Software:Hearts of Iron

From HandWiki
Short description: 2002 video game
Hearts of Iron
Developer(s)Paradox Development Studio
Publisher(s)Microsoft Windows
Mac OS X
Producer(s)Johan Andersson
Designer(s)Henrik Fåhraeus
Joakim Bergqwist
Johan Andersson
Programmer(s)Johan Andersson
Henrik Fåhraeus
Patric Backlund
Artist(s)Dick Sjöström
Stefan Thulin
Marcus Edström
SeriesHearts of Iron
EngineEuropa Engine
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
ReleaseWindows
  • NA: 27 November 2002[1]
  • EU: 28 February 2003
Mac OS X
Hearts of Iron: Platinum
  • NA: 21 September 2004
Genre(s)Grand strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Release timeline
2002Hearts of Iron
2003
2004
2005Hearts of Iron II
2006
2007
2008
2009Hearts of Iron III
2010Arsenal of Democracy: A Hearts of Iron Game
2011Software:Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016Hearts of Iron IV

Hearts of Iron is a 2002 grand strategy video game developed by Paradox Development Studio and originally published by Strategy First for Microsoft Windows. A Mac OS X version was released by Virtual Programming the following year. In 2004, Atari SA published Hearts of Iron: Platinum, an updated version that sought to improve several aspects of the game.

Hearts of Iron allows the player to take control of a nation in the world and guide it through World War II and the years immediately before and after it. Hearts of Iron is the first game in the eponymous series of grand strategy wargames. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, Hearts of Iron was followed by three additional games: Hearts of Iron II, Hearts of Iron III, and Hearts of Iron IV.

Gameplay

Players play as a nation in the world in the years leading up to, during, and immediately after World War II. There are three main alliances in the game: the Allies, the Axis, and the Comintern. Nations in the game can attempt to join these alliances. Players can also control their nation's economy, government, and military. The game ends when there is only one alliance left or when the end date is reached; the winning alliance is determined through a victory point system, with points being given to alliances that control key regions or cities.[4]

Sequels

A sequel to Hearts of Iron, Hearts of Iron II, was released in 2005. Two spin-offs were created for Hearts of Iron II: Software:Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game and Arsenal of Democracy. The third game in the series, Hearts of Iron III was released on 7 August 2009. Hearts of Iron – The Card Game was released as a free-to-play, browser-based collectible card game on 3 October 2011.[5] East vs. West – A Hearts of Iron Game was scheduled to release in 2014, but was canceled. Hearts of Iron IV, the fourth main installment in the series, was released on 6 June 2016.

Reception

Hearts of Iron
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic72/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGWStarStarStarHalf star[7]
Eurogamer6/10[8]
GameSpot7/10[9]
GameZone7.5/10[10]
IGN8.5/10[4]
PC Format76%[11]
PC Gamer (US)90%[12]
PC Zone85%[13]

The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6] Tom Chick of Computer Games Magazine summarized Hearts of Iron as "an ambitious mess, a noble mess, certainly a well-intentioned mess, but ultimately a mess nonetheless".[14]

Hearts of Iron: Platinum

Hearts of Iron: Platinum
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic78/100[15]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpyStarStarStarStar[16]
GameZone8.6/10[17]

Hearts of Iron: Platinum was released in 2004 with the intention of improving several elements of the original game.[18] According to Metacritic, Hearts of Iron: Platinum received slightly more favorable reviews than the original Hearts of Iron.[15]

Ban in China

The game was banned in the People's Republic of China because of the game's depiction of Taiwan under Japanese control and Tibet, Sinkiang, and Manchuria as independent nations. In the time period depicted in the game, Manchuria was a Japanese puppet state, Taiwan was under Japanese control, Sinkiang was partially under Soviet rule and other parts were part of the First and Second East Turkestan Republics, while Tibet was a de facto independent nation. China recognises all as provinces of the nation, and refuses to allow recognition of history outside the Communist takeover in 1949.[19][20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dubin, Jayson (2012-05-04). "Hearts of Iron Ships to Retail Stores Nationwide" (in en-US). https://www.gamezone.com/news/hearts_of_iron_ships_to_retail_stores_nationwide/. 
  2. ↑ "MacPlay". 2005-04-10. http://www.macplay.com/press/pr-heartnmind.php. 
  3. ↑ "VP Ltd ships MindRover, Hearts of Iron, Player Manager" (in en). https://www.macworld.com/article/168219/virtual-5.html. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bates, Jason (December 10, 2002). "Hearts of Iron Review". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/10/hearts-of-iron-review. 
  5. ↑ "Hearts of Iron – The Card Game". Paradox Interactive. http://www.paradoxplaza.com/games/hearts-of-iron-the-card-game. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Hearts of Iron for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/hearts-of-iron/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  7. ↑ Luo, Di (February 2003). "Hearts of Iron". Computer Gaming World (223): 94. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_223.pdf. Retrieved December 3, 2017. 
  8. ↑ Ellis, Keith "DNM" (February 20, 2003). "Hearts of Iron". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_heartsofiron_pc. 
  9. ↑ Osborne, Scott (November 26, 2002). "Hearts of Iron Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hearts-of-iron-review/1900-2898495/. 
  10. ↑ Schutz, Jake (December 15, 2002). "Hearts of Iron – PC – Review". http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/hearts_of_iron_pc_review. 
  11. ↑ Ricketts, Ed (March 2003). "Hearts of Iron". PC Format (146). http://www.pcformat.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=16198&subsectionid=680&subsubsectionid=0. 
  12. ↑ Peckham, Matthew (February 2003). "Hearts of Iron". PC Gamer: 74. http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/hearts_of_iron.html. 
  13. ↑ Emery, Daniel (February 11, 2003). "PC Review: Hearts of Iron". http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=87005. 
  14. ↑ Chick, Tom (March 2003). "Hearts of Iron". Computer Games Magazine (148): 78. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Hearts of Iron: Platinum for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/hearts-of-iron-platinum/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  16. ↑ Tsotsos, Alex (November 26, 2004). "GameSpy: Hearts of Iron – Platinum". http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/hearts-of-iron-platinum/568123p1.html. 
  17. ↑ Knutson, Michael (September 13, 2004). "Hearts of Iron Platinum – PC – Review". http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/hearts_of_iron_platinum_pc_review. 
  18. ↑ Golze, Benjamin (July 23, 2004). "Hearts of Iron gets Platinum edition". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hearts-of-iron-gets-platinum-edition/1100-6103237/. 
  19. ↑ "Swedish video game banned for harming China's sovereignty". China Daily. May 29, 2004. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-05/29/content_334845.htm. 
  20. ↑ "No cults, no politics, no ghouls: how China censors the video game world" (in en). 2021-07-15. http://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/15/china-video-game-censorship-tencent-netease-blizzard. 

Further reading

  • Official series website
  • 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.



  • 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.



Warning: Default sort key "Hearts Of Iron 01" overrides earlier default sort key "Mobygames".



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