Software:MX vs. ATV Reflex

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MX vs. ATV Reflex
Developer(s)Rainbow Studios
Tantalus Media (handhelds)
Publisher(s)THQ
SeriesMX vs. ATV
Platform(s)Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: December 1, 2009
  • AU: December 17, 2009
  • EU: February 5, 2010
Microsoft Windows
  • WW: November 26, 2010
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

MX vs. ATV Reflex is a 2009 off-road racing video game developed by Rainbow Studios and published by THQ. It is the third game in the MX vs. ATV series, available on Microsoft Windows and all seventh-generation consoles except the Wii. It is also the last game in the series to be available on handheld consoles.

The Microsoft Windows and home console version received generally favorable reviews from critics for most of its gameplay, innovative "Rider Reflex" controls and realistic terrain deformation, but its occasionally chaotic nature (deemed unforgiving towards more casual players), career mode and graphics were criticized. It is often considered to be the best game in the series by fans. Reception for the handheld console versions, however, was generally unfavorable.

Gameplay

The core focus of the game allows for the player to race motocross and supercross on motocross bikes or ATVs. The game also includes events such as omnicross, free ride, champion sport track, waypoint racing, and freestyle motocross.[1]

Although the game is part of the MX vs. ATV series, Reflex was built from the ground up featuring a new control scheme and physics engine. The new control scheme is labeled "reflex" which utilizes both analog sticks. The left analog controls the handlebars while the right analog stick controls the rider's body movement. The reflex system allows for unprecedented control and manipulation by allowing the player to 'ride' the motorcycle and other vehicles as they actually would. Tricks have been simplified from the previous games as the player only needs to hold the modifier button and use the right stick to make different combinations and flips. Certain potential wipeout situations may also present the player an opportunity to pass a quick-time event to actually avoid such wipeout via a "wreck avoidance" system.[1]

Also new to Reflex is real-time terrain deformation. Terrain deformation allows any of the different vehicles to literally carve into the earth creating ruts, berms, braking bumps and acceleration bumps as they actually do in real life. These ruts, berms and bumps are dynamic and constantly changing throughout the course of the race adding for an extra sense of realism.

Online mode on consoles and PC consists of public and private rooms. These rooms are dedicated to specific event types (i.e. supercross) and host up to twelve players at a single time. A player's "motocard" keeps record of the player's progress through online events which earns them experience points that go towards the player's level. Mini games such as snake and tag are played online as well. The console and PC versions also support offline, 2-player split screen multiplayer, while the Nintendo DS version also supports local wireless multiplayer between up to four players.

Development

Rainbow Studios art director Ian Wood said in an interview with SPOnG that the development team decided against making a Wii version of Reflex, but did not provide a clear reason why. He hinted that the developers chose to skip it to focus efforts on designing Reflex's new physics and terrain deforming system,[2] key features that were better suited for the more powerful PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and personal computers. Tantalus Media, which developed the handheld versions of the previous game, MX vs. ATV Untamed, was invited once again to develop handheld versions for Reflex. This would be the last time in the series that Rainbow Studios would allow another company to collaborate on a MX vs. ATV game. Starting with MX vs. ATV Alive, subsequent sequels would be developed singlehandedly by Rainbow Studios.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DSPS3PSPXbox 360
1Up.comN/AB[3]N/AB[3]
Game InformerN/A7.5/10[4]N/A7.5/10[4]
GameRevolutionN/AC+[5]N/AC+[5]
GameSpotN/A6.5/10[6]N/A7/10[7]
GameTrailersN/A6.8/10[8]N/AN/A
GameZoneN/A8/10[9]N/A8/10[9]
IGN5.7/10[10]7.8/10[11]4/10[12]7.8/10[11]
OXM (US)N/AN/AN/A6/10[13]
PSMN/AStarStarStarHalf star[14]N/AN/A
VideoGamer.comN/A6/10[15]N/A6/10[15]
Teletext GameCentralN/AN/AN/A6/10[16]
Aggregate score
Metacritic48/100[17]74/100[18]49/100[19]75/100[20]

The Xbox 360 version received "generally favorable reviews", while the PlayStation 3 version received "average" reviews, just one point shy of "favorable", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[18][20] A large portion of praise had gone towards both the new control scheme as well as the terrain deformation. Many acknowledged the game's successful separation of the rider from the machine with the rider reflex dual-analog control.

