Software:EyeToy: Play

From HandWiki
Short description: 2003 video game


EyeToy: Play
PAL Cover
Developer(s)London Studio
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s)Jamie MacDonald
Producer(s)Ron Festejo
Programmer(s)Pete Marshall
Artist(s)
  • Masami Kochi
  • Andrea Falcone
SeriesEyeToy
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • EU: July 4, 2003
  • NA: November 4, 2003
  • JP: February 11, 2004
Genre(s)Party
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

EyeToy: Play is a minigame compilation video game developed by London Studio and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2.[1] It was the first game to make use of the PlayStation 2's video camera accessory, EyeToy. The game was initially packaged with the EyeToy when the accessory was first released.[2]

Gameplay

EyeToy: Play features twelve mini-games to choose from.[3] This game, and all other EyeToy titles, are played by moving one's body. The motion is detected by the USB camera. The software recognizes pixel changes in the video image and compares the proximity of the change to other game objects to play the game.[2] Users who get a high score get to take a photo to tease other players.

Games

  • Beat Freak: A rhythm action game where the player must touch moving discs as they cross speakers.
  • Wishi Washi: Players must move their body to clean a sequence of soapy windows, set to the song When I'm Cleaning Windows by George Formby.
  • Soccer Craze (EU Name: Keep Ups): A keepie-uppie style game where the player must use their head to keep a ball from falling while avoiding enemies.
  • Boxing Chump: A boxing game where the player must defeat a robotic monkey opponent.
  • Kung Foo: A Whac-A-Mole style game where the player must defend themselves from attacking ninjas.
  • UFO Juggler: A game where players must spin UFOs at safe speeds while defeating attacking enemy spaceships.
  • Slap Stream: A Whac-A-Mole style game where players must hit enemy mice and rats while avoiding friendly rabbits.
  • Plate Spinner: Players must spin up to four plates to earn as many points as possible.
  • Disco Stars (EU Name: Boogie Down): A rhythm action game where players must copy a dancer and hit icons on the beat to earn points.
  • Ghost Elimination (EU Name: Ghost Catcher): A game where the player must defend a graveyard from ghosts and bats.
  • Mirror Time: A Whac-A-Mole style game, where the player must hit green symbols and avoid red ones, with the added twist of the screen occasionally mirroring or reversing their movements.
  • Rocket Rumble: A Fantavision-style game where the player must highlight rockets of similar colours and then detonate them with a plunger.

Development and release

EyeToy: Play was developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's London Studio under the direction of Jamie MacDonald, with Ron Festejo acting as producer. Craig Kerrison and Pete Marshall were the game's respective lead designer and programmer, while Masami Kochi and Andrea Falcone served as the lead artists. The voices for the game's characters were provided by Burt Kwouk, Ben Fairman, Cornell John, and Amy Shindler.[4]

Reception

Eye Toy: Play received a "Double Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[5] indicating sales of at least 600,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[6] In October 2003, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced one million copies of EyeToy: Play had been sold in Europe.[7] By December 2003, Sony reported that number had increased to two million copies in the same region.[8] In 2004, Sony reported that worldwide sales of EyeToy: Play were over four million units,[9] making it overall the 18th best-selling PlayStation 2 game.

Critical reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic80/100[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge8/10[11]
Eurogamer8/10[12]
Famitsu28/40[13]
Game Informer9/10[14]
GameRevolutionB[15]
GameSpot7.4/10[16]
GameSpyStarStarStar[17]
GameZone9.5/10[18]
IGN7/10[19]
OPM (US)StarStarStarStarHalf star[20]
The Cincinnati EnquirerStarStarStarStar[21]

The game received "generally favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[10] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one nine, one six, one seven, and one six, for a total of 28 out of 40.[13] Tim Tracy of GameSpot described it as a "solid choice" for those "who have little or no interest in video games".[16] Douglass Perry of IGN described all the minigames as "simple, instantly graspable, and fun for a single player", although highlighted that "none of [them] are deep in any way."[19] Kristan Reed for Eurogamer felt EyeToy: Play was "tremendous fun for a quick mess around if you've got a few mates around" but playing alone "feels a bit pointless."[12]

