Software:Bubsy II

From HandWiki
Short description: 1994 video game
Bubsy II
Sega Genesis cover art
Developer(s)Accolade
Publisher(s)Accolade
Designer(s)Cyndi Kirkpatrick[1]
Programmer(s)Paul Kwinn
Russell Shiffer
Composer(s)Chip Harris
SeriesBubsy
Platform(s)Sega Genesis, Super NES, Game Boy, PC
ReleaseSega Genesis
Super NES
Game Boy
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Bubsy II is a platform video game, the sequel to Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind, and the second game in the Bubsy series.[5] It was originally released by Accolade in 1994 for the Sega Genesis, Super NES, and Game Boy. The Super NES version was re-released for Windows as part of Bubsy Two-Fur on December 17, 2015, while all three versions were re-released as part of Software:Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection in 2025.

Gameplay

Bubsy II plays very similar to its predecessor, as a 2D sidescrolling platformer.[5] Unlike the first game where playing through the stages is linear, in Bubsy II the player gets to choose stages.[1] The player must still maneuver Bubsy through the level through jumping and gliding, though Bubsy now collects marbles instead of yarn balls. The game features more variety than its predecessor. One new feature in the game was the ability to shoot a Nerf Ballzooka gun.[6] A multiplayer mode was added as well, where a second player could control one of Bubsy's younger relatives.[7] Bubsy can now take three hits before losing a life.[8]

Story

Corrupt entrepreneur Oinker P. Hamm announces a new theme park, the Amazatorium, which features virtual worlds based on various historical eras. Unknown to the public, Oinker is stealing items and information from throughout history using a time machine, changing the past so his thefts can only be found in his park. Fearing that the Amazatorium might get too crowded on its opening day, Bubsy's niece Terri and nephew Terry decide to break into the theme park the night before. Bubsy and his sidekick Arnold follow them into the park to rescue them and foil Oinker's plans.[9]

Development

Planning for the game started as early as a few months prior to the release of the first Bubsy game, with team members coming up with three possible scenarios for the game, none of them involving the first game's antagonists "The Woolies".[10] A pilot for an animated television adaptation titled "What Could Possibly Go Wrong?" aired on Thanksgiving Day.[11] Some characters from the TV pilot appeared in the second game.[9] The sequel moved into full production after the first game was released and was a commercial success.[5] However, a different, new development team within Accolade was responsible for making the game, without original designer Michael Berlyn's assistance.[5][12] Like the original, the Sega Genesis and Super NES versions are virtually identical, but the Game Boy version is drastically different, with different level designs and only black-and-white graphics, unless played on a Super Game Boy, which applied very basic coloring.[7]

Original Bubsy creator Michael Berlyn, who was not involved in this game of the series, has strongly criticized the game, stating that it "just about killed the franchise"[13] and that "Accolade's choices about doing Bubsy II in-house with the development team selected was a mistake that pretty much buried him...Bubsy II failed due to mismanagement of the character. It was done by people who, no matter how talented and interested they may have been, had not understood the original vision".[12]

Promotion

A lottery was put up where the grand prize winner would have a 3-day trip to Hollywood as well as a tour of the studio where the Bubsy TV special was created. First prize winners were awarded shirts, while second prize winners were awarded patches.[14]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Sega GenesisSNES
CVG80/100[15]79/100[15]
Hyper61/100[17]N/A
ONMN/A82/100[19]
Total!N/A3[20]
Electronic GamesA[21]A−[22]
Games WorldN/AN/A
Mega86%[23]N/A
Sega Power72%[24]N/A
Sega Pro88%[25]N/A
Super GamerN/A70/100[26]
VideoGamesN/A6/10[27]

Bubsy II on the Sega Genesis received generally favorable reviews.[18][28][23][25] GamePro's CC Rider voiced approval for the multiple paths through each stage, special items, minigames, and improved controls over the first game. However, they felt that the game is boringly easy for experienced players.[29] Electronic Games' Laurie Yates also praised the game for its audiovisual department and gameplay.[21]

