Software:Lost Planet 3
| Lost Planet 3 | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Spark Unlimited |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Director(s) | Matthew Sophos |
| Producer(s) | Kevin Scharff |
| Designer(s) | Richard Gaubert Edward Moore |
| Programmer(s) | Ike Macoco |
| Artist(s) | Mark Daniel Cabuco |
| Writer(s) | Richard Gaubert Orion Walker Matthew Sophos |
| Composer(s) | Jack Wall |
| Series | Lost Planet |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 3[1] |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
| Release | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Microsoft Windows |
| Genre(s) | Third-person shooter, action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Lost Planet 3 (ロスト プラネット 3 Rosuto Puranetto 3) is a third-person shooter action-adventure video game developed by Spark Unlimited and published by Capcom for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.[3] The game is a prequel to Software:Lost Planet: Extreme Condition and Lost Planet 2, and takes place on the same planet of E.D.N. III. The game takes a more story-driven narrative approach to the campaign similar to the first game. Unlike the previous games in the series, which were developed internally by Capcom, the game was developed externally by Spark Unlimited with Matt Sophos serving as game director, though series creator Kenji Oguro was still attached as franchise creative director.
Plot
A prequel, Lost Planet 3 takes place long before the first game, following the story of Jim Peyton revealing the events that led to the first game.
After nearly being buried alive in a cave an elderly Jim Peyton is found by his granddaughter Diana. Realizing that he does not have long to live he begins to tell her how he came to be on E.D.N. III. Fifty years earlier looking to support his family, Jim joins an expedition to mine the resources of E.D.N III. Funded by the NEVEC corporation, the expedition hopes to tap E.D.N III's "Thermal Energy", a blood like substance that could solve the Earth Energy problem. Jim meets Dr. Kendric Kovac, operations director Phil Braddock, Doctor Roman, head technician Gale and fellow Rig pilot Laroche. On a job to repair the comms relay, Jim begins to suspect there is a saboteur on the base when he sees someone near the damaged relays. He finds that Doctor Roman has had similar sightings, but dismisses his suspicions and focuses on working to support his family.
Some time later Jim stumbles upon an abandoned NEVEC base revealing that the expedition crew were not the first ones to land on E.D.N III as they were told. The last records detail the Akrid attacking the base and killing the inhabitants. Attempting to leave, Jim fights a massive Akrid leaving his rig damaged and himself close to death before he is saved by the woman he saw at the comms relay. He awakens in a settlement a few days later, healed. The woman introduces herself as Mira and her people as "The Forgotten", survivors of NEVEC's first colonization attempt. Their leader Soichi, Mira's father, does not trust Jim but allows him to leave their enclave after repaying his debt under the agreement that he not reveal their existence.
Returning to base he finds it under attack by Akrid, the result of an experiment by Dr. Kovac, who's been studying how to control them. Jim confronts Braddock with his discovery of the first colony. Braddock explains that his father was the colony's leader before it was lost, and that to maintain the expedition's funding from NEVEC he must keep the incident secret. Jim agrees to keep the colony secret and help him investigate what happened, keeping the Forgotten a secret. Several months pass and with the Forgotten's help Jim is able to retrieve information on what happened and give it to Braddock. He is shocked to find that when the colony was attacked his father abandoned it to save Braddock and his mother. Jim tries to tell Braddock about the Forgotten but is cut short when he must defend the base from an Akrid. In the following months Jim grows closer to the Forgotten and the Expedition, planning to bring Braddock and Soichi together so they can resolve their pasts.
Before he can NEVEC unexpectedly takes over the Expedition. They begin looking for Dr. Roman, who with Jim's help has been working on triangulating the purest veins of Thermal Energy, however he finds Dr. Roman dead and in a fit of rage kills a NEVEC soldier nearby who presumably murdered her. Now determined to stop NEVEC Jim and the Forgotten prepare to sabotage their mining efforts with Gale's help. While enacting their plan however they are confronted by Laroche who has been sent by NEVEC to stop them. He reveals that he called NEVEC to the base after seeing Jim meet with Mira, and that NEVEC is attacking the Forgotten. Jim defeats Laroche but spares him and makes his way to the Forgotten's settlement. Soichi is killed and Jim forced to surrender when he finds NEVEC has taken his family hostage.
