Software:Ping Pals

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Ping Pals
European packaging artwork
Developer(s)WayForward Technologies
Publisher(s)THQ
Producer(s)Derek Dutilly
Designer(s)Matt Bozon
Programmer(s)Ian Wakelin
Artist(s)Matt Bozon
Writer(s)Paula Shumard
Composer(s)Shin'en Multimedia (Manfred Linzner, Martin Schioeler)
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • NA: December 7, 2004[1]
  • AU: February 24, 2005
  • EU: March 11, 2005
Genre(s)Simulation
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Ping Pals is a chat/accessory program developed by WayForward Technologies and published by THQ for the Nintendo DS. It was released on December 8, 2004 in North America & It was released in Europe in early 2005. The program allows the user to customise their "Ping Pal" avatar and game interface by selecting from over 1000 different items such as hairstyles, makeup, clothing, backdrops, music loops and sound effects.

Gameplay

Items can be unlocked by trading with other players or buying them in a shop. Players must trade to complete their collections, as each cartridge's shop offers a different subset of the items. Players receive a regular allowance of coins, using the DS' date-keeping functionality, and can get more by playing mini-games (such as Guess the Number and Hot Potato), typing certain secret words in chat (each word works once per file) and even for choosing to display the credits screen more than once.

Up to 16 players can connect wirelessly using one game cartridge; each must be within about 100 feet (30 m) of one of the others to exchange text and picture messages.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic28/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
1Up.comF[3]
EGM0.5/10[4]
GameSpot3.3/10[5]
GameSpyStar[6]
GameZone3/10[7]
IGN3.5/10[8]
Nintendo Power2.8/5[9]
Nintendo World Report5/10[10]
ONM9%[11]
PALGN2/10[12]

Although Ping Pals was marketed as a nonviolent, girl-friendly game, it was frequently criticized as not being interactive enough to be called a game. In addition to this, the DS has a built-in chat program called PictoChat. PictoChat includes features that Ping Pals lacks, and due to this, the game received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2] For instance, Nintendo Official Magazine, in its Nintendo DS special, opened their review of the game by describing its existence as being "a bit like paying money to breathe air." By contrast with other summaries in the magazine, which were typed and more detailed, the reviewer gave a one word summary, handwritten in PictoChat, reading "POINTLESS".[11]

Several images in Ping Pals were licensed from QPlay. These include the Cupimon, a green creature that dances in the startup animation, and several avatar and clothing graphics.

The game received two zeroes and one 1.5 from Electronic Gaming Monthly, the lowest average score in the history of the publication.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ IGN Staff (2004-11-24). "Ping Pals" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/24/ping-pals-2. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ping Pals for DS Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/ping-pals/critic-reviews/?platform=ds. Retrieved October 11, 2019. 
  3. ↑ Maragos, Nich (January 4, 2005). "Ping Pals". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100105173714/http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3137602&did=1. Retrieved October 11, 2019. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 EGM staff (January 2005). "Ping Pals". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (187): 143. 
  5. ↑ Navarro, Alex (December 15, 2004). "Ping Pals Review [date mislabeled as "December 16, 2004""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ping-pals-review/1900-6115063/. Retrieved October 11, 2019. 
  6. ↑ Theobald, Phil (December 17, 2004). "GameSpy: Ping Pals". IGN Entertainment. http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/ping-pals/574029p1.html. Retrieved October 11, 2019. 
  7. ↑ Zacarias, Eduardo (December 28, 2004). "Ping Pals - NDS - Review". Archived from the original on September 28, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080928055616/http://nds.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r24969.htm. Retrieved October 11, 2019. 
  8. ↑ Harris, Craig (December 14, 2004). "Ping Pals". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/15/ping-pals. Retrieved October 11, 2019. 
  9. ↑ "Ping Pals". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 188: 115. February 2005. 
  10. ↑ Metts, Jonathan (December 30, 2004). "Ping Pals". NINWR, LLC. https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/4314/ping-pals-nintendo-ds. Retrieved October 11, 2019. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Ping Pals review". Nintendo Official Magazine (Future plc) 151. March 2005. 
  12. ↑ van Leuveren, Luke (August 27, 2005). "Ping Pals Review". Archived from the original on December 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111229200848/http://palgn.com.au/nintendo-ds/2944/ping-pals-review/. Retrieved October 11, 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 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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