Software:Legal Crime

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 video game
Legal Crime
Developer(s)Byte Enchanters
Publisher(s)Byte Enchanters
Platform(s)Windows
Release1997
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Legal Crime is an online real-time strategy video game from Finnish studio Byte Enchanters.[1][2][3][4][5]

Gameplay

Legal Crime is a fast-paced online strategy game that involves players in the ruthless world of organized crime. The gameplay allows multiplayer mode, where 2 to 12 players compete in chaotic matches filled with betrayal and surprise attacks. A community emerged, with over 600 players forming crime families led by Dons, engaging in clan-style warfare. Formal alliances allow players to coordinate tactics, avoid friendly fire, and share resources. An independent ranking ladder tracks over 200 players, offering the chance to rise through the criminal hierarchy. The single-player mode includes a dozen tutorial scenarios to teach mechanics and tactics.[6]

Development

The game was in development for two and a half years.[1]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Computer Games Magazine4/5[6]
Gambler83%[7]

Computer Games Magazine gave the game a score of 4 out of 5 stating "If you’ve burned out on the RTS game du’ jour and are looking for a change then give Legal Crime a whirl. Perhaps you’ll rise through the ranks to head your own family, and manage to claw your way to the top of ladder…then again you might just get gunned down in the street…either way it’s fun"[6]

Games Domain said "Legal Crime sets a standard that all multiplayer games should strive for. Superb replayability with an elegant and user friendly design."[8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jebens, Harley (January 8, 1998). "Is It Time for Legal Crime". Archived from the original on October 13, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001013144307/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_01/08_byte/index.html. Retrieved August 27, 2022. 
  2. ↑ Fudge, James (January 4, 1999). "Legal Crime beta test on GameStorm announced". Archived from the original on June 24, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030624135511/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/016/116/legal_crime.html. Retrieved August 27, 2022. 
  3. ↑ Ocampo, Jason (1997). "Game lets players be Godfathers". Archived from the original on August 16, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030816233401/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/004/119/legal_crime.html. Retrieved August 27, 2022. 
  4. ↑ McCauley, Dennis (September 3, 1998). "Fun strategy contests, only on Internet". Archived from the original on September 2, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19990902061743/http://www.philly.com:80/volt/games/090398games.asp. Retrieved February 4, 2024. 
  5. ↑ "Legal Crime Breaks out on Kesmai's GameStorm". January 4, 1999. Archived from the original on May 7, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19990507211116/http://gamestorm.com/company/press/1999_01_04.html. Retrieved February 18, 2025. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Waldeck, Dan (August 16, 1998). "Legal Crime Review". Archived from the original on July 9, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030709065830/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/013/168/legal_crime_review.html. Retrieved August 27, 2022. 
  7. ↑ "Legal Crime" (in pl). February 1998. p. 69. https://archive.org/details/gambler_magazine-1998-02/page/n67/mode/2up. Retrieved August 27, 2022. 
  8. ↑ Finn, David. "Legal Crime". Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000817224156/http://www.gamesdomain.com/gdreview/zones/reviews/pc/oct98/legalc.html. Retrieved September 19, 2025. 
  • Official website (archived)
  • 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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