Software:PixelJunk Racers

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Short description: 2007 video game
PixelJunk Racers
PlayStation Store icon
Developer(s)Q-Games[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)
SeriesPixelJunk
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
Release
  • NA: September 13, 2007
  • JP: September 20, 2007
  • EU: October 25, 2007
2nd Lap
  • JP: July 15, 2010
  • NA: August 24, 2010
  • PAL: August 25, 2010
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

PixelJunk Racers is a racing video game developed and published by Q-Games for the PlayStation 3. It was released on the PlayStation Store in 2007 as the first title in the PixelJunk series, a collaboration between Q-Games and Sony Computer Entertainment, who released the game outside Japan. An updated version, PixelJunk Racers: 2nd Lap, was released in 2010.

Gameplay

A screenshot of gameplay in PixelJunk Racers

Bearing structural similarity to slot car racing games, the tracks of PixelJunk Racers consist of five separate lanes within which the cars move. The camera is always fixed above the circuit, giving an aerial overview of the entire track. The commands a player can execute are; changing lanes, controlling the throttle, and honking the horn.

There are 32 gameplay modes available out of 16 core modes.[1] Core racing modes have up to three levels of difficulty (Normal, Turbo and Master) varying with the speed of the gameplay. There is a total of 10 tracks on which each mode can be played.

The single player mode includes a tournament, free racing (Quick Race), and Score Attack. In Score Attack, the player's best score in any mode is ranked online, and scores appear on PlayStation Network leaderboards. The multiplayer mode is exclusively offline, and up to seven players may simultaneously play the game on the same console.

2nd Lap

PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap, an enhanced version of Racers, was released in 2010. 2nd Lap was made available for free to players who had already purchased the original Racers. 2nd Lap includes new game types, trophies, and a "Ghost Attack" mode in which players can race the recorded "ghosts" of any online player with registered high scores.

Reception

PixelJunk Racers

PixelJunk Racers
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic62/100[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
1Up.comD+[3]
GameSpot7/10[4]
GamesTM8/10[5]
IGN5.2/10[6]
OPM (UK)5/10[7]
PALGN4.5/10[8]
Play74%[9]
PSM380%[10]

Upon its release, PixelJunk Racers received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[2] The variety of gameplay modes was praised by some critics,[4] though IGN asserted that the "diverse game types can't quite save the core mechanics", calling them "aggravatingly repetitive".[6] The difficulty of the game in general was unappealing to many reviewers.[6] In a review from 1UP.com, a phenomenon was noted in which the enemy cars would fill up all five lanes, making them impassable. Gameplay instances such as this were described as "controller-hurlingly frustrating".[3]

Another significant criticism stems from the lack of online multiplayer capabilities.[3] The only online component of the game involves comparing high scores with other players. However, PixelJunk Racers does support up to seven players offline; GameSpot suggested this feature would make it an enjoyable party game,[4] even if organizing a seven-player session in one area could be considered a hassle.[3]

2nd Lap

PixelJunk Racers: 2nd Lap
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic66/100[11]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer7/10[12]
GamesMaster60%[13]

2nd Lap received "average" reviews, albeit a bit more favorable than the original PixelJunk Racers, according to Metacritic.[11]

Notes

  1. ↑ Additional work by Santa Monica Studio.

References

  1. ↑ "PixelJunk Racers". http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Games/PixelJunk_Racers. "16 core racing modes with varying degrees of difficulty for a total of 32 modes [...] Full HD at 1080p [...] Speed through 10 richly detailed courses." 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "PixelJunk Racers for PlayStation 3 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/pixeljunk-racers/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Suttner, Nick (September 17, 2007). "PixelJunk Racers". Ziff Davis. http://www.1up.com/reviews/pixeljunk-racers. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Gerstmann, Jeff (September 28, 2007). "PixelJunk Racers Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/pixeljunk-racers-review/1900-6180093/. 
  5. ↑ "Review: PixelJunk Racers". GamesTM (Future plc): 116. December 2007. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Clements, Ryan (September 12, 2007). "PixelJunk Racers Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/09/13/pixeljunk-racers-review. 
  7. ↑ "PixelJunk Racers". PlayStation Official Magazine – UK (Future plc) (13): 113. December 2007. 
  8. ↑ van Leuveren, Luke (November 20, 2007). "PSN PixelJunk Racers Review". http://palgn.com.au/playstation-3/9413/psn-pixeljunk-racers-review/. 
  9. ↑ "Review: PixelJunk Racers". Play UK (Imagine Publishing) (160): 96. December 2007. 
  10. ↑ "Review: PixelJunk Racers". PSM3 (Future plc): 84. December 2007. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "PixelJunk Racers: 2nd Lap for PlayStation 3 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/pixeljunk-racers-2nd-lap/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. 
  12. ↑ Reed, Kristan (September 3, 2010). "Download Games Roundup (Page 2)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2010-09-03-download-games-roundup-review?page=2. 
  13. ↑ "Review: PixelJunk Racers: 2nd Lap". GamesMaster (Future plc) (231): 93. December 2010. 

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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