Software:NetStorm: Islands At War

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Short description: 1997 video game
Not to be confused with Island at War.
NetStorm: Islands At War
Developer(s)Titanic Entertainment
Publisher(s)Activision
Producer(s)Jonathan Knight
Jason Kay
Designer(s)Tony Bratton
Ken Demarest
Steven Moore
Artist(s)Beverly Garland
Composer(s)Mark Morgan
Platform(s)Windows
Release
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

NetStorm: Islands At War, also known as just NetStorm, is a real-time strategy Windows game, developed by Titanic Entertainment and published by Activision in 1997. Although a single-player campaign and tutorial missions are included, Netstorm is chiefly designed for online play, allowing for games of up to eight players.

Gameplay

A High Priest being sacrificed on an Altar

Few moving units are used, in contrast to other real-time strategy games, such as Command & Conquer. The battle area consists of a number of islands, each one controlled by an individual player. Each player has a priest unit which the enemy must capture and sacrifice using their own priest.

Players' resources are increased by collecting power in the form of "storm crystals", which can be used to build new units. The player starts the game with a limited number of units available; upon sacrificing an enemy priest, the player gains knowledge of new more powerful units for use in future battles.

There are several classes of units, including offensive units, defensive units and transport units. Only transport units can move; they are mainly used to collect the storm crystal from the "storm geysers" that appear randomly around the map.

Both the offensive and defensive units are static, in that once placed, they cannot be moved. Each offensive unit has an area or line of fire in which it can attack and destroy enemy units. Defensive units serve to provide cover to other offensive units while they make their attack.

Bridges are a key part of the game and are used to advance your position and gain access to other areas of the battlefield. Units can be constructed at the terminal points of the bridges, and further bridges can then be built from the placed unit.

The ultimate objective is to use offensive units to immobilize the enemy priests by damaging them. After this, they can be captured by a transport unit and taken to a sacrificial altar, where they are sacrificed in exchange for knowledge of more powerful units. The game ends when all enemy priests are killed or players declare a draw. Throughout the game players are free to choose to ally with other players for mutual benefit, in which case a co-operative victory is possible.

Story

NetStorm takes place in the world of Nimbus, a planet whose crust has been sent floating off into the atmosphere by the never-ending battles between the four god-like beings called "The Furies", representing Sun, Wind, Rain and Thunder. The people now live on small floating islands, each with its own high priest; their only link to their patron Fury. The islands battle each other in order to capture and sacrifice the priests of their enemies to their own Fury so they may gain knowledge and power.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSPStarStarStar[3]
CGWStarStarStarHalf star[4]
Game Informer8.25/10[5]
GameRevolutionC+[6]
GameSpot7.1/10[7]
GameStar68%[8]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[9]
PC Gamer (UK)68%[10]
PC Gamer (US)83%[11]

The game received above-average reviews. Next Generation said that the game was "not only something different in a crowded market, but it's also well thought through and fun as hell to play. Kudos to Titanic for bucking the trend, even if it's only a little."[9] GamePro said, "While the real-time strategy genre may soon burst at the seams with titles, NetStorm's impressive Internet support and novel gameplay, which mixes solid strategy and quick thinking, help it stand apart from the rest."[12][lower-alpha 1]

The game was a commercial flop, with sales of 13,500 units in the U.S. by April 1999, according to PC Data. Activision's Peter Karpas remarked at the time that "NetStorm suffered from poor timing. It came out before Internet gaming had really broken through, other than for Doom and Quake. This made it a difficult sell."[13]

The game was nominated for the "Best Online Game" award at the CNET Gamecenter Awards for 1997, which went to Ultima Online.[14]

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 4.5/5 scores for control and fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ Jebens, Harley (November 13, 1997). "NetStorm Due [date mislabeled as "April 26, 2000""]. Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/netstorm-due/1100-2468075/. 
  2. ↑ Cirulis, Martin E. (December 16, 1997). "NetStorm". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-1369,00.html. 
  3. ↑ Royal, Tim (1997). "NetStorm". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/009/088/netstorm_review.html. 
  4. ↑ Shamma, Tahsin (February 1998). "Winds of Change (NetStorm: Islands at War Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (163): 224–25. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_163.pdf. Retrieved November 17, 2021. 
  5. ↑ Bergren, Paul (February 1998). "NetStorm". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (58). 
  6. ↑ Garcia, Thomas (December 1997). "NetStorm Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33260-netstorm-review. 
  7. ↑ Dulin, Ron (December 18, 1997). "NetStorm: Islands at War Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/netstorm-islands-at-war-review/1900-2543798/. 
  8. ↑ "NetStorm: Islands at War" (in de). GameStar (Webedia). December 1997. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Netstorm [sic"]. Next Generation (Imagine Media) (40): 109. April 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_40/page/n109/mode/2up. Retrieved November 17, 2021. 
  10. ↑ Longhurst, Richard (January 1998). "Netstorm [sic"]. PC Gamer UK (Future Publishing) (52). http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=802. Retrieved November 17, 2021. 
  11. ↑ Sullivan, Keith (March 1998). "NetStorm: Islands at War". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 5 (3). http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/746.html. 
  12. ↑ Rivet Head (February 1998). "NetStorm". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (113): 70. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_103_February_1998/page/n75/mode/2up. Retrieved November 17, 2021. 
  13. ↑ Saltzman, Marc (June 4, 1999). "The Top 10 Games That No One Bought (Page 11)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Notbought/ss10.html. 
  14. ↑ Gamecenter staff (January 28, 1998). "The Gamecenter Awards for 1997! (Online Games)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards97/Off/ss06.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 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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