Software:Chaos Field

From HandWiki
Short description: 2005 video game

Chaos Field
Japanese arcade flyer
Developer(s)MileStone Inc.
Publisher(s)Able Corporation
Director(s)Manabu Matsumoto
Producer(s)Hiroshi Kimura
Programmer(s)Jirō Hamaya
Manabu Matsumoto
Takahiro Kawachi
Artist(s)Ryohei Murakami
Composer(s)Kō Hayashi
Daisuke Nagata
Platform(s)Arcade, Dreamcast, GameCube, PlayStation 2
Release
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player
Arcade systemSega NAOMI

Script error: The function "nihongo_foot" does not exist. is a 2004 vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by MileStone. The game consists entirely of boss battles, featuring five stages with three bosses each. The player can choose to play as one of three characters, each with their own ship that has a unique primary weapon. The player can flip the environment at will between two parallel worlds.

Chaos Field is the first game from MileStone, a company founded by former Compile employees looking to develop high quality shooters similar to those Compile was known for in the past. The game experienced a troubled development cycle due to a lack of organization and the number of employees involved. After its release in Japanese arcades, it was ported to the Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, and GameCube in Japan. The GameCube version was also released in North America, and included a mode that adds small waves of enemies between the bosses. Critics found the game to be overwhelmingly average, a generic shooter lacking in polish and execution.

Gameplay

The player battles a boss

Chaos Field is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up with consecutive boss battles. The game features five stages, each with three bosses to defeat. The player can choose to play as one of three characters, each with their own ship that has a unique primary weapon:[6] a spread shot, a lock-on laser, or bolts of lightning.[7] Each ship is equipped with a short-range sword that can destroy bullets and inflict damage on enemy ships.[7] Each player ship also has two special abilities, one being a type of homing weapon that locks onto enemies and the other being a deployable shield that absorbs bullets.[7] The specifics of how these special abilities function differs slightly between ships.[8]

The player can flip the environment at will between two parallel worlds, the "order field" and the "chaos field". Gameplay is normal in the order field, but in the chaos field, the player's weapons are more powerful, the special homing weapons can destroy enemy bullets, and enemies will fire more bullets.[7] The player only gets one life per credit, but can take several hits before losing a life.[7] The score can be increased via attack combos and time bonuses.[8]

Development and release

Chaos Field was the first game developed by MileStone Inc., who were desiring to make a shooter of their own.[9] The company was founded by former Compile employees in 2003 after Compile went bankrupt.[9][10] Most of the staff originally joined Compile because of the company's positive reputation with shooting games like the Aleste series, but were left unsatisfied from Compile's growing focus on other franchises like Puyo Puyo.[11] The team decided to develop the game for Sega's NAOMI arcade platform since they were experienced with it and had a working relationship with Sega.[9] Development was funded by their publisher Able Corporation and by subcontract work on other games.[9][11] According to sound and art designer Daisuke Nagata, the game experienced a troubled development cycle due to a lack of organization and the number of employees involved.[10] The team had a working prototype by September 2003 but scrapped this iteration and started anew when they determined it did not feel right. This version of the game had the player controlling a giant robot flying through stages set in real Japanese cities.[9]

Chaos Field was first released in Japanese arcades on May 25, 2004.[1] It received a Dreamcast port in December that year,[2] after the console was already discontinued by Sega.[12] The team also had experience with developing for the GameCube and PlayStation 2, and so created ports for those platforms as well.[9] The GameCube version, Chaos Field Expanded, was released in February 2005 in Japan by Sega,[4][13] with a North American version published by O~3 Entertainment in December that year.[14][3] This version features an exclusive mode that adds small waves of enemies between the bosses.[7] Also in December, the PlayStation 2 version titled Chaos Field New Order was released in Japan.[15][5] Chaos Field is included in the Wii compilations Ultimate Shooting Collection (2009) and Milestone Shooting Collection 2 (2010).[16][17]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DreamcastGC
Edge6 / 10[18]N/A
Famitsu24 / 40[19]24 / 40[20]
GameSpotN/A6.2 / 10[7]
GamesRadar+N/AStarStarStar[3]
GamesTMN/A6 / 10[21]
IGNN/A6 / 10[6]
Nintendo PowerN/A6 / 10[22]
Nintendo World ReportN/A4.5 / 10[23]
Aggregate score
MetacriticN/A63 / 100[24]

