Software:Pit-Fighter

From HandWiki

Pit-Fighter is a 1990 fighting game developed and published by Atari Games for arcades.[1] The Japanese release was published by Konami.[2] Home versions were published by Tengen.[3]

The game uses digitized live actors captured through a bluescreen process, where the various poses and moves were performed by actors in front of a video camera. The game's on-screen character animation is replays of the actual footage, not a rotoscoped (redrawn) animation. Pit-Fighter is the second fighting game to use digitized sprites, after Home Data's Reikai Dōshi: Chinese Exorcist.

Gameplay

The gameplay is similar to Taito's Violence Fight and SNK's Street Smart. The player must punch and kick their opponents until their energy runs out. If the player presses all three of the buttons at once, the character will perform a "super move". The player begins by choosing one of the three playable characters, who each have different moves, speeds, and powers. Up to three people can play at a time, but there will be extra opponents to fight during any of the game's 15 different matches.

Every third fight is a bonus round known as a "Grudge Match".[4] In a Grudge Match, the player must fight against a CPU controlled clone of the fighter if playing alone, or against the other players in a multiplayer game. Getting knocked down three times eliminates a player from the Grudge Match; the winner is the last one standing. Losing the Grudge Match does not eliminate a player, but the winner gets bonus money.

The final battle, the "Championship Match", is between the player and the mysterious entity that taunts between matches periodically, the Masked Warrior. If more than one person is playing the game before this match, they must fight each other to the death until only one becomes victorious and can fight him.

The crowd can interfere by attacking, dropping usable weapons, or pushing a stray player back into the fight. The "power pill" power-up makes the player temporarily stronger and take less damage from hits.

Characters

Pit-Fighter features three playable fighters:

  • Buzz (Bill Chase[5]): An All-American big and strong ex-professional wrestler.
  • Ty (Marc Williams[6]): An African-American agile kickboxing champion.
  • Kato (Glenn Fratticelli[7]): A Japanese-American quick 3rd degree black belt.

There are eight main unplayable opponents. Several of these characters share the names of the actors who played them:[8] Executioner (John Aguire[9]), Southside Jim (James Thompson[10]), Angel (Angela Stellato[11]), C.C. Rider (Rich Vargas[12]), Mad Miles (Miles McGowan[13]), Heavy Metal (Kim Rhodes[14]), Chainman Eddie (Eddie Venancio[15]) and Masked Warrior (Bill McAleenan[16]). Others non-playable characters include Knife Woman (Dianne Bertucci[17]), Knife Man (Milt Loper[18]), Finale Woman (Tina Scyrater[19]), Finale Woman (Maria Lenytzkyj[20]), Big Kid In The Crowd (Gabriel Koura[21]) and Crowd (Rob Rowe[22]).

Releases

In 1991, versions of the game were released for the Super NES, Mega Drive/Genesis, Master System, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, and ZX Spectrum.[23] The Spectrum version was released as part of the Super Fighter compilation with Final Fight and WWF WrestleMania.[24] The Super NES version lacks the interactive audience, weapons, and three characters: Southside Jim, Heavy Metal, and Mad Miles.

Handheld versions were released for the Atari Lynx and the Game Boy in 1992. Tiger Electronics released its own dedicated handheld version.[25][26]

An emulated version of the arcade game is included in 2004's Midway Arcade Treasures 2 for GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox, and in Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe Edition (2006) for Microsoft Windows. This version runs at a faster speed than the arcade original. Pit-Fighter is in the 2012 compilation Midway Arcade Origins.[27]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
ArcadeSega Genesis
CVG90%[28]N/A
MegaTechN/A80%[29]

Atari sold 5,500 arcade units in the U.S. and 1,000 in Ireland.[30] In North America, it was the top-grossing upright arcade cabinet on the RePlay arcade charts in October 1990,[31] and weekly coin drop earnings averaged $413.75 per arcade unit during November to December 1990.[32] In Japan, Game Machine listed Pit-Fighter as the seventh most successful table arcade unit of December 1990.[33]

Julian Rignall of Computer and Video Games rated the arcade version 90%, calling it a "thoroughly enjoyable beat 'em up which really packs a punch" and "one of the most enjoyable arcade fighting games in a long time".[28] Zzap!64 gave the game a more negative review, dubbing it an "anticlimactic beat'em up" and writing that the attract mode was the best part of the game. They criticized the limited frames of animation and compared it unfavorably to The Combatribes and Final Fight.[34]

David Wilson of Computer Gaming World approved of the Amiga version, stating that it "is the arcade game teleported", and concluded that the game "offers the two-player option missing in many fighter games and enough roughhousing to suit the most violent gamer".[35]

George and Rob reviewed the Super NES version in Nintendo Power.[36] George commented that game was "extremely difficult to control" and that Rob commented on the graphics using digitized people, stating, "it doesn't matter if it uses new technology or not. The question is 'is the game fun?' and I think the answer in this case is 'no'." Rob and George rated Graphics and Sound with 2.5, Control with 2, Challenge with 2 and Theme and Fun with 2.5.

