Software:Perimeter (video game)

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Perimeter
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Developer(s)K-D Lab
Publisher(s)
Codemasters
SeriesPerimeter
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • EU: May 21, 2004
  • NA: June 29, 2004[1]
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Perimeter is a real-time strategy video game developed by Russian studio K-D Lab for Microsoft Windows. It is published by 1C Company and Codemasters, and was released in 2004.

Gameplay

In Perimeter, ground must be terraformed before buildings can be built on it. Some weapons can distort the ground, which will cause constant damage to buildings until the ground is re-terraformed.

Buildings must also be placed on a power grid formed by Energy Cores linked to the player's Frame. A building that loses connection to the power grid stops working and may be captured by an enemy player who connects it to their own Energy Core network. Thus destroying Energy Cores to disconnect parts of an enemy's base is a possible strategy on certain maps.

Energy Cores also produce energy, the game's only resource. The amount of energy generated depends on the total area of terraformed ground covered by the player's Energy Cores.

Energy Cores can activate the titular Perimeter, an impenetrable barrier that destroys any enemies passing through it. However, this drains a large amount of energy.

Only 3 basic units (Soldier, Officer and Technician) can be built in factories, the more advanced units are created by morphing squads of basic units. Each unit type requires a certain amount of basic units, so for example if a unit costs 7 Soldiers and 2 Officers, a squad containing 20 Soldiers and 7 Officers could be morphed into 3 of the advanced unit, with 2 Soldiers and 1 Officer left over. Morphing is not permanent, so the squad can later be morphed into a different advanced unit, or reverted into basic units. More advanced units require the construction of laboratories before they can be morphed.

The available military units include land-based, flying and underground units, with various weapons such as lasers, rockets and bombs. Defensive turrets may also be built to attack incoming enemy units.

The 3 factions found in the game (Exodus, Empire and Harkback) share most of their technology, but each faction has its own specialized lab that unlocks faction-specific units.

The goal of the game varies by mission. For example, the mission may require players to capture or destroy an enemy Frame, destroy Scourge nests, build a certain structure at a certain location, or charge up the Frame's Spiral to warp through a portal.

Plot

Humanity has undergone radical changes in society. Scientists and spiritual leaders became one and the same, calling themselves Spirits. The Spirits, foreseeing the inevitable destruction of Earth due to the ravages of our time, directed scientific efforts into the discovery of a new plane of existence: the Psychosphere. The Psychosphere acted as a conduit, providing means to reach another, untouched world, a new Promised Land, by jumping between flat worlds within the Psychosphere. The Psychosphere is appropriately named, as the various worlds resemble the thoughts and actions that have occurred upon Earth during its history. The Spirits then embarked upon the construction of massive floating city-ships called Frames, which could house hundreds of thousands of people for an indefinite period of time. With the Frames completed, the Spirits sent them forth into the Psychosphere with the intent to lead their people to the Promised Land, leaving Earth behind forever.

Within each of the Frames, the Spirits formed Spirit Councils which exercised absolute authority in all matters relating to the Frame. The general populace were kept sedate and forced into a ritualistic spiritualism to control their minds, for it was soon discovered that the Psychosphere reacted to negative emotions; causing creatures known as Scourge to erupt out of the very ground and attack the Frames. Eventually, some of the citizens of the Frames began to revolt against the rule of the Spirit Council, and the Frames began to separate into three factions: the Exodus who continued to follow the guidance of the Spirits and seek the Promised Land, the Harkback who reject the rule of the Spirits and seek to return to Earth, and the Empire who reject the Spirits, the idea of the Promised Land, and Earth, seeking to establish a cybernetic Human empire within the Psychosphere itself.

As the game progresses, the various factions come into contact, and eventually combat, with one another's Frames and with the Scourge. Exodus continues to move through the Chain of Worlds to its very end; Harkback move to the Root Worlds at the very beginning of the Chain, and the Empire tries to dominate both sides. Ultimately Exodus destroys the primary Imperial Frame near a portal to the Promised Land, and then move through the portal. Meanwhile, the Harkback find the Root Worlds and a portal back to Earth, also moving through. However, both factions end up near one another on the Promised Land, which appears to be Earth as it was millions of years ago. This sets the scene for the game's sequel.

