Software:NHL Powerplay 98

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 sports video game
NHL Powerplay 98
NHL All-Star Hockey 98
Developer(s)Radical Entertainment
Publisher(s)Virgin Interactive
Sega (Saturn)
Composer(s)Graig Robertson
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Sega Saturn
ReleaseWindows, PlayStation
  • NA: October 9, 1997[1]
  • EU: May 1998 (PS)
Sega Saturn
  • NA: November 24, 1997[2]
  • EU: January 1998
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

NHL Powerplay 98 is a sports video game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Virgin Interactive and Sega for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn in 1997. It is the sequel to NHL Powerplay '96; there was no "'97" entry in the NHL Powerplay series.[3] After Virgin opted not to release the game for the Sega Saturn, Sega acquired the rights and published the Saturn version under the title NHL All-Star Hockey 98 so as to make it a continuation of Sega's own NHL All-Star Hockey series.[4][5]

Development

The game was showcased at E3 1997.[6][7] Motion capture was used to create the player animations.[5]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPSSaturn
AllGameN/AStarStarStarHalf star[10]N/A
CGSPStarStarStar[11]N/AN/A
CGWStarStarStarStar[12]N/AN/A
EGMN/A6.75/10[13][lower-alpha 1]4.625/10[14][lower-alpha 2]
Game InformerN/A8/10[15]N/A
GameFanN/A75%[16][lower-alpha 3]82%[17][lower-alpha 4]
GameRevolutionC+[18]N/AN/A
GameSpot7.3/10[19]5.1/10[3]N/A
IGNN/A7/10[20]N/A
PC Gamer (US)62%[21]N/AN/A
PSMN/AStarStarStarHalf star[22]N/A
Sega Saturn MagazineN/AN/A85%[23]
Aggregate score
GameRankings71%[8]69%[9]N/A

NHL Powerplay 98 received a variety of reviews, with critics expressing differing opinions on a number of points. For example, while IGN, GamePro, Sega Saturn Magazine, and John Ricciardi of Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) all praised the player animations for their fluid movements and variety of realistic moves,[14][20][23][24][25] Kraig Kujawa and Dean Hager (also of EGM), as well as Ryan MacDonald of GameSpot, complained that the animations are too choppy.[13][3] Likewise, while Dan Hsu of EGM and MacDonald both considered the graphics to be bottom tier,[14][3] Kujawa, Hager, IGN, GamePro, Sega Saturn Magazine, and Glenn Rubenstein all found them exceptionally good, especially the player models.[13][4][20][23][24]

Reviewers widely complimented the player A.I.,[13][14][3][4][23] while the most strongly emphasized criticism of the game was the slow play speed.[13][14][4][20] EGM were particularly vehement about this in their review of the Saturn version, characterizing it as a fatal flaw in an otherwise well-made game; Ricciardi said that "it almost seems like the game is running in some sort of slow motion."[14] McDonald (reviewing the PlayStation version) and GamePro (reviewing the Saturn version) instead argued that the game fails to excel in any category and, while an overall solid outing, would not compete well against upcoming hockey games such as NHL 98.[3][24][lower-alpha 5] However, GamePro's review of the PlayStation version gave it a positive recommendation, saying it "brings a fast and fluid game to the rink with nice graphics, solid control, and authentic sounds", even though the reviews were both written by the same critic and did not note any differences between the two versions.[25][lower-alpha 6]

Rubenstein (reviewing the Saturn version) also gave the game a positive assessment, though a more reserved one: "If you like the sport, you'll enjoy this game; the 3D graphics are smooth (although there is a noticeable slowdown at times), the play control is solid, and the laundry list of features adds to the realism."[4] Sega Saturn Magazine was also uncertain, saying that the updates from NHL Powerplay 97 are minor, and that while it was still the top hockey game in both graphics and gameplay, it could potentially be outdone by NHL 98.[23] IGN's recommendation was still more tentative: "The link between polygons and gameplay has yet to be made, but NHL Powerplay '98 makes a nice attempt. If you really want a hockey game for your PlayStation, this one is probably your best bet for now."[20]

The PC version held a 71% on the review aggregation website GameRankings based on four reviews,[8] and the PlayStation version held a 69% based on five reviews.[9]

Notes

  1. ↑ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version each a score of 7/10 and 6.5/10.
  2. ↑ Four critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Saturn version each a score of 5/10, 5.5/10, 3.5/10, and 4.5/10.
  3. ↑ In GameFan's early viewpoint of the PlayStation version, one critic gave it 70, and another 80.
  4. ↑ In GameFan's early viewpoint of the Saturn version, one critic gave it 81, and another 83.
  5. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation version 3.5/5 for graphics, and 4/5 for sound, control, and fun factor.
  6. ↑ GamePro gave the Saturn version 3.5/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 3/5 for sound, and 4/5 for control.

