Software:Magical Drop

From HandWiki
Magical Drop
Arcade title screen of Magical Drop, the first game in the series
Genre(s)Puzzle
Developer(s)Data East
Conspiracy Entertainment (GBC)
Forever Entertainment
Publisher(s)Data East
SNK (Neo Geo, Neo Geo CD, Pocket Color)
Classified Games (GBC)
First releaseMagical Drop
1995
Latest releaseMagical Drop VI
2023

Magical Drop (マジカルドロップ, Majikaru Doroppu), sometimes referred to in Japanese as MagiDro (マジドロ, MajiDoro), is a series of puzzle video games first released in the arcade, and later primarily for several platforms such as the Neo Geo Arcade, Super Famicom, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Bandai WonderSwan, GBC and Neo Geo Pocket Color, most of which were published by Data East.

Gameplay

A stack of random colored bubbles descend from the top, and a player is defeated when a bubble hits the bottom. Bubbles can be picked up and dropped by the player's clown at the bottom, and are destroyed when three or more of the same color are put together on a single column. Chains are formed either when a single drop caused a chain reaction, or when more than one group of bubbles is destroyed in quick succession. The game is normally played with two players (one may be a computer opponent), and chains cause the opponent's stack to descend faster.

There are 24 characters, all but the Black Pierrot being named after a tarot card (although the Strength card has been represented by two characters throughout the series). Different characters have different attack patterns. The columns of the opponent's stack will descend at different rates relative to each other depending on the character chosen. This causes a disjunction of colors that may make it more difficult for the other player to clear their stack. For example, with the character Devil, all the columns will descend at the same rate, whereas with Sun, the middle columns will descend faster than the others.

History

Magical Drop is based on a game called Drop-Drop created by Russ Ltd, a Russian company.[1][2]

In 1995, Data East released the first game in the series as a coin-operated version of this game titled Magical Drop (known in North America as Chain Reaction). Despite the arcade game being released worldwide while using the English title in North America and Europe, Data East gave the official English names of its successors the same names as their Japanese counterparts, while the home versions of the first game were never released outside Japan. The series became better known for its Neo Geo sequels, Magical Drop II and Magical Drop III, due to the popularity of the Neo Geo platform. The last games in the series released in the United States were Magical Drop Pocket for the Neo Geo Pocket Color in 1999 and Magical Drop for the Game Boy Color in 2000.

G-mode bought and currently now owns the intellectual rights to the Magical Drop franchise along with several other of Data East's franchises and titles.[3] While Data East declared bankruptcy in 2003, other publishers have re-released the PlayStation titles Magical Drop 3 + Wonderful and Magical Drop F. Magical Drop II and Magical Drop III are also available on the subscription service GameTap. In 2007, the Super Famicom version of the first Magical Drop title was released in Japan on the Virtual Console for the Wii by G-mode. In 2009, versions of Magical Drop for Android phones and iPhone were released in May and September, respectively.

Magical Drop II was released on the Virtual Console by G-mode in May 25, 2010. The same year, Magical Drop III was included as part of Data East Arcade Classics[4] and released on the Virtual Console in Japan on July 6. UTV Ignition Entertainment published a new sequel, Magical Drop V. Handled by the French developer Golgoth Studio, the game was released for PC on November 15, 2012.[5] Another sequel by Forever Entertainment is scheduled to be released on Nintendo Switch in winter 2022.[6]

Characters

Introduced in Magical Drop

  • Fool: A little man wearing a purple robe. He is always seen carrying a cat with him, which happens to share the same mannerisms as him. In the sequel, it is revealed in his ending that there are, in fact, two Fools, and they are brothers.
  • Magician: A young man with a narcissistic streak. While seeming mature, he has an absurd sense of humor.
  • High Priestess: A scholarly young lady who spends most of her time reading books.
  • Chariot: A hot-blooded knight who has no fear and never backs down from danger.
  • Devil: A mischievous young boy with demonic traits such as horns and dragon wings.
  • Star: A girl who carries two jugs of water. While cheerful, she can also turn into a crybaby.
  • World: A goddess-like woman with three eyes and a ribbon covering parts of her body. She debuted in the original game as the final opponent and was not playable until the sequel.

Introduced in Magical Drop II

  • Justice: A teenage girl with a strong sense of justice, true to her namesake.
  • Strength: A muscular man who wears iron knuckles. He is sometimes referred to as Father Strength.
  • Empress: A villainous woman who wears a dominatrix outfit, though she was originally a kind and gentle woman. She debuted in the game as the final opponent.
  • Black Pierrot: An evil jester-like demon who acts as the game's secret boss. He was responsible for the corruption of Empress.