Reception

Perimeter
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic77/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
1Up.comB−[3]
Edge8/10[4]
Game Informer7.75/10[5]
GameSpot8.2/10[6]
GameSpyStarStarStarStar[7]
GameZone8.7/10[8]
IGN8/10[9]
PC Gamer (UK)90%[10]
PC Gamer (US)69%[11]
PC Zone81%[12]
The New York Times (mixed)[13]

The game received "favorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[2] It was nominated for GameSpot's annual "Most Innovative Game" award, which went to Katamari Damacy.[14]

Perimeter: Emperor's Testament

Perimeter: Emperor's Testament
Developer(s)RussiaK-D Lab
Publisher(s)Paradox Interactive
SeriesPerimeter
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • AS: August 29, 2006
  • EU: August 29, 2006
  • NA: September 4, 2006
Genre(s)Real-time strategy
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

A stand-alone expansion pack titled Perimeter: Emperor's Testament was published by Paradox Interactive and released in 2006.

Reception

Perimeter: Emperor's Testament
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic72/100[15]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpot7.3/10[16]
GameZone8.5/10[17]
IGN7.6/10[18]
PC Gamer (UK)75%[19]
PC Gamer (US)70%[20]
PC Zone72%[21]

The expansion pack received "average" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[15]

Sequel

K-D Lab released a sequel Perimeter 2 in 2009.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "'Perimeter' Ships To North American Stores" (in en). http://worthplaying.com/article/2004/6/29/news/17767-perimeter-ships-to-north-american-stores/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Perimeter for PC Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/perimeter/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved November 23, 2015. 
  3. ↑ Sue, Jennie (July 8, 2004). "Perimeter". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/reviews/perimeter. Retrieved November 24, 2015. 
  4. ↑ Edge staff (August 2004). "Perimeter". Edge (139): 105. 
  5. ↑ Biessener, Adam (July 2004). "Perimeter". Game Informer (135): 121. Archived from the original on September 23, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090923173603/http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200407/R04.0719.1624.53414.htm. Retrieved November 23, 2015. 
  6. ↑ Ocampo, Jason (June 29, 2004). "Perimeter Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/perimeter-review/1900-6101628/. Retrieved November 23, 2015. 
  7. ↑ Abner, William (July 2, 2004). "GameSpy: Perimeter". GameSpy. http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/perimeter/528163p1.html. Retrieved November 24, 2015. 
  8. ↑ Knutson, Michael (July 28, 2004). "Perimeter - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081002084957/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19758.htm. Retrieved November 23, 2015. 
  9. ↑ Adams, Dan (June 29, 2004). "Perimeter Review". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/06/30/perimeter-review. Retrieved November 23, 2015. 
  10. ↑ PC Gamer UK staff (June 2004). "Perimeter". PC Gamer UK. Archived from the original on June 4, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040604033307/http://gamesradar.msn.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=30410&subsectionid=1609. Retrieved November 24, 2015. 
  11. ↑ "Perimeter". PC Gamer: 62. July 2004. 
  12. ↑ PC Zone staff (June 2004). "PC Review: Perimeter". PC Zone. Archived from the original on July 10, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070710152939/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=103952. Retrieved November 24, 2015. 
  13. ↑ Herold, Charles (August 5, 2004). "GAME THEORY: O.K., Private, Give Me 50, Then Play This Video Game". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/05/technology/game-theory-ok-private-give-me-50-then-play-this-video-game.html. Retrieved November 23, 2015. 
  14. ↑ The GameSpot Editors (January 5, 2005). "Best and Worst of 2004". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 7, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050307021607/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2004/. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Perimeter: Emperor's Testament for PC Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/perimeter-emperors-testament/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved November 23, 2015. 
  16. ↑ Todd, Brett (September 5, 2006). "Perimeter: Emperor's Testament Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/perimeter-emperors-testament-review/1900-6157095/. Retrieved November 23, 2015. 
  17. ↑ Knutson, Michael (August 27, 2006). "Perimeter: Emperor's Testament - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081223003526/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r26528.htm. Retrieved November 23, 2015. 
  18. ↑ Legate, Dee (September 5, 2006). "Perimeter: Emperor's Testament". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/09/05/perimeter-emperors-testament. Retrieved November 23, 2015. 
  19. ↑ "Perimeter: Emperor's Testament". PC Gamer UK: 97. December 2006. 
  20. ↑ "Perimeter: Emperor's Testament". PC Gamer: 78. December 25, 2006. 
  21. ↑ "Perimeter: Emperor's Testament". PC Zone: 80. February 2007. 
  • 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



  • 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.

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