Software:Project Gotham Racing 4

From HandWiki
Short description: 2007 video game
Project Gotham Racing 4
PAL cover art featuring a Ferrari 599
Developer(s)Bizarre Creations
Publisher(s)Microsoft Game Studios
Director(s)Martyn R. Chudley
Producer(s)
  • Peter O'Brien
  • Chris Morland
  • Chris Pickford
Designer(s)Ged Talbot
Programmer(s)
  • Paul Kerby
  • David Worswick
  • Roger Perkins
  • Ken MacLeod
Artist(s)Timothy Dean
SeriesProject Gotham Racing
Platform(s)Xbox 360
Release
  • NA: 2 October 2007
  • AU: 11 October 2007
  • EU: 12 October 2007
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Project Gotham Racing 4 is a 2007 racing video game developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The fourth main title of the Project Gotham Racing series, it was released exclusively for the Xbox 360 in October 2007. New features included weather effects, Bulldog mode, and the inclusion of motorcycles. Like its predecessors, PGR4 was a critical and commercial success, however it would be the final title in the series,[1] with Bizarre having since been acquired by Activision,[2] and announcing that Project Gotham Racing 4 would be their last game produced for distribution by Microsoft Game Studios.[3]

Gameplay

Project Gotham Racing 4 includes many of the tracks of the series' previous installment, including Tokyo, New York, the Nürburgring, London and Las Vegas; plus five more cities and tracks: Shanghai, St. Petersburg, Quebec City, Macau and the Michelin Test Track.[4]

The most prominent addition to Project Gotham Racing 4 is advanced weather effects that affect the look of the game and the physics of the cars on the track. The weather can change from sun to rain to snow to hail within a single race. A system logged on to Xbox Live will download weather data from The Weather Channel, allowing users to set in-game conditions to mirror current weather in their respective cities.

The game simulates ten types of weather, including clear days, clouds, light to stormy rain, fog, snow and even ice. In user-created races, weather is fully customisable along with all the other race variations. In the game's expanded and improved career mode, weather is predetermined, which adds an extra obstacle for players to overcome.[5]

Online components

Project Gotham Racing 4 introduced a new online game mode, called "Bulldog". One player starts out as the Bulldog, whose job is to tag every other opponent in the game, thus creating new bulldogs as they go. This mode is played in an open section of a city, allowing the players to turn on to any street they want. Both cars and bikes are allowed to play in this mode simultaneously.

PGR Nations was launched with the release of the game. Players connected to Xbox Live would race on behalf of a certain country and their average statistics would be added to the total of their country's through a leaderboard.

Vehicles

A screenshot of a race featuring motorcycles

Project Gotham Racing 4 features more than 130 vehicles,[6] including the newly introduced motorcycles.

The game marks a return to the car balance of Project Gotham Racing 2, with cars ranging from low-performance hatchbacks to high-performance supercars. Project Gotham Racing 3 emphasized supercars and special models, but did have a few high-performance production cars.

Geometry Wars: Waves

Main article: Software:Geometry Wars: Waves

The game debuted with a bonus mini-game Geometry Wars: Waves, which would later be included in Software:Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2.

Along with an ad campaign Microsoft also released various promotional items, the biggest being Project Gotham Racing Mobile which contained a code that unlocked a sneak peek trailer via the Project Gotham Racing 3 website.

Project Gotham Racing 4 was included as part of the Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Messenger Gold Pack, which included the game, a 12-month Xbox Live Gold subscription card, a wired headset, and a chat pad controller attachment.[7]

Soundtrack

The soundtrack features 57 songs from a number of different genres. In-game options allows players to switch off particular genres or songs to create a custom playlist of the available songs. A song, called "The Shadow", was exclusively written and performed by The Prodigy and was remixed by Chris Chudley from Audioantics. It plays on the game menus and credits.[8] It dynamically changes when the player moves along different menus in-game.[9]

As with the prior entry in the series, PGR 4 features engine and exhaust sounds recorded on a dyno from actual cars.[10] Tire noise is reproduced in three distinct bands providing feedback for when the car begins to lose traction, down to which tire is skidding.[11]

Development and release

Project Gotham Racing 4 was accidentally leaked by a Peugeot press release for a competition for a car designed by a contestant to be featured in the game before the announcement by Bizarre Creations.[12][13] The competition was won by Mihai Panaitescu with the Peugeot Flux.

Shortly after, the game was confirmed at X06, with a trailer titled Eclipse shown.[14] The trailer was made available to download on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The car featured in the trailer is a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano. The song in the trailer is "Shadow" by The Prodigy remixed by Chris Chudley from Audioantics.

