Software:Magic and Mayhem

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Short description: 1998 video game
Magic and Mayhem
European cover art
Developer(s)Mythos Games
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Paul Whipp
Designer(s)Julian Gollop
Ian Terry
Programmer(s)Ian Tory
Nick Gollop
Artist(s)Ian Terry and Charles Abrahams
Composer(s)Simon Emerson
Martin Russell
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • EU: November 1998
  • NA: May 5, 1999[1]
Genre(s)Action, real-time strategy, role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Magic & Mayhem (working title: Duel: The Mage Wars) is a fantasy/mythology-themed real-time strategy game designed by Julian Gollop[2] and developed by Mythos Games. It was published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment (European release) in late 1998, and by Bethesda (North American release) soon after in 1999. Although the game received generally positive criticisms,[3][4] it met a quiet public reception.

Magic and Mayhem was designed by Gollop as the next incarnation of his successful Chaos video game concept, involving the same mythical wizard combat.[5] Like in Chaos, the player assumes the role of a wizard that can cast spells and summon creatures in order to defeat the other wizards in the battle.

In the single-player campaign, the player assumes the role of Cornelius, a young magician who yearns to become his uncle Lucan's apprentice. He arrives at Lucan's home shortly after graduation from the Hermetic Academy and eager to begin his study, only to find his uncle gone and the home in ruins.

A sequel, Software:Magic & Mayhem: The Art of Magic, was released in October 2001 for Windows.[6]

Gameplay

The player's primary character is their wizard, and who can cast spells, summon creatures and (in the campaign) interact with other characters. The wizard and any summoned creatures are controlled, as in most strategy games, by dragging selection boxes and using the mouse buttons to interact and issue orders. Casting spells and summoning creatures uses mana. Wizards replenish their mana by occupying "Places of Power" with their creatures, or using up one-use "mana sprites" that are picked up around the map. Magic and Mayhem is built into an isometric grid, with creatures occupying (or flying above) squares on the board.

In-game screenshot

The game includes two game modes; the campaign progression and a "quick battle" option, similar to a deathmatch. The campaign is single-player only, but quick battle can be either single or multiplayer over a LAN network.

The Portmanteau

Magic and Mayhem uses a unique spell system, in which magical ingredients are needed to be able to cast each spell in the game. In the campaign game mode, these ingredients (such as Brimstone, Clover and Zircon) are gradually acquired as the game progresses. Before each level begins, the player can use their Portmanteau spell-box to combine an ingredient with a "talisman" of either Law, Chaos or Neutrality. This results in a spell that the player can use for the duration of the battle, and which can be changed again after the battle has ended.

Plot

Setting

Magic and Mayhem is set in three mythological/historical realms; Albion, Greece and Avalon, covering Arthurian, Greek, and Celtic themes respectively. In the campaign, the player journeys their way through each realm in order, with map designs and terrain corresponding to the current realm. For example, maps set in Albion may include medieval gothic castles, whereas Greek maps contain classical mediterranean architecture.

Geographically, each realm is not strictly adherent to their historic counterparts; for instance, the "Greek" realm is modified slightly, with Colchis and Crete separated from Greece by only a thin stretch of ocean channel. Myths, such as Jason and the Golden Fleece, are also modified slightly, with Cornelius rather than Jason retrieving the artefact.

Story

The game's introductory movie presents Cornelius as he visits his uncle's magical laboratory, only to find it in ruins. He deduces that something bad must have befallen the absent Lucan, as his flying machine is primed and ready for a trip. Cornelius decides to undertake the journey his uncle was planning. A raven, soon after introduced as Hermes, accompanies Cornelius from thereon throughout the game; Cornelius decides this must be Lucan's familiar.

Cornelius crashes in Avalon, ruining the flying machine. He begins his quest to find his uncle, soon encountering hostile wizards who are none-too-helpful in aiding him. On his journey through Avalon, he meets allies including Twigkindle the brownie king and Percival the knight, the latter of which joins Cornelius in return for his aid in finding the Grail. The two soon acquire the Grail, and eventually reach the castle Joyous Garde, the centre of villainy in Avalon. After an epic battle with the resident baron-wizard Bertilak, Cornelius finds and frees his uncle Lucan, only to confront the game's main antagonist, the Overlord. The Overlord demands Cornelius hand over the Grail, but when Cornelius refuses, the Overlord leaves without a fight. Lucan, who had been kidnapped by the Overlord's minions, reveals that his power is weak in Avalon. After the battle, Cornelius wants nothing more than to return to the mundane world with Lucan, but it is revealed they must find a specific portal to do so, so their quest must continue through a magical gateway into Greece.

Arriving in Greece, Cornelius continues to travel looking for a way back home, but encountering yet more hostile wizards and evidence of the Overlord's misdeeds. He stumbles upon Ariadne, angering her by his intrusion into her home, but besting her in combat and forcing her to flee. He eventually arrives in Delphi, defeats the tyrannical wizard that keeps the city in anarchy, and consults the Oracle on the Grail. It is revealed that the Grail grants immortality, and explains why the Overlord demanded it of Cornelius in Avalon. The Oracle also reveals that the Golden Fleece of Colchis must be retrieved for the Grail to work. Cornelius travels to Colchis and defeats the dragon that guards the Fleece, taking it for himself. After killing the ruler of Colchis, King Aeetes, he unwittingly releases the witch Medea who escapes back to the mainland. Cornelius arrives in Sparta to find the city in ruins by the hand of the Overlord. He finds Ariadne and Lucan sheltering from Medea, who turns out to be a servant of the Overlord. Cornelius defeats Medea a second time, and forces her to flee to the Labyrinth in Crete. He soon catches up and defeats her, at the same time finding a magical gateway to Albion beneath the maze.

