Software:NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona

From HandWiki
Short description: 2002 video game
NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona
PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)Monster Games
Publisher(s)Infogrames
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, GameCube
Release
  • NA: November 12, 2002[1]
  • EU: November 15, 2002 (PS2)
Genre(s)Sim racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona is a racing simulator developed by Monster Games and published by Infogrames in November 2002 for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. It features NASCAR's Dodge Weekly Racing Series (the only game to feature this series), Featherlite Modified Tour, Craftsman Truck Series, and the NASCAR Cup Series (originally, Winston was the title sponsor but due to ESRB rating of E for Everyone, all tobacco and alcohol related brands were censored, and in the case of Mark Martin, his No. 6 Viagra car was changed to the maker of the drug Pfizer based on the men's health variation of the scheme but without the men's health). The Dodge Weekly Racing Series (dirt street stock division) and Featherlite Modified Tour rosters consist of generic fantasy drivers. The Craftsman Truck Series also features fantasy drivers alongside real ones. The unique feature of having to work your way up through the ranks from the low tier Weekly Racing Series to the Cup Series would later return in EA Sports' NASCAR 2005.

Strangely, pit stops and yellow flags are absent in the Featherlite Modified Tour, despite both being included in real life.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GCPS2
EGMN/A7.5/10[4]
Game InformerN/A8.75/10[5]
GameSpot8.1/10[6]8.1/10[7]
GameSpyStarStarStarStar[8]N/A
IGN8.3/10[9]8.3/10[10]
Nintendo Power3.2/5[11]N/A
Nintendo World Report8/10[12]N/A
OPM (US)N/AStarStarStarHalf star[13]
X-PlayN/AStarStarStarStar[14]
Aggregate score
Metacritic85/100[2]84/100[3]

The game received "favorable" reviews on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2][3] Air Hendrix of GamePro said, "With its glittering graphics and glamorous licenses, NASCAR Thunder deilvers the best NASCAR experience, rich in cameos by famous drivers and the like. But compared to D2D [sic], Thunder's cars don't handle as smoothly and its Career mode is heavy on complexity and short on fun. For the best in NASCAR racing, Dirt to Daytona will take you all the way to victory lane."[15][lower-alpha 1]

The GameCube version won the award for "Best Driving Game on GameCube" at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2002 Awards.[16] In the same way, the PlayStation 2 version was nominated for the "Best Driving Game on PlayStation 2" award, which went to Burnout 2.[17]

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro gave the game as a whole two 3.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 5/5 scores for control and fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ Berghammer, Billy (November 12, 2002). "Dirt To Daytona Ships". NINWR, LLC. https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/8008/dirt-to-daytona-ships. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona critic reviews (NGC)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-dirt-to-daytona/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona critic reviews (PS2)". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-dirt-to-daytona/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  4. ↑ Sewart, Greg (December 2002). "NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona (PS2)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (161): 204. https://retrocdn.net/images/2/28/EGM_US_161.pdf. Retrieved November 1, 2023. 
  5. ↑ Kato, Matthew (November 2002). "NASCAR Dirt to Daytona [date mislabeled as "February 2003""]. Game Informer (GameStop) (115): 128. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200302/R03.0731.1008.45814.htm. Retrieved January 24, 2019. 
  6. ↑ Ajami, Amer (December 6, 2002). "NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona Review (GC)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-dirt-to-daytona-review/1900-2901120/. 
  7. ↑ Ajami, Amer (November 13, 2002). "NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona Review (PS2)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-dirt-to-daytona-review/1900-2897513/. 
  8. ↑ Steinberg, Steve (December 12, 2002). "GameSpy: NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona (GCN)". IGN Entertainment. http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/nascar-dirt-to-daytona/562878p1.html. 
  9. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (November 18, 2002). "NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona (GCN)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/18/nascar-dirt-to-daytona. 
  10. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (November 14, 2002). "NASCAR From Dirt to Daytona [sic (PS2)"]. Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/11/14/nascar-from-dirt-to-daytona. 
  11. ↑ "NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 163: 216. December 2002. 
  12. ↑ Jones, Ryan (December 23, 2002). "NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona". NINWR, LLC. https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/4025/nascar-dirt-to-daytona-gamecube. 
  13. ↑ Sewart, Greg (December 2002). "NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (63): 164. https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-63-december-2002/page/n163/mode/2up. Retrieved November 1, 2023. 
  14. ↑ Bondy, Karsten (December 16, 2002). "'NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona' (PS2) Review". TechTV. http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3411033,00.html. 
  15. ↑ Air Hendrix (December 2002). "NASCAR: Dirt to Daytona". GamePro (IDG) (171): 194. https://retrocdn.net/images/6/62/GamePro_US_171.pdf. Retrieved November 1, 2023. 
  16. ↑ GameSpot staff (December 23, 2002). "GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2002 (Best Driving Game on GameCube)". CNET. http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/gc17.html. 
  17. ↑ GameSpot staff (December 23, 2002). "GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2002 (Best Driving Game on PlayStation 2, Nominees)". CNET. http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2002/ps216.html. 
  • 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. 
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