Software:Legend of the Sword

From HandWiki
Short description: 1988 video game
Legend of the Sword
Developer(s)Silicon Software[1][2][3]
Publisher(s)Rainbird Software
Designer(s)
  • Karl Buckingham
  • Colin Mongardi
  • Eugene Messina[4][2]
Platform(s)Atari ST, Amiga, MS-DOS
Release1988[3]
Genre(s)Interactive fiction
Mode(s)Single-player

Legend of the Sword is a 1988 fantasy interactive fiction video game developed by Silicon Soft and published by Rainbird Software for the Atari ST. Ports for the Amiga and MS-DOS were released later.[2] A Macintosh version was expected to release shortly after the Atari ST version but was never released.[2] A sequel, The Final Battle, was released in 1990.

Plot

The lands of Avar have been invaded by the forces of an evil wizard, Suzar. In times past, a magical sword and shield guarded the inhabitants. The player character and his party set out to search for the items in order to stop the wizard.[5]

Gameplay

The interface is divided into four areas, the top left is used for images which change depending the situation, the top right is the scrolling map area, the middle shows the movement commands and hitpoints which are depicted as a burning candle. The bottom third of the screen is used for text display.[6]

Development

Legend of the Sword was in development for over two years. The development started when Karl Buckingham decided to write a novel about a dream he had. When talking to Colin Mongardi, he decided to write it as a video game instead. He hadn't played an adventure game before and after playing The Pawn, decided his game wasn't going to have any vague puzzles. Silicon Soft was based in Eastbourne, England and was set up under the Enterprise Allowance Scheme. The game was designed by a three-person team of Buckingham, Mongardi, and Eugene Messina for the Amstrad CPC. When finished, they contacted publisher Mastertronic but didn't like their offhand approach to the game. Next was Rainbird which required a 16-bit version because they thought an Amstrad version wouldn't sell, also an additional six months of development time was requested by the publisher in collaboration with their development team. The game was then remade for the Atari ST and written in the C programming language.[2]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CVG33/40 (ST)[2]
Zzap!6487% (Amiga)[9]
Power Play6.5/10 (ST)[10]
Your Amiga59/100[11]

Computer and Video Games said the parser is not up to Infocom standard but concluded that the game "should establish Silicon Soft as among the best of adventure producers [...][2] The Games Machine said "[t]he screen layout and control of the game are what make Legend of the Sword work so well."[5] Amiga User International praised the parser as "a delight" and also commended the game's "sheer playability" and user friendliness.[6] Your Amiga called it "a competent and good-looking adventure" but said it's "treading some well-hallowed but tired ground".

Reviews

  • Jeux & Stratégie #53[12]
  • Amiga Computing, Amiga Format, and CU Amiga[13]
  • ACE #11[14]
  • Tilt #65[15]

References

  1. ↑ Silicon Soft (1988). Legend of the Sword. MS-DOS. Rainbird Software. Level/area: The game's starting scene. "Silicon Soft © 1988" 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Campbell, Keith (June 1988). "Adventure Reviews - Legend of the Sword". Computer and Video Games (Future plc) (80): 72–73. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_080_1988-06_EMAP_Publishing_GB/page/n71/mode/2up. "Vocabulary: 7, Atmosphere: 8, Personal: 9, Value: 9". 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Legend of the Sword". Game Diskette (Atari ST) (Rainbird Software). https://www.mobygames.com/game/4445/legend-of-the-sword/cover/group-80491/cover-218839/. "Copyright 1988 Silicon Software". 
  4. ↑ Silicon Soft (1988). Legend of the Sword. MS-DOS. Rainbird Software. Level/area: The game's credits page. "I would like to acknowledge the contributions, (however trivial) of the following people: To myself, (Karl Buckingham) for writing a brilliant adventure and drawing the graphics. To Colin Mongardi, for his incredibly long mega-programs. Also to: Eugene Messina for ′mapscaping′, additional design." 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Steel, Rob (July 1988). "Rob Steel's Getting Adventurous - Legend of the Sword". The Games Machine (Newsfield Publications) (8): 38–39. https://archive.org/details/thegamesmachine-magazine-08/page/n37/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Moss, Andy (November 1988). "Entertainment - Legend of the Sword". Amiga User International (Croftward Limited): 84. https://archive.org/details/Amiga_User_International_1988011/page/n83/mode/2up. 
  7. ↑ Vill, Klaus (August 1988). "Adventure der neuen Generation" (in German). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic-Verlag) (9/88). https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=2709&s=1. "Grafik: 8/12, Vokabular: 10/12, Story: 10/12, Atmosphäre: 11/12, Preis/Leistung: 10/12". 
  8. ↑ Suck, Michael (April 1989). "Legend of the Sword" (in German). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic-Verlag) (4/89): 68. https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=19025. "Grafik: 9/12, Vokabular: 10/12, Story: 9/12, Atmosphäre: 9/12, Preis/Leistung: 9/12". 
  9. ↑ The Harlequin (August 1988). "Adventure - Legend of the Sword". Zzap!64 (Newsfield Publications) (40): 42. https://archive.org/details/zzap64-magazine-040/page/n41/mode/2up. 
  10. ↑ Locker, Anatol (1988). "Test - Legend of the Sword" (in German). Power Play (Zeitschrift) (de) (Markt+Technik) (6). https://www.kultpower.de/archiv/heft_powerplay_1988-06_seite74. 
  11. ↑ Fahey, Fin (February 1989). "Review - Legend of the Sword". Your Amiga: 61. http://amr.abime.net/review_4946. 
  12. ↑ "Jeux & stratégie 53". October 1988. https://archive.org/details/jeux-et-strategie-53/page/60/mode/2up. 
  13. ↑ "Amiga Reviews: Legend of the Sword". https://amigareviews.leveluphost.com/legendsw.htm. 
  14. ↑ "ACE Magazine Issue 11". August 1988. https://archive.org/details/ace-magazine-11/page/n73/mode/2up. 
  15. ↑ http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Tilt/tilt_numero065/TILT%20065%20(Avril%201989)%20-%20Page%20111.jpg
  • 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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