Software:Enchanted Land

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Short description: 1990 video game
Enchanted Land
Developer(s)Thalion Software
Publisher(s)Thalion Software
Platform(s)Atari ST, Amiga
Release
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Enchanted Land is a 1990 platform video game developed and published by Thalion Software for the Atari ST. An Amiga port was released later.

Gameplay

The game takes place in the fairytale land of Damiran. The source of magic, Heart of Lore, has broken into 100 pieces. The player is an old wizard, Krugan, who has been tasked to retrieve the pieces that are strewn across the land. The game is a scrolling platform game consisting of six levels. The game features nine different weapons that can be powered-up by potions that are found throughout the levels.[1] Enchanted Land was the first game to use 4-plane multidirectional scrolling in full screen on the Atari ST.[2]

Reception

Reception
Review score
PublicationScore
ST Magazine (fr)17/20[8]

Aktueller Software Markt reviewed the Atari ST version and criticized the overloaded graphics but praised the cutting-edge scrolling effect. It was recommended to try the game before buying.[3] ST Format called the game "extremely addictive" and "an enjoyable, absorbing platform game". ST Magazine (fr) called Enchanted Land "a very well made and enjoyable arcade game".[8] Joystick said the game is not revolutionary but very well made technically.[5]

According to Thalion's co-founder Erik Simon, the game was in development too long and sold less than expected.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hutchinson, Andy (March 1991). "Leisure - Enchanted Lands [sic"]. ST Format (Future plc) (20): 70–71. http://www.atarimania.com/atari-magazine-issue-st-format-issue-20_1411.html. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Le petit coin desdemos" (in French). ST Magazine (SARL Pressimage) (57): 132-135. January 1992. https://archive.org/details/st-magazine-057/page/n131/mode/2up. "premier jeu à utiliser un scrolling multidirectionnel 4 plans en plein écran, grâce à la technique du “hardscroll ST". 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hoogh, Eva (April 1991). "Mit Blitz und Ball durchs Zauberland" (in German). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic-Verlag) 6 (4/91): 42. https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=6527. "Preis/Leistung: 8/12". 
  4. ↑ Rückert, Lars (December 1991). "Konvertierungen - Enchanted Land" (in German). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic-Verlag) 6 (12/91): 122. https://retrocdn.net/images/1/11/ASM_DE_1991-12.pdf#page=122. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Tests - Enchanted Land" (in French). Joystick (Sipress) (14): 182–183. March 1991. https://archive.org/details/joystick014/page/n181/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ Hautefeuille, Olivier (May 1991). "Rolling Softs - Enchanted Land [Atari ST"] (in French). Tilt (Editions Mondiales S.A.) (90): 82. https://archive.org/details/Tilt090/page/n81/mode/2up. 
  7. ↑ Harbonn, Jacques (November 1991). "Rolling Softs - Enchanted Land [Amiga"] (in French). Tilt (Editions Mondiales S.A.) (95): 88. https://archive.org/details/Tilt095/page/n87/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Delaite, Jean (February 1991). "Jeux - Enchanted Land" (in French). ST Magazine (SARL Pressimage) (49): 104. https://archive.org/details/st-magazine-049/page/104/mode/2up. 
  • 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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