Software:Comanche 4

From HandWiki
Short description: 2001 video game
Comanche 4
Developer(s)NovaLogic
Publisher(s)NovaLogic
SeriesComanche
Platform(s)Windows
Release
  • NA: November 2001
  • EU: December 2001
Genre(s)Combat flight simulation
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Comanche 4 is a combat flight simulation video game developed and published by NovaLogic for Windows in 2001. It is the fourth main title of the Comanche series.

Gameplay

In Comanche 4 the player pilots the Comanche RAH-66.[1] The game offers 6 single player campaigns with 30 missions total in which the player takes part in various military conflict around the globe. Multiplayer supports up to 16 players on LAN and through the Internet.[2] The game also features a mission editor allowing players to create their own environment and objectives.[3]

Development

There was a strong focus on game visuals during development. Earlier Comanche titles used voxel technology but developers switched to a polygon based engine for graphics improvement. Georgina Petrie from NovaLogic explained: "The evolution of graphics cards has allowed us to do some amazing effects. Dust flying up, trees swaying, water spraying, it's all there. There isn't another game out there that has this level of rotor wash effects." IGN staff also pointed out the shadow effects adding to the level of detail.

The development team intended to make the title "as fun to play as it is to look at". The game focuses more on action than previous titles, with varied missions from dense jungles to urban areas. Trees, buildings, the ground and most of the environment was designed to be destructible to add to the experience. The gameplay moved away from complex simulation towards simpler mechanics to appeal to "action gamers, because it's got a five-minute learning curve."[2]

Reception

Comanche 4
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings79%[5]
Metacritic74/100[4]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGW3.5/5[6]
Game Informer6.5/10[7]
GameSpot7.7/10[8]
GameSpy79/100[3]
IGN8.6/10[1]

Comanche 4 was well received by critics and users holding a score of 74/100 on Metacritic.[4]

Computer Gaming World's Jeff Lackey summarized the game as: "A standard but well-done shoot-'em-up action/arcade game."[6]

GameSpot's Bruce Grey praised the game's visuals and special effects made available by the move to a more modern graphical engine. He enjoyed the simple and non-stop action calling it a "flying version of Serious Sam" but which also made the game feel repetitive in gameplay, recommending it in "small doses". In summary, he said excellent graphics and action makes it a "great game to fire up [...] as a change of pace".[8]

GameSpy's Alan Lackey also welcomed the move to modern graphics highlighting the environmental details and spectacular destruction. Simpler controls and minimal preparation made the game more accessible to action gamers. He also pointed out the variety and originality of the missions. He described the game as a successful blend of fast-paced action and technical flight sims with "amazing graphics" and "entertaining mission design".[3]

IGN's Ivan Sulic approved the change of graphics engine praising the "technically brilliant, realistic, yet polished aesthetic": "vast, realistic landscapes dotted with flora and architecture" and "satisfying" explosions. He also noted the high hardware requirements and performance cost needed to run the game on best graphics quality. Simpler controls moved the title away from simulation, and makes it a mix of realism and efficient design choices to allow "smooth" gameplay, that sometimes affect playability. The variety of missions lowers cohesion and without a "greater underlying story" does not convey a "feeling of importance" but an "objective based abruptness". Despite these inconveniences, the visual appeal, simple controls and combat make it an enjoyable action game.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sulic, Ivan (26 November 2001). "Comanche 4". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/27/comanche-4. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Comanche 4, NovaLogic interview". https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/08/23/comanche-4-2. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lackey, Alan. "Comanche 4 (PC)". IGN Entertainment. http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/december01/comanche4/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Comanche 4 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/comanche-4/. 
  5. ↑ "Comanche 4 for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/524279-comanche-4/index.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lackey, Jeff (March 2002). "Comanche 4 - Rambo in a chopper". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (212): 91. 
  7. ↑ "SIKORSKY WAS A GENIUS". Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200203/R03.0801.1021.45797.htm. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Geryk, Bruce (4 December 2001). "Comanche 4 Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/comanche-4-review/1900-2829758/. 
  • Official website (archived)
  • 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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