Software:FIFA: Road to World Cup 98

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 association football video game
Not to be confused with World Cup 98 (video game).
FIFA: Road to World Cup 98
British and Irish cover art featuring David Beckham
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)EA Sports
Electronic Arts Victor (Japan)
THQ (Game Boy)
Composer(s)Jonnie Forster (Windows)
Eric Swanson (SNES, Mega Drive)
SeriesFIFA
Platform(s)Windows, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, Sega Saturn, Game Boy, Mega Drive, SNES
Release
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 is a football video game developed by EA Canada[7] and released by EA Sports in 1997. It is the fifth game in the FIFA series and the second to be in 3D on the fifth generation of video game consoles. A number of different players were featured on the cover, including David Beckham in the UK, Roy Lassiter in the United States, Mexico and Brazil, David Ginola in France, Raúl in Spain and Portugal, Paolo Maldini in Italy, and Andreas Möller in Germany.[8] Critics responded positively to FIFA 98, hailing it as a strong return to form for the series. FIFA 98 was the last FIFA game released for the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Saturn, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

Game features

The player on opponent's penalty area (PS1 version)

The game includes an official soundtrack, team and player customisation options, 16 stadiums, improved artificial intelligence and the Road to World Cup mode, with all 172 FIFA-registered national teams that took part in qualification for the 1998 FIFA World Cup (including Brazil and France, who qualified for the tournament automatically as holders and hosts respectively). No subsequent edition of the FIFA series attempted to replicate FIFA 98's inclusion of every FIFA national team, until 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, which included all 199 FIFA nations that took part in qualifying. Players have individual faces.

FIFA 98 features many accurate team rosters, including national reserves for national call-up when playing in the round-robin qualification modes. In addition, 11 leagues are featured, containing 189 clubs. The game also features a five-a-side indoor mode and was the first FIFA game to contain an in-game player/team editor.


Soundtrack

The theme music for the game was Blur's "Song 2". Four songs from The Crystal Method are included – "More", "Now Is the Time", "Keep Hope Alive" and "Busy Child" – as well as a song by Electric Skychurch entitled "Hugga Bear". Des Lynam was retained for the game introduction and John Motson and Andy Gray remained as match commentators.

Development

The game was built on the FIFA '97 engine.[9] David Ginola served as the game's motion capture actor.[9]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM8.0/10 (N64)[10]
7.25/10 (PS1)[11]
6.6/10 (SAT)[12]
GameSpot8.5/10 (N64)[13]
7.8/10 (SAT)[14]
N64 Magazine83% (N64)[15]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar (N64)[16]
Play88% (PS1)[17]
Sega Saturn Magazine58% (SAT)[18]

FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 was positively received. Though widely regarded as still inferior to International Superstar Soccer 64,[10][19][16] most critics considered it a strong comeback from its predecessor, FIFA 97 / FIFA Soccer 64.[10][11][12][19][16][20][21] Moreover, a few reviewers said that the game's extensive licensing of real players and teams was a strong advantage over International Superstar Soccer 64 which, though not enough to make it an overall better game, was a compelling enough reason for soccer fans to get both games.[19][16][20] Next Generation, for example, concluded that "The game still doesn't have the fluidity of ISS 64, but the real players and variety of options make FIFA RTTWC 64 a game that soccer fans all over the world should enjoy."[16] GamePro disagreed with the majority comparison to International Superstar Soccer 64, assessing FIFA 98 as "a super-fun title, easily topping International Superstar Soccer 64 in overall gameplay."[20]

Other common subjects of critical praise were the accuracy and variation in the play-by-play commentary,[10][13][14][19][18][20] the detailed rendering of the player models,[10][11][13][14][19][18][20][21] the smooth animations,[10][11][13][14][19][16][20][21] the wealth of play options,[11][12][13][14][19][18][20][21] and the realistic moves.[10][13][16] GameSpot commented, "From header lobs, header shots, and high volleys, to hip checks, hyperaggressive lunges, and slide tackles, the range of movement and playing style is enormous."[13] However, critics widely mentioned weaknesses in the A.I., particularly the goalie A.I.,[10][11][12][19][18] and occasional drops in frame rate.[10][11][12][19][16][18]