References

  1. ↑ "Now Shipping…". Imagine Media. October 8, 1997. http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news-1997-10-06.html. 
  2. ↑ "SEGA GIVES HOCKEY PLAYERS BRAINS AND BRAWN IN NHL ALL-STAR HOCKEY '98". Sega of America. November 24, 1997. Archived from the original on February 2, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980202044756/http://www.sega.com/central/press_releases/nov97/nhl.html. Retrieved December 14, 2020. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 MacDonald, Ryan (October 13, 1997). "NHL Powerplay '98 Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-powerplay-98-review/1900-2548813/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GSSat
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Preview: NHL All-Star Hockey '98". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (27): 34–35. January 1998. 
  6. ↑ "Virgin Interactive announces more than 25 games in development for console and PC platforms in 1997/1998; leading international interactive entertainment publisher will showcase titles at industry's Electronic Entertainment Expo in June". April 16, 1997. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Virgin+Interactive+announces+more+than+25+games+in+development+for...-a019319830. 
  7. ↑ Johnston, Chris (June 10, 1997). "Virgin Showcases New Titles for E3". Archived from the original on October 11, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19991011205224/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/10_virgin/index.html. Retrieved July 26, 2022. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "NHL Powerplay 98 for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/198192-nhl-powerplay-98/index.html. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "NHL Powerplay 98 for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/198193-nhl-powerplay-98/index.html. 
  10. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "NHL Powerplay 98 - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2213&tab=review. 
  11. ↑ Lackey, Jeff (1997). "NHL PowerPlay 98 [sic"]. Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/008/089/powerplay98_review.html. 
  12. ↑ Goble, Gordon (February 1998). "Hockey Faceoff '98 (NHL Powerplay 98)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (163): 182–83, 186. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_163.pdf. Retrieved December 13, 2020. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean (October 1997). "NHL Powerplay 98". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (99). 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Ricciardi, John; Kujawa, Kraig; Hsu, Dan; Rickards, Kelly (February 1998). "NHL All-Star Hockey '98". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (103): 107. https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly103/page/n109/mode/2up. Retrieved December 13, 2020. 
  15. ↑ "NHL Powerplay '98 - PlayStation". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (53). September 1997. http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=psx&path=sep97&doc=pp. Retrieved December 13, 2020. 
  16. ↑ Joe Kidd; Jacques Strap (August 1997). "NHL PowerPlay 98 [sic"]. GameFan (Metropolis Media) 5 (8): 96. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_08/page/n97/mode/2up. Retrieved December 13, 2020. 
  17. ↑ Joe Kidd; The Rookie (October 1997). "All Star Hockey [sic"]. GameFan (Metropolis Media) 5 (10): 124. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_10/page/n129/mode/2up. Retrieved December 13, 2020. 
  18. ↑ Tennenbaum, Jon (November 1997). "NHL Powerplay '98 Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33156-nhl-powerplay-98-review. 
  19. ↑ Poole, Stephen (January 5, 1998). "NHL Powerplay '98 Review [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nhl-powerplay-98-review/1900-2543916/. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 "NHL Powerplay '98". Ziff Davis. August 28, 1997. https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/08/29/nhl-powerplay-98. 
  21. ↑ Smolka, Rob (February 1998). "NHL PowerPlay 98 [sic"]. PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 5 (2). http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/761.html. Retrieved December 13, 2020. 
  22. ↑ "NHL Powerplay '98". PSM (Imagine Media) (1): 25. September 1997. https://archive.org/details/PSM_Issue_001_September_1997/page/n19/mode/2up. Retrieved December 13, 2020. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 Nutter, Lee (February 1998). "Review: NHL All-Star Hockey '98". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (28): 72-73. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 The Rookie (September 1997). "NHL Powerplay '98 Makes a Run for the Cup". GamePro (IDG) (108): 105. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 The Rookie (January 1998). "NHL All-Star Hockey '98". GamePro (IDG) (112): 116. 
  • 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



Template:Radical Entertainment



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:NHL_Powerplay_98&oldid=4136123"