Software:Freaky Flyers

From HandWiki
Short description: 2003 video game
Not to be confused with Freaky Friday.

Freaky Flyers
The game's cover art.
PAL cover art
Developer(s)Midway Studios San Diego[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Midway
Director(s)Kevin Munroe
Designer(s)Tom Tanaka
Composer(s)David Norris
Platform(s)GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release
  • NA: August 4, 2003[1]
  • EU: October 10, 2003
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Freaky Flyers is a 2003 air racing video game developed internally by Midway Studios San Diego for the Xbox and PlayStation 2, while the version for the GameCube was developed by Point of View and published by Midway.

Gaming modes

  • Freaky Flyers adventure mode follows multiple character histories. Each character has a story that develops as the player completes various challenges and missions.
  • Racing Mode can be played by either one or two players. As the game has been designed for comic effect, many of the tracks contain impossible missions and unorthodox challenges.
  • Dog Fight mode is duelling. This mode is only available in two-player mode. The players attempt to shoot each other out of the sky.

Minigames are also included in the game. These involve various challenges, such as shooting "amigos" in the desert or rescuing non-playable characters.

Development

Freaky Flyers had a protracted development cycle. It was initially to be published by SCi Games, who demonstrated it at the 1997 European Computer Trade Show (ECTS).[2] It was released for the Xbox and PlayStation 2, before a two-disc GameCube port was issued shortly afterwards.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GCPS2Xbox
EGMN/AN/A4/10[3]
Game InformerN/A6/10[4]5.75/10[5]
GameProN/AStarStarStarStar[6]StarStarStarStar[7]
GameRevolutionC[8]C[8]C[8]
GameSpotN/A6.6/10[9]6.6/10[9]
GameSpyStarStarStar[10]StarStarStar[11]N/A
GameZone7.3/10[12]7.3/10[13]7.2/10[14]
IGN7/10[15]7/10[15]7/10[15]
Nintendo Power3.8/5[16]N/AN/A
OPM (US)N/AStarStarStarHalf star[17]N/A
OXM (US)N/AN/A7.9/10[18]
Aggregate score
Metacritic69/100[19]66/100[20]64/100[21]

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[19][20][21] Areas that were praised include the large cast of characters and over 90 minutes of pre-rendered cutscenes included in the game. However, the game was criticized for its slow racing speeds and repetitive character lines and music.

Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot noted that "The game does have its moments, but the racing simply isn't very exciting."[9]

Notes

  1. ↑ GameCube port developed by Point of View.

References

  1. ↑ "Midway Ships Freaky Flyers" (in en). August 4, 2003. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/04/midway-ships-freaky-flyers. 
  2. ↑ "London Calling: European Developers Show their Stuff at ECTS". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (100): 26. November 1997. 
  3. ↑ "Freaky Flyers (Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (170): 112. September 2003. 
  4. ↑ Reiner, Andrew (August 2003). "Freaky Flyers (PS2) [score mislabeled as "7""]. Game Informer (124): 91. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200308/R03.0807.1650.09325.htm. Retrieved January 15, 2018. 
  5. ↑ "Freaky Flyers (Xbox)". Game Informer (124): 98. August 2003. 
  6. ↑ Simon Limon (August 4, 2003). "Freaky Flyers Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/30585.shtml. Retrieved January 16, 2018. 
  7. ↑ Simon Limon (August 4, 2003). "Freaky Flyers Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/reviews/30586.shtml. Retrieved January 16, 2018. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Silverman, Ben (August 2003). "Freaky Flyers Review". CraveOnline. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33584-freaky-flyers-review. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Gerstmann, Jeff (August 5, 2003). "Freaky Flyers Review (PS2, Xbox)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/freaky-flyers-review/1900-6072997/. 
  10. ↑ Fraioli, Alex (August 29, 2003). "GameSpy: Freaky Flyers (GCN)". Ziff Davis. http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/freaky-flyers/6136p1.html. 
  11. ↑ Fraioli, Alex (August 29, 2003). "GameSpy: Freaky Flyers (PS2)". Ziff Davis. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/freaky-flyers/6137p1.html. 
  12. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (August 18, 2003). "Freaky Flyers - GC - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/freaky_flyers_gc_review/. 
  13. ↑ Wrentmore, John (September 14, 2003). "Freaky Flyers - PS2 - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/freaky_flyers_ps2_review/. 
  14. ↑ Romano, Natalie (August 18, 2003). "Freaky Flyers - XB - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/freaky_flyers_xb_review/. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Dunham, Jeremy (August 5, 2003). "Freaky Flyers". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/06/freaky-flyers. 
  16. ↑ "Freaky Flyers". Nintendo Power 172: 140. October 2003. 
  17. ↑ Baker, Chris (September 2003). "Freaky Flyers". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis): 93. http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1494378,00.asp. Retrieved January 16, 2018. 
  18. ↑ "Freaky Flyers". Official Xbox Magazine: 82. September 2003. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Freaky Flyers for GameCube Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/freaky-flyers/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Freaky Flyers for PlayStation 2 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/freaky-flyers/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Freaky Flyers for Xbox Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/freaky-flyers/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. 
  • 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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