Software:Car Battler Joe

From HandWiki
Short description: 2001 video game
Car Battler Joe
North American cover art
Developer(s)Ancient
Publisher(s)Natsume Inc.
Director(s)Keisuke Miyanaga
Producer(s)Koichiro Nakamura
Programmer(s)Kazutoyo Kobayashi
Artist(s)Ayano Koshiro
Composer(s)Yuzo Koshiro
Platform(s)Game Boy Advance
Release
  • JP: November 30, 2001
  • NA: October 21, 2002
Genre(s)Vehicular combat
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is a 2001 vehicular combat game developed by Ancient and published by Natsume Inc. for the Game Boy Advance. The game involves using cars to fight opponents in action-styled battles, with role-playing video game game mechanics. It combined vehicular combat game with action role-playing elements in a similar manner to Autoduel from 1985.[1]

Plot

Gameplay screenshot

The player, taking the role of 16-year-old Joe, must earn money by battling to buy parts for his car to make it stronger.

Development

The game was developed by Ancient, with joint publishing by Victor Interactive Software in Japan and Natsume Inc. in the United States.[2] Known in Japan as Car Battler Go, Natsume Inc. secured the North American publishing rights for the game, changing its name and originally scheduled its release in mid-2002.[3] Composer Yuzo Koshiro wrote funk music for the game.[4] It was shown at Nintendo Space World in 2001.[5] In 2015, the game was re-released for the Wii U's Virtual Console.[6]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic77/100[7]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM7/10[8]
GameProStarStarStarStar[9]
GameSpot8.1/10[10]
GameSpyStarStarStar[11]
IGN7.7/10[12]
Nintendo LifeStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[13]
Nintendo Power4.3/5[14]

Car Battler Joe received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[7] It was well received by Nintendo Power, which called it a "one-of-a-kind adventure" due to its combination of driving challenges and "RPG depth".[14] Before it was playable, Marc Nix of IGN was excited about its premise, as well as the developer attached to it.[15] In his review, he called its gameplay "hectic" and its controls well-designed. He also enjoyed the Mode 7 graphics. However, he found the sound to be less desirable, calling it "busy" but also "lacking punch".[12] It was the 87th most anticipated game for IGN's readers as of January 3, 2003.[16]

Electronic Gaming Monthly praised the car customization, commenting that without it, it would be both mediocre and not as deep.[8] GameSpot's Frank Provo called it "weird and unique", and may not suit some people's tastes. However, he found an abundance of variety and personality to it.[10] The publication later named it the best Game Boy Advance game of February 2003.[17] In his preview of the game, GamePro's Pong Sifu found the gameplay unique and the graphics "delightful".[18] In his review, he commented that while the story was weak and the concept unoriginal, it was "easily one of the most fun action RPGs on the portable system".[9] RPGFan's Neal Chandran found it fun and worth a shot, noting that even with its flaws, its "charm and heart" won him over.[19] GameSpy's Zach Meston called it "unexpectedly entertaining", praising its customization and music and sound effects. However, he criticized the aiming system and storyline, the latter described as "bare-minum".[11]

Retrospectives on Car Battler Joe were also positive towards the game. Outlets such as GamesRadar and Den of Geek listed it as one of the best games for the Game Boy Advance.[20][21]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ Joe Kaiser (July 8, 2005). "Unsung Innovators". Next Generation. Archived from the original on October 28, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051028224610/http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=336&Itemid=2. Retrieved April 2, 2010. 
  2. ↑ Nix (December 13, 2002). "Car Battler Joe". IGN. Ziff Davis. p. 1. http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/13/car-battler-joe. Retrieved January 5, 2018. 
  3. ↑ Harris, Craig (December 11, 2001). "Natsume's Lucky Seven". IGN. Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/12/natsumes-lucky-seven. Retrieved January 18, 2018. 
  4. ↑ Greening, Chris (March 19, 2013). "Yuzo Koshiro Profile". VGMO. http://www.vgmonline.net/yuzokoshiro/. Retrieved January 5, 2018. 
  5. ↑ Harris, Craig (August 25, 2001). "Spaceworld 2001: Car Battler Go!". IGN. Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/08/25/spaceworld-2001-car-battler-go. Retrieved January 14, 2018. 
  6. ↑ Bishop, Samantha (September 19, 2015). "Car Battler Joe makes its way to the Virtual Console". GameZone. https://www.gamezone.com/news/car-battler-joe-makes-its-way-to-the-virtual-console-3425251/. Retrieved January 5, 2018. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Car Battler Joe for Game Boy Advance Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/car-battler-joe/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance. Retrieved June 19, 2016. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 EGM staff (September 2002). "Car Battler Joe". Electronic Gaming Monthly (158): 162. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Pong Sifu (October 31, 2002). "Car Battler Joe Review for Game Boy Advance on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on January 23, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050123215239/http://gamepro.com/nintendo/gameboy_advance/games/reviews/26869.shtml. Retrieved June 19, 2016. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Frank Provo (February 10, 2003). "Car Battler Joe Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/car-battler-joe-review/1900-2910625/. Retrieved June 19, 2016. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Zach Meston (February 11, 2003). "GameSpy: Car Battler Joe". GameSpy. Archived from the original on November 20, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051120190504/http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/car-battler-joe/5594p1.html. Retrieved June 19, 2016. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Marc Nix (December 13, 2002). "Car Battler Joe". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/13/car-battler-joe. Retrieved June 19, 2016. 
  13. ↑ Jose Acosta (October 1, 2015). "Review: Car Battler Joe (Wii U eShop / GBA)". http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu-eshop/car_battler_joe_gba. Retrieved June 19, 2016. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Car Battler Joe". Nintendo Power 165: 158. February 2003. 
  15. ↑ Marc Nix (August 8, 2001). "Car Battler GO!". http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/08/08/car-battler-go. Retrieved June 19, 2016. 
  16. ↑ IGN staff (January 3, 2003). "The GBA Top 100". Archived from the original on February 23, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040223203325/http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/381/381458p1.html. Retrieved June 19, 2016. 
  17. ↑ ((The Editors of GameSpot)) (March 8, 2003). "GameSpot's Month in Review: February 2003". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 23, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050123151422/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/gotm/030803/index.html. 
  18. ↑ Pong Sifu (April 18, 2002). "Car Battler Joe Hands-On". GamePro. Archived from the original on January 23, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050123215334/http://gamepro.com/nintendo/gameboy_advance/games/previews/22726.shtml. Retrieved June 19, 2016. 
  19. ↑ Neal Chandran (November 17, 2004). "Car Battler Joe". RPGFan. https://www.rpgfan.com/review/car-battler-joe/. 
  20. ↑ GamesRadar Staff (January 3, 2018). "The 25 best GBA games of all time". GamesRadar. Future plc. http://www.gamesradar.com/best-gba-games/. Retrieved January 14, 2018. 
  21. ↑ Freiberg, Chris (August 31, 2017). "The 25 Absolute Best Game Boy Advance Games Ever". Den of Geek!. Dennis Publishing. http://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/nintendo/256070/the-25-absolute-best-game-boy-advance-games-ever. Retrieved January 17, 2018. 
  • 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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