Software:Power Piggs of the Dark Age

From HandWiki
Short description: 1996 video game
Power Piggs of the Dark Age
North American cover art
Developer(s)Radical Entertainment
Publisher(s)Titus France[1]
Designer(s)David Roberts
Brian Thalken
Emmanual Soupidis
Composer(s)Marc Baril[2]
Platform(s)Super NES
Release
  • NA: May 1996
  • PAL: 29 September 1997
Genre(s)Hack and slash, platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Power Piggs of the Dark Age is a 2D hack and slash platform game developed by Radical Entertainment and published by Titus France. It was released in 1996 for the Super NES in North America, and in the PAL regions the following year. A Sega Mega Drive version was planned but never released.[3]

Gameplay

Confronting the first boss of the game.

The video game takes place during the Dark Ages. In control of a group of humanoid pigs, the player's object is to defeat a warlock named the Wizard of Wolff, a humanoid wolf with strange magical powers. Each of the Power Piggs was planned to use their own medieval weapon and uses it to defeat minor enemies that lie in his path.[4] However, the actual released version of the game featured only one playable character, Bruno, in spite of all three still appearing on the title screen.[5]

The first stage is a typical medieval town but it only gets more surreal from there.

Doughnuts are seen as food in the game for the main characters.[4] One of the main characters is a knight named Bruno; his secondary weapon happens to be pastries that explode on contact with the enemy.[6]

Several in-game passwords help to reveal a mini-game in addition to hidden messages within the coding of the game itself.[7]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Consoles +80%[8]
Joypad80%[9]
M! Games60%[10]
Mega Fun58%[11]
ONM76/100[12]
Total!(UK) 59/100[15]
(DE) 4-[16]
Video Games (DE)65%[17]
Nintendo Magazine System89/100[18]
Power Unlimited68/100[19]
Ultra Player2/6[20]
VideoGames6/10[21]

Power Piggs of the Dark Age received average reviews.[8][12][13][18] Nintendo Power found the game fun and quite challenging, but saw the poor hit detection and some near-impossible jumps to be negative points.[22] GamePro's Doctor Devon praised the character's moveset, cartoon-style graphics, humorous sound effects, and fast-paced music, though he acknowledged that the game lacked the sophistication of some of the more recent platform titles.[23]

References

  1. ↑ "Release information". GameFAQs. http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/snes/data/588584.html. Retrieved 2009-01-16. 
  2. ↑ "Composer information". SNESMusic.org. http://www.snesmusic.org/v2/profile.php?profile=set&selected=2067. Retrieved 2012-01-10. 
  3. ↑ Nick (October 1996). "Review Round Up - Mega Drive: Power Piggs". Sega Power (Future Publishing) (84): 53. https://archive.org/stream/sega-power-84#page/n52/mode/1up. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Basic game overview". MobyGames. http://www.mobygames.com/game/snes/power-piggs-of-the-dark-age-. Retrieved 2012-01-10. 
  5. ↑ "Basic overview of the characters". Black Falcon Games. http://www.blackfalcongames.net/?p=47. Retrieved 2012-11-03. 
  6. ↑ "Character overview". Bit Mob. http://bitmob.com/articles/horrible-games-power-piggs-of-the-dark-age. Retrieved 2012-11-01. 
  7. ↑ "Hidden screens". The Cutting Room Floor. http://tcrf.net/Power_Piggs_of_the_Dark_Age. Retrieved 2012-11-01. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Boissarie, Véronique (July 1996). "Super Nintendo Review: Power Piggs of the New Age" (in fr). Consoles + (fr) (EM-Images) (56): 121. https://archive.org/details/Console_Plus_Numero_056/page/121/mode/1up. 
  9. ↑ Hellot, Grégoire (July 1996). "Le Zapping des Tests: Power Piggs" (in fr). Joypad (magazine) (fr) (Hachette Disney Presse) (55): 79. https://archive.org/details/joypad-magazine-055/page/n75/mode/1up. 
  10. ↑ Ehrle, Oliver (January 1997). "Test: Power Piggs of the Dark Age" (in de). M! Games (de) (Cybermedia) (39): 102. https://archive.org/details/MANiAC.N039.1997.01/page/n101/mode/1up.  (Transcription ).
  11. ↑ Pütz, Christoph (March 1997). "Test Mixed: Power Piggs" (in de). Mega Fun (de) (Computec) (54): 82. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AMegaFun_DE_1997-03.pdf&page=82. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Dawson, Phil; White, Shaun (June 1996). "Review: Power Piggs of the Dark Age". Nintendo Magazine System (United Kingdom: EMAP) (45): 24–26. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-magazine-system-uk-45-june-1996/page/24/mode/2up. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lassale, Guillaume (July 1996). "Vite Vu – Le Zone de Vite Vu: Power Piggs" (in fr). Player One (magazine) (fr) (Média Système Édition (fr)) (66): 127. https://archive.org/details/playerone-magazine-066/page/n126/mode/1up. 
  14. ↑ Mott, Tony (July 1996). "UK Review: Power Piggs of the Dark Age". Super Play (Future Publishing) (45): 46–47. 
  15. ↑ Weaver, Tim (July 1996). "Reviews: Power Piggs". Total! (Future Publishing) (55): 52–53. https://archive.org/details/total-55/page/n51/mode/2up. 
  16. ↑ Berg, Frederic (December 1996). "Test: Power Piggs of the Dark Age" (in de). Total! (X-Plain-Verlag) (42): 61. 
  17. ↑ Sauer, Dirk (December 1996). "Reviews: Schweinekram - Power Piggs" (in de). Video Games (German magazine) (de) (Magna Media) (61): 116. https://archive.org/details/video-games-de-1996-12/page/n111/mode/1up. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Beard, Alan (November 1996). "Super NES Review: Power Piggs of the Dark Age". Nintendo Magazine System (Australia: Catalyst Publishing) (44): 42–43. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-magazine-system-au-44-november-1996/page/42/mode/2up. 
  19. ↑ Bruinsma, Bjørn (July–August 1996). "Review: Power Piggs of the Dark Age" (in nl). Power Unlimited (VNU Media) (34): 45. https://archive.org/details/047_20231030_20231030/043/page/n62/mode/1up. 
  20. ↑ Lassale, Guillaume (July–August 1996). "Test éclair: Power Piggs of the Dark Age" (in fr). Nintendo Player (fr) (Média Système Édition (fr)) (36): 106. https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=83&num=1750&album=oui. Retrieved 2025-04-25. 
  21. ↑ "Power Piggs of the Dark Age (Super NES Review)". VideoGames (Larry Flynt Publications) (91): 65. August 1996. https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_91_August_1996/page/n64/mode/1up. 
  22. ↑ "Now Playing: Power Piggs of the Dark Age". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 83: 96–97. April 1996. 
  23. ↑ Doctor Devon (September 1996). "The 16-Bit Gamer's Survival Guide: Power Piggs of the Dark Age". GamePro (IDG) (96): 76. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_086_September_1996/page/n77/mode/1up. 
  • Power Piggs of the Dark Age on IMDb
  • 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. 
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