Dakota Grabowski of GameZone said: "A wonderful foundation has been set and it's now time for Rainbow Studios to expand on what they have set up with their next iterations. The future is bright and fans should be rejoicing".[9] Austin Light of GameSpot said of the PS3 and X360 versions: "Unfortunately, things don't always work correctly in MX vs. ATV Reflex. Kinks in the physics system can lead to some unpredictable, chaotic rides". Light also said that "Reflex is not a particularly good looking game on either system, with blurry, low-res textures that are distracting in the open world tracks".[6][7] IT Reviews acknowledged that "MX vs ATV isn't about pelting around with the throttle constantly revving to the max, rather the successful rider gets into the rhythm of the jumps. This is novel, and feels realistic". However, the reviewer complained about aspects of the single player game, including CPU riders who are "borderline psychopathic", truck driving that is "far too easily mastered" and a campaign mode which is "rather unimaginative and flat" on an overall level.[21]

By contrast, the handheld versions received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to Metacritic.[17][19] Chris Roper of IGN criticized the controls and presentation.[10][12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 GameSpot staff (July 31, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex: Freestyle, Deep Grooves, and David Lee". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mx-vs-atv-reflex-freestyle-deep-grooves-and-david-lee/1100-6233721/. Retrieved September 22, 2020. 
  2. ↑ Johnson, Mark (May 15, 2009). "Interviews// MX vs ATV Reflex (Page 3)". https://spong.com/feature/10109913/Interview-MX-vs-ATV-Reflex/3. Retrieved June 19, 2020. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Grimm, Michael (December 4, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (PS3, XBOX 360)". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 15, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160615071059/http://www.1up.com/reviews/atv-reflex-review. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kato, Matthew (January 2010). "MX vs. ATV Reflex (PS3, X360)". Game Informer (GameStop) (201): 94. https://www.gameinformer.com/games/mx_vs_atv_reflex/b/ps3/archive/2009/12/01/mx-vs-atv-reflex-review-a-new-control-scheme-brings-pluses-and-minuses.aspx. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Costantino, Jesse (December 9, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (PS3, X360)". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150919171051/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/mx-vs-atv-reflex. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Light, Austin (December 7, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (PS3)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mx-vs-atv-reflex-review/1900-6242336/. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Light, Austin (December 7, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (X360)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mx-vs-atv-reflex-review/1900-6242335/. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  8. ↑ GameTrailers (May 26, 2016). "MX vs ATV Reflex Review (PS3)". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbkxVKn_zgk. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Grabowski, Dakota (December 4, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex - PS3 [360 - Review"]. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091213183402/http://ps3.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r38163.htm. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Roper, Chris (December 11, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (NDS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/12/11/mx-vs-atv-reflex-review. Retrieved June 19, 2020. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Roper, Chris (December 2, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (PS3, X360)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/12/02/mx-vs-atv-reflex-review-4. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Roper, Chris (December 9, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Review (PSP)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/12/09/mx-vs-atv-reflex-review-2. Retrieved June 19, 2020. 
  13. ↑ Hayward, Andrew (December 5, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US). Archived from the original on December 8, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20091208152841/http://www.oxmonline.com/article/reviews/xbox-360/m-r/mx-vs-atv-reflex. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  14. ↑ "Review: MX vs. ATV Reflex (PS3)". PlayStation: The Official Magazine (Future plc) (28): 86. January 2010. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Orry, Tom (February 16, 2010). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (PS3, X360)". Resero Network. https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/mx-vs-atv-reflex-review. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  16. ↑ Mr. Pinkerton (February 2010). "MX Vs ATV Reflex (360)". Teletext Ltd.. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100210010200/http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/21662d2d9d807c46b9b82c0d6bd5134b/MX+Vs+ATV+Reflex+(360).aspx. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "MX vs. ATV Reflex for DS Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/mx-vs-atv-reflex/critic-reviews/?platform=ds. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "MX vs. ATV Reflex for PlayStation 3 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/mx-vs-atv-reflex/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "MX vs. ATV Reflex for PSP Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/mx-vs-atv-reflex/critic-reviews/?platform=psp. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "MX vs. ATV Reflex for Xbox 360 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/mx-vs-atv-reflex/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. Retrieved September 23, 2020. 
  21. ↑ "THQ - MX vs ATV: Reflex review (X360)". Net Communities Ltd. February 15, 2010. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110611112556/http://www.itreviews.co.uk/games/g661.htm. Retrieved August 18, 2012. 
  • 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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