Software:Montezuma's Return!

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Montezuma's Return!
European Windows cover art
Developer(s)Utopia Technologies
Tarantula Studios (GB, GBC)
Publisher(s)WizardWorks(PC, US)
Take-Two Interactive (GB, GBC, PC EU)
Designer(s)Rob Jaeger[1]
Composer(s)Aaron Humphries
Dominic Messinger
Platform(s)Windows, Game Boy, Game Boy Color
ReleaseWindows
  • GER: December 1997
  • NA: October 27, 1998[2]
  • EU: December 1998
Game Boy
Game Boy Color
  • NA: December 1998
  • EU: 1998
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Montezuma's Return! is a 1997 action/adventure video game and the sequel to the original Parker Brothers game Montezuma's Revenge.[3] While the original game was a 2D platform game, the sequel was a 3D first-person puzzle platformer.[1] According to Steve Bergenholtz, the Utopia Technologies spokesperson, the musical score was written by a TV and film veteran.[4] A port for Nintendo 64 was in the works[5] but was cancelled.

Plot

Max Montezuma is a soldier descended from an ancient Aztec emperor. Max stumbles across a deserted, uncharted island, and accidentally crashes his plane on it. Prior to Max's arrival, the island is undiscovered. Max only has a flashlight, canteen, and an entire lost Aztec civilization before him. He must restore the desecrated tomb of his ancestors, discover the link between the ancient Aztecs and a race of saucer-flying aliens, and more, in his adventure.

Gameplay

The main objective is to guide Max to the ending destination of the level. There are eight levels (nine in newer versions). In every level the player collects treasures and defeats enemies while maneuvering across moving platforms, trampolines, and climbing ropes, or through water, until reaching the boss room. The boss must be defeated to access the level exit. Not every boss can be defeated directly and may require a specific action to affect it (e.g. Using the Lava Lord's own exploding lava rocks against him). If the player has collected 100% treasures, the player can play the bonus level.

Max may be harmed by traps or by enemies. Traps may include deep pits, spikes, or enemies that cannot be harmed (like skulls). Max can attack enemies by punching and kicking, and can kill them by pushing them into water.

There are other collectable items as well as treasures. Max can collect bananas or watermelon chunks to heal damage and key artefacts to unlock barriers.

History

Development

Montezuma's Return debuted the UVision game engine, which was developed over more than two years.[6] The game engine and tools were programmed in C, from 1995 to 1998, by Atman Binstock,[7] Rich Geldreich,[8] and Rob Jaeger, designer of the original Montezuma's Revenge.[9] The game was developed by eight people.[10] It was showcased at E3 1997.[11]

The game features high-resolution 16-bit colour depth graphics. The object modelling takes into account physics such as gravity, reflection, and wind. The game is true 3D with movement in six degrees of freedom. Optional Fast Phong- and Gouraud shading, perspective mapping, light-sourcing, real-time shadows, bump mapping, z-buffering, MIP mapping combine with multiple movable-point and spotlight light sources, view ports, and cameras to make the graphics an outstanding visual treat. Weather effects and underwater sequences add to the effects.

Releases

There are versions of the game for Windows, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color, with the Game Boy Color version being the most common.[citation needed] These were developed by Tarantula Studios.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GBCPC
AllGameN/AStarStarStar[14]
CGSPN/AStarStarStarHalf star[15]
CGWN/AStarStarStar[16]
GameProN/AStarStarStarStarStar[17]
GameRevolutionN/AB[18]
GameSpotN/A7.3/10[19]
IGN7/10[20]5/10[21]
Next GenerationN/AStarStar[22]
Nintendo Power6.8/10[23]N/A
PC Gamer (US)N/A78%[24]
Aggregate score
GameRankings69%[12]69%[13]

The game received average reviews on both platforms according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[12][13] GameRevolution gave the PC version a favorable review, over two months before it was released Stateside.[18] Next Generation, however, said that the same PC version "belongs in the 'nostalgia gone wrong' file", with the anonymous reviewer criticizing the game for having the concept of lives.[22]

