Software:Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators

From HandWiki
Short description: 1995 video game
Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators
North American cover art
Developer(s)KAZe
Bexide (iOS)
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Norio Nakagata
Producer(s)Jason Elias
Joann Perritano
Designer(s)Takashi Kobayashi
Programmer(s)Kunihito Hiramatsu
Artist(s)Akiko Nakamura
Bryan A. Golden
Hiromi Seino
Writer(s)Mina Handa
Composer(s)Naoto Shibata
Yusuke Takahama
Doug Aldrich
Platform(s)Sega Saturn, iOS
ReleaseSega Saturn
  • JP: September 11, 1997 (Ver9.7)[4]
iOS
  • WW: April 22, 2010[5]
Genre(s)Pinball
Mode(s)Single-player

Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators[lower-alpha 1] is a pinball video game developed and published by KAZe for the Sega Saturn. A successor, Digital Pinball: Necronomicon, was released in 1996 for the Saturn exclusively in Japan. An updated version, Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators Ver.9.7, was released in 1997 for the Saturn in Japan. Last Gladiators was ported to iOS in April 2010 as Last Gladiators Ver.2010.

Gameplay

Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators has four pinball tables,[6] each with its own themes; Gladiators, Knight of the Roses, Dragon Showdown and Warlock. Points are earned by hitting various targets, lanes, ramps and bumpers in the playfield. Before launching a ball, players have the option to choose between three bonus options of varying nature, e.g. starting the currently lit bonus round, super kickback, activating the extra ball and/or a random bonus target, 2x playfield, super jets, activating the deathwatch (out hole) bonus and various point bonuses. In addition to multiball rounds, each table has nine special bonus rounds culminating into an "Ultimate Round" when all bonus rounds have been completed (”Gladiator Show" for Gladiators, "Necromancer" for Knight of the Roses, "Banzai Showdown" for Dragon Showdown and "Last Judgment" for Warlock). The game ends when the player loses three balls in succession and/or any extra balls earned. The player's high scores for each table are then displayed in the "Last Gladiators Hall of Fame".

Development and release

Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators was developed by Japanese corporation KAZe. The game's lead designer was Takashi Kobayashi.[7][8] Director Norio Nakagata counted himself among the "pinball generation" and, wanting to successfully bring the genre to home consoles, spearheaded development on the Super Pinball series for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Still unsatisfied, the team felt bringing a game to a 32-bit console would finally be worthy of the moniker "digital pinball".[9] According to a designer message hidden within the game, development took 11 months with about 70,000 lines of code written. As it was being built on new hardware, a trial-and-error methodology separate from the Super Pinball series was adopted and a significant amount of time was spent debugging it.[10][11]

During development the game had working titles including The Pinball[lower-alpha 2][12] and Pinball Arena[lower-alpha 3].[13][14][15] Since the design team had an international release in mind, the visuals and music were created in North America to better appeal to Western markets.[9] This included filming live-action footage in Hollywood.[16][17] KAZe self-published the game on the Sega Saturn in Japan on June 23, 1995.[2] According to company president Junichiro Kawasoe, an IBM PC compatible version was planned for release the following winter[16] but it never materialized. It was published for the Saturn in Europe by Sega in September 1995 simply as Digital Pinball[1] and in North America by Time Warner Interactive in November 1995 as Last Gladiators: Digital Pinball.[3]

An update titled Last Gladiators: Digital Pinball Ver.9.7 was released in Japan on September 11, 1997.[4] It featured some improved graphics and subtle refinements to the gameplay aimed at making it fairer and more satisfying for players. Kawasoe stated that this was done by carefully revisiting player feedback and internal testing results because KAZe viewed pinball as a genre that could be fine-tuned and evolved over time. Registered players of the original release of the game were able to purchase Ver.9.7 at a discounted price.[18] An iOS version titled Last Gladiators Ver.2010 was developed by Bexide and began distribution starting on April 22, 2010.[5] Based on Ver.9.7, this iteration added touch controls but only included the Gladiators table upon initial purchase; the remaining three tables had to be bought separately.[19]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Hyper70% (Saturn)[21]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar (Saturn)[6]
TouchArcadeStarStarStarStar (iOS)[22]

Next Generation reviewed the Saturn version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and praised Last Gladiators' "excellent programming" and 'convincing faithfulness' to a real pinball machine, further praising the game's bonuses and skill shots. Next Generation expressed that Last Gladiators is 'more accurate' than other virtual pinball games, and summarized the game as "a great deal of fun".[6]

GamePro reviewed the Saturn version of Last Gladiators, criticizing it as "unimaginative" but 'fine', praising its sound effects and "slick" animations, and concluded by recommending the game to "hard-core" pinball fans.[23] Mean Machines Sega gave the Saturn version of Digital Pinball an overall score of 67%, calling the game "beautifully presented", praising its "crisp" graphics and "stylish" UI, as well as its "crystal clear" sound effects. Mean Machines further calls Digital Pinball "a remarkably close interpretation of real pinball", but criticized its table design; while praising the themed visuals of each table, Mean Machines calls them "cramped" and "uninspiring", summarizing the only goal of the game as 'gaining points', and criticized the lack of bonus effects as the player gains points.[20]

A reviewer for Hyper was confused by the change in name from Last Gladiators to Digital Pinball for the Australian release and found most tables to be interesting, but criticized the graphics as gaudy and second-rate with messages appearing on the middle of the screen instead of using callouts. The sound and speech in the game were found to be excellent.[21]