Super NES

The Super NES version garnered an average reception from critics.[15][19][22][26] Electronic Games' John Wesley Hardin praised the game's humor and non-linear gameplay.[22] GamePro's The Unknown Gamer stated that while the new features are initially confusing and some of the level designs are not as charming or original as the first game, Bubsy's personality remained as the game's main draw.[30]

Game Boy

The Game Boy version was met with mixed reviews.[31][32][33][34] Hardin highlighted its gameplay and graphics, which he considered exceptional for a Game Boy title.[33] Electronic Gaming Monthly's five editors commented that the Game Boy port was a good introduction for those who had never played Bubsy before.[31] GamePro's Earth Angel heavily criticized the Game Boy version, stating that it suffered from sloppy controls, boring enemies, slow-paced gameplay, poor graphics by Game Boy standards. They also said that none of the character's personality was retained in this version.[32]

Retrospective coverage

In a retrospective outlook, IGN conceded that the gameplay had generally been cleaned up, but still felt the game lacked originality, stating that "the game just never quite gelled. Coming in only a year after the original Bubsy meant corner-cutting, which manifested itself in the art direction and enemy design. Too many assets are reused and some of the stages, such as the music levels, are just uninspired".[35] Hardcore Gaming 101, also in retrospect, said that "Bubsy II is definitely an improvement, but the designers simply cranked the dial up from 'pile of junk' to 'terribly mediocre'".[36]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Ahead of the Game". Game Players: 23. May 1994. https://archive.org/stream/Game_Players_Issue_40_May_1994#page/n23/mode/2up. 
  2. ↑ "Dixons New Releases". Daily Mirror. October 28, 1994. https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f1/DailyMirror_UK_1994-10-28_15.jpg. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "ONE FALSE GRUNT, PIG LIPS, AND YOU'RE BACON BITS". Electronic Gaming Monthly (62): 84–85. September 1994. https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_62/page/n85/mode/2up. Retrieved January 10, 2022. 
  4. ↑ Nintendo staff. "Game Boy (original) Games". Nintendo. https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/dmg_games.pdf. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Buchanan, Levi (7 November 2008). "What Hath Sonic Wrought?, Vol. 1". http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/07/what-hath-sonic-wrought-vol-1. 
  6. ↑ Network, All Media. "AllGame - Game Over". http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1540. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Bubsy II". http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bubsy-ii/. 
  8. ↑ TOP HERO (December 1994). "BUBSY II: MAS GARRA TODAVIA" (in es). Super Juegos: 124. https://archive.org/stream/Superjuegos_032#page/n123. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kunkel, Bill (January 1994). "Bubsy's Back… and He's Lost His Marbles!: A Bobcat for All Seasons Takes the Fall". Electronic Games: 48. https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1994-01/Electronic%20Games%201994-01#page/n47/mode/2up. 
  10. ↑ Katz, Arnie (March 1993). "Boppin' with BUBSY: America's newest hero says, 'Cheese!'". Electronic Games: 45. https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1993-03/Electronic%20Games%201993-03#page/n43/mode/2up. 
  11. ↑ Worley, Joyce; Chamberlain, Ross (September 1993). "EG Hotline". Electronic Games: 10. https://archive.org/stream/Electronic-Games-1993-09/Electronic%20Games%201993-09#page/n9/mode/2up. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Sega-16 – Interview: Mike Berlyn (Creator of Bubsy Series)". August 2006. https://www.sega-16.com/2006/08/interview-mike-berlyn/. 
  13. ↑ "News - Playing Catch-Up: Bubsy's Michael Berlyn". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=6716. 
  14. ↑ Grand Prize
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Lord, Gary; Ahmet, Deniz (October 1994). "CVG Review: Bubsy 2". Computer and Video Games (EMAP) (155): 100–101. https://archive.org/details/computer-and-video-games-magazine/Computer%20and%20Video%20Games%20155/page/100/mode/2up. 
  16. ↑ Brumley, Doug (December 1994). "Review: Bubsy II (Genesis)". Game Players (GP Publications) 7 (12): 152–153. https://archive.org/details/game-players-issue-66/page/n169/mode/2up. 
