Software:Dusk of the Gods

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Dusk of the Gods
Cover art by Larry Elmore
Developer(s)Event Horizon Software
Publisher(s)Interstel Corporation
Producer(s)James H. Namestka
Designer(s)Christopher L. Straka
Thomas J. Holmes
Programmer(s)Thomas J. Holmes
Artist(s)Jane Yeager
Louis M. Kiss
Composer(s)Pete Smolcic
Ed Puskar
Matt Oeler
Platform(s)MS-DOS
Release
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Dusk of the Gods is an isometric-view role-playing video game developed by Event Horizon Software and published by Interstel Corporation in 1991.

Plot

The game plot takes place in the time shortly before Ragnarök, an epic battle at the end of the world in Norse mythology. The player assumes the role of a fallen warrior (an Einherjar) tasked by the god Odin to attempt to change the destiny of the gods and avert their fall during the coming war. Although the title takes some liberty with the accepted mythos, most elements are well represented and hence can be considered semi-educational.

The tasks given to the player include:

  • Recovering the missing head of Thor's hammer, Mjolnir.
  • Finding key items needed to forge a chain to bind Fenrir.
  • Strengthening Thor's fishing line, so that it doesn't break when catching the world serpent.
  • Obtaining a special breastplate for Heimdall.

Once all of the tasks are completed, Heimdall can be asked to blow his horn, causing the battle of Ragnarök to commence, with the outcome then being reported to the player.

Gameplay

The gameplay elements are relatively primitive, although the game does feature a large world with many areas to explore. Combat often involves the player attacking and then fleeing in order to minimize damage sustained.

Many different weapons and armor are acquired as the player travels through the various regions, growing progressively stronger with each enemy defeated. This was one of the first open world games that did not send the character on a linear path, as the player is free to explore the many maps in any order.[citation needed]

Reception

Allen L. Greenburg for Computer Gaming World praised the detail of Interstel's research into Norse mythology, but stated that "most players will probably find Dusk to be a very disappointing experience", with VGA graphics that "lack imagination", poor gameplay documentation, and "monotonous" text.[1]

References

  1. ↑ Greenburg, Allen L. (September 1992). "Interstel's Dusk of the gods". Computer Gaming World (98): 70, 72. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=98. Retrieved 3 July 2014. 
  • Short description: Video game database
MobyGames
Logo since March 2014
Screenshot
Frontpage as of April 2012
Type of site
Gaming
Available inEnglish
OwnerAtari SA
Websitemobygames.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedJanuary 30, 1999; 26 years ago (1999-01-30)
Current statusOnline

MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes nearly 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] The site is supported by banner ads and a small number of people paying to become patrons.[2] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It is currently owned by Atari SA.

Content

The database began with games for IBM PC compatibles. After two years, consoles such as the PlayStation, were added. Older console systems were added later. Support for arcade video games was added in January 2014 and mainframe computer games in June 2017.[3]

Edits and submissions go through a leisurely verification process by volunteer "approvers". The approval process can range from immediate (minutes) to gradual (days or months).[4] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copyediting.[5]

Registered users can rate and review any video game. 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 subforum.

History

Logo used until March 11, 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999 by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, then joined by David Berk 18 months later, three friends since high school.[6] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience.

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[7] This was announced to the community post factum and a few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.

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).[8] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel.[9]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[10] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[11][12]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ "MobyGames Stats". https://www.mobygames.com/moby_stats. 
  2. ↑ "MobyGames Patrons". http://www.mobygames.com/info/patrons. 
  3. ↑ "New(ish!) on MobyGames – the Mainframe platform.". Blue Flame Labs. 18 June 2017. http://www.mobygames.com/forums/dga,2/dgb,3/dgm,237200/. 
  4. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  5. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/32856/Report_MobyGames_Acquired_By_GameFly_Media.php. 
  8. ↑ 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. 
  9. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/207882/Game_dev_database_MobyGames_getting_some_TLC_under_new_owner.php. 
  10. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  11. ↑ "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/. 
  12. ↑ "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/. 





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