Software:Popeye (video game)

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Short description: 1982 video game
Popeye
North American arcade flyer.
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)Nintendo (arcade, NES)
Atari, Inc. (arcade EU/UK)[2]
Parker Brothers
Designer(s)Genyo Takeda[3]
Shigeru Miyamoto[3]
Platform(s)Arcade, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 8-bit, ColecoVision, Commodore 64, Intellivision, Odyssey², NES, TI-99/4A
Release
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)1-2 players alternating turns

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is a 1982 platform game developed and released by Nintendo as an arcade video game. It is based on the comic strip of the same name created by E. C. Segar and licensed from King Features Syndicate. Some sources claim that Ikegami Tsushinki did programming work on the game.[7][8][9] As Popeye, the player must collect hearts thrown by Olive Oyl from the top of the screen while being chased by Brutus. Popeye can punch bottles thrown at him, but can only hurt Brutus after eating the one can of spinach present in each level. Unlike Nintendo's earlier Donkey Kong games, there is no jump button. There are three screens.

The game was licensed by Atari, Inc. for exclusive release in the United Kingdom and Ireland in an Atari-designed cabinet. Nintendo ported the game to the Famicom, and Parker Brothers published versions for other home systems. Popeye no Eigo Asobi is an English teaching spin-off released for the Famicom on November 22, 1983.

Gameplay

The title screen and first level are in the top row; level 2 and 3 are below, from the arcade version.

The object of the game is for Popeye the Sailor to collect a certain number of items dropped by Olive Oyl, depending on the level—24 hearts, 16 musical notes, or 24 letters in the word "HELP"—while avoiding the Sea Hag, Brutus, and other dangers. The player can make Popeye walk back and forth and up and down stairs and ladders with a 4-way joystick. There is a punch button, but unlike similar games of the period, no jump button.

Brutus chases Popeye and can jump down a level, reach down to the next lower level, and jump up to hit Popeye if he is directly above. Popeye can attack Brutus after eating the can of spinach found in each level. Spinach makes Popeye invincible for a short period, during which Brutus runs away and can be temporarily knocked out simply by running into him.

Popeye punches to destroy harmful items such as bottles, vultures, and skulls. He loses a life when hit by Brutus or any flying object, or if he fails to collect a dropped item within a certain time after it reaches the bottom of the screen. On the first screen of each cycle, Popeye can hit a punching bag to knock a bucket off a hook; if it falls on Brutus's head, he becomes stunned for several seconds and the player earns a score bonus.

Other licensed Popeye characters in the game are Olive Oyl, Swee'Pea, and Wimpy.

Development

Popeye was designed by Genyo Takeda and Shigeru Miyamoto. Previously, Nintendo had originally intended to make a video game based on the Popeye characters, but was denied a license, so the mostly original characters of Mario, Donkey Kong, and Pauline were developed for Donkey Kong (1981).[10]

Ports

Parker Brothers ported the game to the Atari 8-bit family, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Intellivision, Commodore 64, TI-99/4A, and ColecoVision, and is one of the few games ported to the Magnavox Odyssey².

On July 15, 1983, Popeye became one of the three launch games for the Famicom, along with Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr..[11]

Reception

In the United States, Popeye topped the Play Meter arcade chart for street locations in April 1983.[12]

Electronic Games wrote in 1983 that the arcade version of Popeye at first appeared to be "yet another variation of a theme that's become all too familiar since Donkey Kong [...] But there are some nuances, not the least of which are the graphics and sound effects, that tend to allow the game the benefit of the doubt in execution. [...] Popeye does offer some interesting play that is more than complemented by the cosmetics."[13] The Arcade Express newsletter scored it 7 out of 10 in January 1983, calling it "the closest thing to a videogame cartoon seen yet in an arcade", but also that "game play, unfortunately, doesn't come up to visual standards."[14] Michael Pugliese writing for The Coin Slot described Popeye as "a visually stimulating and exciting game that will go well in any location [...] it contains all the challenges and character appeal to make it a solid earner for a long time."[15] Computer and Video Games magazine gave the arcade game a generally favorable review.[16]

Antic wrote that the Atari 8-bit version "is a thoroughly entertaining challenge for gamers of all ages" and that its mechanics unique among climbing games gave it above-average replay value.[17] Computer Games magazine gave the ColecoVision and home computer conversions an A rating, calling Popeye a "terrific cartoony climbing game, much better than Donkey Kong".[18]

Legacy

Popeye no Eigo Asobi is an English teaching spin-off for Famicom, released on November 22, 1983. A board game based on the video game was released by Parker Brothers in 1983.

