Software:FX Fighter

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Short description: 1995 video game

FX Fighter
Developer(s)Argonaut Software
Publisher(s)GTE Entertainment
Producer(s)Jerry Albright, Nick Halstead
Designer(s)Jaid Mindang, Gary O'Connell
Programmer(s)Simon Hargrave, Steve Thompson
Composer(s)Martin Gwynn Jones, Justin Scharvona
EngineBRender[1]
Platform(s)MS-DOS
ReleaseJune 16, 1995[2][3]
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

FX Fighter is a 3D fighting game for MS-DOS. It was developed by Argonaut Software and published by GTE Entertainment in June 1995. It is an early realtime 3D fighter, originally meant for Super NES using the Super FX chip, on which Argonaut was collaborating together with Nintendo. OEM versions have support for 3D acceleration, bundled with 3D graphics accelerator cards such as the Diamond Monster 3D.[4] A sequel, FX Fighter Turbo, was released in 1996.

This game has no relation to Hudson Soft's cancelled FX Fighter for PC-FX which was conceived around the same time.[5]

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot

The game features 8 different characters, 8 different arenas, movie cutscenes, and 40 attacks per fighter. The player selects a character to face against 8 of the best fighters in the universe, with the prize being the most powerful weapon in the universe.[6]

Characters

  • Magnon, from Inferno - A primeval volcanic wasteland.
  • Sheba, from Rhomb - A world of vast savannahs ruled by the highly respected feran monarchy.
  • Venam, from Peres - A planet dominated by tropical forests and caves.
  • Jake, from Sentral - Massively overpopulated and polluted industrialized world.
  • Kiko, from Lusk - Mountainous planet with low technology but a developed culture.
  • Siren, from Ursae - A water world completely covered by a single ocean.
  • Ashraf, from Karlak - Temperate planet with an ancient culture.
  • Syben, from Axone - A world rich in mineral deposits but with no atmosphere.
  • Rygil, from Anarchis - A high gravity world owned by the cadre.

Cancelled SNES version

FX Fighter was originally conceived as a Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) game and originally titled Fighting Polygon. It was first shown in November 1994 at Nintendo's Shoshinkai Software Exhibition in Japan, based on the Super FX 2 chip to deliver polygon graphics, otherwise unattainable on the SNES. At the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in January 1995, GTE Entertainment and Nintendo announced that they would be jointly developing and publishing the game.[7][8]

The game was previewed in GamePro[9] and Nintendo Power.[10] It was compared to Sega's Virtua Fighter. Although the approximately 500 polygons per character was tame compared to Virtua Fighter and Tekken on 32-bit hardware, FX Fighter's capabilities were still impressive considering the SNES's older 16-bit hardware.[11]

However, after Nintendo decided to port Killer Instinct to the SNES, the SNES version of FX Fighter was canceled by Nintendo to avoid competition between the two games.[12]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[15]
CD Player7/10[13]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[14]
Computer Game Review259/300[16]

For the launch of FX Fighter, GTE Entertainment shipped 200,000 units to stores and dedicated more than $2 million to its promotional campaign.[17]

Entertainment Weekly gave the PC version an A− and wrote that the game was as good as any that was offered on home consoles, but remarked that playing games on a television screen was better than a computer screen.[14]

Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "Even without the spectacular visuals, FX Fighter would be better than Mortal Kombat II - and that's saying a lot."[15]

Frank Snyder of Computer Game Review was largely positive toward the game, calling it "definitely worth checking out".[16]

In other media

A comic based on the video game was created by Jim Lee of Wildstorm Productions, which was hosted by GTE Interactive Media's web site.[18]

FX Fighter Turbo

FX Fighter Turbo
Developer(s)Argonaut Software
Publisher(s)GTE Entertainment
EngineBRender[19]
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows 95
ReleaseNovember 5, 1996
Genre(s)Fighting game
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

FX Fighter Turbo is a sequel released for the PC in 1996 with new characters, moves, environments, costumes, special effects, network play, and support for Microsoft Windows and the S3 Graphics chipset. As are many other fighting games at the time, this game is influenced by Mortal Kombat in the form of fatalities, a feature not in the previous game. All the previous characters return, plus the new Linna and Kwondo.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "3D Realms". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (10): 99. October 1995. 
  2. ↑ "FX Fighter Pulls Early Retailer Demand With Initial Channel Sell-in of 200,000 Units; Shipment Underway to 18,000 Retail Outlets". June 27, 1995. http://www.im.gte.com/gte/gthpfxf.html. 
  3. ↑ "Upgrades on the Spot". The Baltimore Sun: pp. 121. June 16, 1995. https://www.newspapers.com/image/373547136. "NEW!//FX Fighter//CD-ROM//The ultimate PC fighting game.//" 
  4. ↑ "Diamond Announces Retail Monster 3D Gaming Accelerator Bundled with 10 Hot Titles This Halloween". Business Wire. October 31, 1996. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_Oct_31/ai_18812765. 
  5. ↑ "What NEC And Hudson Did Next: The Disasterous [sic Story Of The PC-FX"] (in en-GB). 2015-05-09. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/05/feature_what_nec_and_hudson_did_next_the_disasterous_story_of_the_pc-fx. 
  6. ↑ "FX Fighter (Game)" (in en). https://www.giantbomb.com/fx-fighter/3030-11081/. 
  7. ↑ "GTE and Nintendo Enter into FX Fighter Partnership Agreement". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (68): 57. March 1995. https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_68/page/n55/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ Bateman, Selby (April 1995). "Movers & Shakers". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (4): 27. https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-004/page/n27/mode/2up. 
  9. ↑ "FX Fighter". GamePro (IDG) (76): 195. January 1995. https://retrocdn.net/images/5/5d/GamePro_US_066.pdf. 
  10. ↑ "Powered up: The Super Fox Team". Nintendo Power (Nintendo) (69): 68. February 1995. https://archive.org/details/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20069%20%28February%201995%29/page/n67/mode/2up. 
  11. ↑ "SFX Special". Nintendo Magazine System (Trielle). April 1995. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-magazine-system-au-25-april-1995/page/12. 
  12. ↑ "GTE Interactive Takes FX Fighter to the PC". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (73): 28. August 1995. https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_073_August_1995_U/page/n27/mode/2up. 
  13. ↑ "FX Fighter Review" (in German). CD Player. January 1996. https://archive.org/details/CDPlayer0196/page/n37/mode/2up. Retrieved April 13, 2022. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Strauss, Bob. "FX Fighter". Entertainment Weekly. https://ew.com/article/1995/08/18/fx-fighter/. Retrieved September 14, 2018. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Finals". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (9): 97. September 1995. https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-009/page/n97/mode/2up. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Let's Get Ready to Rumble". Computer Game Review. August 1995. http://www.nuke.com/compent/reviews/augarc/fx/fx.htm. 
  17. ↑ "FX FIGHTER PULLS EARLY RETAILER DEMAND WITH INITIAL CHANNEL SELL-IN OF 200,000 UNITS; SHIPMENT UNDERWAY TO 18,000 RETAIL OUTLETS" (Press release). Archived from the original on June 7, 1997. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  18. ↑ "The FX Fighter Comic Book". http://www.im.gte.com/FXF/fxfman01.html. 
  19. ↑ "3D Realms". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (10): 99. October 1995. 
  • Argonaut Games pages: FXF, FXFT
  • GTE Vantage Incorporated pages: FXF, FXFT
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

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