Software:MechCommander

From HandWiki

MechCommander is a real-time tactics video game based on FASA's BattleTech/MechWarrior franchise, developed by FASA Interactive and distributed by MicroProse in 1998. An expansion pack, Desperate Measures, was released in 1999. A sequel, MechCommander 2, was released in 2001.

Gameplay

Players assume the role of the commander of Zulu company from the Federated Commonwealth's First Davion Guards, a member of the Inner Sphere (IS).[1] The planet Port Arthur must be taken back from the Clan Smoke Jaguar.[2] The game's campaign progresses through 30 different missions broken into 5 operations with 6 missions apiece.[3] Each mission consists of a number of objectives which may include destroying enemy units, capturing or defending enemy units, protecting friendly units, and capturing and defending bases. Some missions must be completed within a certain time limit.[4]

Battle scene

In each mission, players controls a limited number of units which are either mechs or support vehicles.[5] This control is through a simulated aerial viewscreen above the battlefield.[6] Each mission restricts both the combined tonnage and the number of units allowed. Briefings are supplied prior to the start of the mission which lists the objectives and other relevant information. A wide range of strategies and tactics may be used on any given mission, and players can customize their forces for each one.[4]

In between missions players can repair and refit mechs, assign mechwarriors to each mech and purchase mechs, vehicles, mechwarriors, and components.[3] These items are purchased with Resource Points which are awarded for completing previous mission objectives.[7] Few mechs, vehicles, mech pilots, and components can be purchased at the beginning of the campaign, but more become available as the game progresses. However, only IS technology can be purchased. Clan technology such as weaponry and new mechs must be salvaged from the battlefield.[8] Salvaging equipment is an important feature of the game.[2]

Each mech is piloted by a mechwarrior. Pilots increase in skill as they use them during missions.[4] The more missions and kills a particular pilot has, the more experienced and valuable he or she becomes.[8] If a pilot gains enough experience, he or she will increase in rank. The four ranks from least to greatest are "green", "regular", "veteran", and "elite". Rank determines how effective a pilot is in a certain class of mechs (light, medium, heavy, or assault).[9]

MechCommander: Desperate Measures

MechCommander: Desperate Measures is an expansion pack that was released in 1999.[10] Set immediately after the liberation of Port Arthur, the player once again assumes command of Zulu company in a campaign to liberate the desolate planet Cermak in the Periphery, taken by a renegade Smoke Jaguar, Star Colonel Marcus Kotare (a character that was featured briefly in Software:MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries), for an unknown reason that is revealed later in game.[11] Once again, the player starts with inferior Inner Sphere mechs (pilots and mechs from original campaign cannot be exported into expansion), though both mechs and pilots are better than in the start of the original campaign. The expansion features a total of three campaigns. Aside from the missions, the expansion also includes a new soundtrack, new landscapes along with redesigned and new buildings, new weapons, three new mechs for each side—Stiletto, Bushwacker, and Mauler for IS and Shadow Cat, Nova Cat and Turkina for the Clan, and new vehicles including Alacorn, Pilum and Regulator tanks, as well as ammo trucks that also doubled as mobile bombs and Centipede scout vehicles.[12] Desperate Measures also acted as testbed for the concept of custom NPC mechs that had their own names (like Kotare's Turkina), weapon configurations and overall superiority to the standard modifications. This idea was carried on to, and greatly improved in, MechCommander 2. A compilation called MechCommander Gold was released in 1999 that includes the base game and the expansion.[13]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings80%[14]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSPStarStarStarHalf star[5]
CGWStarStarStarStar[7]
Game Informer8/10[16]
GameRevolutionB+[8]
GameSpot7.3/10[9]
IGN7.8/10[17]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[18]
PC Gamer (US)79%[20]

The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[14] Next Generation called it "a good first effort, and FASA is to be commended for trying something different in the overcrowded field of RTS games. Unfortunately, it lacks polish, and the repetition of each mission drags down the fun factor."[18]

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated the game for "PC Strategy Game of the Year" at the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, although it ultimately lost to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri.[21] The game was a runner-up for Computer Games Strategy Plus' 1998 "Real-Time Strategy Game of the Year" award, which ultimately went to StarCraft. The staff called the former game "great", but argued that "only StarCraft was stellar".[22]