In 2008, Namco Networks released an enhanced remake for mobile phones. The gameplay is largely the same, plus an enhanced mode with a bonus stage and an extra level that pays homage to the short A Dream Walking where Popeye must save Olive from sleepwalking. Tokens are earned to buy old comic strips.[19]

On November 4, 2021, Popeye was released for Nintendo Switch as a 3D reimagining of the arcade game.[20] It was met with poor Metacritic scores.[citation needed]

Ben Falls earned the world record score of 3,023,060 on December 20, 2011, according to the Twin Galaxies International Scoreboard.[21]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ McFerran, Damien (2018-02-26). "Feature: Shining A Light On Ikegami Tsushinki, The Company That Developed Donkey Kong" (in en-GB). https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/02/feature_shining_a_light_on_ikegami_tsushinki_the_company_that_developed_donkey_kong. 
  2. ↑ "Official European Flyer". https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=3186&image=1. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Iwata Asks: Punch-Out!! - Investigating a Glove Interface". Nintendo. August 7, 2009. http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/punchout/vol1_page2.jsp. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006) (in ja). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005). Japan: Amusement News Agency. pp. 57, 128. ISBN 978-4990251215. https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n58. 
  5. ↑ "Video Game Flyers: Popeye, Nintendo (EU)". https://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=thumbs&db=videodb&id=2570. 
  6. ↑ "Company:Ikegami Tsushinki - GDRI :: Game Developer Research Institute". http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Company:Ikegami_Tsushinki. 
  7. ↑ ドンキーコング裁判についてちょこっと考えてみる Thinking a bit about Donkey Kong, accessed February 1, 2009
  8. ↑ It started from Pong (それは『ポン』から始まった : アーケードTVゲームの成り立ち, sore wa pon kara hajimatta: ākēdo terebi gēmu no naritachi), Masumi Akagi (赤木真澄, Akagi Masumi), Amusement Tsūshinsha (アミューズメント通信社, Amyūzumento Tsūshinsha), 2005, ISBN 4-9902512-0-2.
  9. ↑ East, Tom (November 25, 2009). "Donkey Kong Was Originally A Popeye Game". Official Nintendo Magazine. http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/13484/donkey-kong-was-originally-a-popeye-game/. "Miyamoto says Nintendo's main monkey might not have existed." 
  10. ↑ Marley, Scott (December 2016). "SG-1000". Retro Gamer (Future Publishing) (163): 56–61. 
  11. ↑ "Play Meter's Equipment Poll: Top Videos". Play Meter 9 (8): 16. May 1, 1983. https://archive.org/details/play-meter-volume-9-number-8-may-1st-1983-600dpi/Play%20Meter%20-%20Volume%209%2C%20Number%208%20-%20May%201st%2C%201983%20%28Compressed%29/page/16/mode/1up. 
  12. ↑ Sharpe, Roger C. (June 1983). "Insert Coin Here". Electronic Games: pp. 92. https://archive.org/stream/electronic-games-magazine-1983-06/Electronic_Games_Issue_16_Vol_02_04_1983_Jun#page/n89/mode/2up. 
  13. ↑ "The Hotseat: Popeye". The Arcade Express 1 (11). January 2, 1983. http://www.digitpress.com/library/newsletters/arcadeexpress/arcade_express_v1n11.pdf#page=6. 
  14. ↑ Pugliese, Michael (April 1983). "Games in Review: The Arcade Parade". The Coin Slot: 14. http://coinslot.arcade-museum.com/CoinSlot--83-04--V8N8/14/. Retrieved October 17, 2017. 
  15. ↑ "Arcade Action: Packing a Punch! Popeye". Computer and Video Games (19 (May 1983)): 31. 16 April 1983. https://www.solvalou.com/static/images/arcade/reviews/391.jpg. 
  16. ↑ Duberman, David (January 1984). "Popeye". Antic: 107. https://archive.org/details/1984-01-anticmagazine. 
  17. ↑ "1985 Software Buyer's Guide". Computer Games (United States: Carnegie Publications) 3 (5): 11–8, 51–8. February 1985. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Games_Vol_3_No_5_1985-02_Carnegie_Publications_US/page/n13/mode/2up. 
  18. ↑ Popeye at IGN
  19. ↑ "Popeye". Nintendo.com. Sabec LTD. November 2021. https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/popeye-switch/. 
  20. ↑ Totilo, Stephen (December 20, 2011). "The new Popeye World Record is 3,023,060". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5869853/the-new-popeye-world-record-is-3023060. 

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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