Software:Free Running (video game)

From HandWiki
Free Running
Developer(s)Rebellion Developments (PS2, Wii)
Core Design (PSP)
Publisher(s)Ubisoft, Reef Entertainment, Graffiti Entertainment
Composer(s)Martin Iveson
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
Release
  • AU: 5 April 2007
  • EU: 20 April 2007
Wii, Windows
  • EU: 1 October 2009
  • NA: 28 April 2010 (Wii)
  • NA: 3 December 2019 (PC)
Genre(s)Sports, platforming
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Free Running is a 2007 video game for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii and Microsoft Windows, developed by Rebellion Developments and Core Design and published by Ubisoft,[1] Reef Entertainment, and Graffiti Entertainment. A Nintendo DS version was planned, but cancelled.[2]

Gameplay

Free Running is a freerunning sports game, with mechanics similar to those found in skateboarding titles such as the Tony Hawk's series.[1] The objective of the game is a representation of freerunning, and players must demonstrate speed, rather than flamboyance.[1] The player is required to navigate their character through an urban environment by climbing, leaping, wall-running and other acrobatic maneuvers. Points are earned by performing combinations of such moves, and completing mini-challenges such as checkpoint races. The Wii port is played with either the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, or the Classic Controller.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PSP) 65/100[3]
(PS2) 61/100[4]
(Wii) 51/100[5]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge7/10[6]
Eurogamer5/10[1]
GamesMaster75%[7]
OPM (UK)6/10[8]
(OPS2) 5/10[9]
PSM370%[10]
VideoGamer.com5/10[11]
The Sydney Morning HeraldStarStar[12]

The game received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4][3][5] Eurogamer criticized the PlayStation 2 version's stiff controls and camera, leading to unease in performing tricks and combinations. It did not compare favourably to the fluid movement in Prince of Persia and Crackdown – titles that were deemed to be better free running games than Free Running.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Dan Whitehead (10 April 2007). "Free Running (PlayStation 2)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/free-running-review. "Free Running is a noble effort to apply the platform game template to a seemingly appropriate real world pastime, but it's hamstrung from the start by gameplay that is neither agile nor fluid enough to deliver an engaging experience, and by a concept that is considerably less unique on a joypad as it is in reality." 
  2. ↑ "Free Running – Release Details". GameSpot. https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ds/997391-free-running/data. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Free Running (psp: 2007): Reviews". CBS Interactive. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/psp/freerunning. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Free Running (ps2: 2007): Reviews". CBS Interactive. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/freerunning. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Free Running for Wii Reviews". CBS Interactive. http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/free-running. 
  6. ↑ "Free Running (PS2)". Edge (Future plc) (172): 82. February 2007. 
  7. ↑ "Free Running (PS2)". GamesMaster (Future plc): 71. May 2007. 
  8. ↑ "Free Running (PS2)". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK (Future plc) (5): 96. April 2007. 
  9. ↑ "Free Running (PS2)". Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine (Future plc) (82): 75. February 2007. 
  10. ↑ "Review: Free Running (PS2)". PSM3 (Future plc): 78. June 2007. 
  11. ↑ Will Freeman (22 April 2007). "Free Running Review (PS2)". Resero Network. https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/free-running-review. 
  12. ↑ Eliot Fish (14 May 2007). "Free Running (PS2)". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). https://www.smh.com.au/news/game-reviews/free-running/2007/05/12/1178899166995.html. 
  • 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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