Software:Noir: A Shadowy Thriller

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Short description: 1996 video game


Noir: A Shadowy Thriller
Developer(s)TSi, Inc.
Publisher(s)Cyberdreams
Producer(s)David Mullich
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release1996
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Noir: A Shadowy Thriller is a 1996 adventure game developed by American studio TSi, Inc. and published by Cyberdreams for Windows.[1] Noir was Cyberdreams' last released game before the studio shut down in 1997.

Plot

The setting of Noir places the player in Los Angeles in 1940 as a private investigator. The player is tasked with completing six non-linear 'cases' presented as the unresolved files of their missing partner, Jack Slayton. These cases can be completed in any order or concurrently. Once the player has solved all cases, they will discover the cause of Jack Slayton's disappearance.[2]

Gameplay

Gameplay in Noir is consistent with other point and click adventure games, with the player navigating the environment through a series of still images. Whilst the player may examine or pick up objects with the cursor, there is no inventory system and the game will automatically use appropriate items as relevant. The game also presents multiple difficultly levels which affect the number of hints available to the player and the context clues represented by the cursor.[2]

Development

Noir was developed by TSi, Inc, a short-lived company that developed computer graphics and proprietary software for motion capture in animation.[3] The game was written and directed by Jeff Blyth, a director whose primary experience was documentaries shot in Circle-Vision 360° for Disney attractions and the 1989 Walt Disney Pictures film Cheetah. The full-motion video footage was filmed with a full cast, with photography taking place at Los Angeles landmarks including the Bradbury Building, Bernardo Fernandez House and James Oviatt Building.[2]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGWStarStarHalf star[4]
GameSpot4.9/10[5]
Next GenerationStarStar[6]
PC PowerPlay61%[7]

Noir: A Shadowy Thriller received mostly negative reviews. Reviewers focused on the player's passive relationship to the story through FMV sequences, with David Wildgoose of PC PowerPlay writing that the sequences feel detached from the rest of the game, even though they are central to the plot. The reviewer noted that players cannot talk in the game, but just stand there, watch and listen.[7] Many reviewers noted that automatic animations running when a player has the correct items to progress a puzzle limits the involvement of the player in the puzzle solving process, with Ron Dulin of GameSpot remarking that the players don't have to do anything, but just look everywhere in the right order. Next Generation agreed, noting that players will be left with the underlying feeling of being led to the answers rather than discovering them.[6]

Retrospective assessments of the game have been more forgiving, focusing on the verisimilitude of the film noir setting. Phil Salvador of The Obscuritory noted that, in spite of the "confusing plot", Noir's presentation is "spectacular" and "really is like stepping into the gritty haze of an old detective film".[8]

References

  1. ↑ Freese, Bob (June 2002). "Noir: A Shadowy Thriller". http://www.justadventure.com:80/reviews/Noir/Noir.shtm. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Noir: A Shadowy Thriller - Game Manual. CyberDreams, Inc.. 1996. https://mysterymanor.net/gamemanuals/Noir.pdf. 
  3. ↑ "TSi, Inc.". https://www.mobygames.com/company/tsi-inc. 
  4. ↑ Ardai, Charles (March 1997). "Noir: A Shadowy Thriller". PC PowerPlay (152): 92–94. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_152/page/n95/mode/2up?view=theater. 
  5. ↑ Dulin, Ron (December 17, 1996). "Noir Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/noir-review/1900-2543946/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Noir: A Shadowy Thriller". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (27): 98. March 1997. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Wildgoose, David (May 1997). "Noir: A Shadowy Thriller". PC PowerPlay (12): 60. https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-012-1997-05/page/n59/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ Salvador, Phil (15 July 2018). "Noir: A Shadowy Thriller". https://obscuritory.com/adventure/noir-a-shadowy-thriller/. 
  • 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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