Software:FIFA 99

From HandWiki
Short description: 1998 association football video game
FIFA 99
North American PlayStation cover art featuring Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp
Developer(s)EA Canada
Publisher(s)EA Sports
SeriesFIFA
EngineVirtual Stadium
Platform(s)Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
ReleaseWindows, PlayStation
  • EU: 20 November 1998 (PS)[2]
  • NA: 24 November 1998[1]
  • EU: 4 December 1998 (PC)[3]
Nintendo 64
  • NA: December 1998[1]
  • EU: 8 December 1998
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer, multiplayer online

FIFA 99 is a football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label. It is the sixth game in the FIFA series and was released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Nintendo 64.

Gameplay

While the indoor mode was no longer featured, the gameplay's fluidity and responsiveness was increased. The increasing number of websites dedicated to the game and a larger number of leagues (the Malaysian League was removed, and on its stead came two new leagues: the Belgian First Division and the Portuguese Primeira Liga; this came to be a problem when the owners of the rights to the Primeira Liga tried to pull the game from the shelves locally). Graphically, it is a major improvement over FIFA '98, with the inclusion of basic facial animations and different players' heights as well as certain other cosmetic features such as improved kits and emblems, although they are unlicensed. Gamers may also create their own custom cups and leagues and select the teams they wish to participate.

FIFA 99 also features an elite league called the "European Dream League" in which 20 top teams from across Europe battle it out in a league format. It was also the first game to feature a block containing teams which did not pertain to any of the main leagues (back then, it was known as "Rest of Europe" since all teams were European, the vast majority of them featured either in the 1998–99 season of the Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup or Champions League).

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
N64PCPS
CGWN/AStarStarStarStarHalf star[9]N/A
EGM8.875/10[10][lower-alpha 1]N/A8.625/10[11][lower-alpha 2]
FamitsuN/AN/A29/40[12]
Game Informer8.25/10[13]N/A7/10[14]
GameProStarStarStarStarHalf star[15][lower-alpha 3]N/AStarStarStarStarStar[16][lower-alpha 4]
GameRevolutionN/AA[17]A−[18]
GameSpot8.2/10[19]9.2/10[20]8.4/10[21]
IGN9/10[22]8.7/10[23]9/10[24]
N64 Magazine83%[25]N/AN/A
Nintendo Power8.6/10[26]N/AN/A
OPM (US)N/AN/AStarStarStarStarHalf star[27]
PC Gamer (UK)N/A90%[29]N/A
The Cincinnati EnquirerN/AStarStarStarStar[30]N/A
Aggregate score
GameRankings83%[4]89%[5]88%[6]

The game received favorable reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4][5][6] Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the PC version four-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it "one of the best sports games you can buy."[31] In Japan, where the PlayStation version was ported and published by Electronic Arts Square under the name FIFA 99: Europa League Soccer (FIFA99 ヨーロッパリーグ・サッカー, FIFA 99 Yōroppa Rīgu Sakkā) on 26 August 1999, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40.[12]

The game was a bestseller in the UK, replacing Tomb Raider III.[32] In February 1999, the PlayStation version received a "Platinum" sales award from the Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD),[33] indicating sales of at least 200,000 units across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.[34] The PC version took "Gold", for 100,000 sales, at the same time.[33] At the 1999 Milia festival in Cannes, it took home a "Gold" prize for revenues above €50 million in the European Union during 1998.[35] The PC version won the "Best Sports" award in PC PowerPlay's Game of the Year 1999 Awards.[36] It also won the award for "PC Sports Game of the Year" at AIAS' 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards,[37] the Best Sports Game award at the 1998 CNET Gamecenter Awards,[38] the "Best Sports" award (along with Software:FIFA: Road to World Cup 98 and World Cup 98, collectively) at Computer Gaming World's 1999 Premier Awards,[39] and the "Sports Game of the Year" award at GameSpot's Best & Worst of 1998 Awards,[40] and was nominated for the "Best Sports Game of the Year" award at IGN's Best of 1998 Awards, which ultimately went to NFL Blitz.[41]

