Software:Helldivers

From HandWiki
Helldivers
Developer(s)Arrowhead Game Studios
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s)Johan Pilestedt
Designer(s)
  • Johan Pilestedt
  • Patrik Lasota
Programmer(s)
  • Anton Stenmark
  • Mikael Bauer
  • Linus Nilsson
  • Mikael Berglund
Artist(s)
  • Calle Schytt-Winberg
  • Jim Svanberg
  • Niklas Malmborg
  • Therese Jansson
  • Oskar Kuijken
  • Lucas Örström
Composer(s)Johan Lindgren
EngineBitsquid
Platform(s)PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Windows
Release
  • NA: 3 March 2015[2]
  • EU: 4 March 2015 (PS4)[1]
  • EU: 8 July 2015 (PS Vita)
Super-Earth Ultimate Edition (PS4)
  • NA: 18 August 2015
  • AU: 26 August 2015
  • EU: 28 August 2015
Windows
7 December 2015[3]
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Helldivers is a top-down shooter game developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game was released for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita (with cross-play) in March 2015.[4] A version for Microsoft Windows was also released via Steam on 7 December 2015, making it the first game Sony published for Windows.

Helldivers features both couch and online co-op, up to four players. The game takes inspiration from military science fiction such as Aliens and Starship Troopers. While solo play is possible, it is often beneficial to play cooperatively, as this allows the players distribute the requirements effectively. This comes with its own risks, however, most notably friendly fire.

Helldivers received positive reviews from critics. A sequel, Helldivers 2, was announced in May 2023 and is scheduled to release on 8 February 2024.

Gameplay

In Helldivers, the player needs to coordinate their actions during chaotic combat in order to complete objectives and to avoid friendly-fire casualties.[5] The game pits the player against three different enemy species and tasks them with ensuring the survival of Super Earth. Gameplay takes place on procedurally-generated missions where players must accomplish a series of objectives. At the start of each mission, the player can choose their loadouts and deployment positions, as well as using the game's unique stratagem mechanic to assist additional options to best suit the map or the player's preferred playstyle. For example, the player may choose stratagems that focus on providing additional firepower or mobility, or give themselves supportive abilities like calling in an airstrike on parts of the map.

The game features a single difficulty option, though the player can then choose a hard or easy planet for their missions. This had changed over the course of development.

In each mission, the player must fight or sneak through enemy-controlled territory to complete the given objectives, then escape via a dropship. It is possible to fail some of the given objectives without immediately losing. It often benefits the player to avoid direct combat if possible, as the enemy has infinite reinforcements, and there are no in-game rewards for simply killing enemies.

The game keeps many of the mechanics common to the genre, like Fog of War and a map that shows any enemies the player(s) can currently see. The enemy will patrol their territory, impeding the player's attempt to complete the given objectives. Enemy units that come in contact with the player(s) will try to raise an alarm, which will result in continuous waves of enemy reinforcements for as long as the alarm remains active. The player can prevent an alarm by avoiding enemy patrols if possible, and can cancel one by defeating all units currently aware of the player or by fleeing the area.

Once all mission objectives are successfully completed or failed, the player is then required to call in a dropship and escape with all their remaining units. This takes 90 seconds and draws enemy attention to the landing zone, resulting in heavy fighting. Entering the dropship completes the mission.

Multiplayer

As with Arrowhead Game Studios's previous title Magicka friendly fire, the ability to harm teammates, is always on, and there is no way to disable the feature. This includes the players' personal weapons as well as other, less direct sources such as air support and deployed turrets. Supply drops or vehicle deployments can also crush allies. This requires the players to carefully plan their actions during the game's many chaotic combat sequences, or take preventive measures to mitigate these risks, such as upgrading turrets to stop shooting when players units enter the line of fire or choosing weapons that fire over allies.

There are tangible benefits to multiplayer, however, as teammates can help a downed unit recover, as well as provide healing or ammunition. Several heavy weapons come with a backpack that allows a second player to help reload, and some resources can be pooled for the group to access. In online play, it is even possible to allow random players to join a mission in progress, though this feature can be turned off if desired.

