Software:NASCAR Thunder 2004

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Short description: 2003 video game
NASCAR Thunder 2004
Cover art with Tony Stewart (PS2)
Developer(s)Image Space (Windows)
EA Tiburon (PS2, Xbox)
Budcat Creations (PS) [1]
Publisher(s)EA Sports
SeriesEA Sports NASCAR
EngineEAGL
Platform(s)Windows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release
  • NA: September 16, 2003
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

NASCAR Thunder 2004 is a racing simulator by EA Sports, released on September 16, 2003 and available in separate versions for PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows. This was the last NASCAR game for the PlayStation. It was succeeded by Software:NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup.

It features the 2002 champion Tony Stewart on the cover with a scowling look to represent the new Grudges and Alliances feature. It was the only game as of 2002 to feature the previous Winston Cup Champion on the cover. The game had the most extensive soundtrack of the series up from four songs from the previous game. The game also has a career mode, season mode, Lightning Challenge mode, SpeedZone, as well as a tutorial mode featuring Richard Petty. The game is an EA Sports Bio game, and is compatible with other EA Sports Bio games like Madden NFL 2004 and NCAA Football 2004.[2]

The game was also a sponsored for the 17th edition of World Wrestling Entertainment's Raw and SmackDown pay-per-view Survivor Series, which was taking place on November 16, 2003 from American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.[3]

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot (Windows version)

Game modes

  • Career mode returns from previous games in the series. The player takes control of a custom driver and races to get sponsors, equipment for his or her garage, and respect from other drivers.[4]
  • Season mode allows players to take control of either a custom driver, or an existing driver for a season or more, with custom rules and schedules.[4]
  • SpeedZone is a mode in which players can hone their skills in passing, blocking, drafting, as well as time trials.[2]
  • Lightning Challenge is a mode in which the player takes control of a driver and race in a situation that occurred in the 2002 Winston Cup and 2003 Winston Cup seasons to that particular driver. It also includes a video with Michael Waltrip as the reporter, and beating these challenges unlocks new Thunder Plates, which unlock new tracks, fantasy drivers, Busch Series drivers from the 2003 season, as well as legendary drivers.[4]
  • Another new game mode is Online mode, where players can race online if they have an Internet connection and adapter. Microphone support also was available on PC and PlayStation 2. This feature is not available on Xbox and PS1.[2]
  • Thunder License, a tutorial mode featuring NASCAR legend Richard Petty, in which the player chooses a driver and follows him along a racing line around the track, with voice commentary by Petty. The racing line can also be toggled in Race Now mode.

Grudges and Alliances feature

The main feature of the game is the "Grudges and Alliances" feature, which is based on the player's driving style and attitude. If the player drives dirty and bumps into other drivers, even if it was an unintentional bump, that driver becomes a "Rival", and will bump into the player if they happen to encounter each other later in the race. However, if the player drafts the opponent (a new feature for the game), that rival's level in grudge severity drops. If the player drafts a neutral driver long enough, that driver will become an "Ally", and at times will let the player pass. Conversely, if the player bumps into an ally, their alliance will slowly drop. The maximum severity value for both grudges and alliances is -100 and +100, respectively. Players can see their four highest grudges and alliances at the end of the race. In Season and Career modes, the grudges and alliances the player makes carry over to future races.[2]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PC) 78/100[5]
(PS2) 88/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpot(PC) 7.5/10[9]
(PS2/XBOX) 8.8/10[10]
GameSpyStarStarStarStar[12]
GameZone8.4/10[11]
IGN(PC) 8.5/10[7]
(PS2/XBOX) 8.8/10[8]

The game received positive reviews from critics, with IGN giving the PS2 version an 8.8/10, praising the sounds, "QuickSave", and microphone support. The main issue that IGN cited was that the driving model is somewhat unrealistic.[2] IGN gave the PC version an 8.5, with the issue being the spotter's incompetence.[13] The Xbox review was also an 8.5, and praised the framerate. GameSpot called the game the Tony Hawk or Madden of NASCAR, and gave the game an 8.8, with Metacritic giving it an 88.[14] The more critical review came from GameZone, which gave the game an 8.4.[15]

Awards

The game received many top awards, the most notable was received at the 2003 Spike Video Game Awards, where NASCAR Thunder 2004 won the award for 2003's best racing game. It is currently the only NASCAR game to win an award at the VGAs. NASCAR Thunder 2004 also nominated for The Electric Playground's 2003 "Best Driving Game for PC" and "Best Console Driving Game" award, but lost to Software:Need for Speed: Underground and Project Gotham Racing 2 respectively.[16][17]

References

  1. ↑ "Gamezone: NASCAR Thunder 2004 PSX". Gamezone. http://psx.gamezone.com/gamesell/p22082.htm. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 MacGruder, Randy (22 September 2003). "NASCAR Thunder 2004". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/23/nascar-thunder-2004. 
  3. ↑ "NASCAR Thunder 2004". https://www.ea.com/games/nascar/nascar-thunder-2004/home.html. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "GameSpy: NASCAR Thunder 2004 - Page 1". http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/nascar-thunder-2004/6267p1.html. 
  5. ↑ "NASCAR Thunder 2004 for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-thunder-2004/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved February 19, 2022. 
  6. ↑ "NASCAR Thunder 2004 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nascar-thunder-2004/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved February 19, 2022. 
  7. ↑ Magruder, Randy (22 September 2003). "NASCAR Thunder 2004 Review". https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/17/nascar-thunder-2004-review. 
  8. ↑ Magruder, Randy (22 September 2003). "NASCAR Thunder 2004 Review". https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/17/nascar-thunder-2004-review-2. 
  9. ↑ Goble, Gord (23 September 2003). "NASCAR Thunder 2004 Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-thunder-2004-review/1900-6075617/. 
  10. ↑ Provo, Frank (13 September 2003). "NASCAR Thunder 2004 Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nascar-thunder-2004-review/1900-6075618/. 
  11. ↑ jkdmedia, GameZone (4 May 2012). "NASCAR Thunder 2004 – PC – Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/nascar_thunder_2004_pc_review/. 
  12. ↑ Osborne, Scott (25 October 2003). "NASCAR Thunder 2004". http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/nascar-thunder-2004/6267p1.html. 
  13. ↑ MacGruder, Randy. "NASCAR Thunder 2004 Review - PC Review at IGN". Pc.ign.com. http://pc.ign.com/articles/450/450285p1.html. 
  14. ↑ "NASCAR Thunder 2004 Review". GameSpot.com. 2003-09-23. http://www.gamespot.com/nascar-thunder-2004/reviews/nascar-thunder-2004-review-6075618/. 
  15. ↑ "NASCAR Thunder 2004 - PC - Review". GameZone. 2003-09-28. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/nascar_thunder_2004_pc_review. 
  16. ↑ Staff (2004). "Blister Awards 2003". The Electric Playground. Archived from the original on March 23, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040323231312/http://www.elecplay.com/feature.php?article=11145&page=3. 
  17. ↑ Staff (2004). "Blister Awards 2003". The Electric Playground. Archived from the original on March 23, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040323231535/http://www.elecplay.com/feature.php?article=11145&page=6. 
  • 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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