Software:Firezone

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Short description: 1988 video game
Firezone
Developer(s)Arcadia[1]
Publisher(s)Personal Software Services[2][3]
Platform(s)Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS
Release1988[1]
Genre(s)Computer wargame
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Firezone is a 1988 computer wargame developed by Arcadia and published by Personal Software Services (PSS) for the Amstrad CPC.[4] It is part of PSS' Wargamers series.[5] Ports for Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, and MS-DOS were released later.

Gameplay

Firezone is a turn-based strategy game played on a hexagonal grid and is set in the 21st century during a war between the superpowers of the Pacific Combine and the European League.[5] On their turn, the player can move a unit or fire at the enemy. The damage values are left to random chance. The objective of the game is to destroy all enemies on the map or force them to retreat.[2] The game features sci-fi concepts like grav tanks and beam weapons.[5][3] The disk version comes with nine scenarios, cassette version comes with three. A scenario designer is also included.[2] A two-player multiplayer is supported.[5] The DOS version supports CGA and EGA graphics modes.[6]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
ACE710/1000 (CPC)[2]
734/1000 (ST)[7]
735/1000 (Amiga)[8]
Amstrad Action64%[9]
The Australian Commodore and Amiga Review85/100 (Amiga)[12]
Datormagazin (sv)3/10 (Amiga)[4]
PC Magazin (de)7/10[6]
Gen4 (fr)84% (Amiga, ST)[13]
.info3/5 (C64)[3]
Jeux et Stratégie (fr)7/10 (DOS, ST)[14]

ACE reviewed the Amstrad CPC version and said that "[w]hile the display is colourful, the screen updating is tediously slow, as the screen is re-drawn rather than scrolled." The review was concluded: "A simple wargame then that provides a nice design feature and a vicious computer opponent but not much else."[2] Amstrad Action said the sound and graphics are simple, the play area is too small, and each scenario is over too quickly.[9] In a review of the Amiga version, ACE noted that the "scrolling and sound effects are much better than the 8-bit versions [...]"[8] .info said: "Wargames come and wargames go, and Firezone will be no memorable than most of the rest, but it's a pleasant enough diversion to burn up a few afternoons."[3] Amiga User International concluded: "The game is simple to play, but is nevertheless addictive in its qualities".[5] The Australian Commodore and Amiga Review noted the game as very user friendly and the overall presentation as excellent. The game was said to be "[a] good introductory game for newcomers, which still provides experienced veterans with a serious challenge."[12] Datormagazin (sv) didn't recommended to buy the game since there are much better strategy games on the Amiga.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Arcadia (1988). Firezone. MS-DOS. Personal Software Services. Level/area: Main menu. "(C) PSS 1988. This version by Arcadia." 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Strategy Special - Firezone". ACE (Future plc) (8): 75. May 1988. https://archive.org/details/ace-magazine-08/page/n73/mode/2up. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Brown, Mark R. (March 1989). "Games For Your C64 - Firezone". .info (Info Publications Ltd) (25): 63. https://archive.org/details/info-magazine-25/Info_Issue_25_1989_Mar_Apr/page/n63/mode/2up. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ekholm, Hans (March 1990). "Amiga-spel - Se upp för Firezone" (in Swedish). Datormagazin (Bröderna Lindströms Förlags AB) 5 (7): 24. https://archive.org/details/Datormagazin1990/Datormagazin_1990_nr07/page/n23/mode/2up. "Firezone konverterades till Amiga från Amstrad via C64:an...". 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Keighley, Len (July 1989). "Entertainment - Firezone". Amiga User International (Croftward Limited): 100. https://archive.org/details/Amiga_User_International_1989007/page/n99/mode/2up. "Value: 8". 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Müller, Dieter (November 1989). "Spiele - Kurz angespielt" (in German). DOS International (DMV Daten und Medien Verlag) (11/89): 122. https://archive.org/details/dos-international_1989-11/page/122/mode/2up. 
  7. ↑ "Screen Test Updates - Firezone". ACE (Future plc) (17): 68. February 1989. https://archive.org/details/ace-magazine-17/page/n67/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Screen Test Updates - Firezone". ACE (Future plc) (20): 77. May 1989. https://archive.org/details/ace-magazine-20/page/n75/mode/2up. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 GBH (April 1988). "Action Test - Firezone". Amstrad Action (Future plc) (31): 46. https://archive.org/details/amstrad-action-031/page/n45/mode/2up. 
  10. ↑ Blum, Torsten (March 1989). "Denk(-)mal - Liga Contra Kombinat" (in German). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic-Verlag) (3/89): 77. https://retrocdn.net/images/8/87/ASM_DE_1989-03.pdf. "Grafik: 9/12, Handhabung: 8/12, Strategie: 8/12, Motivation: 7/12, Preis/Leistung: 7/12". 
  11. ↑ Hautefeuille, Olivier (June 1989). "Rolling Softs - Firezone" (in French). Tilt (Editions Mondiales S.A.) (67): 66. https://archive.org/details/Tilt067/page/n65/mode/2up. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Bolitho, Barry; Spiteri, Michael (June 1989). "Adventure's Realm - Review: Firezone". The Australian Commodore and Amiga Review (Saturday Magazine Pty Ltd.) 6 (6): 70. https://archive.org/details/Australian_Commodore_and_Amiga_Review_The_Volume_6_Issue_6_1989-06_Saturday_Magazine_AU/page/n71/mode/2up. 
  13. ↑ "Reflexion - Fire Zone" (in French). Génération 4 (SARL Pressimage) (9): 46–47. March 1989. https://archive.org/details/generation4-magazine-009c/page/n45/mode/2up. 
  14. ↑ "Micro Top - Fire Zone" (in French). Jeux et Stratégie (Excelsior Publications) (59): 72. June 1989. https://archive.org/details/jeux-et-strategie-59/page/72/mode/2up. 
  • 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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