Software:MindRover

From HandWiki
MindRover: The Europa Project
Developer(s)CogniToy
Publisher(s)CogniToy
Platform(s)Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
Release
Genre(s)Strategy

MindRover: The Europa Project, also known as simply MindRover, is a video game for PC, developed by CogniToy.

Gameplay

The game, which can be thought of as a successor to the Learning Company's Robot Odyssey, revolves around three activities:

  • Assemble virtual robots from a library of stock parts.
  • Programming robots using a special graphical interface (referred to in the game as "wiring") with a paradigm more based on multicomponent circuitry construction than on traditional programming.
  • Participate in events such as robot battles and racing games with newly programmed robot.

Development

The game had a budget of $500,000.[4] In October 2000, CogniToy signed a contract with Tri Synergy to distribute the game to retail stores.[5]

The game was developed for Microsoft Windows and was released for online retail in 1999, and for traditional retail stores a year later. Add-ons were available to control Lego Mindstorms robots.

The game was ported to Linux by Loki Software and Linux Game Publishing and to the Mac by MacPlay.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings87%[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSPStarStarStarStar[8]
GameSpot8/10[10]
IGN8.5/10[11]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStarStar[12]
PC Gamer (US)89%[13]
PC Zone86%[14]
Corvallis Gazette-TimesStarStarStarHalf star[15]

The PC version received favorable reviews. Carla Harker of NextGen called the retail version "A truly amazing title for anyone looking for something unique and challenging."[12]

The same PC version was nominated for the "Best Independent PC Game" and "Most Innovative Game of the Year" awards at The Electric Playground's Blister Awards 2000, both of which went to Combat Mission and Jet Grind Radio, respectively.[16][17]

References

  1. ↑ Walker, Trey (December 5, 2000). "MindRover Now Available". Fandom. Archived from the original on January 27, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010127024700/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2661549,00.html. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  2. ↑ Fudge, James (November 11, 1999). "MindRover the Europa Project Ships". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on May 24, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030524194247/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/024/043/mindrover.html. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  3. ↑ IGNMac (October 7, 2003). "Hearts of Iron, MindRover Ship". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230326233352/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/10/07/hearts-of-iron-mindrover-ship. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  4. ↑ "These gamespeople play out their dreams". The Boston Globe: p. 106. June 14, 2000. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-mindrover-budget/84995342/. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  5. ↑ Walker, Trey (October 10, 2000). "MindRover deal announced". Fandom. Archived from the original on February 10, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010210105254/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2638945,00.html. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  6. ↑ "MindRover: The Europa Project for PC". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190609102834/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/197946-mindrover-the-europa-project/index.html. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  7. ↑ Williamson, Colin (September 14, 2000). "MindRover: The Europa Project (PC; Online)". CNET. Archived from the original on October 17, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001017120209/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-4730,00.html. Retrieved December 21, 2023. 
  8. ↑ Vanous, Cindy (January 28, 2000). "MindRover (Online)". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on May 3, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030503135913/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/025/184/mindrover_review.html. Retrieved December 21, 2023. 
  9. ↑ Walker, Mark H. (December 20, 2000). "MindRover: The Europa Project (PC)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. Archived from the original on August 23, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020823145931/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=2285&full=1#mr_toppy. Retrieved December 21, 2023. 
  10. ↑ Ryan, Michael E. (January 18, 2000). "MindRover: The Europa Project Review (PC; Online)". Fandom. Archived from the original on March 31, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010331114746/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2542601,00.html. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  11. ↑ Rouse, Rick (September 20, 2000). "MindRover: The Europa Project (PC; Online)". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 9, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210909084854/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/20/mindrover-the-europa-project. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Harker, Carla (June 2001). "Mindrover: The Europa Project [sic"]. NextGen (Imagine Media) (78): 91. https://archive.org/details/NextGen78Jun2001/page/n91/mode/2up. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  13. ↑ Trotter, William R. (2000). "Mind Rover [sic"]. PC Gamer (Imagine Media). Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060315144445/https://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/mind_rover.html. Retrieved September 9, 2021. 
  14. ↑ Wand, Phil (December 2000). "MindRover: The Europa Project". PC Zone (Dennis Publishing) (96): 86. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_096_2000-12_Dennis_Publishing_GB/page/n85/mode/2up. Retrieved December 21, 2023. 
  15. ↑ Jones, Micah (March 9, 2001). "Computer games: 'MindRover' is the ultimate robot race". Lee Enterprises. p. 51. https://www.newspapers.com/article/corvallis-gazette-times-mindrover-review/84996197/. Retrieved December 20, 2023. 
  16. ↑ EP staff (2001). "Blister Awards 2000 (PC Games 2)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. Archived from the original on August 18, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010818101410/http://www.elecplay.com/feature.html?id=5130&page=3. Retrieved January 10, 2024. 
  17. ↑ EP staff (2001). "Blister Awards 2000 (Special Awards)". Greedy Productions Ltd.. Archived from the original on August 18, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010818093756/http://www.elecplay.com/feature.html?id=5130&page=8. Retrieved January 18, 2024. 
  • BattleSpot
  • Mindrover Home
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari



Warning: Default sort key "Mindrover" overrides earlier default sort key "Mobygames".



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:MindRover&oldid=774744"