Reviews

Notes

  1. ↑ Dejitaru Pinbōru Saigo No Ken Tōshi (Japanese: デジタルピンボール ラストグラディエーターズ). Also known simply as Digital Pinball in Europe and as Last Gladiators: Digital Pinball in North America
  2. ↑ Za Pinbōru (Japanese: ザ・ピンボール)
  3. ↑ Pinbōru Arīna (Japanese: ピンボール アリーナ)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hickman, Lucy (March 1995). "Sega Saturn Review: Digital Pinball". Sega Magazine (EMAP) (22): 62. ISSN 0958-3114. https://archive.org/details/sega-22/page/18/mode/2up. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "ソフトウェア セガサターン専用CD-ROM（ライセンシー発売）1994・1995年発売" (in ja). Sega. https://www.sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee1.html. Retrieved December 31, 2025. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Press release: 1995-11-08: TIME WARNER INTERACTIVE PUBLISHES 'LAST GLADIATORS DIGITAL PINBALL' FOR THE SEGA SATURN". PR Newswire. November 8, 1996. https://segaretro.org/Press_release:_1995-11-08:_TIME_WARNER_INTERACTIVE_PUBLISHES_%27LAST_GLADIATORS_DIGITAL_PINBALL%27_FOR_THE_SEGA_SATURN. Retrieved December 31, 2025. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "ソフトウェア セガサターン専用CD-ROM（ライセンシー発売）1997年発9売" (in ja). Sega. https://www.sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/soft_licensee3.html. Retrieved December 31, 2025. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "ゲーム・アプリ" (in ja). Bexide. https://bexide.co.jp/products/game. Retrieved December 31, 2025. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Finals - Rating - Saturn - Thumbs Up: Last Gladiators". Next Generation (Imagine Publishing) (11): 172. November 1995. ISSN 1078-9693. https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-011/page/n173/mode/2up. 
  7. ↑ "『ブックオブウォーターマークス』完成記念イベント開催" (in ja). July 14, 1999. http://teleparc.com/ja/game/geisen-x/news/vol87301.htm. Retrieved December 28, 2025. 
  8. ↑ "プロ フィ ー ル 国沢 光宏" (in ja). GameWatch! (Futabasha) 2: 116. November 1999. https://archive.org/details/GameWatcher-1999-11/GameWatcher_1999_11/page/116/mode/1up. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Japanese Pinball - Developer Interview Collection". https://shmuplations.com/pinball/. Retrieved December 28, 2025. 
  10. ↑ KAZe (June 23, 1995) (in ja). Digital Pinball: Last Gladiators. Sega Saturn. KAZe. "ようこそピンボール・アリーナの世界へ プログラム・デザイナーからのメッセージ" 
  11. ↑ "Developer Message". https://tcrf.net/Digital_Pinball:_Last_Gladiators. Retrieved December 31, 2025. 
  12. ↑ "セガ • ブランド 編" (in ja). Micom BASIC Magazine (Dempa Shimbunsha): 148. October 1994. https://archive.org/details/micomBASIC_1994-10/page/148/mode/1up. 
  13. ↑ Eye Spy (July 1995). "Overseas Prospects: ECTS - Europe's Electronic Entertainment Showcase". GamePro (IDG) (72): 115. ISSN 1042-8658. https://archive.org/details/game-pro-issue-72-july-1995_202408/page/115/mode/1up. 
  14. ↑ Kubuki, Kei (November 1994). "Japan Now! Saturn Special". GameFan (DieHard Gamers Club) 2 (12): 201. ISSN 1092-7212. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_2_Issue_12/page/201/mode/1up. 
  15. ↑ "Gamespy Previews". MegaZone (Mason Stewart Publishing) (52): 9. June 1995. ISSN 1321-8131. https://archive.org/details/megazoneau52/mode/1up. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "新規参入 サード・パーティ参戦" (in ja). Saturn Fan (Tokuma Shoten) (7): 56. July 1995. https://archive.org/details/saturn-fan-1995-7/Saturn%20Fan%201995%207/page/56/mode/1up. 
  17. ↑ "デジタルピンボール ラストグラディエーターズ" (in ja). Saturn Fan (Tokuma Shoten) (7): 88–9. July 1995. https://archive.org/details/saturn-fan-1995-7/Saturn%20Fan%201995%207/page/88/mode/2up. 
  18. ↑ "株式会社KAZe 代表取締役・プロデューサー 河副氏が挑む バージョンアップという思想" (in ja). Sega Saturn Magazine (SB Creative): 92–3. August 8, 1997. https://archive.org/details/sega-saturn-magazine-ja-1997-08-08/page/n95/mode/2up. 
  19. ↑ Funatsu Minoru (April 23, 2010). "ビサイド、iPhone/iPod Touch「LAST GLADIATORS Ver.2010」デジタルピンボールの名作が復活" (in ja). https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/363405.html. Retrieved December 31, 2025. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Saturn Roundup - Out Now! - Digital Pinball". Mean Machines Sega (EMAP Images) (37): 90. November 1995. https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-magazine-37/page/n89/mode/2up. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Wildgoose, David (December 1995). "Digital Pinball". Hyper (25): 80. https://archive.org/details/hyper-025/page/80/mode/2up. 
  22. ↑ Nelson, Jared (May 7, 2010). "Last Gladiators Ver.2010 Review – Mo’ Money, Mo’ Tables". https://toucharcade.com/2010/04/29/last-gladiators-ver-2010-review-mo-money-mo-tables/. Retrieved December 31, 2025. 
  23. ↑ "Quick Hits: Last Gladiators". GamePro (IDG Communications) (80): 72. March 1996. ISSN 1042-8658. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_080_March_1996/page/n73/mode/2up. 
  24. ↑ "Ação Games". https://archive.org/details/acao_games_50/acao_games_89/page/n25/mode/2up. 
  25. ↑ "Video Games Magazine - January 1996". January 1996. https://archive.org/details/video-games-magazine-january-1996/page/n79/mode/2up. 
  • Official iOS 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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