Software:Fire Blade (video game)

From HandWiki
Fire Blade
North American PS2 cover art
Developer(s)Kuju Entertainment
Publisher(s)Midway Home Entertainment
Platform(s)Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation 2
Genre(s)Flight simulation
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Fire Blade is a flight simulation video game released in 2002 by Kuju Entertainment. In the game, the player takes control of an advanced helicopter gunship as a part of the Fire Blade task force, which in the arc of the game's story is responsible for fighting terrorism. The enemies of the game are the United Eastern States, who are believed to be building terrorist training camps and factories for weapons of mass destruction.

Gameplay

The game is similar in many respects to ThunderHawk: Operation Phoenix. However, in Fire Blade, the player is forced to be far less cautious unless on a stealth mission and is usually pitted against far larger numbers of enemies. The main element of the game is aggressively piloting the player's attack helicopters against large enemy armored formations and completing the main mission objectives, these vary in creativity from simply blowing up a bridge to aiding a special forces team in stopping a train by parking a truck across the tracks and stopping enemy troops from moving it.

A secondary element of the game is FPS-style sniping, when the player's helicopter enters "stealth mode" the autocannon is used as a precision sniper weapon that can be used to accurately target individual soldiers, allowing the player to snipe enemy infantry much like in an FPS.

Additional fuel and ammunition for the helicopter's jet boosters and heavier armaments are acquired from destroyed enemy vehicles instead of the more conventional reloading areas from games such as the Strike Series.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GCPS2Xbox
AllGameN/AStarStar[1]N/A
EdgeN/A6 / 10[2]N/A
EGMN/A4 / 10[3]N/A
Game InformerN/A7.5 / 10[4]N/A
GameProN/AStarStar[5]N/A
GameRevolutionN/AB−[6]N/A
GameSpotN/A7.6 / 10[7]N/A
GameSpyN/A75%[8]N/A
GameZoneN/A7.7 / 10[9]N/A
IGNN/A7.7 / 10[10]7.3 / 10[11]
Nintendo Power3.2 / 5[12]N/AN/A
OPM (US)N/AStarStarHalf star[13]N/A
MaximN/A7 / 10[14]N/A
Aggregate score
Metacritic70 / 100[15]64 / 100[16]71 / 100[17]

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[15][16][17]

References

  1. ↑ Scott Alan Marriott. "FireBlade (PS2) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141116021755/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=38556&tab=review. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  2. ↑ Edge staff (July 2002). "FireBlade (PS2)". Edge (Future plc) (112). 
  3. ↑ EGM staff (August 2002). "FireBlade (PS2)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (157): 124. 
  4. ↑ Kristian Brogger (July 2002). "Fireblade (PS2)". Game Informer (GameStop) (111): 83. Archived from the original on February 24, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050224050045/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200207/R03.0731.1547.48348.htm. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  5. ↑ Bad Hare (June 11, 2002). "Fireblade Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050206200519/http://gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/24124.shtml. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  6. ↑ Joe Dodson (July 2002). "FireBlade Review (PS2)". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150911161920/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/fireblade. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  7. ↑ Ryan MacDonald (June 14, 2002). "Fire Blade Review (PS2)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fire-blade-review/1900-2870890/. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  8. ↑ Tom Ham (June 18, 2002). "Fireblade (PS2) [Incomplete"]. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 17, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050217154205/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/june02/firebladeps2. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  9. ↑ Nick Valentino (July 8, 2002). "Fireblade - PS2 - Review". Archived from the original on January 23, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090123144442/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19957.htm. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  10. ↑ Jeremy Dunham (July 9, 2002). "Fireblade (PS2)". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/07/09/fireblade. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  11. ↑ Jeremy Dunham (April 6, 2003). "Fireblade Review (Xbox)". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/06/fireblade-review. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  12. ↑ "FireBlade". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 165: 156. February 2003. 
  13. ↑ "FireBlade". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis): 108. August 2002. 
  14. ↑ Ryan Boyce (June 1, 2002). "Fireblade (PS2)". Biglari Holdings. Archived from the original on July 15, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020715115956/http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_3503.html. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Fireblade for GameCube Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/fire-blade/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Fire Blade for PlayStation 2 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/fire-blade/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Fireblade for Xbox Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/fire-blade/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved May 28, 2018. 
  • 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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