Software:Fluidity (video game)

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Fluidity
Developer(s)Curve Studios
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Jaid Mindang
Designer(s)Jonathan Biddle
Composer(s)Richard Jacques, Allister Brimble, Anthony N. Putson
Platform(s)WiiWare
Release
  • NA: December 6, 2010
  • PAL: December 24, 2010
Genre(s)Puzzle, Metroidvania[1]
Mode(s)Single-player

Fluidity (known as Hydroventure in Europe and Oceania) is a physics puzzle game developed by Curve Studios and published by Nintendo for WiiWare on the Wii video game console. The game focuses on controlling a small body of water that is utilized in its different states of matter to progress through the game's levels.

Fluidity was released in North America and Europe in December 2010. A sequel, Fluidity, was released for the Nintendo 3DS eShop in December 2012.

Gameplay

Fluidity is a 2D puzzle game with platforming elements, in which the player takes control of a large pool of water. The pool is moved by holding the Wii Remote sideways and tilting it left or right, which tilts the game world, while shaking the Remote will cause the pool to bounce upwards. The player is tasked with exploring the pages of a magical encyclopedia known as the Aquaticus, which has been infected by a dark substance called the Influence. The player must acquire Rainbow Drops, usually done by surmounting obstacles and completing environmental puzzles, in order to purge the book of the Influence.

The pool of water gains the ability to transform into two other states (a block of ice and a cloud of vapor) as the game progresses. The ice block can smash through barriers, weigh down switches and cling to objects, and the cloud can float around freely and expel gusts of wind, as well as electrify objects via a bolt of lightning. Some of the water can be lost due to damage from monsters and hazards, which results in a Game Over when all the water in reserve has been depleted, and can be restored by collecting water droplets.

Development

The idea of a physics-based 'water game' was originally conceived in 2005, shortly after the formation of Curve Studios. During a development interview, design director Jonathan Biddle discussed the concept in these terms: "Water is so universal...The basics of freezing water to make ice and boiling it to make steam are things that no one needs explaining to them. We thought that all of these elements could be brought together to make a great game with really unique mechanics, and when we saw the Wii Remote, we instantly saw how it could be done".[2]

As the studio was busy with other projects, development on Fluidity did not begin until after the 2008 Game Developers Conference. During the convention, Curve Studios met with Masa Miyazaki and Azusa Tajima, two producers from Nintendo, who signed a publishing agreement following a pitch of the game idea.

Biddle described that the Wii Remote was a natural fit for Fluidity, although he did explain that there had been difficulties in fine-tuning the responsiveness of the controls, particularly the jumping mechanism. Elsewhere, he cites the images in airline safety brochures as the inspiration for the visual style of the game.

The music and sound FX for Fluidity were created by Richard Jacques, Allister Brimble, and Anthony Putson.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic86/100[3]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid9/10[4]
Edge8/10[5]
Eurogamer9/10[6]
GameSpot8.5/10[7]
GamesRadar+StarStarStarHalf star[8]
GameTrailers8/10[9]
IGN8.5/10[10]
Nintendo LifeStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[11]
Nintendo World Report9.5/10[12]
ONM92%[13]
Metro8/10[14]

Fluidity received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3] Edge praised the simple idea behind the game and the fun it provides.[5]

Nintendo World Report presented Fluidity with the award for 'WiiWare Game of the Year' for 2010.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Kuchera, Ben (December 9, 2010). "Select WiiWare games (finally) get demos; check out Fluidity". Condé Nast. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160809224829/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2010/12/select-wiiware-games-finally-get-demos-check-out-fluidity/?mobile_theme=dark. Retrieved July 13, 2016. ""[Fluidity's] sections have a Metroidvania feel as you unlock new areas during play, and the game opens up even further when you begin using the ice and steam forms."" 
  2. ↑ Dillard, Corbie (December 24, 2010). "Interviews: Curve Studios - Fluidity / Hydroventure". Gamer Network. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202046/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/12/interviews_curve_studios_fluidity_hydroventure. Retrieved June 21, 2021. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Fluidity for Wii Reviews". Fandom. Archived from the original on June 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210613023523/https://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/fluidity. Retrieved June 21, 2021. 
  4. ↑ Ponce, Tony (December 19, 2010). "Review: Fluidity". Gamurs. Archived from the original on May 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230522142236/https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-fluidity/. Retrieved June 2, 2023. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Edge staff (January 2011). "Hydroventure". Edge (Future plc) (223): 102. 
  6. ↑ Reed, Kristan (January 7, 2011). "Download Games Roundup (Page 2)". Gamer Network. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221208085417/https://www.eurogamer.net/download-games-roundup-review-28?page=2. Retrieved June 2, 2023. 
  7. ↑ Walton, Mark (January 25, 2011). "Fluidity Review". Fandom. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230519073657/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fluidity-review/1900-6286869/. Retrieved June 2, 2023. 
  8. ↑ Baughman, Jordan (January 6, 2011). "Fluidity review". Future plc. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210802232559/https://www.gamesradar.com/fluidity-review/. Retrieved June 2, 2023. 
  9. ↑ GameTrailers [Ryan Stevens] (July 5, 2016). Fluidity - GameTrailers Review Pod [January 24, 2011]. YouTube. Google. Archived from the original on January 16, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ Hatfield, Daemon (December 9, 2010). "Fluidity Review". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180402082922/https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/12/10/fluidity-review. Retrieved June 3, 2023. 
  11. ↑ Elliot, Patrick (December 11, 2010). "Hydroventure Review [NA Import"]. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221205190132/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiware/hydroventure. Retrieved June 2, 2023. 
  12. ↑ Ronaghan, Neal (December 20, 2010). "Fluidity". NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221203050500/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/24580/fluidity-wii. Retrieved June 2, 2023. 
  13. ↑ Scullion, Chris (January 2011). "Hydroventure review". Official Nintendo Magazine (Future plc). Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141007233915/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/21847/reviews/hydroventure-review-review/. Retrieved June 2, 2023. 
  14. ↑ "Review: Hydroventure is worth splashing out for". Metro (DMG Media). January 7, 2011. Archived from the original on November 3, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151103001912/https://metro.co.uk/2011/01/07/review-hydroventure-is-worth-splashing-out-for-628338/. Retrieved June 2, 2023. 
  15. ↑ Miller, Zachary; Mustafa, Nathan; Rosenberg, Jared (December 31, 2010). "Nintendo World Report Awards: 2010 (Downloadable Games of the Year)". NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230311122413/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/24634/nintendo-world-report-awards-2010-downloadable-games-of-the-year. Retrieved June 2, 2023. 
  • 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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