Software:Electroplankton

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Short description: 2005 video game

Electroplankton
North American box art
Developer(s)indieszero
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Toshio Iwai
Producer(s)Shigeru Miyamoto
Toru Osawa
Designer(s)Toshio Iwai
Artist(s)Nanako Kinoshita
Kazuma Norisada
Composer(s)Koichi Kyuma
Yuichi Ozaki
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • JP: April 7, 2005
  • NA: January 9, 2006
  • EU: July 7, 2006
Genre(s)Music game
Mode(s)Single-player

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is an interactive music video game developed by indieszero and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It was first released in Japan in 2005, and was later released in North America and Europe in 2006. This game allows the player to interact with animated plankton and create music through one of ten different plankton themed interfaces. The first edition of Electroplankton in Japan is bundled with a set of blue ear bud headphones.

Gameplay

The game offers two game modes: Performance and Audience. Performance mode allows the user to interact with the plankton through use of the stylus, touchscreen, and microphone. Audience mode is like a demo mode, which simply allows the user to put down the system and enjoy a continuous musical show by all of the plankton, although the user can interact with the plankton just like in Performance mode. The game does not save data of any kind, which prevents players from saving any composed pieces. However, this can be circumvented by connecting an audio recording device, such as a cassette recorder or a personal computer, to the headphone jack of the Nintendo DS.

Development

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata explained that the unusual reason why director Toshio Iwai's name appears directly on the game's packaging is because he alone had created it. The game is the second collaboration between Nintendo and Iwai, having done so with Sound Fantasy for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, which was never released.[1] The developers considered including a save function, but opted not to because they wanted the players to enjoy the game both viscerally and without preparation. They believed that if a save function had been included, then the game would have been used more as a tool, where the player must open several additional menus and windows or must input file names to save. Another reason was that it would require a large volume of flash ROM and would take a long time to save and read the data in order to save the voice files for Volvoice and Rec-Rec.[2]

Release

A kiosk with a large sign that fades vertically downward from light blue to white. The words "Nintendo DS Download Station" are above a list of demo names, which includes "Electroplankton (E3 demo)".
A demo of Electroplankton was available for download from Nintendo DS Download Stations at E3 2004.

The game made its first public appearance at the 2005 Game Developer's Conference, and later, an appearance at the E3 show. The game was released in North America on January 9, 2006; sales of the game were limited to online retailers and the Nintendo World store in New York City, though some other retailers chose to carry the game. For example, Electronics Boutique carried the game when it was released in Canada. It was released in Europe on July 7 the same year.


Release as DSiWare

Electroplankton was re-released in Japan, as part of the DSiWare service exclusive to the Nintendo DSi system in 2009.[3] Each instrument was available to buy separately for 200 Nintendo Points each.[4]

Tracy (renamed Trapy), Hanenbow, Nanocarp, and Beatnes were released on July 11, and Rec Rec and Lumiloop were released on July 22.[3] Luminaria and Sun Animalcule were released August 5, and Marine Snow and Volvoice were released August 26.

In North America, all 10 Electroplankton characters were released in November 2009. Trapy, Hanenbow, Rec-Rec, Nanocarp, and Beatnes were released on November 9,[4] and Luminaria (renamed Luminarrow), Sun-Animalcule, Lumiloop, Marine-Snow (renamed Marine-Crystals), and Volvoice (renamed Varvoice) were released November 23.[5]

In the PAL region, the first two Electroplankton characters were released on January 15, 2010, which were Beatnes and Hanenbow. The next two were released on January 22, which were Nanocarp and Trapy. The next two released were Luminarrow and Sun-Animalcule on January 29. Rec Rec and Lumiloop were added on February 12, and the last two minigames Marine-Crystals and Varvoice were released on February 26.

Reception

Joystiq gave it 8.0 out of 10.[6] Nintendo Power gave it 8.5 out of 10.[7] IGN gave it 7.0 out of 10.[8] Official Nintendo Magazine gave it 78%. Kidzworld said that one of the most common complaints concerning Electroplankton is that the game offers no true way to save the audio created by the player.[9]

Legacy

Electroplankton is represented in Super Smash Bros. Brawl with its own stage called Hanenbow that is based on the Hanenbow feature.[10] This stage also returned in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.[11] Several stickers and Spirits based on the game were in these two games.

See also

  • Otocky, a game for the Famicom Disk System by Electroplankton designer Toshio Iwai, which is notable for developing the concept of the musical shoot 'em up in 1987.
  • Sound Fantasy, an unreleased game for the Super NES/Super Famicom that was created by Electroplankton designer Toshio Iwai and developed by Nintendo.
  • SimTunes, a PC game, also designed by Iwai, that the unreleased Sound Fantasy was converted into.
  • Tenori-on, a digital musical instrument created by Electroplankton designer Toshio Iwai. Tenori-on's interface is similar to some of the Electroplankton modes.
  • Daigasso! Band Brothers, a music game developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS.

Notes


References

  1. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (April 8, 2005). "Electroplankton Live". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/04/08/electroplankton-live. Retrieved November 28, 2015. 
  2. ↑ "C3 Exclusive Interview | Toshio Iwai on Nintendo, Wii...& Musical Fish! Page 1 - Cubed3". http://www.cubed3.com/news/5724/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Anoop Gantayat (July 6, 2009). "Electroplankton Set for DSiWare". IGN. http://ds.ign.com/articles/100/1001212p1.html. Retrieved November 28, 2015. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Load Up on Excitebike Action, Musical Plankton and More". Nintendo of America. November 9, 2009. https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/Qw2ZrUQplS6WhkHGtfY6V-A8teaGBqfE. Retrieved November 9, 2009. 
  5. ↑ "Download New BIT.TRIP Kicks, Speeding Karts, Magic Castles and More". Nintendo of America. November 23, 2009. https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/O-6Hu5sS3KndAbl1v6fJElEIDoveAwhn. Retrieved November 23, 2009. 
  6. ↑ Christopher Grant. "Joystiq Review: Electroplankton (Nintendo DS)". Engadget. http://reviews.joystiq.com/2006/01/24/joystiq-review-electroplankton-nintendo-ds/. Retrieved November 28, 2015. 
  7. ↑ Grimm, Steven (February 2006). "Electroplankton". Nintendo Power (200): 99. 
  8. ↑ Craig Harris (January 11, 2006). "Electroplankton". IGN. http://ds.ign.com/articles/680/680639p1.html. Retrieved November 28, 2015. 
  9. ↑ "Electroplankton: Nintendo DS Video Game Review". Kidzworld. http://www.kidzworld.com/article/6335-electroplankton-nintendo-ds-video-game-review. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 
  10. ↑ "Electroplankton Stage in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.". http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/stages/stage33.html. 
  11. ↑ "Stages page on the official Super Smash Bros. Ultimate website.". https://www.smashbros.com/en_US/stage/index.html. 

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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