Awards

  • 2003 E3 Game Critics Awards: Best Puzzle/Trivia/Parlor Game[22][23]
  • 2003 Japan Media Arts Festival: Excellence Prize for Entertainment[24]
  • 1st British Academy Video Games Awards: Best Children's Game, Technical Achievement[25]
  • 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Outstanding Innovation in Console Gaming, Console Family Game of the Year[26]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Robischon, Noah (13 November 2003). "Smile, Gamers: You're in the Picture". The New York Times: pp. G1. 2003-11-13. ISSN 0362-4331. OCLC 1645522. https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/13/technology/smile-gamers-you-re-in-the-picture.html. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kim, Tom (2008-11-06). "In-Depth: Eye To Eye - The History Of EyeToy". Gamasutra. https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=20975. 
  3. ↑ Coburn 2003, pp. 14–39.
  4. ↑ Coburn 2003, pp. 40–41.
  5. ↑ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Double Platinum". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3945. 
  6. ↑ Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Gamasutra. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php. 
  7. ↑ Calvert, Justin (October 28, 2003). "EyeToy: Play sells a million". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/eyetoy-play-sells-a-million/1100-6077440/. 
  8. ↑ Calvert, Justin (December 17, 2003). "European EyeToy shipments exceed 2 million". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/european-eyetoy-shipments-exceed-2-million/1100-6085748/. 
  9. ↑ "EyeToy™: AntiGrav Press Release". Sony Computer Entertainment. 2004. http://www.us.playstation.com/News/PressReleases/210. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "EyeToy: Play for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/eyetoy-play/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  11. ↑ Edge staff (August 2003). "EyeToy: Play". Edge (126). 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Reed, Kristan (June 25, 2003). "EyeToy: Play". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_eyetoy_ps2. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "EyeToy: Play". Famitsu 792. February 20, 2004. 
  14. ↑ Mason, Lisa (October 2003). "EyeToy: Play". Game Informer (126): 123. http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200310/R03.1016.1137.45234.htm. Retrieved September 19, 2016. 
  15. ↑ Silverman, Ben (November 2003). "EyeToy [Play Review"]. Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/eyetoy. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Tracy, Tim (November 4, 2003). "EyeToy: Play Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/eyetoy-play-review/1900-6078136/. 
  17. ↑ Leeper, Justin (December 6, 2003). "GameSpy: EyeToy: Play". GameSpy. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/eyetoy-play/497635p1.html. 
  18. ↑ Tha Wiz (November 15, 2003). "EyeToy [Play - PS2 - Review"]. GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/eyetoy_ps2_review. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Perry, Douglass C. (November 4, 2003). "IGN EyeToy: Play Review". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/04/eyetoy-play. 
  20. ↑ OPM staff (November 2003). "EyeToy: Play". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 146. http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,4364,1376526,00.asp. Retrieved September 19, 2016. 
  21. ↑ Saltzman, Marc (December 11, 2003). "Expand games with music, video add-ons". The Cincinnati Enquirer. http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/121103_expansion.html. 
  22. ↑ "Game Critics Awards 2003 Winners". Game Critics Awards. http://gamecriticsawards.com/2003winners.html. 
  23. ↑ Parker, Sam. "E3 Game Critics Awards announced". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-game-critics-awards-announced/1100-6029792/. 
  24. ↑ "Japanese Media Arts Festival Award Winning Works Entertainment Division: EyeToy: Play". Japan Media Arts Festival. http://plaza.bunka.go.jp/english/festival/2003/entertainment/000424/index.php. 
  25. ↑ "BAFTA: Games in 2004". BAFTA. http://awards.bafta.org/award/2004/games?. 
  26. ↑ "Interactive Achievement Awards 2004". https://www.giantbomb.com/interactive-achievement-awards-2004/3015-4682/. 

Bibliography

  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari



Template:EyeToy series

Warning: Default sort key "Eyetoy: Play" overrides earlier default sort key "Mobygames".



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:EyeToy:_Play&oldid=4141036"