Software:Magic Orbz

From HandWiki
Magic Orbz
Developer(s)Creat Studios
HeroCraft
Publisher(s)Creat Studios & TikGames
HeroCraft
EngineHavok, CreatEngine
Platform(s)PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network), iOS
ReleasePSN
January 15, 2009
iOS
November 27, 2012
Genre(s)Breakout clone
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Magic Orbz (previously named Magic Ball[1]) is a game for the Sony PlayStation 3 video game console. It is based on the PC game, Magic Ball 3. The game was released in January 2009 and was followed by a few additional downloadable content packs. An iOS port was developed and published by HeroCraft in November 2012.

Gameplay

Magic Orbz is a 3D Breakout style game with a stylised game design and physics simulation. The game's visual appearance follows two themes, Pirates and Knights. As in many similar games in this genre, random power-ups fall from pieces of the level that are broken up by the ball.

The initial release of the game contains 48 normal levels + 2 bonus levels, providing 13 trophies. The "Wicked Witches" expansion includes an additional 24 Witch themed levels, 1 bonus level and 5 more trophies. The "Winter Pack" was released in January 2010 features 25 new levels.[1] One more Level pack is listed as "Coming Soon" in the in-game menu.

Magic Orbz features single player, competitive multiplayer and co-operative multiplayer modes. Multiplayer has both local and online gameplays available.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(iOS) 76/100[2]
(PS3) 66/100[3]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid(PS3) 8/10[4]
GameSpot(PS3) 6/10[6]
Gamezebo(iOS) 70/100[7]
IGN(PS3) 7.5/10[8]
Jeuxvideo.com(PS3) 15/20[9]
OPM (UK)(PS3) 5/10[11]
Pocket Gamer(iOS) StarStarStar[12]
VideoGamer.com(PS3) 7/10[13]

The PlayStation 3 version received "average" reviews, while the iOS version received "generally favorable reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hyman, Scott (January 11, 2010). "Coming to PSN this Week: Magic Orbz Winter Pack". Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2010/01/11/coming-to-psn-this-week-magic-orbz-winter-pack/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Magic Orbz critic reviews (iOS)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/magic-orbz/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Magic Orbz critic reviews (PS3)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/magic-orbz/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. 
  4. ↑ Sterling, James Stephanie (January 28, 2009). "Destructoid review: Magic Ball". Gamurs. https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-magic-ball/. 
  5. ↑ Lassinat-Foubert, Loup (February 11, 2009). "Test : Magic Ball PSN casse la vieille brique" (in fr). TF1 Group. https://www.gamekult.com/jeux/magic-ball-85854/test.html. 
  6. ↑ Dyer, Mitch (January 27, 2009). "Magic Ball Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/magic-ball-review/1900-6203700/. 
  7. ↑ Oxford, David (December 5, 2012). "Magic Orbz Review (iOS)". https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/magic-orbz-review/. 
  8. ↑ Miller, Greg (January 16, 2009). "Magic Ball Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/16/magic-ball-review. 
  9. ↑ CptObvious (February 17, 2009). "Test: Magic Ball" (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00010402-magic-ball-test.htm. 
  10. ↑ Hayward, Andrew (December 7, 2012). "Magic Orbz Review". MacLife (Future US). http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/magic_orbz_review. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  11. ↑ "Magic Ball". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK (Future plc): 103. March 2009. 
  12. ↑ Bradley, Lee (December 17, 2012). "Magic Orbz". Steel Media Ltd. https://www.pocketgamer.com/magic-orbz/magic-orbz-review/. 
  13. ↑ Orry, Tom (February 4, 2009). "Magic Ball Review". Resero Network. https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/magic-ball-review/. 
  • 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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