Software:Gods Will Be Watching

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Short description: 2014 video game
Gods Will Be Watching
Developer(s)Deconstructeam
Publisher(s)Devolver Digital
Director(s)Jordi de Paco
Designer(s)Jordi de Paco[1]
Programmer(s)Jordi de Paco
Artist(s)Jonathan Romero[1]
Writer(s)Jordi de Paco
Composer(s)Paula "Fingerspit" Ruiz[1]
EngineGameMaker: Studio
Platform(s)Windows, OS X, Linux, iOS, Android
ReleaseWindows, OS X, Linux
24 July 2014
iOS
17 December 2015
Android
TBA
Genre(s)Graphic adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Gods Will Be Watching is a point-and-click adventure video game created by Spain-based development studio Deconstructeam and published by Devolver Digital, released on 24 July 2014.[2] Described as a "point-and-click thriller", the game revolves around a core mechanic of resource and time management, in which the player is placed in various scenarios and tasked to avert a crisis.[3] The iOS port of Gods Will Be Watching was released on 17 December 2015.

Gameplay

Gods Will Be Watching is a point-and-click adventure game with emphasis on the player's decision making. It features six chapters, each of which acts as a resource and time management puzzle. The player's goal in each chapter is to lead a group of characters through various circumstances in a fixed amount of time, often having to make moral decisions. The player can click on the ground to move, and on other characters to speak with them and give them orders.[3] Options given to the player include, for example, choosing to kill a group member in order to reserve rations for the rest of the group.[4]

Plot

The game is set in a far future science fiction setting, playing in 2257 CFD (Constellar Federation Date), with the player assuming the role of an agent of the neutral organization known as Everdusk Company for the Universe Knowledge (E.C.U.K.), Sgt. Burden. The first chapter begins with Burden infiltrating the idealistic resistance movement known as Xenolifer, with his task being to aid in a hacking operation.[5]

Development

Gods Will Be Watching was originally developed as an entry for the Ludum Dare game jam #26, the theme being minimalism. The original version was created across a span of 72 hours and featured a single scenario, akin to a chapter in the final game. It ranked second place in the competition, losing to Leaf Me Alone by Mark Foster and David Fenn.[6]

After the development competition, Deconstructeam launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo for the development of a full game, with a goal of €8,000. The campaign ended on 15 August 2013, having raised €20,385, or $21,242 in U.S. dollars.[7] The game was released worldwide on 24 July 2014, for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux.

An epilogue was added to the game as a free download in May 2015.[8]

As the game was already announced for a release on iOS and Android, Abstraction Games took on the development of the game's mobile versions, where the Android release date is still to be announced.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic64/100[9]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid8.5/10[10]
Eurogamer5/10[5]
GameSpot6/10[11]
GameTrailers5/10[12]
GamezeboStarStarHalf star[13]
GameZone7/10[14]
IGN8/10[3]
JoystiqStarStarStarHalf star[15]
PC Gamer (UK)81%[16]
Shacknews7/10[17]
USgamer3/5[18]
The Digital Fix8/10[19]
Digital SpyStarStar[20]

The PC version received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[9] Critics praised it for its minimalist pixel art style, interesting story, and novel take on adventure games, but criticism was levied for its repetitiveness, tediousness, and excessive challenge.[4] The primary concern of reviewers was the trial and error nature of the gameplay and the lack of checkpoints, requiring multiple, time-consuming attempts at single scenarios.[4][12]

Rowan Kaiser of IGN praised the game's simplicity and tense story, calling it "a demonstration that even with the simplest of interfaces and old-fashioned graphics, new combinations of storytelling with gameplay are possible."[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Entrevista: Jordi de Paco, de Deconstructeam" (in es). 29 March 2014. https://www.anaitgames.com/entrevistas/entrevista-jordi-de-paco-de-deconstructeam. Retrieved 24 May 2018. 
  2. ↑ "Gods Will Be Watching". Valve. https://store.steampowered.com/app/274290/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Kaiser, Rowan (25 July 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/25/gods-will-be-watching-review. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Haulica, Radu (27 July 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching Review (PC)". SoftNews NET SRL. https://www.softpedia.com/reviews/games/pc/Gods-Will-Be-Watching-Review-452163.shtml. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Whitehead, Dan (28 July 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching review (PC)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/gods-will-be-watching-review. 
  6. ↑ "Ludum Dare 26: Top Entries - Overall(Jam)". http://ludumdare.com/compo/ludum-dare-26/?action=top&cat=Overall(Jam). 
  7. ↑ "Gods Will Be Watching". https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/gods-will-be-watching. 
  8. ↑ Sykes, Tom (30 May 2015). "Gods Will Be Watching adds free epilogue chapter". Future plc. https://www.pcgamer.com/gods-will-be-watching-adds-free-epilogue-chapter/. Retrieved 9 May 2016. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Gods Will Be Watching for PC Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/gods-will-be-watching/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  10. ↑ Duncan, Alasdair (1 August 2014). "Review: Gods Will Be Watching (PC)". Gamurs. https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-gods-will-be-watching/. 
  11. ↑ Woolsey, Cameron (28 July 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching Review (PC)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/gods-will-be-watching-review/1900-6415829/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Moore, Ben (4 August 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching - Review (PC)". Defy Media. http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/c8ksew/gods-will-be-watching-review. 
  13. ↑ Christiansen, Tom (26 July 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching Review - God Help You (PC)". https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/gods-will-be-watching-review-god-help-you/. 
  14. ↑ Donato, Joe (4 August 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching review: A true life simulator (PC)". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/gods-will-be-watching-review-a-true-life-simulator/. 
  15. ↑ Kietzmann, Ludwig (5 August 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching Review: Morality After Math (PC)". Yahoo. https://www.engadget.com/2014-08-05-gods-will-be-watching-review-morality-after-math.html. 
  16. ↑ Cobbett, Richard (24 July 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching review". Future plc. https://www.pcgamer.com/gods-will-be-watching-review/. 
  17. ↑ Wong, Steven (24 July 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching review: Uncaring gods looking down (PC)". https://www.shacknews.com/article/85482/gods-will-be-watching-review-uncaring-gods-looking-down. 
  18. ↑ Williams, Mike (31 July 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching PC Review: Horror is What You Do to Survive". Gamer Network. https://www.usgamer.net/articles/gods-will-be-watching-pc-review. 
  19. ↑ Harwood, Edd (20 August 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching (PC)". Poisonous Monkey. http://gaming.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/2531/gods-will-be-watching.html. 
  20. ↑ Nichols, Scott (24 July 2014). "Gods Will Be Watching review (PC): Forsaken by heaven". Hearst Communications. https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/a586141/gods-will-be-watching-review-pc-forsaken-by-heaven/. 

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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