Microsoft announced at the 2007 E3 that Project Gotham Racing 4 would be released in September 2007. Bizarre subsequently said that game wouldn't be released "until it's done" citing reasons that they had spent a substantial amount of money and time on the game: "We feel like we've got more time [on Project Gotham Racing 4]. Last time round, we feel like we got the game ripped away from us", said Brian Woodhouse of Bizarre Creations.[15]

Microsoft re-released the game under its "Classics" banner on 20 March 2009.[16]

Downloadable content

Two new downloadable content packs were released on February 14, 2008. The two packs add a total of ten new achievements to the game. In late 2012, Microsoft removed all PGR4 downloadable content from the Xbox Live Marketplace, and there are no plans to reinstate it.[17]

Free Challenge Pack

The Free Challenge Pack introduces the hydrogen-powered 2007 Peugeot Flux, winner of the 2007 Peugeot International Design Competition and two new game modes – Tourist Mode, which allows the player to roam around any city in the game, and Free Roam Cat and Mouse where a slow mouse vehicle must avoid enemy cats. Tourist mode is only available in 'Multiplayer' and online with at least one other 'friend'.[18]

Premium Challenge Pack

The Premium PGR 4 Challenge Pack adds seven new cars and three new bikes. It also adds the World Challenge Arcade Mode which is 20 new arcade events.[18] From 9–16 March 2009, the pack was included as part of Xbox LIVE's Deal of the Week promotion where the pack was temporarily available to Gold members at a discounted price.[19]

Reception

Critical

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic85/100[20]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge9/10[21]
EGM8.33/10[22]
Eurogamer9/10[23]
Game Informer8.75/10[24]
GamePro3.75/5[25]
GameRevolutionC[26]
GameSpot8.5/10[27]
GameSpyStarStarStarStar[28]
GameTrailers8.7/10[29]
GameZone8.5/10[30]
IGN8.1/10[31]
9.1/10 (UK)[32]
OXM (US)8/10[33]

Project Gotham Racing 4 received "generally favourable" reviews according to video game review aggregator website Metacritic.[20]

Official Xbox Magazine UK gave the game a perfect ten,[34] 1UP.com gave it an A−,[35] and Edge and VideoGamer.com both gave it 9 out of 10.[21][36] TeamXbox gave the game an 8.4, citing that it was more of "the same" and that Bizarre should move on to bigger and better things.[37] Game Informer gave it an 8.75, stating that the game "has blown its own doors off and finally grown from being a bite-sized, almost niche racer into a full-fledged experience that all racing fanatics should enjoy."[24]

Sales

Project Gotham Racing 4 received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[38] indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[39]