Plot

The dystopian universe of Helldivers has mankind ruled by a 'managed democracy',[citation needed] an improvement of contemporary democracy where the outcome of elections are more predictable. The improved democracy has become more than a way of electing a government, it has become a creed by which the brainwashed inhabitants of Super Earth fight for - without fully acknowledging what it means.

Super Earth, the fictional futuristic Earth is beset on all sides by three hostile enemy races (the Bugs, the Cyborgs and the Illuminates) that, according to the government, in one way or another needs to be subdued. And while the Helldivers are a pure combat unit, they are often tasked with retrieving technology, activating oil-pumps or other activity that is deemed important by the government to preserve freedom and the Earth 'way of life'.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PC) 83/100[6]
(PS4) 81/100[7]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid(PS4) 9/10[8]
EGM(PS4) 7/10[9]
Famitsu31/40[10]
Game Informer(PS4) 8.5/10[11]
GameSpot(PS4) 8/10[12]
GameZone(PS4) 9.5/10[13]
Hardcore Gamer(PS4) 3.5/5[14]
IGN(PS4) 9/10[15]
OPM (UK)(PS4) 8/10[16]
Push Square(PS4) StarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[17]
Shacknews(PS4) 8/10[18]
VentureBeat(PS4) 75/100[19]
The Digital Fix(PS4) 7/10[20]
Metro8/10[21]

The game received "generally favorable reviews" on PlayStation 4 and PC, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6][7] In Japan, where the game was ported for release on March 5, 2015, Famitsu gave it a score of two eights, one seven, and one eight for a total of 31 out of 40.[10]

IGN played the demo version of Helldivers at the 2013 Gamescom, and reviewed the demo positively.[22] Game Informer also gave the demo a positive rating, commenting that it "isn't easy, but this throwback to classic top down shooters is still a good time."[23]

GameSpot's reviewer Cameron Woolsey noted that the PlayStation 4 version has "fantastic cooperative action" but "missions and story are lacking."[12] IGN said of the same PS4 version, "Brutal, focused, and mechanically rich, Helldivers is one of the best co-op action experiences you can have."[15]

In a review-based web series Previously Recorded, Rich Evans described the game as "stratem-up":

At face value one when I saw the video for this, it looked like it was just a twin stick shooter. I expected something extremely dumb but kind of fun, and what you get is kind of a lot deeper. I thought it was going to be a shoot'em-up, it's more of a strategy based-... It's a, it's a stratem-up! A "strate-shmup". Because it's not just shoot at things and dodge bullets, there's more to it than that.[24]

Helldivers was nominated for "Action Game of the Year" and won for "Handheld Game of the Year" at the 19th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards held by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.[25]

Sequel

Main article: Software:Helldivers 2

In May 2023, Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment announced a sequel titled Helldivers 2. Unlike the first game, the sequel is no longer a top-down shooter, but instead is a third-person shooter. The game is scheduled to release for PlayStation 5 and Windows on 8 February 2024.[26]

