Software:Hard Truck Apocalypse

From HandWiki
Short description: 2005 video game
Hard Truck: Apocalypse
Developer(s)Targem Games
Publisher(s)
SeriesHard Truck
Enginem3d engine
Platform(s)Windows
Release
  • EU: December 8, 2005
  • NA: June 19, 2006[1]
Genre(s)Vehicular combat, business simulation, post-apocalyptic science fiction
Mode(s)Single-player

Hard Truck: Apocalypse, known in Europe as Ex Machina,[2] is a vehicular combat post-apocalyptic science fiction video game developed by Russian game developer Targem Games. It is part of the Hard Truck series. It is a Privateer-like game based around vehicles instead of spaceships, set in a post-apocalyptic Europe. The player controls an armored truck and roams between settlements trading with locals, completing quests and fighting numerous enemies to upgrade the truck and acquire better weapons to progress through the main storyline.

Plot

Hard Truck Apocalypse is set in post-apocalyptic Europe, in which the main character sets out on a quest to avenge his father who was killed by raiders. The end of the world was brought about by nuclear war, as an effect of the radiation everyone wears masks. Throughout the game the player will choose which factions to oppose and which to support as he seeks to avenge his father's death. The player will travel across European countries in a variety of trucks whom he can upgrade with various parts and performance enhancing devices as well as many types of standard firearm weapons to high tech plasma, energy and explosive weapons.

The game also features several factions some of whom the player will be forced to support or oppose.

    Vagabonds - Raider faction.

    Adventurers - A group of self interest adventurers who seek excitement and treasure.

    Felix's gang - A small gang of raiders who the main character wrongly accused of murdering his father.

    North path traders - A trading faction.

    Technicians - Group of people who highly value any and all technology.

    Explorers - People who explore the post apocalyptic world for lost technology and locations.

    Children of Iron - Are a group of fanatics who worship technology and build their settlements from iron. A complete opposite from the Druids.

    Druids - A faction devoted to the worship of nature.

    Steel Giants - Raider faction.

    Farmer's Union - A union the main character's father was a part of.

    Nomads - Raider faction.

    Free Traders Alliance - A trading faction.

    Brigade - A faction who are centered around their trucks.

    Commonwealth of Independent Towns - The enemy of Crimson dawn with whom they are in war with.

    Crimson Dawn - The Enemy of Commonwealth of Independent Towns lead by a charismatic and tyrannical leader.

    Oracle's Disciples- A faction that serves the oracle.

[3][4]

Gameplay

Gameplay revolves around destroying enemies to get loot, selling it, and getting upgrades for truck or buying new vehicles. The game has four difficulties: Rookie, Experienced, Professional and Master.[5] There are many viable options for weapons, gadgets, vehicle parts, etc. The more the players upgrade own vehicle, the more expensive it gets, causing better and stronger enemies to spawn. Enemies will also damage the player's vehicle, and the players must repair it. There is an alternate storyline for added play-throughs.

There are main quests (marked with orange), and side quests (marked with magenta), which the players can get from NPCs in settlements to earn more cash. There is a trading system in the game, where the player can buy goods from one settlement and sell it to another, or loot enemies to get goods. Different settlements will have different prices for buying and selling.

Format

The players earn coins by trading, selling loot and performing jobs for NPCs. They can buy various weapons and gadgets, and can buy better vehicles. The players can use these purchases to defend against attacks from raiders.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic45/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGMStarStarHalf star[7]
Eurogamer4/10[8]
GameSpot4.4/10[9]
GameStar60%[10]
GameZone4.5/10[11]
IGN4/10[12]
PC Gamer (US)54%[13]
X-PlayStarStar[14]
The A.V. ClubC−[15]

The game received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic,[6] receiving an average of 45 out of 100 over 11 critical reviews.

Add-ons

Hard Truck Apocalypse: Rise of the Clans (Ex Machina: meridian 113)

Rise of the Clans is the official standalone expansion to Hard Truck Apocalypse, also developed by Targem Games. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of North America. The player controls a vagrant who is searching for the mythical city of Edmonton.

The game reuses a lot of material from Hard Truck Apocalypse; most of the vehicles, weapons, and enemies are the same, but there are four brand new zones and a whole new storyline.

Crossout

The universe of Hard Truck Apocalypse expanded with its spiritual heir, post-apocalyptic free-to-play MMO-action game Crossout, also developed by Targem Games in cooperation with Gaijin Entertainment.

Crossout is set in 2047 after a mysterious viral epidemic known as the 'Crossout' which has laid waste to most of the population on Earth. The road warriors that survived must now battle for precious resources using deadly vehicles crafted from millions of possible permutations (body shape, armor, weapons, support systems and cosmetic enhancements).[16]

Crossout is available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

References

  1. ↑ "Hard Trucks Got Themselves a Convoy". Ziff Davis. June 19, 2006. https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/06/19/hard-trucks-got-themselves-a-convoy. 
  2. ↑ "Hard Truck Apocalypse / Ex Machina on Steam" (in en). https://store.steampowered.com/app/285500/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse__Ex_Machina/. 
  3. ↑ "Hard Truck: Apocalypse (Game)" (in en). https://www.giantbomb.com/hard-truck-apocalypse/3030-22923/. 
  4. ↑ "Hard truck Apocalypse | RPG Jeuxvidéo ⚔️" (in fr-FR). 2006-07-16. https://www.rpgjeuxvideo.com/test/hard-truck-apocalypse/. 
  5. ↑ Alesta (2024-12-04). Hard Truck: Apocalypse (2005) FULL GAME No Commentary. Retrieved 2025-09-18 – via YouTube.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Hard Truck: Apocalypse for PC Reviews". Red Ventures. https://www.metacritic.com/game/hard-truck-apocalypse/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  7. ↑ "Review: Hard Truck Apocalypse". Computer Games Magazine (theGlobe.com) (191): 68. October 2006. 
  8. ↑ Allen, Darren (July 7, 2006). "Hard Truck: Apocalypse". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/ss-hardtruckapoc-pc. 
  9. ↑ Mueller, Greg (July 5, 2006). "Hard Truck: Apocalypse Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hard-truck-apocalypse-review/1900-6153535/. 
  10. ↑ "Hard Truck Apocalypse" (in de). GameStar (Webedia). February 2007. 
  11. ↑ Hopper, Steven (July 14, 2006). "Hard Truck: Apocalypse - PC - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/hard-truck-apocalypse-pc-review/. 
  12. ↑ McNamara, Tom (July 18, 2006). "Hard Truck Apocalypse". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/07/18/hard-truck-apocalypse. 
  13. ↑ "Hard Truck Apocalypse". PC Gamer 13 (10): 108. October 2006. 
  14. ↑ Stevens, Tim (August 29, 2006). "Hard Truck: Apocalypse". G4TV. http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1232/Hard_Truck_Apocalypse.html. 
  15. ↑ Dahlen, Chris (August 2, 2006). "Hard Truck: Apocalypse". G/O Media. https://www.avclub.com/hard-truck-apocalypse-1798209606. 
  16. ↑ "Get early access on PlayStation today!". May 16, 2017. https://crossout.net/en/news/165/current/. 

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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari




Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Hard_Truck_Apocalypse&oldid=4142017"