Software:Fur Fighters

From HandWiki
Short description: 2000 video game
Fur Fighters
Developer(s)Bizarre Creations
Publisher(s)Acclaim Entertainment
Platform(s)Dreamcast
Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 2
iOS[1]
ReleaseDreamcast
  • EU: 23 June 2000
  • NA: 13 July 2000[2]
Windows
  • EU: 10 November 2000
  • NA: 24 November 2000
PlayStation 2
iOS
19 July 2012
Genre(s)Third-person shooter, platformer
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Fur Fighters (titled Furrballs in early development)[4] is a video game developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Acclaim Entertainment for the Dreamcast in 2000, later for Microsoft Windows. The game was first announced as a Dreamcast exclusive in the January 1999 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, having started development in the summer of 1998.[5] It was designed very much as a standard third-person shooter, but used a world populated by cute little animals as its setting. As a result, the game's depiction of violence is very cartoon-like without losing any of its intensity. In 2001, an updated version for the PlayStation 2 was released as Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge.[6] On 20 July 2012, members of Muffin Games, ex-Bizarre Creations staff, announced a conversion for iPad, called Fur Fighters: Viggo on Glass.[7]

Plot

The plot of the game revolves around the Fur Fighters, a group dedicated to fighting against General Viggo, the game's main antagonist. At the beginning of the game, Viggo kidnaps the families of the Fur Fighters, stranding their children around the game's various locations and turning the spouses (or in Tweek's case, mother) into robotic beasts. The story is rather loose, revolving around the Fur Fighters' quest to rescue their babies, save their family, and stop General Viggo.

Gameplay

In Fur Fighters, the player's job is to rescue the tiny animal babies who have been taken from their families by the central villain, General Viggo. Viggo has scattered these babies all over the world, requiring the Fur Fighter families to explore, confront Viggo's henchmen, and rescue all of them. The gameplay featured many unique aspects for a third-person shooter of the time it was released, most notably making each level an extremely large, expansive area that requires sometimes hours of involved exploration to locate the babies and get rid of the enemies. (Examples include a giant construction site and an entire section of a large city, complete with buildings to explore, including a complete museum of modern art.) Maneuvering through these levels often requires careful observation of the environment so as not to get lost, as well as solving puzzles to figure out where some babies might be hidden or how to gain access to more of the level. Unlike most action games of this type, Fur Fighters distinguishes itself by featuring a system where the player can, at many intervals on a level, switch between one of many animal parents. Each parent has their own advantages and disadvantages, with all of them holding their own special abilities allowing them to accomplish specific tasks. These abilities allow the player to maneuver through a variety of obstacles and courses within the players path, such as Roofus allowing the player to burrow in specific spots, Bungalow being able to jump much higher than other characters and Juliette being able to climb up walls. The game contains a variety of unlockable weapons with some of them sharing slots if they use the same ammo type, such as the Heavy Machine Gun, Plasma Blaster and Neutron Gun. The player also has a close range melee attack that has a unique animation for every playable character. The game received additional weapons and melee upgrades in its updated Playstation 2 release Viggo's Revenge. [8]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DreamcastiOSPCPS2
AllGameStarStarStar[13]N/AN/AN/A
Edge8/10[15]N/AN/A8/10[16]
EGM7.5/10[17]N/AN/A6/10[18]
Eurogamer7/10[21]N/AN/AN/A
Game Informer7.75/10[22]N/AN/A6.5/10[23]
GameFan75%[24][lower-alpha 1]N/AN/AN/A
GameRevolutionN/AN/AN/AC[25]
GameSpot7/10[26]N/A6.1/10[27]7.3/10[28]
GameSpy8.5/10[29]N/AN/A88%[30]
IGN8.3/10[31]N/A8.3/10[32]4.5/10[33]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[34]N/AN/AStarStar[35]
OPM (US)N/AN/AN/AStarStarStar[36]
Digital SpyN/AStarStarStar[37]N/AN/A
Aggregate score
Metacritic80/100[9]69/100[10]74/100[11]64/100[12]

