Software:Lotus Challenge

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For the older video game series by Gremlin Interactive, see Lotus (video game series).
Short description: 2001 video game
Lotus Challenge
Developer(s)Kuju Entertainment
Publisher(s)Virgin Interactive (PS2)
Xicat Interactive (Xbox)
Sold-Out Software (Win)
Ignition Entertainment (GC)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, GameCube, Windows, Xbox
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • EU: 2 November 2001
Windows
  • EU: 23 February 2003
Xbox
  • EU: 28 March 2003
  • NA: 30 April 2003
GameCube
  • NA: 4 August 2004
Mobile
20 September 2004
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Lotus Challenge is a racing game developed by Kuju Entertainment and published in 2001 for PlayStation 2 by Virgin Interactive. Versions followed for Windows, GameCube, and Xbox from different publishers.

Gameplay

Lotus Extreme Challenge is a racing game featuring a variety of Lotus cars from different eras. The game includes multiple gameplay modes:

  • Story Mode: Players start with a basic car and compete in races to earn money, build a racing team, and participate in championships. Over time, they unlock better cars and gain movie contracts for stunt driving challenges.
  • Championship Mode: Racers compete across 17 tracks, unlocking and racing different Lotus models, with older cars competing against their era counterparts.
  • Movie Stunt Driving Mode: Players perform stunt challenges for film productions, earning money and cinematic replays of their performances.
  • Driving Challenges: Unique scenarios such as rushing passengers to a hospital through heavy traffic or evading speeding cameras on city streets.
  • Damage System: Cars visually degrade and handle differently based on damage, adding realism to races.

The game promises realistic driving physics, authentic Lotus car models, and multiplayer split-screen racing.[1]

Development

Virgin Interactive first announced the game for the PlayStation 2 and Microsoft Windows in August 2000 for an early-2001 release.[2] The game was renamed Lotus Extreme Challenge in November 2000[1] with a North American release planned to be published by Interplay Entertainment,[1] although this never came to circulation. The game would eventually see its release under its former name. The PlayStation 2 version was later ported to Japan and published by MTO on 26 December 2002.[3]

In March 2002, Virgin Interactive announced they would release the game on the Xbox under the name of Lotus Arcade[4] before reverting to its former name, with the announcement that the Xbox version would feature major improvements over the PS2 version. The game was due for a release in Europe by Virgin in September[5] but this never happened. In November 2002, Xicat Interactive announced they would release the game in North America instead as an Xbox exclusive,[6] with a GameCube port also announced.[7] In December 2002, Xicat secured a licensing deal with Motor Trend to rename the title as Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge,[8] with the Xbox version originally scheduled for release in late January 2003,[9] before it was somewhat delayed to the end of April. The GameCube version was due for a release in August[10] but was pulled for unknown reasons.

In May 2004, Ignition Entertainment's website listed a title named Lotus Extreme for the GameCube.[11] However, the game was renamed again back to its original title a few weeks later when it was officially announced by Ignition,[12] and was released shortly after.[13]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GCPS2Xbox
4PlayersN/A71%[15]69%[16]
EGMN/AN/A4/10[17][lower-alpha 1]
GameSpyN/AN/AStarStarStar[19]
GameZoneN/AN/A7.3/10[20]
Jeuxvideo.comN/A8/20[21]8/20[22]
Nintendo Power1.5/5[23]N/AN/A
OXM (US)N/AN/A7.2/10[24]
TeamXboxN/AN/A5.8/10[25]
X-PlayN/AN/AStarStarStar[26]
Aggregate score
MetacriticN/AN/A61/100[14]

The Xbox version received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[14] GameSpy, GameZone, and Extended Play gave it above-average to mixed reviews while it was still in development.[19][20][26]

The game sold more than 130,000 units for the PlayStation 2.[27]