MegaTech magazine gave the Mega Drive version an 80% score.[37] Mega placed the Mega Drive version at #27 in its Top Mega Drive Games of All Time.[38]

In February 1993, Your Sinclair gave the ZX Spectrum version a 28% score.[24][23]

Legacy

Electronic Gaming Monthly and GamePro had previews of a planned sequel named Pit Fighter II by Tengen, which the former magazine claimed was more than 75% finished and would be released for Sega Genesis in the fourth quarter of 1993.[39][40]


Notes

References

  1. ↑ "News Digest". RePlay 15 (12): 23. September 1990. https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-15-issue-no.-12-september-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2015%2C%20Issue%20No.%2012%20-%20September%201990/page/23. 
  2. ↑ "ピットファイター [アーケード / ファミ通.com"]. Archived from the original on 2023-09-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20230902112131/https://www.famitsu.com/games/t/25335/. 
  3. ↑ "TurboPlay Magazine #05 (February/March 1991) :: TurboPlay Magazine Archives". https://archives.tg-16.com/turbo_play_0005.htm. 
  4. ↑ "Pit-Fighter". MobyGames. http://www.mobygames.com/game/pit-fighter. 
  5. ↑ "Bill Chase". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1337949/. 
  6. ↑ "Marc D. Williams". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0931228/. 
  7. ↑ "Glenn Fratticelli". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1338894/. 
  8. ↑ "Pit-Fighter (Video Game 1990)". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296802/fullcredits. 
  9. ↑ "John Aguire". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340327/. 
  10. ↑ "James Thompson" (in en-US). https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1397131/. 
  11. ↑ "Angela Stellato". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340032/. 
  12. ↑ "Rich Vargas" (in en-US). https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340624/. 
  13. ↑ "Miles McGowan". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340521/. 
  14. ↑ "Kim Rhodes | Actor" (in en-US). https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9550383/. 
  15. ↑ "Eddie Venancio". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1340175/. 
  16. ↑ "Bill McAleenan" (in en-US). https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1339487/. 
  17. ↑ "Dianne Bertucci". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1338442/. 
  18. ↑ "Milt Loper". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1339390/. 
  19. ↑ "Tina Scyrater". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1339946/. 
  20. ↑ "Maria Lenytzkyj" (in en-US). https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1339350/. 
  21. ↑ "Gabriel Knight". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5209430/. 
  22. ↑ "Rob Rowe". http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1057643/. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Hutchinson, Andy (November 1991). "Pit Fighter". Your Sinclair (71). http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/pitfighter.htm. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Nash, Jonathan (February 1993). "Super Fighter". Your Sinclair (86). http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/superfightercomp.htm. 
  25. ↑ "Tiger Electronics Electronic Pit Fighter Reviews, Pricing, Specs" (in en-US). https://www.engadget.com/products/tiger-electronics/electronic/pit-fighter/. 
  26. ↑ Morgan, Rik. "Tiger Pit Fighter". https://www.handheldmuseum.com/Tiger/PitFighter.htm. 
  27. ↑ CLAIBORN, SAMUEL (November 13, 2012). "Midway Arcade Origins Review". http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/14/midway-arcade-origins-review. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Rignall, Julian (January 1991). "Pit Fighter". Computer+Video Games (110): pp. 140. https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-110/CVG_110_Jan_1991/page/n139?view=theater. 
  29. ↑ MegaTech rating, EMAP, issue 5, page 78, May 1992
  30. ↑ "Production Numbers". Atari Games. August 31, 1999. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210417061521/http://www.atarigames.com/atarinumbers90s.pdf. 
  31. ↑ "RePlay: The Players' Choice". RePlay 16 (1): 4. October 1990. https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-1-october-1990-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201990/page/4. 
  32. ↑ "Editorial". RePlay 16 (4): 6. January 1991. https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-4-january-1991-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%204%20-%20January%201991/page/6. 
  33. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (395): 37. January 1, 1991. 
  34. ↑ Hogg, Robin (February 1991). "Pit-Fighter (Atari games)". Zzap!64: pp. 51. 
  35. ↑ Wilson, David (October 1992). "Domark's Punch-Drunk Coin-Op Conversion: Pit-Fighter". Computer Gaming World (99): 66. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1992&pub=2&id=99. 
  36. ↑ George; Rob (January 1992). "George & Rob's Now Playing". Nintendo Power 32: 102. https://archive.org/details/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20032%20%28January%201992%29/page/n109/mode/2up. 
  37. ↑ "Pit-Fighter Review". MegaTech: pp. 28–30. February 1992. https://retrocdn.net/images/2/21/MegaTech_UK_02.pdf. 
  38. ↑ "Top Mega Drive Games of All Time". Mega (Future Publishing) (1): pp. 76. October 1992. 
  39. ↑ Gurka, John (August 1993). "Fact-Files: Pit Fighter II". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (49): pp. 134–135. https://archive.org/stream/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_49#page/n135/mode/2up. 
  40. ↑ "Short ProShots: Genesis (Pit-Fighter II)". GamePro (IDG) (51): pp. 148. October 1993. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:GamePro_US_051.pdf&page=150. 
  • Pit-Fighter at the Killer List of Videogames
  • 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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