Software:Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (video game)

From HandWiki
Short description: 2008 video game
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law
North American Wii version box art
Developer(s)High Voltage Software
Publisher(s)Capcom
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
ReleaseJanuary 8, 2008
Genre(s)Adventure, visual novel
Mode(s)Single-player

Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is a 2008 visual novel adventure game developed by High Voltage Software and published by Capcom for the Wii,[1] PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable. It was released on January 8, 2008.[2] The game is based on the animated television series of the same name, with collaboration of the show's writers and voice actors. The gameplay heavily borrows from Capcom's Ace Attorney series.[3][4]

Gameplay

A screenshot of the Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law game. Here, Harvey Birdman grills Blue Falcone in the court with an opportunity to ask him by either showing him items Harvey has or by making him answer more specifically based on his testimony.

Gameplay is based on that of Capcom's Ace Attorney series, with players collecting evidence from crime scenes and cross-examining witnesses during trials, but with Harvey Birdman humor and aesthetic. Each of the game's five cases features a hidden Street Fighter character cameo; finding each one will unlock one of five bonus videos featuring bloopers from the game and spotlights of running gags from the show.[3]

All of the show's voice cast reprise their roles for the video game, with the exception of Stephen Colbert;[5] actors Stephen Stanton and Crispin Freeman respectively voice Phil Ken Sebben and Myron Reducto in his stead.[6][7]

Plot

In the game's first case, "The Burning Question", Peter Potamus is accused of burning down half of Harvey Birdman's house. In the second case, "The Cleaning Crew", Magilla Gorilla and Secret Squirrel are accused of robbing Harvey's office. In the third case, "From Glamour to Slamour", Yakky Doodle's latest name change lands him in jail when the Nailgun name makes the authorities think that he's the criminal of the same name. Harvey comes to Yakky's defense, but winds up being jailed himself after it is discovered that his license has expired. In the fourth case, "Personal Piracy", Peanut is suspected of copying music controlled by the RIAA without permission. In the game's final case, "Two Birds, One Throne", Blue Falcon is put in charge during Phil's absence, and tricks Birdman into hiring prosecutors for his own "embezzling" trial.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS2PSPWii
Adventure GamersN/AN/AStarStarHalf star[8]
EGM5.83/10[9]N/A5.83/10[9]
EurogamerN/A5/10[10]N/A
Game InformerN/AN/A6/10[11]
GameProN/A3.75/5[12]N/A
GameRevolutionD−[13]D−[13]D−[13]
GameSpot6.5/10[14]6.5/10[14]6.5/10[14]
GameSpyStarStarStar[15]N/AStarStarStar[16]
GameTrailers6.5/10[17]N/A6.5/10[17]
GameZone7.1/10[18]N/A7.5/10[19]
IGN7.4/10[20]7.4/10[20]7/10[4]
Nintendo LifeN/AN/AStarStarStarStarStarStar[21]
Nintendo PowerN/AN/A6.5/10[22]
PSMStarStarStarStar[23]N/AN/A
The A.V. ClubC−[24]N/AN/A
The New York Times (unfavorable)[25](unfavorable)[25](unfavorable)[25]
Aggregate score
Metacritic63/100[26]62/100[27]60/100[28]

The game received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[26][27][28]

Maxim gave the game a score of three stars out of five and said that it was "actually funny, and unlike The Simpsons Game, it's actually fun to play. Game play is lifted straight out of Capcom's own Phoenix Wright series. [...] It's short enough that you can finish it in a couple of nights, but all the show's characters are in effect... along with their respective voice actors. Finally, the game's budget price (around $30) means there's no need to shout, 'I object!' when the game store clerk rings you up."[29]

However, The A.V. Club gave the PlayStation 2 version a C−, calling it "A decent rental, but not a wise investment."[24] The New York Times gave the game an unfavorable review, stating that the game design was "just plain bad".[25]

See also

  • Ace Attorney

References

  1. ↑ "Wii Takes the Case – Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Comes Home To Roost on the Latest Nintendo Video Game System". Capcom (Press release). September 4, 2007. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013.
  2. ↑ Bergfeld, Carlos (October 22, 2007). "Did You Get That Thing I Sent You? No, Not Until 2008 (Harvey Birdman Delayed)". http://www.shacknews.com/article/49560/did-you-get-that-thing. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bergfield, Carlos (July 20, 2007). "E3 07: Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law Preview". http://www.shacknews.com/article/48058/e3-07-harvey-birdman-attorney. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Miller, Greg (January 14, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Review (Wii)". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/14/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law-review. 
  5. ↑ "PS2 Review - 'Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law'". https://worthplaying.com/article/2008/2/13/reviews/48760/. 
  6. ↑ "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law // Random.access". http://randomacc.net/system/reviews/harvey_birdman.shtml. 
  7. ↑ "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law: The Video Game". https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Harvey-Birdman-Attorney-at-Law-The-Video-Game/. 
  8. ↑ Allin, Jack (February 25, 2008). "Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law review (Wii)". https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18141. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 EGM staff (February 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (PS2, Wii)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (225): 78. 
  10. ↑ Walker, John (February 27, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law (PSP)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law-review. 
  11. ↑ Juba, Joe (February 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (Wii)". Game Informer (GameStop) (178). http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/E12E37C1-5A00-4CE0-8E80-6B698499B986.htm. Retrieved February 24, 2017. 
  12. ↑ Balistrieri, Emily (April 2008). "Review: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (PSP)". GamePro (IDG Entertainment): 84. http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psp/games/reviews/166148.shtml. Retrieved February 24, 2017. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Morse, Blake (January 18, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Review". CraveOnline. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/39729-harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law-review. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Navarro, Alex (January 11, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law-review/1900-6184624/. 
  15. ↑ Villoria, Gerald (January 8, 2008). "GameSpy: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (PS2)". Ziff Davis. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law-/844299p1.html. 
  16. ↑ Villoria, Gerald (January 16, 2008). "GameSpy: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (Wii)". Ziff Davis. http://wii.gamespy.com/wii/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law-/846011p1.html. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Review (PS2, Wii)". Viacom. January 16, 2008. http://www.gametrailers.com/gamereview.php?id=5284. 
  18. ↑ Aceinet (January 21, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law - PS2 - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/harvey_birdman_attorney_at_law_ps2_review. 
  19. ↑ Platt, Dylan (January 30, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law - WII - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/harvey_birdman_attorney_at_law_wii_review. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Miller, Greg (January 8, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law Review (PS2, PSP)". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/01/08/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law-review-3. 
  21. ↑ Kaplan, Zach (July 31, 2010). "Review: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law". Gamer Network. http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/07/harvey_birdman_attorney_at_law_wii. 
  22. ↑ "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law". Nintendo Power (Future US) 224: 89. January 2008. 
  23. ↑ Dun, Teresa (January 2008). "Review: Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law (PS2)". PlayStation: The Official Magazine (Future US) (2): 81. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Wolinsky, David (February 25, 2008). "Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law (PS2)". The Onion. https://games.avclub.com/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law-1798213365. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 Herold, Charles (January 17, 2008). "In Mimicking Adult Swim Cartoon Series, Designers May Have Gone Too Far". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/technology/personaltech/17games.html?ex=1201237200&en=e3162c884650cdab&ei=5070&emc=eta1. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for PlayStation 2 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for PSP Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law/critic-reviews/?platform=psp. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for Wii Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law/critic-reviews/?platform=wii. 
  29. ↑ "Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law". Maxim (Biglari Holdings). 2008. 
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.




Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Harvey_Birdman:_Attorney_at_Law_(video_game)&oldid=792543"