In Albion, Cornelius, Ariadne and Lucan encounter Sir Lancelot, loyal knight of the deceased King Arthur. He reveals the Overlord usurped and murdered Arthur, hunting his loyal surviving knights over Albion. Lucan reveals that finding Merlin, Arthur's royal wizard, may be the only way to stop the Overlord. Cornelius arrives in Broceliande, the last known whereabouts of Merlin, to find his tower empty. They continue their quest onto mainland Albion and Salisbury Plain, where Lucan is slain by the Overlord and the remaining protagonists flee. Cornelius continues his quest, gathering Arthur's loyal knights and attacking Camelot, freeing Ariadne and Lancelot and retaking the castle. Cornelius and his allies eventually meet the Overlord at Dinas Emrys, discover that he is Merlin, defeat him, and return to the mundane world.

Multimedia

Music

The background music for Magic and Mayhem was composed by Afro Celt Sound System,[7][8] and was highly regarded by game reviews.[4] As stated by Simon Emmerson, founder of the group, in the game's manual:

The Mythos Team were drawn to The Afro Celt Sound System because our last record (Vol. 1: Sound Magic, Real World Records CDRW61) had the slow builds and epic soundscapes they felt would work wonders in a multi-media context. Our task was to create a soundtrack subliminal enough to provide good background atmospheres as well as performance pieces and themes for respective realms.

Emmerson was joined on the soundtrack by musicians Ronan Browne (bagpipes), Nigel Eaton (hurdy-gurdy), James McNally (bodhrán, accordion, whistle, percussion), and Rémi Chauvet (harp).[9]

Movies and cutscenes

Magic and Mayhem uses distinctive claymation for its movie cutscenes.[3]

The game's creatures and mythological characters were constructed by animation expert Alan Friswell, using the stop-motion techniques made popular in the films of Willis O'Brien and Ray Harryhausen. The figures were made of modelling clay and latex rubber, over an armature of wire and ball-and-socket joints. The models were then moved incrementally, while being filmed one frame at a time.

Development

The game was announced in January 1998.[10]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings78%[11]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarStarHalf star[12]
CGSPStarStarStarStar[14]
CGWStarStarStarHalf star[15]
Game Informer8.25/10[16]
GameProStarStarStarStarHalf star[17]
GameSpot6.4/10[18]
IGN7.3/10[4]
PC Gamer (US)76%[20]

The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[11] Computer Games Strategy Plus and PC Accelerator gave the MSN Gaming Zone version favorable reviews, a few months before it was released Stateside.[14][19]

According to Manveer Heir from Voodoo Extreme, the game was a financial success in Europe.[21]

References

  1. ↑ GameSpot staff (May 5, 1999). "New Releases". Ziff Davis. http://headline.gamespot.com/news/99_05/05_pc_new/index.html. 
  2. ↑ "Julian Gollop Bio". http://chaosquad.mediacorporation.net/bio.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Magic & Mayhem". 1999. http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/pc/reviews/magic---mayhem-6c540c.html. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Ward, Trent C. (May 25, 1999). "Magic & Mayhem". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/05/25/magic-mayhem. 
  5. ↑ "References to Chaos". http://chaosquad.mediacorporation.net/g_mm.html. 
  6. ↑ Saltzman, Marc (October 12, 2001). "Game of the week". p. 21. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98828384/quad-city-times/. Retrieved July 19, 2021. 
  7. ↑ Magic and Mayhem game manual
  8. ↑ "Afro Celt Sound System". http://www.afrocelts.org/wst_page5.html. 
  9. ↑ (in en) Afro Celt Sound System – Magic & Mayhem (1999, CD), 1999, https://www.discogs.com/release/2359090-Afro-Celt-Sound-System-Magic-Mayhem, retrieved 2021-12-29 
  10. ↑ "Bethesda Softworks Unleashes Magic and Mayhem Fantasy Real Time Strategy from Mythos, creators of X-Com series". January 7, 1998. Archived from the original on November 2, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001102064249/http://www.bethsoft.com:80/corporate/mmrelease.html. Retrieved April 3, 2022. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Magic & Mayhem for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/143328-magic-and-mayhem/index.html. 
  12. ↑ Smith, Nick. "Magic & Mayhem - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=16496&tab=review. 
  13. ↑ Chick, Tom (June 8, 1999). "Magic & Mayhem". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2861,00.html. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Finn, David (February 6, 1999). "Magic and Mayhem". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/017/145/magicm_review.html. 
  15. ↑ Price, Tom (September 1999). "Ye Olde Celebrity Deathmatch (Magic and Mayhem Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (182): 149. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_182.pdf. Retrieved May 2, 2021. 
  16. ↑ Bergren, Paul (September 1999). "Magic and Mayhem". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (77). 
  17. ↑ Brenesal, Barry (1999). "Magic & Mayhem Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/753.shtml. Retrieved May 2, 2021. 
  18. ↑ Dulin, Ron (May 26, 1999). "Magic & Mayhem Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/magic-and-mayhem-review/1900-2540095/. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 D'Aprile, Jason (May 1999). "Magic and Mayhem". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (9): 85. https://archive.org/details/PCXL09May1999/page/n87/mode/2up. Retrieved May 2, 2021. 
  20. ↑ "Magic & Mayhem". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 6 (8). August 1999. http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/1373.html. Retrieved May 2, 2021. 
  21. ↑ Heir, Manveer (July 31, 2000). "Magic and Mayhem: Art of Magic Preview". Archived from the original on April 24, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010424133423/http://www.voodooextreme.com/games/previews/artofmagic/. Retrieved October 3, 2025. 

Further reading

  • Moscatello, Rick (February 1999). "Just duel me". The Duelist (Wizards of the Coast) (34): 86. 
  • 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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