References

  1. ↑ Hedström, Malin (February 13, 2015). "War declared! Helldivers do battle on PS4, PS3 and PS Vita next month". Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/archive/2015/02/13/war-declared-helldivers-battle-ps4-ps3-ps-vita-next-month/. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  2. ↑ Hedström, Malin (February 13, 2015). "Prepare for War: Helldivers Launches March 3rd". Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2015/02/13/prepare-for-war-helldivers-launches-march-3rd/. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  3. ↑ Matulef, Jeffery (November 6, 2015). "Helldivers is coming to Steam next month". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/helldivers-is-coming-to-steam-next-month. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  4. ↑ Farokhmanesh, Megan (August 20, 2013). "Magicka devs launching Helldivers for PS3, PS4, PS Vita and PC". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2013/8/20/4640764/magicka-devs-launching-helldivers-for-ps3-ps4-and-ps-vita. Retrieved January 26, 2014. 
  5. ↑ Cook, Dave (August 20, 2013). "Helldivers coming to PS3, PS4 and PS Vita, with cross-play over all formats". Gamer Network. https://www.vg247.com/helldivers-coming-to-ps3-ps4-and-ps-vita-with-cross-play-over-all-formats. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Helldivers for PC Reviews". Red Ventures. https://www.metacritic.com/game/helldivers/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved February 27, 2016. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Helldivers for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Red Ventures. https://www.metacritic.com/game/helldivers/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4. Retrieved February 27, 2016. 
  8. ↑ Zimmerman, Conrad (March 3, 2015). "Review: Helldivers (PS4)". Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-helldivers/. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  9. ↑ Carsillo, Ray (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers review (PS4)". EGMNow (EGM Media, LLC). Archived from the original on May 16, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190516110952/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/helldivers-review/. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Romano, Sal (March 23, 2015). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1373". https://www.gematsu.com/2015/03/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1373. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  11. ↑ Marchiafava, Jeff (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers Review (PS4)". Game Informer (GameStop). https://www.gameinformer.com/games/helldivers/b/playstation4/archive/2015/03/03/helldivers-review-game-informer.aspx. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Woolsey, Cameron (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers Review (PS4) [date mislabeled as "March 9, 2015""]. Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/helldivers-review/1900-6416044/. Retrieved March 3, 2015. 
  13. ↑ Splechta, Mike (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers Review (PS4)". Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150306033129/https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/helldivers-review-jsn7/. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  14. ↑ Whittaker, Matt (March 25, 2015). "Review: Helldivers (PS4)". https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-helldivers/141012/. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Ingenito, Vince (March 13, 2015). "Helldivers Review (PS4)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/14/helldivers-review. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  16. ↑ "Helldivers (PS4)". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK (Future plc): 94. May 2015. 
  17. ↑ Ramsey, Robert (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers Review (PS4)". Gamer Network. https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/helldivers. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  18. ↑ Perez, Daniel (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers Review: To Hell and Back (PS4)". Gamerhub. https://www.shacknews.com/article/88386/helldivers-review-to-hell-and-back. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  19. ↑ Appleton, Rory (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers is a challenging arcade-style bloodbath set in a boring universe". https://venturebeat.com/games/helldivers-is-a-challenging-arcade-style-bloodbath-set-in-a-boring-universe/. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  20. ↑ Smith, Edward (March 13, 2015). "Helldivers (PS4)". Poisonous Monkey. Archived from the original on March 15, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150315063808/http://gaming.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/2866/helldivers.html. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  21. ↑ Jenkins, David (March 3, 2015). "Helldivers review – I lost my heart to a Starship Trooper". Metro (DMG Media). https://metro.co.uk/2015/03/03/helldivers-review-i-lost-my-heart-to-a-starship-trooper-5086810/. Retrieved September 10, 2022. 
  22. ↑ Moriarty, Colin (August 24, 2013). "Gamescom: In Helldivers, You Probably Won't Survive". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/24/gamescom-in-helldivers-you-probably-wont-survive. Retrieved January 26, 2014. 
  23. ↑ Reeves, Ben (August 24, 2013). "Helldivers (Preview)". Game Informer (GameStop). http://www.gameinformer.com/games/helldivers/b/playstation4/archive/2013/08/24/zapping-alien-bugs-in-arrowhead-studios-helldivers.aspx. Retrieved January 26, 2014. 
  24. ↑ "'Previously Recorded' Helldivers (TV Episode 2016)". January 20, 2016. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5357164/. Retrieved December 6, 2017. 
  25. ↑ "Academy Membership Honors 19th D.I.C.E. Awards Winners". February 18, 2016. https://www.interactive.org/images/press_release/19th-DICE-Awards-Winners-Release-FINAL-2-18-16.pdf. Retrieved February 24, 2016. 
  26. ↑ Stedman, Alex (September 14, 2023). "Helldivers 2 Gets a 2024 Release Date and New Look at Gameplay". https://www.ign.com/articles/helldivers-2-gets-a-2024-release-date-and-new-look-at-gameplay. 
  • 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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