Notes

  1. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Xbox version each a score of 4/10, 3.5/10, and 4.5/10.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Perry, Douglass C. (5 November 2001). "Lotus Extreme Challenge". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/11/06/lotus-extreme-challenge. 
  2. ↑ Ahmed, Shahed (5 July 2000). "Lotus Racing from Virgin". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/lotus-racing-from-virgin/1100-2598758/. 
  3. ↑ IGN staff (20 December 2002). "Gaming Life in Japan". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/20/gaming-life-in-japan-89. 
  4. ↑ IGN staff (8 March 2002). "Lotus Arcade Spins Its Wheels on Xbox". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/03/08/lotus-arcade-spins-its-wheels-on-xbox. 
  5. ↑ Strohm, Axel (13 June 2002). "First look: Lotus Challenge Xbox". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-look-lotus-challenge-xbox/1100-2870637/. 
  6. ↑ IGN staff (26 November 2002). "Xicat's Lotus Challenge". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/26/xicats-lotus-challenge. 
  7. ↑ IGN staff (26 November 2002). "Lotus Challenge GCN Bound". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/26/lotus-challenge-gcn-bound. 
  8. ↑ Rainier (3 December 2002). "Xicat Teams Up With Motor Trend Magazine In 'Lotus Challenge'". https://worthplaying.com/article/2002/12/3/news/7157-xicat-teams-up-with-motor-trend-magazine-in-lotus-challenge/. 
  9. ↑ Varanini, Giancarlo (7 January 2003). "Lotus Challenge Preview". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/lotus-challenge-preview/1100-2908175/. 
  10. ↑ Schwartz, Matthew (25 July 2003). "Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge (GCN Preview)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/26/motor-trend-presents-lotus-challenge. 
  11. ↑ IGN staff (26 May 2004). "Kuju on GameCube Again". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/05/26/kuju-on-gamecube-again. 
  12. ↑ IGN staff (10 July 2004). "A Lotus By Any Other Name...". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/10/a-lotus-by-any-other-name. 
  13. ↑ IGN staff (4 August 2004). "Lotus Challenge Shipped". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/08/05/lotus-challenge-shipped. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Lotus Challenge (Xbox)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/lotus-challenge/. 
  15. ↑ Bischoff, Jens (26 November 2001). "Test: Lotus Challenge (PS2)" (in de). 4Players GmbH. https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PlayStation2/Test/1919/838/0/Lotus_Challenge.html. 
  16. ↑ Bischoff, Jens (5 May 2003). "Test: Lotus Challenge (Xbox)" (in de). 4Players GmbH. https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/XBox/Test/1919/1920/0/Lotus_Challenge.html. 
  17. ↑ Linn, Demian; Chou, Che; Sewart, Greg (June 2003). "Motor Trend Presents: Lotus Challenge [sic"]. Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (167): 124. https://retrocdn.net/images/e/e7/EGM_US_167.pdf. Retrieved 18 May 2024. 
  18. ↑ Daguinot, Benjamin (29 October 2001). "Test : Lotuc Challenge, ne rayez pas la peinture (PS2)" (in fr). TF1 Group. https://www.gamekult.com/jeux/lotus-challenge-3010000385/test.html. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Murphy, Kevin (21 January 2003). "GameSpy: Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge (Xbox)". IGN Entertainment. http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/motor-trend-presents-lotus-challenge/498385p1.html. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lafferty, Michael (20 February 2003). "Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge Review - Xbox". http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r21306.htm. 
  21. ↑ Romendil (29 October 2001). "Test: Lotus Challenge (PS2)" (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001665_test.htm. 
  22. ↑ Romendil (21 October 2003). "Test: Lotus Challenge (Xbox)" (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00003521_test.htm. 
  23. ↑ "Lotus Challenge". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 183. September 2004. 
  24. ↑ "Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US): 79. May 2003. 
  25. ↑ Soboleski, Brent (10 May 2003). "[Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge Review (Xbox)"]. IGN Entertainment. http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/481/Lotus-Challenge/p1/. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Satterfield, Shane (24 February 2003). "'Motor Trend Presents Lotus Challenge' (Xbox) Review". TechTV. http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0%2C24330%2C3418365%2C00.html. 
  27. ↑ "First six months of the fiscal year 2001/2002". 14 February 2002. http://www.titusgames.com/company/press/pr_020214.php. 
  • 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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