Software:Killed Until Dead

From HandWiki
Short description: 1986 video game
Killed Until Dead
ZX Spectrum cover art
Developer(s)Artech
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)
  • Michael Bate
  • Rick Banks
Programmer(s)MaryLou O'Rourke
Artist(s)
  • Scott Fiander
  • Grant Campbell
Composer(s)Paul Butler
Platform(s)Commodore 64, Apple II, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum
ReleaseC64
Apple II
CPC, ZX Spectrum
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Killed Until Dead is a 1986 adventure game developed by Artech and published by Accolade for the Apple II, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.

Gameplay

The game seems to be inspired by Cluedo, where the player must eliminate clues as they get closer to stopping the crime, the objective being to prevent a murder before it happens. Gameplay mainly revolves around interrogating key suspects and interviewing them about other people, places, and objects. False accusations can result in the player getting killed, lending to the game's humorous ironic sentiments.

Plot

Five mystery writers have gathered at a mansion and one of them plans to murder another. The player takes the role of Hercule Holmes, who must piece together all aspects of the crime in order to solve the case. The player can search suspect's rooms, confront them with evidence, and order cameras to record secret meetings.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Crash93% (Spectrum)[3]
Aktueller Software Markt9.6/12 (C64)[4]
Happy Computer76% (C64)[5]
Computer and Video Games7.6/10 (C64)[6]
Award
PublicationAward
CrashSmash[7]

The game was well-received, garnering positive to average reviews.

Crash magazine deemed Killed Until Dead both involved and highly entertaining.[3] Aktueller Software Markt gave the game a score of 9.6 out of 12,[4] while Happy Computer offered a rating of 76%.[5]

Computer and Video Games praised the humorous cartoon animations and frequent sound effects.[6] Comparing Killed Until Dead to Clue, Compute!'s Gazette liked the game's user interface, note system, and humor, concluding that it "fits in very well with Accolade's impressive line of 64 software".[8] Roy Wagner reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "The game is great family or group entertainment. The graphics and animation are tremendous; the presentation is very much like a movie; and the humor in the game is outstandingly funny. All puns are very much intended."[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Availability Update". Computer Entertainer 5 (11): p. 14. February 1987. https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/7f8d19fd-3fc0-4187-9aaf-d7e46224c7ef. 
  2. ↑ "Availability Update". Computer Entertainer 6 (5): p. 14. August 1987. https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/502ba7b2-7790-48df-a2c2-9229d07514e6. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Rothwell, Mark; Eddy, Richard; Sumner, Paul (July 1987). "Killed Until Dead". Crash (Newsfield) (42): 96–97. ISSN 0954-8661. https://archive.org/details/Crash_No._42_1987-07_Newsfield_GB/page/n95/mode/2up. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kleimann, Manfred (April 1987). "Adventure Corner - "Das Gargoyle-Komplott" - oder: Wie begeht man den perfekten Mord?" (in German). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic Verlag): 60–61. https://archive.org/details/asm_magazine-1987-04/page/n59/mode/2up. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Schneider-Johne, Boris; Locker, Anatol. "Rest Der Welt - Killed Until Dead" (in German). Happy Computer (Markt&Technik) (21): 95. ISSN 0931-5829. https://archive.org/details/Happy.Computer.SH.21.Spiele4-AndreBetz/page/n95/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Marshall M. Rosenthall (April 1987). "C+VG Adventure: 2 Reviews - Killed Until Dead". Computer & Video Games (EMAP Publishing) (66): 69. ISSN 0261-3697. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_066_1987-04_EMAP_Publishing_GB/page/n43/mode/2up. 
  7. ↑ Game review, Crash magazine, Newsfield Publications, issue 42, July 1987
  8. ↑ Randall, Neil (July 1987). "Killed Until Dead". Compute!'s Gazette (ABC Publishing) 5 (7): 46–47. ISSN 0737-3716. https://archive.org/details/1987-07-computegazette/page/n47. 
  9. ↑ Wagner, Roy (May 1987). "Killed Until Dead". Computer Gaming World (Golden Empire Publications) (37): 14–15. ISSN 0744-6667. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_37/page/n13/mode/2up. 
  • 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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