Software:Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved

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Short description: 2003 video game

Geometry Wars
Developer(s)Bizarre Creations
Publisher(s)Microsoft Game Studios
Designer(s)Stephen Cakebread
Composer(s)Chris Chudley
SeriesGeometry Wars
Platform(s)
Release
  • Xbox
  • November 17, 2003
  • Xbox 360
    • NA: November 22, 2005
    • EU: December 2, 2005
    • AU: March 23, 2006
  • Windows
  • March 7, 2007
Genre(s)Multidirectional shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Geometry Wars is a 2003 video game by Bizarre Creations. Initially a minigame in Project Gotham Racing 2, an updated version, titled Retro Evolved, was eventually released for the Xbox 360. That version, holds the record for the most downloaded Xbox Live Arcade Game.[1]

Retro Evolved was later included in the 2007 game Software:Geometry Wars: Galaxies, the first game in the series to be released for non-Microsoft platforms.

Gameplay

The object of Geometry Wars is to survive as long as possible and score as many points as possible by destroying an ever-increasing swarm of enemies. The game takes place on a rectangular playfield and the player controls a claw-shaped "ship" that can move in any direction using the left thumbstick, and can fire in any direction independently using the right thumbstick. The player also has a limited number of bombs that can be detonated and destroy all enemies on the playfield. As the game progresses, the player can earn extra lives and additional bombs at set score increments, and the primary weapon changes at regular intervals (10,000 points). Also, enemies spawn in progressively larger quantities and at greater frequency as the game progresses. If an enemy touches the player's ship, the ship explodes and a life is lost, plus the multiplier worked up by how many enemies are killed in one life is also lost. The game is over when the player runs out of lives.

The Evolved version of the game takes place on a playfield that is slightly larger than the display area of the TV screen, and the camera follows the player's movements. A background grid pattern adds to the graphical effects by warping in reaction to player shots and the behavior of certain enemies. This version introduces new enemies and a score multiplier that increases as the player destroys enemies without losing a life.

Development

The game initially started out as a way for the team at Bizarre Creations to test out the Xbox controller while making Project Gotham Racing.[2] The team included the game as an extra in the sequel not expecting very much. When the creators realized how popular the game was they decided to work on a stand-alone game for the 360's Live Arcade.[2] For the standalone version, which eventually grew to become Retro Evolved, creator Stephen Cakebread initially wanted to make the game have a more linear structure where the players would progress through levels.[2] However, Cakebread soon became aware of the game Mutant Storm and realized that a level-based structure would make Retro Evolved almost identical and thus decided to drop it.[2]

The soundtrack was composed by Chris Chudley from Audioantics who created the music for all of the series up until Dimensions.[3]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCXbox 360
4PlayersN/A90%[6]
Eurogamer7/10[7]9/10[8]
GameSpotN/A8.2/10[9]
IGNN/A8/10[10]
Jeuxvideo.comN/A14/20[11]
OXM (US)N/A8.5/10[12]
PALGNN/A8.5/10[13]
PC Gamer (UK)75%[14]N/A
TeamXboxN/A8.2/10[16]
411ManiaN/A9/10[17]
Detroit Free PressN/AStarStarStarStar[18]
Aggregate score
Metacritic76/100[4]86/100[5]

Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved received "generally favorable reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4][5]

GameSpot's Carrie Gouskos praised the Xbox 360 version's gameplay, graphics, controls, sound effects, and its low launch price (400 Microsoft Points or $5 USD).[9] Jeff Gerstmann criticized the PC version's gameplay being unsuitable for mouse and keyboard, lack of leaderboards, excluding the "Retro" mode featured in the Xbox 360 version, and having a higher launch price ($7.95 USD) on top of everything else.[19]

Sequels

The success of the game inspired multiple sequels: Software:Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 and Software:Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions, as well as a spin-off titled Software:Geometry Wars: Galaxies.

See also

  • GridWars, a freeware Geometry Wars clone for PC

References

  1. ↑ Carless, Simon (March 10, 2006). "Q&A: Microsoft Discuss Xbox 360 Live Stats". Informa. https://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=8474. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Welsh, Oli (November 14, 2008). "Geometry Wars: Retro Explained". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/geometry-wars-retro-explained-interview. 
  3. ↑ Chudley, Chris. "Audioantics News". http://www.audioantics.co.uk/news.html. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved for PC Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/geometry-wars-retro-evolved/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved for Xbox 360 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/geometry-wars-retro-evolved/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. 
  6. ↑ Schmädig, Benjamin (January 22, 2006). "Test: Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (X360)" (in de). 4Players GmbH. https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/360/Test/7847/4242/0/Geometry_Wars_Retro_Evolved.html. 
  7. ↑ Meer, Alec (June 28, 2007). "Best of Steam". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/best-of-steam-review. 
  8. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (September 19, 2006). "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/r-geowarsevolved-x360. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Gouskos, Carrie (November 22, 2005). "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved Review (X360) [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/geometry-wars-retro-evolved-review/1900-6140318/. 
  10. ↑ Miller, Jonathan (November 21, 2005). "Geometry Wars Retro Evolved". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/22/geometry-wars-retro-evolved. 
  11. ↑ hiro (February 20, 2006). "Test: Geometry Wars [Retro Evolved (360)"] (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00009077-geometry-wars-evolved-test.htm. 
  12. ↑ "Geomerty Wars: Retro Evolved". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US): 61. June 2006. 
  13. ↑ Jastrzab, Jeremy (July 25, 2007). "XBLA Geometry Wars [Retro Evolved Review"]. PAL Gaming Network. http://palgn.com.au/xbox-360/8252/xbla-geometry-wars-evolved-review/. 
  14. ↑ "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved". PC Gamer UK (Future plc): 72. May 2007. 
  15. ↑ Jones, Darren (February 2, 2006). "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved". Retro Gamer (Imagine Publishing) (21). 
  16. ↑ Semsey, Rob (December 2, 2005). "Geometry Wars [Retro Evolved Review (Xbox 360)"]. IGN Entertainment. http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1089/Geometry-Wars/p1/. 
  17. ↑ Bruno, Greg (March 2, 2007). "Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved (Xbox Live Arcade) Review". http://www.411mania.com/games/reviews/51275. 
  18. ↑ Huschka, Ryan (June 18, 2006). "Cheap fun for Xbox 360". Detroit Free Press (Gannett Company). http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060618/ENT06/606180558/1044. 
  19. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GSpot-PC
  • 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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