  17. ↑ Costelloe, Brian (December 1994). "Review: Bubsy 2 (Mega Drive)". Hyper (nextmedia) (13): 50–51. https://archive.org/details/hyper-013/page/50/mode/2up. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Bufton, Paul; Swan, Gus (October 1994). "Megadrive Review: Bubsy 2". Mean Machines Sega (EMAP) (24): 66–70. https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-magazine-24/page/n65/mode/2up. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Davies, Paul; McVittie, Andy (October 1994). "Review (Super Nintendo Entertainment System): Bubsy 2". Nintendo Magazine System (EMAP) (25): 92–93. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-magazine-system-uk-25-october-1994/page/n91/mode/2up. 
  20. ↑ Kock, Klaus (March 1996). "SNES Test: Bubsy II" (in de). Total! (Germany: X-Plain-Verlag) (33): 34. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Yates, Laurie (January 1995). "Cartridge: Bubsy II (Accolade/Genesis)". Electronic Games (Decker Publications) 2 (11): 100. https://archive.org/details/electronic-games-1995-01/page/100/mode/1up. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Hardin, John Wesley (September 1994). "Cartridge: Bubsy II (SNES)". Electronic Games (Decker Publications) 2 (12): 66–67. https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-09/page/n65/mode/2up. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Mega Drive Review: Bubsy II". Mega (Maverick Magazines) (26): 40–41. November 1994. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:Mega_UK_26.pdf&page=40. 
  24. ↑ Wallace, Danny (November 1994). "Mega Drive: Bubsy the Bobcat 2". Sega Power (Future Publishing) (60): 50. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:SegaPower_UK_60.pdf&page=50. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Pilkington, Mark (November 1994). "Mega Drive Review: Bubsy II". Sega Pro (Paragon Publishing) (38): 68–69. https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-38/page/n67/mode/2up. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Pullin, Keith; McDermott, Andy (December 1994). "Super NES Review: Bubsy 2". Super Gamer (Paragon Publishing) (9): 65. https://archive.org/details/super-gamer-09/page/n64/mode/1up. 
  27. ↑ Soria, Gabe (October 1994). "Reviews: Bubsy II (SNES)". VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine (Larry Flynt Publications) (69): 70. https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_69_October_1994/page/n69/mode/1up. 
  28. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GWSMDbubsy2
  29. ↑ CC rider (November 1994). "ProReview - Genesis: Bubsy II". GamePro (IDG) (64): 94. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_064_November_1994/page/n103/mode/1up. 
  30. ↑ The Unknown Gamer (September 1994). "Genesis ProReview - Super NES: Bubsy II". GamePro (IDG) (62): 74. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:GamePro_US_062.pdf&page=76. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Semrad, Ed; Carpenter, Danyon; Manuel, Al; Williams, Ken; Weigand, Mike (January 1995). "Review Crew - Major Mike's Game Roundup: Bubsy 2 (Accolade/Game Boy)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (66): 46. https://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-066-january-1995/page/46/mode/1up. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Earth Angel (January 1995). "ProReview - Game Boy: Bubsy II". GamePro (IDG) (66): 136. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:GamePro_US_066.pdf&page=154. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Hardin, John Wesley (April 1995). "Portable: Bubsy 2 (Accolade/Game Boy)". Electronic Games (Decker Publications) 3 (7): 95. https://archive.org/details/electronic-games-1995-04/page/95/mode/1up. 
  34. ↑ Smith, Ben; Iredale, Andrew (August 1995). "Game Boy Review: Bubsy 2". Nintendo Magazine System (Australia: Trielle Corporation) (29): 40–41. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-magazine-system-au-29-august-1995/page/40/mode/2up. 
  35. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (November 7, 2008). "What Hath Sonic Wrought?, Vol. 1". IGN. IGN Entertainment. https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/11/07/what-hath-sonic-wrought-vol-1. 
  36. ↑ Kalata, Kurt (September 25, 2017). "Bubsy II". Hardcore Gaming 101. http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bubsy-ii/. 
  • 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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