Software:Marble Blast Ultra

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Short description: 2006 video game
Marble Blast Ultra
Developer(s)GarageGames
Publisher(s)GarageGames
Designer(s)Alex Swanson
Artist(s)Alex Swanson
Composer(s)Tim Clarke
EngineTorque Shader Engine
Platform(s)Xbox 360 (XBLA)
Windows
ReleaseXbox 360
January 25, 2006[1]
Windows
June 13, 2015
Genre(s)Puzzle-platformer
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Marble Blast Ultra is a platform game developed by GarageGames. It was released on January 25, 2006 for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade. It is the sequel to Marble Blast Gold. It features 60 levels, enhanced graphics, 2 new power-ups and a multiplayer mode. A browser port of the game under the title Marble Blast Online was released on March 7, 2008, and was available at InstantAction until the website was shut down.

Gameplay

In Marble Blast Ultra, players navigate a marble through obstacles and gaps to reach the finish in sixty levels.

In the single-player mode, the player has the main goal of reaching the finish pad of the level as fast as possible. Obstacles will hinder the player's progress, but powerups are also provided to help the player finish the level. There are sixty single player levels that can be completed by the player. They are divided into Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Levels, each category containing twenty levels. Many of these levels (such as 'Survival of the Fittest', 'Natural Selection', and 'Ordeal') are recycled from Marble Blast Gold.

There is a par time set for each of the levels, and if the player beats the level under par time, the player will earn achievements based on how many levels they successfully completed under par time. Additionally, if the player has an Xbox Live connection, their best time will show on a leaderboard where players worldwide can compare their best times. The leaderboard is updated whenever a player gets a new record time.

The game makes use of two new power-ups:

  • Ultra Blast - instantly increases the blast meter, and adds more power. The marble can jump much higher than it can with a normal blast.
  • Mega Marble - makes the marble bigger, allowing it to knock other marbles off-course. The power-up lasts at least 10 seconds before the marble shrinks back to normal.

Another added feature is the introduction of Easter Eggs, which are found in hidden locations in 20 of the game's 60 levels. After finding one Easter Egg, the game will award the achievement "Egg Seeker". After finding all 20 Easter Eggs, the game will award the "Egg Basket" achievement.

Multiplayer

Multiplayer mode contains 20 levels and supports up to 8 simultaneous players. There is only one mode which consists of collecting gems within a certain time limit (three to six minutes), which depends on the level. After a group of 2-6 gems are collected entirely, another set of gems appear elsewhere on the board. Players race to these gems and use power-ups to navigate across the level quicker and interfere with other players.

There are three types of gems: red, yellow, and blue. Red gems are worth one point, while yellows are worth two and blues are worth five. Most likely, blue and yellow gems are much harder to get than the red ones. The player at the end of the round with the most points wins. Players can change their marble's appearance by choosing from a variety of patterns and pictures in the main menu, such as a globe marble or a tiger marble as well as adding several different effects to use online. Ranked matches and player matches are supported along with an overall multiplayer leaderboard for ranked and player matches. Users can create a game or join one and filter parameters such as level, players, and gamer zone. Private games are also supported.

Development and marketing

Early in the development of the Xbox 360, Microsoft approached GarageGames to help with developing games for Xbox Live Arcade. After receiving pre-release Alpha hardware, GarageGames quickly ported Torque Shader Engine to the platform. The developers of Marble Blast Ultra also began working on the PC to bring the core game over to the new engine, taking six months to develop the game in total.[2]

In December 2007, Marble Blast Ultra had its price lowered. In 2008, three new achievements totaling 50 gamerscore were added to Marble Blast Ultra on Xbox.com. Three DLC packs were released for the game during that year. On October 29, a DLC pack contained a new multiplayer level "Marble It Up". In December, the Marble-Fu map pack and Agoraphobia pack were released.{{citation needed|date=September 2024} available on InstantAction prior to their Xbox 360 release.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic79/100[3]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer8/10[4]
GameSpot6.8/10[5]
IGN6.9/10[6]
Jeuxvideo.com15/20[7]
OXM (US)8.5/10[8]
PALGN7/10[9]
TeamXbox8.7/10[11]
Detroit Free PressStarStarStarStar[12]