Using Dr. Roman's stolen research combined with Dr. Kovacs smarts, NEVEC has a plan to save Earth. Braddock helps Jim escape and free his family and the crew, including Laroche, despite his actions. He sacrifices himself to kill Neven's soldiers. Pursuing NEVEC's field commander Isenberg, Jim ruins his plan to take control of the Akrid and use them to wipe out the rebels and so NEVEC are not able to mine the living planet of pure energy and save Earth, putting a stop to Isenberg's plan by killing him but nearly dying himself.
With NEVEC defeated the expedition crew and the Forgotten become the first snow pirates. Gale and Mira use Soichi's research to create the Harmonizer, a device that uses thermal energy to heal the user. In the present Jim apologizes to his granddaughter for leaving a legacy where she has been forced to fight before dying. An elderly Laroche finds them and rescues Diana. Diana is saddened by her grandfather's passing but looks forward to the possibility of winning the war and taking the planet back from NEVEC.
Gameplay
Using the game's mission-based mechanics, players can choose to take on core quests that progress the story, or side-quests to help out fellow colonists on the planet. The game will allow players to openly explore areas in a style similar to role-playing games with the ability to talk to non-player characters, obtain side-quests, upgrade equipment and build their own bipedal rigs using items gathered throughout the campaign. Thermal energy will no longer be tied to the characters' life support, and instead will primarily be used as a form of currency, giving the player more freedom to explore E.D.N. III. Once again, the antagonists of the game are the Akrid, "aliens" indigenous to the planet of E.D.N. III.[4]
Reception
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Lost Planet 3 received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[20][21][22] In Japan, Famitsu gave the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions a score of one nine, one eight, one seven, and one nine for a total of 33 out of 40.[8]
The Escapist gave the Xbox 360 version three stars out of five and called it "a solid third person shooter [that] is marred by some repetitive gameplay elements and a lack of depth with its mechanics and story".[19] However, The Digital Fix gave the PS3 version a score of four out of ten and stated: "Two positive things to take away from everything is [sic] that it is arguably the best game Spark have ever produced and is not as bad as Software:Aliens: Colonial Marines".[23] Digital Spy gave it a similar score of two stars out of five and said it was not "a lost cause. There's some genuine emotion to be found in its storyline and a spattering of variety to its combat, but this is marred by unoriginal core gameplay and lackluster level design".[18]
Lost Planet 3 sold 27,503 PlayStation 3 copies on the first week of being on sale in Japan, the lowest sales debut out of the numbered installments of the series.[24] Reporting on its fiscal year, Capcom described the game's sales as "below expectations", "due in part to intensifying competition in the European and US markets".[25]
Awards
In January 2014, Lost Planet 3 writers Richard Gaubert, Orion Walker and Matt Sophos were nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Videogame Writing by the Writers Guild of America along with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Software:Batman: Arkham Origins, Software:God of War: Ascension and The Last of Us (the latter of which was a winner).[26][27]
References
- ↑ Goldfarb, Andrew (April 10, 2012). "Lost Planet 3 Announced". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/04/10/lost-planet-3-announced. Retrieved April 12, 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fletcher, JC (April 9, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 delayed until August 27 in NA, August 30 in EU". Oath Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2013/04/09/lost-planet-3-delayed-until-august-27-in-na-august-30-in-eu/. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- ↑ Cullen, Johnny (April 11, 2012). "Lost Planet 3 is coming to PC alongside console versions". https://www.vg247.com/2012/04/11/lost-planet-3-is-coming-to-pc-alongside-console-versions/. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
- ↑ Gapper, Michael (April 10, 2012). "Lost Planet 3: First look at Capcom's risky open-world prequel". Future plc. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141202180405/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/343239/previews/lost-planet-3-first-look-at-capcoms-risky-open-world-prequel/. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- ↑ Carter, Chris (September 9, 2013). "Review: Lost Planet 3 (PC)". Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.destructoid.com/review-lost-planet-3-261392.phtml. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ↑ Patterson, Mollie L. (August 27, 2013). "EGM Review: Lost Planet 3 (X360)". EGMNow (EGM Media, LLC). http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-lost-planet-3/. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ↑ Owens, Craig (August 27, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 (Xbox 360)". Gamer Network. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-08-27-lost-planet-3-review. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Romano, Sal (August 20, 2013). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1284". https://gematsu.com/2013/08/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1284. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Vore, Bryan (August 27, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 (PS3, X360): Banish This Franchise To The Outer Reaches Of Space". Game Informer (GameStop). https://www.gameinformer.com/games/lost_planet_3/b/xbox360/archive/2013/08/27/lost-planet-3-review-game-informer.aspx. