Software:Post Mortem (video game)

From HandWiki
Short description: 2002 murder mystery adventure video game
Post Mortem
European cover art
European cover art
Developer(s)Microïds
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Stéphane Brochu
EngineVirtools
Platform(s)Windows
Release
  • FRA: November 13, 2002[2]
  • NA: February 28, 2003[1]
  • EU: March 7, 2003
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Post Mortem is a murder mystery adventure game by Microïds, released in 2002. Its sequels are Still Life and Still Life 2. The game was also released in French, Italian, German and Spanish.[3]

Gameplay

In-game screenshot showing the game's main character, Gustav McPherson, in the bar at the Alambic Bistro.

Post Mortem uses a first-person player view and a point and click user interface, using only the mouse for control. This slightly differs in its sequel, Still Life, however as it is a third person game.

Different cursors appear over portions of the screen to show the player what will happen when it is clicked on.

Gus' notebook is used to collate both the menu system of the game and the place to view documents obtained within the game.

Development history

Microïds developed and completed Post Mortem in ten months using Virtools Dev. An in-house team of 27 people created the game. This included 8 graphic artists, 5 animators and 6 programmers.[4] To ensure the game had variety and no linear storyline, Microïds used a software called "Natural Dialog Engine".[5] Post Mortem was later followed by a spin-off series, Still Life, which has currently produced two games. On September 19, 2008 a new Still Life series website was opened, covering the three games.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic71/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Adventure GamersStarStar[7]
CGWStarStarStar[8]
GameRevolutionC−[10]
GameSpot6.7/10[11]
GameSpyStarStarStarStar[12]
GamezeboStarStarStarHalf star[13]
GameZone7.3/10[14]
IGN7.9/10[15]
PC Gamer (US)40%[16]
X-PlayStarStarStar[17]
The Cincinnati EnquirerStarStarStarHalf star[18]

The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6] The Cincinnati Enquirer gave it a favorable review about a month before the game was released Stateside.[18]

According to Microïds, the game and its successor, Still Life, were commercial successes. The publisher reported combined global sales for the series above 500,000 units by September 2008.[19]

References

  1. ↑ Butts, Steve (2003-02-28). "Post Mortem Ships" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/02/28/post-mortem-ships. 
  2. ↑ "Post Mortem sur PC" (in fr). https://www.jeuxvideo.com/jeux/pc/00009795-post-mortem.htm. 
  3. ↑ "Post Mortem". Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170915114206/http://www.microids.com/EN/store/post-mortem,70. Retrieved September 15, 2017. 
  4. ↑ "Post Mortem Adventure Game". Archived from the original on March 13, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080313021140/http://www.virtools.com/applications/games-microidspm.asp. Retrieved September 19, 2008. 
  5. ↑ "Microids' Post Mortem Shaping Up!". September 26, 2002. Archived from the original on June 27, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080627160421/http://pc.gamezone.com/news/09_26_02_10_07AM.htm. Retrieved February 22, 2020. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Post Mortem for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/post-mortem/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved February 22, 2020. 
  7. ↑ Evan Dickens (January 27, 2003). "Post Mortem Review". https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17557. Retrieved September 14, 2017. 
  8. ↑ Denice Cook (June 2003). "Post Mortem". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (227): 90. https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_227#page/n93. Retrieved September 14, 2017. 
  9. ↑ Jason MacIsaac (December 8, 2002). "Post Mortem". Greedy Productions. Archived from the original on August 3, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030803083217/http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=10257#mr_toppy. 
  10. ↑ Johnny Liu (March 2003). "Post Mortem Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924055824/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/post-mortem. Retrieved February 23, 2020. 
  11. ↑ Ron Dulin (February 28, 2003). "Post Mortem Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/post-mortem-review/1900-2911836/. Retrieved September 14, 2017. 
  12. ↑ Allen Rausch (March 1, 2003). "GameSpy: Post Mortem". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 1, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051101133853/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/post-mortem/5649p1.html. Retrieved February 22, 2020. 
  13. ↑ Scott Steinberg (January 7, 2009). "Post Mortem Review". https://www.gamezebo.com/2009/01/07/post-mortem-review/. Retrieved February 23, 2020. 
  14. ↑ Tha Wiz (March 11, 2003). "Post Mortem - PC - Review". Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081002055941/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19797.htm. Retrieved February 23, 2020. 
  15. ↑ Staci Krause (February 25, 2003). "Post Mortem Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/02/25/post-mortem-review. Retrieved September 14, 2017. 
  16. ↑ Jeff Leclerc (May 2003). "Post Mortem". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 10 (5): 70. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060315141514/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/post_mortem.html. Retrieved February 22, 2020. 
  17. ↑ Skyler Miller (March 28, 2003). "'Post Mortem' (PC) Review". TechTV. Archived from the original on April 1, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030401131149/http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3422001,00.html. Retrieved February 23, 2020. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Marc Saltzman (February 4, 2003). "February's new games will keep fans fired up". The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Company). Archived from the original on August 7, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030807190632/http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/010703_febgames.html. Retrieved February 22, 2020. 
  19. ↑ "Microïds annonce l'ouverture du site officiel de la série Still Life" (in French). September 19, 2008. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090603202537/http://www.microids.com/fr/presse/17/microids-annonce-l-ouverture-du-site-officiel-de-la-serie-still-life.html. 
  • Post Mortem at Microïds
  • 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.



Warning: Default sort key "Post Mortem (Video Game)" overrides earlier default sort key "Mobygames".



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Post_Mortem_(video_game)&oldid=668991"