Software:Kinect Sports: Season Two

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Kinect Sports: Season Two
Developer(s)Rare
BigPark
Publisher(s)Microsoft Studios
Platform(s)Xbox 360
Release
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

Kinect Sports: Season Two is a sequel to Kinect Sports co-developed by Rare and BigPark, and published by Microsoft Studios. It was unveiled at E3 2011's Microsoft Conference for Kinect and released in October 2011. The game adds six new sports and voice control. As with the previous game, it requires the Kinect sensor. Along with its predecessor Kinect Sports, it has been released in the Kinect Sports Ultimate Collection bundle on 18 September 2012 with additional bonus content and extra sports in Season Two added, basketball, golf and skiing.[2]

Gameplay

Kinect Sports: Season Two consists of six sports which can be accessed from the main menu, which can be played in single or multiplayer: golf, darts, baseball, skiing, tennis, and American football.[3][4] The games are controlled through Microsoft's Kinect device, which allows players to control the game through gestures and speech recognition without the need of any physical game controller.[3] The player controls the sports by mimicking how the sports are played in real life without the equipment that usually is associated with them; for example, swinging one's arms as if they were holding a golf club or kicking to score a field goal in American football.[5] The Kinect's voice command technology is utilized more frequently than in the game's predecessor, Kinect Sports, with the game containing over 300 voice commands.[6]

Rare has shown the American football game's two-player gameplay, where one user controls the quarterback and another the receiver during a game. The player mimes throwing a football towards the receiver, where the other person mimics catching it.[7] A field goal trial was demonstrated during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), which allowed the user to attempt to kick a field goal by completing a kicking motion.[8] In golf, the player can use voice commands to switch clubs without having to move to a menu, and swing their hands as if holding a club.[7] The game features Xbox Live competition, and allows players to challenge each other in multiplayer modes.[5]

Music

Kinect Sports: Season 2 includes 74 soundtracks[9] including popular songs licensed from record labels as well as its own unique theme "Take it Back" composed by British composer Robin Beanland. The main theme, "Take it Back", is played on the main menu as well as in many different remixed forms for each sport's menu.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic66/100[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid6/10[11]
Edge6/10[12]
Eurogamer7/10[13]
GameProStarStarStarStar[14]
GameRevolutionB−[15]
GameSpot7/10[16]
GameTrailers6.2/10[17]
IGN6.5/10[18]
JoystiqStarStarHalf star[19]
OXM (US)5/10[20]
Common Sense MediaStarStarStarStar[21]
Digital SpyStarStarStar[22]

Microsoft demonstrated golf and American football at E3 2011. Reaction from demos for golf were positive; Tom Hoggins of The Daily Telegraph called the golf game "excellent fun" and stated that the game overall felt like "a highly refined, more complete version of the first game".[5] The American football demonstration was subject to more mixed reaction. IGN's Peter Eykemans complimented the Kinect's sensitivity toward his missed field goal kick, noting that as he accidentally kicked the floor in real life, his avatar likewise failed to hit the football properly in the game.[8] GameSpot's Tom McShea voiced concerns from the E3 demonstration of American football, noticing how the demonstrator's attempts to throw to the receiver in the multiplayer game for the most part failed to work properly.[7]

Upon release, the game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[10]

