Software:Inca (video game)

From HandWiki
Inca
Developer(s)Coktel Vision
Publisher(s)Sierra On-Line
Platform(s)CD-i, DOS
Release1992

Inca is a video game developed by Coktel Vision and published by Sierra On-Line in 1992. The game describes the conflict between Incas and Spaniards in a sci-fi, space opera setting. A sequel, Inca II, was released in 1994.

Gameplay

Inca combines several genres including space combat simulator and adventure game. Some levels are purely shooting, some have maze exploration, or include inventory-based puzzles or riddles. Game progress is marked with numerical passcodes that are given after specific points of the game (12 in the disk version, 16 in the CD), allowing the player to resume playing from that chapter.

Plot

Huayna Capac, the last grand Inca, after 500 years of his death, prepares a warrior called El Dorado to gather three gems of Time, Energy and Matter, and fight Aguirre, the Spanish leader. The action begins in an asteroid space station called Paititi (its surface is marked with lines similar to the Nazca lines) from which El Dorado hurls to space flying a Tumi-shaped spaceship.

The quest brings him dodging asteroids, dogfighting with Spanish spaceships, fighting his way through mazes and performing puzzles (rituals) to summon the mummy of Pachacutec the Renovator for hints. The directions lead him to the statues of the "Founders of Huaca", Mama Ocllo and Manco Cápac, who give him the Jewel of Time. On his way back, he is captured on board the Spanish mothership (actually a galleon flying in space) trying to escape.

Afterwards he rids Paracas (a moon marked by a shape similar to the Paracas Candelabra) from Spanish ships and he meets the Aclla who acknowledges him as the new Sapa Inca and gives him the Jewel of Matter.

The Jewel of Energy is guarded by Mayans on a planet. After wandering in a maze and passing through puzzles, El Dorado reaches the "Intihuatana of Machu Picchu", where he claims the final jewel. Afterwards he uses them in combination to solve the final puzzle and is awarded the sacred tumi, sign of his anointment as son of the sun.

In the final stage El Dorado finds himself again in Aguirre's galleon, where the two duel against each other.

Release

Originally released in diskettes, the game was also released as Inca Multimedia CD.[1] The remake provides some longer or additional cutscenes and an updated soundtrack (as well as full voiceover soundtrack) in Audio CD format, read directly from the disc; the introduction features the song "Inca People" by J.M. Marrier composed for the game.

The game in the CD version is divided in 16 chapters instead of 12, allowing the player to resume to more specific checkpoints.

The Mayan level has an additional area with more puzzles.

Reception

Reception
Review score
PublicationScore
Power Unlimited90/100[2]

Computer Gaming World stated in September 1993 that despite excellent audio and good graphics "the game failed to achieve its full potential", with abrupt arcade sequences interrupting the story; "As a result, Inca comes across as a loosely strung together series of action sequences, mazes and puzzles", which would "not strongly appeal to either action gamers or adventurers". The magazine advised purchasing another Sierra game and the Inca soundtrack on CD.[3] In April 1994 the magazine said that the game had "puzzles of modest difficulty and joystick bustin' action sequences",[1] "but the plot and, to a lesser degree, the interface left much to be desired".[4] Reviewing the CD-i version, GamePro praised the "outstanding, imaginative story line that spans time and space" and the "cool, magical music punctuated by South American flute tunes", but commented that the poor controls and frequent load times slow the game to a crawl.[5]

Next Generation gave the CD-i version of the game one star out of five, criticizing the CD-ROM's loading times and voice acting.[6]

Legacy

A sequel was released the next year, under the name Inca II, in which the player controls El Dorado and Aclla's son, Atahualpa.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Invasion Of The Data Stashers". Computer Gaming World: 20–42. April 1994. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=117. 
  2. ↑ "Power Unlimited Game Database" (in nl). 1993. Archived from the original on October 22, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20031022124242/http://www.powerweb.nl:80/database/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=platform&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=40. Retrieved December 7, 2022. 
  3. ↑ Miller, Chuck (September 1993). "Sierra Weighs Anchor With Coktel Vision's Inca". Computer Gaming World: 64. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=110. Retrieved 30 July 2014. 
  4. ↑ Matthews, Robin (April 1994). "Sequel Syndrome Strikes Again". Computer Gaming World: 124, 126. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=117. 
  5. ↑ "ProvReview: Inca". GamePro (IDG) (57): 110. April 1994. 
  6. ↑ "Finals". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (2): 94. February 1995. 
  • 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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