The Dreamcast version of Fur Fighters received "favourable" reviews, while its PC version, along with Viggo's Revenge and Viggo on Glass, received "mixed or average reviews", according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[9][10][11][12] Garrett Kenyon of NextGen's August 2000 issue called the Dreamcast version "A game that's fun for kids and adults alike. It looks great and plays even better."[34] Twelve issues later, however, Daniel Erickson said in his review of Viggo's Revenge, "If you want a shooter or an adventure game, there are better places to turn."[35]

Jake The Snake of GamePro said of the Dreamcast version in one review, "If you'd enjoy a smart, cartoon-based action/adventure game and [you] won't be turned off by the guns, don't miss Fur Fighters."[38][lower-alpha 2] In another GamePro review, Iron Thumbs said, "Fur Fighters isn't all shoot 'em up adventure: the game is packed with everything from small, simple puzzles to extended challenges requiring serious planning and strategy to execute them successfully."[39][lower-alpha 3] GameZone gave Viggo's Revenge eight out of ten, saying that it "Provides enough of a rush to deal with the fact that the game tends to get a little monotonous."[40]

While the game was not a tremendous financial success and went almost unnoticed by the majority of gamers at the time, critically the game was almost universally praised for its size, scope, sense of humour, and attention to detail.[citation needed]

Notes

  1. ↑ In GameFan's viewpoint of the Dreamcast version, three critics gave it each a score of 73, 82, and 71.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the Dreamcast version 4/5 for graphics, two 4.5/5 scores for sound and fun factor, and 5/5 for control in one review.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the Dreamcast version three 4.5/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4/5 for sound in another review.

