Software:Everybody's Golf 4

From HandWiki
Everybody's Golf 4
Japanese cover art
Developer(s)Clap Hanz
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
SeriesEverybody's Golf
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: 27 November 2003
  • NA: 17 August 2004
  • EU: 23 September 2005
  • AU: 29 September 2005[1]
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Everybody's Golf 4 (みんなのGOLF 4, Minna no Gorufu 4), known in the PAL region as Everybody's Golf (Everybody's Golf 2004 in Australia), and in North America as Hot Shots Golf Fore!, is the fourth game in the Everybody's Golf series and the second released for PlayStation 2.

Features

This game delivers more realistic physics, sharper graphics, more golfers, caddies and courses than before. Miniature golf games and online play for players with the Network Adaptor are also driving features. The developers increased the overall number of characters from 15 to 24, added more caddies (10 in all) and boosted the number of courses from six to 15. Of these 15 courses, 10 are new, while five are returning favorites from the previous game. The game also features a Tournament mode where up to 32 players can compete against each other. Cameo roles as playable characters in the North American and PAL versions are unlockable characters Ratchet (from the Ratchet & Clank series) and Jak (from the Jak and Daxter series, as he would later appear in Jak 3). Ratchet and Jak's caddies are Clank and Daxter, respectively. A Pipo Monkey (from the Ape Escape series) is an unlockable caddie in the Japanese and PAL versions only. The PAL version seems to have the largest character roster overall.

Everybody's Golf 4 implements the "Everybody's Points" system where players earn and spend points to unlock new gear and extras. Several different modes of play are available and include Tour (full season of tournaments), Tournament (plug and play instant action mode), VS Mode (challenge golfers to unlock new characters/costumes) and Training (in game tutorial mode). In addition, there are two online play modes: Head to Head (one on one play with another player) and Real Time Tournament (real time online golf tourneys). The North American and PAL versions included online play while Japanese did not. The North American online play servers were shut down as of 30 June 2008.

One unique feature is an unlockable "Advanced Mode" that allows players to golf without the grid showing where the ball is expected to land when taking a shot or putting. This grid is typically used in golfing video games.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic80/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM7.33/10[3]
Eurogamer8/10[4]
Famitsu36/40[5]
Game Informer9/10[6]
GameProStarStarStarStar[7]
GameRevolutionB[8]
GameSpot7.3/10[9]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[10]
GameZone9/10[11]
IGN8.8/10[12]
OPM (US)StarStarStarHalf star[13]
CiN Weekly(favourable)[14]
Playboy89%[15]

The game received "favourable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of all four nines for a total of 36 out of 40.[5]

CiN Weekly gave it a favourable review and said: "Though hard-core golfers might not appreciate exaggerated plaid pants on cartoon characters and sarcastic golfers, pretty much everyone else will get into the game's taunting, tricks and big hit effects and exaggerated character personalities".[14] Playboy gave it 89% and said that the game "successfully balances accessibility and depth, and manages to add a host of new features while staying true to what's made this franchise so popular. It's a highly recommended pick for PS2 owners looking for a little more fun on the fairway".[15] However, Maxim gave it three-and-a-half stars out of five and said that "even if you lack broadband, the bizarre characters and 13 arcade-style courses to choose from will keep you giddier than Carl Spackler on a gofer [sic] hunt".[16]

References

  1. ↑ Keller, Matt (26 September 2005). "Updated Australian Release List - 26/09/05". http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=3129&sid=eb7471f40fd239d4799d6dc23dafbc01. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hot Shots Golf Fore! for PlayStation 2 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/hot-shots-golf-fore/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  3. ↑ EGM staff (October 2004). "Hot Shots Golf Fore!". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (183): 108. 
  4. ↑ Reed, Kristan (23 September 2005). "Everybody's Golf (PlayStation 2)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_eg4_ps2. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "みんなのGOLF 4" (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain) 781. 4 December 2003. 
  6. ↑ "Hot Shots Golf Fore!". Game Informer (GameStop) (137): 108. September 2004. 
  7. ↑ Four-Eyed Dragon (24 September 2004). "Hot Shots Golf Fore! Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/38249.shtml. Retrieved 27 August 2020. 
  8. ↑ Silverman, Ben (31 August 2004). "Hot Shots Golf Fore! Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33684-hot-shots-golf-fore-review. 
  9. ↑ Davis, Ryan (25 August 2004). "Hot Shots Fore! Review [date mislabeled as "August 30, 2004""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hot-shots-golf-fore-review/1900-6105735/. 
  10. ↑ Padilla, Raymond (18 August 2004). "GameSpy: Hot Shots Golf Fore!". IGN Entertainment. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/hot-shots-golf-fore/540010p1.html. 
  11. ↑ David, Mike (30 August 2004). "Hot Shots Golf Fore! - PS2 - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/hot_shots_golf_fore_ps2_review/. 
  12. ↑ Lewis, Ed (16 August 2004). "Hot Shots Golf Fore!". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/08/16/hot-shots-golf-fore. 
  13. ↑ "Hot Shots Golf Fore!". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (85): 98. October 2004. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Hruschak, PJ (15 September 2004). "Hot Shots Golf Fore!". CiN Weekly (Gannett Company). http://www.cinweekly.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040915/ENT06/409150301/1063. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Saltzman, Marc (11 August 2004). "Hot Shots Golf: Fore!". Playboy Enterprises. http://www.playboy.com/arts-entertainment/games/hotshotsgolffore/index.html. 
  16. ↑ Kelly, Seth (17 August 2004). "Hot Shots Golf Fore!". Biglari Holdings. http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_8121.html. 
  • 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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