Critics found Chaos Field to be a generic shooter. IGN wrote that "the entire effort screams cookie-cutter design" but that it "manages to deliver an entertaining dose of gameplay within a completely average looking shooter."[6] Gamezilla and GamesRadar also described the game as "standard".[25][3] Several critics compared the game unfavorably to other shoot 'em ups since it is overly traditional and lacking in distinguishing qualities. In particular, some critics found the game inferior to Ikaruga, another arcade shooter ported to the GameCube.[7][6][25] Some critics like IGN only recommended Chaos Field to hardcore fans of the genre who desired to attain the highest scores, and pointed casual players to Ikaruga.[3][18][6]

Some journalists criticized the poor execution and lack of features. GamesRadar and GameSpot wrote that the collision detection did not feel right,[7][3] with GameSpot saying the game "lacks the ultra precise action and feel that's crucial to any truly great shoot-'em-up."[7] Nintendo World Report wrote that the game felt unbalanced and could have been improved with more effort by the developers.[23] Along the same lines, Edge and GamesTM wrote that the game felt rushed and lacked polish.[18][21] The graphics were criticized as generic and outdated, and the sound effects on the GameCube version were described as almost nonexistent.[7][6][23][3] IGN described the audio and graphical presentation as "decent" without any exceptional qualities.[6] GamesTM wrote that the game lacks the "refinement and accessibility" of other shooters.[21] Some criticized the lack of a two-player mode and online ranking system.[6][23]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Matsumoto, Manabu (2004). "Chaos Field in Service". http://www.mile-stone.co.jp/eng/column_e.html. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Chaos Field". http://sega.jp/dc/041201/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Elston, Brett (March 4, 2006). "Chaos Field review" (in en). https://www.gamesradar.com/chaos-field-review/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Now Playing in Japan" (in en). March 1, 2005. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/01/now-playing-in-japan-231. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Chaos Field". 2005. http://www.mile-stone.co.jp/product/chaosfield/chaosfield_top.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Bozon, Mark (January 11, 2006). "Chaos Field". http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/01/11/chaos-field. 
  7. ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 Kasavin, Greg (January 5, 2006). "Chaos Field Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/chaos-field-review/1900-6141897/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Chaos Field instruction manual. O~3 Entertainment. 2005. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Insanity DVD The Illegal Function: Radirgy. Insanity Naked Hunter. 2006.  (Translation )
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "「ラジルギ」シリーズ紆余曲折の14年とは。新作「ラジルギスワッグ」発売を記念して，RS34の増渕佳人氏＆永田大祐氏にインタビュー" (in ja). June 29, 2019. https://www.4gamer.net/games/428/G042832/20190624047/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "The Small Guns". Edge. July 2005. http://www.edge-online.co.uk/archives/2005/06/the_small_guns.php. 
  12. ↑ Torres, Ricardo (October 5, 2004). "Chaos Field Impressions". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/chaos-field-impressions/1100-6108885/. 
  13. ↑ Casamassina, Matt (May 6, 2005). "Bring on the Chaos" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/07/bring-on-the-chaos. 
  14. ↑ Adams, David (August 15, 2005). "Chaos Field Confirmed for U.S." (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/15/chaos-field-confirmed-for-us. 
  15. ↑ Torres, Ricardo (September 18, 2005). "TGS 2005: Chaos Field New Order Hands-On". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tgs-2005-chaos-field-new-order-hands-on/1100-6133778/. 
  16. ↑ Hatfield, Daemon (January 21, 2009). "Ultimate Shooting Collection Review" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/22/ultimate-shooting-collection-review. 
  17. ↑ "Milestone Shooting Collection 2 Bundles Five Shooters For Wii". 3 December 2010. https://www.siliconera.com/milestone-shooting-collection-2-bundles-five-shooters-for-wii/. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Edge staff (February 2005). "Chaos Field". Edge (146): 79. 
  19. ↑ "カオスフィールド (DC)". Famitsu. December 2004. 
  20. ↑ "カオスフィールド (GC)". Famitsu. February 2005. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "Chaos Field Expanded". GamesTM: 104. May 2005. 
  22. ↑ "Chaos Field". Nintendo Power 200: 99. February 2006. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 Metts, Jonathan (March 29, 2005). "Chaos Field Expanded". http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/4346/chaos-field-gamecube. 
  24. ↑ "Chaos Field for GameCube Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/chaos-field/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Karls, Alex (February 2, 2006). "Chaos Field". http://www.gamezilla.com/review.aspx?review=9199. 
  • 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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