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 VanOrd, Kevin (August 27, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/lost-planet-3-review/1900-6413751/. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ↑ Slusser, Rob (August 27, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 Review (X360)". Defy Media. Archived from the original on February 9, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150209035124/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/p6j0nb/lost-planet-3-review. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ↑ Vincent, Brittany (September 12, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 Review: The planet isn't lost, but immersive gameplay has been (PC)". Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130917061352/http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2013/09/12/lost-planet-3-review-the-planet-isn-t-lost-but-immersive-gameplay-has-been. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Stapleton, Dan (August 27, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 Review". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/08/27/lost-planet-3-review. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- ↑ Kietzmann, Ludwig (August 27, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 review: How I Met Your Mothra (PC)". Oath Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2013/08/27/lost-planet-3-review/. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
- ↑ Hurley, Leon (August 29, 2013). "Lost Planet PS3 review – a good try that ices up where it counts". Future plc. Archived from the original on August 31, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130831110404/http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/review/lost-planet-3-ps3-review-a-good-try-that-ices-up-where-it-counts/. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ↑ Hayward, Andrew (August 27, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 review". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US). Archived from the original on August 29, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130829220656/http://www.oxmonline.com/lost-planet-3-review. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ↑ Gies, Arthur (August 27, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 review: snow day (X360)". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2013/8/27/4660766/lost-planet-3-review-snow-day. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Langshaw, Mark (August 30, 2013). "'Lost Planet 3' review (PS3): Sci-fi shooter gets a frosty reception". Hearst Communications. http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/review/a510873/lost-planet-3-review-ps3-sci-fi-shooter-gets-a-frosty-reception/. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Goodman, Paul (August 27, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 Review (X360)". Defy Media. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/editorials/reviews/10552-Lost-Planet-3-Review. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Lost Planet 3 for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/lost-planet-3/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Lost Planet 3 for PlayStation 3 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/lost-planet-3/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Lost Planet 3 for Xbox 360 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/lost-planet-3/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
- ↑ Phillips, Andrew (September 24, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 Review (PS3)". Poisonous Monkey. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160121155205/http://gaming.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/1960/lost-planet-3.html. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
- ↑ Sahdev, Ishaan (September 10, 2013). "Lost Planet 3 Sees Lowest Series Debut In Japan". Curse, Inc.. http://www.siliconera.com/2013/09/10/lost-planet-3-sees-lowest-series-debut-in-japan. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
- ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (May 8, 2014). "Dead Rising 3 sales rise to 1.2m as Capcom enjoys profit boost". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-05-08-dead-rising-3-sales-rise-to-1-2m-as-capcom-enjoys-profit-boost. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
- ↑ "2014 Writers Guild Awards Videogame Nominees Announced". January 9, 2014. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140115221911/http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=5381.
- ↑ THR staff (February 1, 2014). "WGA Awards: The Winners". Eldridge Industries. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wga-awards-2014-winners-676344. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
External links
- Official website
- Official website (in Japanese)
- 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

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
- ↑ 1.0 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/.
- ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/.
- ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1.
- ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games.
- ↑ "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/.
- ↑ "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/.
- ↑ 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/.
- ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/.
- ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames.
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