Software:Firezone

From HandWiki
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. 
  • 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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