Introduced in Magical Drop III

  • Emperor
  • Hierophant
  • Lovers
  • Young Strength
  • Death
  • Temperance
  • Sun
  • Judgement
  • Hermit
  • Moon
  • Hanged Man
  • Tower
  • Wheel of Fortune

Games

Magical Drop

Main article: Software:Magical Drop (video game)

Magical Drop II

Main article: Software:Magical Drop II

Magical Drop III

Main article: Software:Magical Drop III

Magical Drop F: Daibouken Mo Rakujyanai!

Main article: Software:Magical Drop F: Daibōken Mo Rakujyanai!

Magical Drop Touch

The fifth game was developed by Data East staff and published by G-mode and released on October 20, 2009 for the iOS and Android platform. The game was specifically designed to make use of touch screen and respond to screen tilting and incorporates only six characters from the first two games. The game was discontinued in March 2012.

Magical Drop V

Main article: Software:Magical Drop V

Magical Drop VI

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Magical Drop on their September 1, 1995 issue as being the tenth most-successful arcade game of the month.[7] A review of the arcade version of the original game in Next Generation stated: "Chain Reaction is proving quite popular in Japan, despite the fact that this kind of game has been around now for at least five years". The reviewer scored the game two out of five stars, concluding that "it's not brilliant nor innovative, certainly not new, but it's fun and as addictive as sex after lunch... in a jester suit".[8] Mean Machines gave the Saturn version an 84 out of 100, with the reviewers remarking that the game is addictive and offers numerous options, but is frustratingly difficult in single-player mode. They disagreed as to whether it is better or worse than its competitor Baku Baku Animal.[9]

In Japan, Game Machine listed Magical Drop II on their May 1, 1996 issue as being the fifth most-successful arcade game of the month.[10] Next Generation gave the Neo Geo AES version of Magical Drop II three out of five stars, saying that it becomes monotonous after a while, but is overall solid and reasonably addictive. He found the game's most distinctive quality was its accelerated pace, remarking that "you don't have to be as precise as [in] some puzzle games, but there is no time to think, just time to do".[11] Reviewing the Nintendo Switch release, Nintendo Life called it "a true classic, and a must-play for puzzle game fans". Similarly to Next Generation, the reviewer said that the game is defined by how it rewards fast reflexes rather than strategy, particularly noting that there is no need to plan out combos as in most games of its type, a variation which he found "nothing short of exhilarating". Additionally praising the colorful atmosphere and presentation, catchy music, engaging multiplayer, and ideal use of the Joy-Con controller, he gave it 8 out of 10 stars.[12]

In Japan, Game Machine listed Magical Drop III on their April 1, 1997 issue as being the third most-successful arcade game of the month.[13]

Engadget and Destructoid gave Magical Drop V mixed-to-negative reviews, citing numerous glitches, lack of series-staple features and mechanics, and an incredibly poor translation.[14][15]

References

  1. ↑ "shmuplations.com". http://shmuplations.com/puzzlegamecreators/. 
  2. ↑ "Drop-Drop for DOS (1992)". https://www.mobygames.com/game/drop-drop. 
  3. ↑ "Data East Games". dataeastgames.com. Data East. 2000. http://www.dataeastgames.com/featuredgames.html. Retrieved February 13, 2019. 
  4. ↑ "Data East Arcade Classics". nintendo.com. Nintendo. 2010. http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/f5vzeKzDtWrsjyz3nHSDFZvlVyS6mKfZ. Retrieved February 13, 2019. 
  5. ↑ JC Fletcher (October 18, 2012). "Magical Drop V magically drops on PC November 15". joystiq.com. AOL Inc.. http://www.joystiq.com/2012/10/18/magical-drop-v-magically-drops-on-pc-november-15/. Retrieved February 13, 2019. 
  6. ↑ Sal Romano (September 28, 2022). "Magical Drop VI announced for Switch". gematsu.com. https://www.gematsu.com/2022/09/magical-drop-vi-announced-for-switch. 
  7. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (502): 25. 1 September 1995. 
  8. ↑ "Chain Reaction - Next Generation". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (13): 175. January 1996. https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-013/page/n175. 
  9. ↑ "Magical Drop Saturn Review". Mean Machines (EMAP) (42): 79. April 1996. https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-magazine-42/page/n77. 
  10. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (517): 25. 1 May 1996. 
  11. ↑ "Magical Drop II Review - Next Generation". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (19): 83. July 1996. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_19/page/n83. 
  12. ↑ Morgan Sleeper (June 30, 2017). "Magical Drop II Review". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/magical_drop_ii_neogeo. Retrieved February 15, 2019. 
  13. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (538): 25. 1 April 1997. 
  14. ↑ Heidi Kemps (October 1, 2013). "Magical Drop 5 review: Magical Mess". Verizon Media. https://www.engadget.com/2013/01/10/magical-drop-5-review/. Retrieved October 2, 2017. 
  15. ↑ "Review: Magical Drop V". November 15, 2012. https://www.destructoid.com/review-magical-drop-v-238608.phtml. Retrieved October 2, 2017. 
  • 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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