received a strongly negative reception after its release, because of poor graphics and level design, and the presence of a major software bug in the North American version that prevented the game from being completed.

Gameplay

Typical gameplay screenshot

There are two primary gameplay modes in Bubble Bobble Revolution: "Classic", and "New-Age".

"Classic" mode is a conversion of the original Bubble Bobble to the DS hardware. Gameplay is nearly identical to the original game: players must control either Bub or Bob through 100 single-screen levels, in which they must defeat a certain number of enemies in order to proceed; being hit by an enemy results in a loss of a life. Enemies are defeated by blowing bubbles to trap them and then colliding with them; each enemy produces a food item that can be collected for extra points. The original two player co-op multiplayer mode is also implemented; if each player owns a copy of the game, they can use the DS' Multi-Card Play feature to play together.[2]

"New-Age" plays similarly to the original game, with several key differences. Characters and levels are larger (spanning the DS's dual screen), and enemies and projectiles are faster. There are additionally boss fights every tenth level, and Bub and Bob can now take three hits instead of one before dying and have several new types of bubbles. Fans are also scattered around levels, and can be spun by blowing into the DS's microphone. Rather than a co-op mode, "Revolution" includes a four-player competitive mode in which players compete for the most points in ten different levels.[3]

Level 30 bug

All levels beyond #30 in the North American version are unplayable due to a programming error that causes the boss of that level not to spawn. This was an often criticized aspect of the game.[2] Codemasters ultimately responded by releasing a fixed version of the game, which included a free copy of Rainbow Islands Revolution.[4]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic38/100[5]
Review scores
PublicationScore
4Players65%[6]
Edge6/10[7]
Eurogamer2/10[8]
Famitsu25/40[9]
(C+A) 23/40[9]
GameSpot3.6/10[3]
GameZone6/10[10]
IGN3.5/10[2]
Jeuxvideo.com12/20[11]
Nintendo Power6/10[12]
411Mania4/10[13]

The game received "generally unfavorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one seven and three sixes, while Famitsu Cube + Advance gave it a score of three sixes and one five.[9] 411Mania gave it an unfavorable review, nearly two months before it was released Stateside.[13]

Common criticism was directed at the game's dated visuals and level design. Reviewers also heavily criticized the game's number of odd glitches (such as enemies failing to spawn in levels, as well as levels being skipped entirely), which were described by Frank Provo of GameSpot as "strange" and "bizarre".[3] Many critics also made note of the level 30 glitch, which Craig Harris of IGN claimed "makes a bad game worse".[2] John Walker of Eurogamer began his review off by giving praise for the original game before harshly criticizing the "new-age" remake.[8] Reviewers also made note of the drastic redesigns of the original characters, which were described as "stupendously ugly".[2]

Despite the negative criticism, some did praise the game's inclusion of the original Bubble Bobble. Provo called the game "a genuine classic" and "enjoyable", and praised the multiplayer modes as well.[3] However, Harris referred to them as "unacceptable" for requiring two copies of the game,[2] a statement echoed by Walker.[8]

References

  1. ↑ GamesIndustry International (25 October 2005). "Atari and Rising Star Games Announce PAL Territories Deal". Gamer Network. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-and-rising-star-games-announce-pal-territories-deal. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Harris, Craig (6 October 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/06/bubble-bobble-revolution. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Provo, Frank (11 October 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/bubble-bobble-revolution-review/1900-6159689/. 
  4. ↑ McCracken, Harry (16 June 2009). "Bizarre Bugs: Nine of the Strangest Software Glitches Ever". IDG Communications Inc.. https://www.pcworld.com/article/523610/bizarre_bugs.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Bubble Bobble Revolution for DS Reviews". Red Ventures. https://www.metacritic.com/game/bubble-bobble-revolution/critic-reviews/?platform=ds. 
  6. ↑ Kautz, Paul (25 December 2005). "Test: Bubble Bobble Revolution" (in de). 4Players GmbH. https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/NDS/Test/7540/4175/0/Bubble_Bobble_Revolution.html. 
  7. ↑ Edge staff (February 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution". Edge (Future plc) (159): 92. https://www.gamesradar.com/bubble-bobble-revolution-2/. Retrieved 4 August 2022. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Walker, John (12 January 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/r-bubblebobblerevolution-ds. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Gantayat, Anoop (28 November 2005). "Now Playing in Japan". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/29/now-playing-in-japan-23. 
  10. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (9 October 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution - NDS - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/bubble_bobble_revolution_nds_review/. 
  11. ↑ Killy (6 March 2006). "Test: Bubble Bobble Revolution" (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00006337_test.htm. 
  12. ↑ "Bubble Bobble Revolution". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 208: 91. October 2006. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Struck, Shawn (15 August 2006). "Bubble Bobble Revolution (DS) Review [Import"]. http://www.411mania.com/games/reviews/44005. 
  • 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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