The Xbox 360 version received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3] IGN gave it an average review over a month before its worldwide release date.[6]

Since its release, the game sold 756,178 units worldwide by January 2011.[13]

Legacy

Marble Blast Ultra was delisted from the Xbox Live Arcade service in February 2011. Despite this, a Microsoft Windows version was released in 2015. GarageGames, now a subsidiary of Graham Software Development, retained the rights to the Torque Engine which powers Marble Blast Ultra, but not the rights to the game. Game rights are property of InstantAction Holdings. GarageGames CEO Eric Preisz said that it was "unlikely" that the studio would reacquire the rights to its games.[14]

The members of the development team later worked on a spiritual successor, Marble It Up!, which was released for the Nintendo Switch in September 2018[15] and subsequently for Windows[16] and Apple Arcade.[17]

A sequel to Marble It Up!, Marble It Up! Ultra was released for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, Linux, and Xbox One in July 2023.[18]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Marble Blast Ultra Available on the Xbox 360 Live Arcade". January 25, 2006. http://xbox360.gamezone.com/news/01_25_06_09_01PM.htm. 
  2. ↑ "Case Study: Marble Blast Ultra on the Xbox 360". http://www.garagegames.com/solutions/games/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Marble Blast Ultra (X360)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/marble-blast-ultra/. 
  4. ↑ Reed, Kristan (February 14, 2006). "Marble Blast Ultra". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/r-marbleblastultra-x360. 
  5. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (January 27, 2006). "Marble Blast Ultra Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/marble-blast-ultra-review/1900-6143253/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Onyett, Charles (December 21, 2005). "Marble Blast Ultra". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/22/marble-blast-ultra. 
  7. ↑ chinaski2 (January 14, 2010). "Test: Marble Blast Ultra" (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00012082-marble-blast-ultra-test.htm. 
  8. ↑ "Marble Blast Ultra". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US): 60. June 2006. 
  9. ↑ van Leuveren, Luke (July 25, 2007). "XBLA Marble Blast Ultra Review". PAL Gaming Network. http://palgn.com.au/xbox-360/7954/xbla-marble-blast-ultra-review/. 
  10. ↑ Jones, Darran (March 2, 2006). "Marble Blast Ultra". Retro Gamer (Imagine Publishing) (22). 
  11. ↑ Nardozzi, Dale (January 31, 2006). "Marble Blast Ultra Review (Xbox 360)". IGN Entertainment. http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1116/Marble-Blast-Ultra/p1/. 
  12. ↑ Huschka, Ryan (June 18, 2006). "Cheap fun for Xbox 360". Detroit Free Press (Gannett Company). http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060618/ENT06/606180558/1044. 
  13. ↑ Langley, Ryan (January 27, 2011). "In-Depth: Xbox Live Arcade's 2010 Sales Revealed". Informa. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/in-depth-xbox-live-arcade-s-2010-sales-revealed. 
  14. ↑ Mitchell, Richard (April 13, 2011). "Marble Blast Ultra rolls right off of XBLA". Yahoo! Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2011-04-13-marble-blast-ultra-rolls-right-off-of-xbla.html. 
  15. ↑ Winslow, Jeremy (August 27, 2018). "New Switch Game Isn't Super Monkey Ball, But Might Just Scratch That Itch". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-switch-game-isnt-super-monkey-ball-but-might-j/1100-6461403/. 
  16. ↑ Tarason, Dominic (November 16, 2018). "Marble It Up PC version out now". https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/marble-it-up-pc-version-out-now. 
  17. ↑ Madnani, Mikhail (November 8, 2019). "New Apple Arcade Game Releases: 'Discolored', 'Guildlings', 'Marble It Up: Mayhem!', 'Sociable Soccer', 'UFO on Tape: First Contact' and 'Takeshi and Hiroshi'". TouchArcade.com, LLC. https://toucharcade.com/2019/11/08/apple-arcade-november-2019-guildlings-ufo-on-tape-marble-it-up-and-more/. 
  18. ↑ Cichacki, Shaun (2024-10-30). "The Greatest Xbox 360 Game Has a Spiritual Successor, and I'm Upset Nobody Told Me". https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-greatest-xbox-360-game-has-a-spiritual-successor-and-im-upset-nobody-told-me/. 

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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