Software:Mechanized Assault & Exploration

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Short description: 1996 video game
M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault & Exploration
Developer(s)Interplay Productions
Publisher(s)Interplay Productions
Designer(s)Ali N. Atabek
Paul Kellner
Gus Smedstad
Programmer(s)Dave Boulanger
Artist(s)Anthony Postma
Arlene Caberto Somers
Writer(s)Steve Perrin
Composer(s)Brian Luzietti
Albert Lloyd Olson
Platform(s)DOS, Windows
Release
Genre(s)Real-time strategy, turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault & Exploration is a 1996 hybrid real-time/turn-based strategy video game for PC (MS-DOS, Windows) developed and published by Interplay Productions. The goal is to colonize newly-discovered planets, controlling the resources found there, and defend the colony against other rival factions.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGWStarStarStarStar[3]
GameSpot8.6/10[4]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[6]
PC Gamer (UK)61%[2]
Computer Games Strategy PlusStarStarStarStarStar[5]

According to Interplay, global sales of M.A.X. surpassed 150,000 copies by June 1998.[7]

M.A.X. was met with overwhelmingly positive reviews. Writing for Computer Gaming World, Patrick C. Miller called it "an uncommonly high quality game with excellent gameplay; challenging artificial intelligence; and considerable depth, variety, and replay value."[3] Next Generation similarly described it as "a sophisticated, challenging, and enjoyable strategy game with a great deal of replayability",[6] while Kevin Mical of GameSpot deemed it superior to the critically acclaimed Command & Conquer.[4]

Critics widely praised the game's large number of gameplay modes and options to play with,[3][4][5][6] huge variety of military units,[3][4][5][6] and sound effects.[3][4] Most were also pleased with the choice of real-time or turn-based play,[3][4][5] though Miller added that he found the single-player campaign frustratingly difficult in real-time mode, since the AI can make decisions and perform actions faster than humanly possible.[3] A more common subject of criticism was the instruction manual, which some reviewers stated is disorganized and omits key gameplay concepts.[3][6] However, reviews generally commented that the training missions are well-designed and do a great deal to overcome the difficulty of learning the game.[3][4][5]

M.A.X. was a runner-up for Computer Game Entertainment's 1996 "Best Strategy Game" prize, which ultimately went to Civilization II. The editors called M.A.X. "a fantastic science fiction exploration and conquest game that demonstrated anew how completely satisfying a turn-based strategy game could be in a decided shift towards real-time strategy gaming."[8] It was also nominated as Computer Games Strategy Plus's 1996 real-time strategy game of the year, although it lost to Command & Conquer: Red Alert.[9]

Bug

Many players complained over the years of the game crashing at around 120 turns, due to a Memory Stack Overflow bug. This problem was never patched. However, downloading 32 Bit DOS32A, removing the old DOS4GW.EXE from your main MAX directory, and renaming the new DOS32A file DOS4GW.EXE, seems to solve the problem.[10]

Legacy

A sequel, Mechanized Assault & Exploration 2, was released in 1998. M.A.X. was re-released into digital distribution after years of non-availability on GOG.com in September 2008.

References

  1. ↑ "Interplay Ships Simultaneous Turn-Based Strategy Contest". January 13, 1997. http://www.escapade.com/departments/01139705.htm. 
  2. ↑ Jones, Nathon. "Plodding". PC Gamer UK (38). http://www.pcgamer.co.uk:80/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=721. Retrieved March 30, 2020. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Miller, Patrick C. (June 1, 1997). "M.A.X.". Computer Gaming World. http://www.gamespot.com:80/strategy/max/review_cgw.html. Retrieved March 30, 2020. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Mical, Kevin (January 3, 1997). "M.A.X. Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/max-review/1900-2542474/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Wartofsky, Steve (1997). "M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault & Exploration". Computer Games Strategy Plus. http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/003/189/max_review.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Staff (June 1997). "M.A.X.". Next Generation (30): 128, 130. https://archive.org/stream/NextGeneration30Jun1997/Next_Generation_30_Jun_1997#page/n129. 
  7. ↑ Interplay Entertainment Final Prospectus (Report). Irvine, California. June 22, 1998. p. 37. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1057232/0001017062-98-001416.txt. 
  8. ↑ Staff (July 1997). "The Computer Game Entertainment Awards 1996". Computer Game Entertainment (1): 54–58. 
  9. ↑ Staff (March 25, 1997). "Computer Games Strategy Plus announces 1996 Awards". Computer Games Strategy Plus. http://www.cdmag.com/news/0325971.html. 
  10. ↑ "Any work done on this or just re release? :: M.A.X.: Mechanized Assault & Exploration General Discussions". https://steamcommunity.com/app/615250/discussions/0/135512931358771537/. 

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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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