Due to its science fiction setting, MechCommander received an overt recommendation from The Sci-Fi Channel (now SyFy), to the point of Sci-Fi's logo being present on the box art. Along with Software:Nightlong: Union City Conspiracy, it was one of the few games to ever be officially recommended by Sci-Fi.[23][24]

Reviews

References

  1. ↑ House, Michael L.. "MechCommander - Overview". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12046. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Easley, Joel (July 25, 1998). "MechCommander puts you in control of universe". Public Opinion (Gannett Company) (5): p. 1C. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24833055/mechcommander-puts-you-in-control-of/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Reed, Jim (August 14, 1998). "Mechs go real-time". The Tampa Tribune (Tampa Media Group, Inc.) (194): p. 38. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24833009/mechs-go-real-time-by-jim-reed/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Clarke, Stuart (July 25, 1998). "Battle Stations". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media) (50201): p. 14. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/24832470/battle-stations-by-stuart-clarke/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mayer, Robert (July 14, 1998). "MechCommander". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050207110525/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/013/054/mech_commander_review.html. 
  6. ↑ Alderman, John (July 21, 1998). "MechCommander on the Move". Wired (Condé Nast). https://www.wired.com/1998/07/mechcommander-on-the-move/. Retrieved October 25, 2018. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Loyd, Case (October 1998). "One Small Step for MechKind (MechCommander Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (171): 267–68. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_171.pdf. Retrieved March 25, 2021. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Ferris, Colin (July 1998). "Mechcommander [sic"]. CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33255-honey-whered-you-put-the-keys-to-the-battlemech-review. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kasavin, Greg (July 8, 1998). "MechCommander Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mechcommander-review/1900-2542502/. 
  10. ↑ Tringham, Neal Roger (September 10, 2014). Science Fiction Video Games. CRC Press. p. 334. ISBN 978-1-4822-0388-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=0o5qBAAAQBAJ. Retrieved October 29, 2018. 
  11. ↑ Bell, Joe Grant (August 25, 1999). Susan De Cicco. ed. Mechcommander Gold. Prima Games. ISBN 978-0-7615-2227-0. https://books.google.com/books?id=dEQIAAAACAAJ. Retrieved October 29, 2018. 
  12. ↑ "MechCommander Gold (Game)". Red Ventures. https://www.giantbomb.com/mechcommander-gold/3030-34364/. 
  13. ↑ Kasavin, Greg (October 19, 1999). "MechCommander Gold Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/mechcommander-gold-review/1900-2542506/. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "MechCommander for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/43368-mechcommander/index.html. 
  15. ↑ Cirulis, Martin E. (July 16, 1998). "MechCommander". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-1946,00.html. 
  16. ↑ Bergren, Paul (October 1998). "MechCommander". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (66): 64. https://archive.org/details/Game_Informer_Issue_066_October_1998/page/n65/mode/2up. Retrieved March 25, 2021. 
  17. ↑ Ward, Trent C. (August 18, 1998). "MechCommander". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/19/mechcommander. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "MechCommander". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (46): 120. October 1998. https://archive.org/details/NextGeneration46Oct1998/page/n123. Retrieved October 26, 2018. 
  19. ↑ Olafson, Peter (September 1998). "MechCommander". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (1): 88. https://archive.org/details/PCXL01Sep1998/page/n87/mode/2up. Retrieved March 25, 2021. 
  20. ↑ Poole, Stephen (September 1998). "MechCommander". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 5 (9). http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/102.html. Retrieved March 25, 2021. 
  21. ↑ "Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Personal Computer". Archived from the original on November 4, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19991104003923/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html. 
  22. ↑ CGSP staff (February 11, 1999). "The Best of 1998: Real-time Strategy Game of the Year". Archived from the original on February 10, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050210171025/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/017/163/rts_of_year.html. 
  23. ↑ "MechCommander Back Cover". https://www.mobygames.com/game/334/mech-commander/cover/group-22385/cover-616917/. 
  24. ↑ "Nightlong Front Cover". https://www.mobygames.com/game/2564/nightlong-union-city-conspiracy/cover/group-68373/cover-184647/. 
  25. ↑ "The Duelist # 34". February 1999. https://archive.org/details/the-duelist-34/page/n91/mode/2up. 
  • 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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