Software:F1 Racing Championship

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Short description: 2000 video game
F1 Racing Championship
Developer(s)Ubi Soft Shanghai
Ubi Soft Milan
Publisher(s)Video System
Platform(s)Dreamcast, Game Boy Color, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Windows
Release
Genre(s)Sim racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

F1 Racing Championship is a racing video game developed and distributed by Ubi Soft, and published by Video System. Starring people and locations from the 1999 Formula One World Championship, it was released for several platforms during 2000 and 2001. At the time, it was facing steep competition by the ever-popular Grand Prix 3 and the rising F1 series by ISI. The sales were behind expectations. Reasons were a poor artificial intelligence and damage model and the bug-prone initial release. A patch to fix the reported issues was announced, but never released.

The soundtrack featured "Girl Don't Come" by American/British band Garbage; the main audio sounds in the menu were replicated in Racing Simulation 3, brought out a couple of years later, which again did not sell well due to licensing issues.

Gameplay

Similar to Racing Simulation 2, the player can choose between individual races or the full season.[5] F1 Racing Championship contains several playable game modes: Single, Arcade, Grand Prix (training, qualifications and warm-ups)[5] and Time Attack.[6] Another thing akin to RS 2 is the ghost mode, with an available free route choice.[5] The goal is to set the best time whenever possible, helped by the artificial intelligence controlled Ghost.[5] The Ghost is a transparent figure that drives the current best time, either by default, or the one set by the player previously.[5] It can be helpful for new players to learn braking and acceleration points better or develop a curve driving style.[5] Overall, the game features 22 drivers from 11 teams, and 16 tracks used in the 1999 Formula One World Championship.[6] The multiplayer relies on local area network integration, supporting 22 players to compete simultaneously.[7] A two player split screen mode is also included.[7]

As a sim racing game, it focuses heavily on realism, allowing the management of every vehicle parameter.[8][6] Different cars will accordingly behave in its own way.[5] The interface tries to emulate TV banners, showing the distance between the vehicles, both in front and behind.[8] The opponent drivers were made to resemble their counterparts' performance from 1999, and can make more or less mistakes.[8] A number of driving aids can be used, from anti-lock braking system, steering/braking aid to ideal racing line display.[5] During the races, there is always a chance the player can set the vehicle on fire, or lose the control during sudden accelerations at the curves.[6] The tires are subject to wearing off over the time.[6] Thanks to Ubi Soft having the official FIA license at the time,[5] all stages were fully replicated from the real-life tracks, including the whole circuit layout and decorations.[6]

In the PlayStation version, an offer exists between arcade and simulation, the latter being divided into two physics variants.[1] In arcade, the physics are more lenient as the turning is made easier, while slamming into other vehicles doesn't inflict any damage.[1] As the player passes each opponent, a specific number of points is received. The game rewards clean takeovers with more points.[1] All tracks are slowly unlocked through separate difficulty sets.[1] Once the race is decided to be played, a Free Session can be opened for testing the setup. A new mode, School, aims to teach the positioning and braking/acceleration points on any track available.[9] It has a horizontal bar with a middle vertical line, and the closer the car gets to the braking point, the yellow bar begins to fill more. When it hits the line, it will change to red.[1]

Development and release

The team of 12 people developed the game in Revenge engine, whose creation took about a year.[7] It allows the integrated circuit terrain to have a big influence on driving by calculating physical parameters.[7] Every detail found in the game has been modeled through GPS, resulting in faithful recreations.[8] Since all circuits have been filmed in 360 degrees, even the smallest things have been inserted in with a depth of field of one kilometer.[7]

Ubisoft originally planned to release the Nintendo 64 version in the United States by the end of 2000, but cancelled it.[10] Gradiente Entertainment released this version in Brazil on January 31, 2001.[11][12]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
4Players87%[5]
EGM5/10[13]
Famitsu25/40[14]
Game Informer8.75/10[15]
IGN7.5/10[1]
Jeuxvideo.com17/20[6]
N64 Magazine72%[16]
OPM (UK)7/10[18]
PC Zone70%[8]
PSM6/10[19]

Official UK PlayStation Magazine said the PlayStation version was "a playable game, spoiled by sloppy presentation".[18] In Japan, where the PlayStation 2 version was ported and published by Video System on July 26, 2001, Famitsu gave it a score of 25 out of 40.[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Magruder, Randy (September 20, 2000). "F1 Racing Championship (PS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/21/f1-racing-championship-2. 
  2. ↑ "UK releases" (in en-gb). Eurogamer.net. 2000-09-15. https://www.eurogamer.net/article-29200. 
  3. ↑ "PS2 welcomes software boost" (in en-gb). Eurogamer.net. 2001-03-23. https://www.eurogamer.net/article-30393. 
  4. ↑ "Video Game release dates". March 29, 2001. p. 65. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85788795/. Retrieved September 22, 2021. 
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 David (March 29, 2001). "Test: F1 Racing Championship (PC) (Simulation)". https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Test/1056/383/0/F1_Racing_Championship_PC.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Morel, Benoit (September 20, 2000). "Test: F1 Racing Championship". http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001273_test.htm. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Caleb (March 16, 2001). "F1 RACING: LA NOUVELLE RÉFÉRENCE". https://www.gamekult.com/jeux/f1-racing-championship-3010000108/test-pc.html. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 F1 RACING CHAMPIONSHIP. May 2001. p. 58. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_102_2001-05_Dennis_Publishing_GB/page/n57. Retrieved January 9, 2020. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Davison, John (December 2000). "F1 Racing Championship (PS)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis). http://www.zdnet.com/opm/stories/main/0,11891,2646694,00.html. Retrieved January 16, 2019. 
  10. ↑ "E-Raced in the US". December 5, 2000. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/06/e-raced-in-the-us. 
  11. ↑ "Hot Shots". Nintendo World (Conrad Editora) (29): 10. January 2001. https://archive.org/details/nintendo_world_pt_br/nintendo_world_29/page/n9/mode/2up. 
  12. ↑ "F-1 Racing Championship". Gradiente Entertainment. http://www.nintendo.com.br/comercial/jogos/info.asp?cod=265. 
  13. ↑ "F1 Racing Championship (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (138). January 2001. http://www.zdnet.com/egm/stories/main/0,11589,2658668,00.html. Retrieved January 16, 2019. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "F1 レーシング チャンピオンシップ [PS2"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=9549. Retrieved January 16, 2019. 
  15. ↑ Brogger, Kristian (April 2001). "F1 Racing Championship (PS2)". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (96). https://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200104/R03.0804.1425.26927.htm. Retrieved January 16, 2019. 
  16. ↑ Kitts, Martin (November 2000). "F1 Racing Championship". N64 Magazine (Future plc) (47): 58–60. 
  17. ↑ "F1 Racing Championship (PS2)". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis). April 2001. http://www.zdnet.com/opm/stories/main/0,11891,2687485,00.html. Retrieved January 16, 2019. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "F1 Racing Championship". Official UK PlayStation Magazine (Future plc) (59). June 2000. 
  19. ↑ "Review: F1 Racing Championship (PS2)". PSM (Future US). December 2001. 
  • 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



  • 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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