Software:California Speed (video game)

From HandWiki
California Speed
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)Atari Games
Midway Games
Publisher(s)Atari Games (arcade)
Midway Home Entertainment (N64)
Producer(s)Mark Stephen Pierce
Steve Ritchie
Programmer(s)Carl Ferreira
Composer(s)Kevin Quinn, Dave Zabriske, Chris Granner, John Paul, Joe Lyford, Gunnar Madsen, Rich Carle, Todd Modjesky (Arcade)
Barry Leitch, Pablo Buitrago (N64)
Platform(s)Arcade, Nintendo 64
ReleaseArcade
March 1998
Nintendo 64
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer
Arcade systemAtari/Midway Seattle

California Speed is a racing video game developed and published by Atari Games and Midway Home Entertainment. The game was first released in arcades for Atari/Midway Seattle Arcade System hardware in 1998 and was ported to the Nintendo 64 in 1999 by Midway Games. The Nintendo 64 version of the game contains support for the Controller Pak and the Rumble Pak also the full support for multiplayer mode.

Gameplay

California Speed is set on many cities on the outskirts and streets across the state of California . Players compete against different racers on the tracks. Traffic can appear on races which players must avoid. Stunts such as jumps appear. Players can race with several different cars, including a golf cart,[2] with automatic or manual transmissions, and can alter the colors.

The arcade version allows up to four arcade cabinets to be linked together for four-player racing.[2]

Mojave Desert Billboard

In April 2012, a post was made to the r/creepygaming subreddit about two mysterious billboards discovered in the "Mojave Desert" level of the Nintendo 64 version of the game. The reason for the billboard message's inclusion was not known until February 2016, when the website PopOptiq published an article in which Morgan Godat, a textural artist for the game, explained that the game had been created under a serious time crunch.[3]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
ArcadeN64
AllGameStarStarStarHalf star[5]StarStarHalf star[6]
Consoles +N/A89%[8]
EGMN/A4.25/10[9][lower-alpha 1]
Game InformerN/A2.25/10[10]
GameSpotN/A4.6/10[11]
HyperN/A75%[12]
N64 MagazineN/A36%[13]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[14]N/A
Nintendo PowerN/A6.6/10[15]
Aggregate score
GameRankingsN/A44%[4]

The Nintendo 64 version received unfavorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4] Next Generation, however, said that the arcade version "is aimed directly at the middle of the gaming audience, and it plays that way too."[14] GamePro, in a favorable review of the Nintendo 64 version, said, "Fans of California Speed's arcade counterpart will bask in its sharp N64 port, but serious racing fans may be disappointed by the game's lack of replay depth. Consider this a rental title—lease with an option to buy."[16][lower-alpha 2]

Notes

  1. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the Nintendo 64 version, two critics gave it each a score of 4.5/10, and the other two gave it 4/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version three 4/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4.5/5 for sound.

References

  1. ↑ IGN staff (March 18, 1999). "Cal Speed in Stores". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/19/cal-speed-in-stores. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Johnny Ballgame (April 1998). "Hot at the Arcades: California Speed". GamePro (IDG) (115): 65. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_105_April_1998/page/n65/mode/2up. 
  3. ↑ Rigdon Jr., Randall (February 20, 2016). "Mystery of Creepy 18-Year-Old N64 'California Speed' Easter Egg Finally Revealed". https://www.popoptiq.com/mystery-of-creepy-18-year-old-n64-california-speed-easter-egg-finally-revealed/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "California Speed for Nintendo 64 Reviews". CBS Interavtive. https://www.gamerankings.com/n64/196863-california-speed/index.html. 
  5. ↑ Cook, Brad. "California Speed (Arcade) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14448&tab=review. 
  6. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "California Speed (N64) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16175&tab=review. 
  7. ↑ "Nintendo 64 Reviews: C". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/N64/Reviews/List/c.html. 
  8. ↑ Panda; Cheub (June 1999). "California Speed [US Import]" (in fr). Consoles + (89): 130–31. 
  9. ↑ Ricciardi, John; Hager, Dean; Boyer, Crispin; Williams, Ken "Sushi-X" (April 1999). "California Speed (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (117): 121. https://retrocdn.net/images/4/4d/EGM_US_117.pdf. Retrieved September 8, 2023. 
  10. ↑ McNamara, Andy; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (April 1999). "California Speed (N64)". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (72). http://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=3072. Retrieved September 8, 2023. 
  11. ↑ Taruc, Nelson (April 21, 1999). "California Speed Review (N64)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/california-speed-review/1900-2544224/. 
  12. ↑ Norton-Smith, Hugh (June 1999). "California Speed (N64)". Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (68): 81. https://archive.org/details/hyper-068/page/80/mode/2up. Retrieved July 4, 2021. 
  13. ↑ Weaver, Tim (May 1999). "California Speed". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (28): 72. https://archive.org/details/n64magazineukcollection/N64%20Magazine%2028%20-%20May%201999%20%28UK%29%20%28preliminary%20version%29/page/n71/mode/2up. Retrieved September 8, 2023. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "California Speed (Arcade)". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (43): 120. July 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_43/page/n121/mode/2up. Retrieved September 8, 2023. 
  15. ↑ "California Speed". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 118: 116. March 1999. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-127-december-1999/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20118%20March%201999/page/n131/mode/2up. Retrieved September 8, 2023. 
  16. ↑ Boba Fatt (April 1999). "California Speed (N64)". GamePro (IDG) (127): 80. https://retrocdn.net/images/9/92/GamePro_US_127.pdf. Retrieved September 8, 2023. 

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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