Software:Grand Slam Bridge II

From HandWiki
Short description: 1992 video game
Grand Slam Bridge II
Developer(s)Presage Software (Windows)[1]
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts[2]
Platform(s)DOS[3]
Windows[4]
Release1992

Grand Slam Bridge II is a 1992 video game developed by American[5] studio Presage Software. The game is an update to the 1986 game Grand Slam Bridge.[6]

Gameplay

Grand Slam Bridge II modernizes a classic card game by layering features atop its original 1986 predecessor. The gameplay remains centered on traditional bridge bidding and card play, bolstered by a suite of customization tools and visual options. Players can toggle between minimalist newspaper-style symbolic card displays and full 3D table graphics, with memory limitations occasionally forcing a return to the simpler interface. With options for customization, the player can engineer ideal hands through an editor, configure deal dynamics, or draw from Mike Lawrence's bundled Bridge Dealer, which specializes in nuanced tournament scenarios. Bidding mechanics are detailed, allowing players to experiment with strategies like cue bids, Jacoby transfers, and even a "gambling three-no-trump," while aggressiveness levels can be fine-tuned per team. The core gameplay offers visuals, swift card handling, and features like move suggestions and an undo function. Audio support adds shuffling and dealing sounds. For beginners, a "double dummy" mode lets the player view all hands in play, transforming practice into guided learning.[6]

Development

The game was developed by Presage Software, a company founded in 1986.[5]

Reception

Reception
Review score
PublicationScore
PC Joker60%[7]

Computer Gaming World said "Despite the improved graphics and music, GSB2 should be considered an evolutionary rather than revolutionary product. It plays better than its predecessor, but still ignores the dummy and most attitude signals".[8]

Compute! said "If you like bridge, you'll definitely want to get one of these games. Even if you prefer to play with real people, these games will help keep you in practice".[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Presage Products - Grand Slam Bridge II". Archived from the original on June 14, 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/19970614014831/http://www.presage.com/pGSBridge.html. Retrieved January 31, 2025. 
  2. ↑ "It's not like playing with Omar". October 31, 1994. p. 26. Archived from the original on May 24, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250524025925/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent/163541467/. Retrieved May 24, 2025. 
  3. ↑ Chase, Randy (September 7, 1994). "Computers jazz up an old favorite". p. 31. Archived from the original on May 24, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250524164434/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregonian/163541719/. Retrieved May 24, 2025. 
  4. ↑ "Grand Slam Bridge II" (in pl). February 1995. p. 27. https://archive.org/details/secretservicemagazine-1995-02/page/n25/mode/2up. Retrieved January 31, 2025. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Overview". Archived from the original on June 14, 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/19970614015351/http://www.presage.com/overview.html. Retrieved November 26, 2024. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Grand Slam Bridge II". 1992. p. 539,540. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_18wFKrkDdM0C/page/538/mode/2up. Retrieved January 31, 2025. 
  7. ↑ "Grand Slam Bridge II" (in de). April 1995. Archived from the original on January 20, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250120235147/https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=11990. Retrieved January 31, 2025. 
  8. ↑ "Grand Slam Bridge II". March 1993. p. 44. Archived from the original on May 11, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130511184302/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_104.pdf. Retrieved January 31, 2025. 
  9. ↑ Leineker, Richard (December 1993). "Grand Slam Bridge II". p. 170. https://archive.org/details/1993-12-compute-magazine/page/n169/mode/2up. Retrieved January 31, 2025. 
  • Grand Slam Bridge II can be played for free in the browser at the Internet Archive
  • 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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