Software:Bug Riders

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 video game
Bug Riders
Developer(s)n-Space
Publisher(s)GT Interactive
Platform(s)PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Bug Riders: The Race of Kings is a video game developed by n-Space and published by GT Interactive for the PlayStation and Windows in 1997, followed by a re-release on PlayStation Network in 2011.

Gameplay

Bug Riders is a game which involves a bug-riding race to determine who will replace the dying emperor of the planet Entymion.[2] To accelerate, the player strikes their bug with a crop.[3] Careful rhythm is demanded, as using the crop too frequently will cause the bug to cry out in pain and slow down.[2]

Development

The game was showcased at E3 1997.[4]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStar (PS1)[5]
Consoles +82% (PS1)[6]
EGM4.125/10 (PS1)[3][lower-alpha 1]
Game Informer6.75/10 (PS1)[7]
GameFan50% (PS1)[8][lower-alpha 2]
IGN3/10 (PS1)[9]
Next GenerationStarStar (PS1)[2]
PC Games45% (PC)[10]

Bug Riders received generally negative reviews, primarily because of the system for controlling the bugs. In particular, critics overwhelmingly detested the cropping system used to accelerate, finding it overly difficult to master.[2][3][9][11] Shawn Smith argued in Electronic Gaming Monthly, "Let's just stick with a standard 'press the button and hold it' acceleration that practically EVERY other racing game has. It's what we're used to as gamers. When something like this comes along, we don't know what to do."[3] Most critics also found that the bugs having minds of their own, allowing them to fly without input from the player and sometimes resist the player's inputs, proved to be frustrating.[2][9][11]

The level designs had a more mixed response, with some praising them for their visual design and variety,[3][11] while others found they did not make it obvious where the player needed to go.[2][9] While there was also scattered praise for elements such as the music, critics felt the control issues overrode all the game's positive elements. GamePro, for example, opined that "While there are some cool weapons to pick up as well as a good variety of bug steeds, because of bad control, praising these aspects is like toweling off the Titanic."[11][lower-alpha 3] Next Generation commented, "The premise has some promise, offering all sorts of new gameplay ideas like riding living creatures and flying through the air. However, these same ideas, at least the execution of them, are what bring the game down."[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ The four critics in the Review Crew gave individual scores of 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, and 4.5.
  2. ↑ Three critics of GameFan gave individual scores of 42, 55, and 52.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave scores of 4.0/5 for graphics, 3.0/5 for sound, 1.5/5 for control, and 2.0/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ "RACING GAME FANS TO BUG OUT AS GT INTERACTIVE AND N-SPACE SHIP 'BUGRIDERS: THE RACE OF KINGS'". http://www.gtinteractive.com/ch5/press/bugships.html. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Bug Riders". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (37): 147. January 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_37/page/n147/mode/2up. Retrieved November 23, 2020. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Review Crew: Bug Riders". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (102): 157. January 1998. 
  4. ↑ Lee, Helen (June 12, 1997). "GT Interactive's E3 Lineup". http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/12_gtint/index.html. 
  5. ↑ House, Michael L.. "Bug Riders: The Race of Kings - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7831&tab=review. 
  6. ↑ Panda (December 1997). "Test PlayStation: Bugriders [sic"] (in fr). Consoles + (71): 160. http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Consoles%20Plus/consoleplus_numero071/Console%2B_N71-Page%200156.jpg. Retrieved November 24, 2020. 
  7. ↑ "Bug Riders - PlayStation". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (56). December 1997. http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=dec97&doc=briders. Retrieved November 23, 2020. 
  8. ↑ Hodgson, David "Chief Hambleton"; Jevons, Dan "Knightmare"; Stockert, Bruce "Reubus" (December 1997). "Bug Riders". GameFan (Metropolis Media) 5 (12): 20. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_12/page/n25/mode/2up. Retrieved November 24, 2020. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Rignall, Jaz (December 4, 1997). "Bug Riders". https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/12/05/bug-riders. 
  10. ↑ "Bug Riders" (in de). PC Games (Computec). March 1998. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Boba Fatt (January 1998). "PlayStation ProReview: BugRiders: The Race of Kings". GamePro (IDG) (112): 98. 
  • 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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