Software:Hero X

From HandWiki
Short description: 2002 video game
Hero X
Developer(s)Amazing Games
Publisher(s)Infogrames
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release29 June 2002
Genre(s)Action role-playing game
Mode(s)Single player

Hero X is a 2002 action role-playing game developed by Amazing Games and published by Infrogrames. The game was announced in March 2002 and released on June 2002.[1]

Plot

Hero X is played from the perspective of a sidekick chosen by the American Super Heroes Association to become a superhero and protect the citizens of Smalltown. The player completes a series of missions against various enemies in the town, from biker gangs and bank robbers to swamp creatures and supervillains.

Gameplay

In-game screenshot of the isometric gameplay in Hero X.

Hero X is an isometric third-person game strongly influenced by the aesthetics and theme of comic books. The objectives of the game are to complete missions in the open free-roaming area around Smalltown. The game's action involves direct combat and the use of 50 superpowers selected by the player, including force fields, freeze rays, mind control and super strength. Players select the appearance of their chosen hero and an initial three powers, with further powers unlocked by completing missions throughout the game.[2]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpot3.9[3]
PC Gamer (US)33%[4]
PC PowerPlay68%[5]

Reception of Hero X was negative, with many criticisms directed at the gameplay. Ron Dulin of GameSpot derided the game as a "punching simulator", stating the "missions are repetitive to a fault" and are "so bland (as) there is no variety", citing the lack of differentiation in super powers and limited approaches to combat.[3] Taylor Bell of Something Awful criticised the "false advertising" of superpowers, and that enemies who are knocked out are invulnerable to attacks, requiring the player to wait.[6] Chuck Osborn of PC Gamer noted the game contained "barely five hours of gameplay" and "non-existent AI".[4]

Criticism of Hero X was also levelled at the presentation of the game. Derek Lee of PC Powerplay noted that "graphics are pretty much standard 2D fare with not much on offer...the streets of Smalltown seem deserted."[5] Ron Dulin of GameSpot found the isometric presentation dated and "looks a few years old", also singling out the "MIDI rock music" and lack of sound effects.[3] Critics also made unfavourable comparisons to Freedom Force, another comic book-inspired action game released the same year.[citation needed]

References

  1. ↑ "Hero X Announced". 19 March 2002. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/19/hero-x-announced. 
  2. ↑ Chang, Kasey (30 March 2004). "Hero X: Walkthrough". https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/04/01/hero-x-walkthrough-503696. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Dulin, Ron (November 2002). "Hero X". https://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2874043,00.htm. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Osborn, Chuck. "Hero X". https://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/hero_x.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lee, Derek (October 2002). "Hero X". PC Powerplay (78): 74. https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-078-2002-10/page/n73. 
  6. ↑ Bell, Taylor (8 March 2003). "Hero X". https://www.somethingawful.com/game-reviews/hero-x/2/. 
  • 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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