Software:NBA Ballers: Phenom

From HandWiki
Short description: 2006 video game
NBA Ballers: Phenom
Developer(s)Midway
Publisher(s)Midway Home Entertainment
SeriesNBA Ballers
EngineRenderWare
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Xbox
Release
Genre(s)Sports (basketball)
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

NBA Ballers: Phenom is a basketball video game for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It is the sequel to NBA Ballers, which featured Stephon Marbury and Chauncey Billups. In this game, celebrities such as MC Jin, Ludacris, Hot Sauce, and Trikz can be played. The main story is based on the friendship between the player and Hot Sauce. One day, Hot Sauce signs up for a one-man street baller organization and steals the player's girlfriend. The gamer must then get back at him by showing off his streetball skills. The game features four divided sections of Los Angeles: Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles International Airport. Phenom expands on the customization from the first game. Now there are 20,000 customization combinations, with options including haircuts, headgear, tops, bottoms, shoes, jewelry, backpacks, knee pads, elbow pads, watches, shoes, and glasses. The game also introduces the ability for the player to create their own court. An extra disc containing the soundtrack comes with the game.

Story

The story mode feature in NBA Ballers: Phenom is the game's main feature. The player creates a custom character and can choose from a variety of customizations such as height, age, body type, position and more. The story is built around the created player, the Phenom, and his rivalry with former friend Philip "Hot Sauce" Champion. After Hot Sauce convinces the scouts that he and you are indeed a one-man show, Hot Sauce being the one man. Not only does he steal your glory but he steals your girlfriend too. It's NBA Finals week and you are setting out to prove just how good you are. With the million dollars and NBA's number 1 draft position or a lucrative entrepreneur empire up for offer, you must do whatever it takes to become the best. The main games are played in Tournament style the same as NBA Ballers. There are 4 locations in which you can compete in Tournaments. You can go back to your hotel when you are not competing in an event, where you can save the game, exit the game, continue the game, modify your baller and design your mansion. Two of the locations (Beverly Hills and Venice Beach) are explorable. You can walk around the town doing numerous tasks such as collecting the hidden diamonds, play Peja's Hot Hoops and you can talk to certain people and do tasks for them resulting in a generous reward and there is even a ticket stand where you can buy tickets to participate in certain events such as the Freestyle Rap Battle with Jin.

GAMEPLAY

The normal 1-on-1 half court gameplay was kept intact from the previous game. However, Phenom introduces 2-on-2 mode, which somewhat mimics the gameplay of NBA Jam as games are played on a full court with two ballers on both teams.

NBA Ballers: Phenom supports multiplayer. The game had support for up to 2 players online and up to 4 players split screen.[2]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS2Xbox
EGM6.67/10[3]6.67/10[3]
Game Informer7.75/10[4]7.75/10[4]
GameProStarStarStar[6]N/A
GameRevolutionC−[5]C−[5]
GameSpot7.2/10[7]7.5/10[8]
GameSpyStarStarStar[9]StarStarStar[10]
GameTrailers7.6/10[11]7.6/10[11]
GameZoneN/A8/10[12]
IGN7.9/10[13]7.9/10[13]
OPM (US)StarStarStarStar[14]N/A
OXM (US)N/A8/10[15]
Aggregate score
Metacritic69/100[16]70/100[17]

The game received "average" reviews on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[16][17]

References

  1. ↑ Adams, David (2006-03-31). "NBA Ballers Phenom Scores at Stores" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/03/31/nba-ballers-phenom-scores-at-stores. 
  2. ↑ "NBA Ballers: Phenom Review" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nba-ballers-phenom-review/1900-6147029/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 EGM staff (May 2006). "NBA Ballers: Phenom". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (203): 98. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "NBA Ballers: Phenom". Game Informer (GameStop) (156): 117. April 2006. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hurh, JP (April 26, 2006). "NBA Ballers: Phenom Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140819044642/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/nba-ballers-phenom. Retrieved December 26, 2019. 
  6. ↑ Cheat Monkey (April 5, 2006). "NBA Ballers Phenom Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on May 9, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060509050411/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/53148.shtml. Retrieved December 26, 2019. 
  7. ↑ Colayco, Bob (April 5, 2006). "NBA Ballers: Phenom Review (PS2)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nba-ballers-phenom-review/1900-6147194/. Retrieved December 25, 2019. 
  8. ↑ Colayco, Bob (April 3, 2006). "NBA Ballers: Phenom Review (Xbox)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nba-ballers-phenom-review/1900-6147029/. Retrieved December 25, 2019. 
  9. ↑ Leahy, Dan (April 13, 2006). "GameSpy: NBA Ballers: Phenom (PS2)". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 15, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060415180842/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/nba-ballers-phenom/701617p1.html. Retrieved December 26, 2019. 
  10. ↑ Leahy, Dan (April 13, 2006). "GameSpy: NBA Ballers: Phenom (Xbox)". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 22, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060422010553/http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/nba-ballers-phenom/701618p1.html. Retrieved December 26, 2019. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "NBA Ballers Review". Viacom. April 8, 2006. Archived from the original on August 7, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070807205701/http://gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=2292. Retrieved December 25, 2019. 
  12. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (May 1, 2006). "NBA Ballers: Phenom - XB - Review". Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090118012121/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r28377.htm. Retrieved December 26, 2019. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Haynes, Jeff (April 4, 2006). "NBA Ballers: Phenom". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/04/05/nba-ballers-phenom. Retrieved December 25, 2019. 
  14. ↑ "NBA Ballers: Phenom". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (104): 82. May 2006. 
  15. ↑ "NBA Ballers: Phenom". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US): 79. May 2006. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "NBA Ballers: Phenom for PlayStation 2 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nba-ballers-phenom/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved December 25, 2019. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "NBA Ballers: Phenom for Xbox Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/nba-ballers-phenom/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved December 25, 2019. 
  • 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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