Software:Group S Challenge

From HandWiki
Short description: 2003 video game
Group S Challenge
North American Xbox cover art featuring the 1996 RUF CTR2 (foreground) and the 1999 Mazda RX-7 (background)
Developer(s)DigitalStudio
Publisher(s)Capcom
Director(s)Masaya Ishizuka
Producer(s)Tatsuya Minami
Koji Nakajima
Designer(s)Ryutaro Ichikura
Composer(s)
  • Takeshi Yanagawa
  • Motohiro Kawashima
Platform(s)Xbox
Release
  • JP: August 28, 2003
  • EU: September 26, 2003
  • NA: November 11, 2003
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Group S Challenge, known in Japan as Circus Drive (サーカスドライブ, Sākasu Doraibu), is a 2003 racing video game developed by DigitalStudio and published by Capcom for the Xbox. It features fully licensed cars, including from Ford, Chevrolet, and Ruf.

Arcade mode

Group S Challenge features four styles in arcade mode: Single Player, Two Player Versus, One Make and Time Attack.

Single Player allows the player to race against AI (artificial intelligence) drivers. In Two Player Versus, two players race on a split screen. One Make measures who possesses the best driving ability, with the player choosing one car model for all vehicles in the race, including the player's own. In Time Attack, the player focuses on trying to post the fastest lap-time.

Circuit mode

Group S Challenge also offers a career mode. Unlike many games featuring a career mode, Group S Challenge contains no cutscenes and lacks a developing story. Instead, the game offers three different racing types: Championship, Line and Dual.

In Championship, the player races to unlock different classes of cars and earns money for upgrades or a new car. Championship has four different "classes" or "tiers", for cars, with higher tiers offering faster cars. Group C is the lowest tier containing the slowest car. Groups B and A contain progressively faster rides. Group S is the top class and it contains supercars and hypercars. A car from a slower group is allowed in a higher class race, but faster cars cannot enter a lower class race. The player can earn money by driving in the racing line on the track during Line mode. Dual mode allows the player to unlock special cars that cannot be bought. In order to acquire one of these cars, the player must race and win against it in three different cars that the player already owns.

Tracks

Three different race courses appear with six variations per course: Part A, Part B, Full Track, Part A Reverse, Part B Reverse, and Full Track Reverse. The three different race tracks are Monaco in Europe, Surfers Paradise in Australia and Shibuya in Japan.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic57/100[1]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge5/10[2]
EGM5.33/10[3]
Famitsu28/40[4]
Game Informer6.75/10[5]
GameProStarStarStarStar[6]
GameSpot6.2/10[7]
GameSpyStarStar[8]
GameZone7.7/10[9]
OXM (US)7.8/10[10]
TeamXbox5.6/10[11]

The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[1] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40.[4] Many reviewers gave it positive to mixed reviews a few months before its U.S. release date.[2][3][5][6][8][10][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Group S Challenge for Xbox Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/group-s-challenge/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved August 26, 2019. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Edge staff (October 2003). "Group S Challenge". Edge (Future plc) (128): 101. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sewart, Greg; Linn, Demian; Chou, Che (September 2003). "Group S Challenge". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (170): 116. Archived from the original on January 1, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040101161107/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,4364,1301887,00.asp. Retrieved August 26, 2019. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "CIRCUS DRIVE （サーカス ドライブ） [Xbox"] (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=10098&redirect=no. Retrieved August 26, 2019. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kato, Matthew (September 2003). "Group S Challenge". Game Informer (GameStop) (125): 121. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200309/R03.0821.1044.39547.htm. Retrieved August 26, 2019. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Pong Sifu (October 1, 2003). "Group S Challenge Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050208022102/http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/reviews/30109.shtml. Retrieved August 26, 2019. 
  7. ↑ MacDonald, Ryan (December 17, 2003). "Group S Challenge Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/group-s-challenge-review/1900-6085817/. Retrieved August 26, 2019. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Meston, Zach (October 11, 2003). "GameSpy: Group S Challenge". IGN Entertainment. http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/group-s-challenge/6252p1.html. Retrieved August 26, 2019. 
  9. ↑ Aceinet (December 2, 2003). "Group S Challenge - XB - Review". Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090525054705/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r21443.htm. Retrieved August 26, 2019. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Group S Challenge". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US): 84. September 2003. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Soboleski, Brent (September 30, 2003). "Group S Challenge Review (Xbox)". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 8, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101208191521/http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/583/Group-S-Challenge/p1/. Retrieved August 26, 2019. 
  • 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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