IGN stated in their review of the Nintendo 64 version, "EA seems to have learned its lesson and made use of some of the N64's unique features instead of treating the N64 the same way as PCs or the PSX."[19] Electronic Gaming Monthly's Kelly Rickards said that the PlayStation version "doesn't quite have the magic that the N64 version provides" but is still the best soccer game for the PlayStation to date.[11] GamePro also declared it the best PlayStation soccer game to date, particularly citing the "slick new passing cursor", fast gameplay, and stunning graphics.[21] The Saturn version was much less well-received; most reviews, though still positive, identified problems which did not exist in other versions of the game. GameSpot, for example, noted that the commentary often lagged behind the action in the Saturn version alone.[14] Dan Hsu of Electronic Gaming Monthly complained of flat stadiums, broken player models, and a slow frame rate, and added, "Now, normally graphics are a secondary concern for me (gameplay, replay and all the other good stuff is way more important), but when the market has so many great soccer games, you need to make them look good." His three co-reviewers agreed that the game should have been better but nonetheless felt it held up well against the competition.[12] By contrast, Sega Saturn Magazine panned the game, remarking that "With the infinitely superior SWWS '98 already available, it defies logic that anyone would purchase EA's latest lacklustre addition to the ailing FIFA series."[18]

Upon its release, the game was a bestseller in the UK for two months.[22] At the 1999 Milia festival in Cannes, it took home a "Gold" prize for revenues above €37 million in the European Union during the previous year.[23]

The game was the winner for "PC Sports Game of the Year" at the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards (now known as the D.I.C.E. Awards).[24]

During the game's 20th anniversary in 2017, Luke Plunkett of Kotaku wrote an essay arguing that FIFA 98 should be considered as the best sports video game of all time, focusing on its then-unprecedented depth and breadth of content, which Plunkett contended is the main differentiating factor between titles within the highly incremental sports video gaming industry. Examples cited were its inclusion of all FIFA national teams of the time, customization options for rosters and kits, multiple game modes, and groundbreaking soundtrack including licensed rather than original music.[25]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Get Your Toys from Us and We'll Give You Something to Play With". Stockport Times: pp. 30. November 26, 1997. https://www.newspapers.com/image/884777426. "FIFA 98 Road to the World Cup for PlayStation/Launches Friday" 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Disks + Discs Computer Store". Staffordshire Newsletter (Uttoxeter ed.): pp. 55. November 21, 1997. https://www.newspapers.com/image/895944046. "Red Alert, Fifa 98, Tomb Raider II, Worms II, Bomberman 64 all in stock next week." 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 GameSpot staff (November 25, 1997). "EA Ships FIFA". Archived from the original on January 19, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980119061700/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_11/25_fifa/index.html. Retrieved December 22, 2024. "Monday Electronic Arts announced that it has shipped the newest installment of its FIFA Soccer series, FIFA: Road to the World Cup 98. Available for PC and PlayStation, the game is the only interactive soccer product to carry the official World Cup '98 license." 
  4. ↑ I. G. N. Staff (1997-11-25). "FIFA: Road to World Cup '98" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/11/25/fifa-road-to-world-cup-98-2. 
  5. ↑ "PSN News Story". https://web.archive.org/web/19980118043133fw_/http://www.psxnation.com/news/1124c.html. 
  6. ↑ "ELECTRONIC ARTS SHIPS FIFA: ROAD TO WORLD CUP 98 FOR THE NINTENDO 64". 1998-02-07. http://www.ea.com/companyinfo/press/fifa_n64.html. 
  7. ↑ "FIFA: 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (100): 77. November 1997. 
  8. ↑ "EA Sports FIFA 98 Cover Stars". FIFPLAY. http://www.fifplay.com/fifa-98-cover/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Nutter, Lee (November 1997). "EA Sports". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (25): 20–23. https://archive.org/details/Sega_Saturn_Magazine_Issue_25_1997-11_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n19. Retrieved 3 December 2019. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 "Review Crew: FIFA: RTWC 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (102): 154. January 1998. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 "Review Crew: FIFA: RTWC 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (103): 114. February 1998. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 "Review Crew: FIFA RTWC 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (104): 120. March 1998. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 Smith, Josh (5 February 1998). "FIFA Road to World Cup 98 Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fifa-road-to-world-cup-98-review/1900-2543658/. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Smith, Josh (6 February 1998). "FIFA Road to World Cup 98 Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fifa-road-to-world-cup-98-review/1900-2532878/. 
  15. ↑ Weaver, Tim (December 1997). "FIFA '98". N64 Magazine (10): 58–59. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 "Finals". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (38): 110. February 1998. 
  17. ↑ "FIFA: Road to World Cup 98". Play (29). January 1998. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 Nutter, Lee (February 1998). "Review: FIFA '98". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (28): 70–71. 
  19. ↑ 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IGNr
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 The Rookie (February 1998). "FIFA: Road to World Cup '98 Kicks its Way to the Top". GamePro (IDG) (113): 105. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Air Hendrix (February 1998). "FIFA: Road to World Cup '98". GamePro (IDG) (113): 106. 
  22. ↑ Gallup UK Playstation sales chart, February 1998, published in Official UK PlayStation Magazine issue 29
  23. ↑ Staff (12 February 1999). "Milia News; ECCSELL Awards Name Winners". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com:80/milia/0212/ecc/index.html. 
  24. ↑ "The Award - Winners". http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm. 
  25. ↑ Plunkett, Luke. "The Best Sports Video Game Of All Time" (in en-US). The Bests. https://thebests.kotaku.com/the-best-sports-video-game-1796797217. 
  • Short description: Video game database
MobyGames
Logo since March 2014
Screenshot
Frontpage as of April 2012
Type of site
Gaming
Available inEnglish
OwnerAtari SA
Websitemobygames.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedJanuary 30, 1999; 26 years ago (1999-01-30)
Current statusOnline

MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes nearly 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] The site is supported by banner ads and a small number of people paying to become patrons.[2] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It is currently owned by Atari SA.

Content

The database began with games for IBM PC compatibles. After two years, consoles such as the PlayStation, were added. Older console systems were added later. Support for arcade video games was added in January 2014 and mainframe computer games in June 2017.[3]

Edits and submissions go through a leisurely verification process by volunteer "approvers". The approval process can range from immediate (minutes) to gradual (days or months).[4] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copyediting.[5]

Registered users can rate and review any video game. 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 subforum.

History

Logo used until March 11, 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999 by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, then joined by David Berk 18 months later, three friends since high school.[6] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience.

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[7] This was announced to the community post factum and a few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.

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).[8] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel.[9]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[10] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[11][12]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ "MobyGames Stats". https://www.mobygames.com/moby_stats. 
  2. ↑ "MobyGames Patrons". http://www.mobygames.com/info/patrons. 
  3. ↑ "New(ish!) on MobyGames – the Mainframe platform.". Blue Flame Labs. 18 June 2017. http://www.mobygames.com/forums/dga,2/dgb,3/dgm,237200/. 
  4. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  5. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/32856/Report_MobyGames_Acquired_By_GameFly_Media.php. 
  8. ↑ 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. 
  9. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/207882/Game_dev_database_MobyGames_getting_some_TLC_under_new_owner.php. 
  10. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  11. ↑ "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/. 
  12. ↑ "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/. 



  • Short description: Video game database
MobyGames
Logo since March 2014
Screenshot
Frontpage as of April 2012
Type of site
Gaming
Available inEnglish
OwnerAtari SA
Websitemobygames.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedJanuary 30, 1999; 26 years ago (1999-01-30)
Current statusOnline

MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes nearly 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] The site is supported by banner ads and a small number of people paying to become patrons.[2] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It is currently owned by Atari SA.

Content

The database began with games for IBM PC compatibles. After two years, consoles such as the PlayStation, were added. Older console systems were added later. Support for arcade video games was added in January 2014 and mainframe computer games in June 2017.[3]

Edits and submissions go through a leisurely verification process by volunteer "approvers". The approval process can range from immediate (minutes) to gradual (days or months).[4] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copyediting.[5]

Registered users can rate and review any video game. 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 subforum.

History

Logo used until March 11, 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999 by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, then joined by David Berk 18 months later, three friends since high school.[6] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience.

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[7] This was announced to the community post factum and a few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.

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).[8] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel.[9]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[10] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[11][12]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ "MobyGames Stats". https://www.mobygames.com/moby_stats. 
  2. ↑ "MobyGames Patrons". http://www.mobygames.com/info/patrons. 
  3. ↑ "New(ish!) on MobyGames – the Mainframe platform.". Blue Flame Labs. 18 June 2017. http://www.mobygames.com/forums/dga,2/dgb,3/dgm,237200/. 
  4. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  5. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/32856/Report_MobyGames_Acquired_By_GameFly_Media.php. 
  8. ↑ 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. 
  9. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/207882/Game_dev_database_MobyGames_getting_some_TLC_under_new_owner.php. 
  10. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  11. ↑ "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/. 
  12. ↑ "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/. 



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