Accolades

During the 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Project Gotham Racing 4 for "Racing Game of the Year".[40]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The evolution of Project Gotham: from Metropolis Street Racer to the original Xbox and beyond" (in en). 2022-12-27. https://www.gamesradar.com/the-evolution-of-project-gotham-from-metropolis-street-racer-to-the-original-xbox-and-beyond/. 
  2. ↑ "About Us - Bizarre Creations". http://www.bizarrecreations.com/about/.  In September 2007 we joined the ranks of Activision as one of their dedicated teams.
  3. ↑ Parfitt, Ben (September 26, 2007). "Activision buys Bizarre". http://www.developmag.com/news/28531/Activision-acquires-Bizarre-Creations. 
  4. ↑ Ben (2007-07-30). "Let's talk PGR4 locations". BizarreCreations.com. http://www.bizarrecreations.com/article.php?article_id=5256. 
  5. ↑ Daniel Needham (2007-07-05). "Project Gotham Racing 4 Preview". NZGamer.com. http://www.nzgamer.com/hub-x360-previews-471. 
  6. ↑ Project Gotham Racing 4 Vehicle List
  7. ↑ "Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Messenger Gold Pack". https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EKTF60. 
  8. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (2007-09-14). "PGR4 soundtrack listing". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/pgr4-soundtrack-listing. 
  9. ↑ therandyrandall89 (6 February 2009). "Project Gotham Racing 4 - Main Menu Music - Xbox 360". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fihti2DmHPM. 
  10. ↑ Wright, Steven (April 28, 2018). "Life in (virtual) pit lane: The war stories of video game car design" (in en-us). https://arstechnica.com/cars/2018/04/life-in-virtual-pit-lane-the-war-stories-of-video-game-car-design/. "For the third and fourth entries, the team rigged the cars up to a dynamometer..." 
  11. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (September 18, 2007). "Project Gotham Racing 4" (in en-gb). Eurogamer: pp. 2. https://www.eurogamer.net/fi-pgr4-360b?page=2. 
  12. ↑ Waterman, Stuart (September 8, 2006). "Pencils ready? Peugeot announces 2007 Design Contest" (in en). https://www.autoblog.com/2006/09/08/pencils-ready-peugeot-announces-2007-design-contest/. 
  13. ↑ Bienvenue sur le site du Concours de Design Peugeot (in French)
  14. ↑ Orland, Kyle (September 27, 2006). "X06: Press conference liveblogging [update 28"]. http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/27/x06-press-conference-liveblogging/. 
  15. ↑ Gibson, Ellie (July 20, 2007). "Project Gotham 4 won't be released "until it's done"". http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=26918. 
  16. ↑ "Project Gotham Racing 4 - Classics Edition". https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001SID5RI. 
  17. ↑ Scammell, David (2013-02-18). "Microsoft has 'no plans to relist' pulled PGR4 DLC". VideoGamer.com. http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/pgr4/news/microsoft_has_no_plans_to_relist_pulled_pgr4_dlc.html. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Hryb, Larry (2008-02-14). "PGR4 In Game Content (Premium and Free)". Majornelson.com. http://majornelson.com/2008/02/14/pgr4-in-game-content-premium-and-free/. 
  19. ↑ Hryb, Larry (2009-03-09). "This weeks Deal: PGR4 Premium Challenge Pack". Majornelson.com. http://majornelson.com/2009/03/09/this-weeks-deal-pgr4-premium-challenge-pack/. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Project Gotham Racing 4 for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/project-gotham-racing-4/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Edge Staff (November 2007). "Project Gotham Racing 4". Edge (181): 86. 
  22. ↑ EGM Staff (December 2007). "Project Gotham Racing 4". Electronic Gaming Monthly (222): 123. 
  23. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (2007-10-11). "Project Gotham Racing 4 Review". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/project-gotham-racing-4-review. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Kato, Matthew (November 2007). "Project Gotham Racing 4". Game Informer (175). http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/1F4E4EBA-C73D-4399-A164-D5FEDF0E7280.htm. Retrieved 2014-04-05. 
  25. ↑ Ouroboros (2007-10-02). "Review: Project Gotham Racing 4". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox360/games/reviews/137588.shtml. Retrieved 2014-04-05. 
  26. ↑ Hurh, JP (2007-10-09). "Project Gotham Racing 4 Review". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pgr4. 
  27. ↑ Ekberg, Brian (2007-10-01). "Project Gotham Racing 4 Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/project-gotham-racing-4-review/1900-6180179/. 
  28. ↑ Joynt, Patrick (2007-10-05). "GameSpy: Project Gotham Racing 4". GameSpy. http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/project-gotham-racing-4/825367p1.html. 
  29. ↑ "Project Gotham Racing 4 Review". GameTrailers. 2007-10-01. http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/5868qn/project-gotham-racing-4-review. 
  30. ↑ Grabowski, Dakota (2007-10-24). "Project Gotham Racing 4 - 360 - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2007/10/24/project_gotham_racing_4_360_review. 
  31. ↑ Goldstein, Hilary (2007-10-08). "Project Gotham Racing 4 Review". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/09/project-gotham-racing-4-review. 
  32. ↑ Robinson, Matthew (2007-10-01). "Project Gotham Racing 4 UK Review". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/01/project-gotham-racing-4-uk-review. 
  33. ↑ "Project Gotham Racing 4". Official Xbox Magazine: 72. December 2007. 
  34. ↑ OXM Staff (November 2007). "Review: Project Gotham Racing 4". Official Xbox Magazine UK: 102. http://www.totalxbox.com/1629/reviews/project-gotham-racing-4-review/. Retrieved 2015-03-08. 
  35. ↑ Davison, John (2007-10-02). "Project Gotham Racing 4 Review". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/reviews/project-gotham-racing-4. 
  36. ↑ Orry, Tom (2007-10-08). "Project Gotham Racing 4 Review". VideoGamer.com. http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/pgr4/review.html. 
  37. ↑ Nardozzi, Dale (2007-10-03). "Project Gotham Racing Review (Xbox 360)". TeamXbox. http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox-360/1391/Project-Gotham-Racing-4/p1/. 
  38. ↑ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Platinum". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3944. 
  39. ↑ Caoili, Eric (2008-11-26). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Gamasutra. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php. 
  40. ↑ "2008 Awards Category Details Racing Game of the Year". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2008&idGameAwardType=120. 
  • 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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