References

  1. ↑ Karmali, Luke (2012-07-20). "Fur Fighters Reappears on iPad". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/20/fur-fighters-reappears-on-ipad. 
  2. ↑ "THE FLUFF HAS HIT THE FAN! --- FUR FIGHTERS ARRIVES IN STORES". 2000-07-13. http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/FurFightersDCinStores.html. 
  3. ↑ "ACCLAIM ENTERTAINMENT, INC. SHIPS FUR FIGHTERS: VIGGO'S REVENGE FOR THE PLAYSTATION®2 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM". 2001-06-07. http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/FurFightersVRShips.html. 
  4. ↑ Edge staff (September 2000). "European Dreams". Edge (Future Publishing) (65): 11. https://retrocdn.net/images/0/09/Edge_UK_065.pdf. Retrieved 2024-04-04. 
  5. ↑ EGM staff (January 1999). "Bizarre [sic Coughs Up Furballs"]. Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (114): 35. https://retrocdn.net/images/6/6c/EGM_US_114.pdf. Retrieved 2024-04-04. 
  6. ↑ GameSpot staff (2001-06-07). "Acclaim ships Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/acclaim-ships-fur-fighters-viggos-revenge/1100-2770860/. 
  7. ↑ Sterling, James Stephanie (2012-07-20). "The Fur Fighters make their stunning return ... to iPad". Gamurs. https://www.destructoid.com/the-fur-fighters-make-their-stunning-return-to-ipad/. 
  8. ↑ Sega Dreamcast Manual: Fur Fighters (2000)(Acclaim)(GB). 2000. https://archive.org/details/Fur_Fighters_2000_Acclaim_GB. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Fur Fighters critic reviews (DC)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/fur-fighters/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Fur Fighters: Viggo on Glass". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/fur-fighters-viggo-on-glass/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Fur Fighters critic reviews (PC)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/fur-fighters/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/fur-fighters-viggos-revenge/. 
  13. ↑ Melville, Bryan. "Fur Fighters (DC) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19585&tab=review. 
  14. ↑ Ham, Tom (2000-07-12). "Fur Fighters (DC)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Dreamcast/Reviews/Furfighters/. 
  15. ↑ Edge staff (June 2000). "Fur Fighters (DC)". Edge (Future Publishing) (85): 78–79. https://retrocdn.net/images/0/0f/Edge_UK_085.pdf. Retrieved 2024-04-05. 
  16. ↑ Edge staff (June 2001). "Fur Fighters [Viggo's Revenge"]. Edge (Future Publishing) (98): 80. https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e9/Edge_UK_098.pdf. Retrieved 2024-04-05. 
  17. ↑ Boyer, Crispin (August 2000). "Fur Fighters (DC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (133): 148. https://retrocdn.net/images/b/b5/EGM_US_133.pdf. Retrieved 2024-04-05. 
  18. ↑ Kim, Jeanne (August 2001). "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (145): 111. https://retrocdn.net/images/d/da/EGM_US_145.pdf. Retrieved 2024-04-05. 
  19. ↑ Burns, Enid (2000-10-02). "Fur Fighters (DC)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=3264. 
  20. ↑ Zimmerman, Chris (2001-08-02). "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge". Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=6462&full=1. 
  21. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (2000-09-28). "Fur Fighters (DC)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/fur-dc. 
  22. ↑ "Fur Fighters (DC)". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (88). August 2000. 
  23. ↑ "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (99). July 2001. 
  24. ↑ Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Weitzner, Jason "Fury"; van Stone, Matt "Kodomo" (September 2000). "Fur Fighters (DC)". GameFan (BPA International) 8 (9): 18. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_09/page/n19/mode/2up. Retrieved 2024-04-04. 
  25. ↑ G-Wok (June 2001). "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33377-fur-fighters-viggos-revenge-review. 
  26. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (2000-07-18). "Fur Fighters Review (DC)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fur-fighters-review/1900-2605049/. 
  27. ↑ Ryan, Michael E. (2000-12-06). "Fur Fighters Review (PC)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fur-fighters-review/1900-2662026/. 
  28. ↑ Tracy, Tim (2001-06-22). "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/fur-fighters-viggos-revenge-review/1900-2779443/. 
  29. ↑ Mr. Domino (2000-08-07). "Fur Fighters". GameSpy Industries. http://planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/furfighters. 
  30. ↑ Alupului, Andrei (2001-06-28). "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge". GameSpy Industries. http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/2001/furfightersviggosrevenge/. 
  31. ↑ Justice, Brandon (2000-06-23). "Fur Fighters (DC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/24/fur-fighters-2. 
  32. ↑ Steinberg, Scott (2000-11-29). "Fur Fighters (PC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/11/30/fur-fighters. 
  33. ↑ Smith, David (2001-06-04). "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/06/04/fur-fighters-viggos-revenge. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Kenyon, Garrett (August 2000). "Fur Fighters (DC)". NextGen (Imagine Media) (68): 90. https://archive.org/details/NextGen68Aug2000/page/n91/mode/2up. Retrieved 2024-04-04. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Erickson, Daniel (August 2001). "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge". NextGen (Imagine Media) (80): 82. https://archive.org/details/NextGen80Aug2001/page/n83/mode/2up. Retrieved 2024-04-04. 
  36. ↑ Baker, Chris (July 2001). "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (46): 100. https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-46-july-2001/page/100/mode/2up. Retrieved 2024-04-05. 
  37. ↑ Nichols, Scott (2012-07-23). "Mobile review round-up: Fur Fighters, Fieldrunners 2, Party Wave". Hearst Communications. https://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/review/a394670/mobile-review-round-up-fur-fighters-fieldrunners-2-party-wave/. 
  38. ↑ Jake The Snake (September 2001). "Fur Fighters (DC)". GamePro (IDG) (144): 104. https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e4/GamePro_US_144.pdf. Retrieved 2024-04-05. 
  39. ↑ Iron Thumbs (2000-07-12). "Fur Fighters Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG). http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/6090.shtml. Retrieved 2024-04-05. 
  40. ↑ Snackdawg (2001-07-05). "Fur Fighters: Viggo's Revenge Review - PlayStation 2". http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r18582.htm. 
  • 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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