Utopia Technologies expected to sell 200,000 PC units of the game within four months of its release.[25]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Giovetti, Al (1997). "Montezuma's Return". http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/previews/montezumasreturn.htm. 
  2. ↑ GameSpot staff (October 27, 1998). "Montezuma's Return Ships [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/montezumas-return-ships/1100-2465320/. 
  3. ↑ Fielder, Lauren (February 18, 1998). "Montezuma's Return Preview [date mislabeled as "February 27, 2004""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/montezumas-return-preview/1100-2558940/. 
  4. ↑ Giovetti, Al (1997). "Montezuma's Return Interview". http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/interviews/montezumareturn.htm. 
  5. ↑ IGN staff (August 7, 1998). "Return to Nintendo 64". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/07/return-to-nintendo-64. 
  6. ↑ "NG Alphas: Montezuma's Return". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (20): 83. August 1996. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_20/page/n83/mode/2up. Retrieved April 13, 2021. 
  7. ↑ Binstock, Atman. "History (1998-2000)". http://www.electricsheepgames.com/games2. 
  8. ↑ Geldreich, Rich. "Montezuma's Return". https://sites.google.com/site/richgel99/#TOC-First-Stab-at-Game-Development---Montezuma-s-Return. 
  9. ↑ Hardie, John. "DP Interviews Robert Jaeger". http://www.digitpress.com/library/interviews/interview_robert_jaeger.html. 
  10. ↑ "Montezuma's Return! Interview". June 1997. Archived from the original on February 4, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19990204000926/http://www.utopiatech.com/press24b.html. Retrieved June 7, 2022. 
  11. ↑ Fielder, Joe (June 23, 1997). "Whoa Montezuma!". Archived from the original on February 24, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19990224101512/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/23_mont/index.html. Retrieved July 28, 2022. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Montezuma's Return for Game Boy Color". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/574785-montezumas-return/index.html. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Montezuma's Return for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/197982-montezumas-return/index.html. 
  14. ↑ House, Michael L.. "Montezuma's Return! (PC) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=14339&tab=review. 
  15. ↑ Royal, Anne (December 11, 1998). "Montezuma's Return". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/016/022/montezumas_return_review.html. 
  16. ↑ Clarkson, Mark (March 1999). "Montezuma's Return". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (176): 163. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_176.pdf. Retrieved April 14, 2021. 
  17. ↑ D'Aprile, Jason (1999). "Montezuma's Return! Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/790.shtml. Retrieved April 14, 2021. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Johnny B. (August 1998). "Montezuma's Return Review (PC)". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32773-montezumas-return-review. 
  19. ↑ Dulin, Ron (November 17, 1998). "Montezuma's Return Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/montezumas-return-review/1900-2542637/. 
  20. ↑ Harris, Craig (March 20, 2000). "Montezuma's Return (GBC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/21/montezumas-return. 
  21. ↑ Blevins, Tal (January 6, 1999). "Montezuma's Return (PC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/07/montezumas-return-2. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Montezuma's Return (PC)". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (50): 104. February 1999. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_50/page/n105/mode/2up. Retrieved April 14, 2021. 
  23. ↑ "Montezuma's Return". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 116. January 1999. 
  24. ↑ Poole, Stephen (December 1998). "Montezuma's Return". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 5 (12): 230. https://archive.org/details/pcgamer199812/page/n261/mode/2up. Retrieved April 14, 2021. 
  25. ↑ "WITH A PUBLISHER IN THE WORKS, UTOPIA BANKS ON STRENGTH OF ITS GAME ENGINE". October 24, 1996. Archived from the original on February 2, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19990202191551/http://www.utopiatech.com/press13.html. Retrieved June 6, 2022. 
  • Montezuma's Return at 3D Gamers
  • 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 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.



  • 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 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.




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