Software:Kao Challengers

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Short description: 2005 video game
Kao Challengers
PAL game cover
Developer(s)Tate Interactive
Publisher(s)Atari Europe
Producer(s)Paul Leskowicz
Designer(s)Wojciech Biliński
Programmer(s)Jan Matląg
Composer(s)Bartosz Idzi
Mateusz Ryszka
SeriesKao the Kangaroo
Platform(s)PlayStation Portable
Release
  • EU: October 28, 2005
  • NA: March 29, 2006
Genre(s)Action-Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Kao Challengers is an action-adventure video game featuring Kao the Kangaroo developed by Tate Interactive and published by Atari Europe. Challengers is an enhanced port of Software:Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2, released a year earlier in Europe.

Plot

Kao Challengers has the same storyline as Kao the Kangaroo: Round 2.

Gameplay

The game contains over 20 levels in 5 worlds which have their own unique environment. There are also some bonus levels included. In the levels there are over 30 enemies with 7 fighting techniques. Enemies all have their own different personalities which can easily be recognised from the way they attack and defend. Kao can do many actions such as flying, throwing boomerangs, cones and other objects, swimming and skating. Cut scenes explain the story as the player progresses through the levels to help and guide them. Vehicles can be driven which include a snowboard, catapult, pelican, water barrel and motor boat. There is also a multiplayer mode where players can use 15 different weapons including bombs, fire flamer and a magneto. A lot of special effects have been put into the game such as motion blur and blending to make it a graphically enjoyable video game.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings56.12%[1][|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
Metacritic57/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer3/10[3]
GameSpot6.3/10[4]
IGN6/10[5]
OPM (UK)6/10[6]
PSM369%[7]

The game has received mixed reviews, as GameRankings gave it a score of 56.12%,[1] while Metacritic gave it a score of 57 out of 100.[2]

Sequel

The sequel to this game and Round 2 was titled Software:Kao the Kangaroo: Mystery of the Volcano, and was released for the PC in 2006 exclusively in some non-English countries, serving as the character's swan song until 2022, when the series was rebooted.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Kao Challengers for PSP". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/psp/929748-kao-challengers/index.html. Retrieved 2014-02-08. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Kao Challengers for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/kao-challengers/critic-reviews/?platform=psp. Retrieved 2014-02-08. 
  3. ↑ Coxall, Martin (2005-12-19). "Kao Challengers Review". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_kaochallengers_psp. Retrieved 2014-02-08. 
  4. ↑ Provo, Frank (2006-04-27). "Kao Challengers Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kao-challengers-review/1900-6148514/. Retrieved 2014-02-08. 
  5. ↑ Haynes, Jeff (2006-04-11). "Kao Challengers". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/04/12/kao-challengers. Retrieved 2014-02-08. 
  6. ↑ "Kao Challengers". Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine: 104. December 25, 2005. 
  7. ↑ "Kao Challengers". PSM2. January 2006. 
  • Atari UK - Kao Challengers
  • 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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