Notes

  1. ↑ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Nintendo 64 version each a score of 8.5/10, and the other two gave it scores of 9.5/10 and 9/10.
  2. ↑ Four critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 9.5/10, 7.5/10, 9/10, and 8.5/10.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version 4.5/5 each for graphics, sound, control, and overall fun factor.
  4. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation version three 5/5 scores for graphics, control, and overall fun factor, and 4.5/5 for sound.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jebens, Harley (24 November 1998). "EA Kicks FIFA Out the Door [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-kicks-fifa-out-the-door/1100-2465662/. 
  2. ↑ "Home Computing & Games". Grimsby Evening Telegraph: pp. 33. 20 November 1998. https://www.newspapers.com/image/895451545/?terms=%22FIFA%2099%22&match=1. "The Games Exchange new releases, Tomb Raider 3 £37, Fifa 99 £36, free delivery." 
  3. ↑ "PC Retailer of the Year". Daily Record: pp. 23. December 4, 1998. https://www.newspapers.com/image/850078860/?terms=%22fifa%2099%22&match=1. ""FIFA 99 - Out Today - Inc Vat £34.99."" 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "FIFA 99 for Nintendo 64". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/n64/197309-fifa-99/index.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "FIFA 99 for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/71564-fifa-99/index.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "FIFA 99 for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/197310-fifa-99/index.html. 
  7. ↑ Goble, Gordon (17 December 1998). "FIFA 99 (PC)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2349,00.html. 
  8. ↑ Meyer, Bill (24 November 1998). "FIFA 99 (PS)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Fifa99/. 
  9. ↑ Vallina, Joe (March 1999). "Shot on Goal (FIFA 99 Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (176): 176–77. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_176.pdf. Retrieved 27 April 2021. 
  10. ↑ Hsu, Dan; Davison, John; Hager, Dean; Riciardi, John (February 1999). "FIFA 99 (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (115): 166. https://archive.org/details/electronicgamingmonthlyissue115february1999/page/n179/mode/2up. Retrieved 26 April 2021. 
  11. ↑ Davison, John; Hsu, Dan; Ricciardi, John; Hager, Dean (February 1999). "FIFA 99 (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (115): 174. https://archive.org/details/electronicgamingmonthlyissue115february1999/page/n187/mode/2up. Retrieved 26 April 2021. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "FIFA99 ヨーロッパリーグ・サッカー [PS"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=6490&redirect=no. Retrieved 26 April 2021. 
  13. ↑ "FIFA Soccer '99 [sic – Nintendo 64"]. Game Informer (FuncoLand) (79): 68. January 1999. https://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=792. Retrieved 27 April 2021. 
  14. ↑ "FIFA 99 (PS)". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (79): 69. January 1999. 
  15. ↑ Air Hendrix (February 1999). "FIFA 99 (N64)". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (125): 120. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-786-120.jpg. Retrieved 26 April 2021. 
  16. ↑ Air Hendrix (February 1999). "FIFA 99 Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (125). http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/143.shtml. Retrieved 26 April 2021. 
  17. ↑ Hubble, Calvin (January 1999). "FIFA 99 Review (PC)". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33133-fifa-99-review. 
  18. ↑ Zimring, Jason (December 1998). "FIFA 99 – Playstation Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34180-fifa-99-review-2. 
  19. ↑ Taruc, Nelson (10 December 1998). "FIFA 99 Review (N64) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fifa-99-review/1900-2543660/. 
  20. ↑ Smith, Josh (9 December 1998). "FIFA 99 Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fifa-99-review/1900-2536008/. 
  21. ↑ Taruc, Nelson (10 December 1998). "FIFA 99 Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fifa-99-review/1900-2545959/. 
  22. ↑ Schneider, Peer (7 January 1999). "FIFA 99 Review (N64)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/08/fifa-99-6. 
  23. ↑ Blevins, Tal (30 November 1998). "FIFA '99 (PC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/01/fifa-99-2. 
  24. ↑ Harris, Craig (11 December 1998). "FIFA '99 (PS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/12/fifa-99. 
  25. ↑ "FIFA 99". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (26). March 1999. 
  26. ↑ "FIFA '99". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 116: 122. January 1999. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-358-122.jpg. Retrieved 26 April 2021. 
  27. ↑ Kujawa, Kraig (February 1999). "FIFA 99". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) 2 (5): 82. https://archive.org/details/Official_US_PlayStation_Magazine_Volume_2_Issue_5_1999-02_Ziff_Davis_US/page/n81/mode/2up. Retrieved 26 April 2021. 
  28. ↑ Smith, Rob (February 1999). "FIFA 99". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (6): 108. https://archive.org/details/PCXL06Feb1999/page/n107/mode/2up. Retrieved 26 April 2021. 
  29. ↑ "FIFA 99". PC Gamer UK (Future Publishing). 1999. 
  30. ↑ Hopper, D. Ian (1998). "In the back of the net". The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Company). http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/hopper/fifa99.html. 
  31. ↑ Lackey, Jeff (10 January 1999). "FIFA 99". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/016/136/fifa99_review.html. 
  32. ↑ "Game Charts". Official UK PlayStation Magazine (Future Publishing) (43): 132. March 1999. https://archive.org/details/opm043/page/n131/mode/2up. Retrieved 26 April 2021. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Erste Doppel-Platin Auszeichnungen durch den VUD" (in de). Paderborn. 18 February 1999. http://www.vud.de/infopres/PM-180299.htm. 
  34. ↑ "VUD Sales Awards" (in de). Paderborn. November 2000. http://www.vud.de/presse/november2002.php3. 
  35. ↑ GameSpot staff (12 February 1999). "ECCSELL Awards Name Winners [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/eccsell-awards-name-winners/1100-2452282/. 
  36. ↑ "Game of the Year 1999 (Part 3)". PC PowerPlay (Next Media Pty Ltd) (47): 30. April 2000. https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-047-2000-04/page/n29/mode/2up. Retrieved 18 June 2021. 
  37. ↑ "Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Personal Computer". http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html. 
  38. ↑ Gamecenter staff (29 January 1999). "The CNET Gamecenter Awards for 1998! (Sports Winner)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards98/ss11c.html. 
  39. ↑ CGW staff (April 1999). "Computer Gaming World's 1999 Premier Awards (Best Sports)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (177): 100. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_177.pdf. Retrieved 16 September 2023. 
  40. ↑ GameSpot staff (1999). "The Best & Worst of 1998 (Sports Game of the Year)". Ziff Davis. http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards1998/genre8b.html. 
  41. ↑ IGN staff (29 January 1999). "IGNPC's Best of 1998 Awards". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/29/ignpcs-best-of-1998-awards. 
  • 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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