Common Sense Media gave the game four stars out of five, saying, "Perhaps most importantly, Kinect Sports: Season Two is just as much of a workout as the original. Play for two hours and you'll burn off a couple hundred calories and wake up with stiff muscles in the morning. It should act as a fun and healthy way for families to spend active days indoors when the weather isn't cooperating."[21] However, Digital Spy gave it three stars out of five, calling it "a case of one step forward and one step back. Games such as darts, golf, baseball and skiing are intuitive [and] responsive and make wonderful motion-controlled mini-games, while American football and tennis are poorly executed and offer little in the way of enjoyment."[22] Metro similarly gave it a score of six out of ten, saying that it was "Still the best party game on Kinect but the new sports are a mixed bag and the motion controls remain as inconsistent as always."[23]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sinclair, Brendan (16 August 2011). "Kinect sequels dated". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kinect-sequels-dated/1100-6329234/. 
  2. ↑ "Kinect Sports Ultimate Collection". https://www.amazon.com/Kinect-Sports-Ultimate-Collection-Xbox-360/dp/B0050SWALO/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Clements, Ryan (6 June 2011). "E3 2011: Kinect Sports: Season 2 Announced". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/06/06/e3-2011-kinect-sports-season-2-announced. 
  4. ↑ "Kinect Sports: Season Two Fact Sheet". 6 June 2011. http://rare.co.uk/news/kinect-sports-season-two-fact-sheet. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Hoggins, Tom (17 June 2011). "Kinect Sports Season Two preview". The Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/8581456/Kinect-Sports-Season-Two-preview.html. (Subscription content?)
  6. ↑ Douglas, Jane (20 July 2011). "Kinect Sports 2 'pushing speech a hell of a lot' – Rare". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kinect-sports-2-pushing-speech-a-hell-of-a-lot-rare/1100-6324576/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 McShea, Tom (6 July 2011). "E3 2011: Kinect Sports: Season Two Preview Impressions [date mislabeled as "July 7, 2011""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2011-kinect-sports-season-two-preview-impressions/1100-6317247/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Eykemans, Peter (8 June 2011). "E3 2011: Going Long in Kinect Sports Season 2". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/06/08/e3-2011-going-long-in-kinect-sports-season-2. 
  9. ↑ "Kinect Sports: Season Two (Video Game 2011)". https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2160251/soundtrack/. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Kinect Sports: Season Two for Xbox 360 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/kinect-sports-season-two/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. 
  11. ↑ Zimmerman, Conrad (31 October 2011). "Review: Kinect Sports Season Two". Gamurs. https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-kinect-sports-season-two/. 
  12. ↑ Edge staff (5 December 2011). "Kinect Sports: Season 2 [sic review"]. Edge (Future plc). http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/kinect-sports-season-2-review. Retrieved 1 April 2023. 
  13. ↑ Whitehead, Dan (28 October 2011). "Kinect Sports Season 2 [sic Review [date mislabeled as "December 17, 2012"]"]. Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/kinect-sports-season-2-review. 
  14. ↑ Terrones, Terry (1 November 2011). "Review: Kinect Sports: Season Two (360)". GamePro (GamePro Media). http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/224487/review-kinect-sports-season-two-360/. Retrieved 1 April 2023. 
  15. ↑ Bischoff, Daniel R. (29 November 2011). "Kinect Sports: Season 2 [sic Review"]. CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/53640-kinect-sports-season-2-review. 
  16. ↑ Djordjevic, Marko (25 October 2011). "Kinect Sports: Season Two Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kinect-sports-season-two/1900-6342191/. 
  17. ↑ "Kinect Sports Season Two Review". Viacom. 25 October 2011. http://www.gametrailers.com/gamereview.php?id=14960. 
  18. ↑ DeVries, Jack (8 November 2011). "Kinect Sports: Season 2 [sic Review"]. Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/11/08/kinect-sports-season-2-review. 
  19. ↑ McElroy, Griffin (31 October 2011). "Kinect Sports: Season Two review: Sports, kind of". Yahoo. https://www.engadget.com/2011-10-31-kinect-sports-season-two-review.html. 
  20. ↑ McCaffrey, Ryan (29 November 2011). "Kinect Sports: Season Two review". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US). http://www.oxmonline.com/kinect-sports-season-two-review. Retrieved 1 April 2023. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Sapieha, Chad (2011). "Kinect Sports: Season Two". https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/kinect-sports-season-two. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Martin, Liam (30 October 2011). "'Kinect Sports: Season Two' review (Xbox 360)". Hearst Communications. http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/review/a348089/kinect-sports-season-two-review-xbox-360.html. 
  23. ↑ Hargreaves, Roger (25 October 2011). "Kinect Sports: Season Two review – anyone for tennis?". Metro (DMG Media). https://metro.co.uk/2011/10/25/kinect-sports-season-two-review-anyone-for-tennis-194845/. 

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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