Software:Rebelstar: Tactical Command

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Rebelstar: Tactical Command
Developer(s)Codo Technologies
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Pierre Roux
Mark W. Brown
Designer(s)Julian Gollop
Gez Fry
Programmer(s)Nick Gollop
Steve Moorhause
Artist(s)Denis Istomin
Dmitry Chernenko
Platform(s)Game Boy Advance
Release
  • NA: September 6, 2005
  • AU: October 6, 2006
  • EU: October 13, 2006
Genre(s)Tactical role-playing game[2]
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Rebelstar: Tactical Command is a turn-based tactics video game developed by Codo Technologies and published by Namco and Atari Europe for the Game Boy Advance in 2005. It's the fourth game in the Rebelstar series. The game was created by Julian Gollop, who previously designed X-COM, Laser Squad and the original Rebelstar games.

Gameplay

A gameplay screenshot of Rebelstar: Tactical Command

Unlike in the X-COM, there is no base building, resource management or research. During combat, the player controls a squad of single-character units and must accomplish various goals. Units have a certain number of action points, which are renewed at the beginning of every turn. Each action, from turning to walking to shooting consumes action points. Therefore, they are only allowed to perform a certain number of actions per turn.

The player may also pick up and use weapons from dead enemies and allies. As ammunition is limited, it is sometimes necessary to loot a corpse in order to keep fighting. As units specialize in different areas, it is important to adopt a strategy that will fully utilize the strength of each of the many weapons used. It is also possible for a character to act as a medic, using a medikit to heal comrades.

Every time a unit damages an enemy, heals an ally, or uses psionics, it gains experience points. Once they have enough, they gain a level which raises their attributes such as strength, constitution, and intelligence at random. They also gain one skill point which the player can assign to a skill of their choosing, such as heavy weapons, hand-to-hand combat, medicine or stealth. Thus, as the game progresses, each unit becomes stronger and they may specialize in a type of weapon or skill above all others.

Plot

In the year 2117, a race of aliens known as the Arelians have enslaved the human population of Earth using their henchmen, the savage Zorn. They insert implants into infants' brains at birth, to be able to track them. As soon as someone turns 30, the aliens take the person away and nothing is known about their subsequent fate.

The main character, Jorel, after losing both his parents to the alien invaders, decides to flee south to Mexico to join the rebel forces and fight the alien invaders. Thanks to his strong psionic resistance, his brain rejected the implant and he brings new hope to the desperate human race looking for a leader.

Later, the true nature of the Arelians and the Zorn is revealed. The Arelians, bored of the collective mind of the alien race, enslaved the humans for entertainment. The Zorn, in return for helping the Arelians, were to be allowed to eat any human above the age of 30.

Reception

Rebelstar: Tactical Command
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings77.83[3]
Metacritic78[4]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpot7.8/10[5]
GameSpy4/5[6]
IGN7.7/10[7]

Rebelstar: Tactical Command was well received, having an average score of 77.83% at GameRankings.[3] It received positive reviews from GameSpot (7.8/10),[5] GameSpy (4/5)[6] and IGN (7.7/10).[7] The game would be highly praised for adapting the combat mechanics of the highly detailed and acclaimed PC strategy series but would also receive criticism for sub-par presentation, a lacklustre storyline, and lack of link-mode support.[6] According to a retro review by GameFan, "everything in Rebelstar is spot on, from its plot to the game’s difficulty curve."[8]

Cancelled sequel

The game was supposed to be followed by the cancelled sequel Rebelstar 2: The Meklon Conspiracy.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ "Atari Announces European Publishing Partnership with Namco Bandai". https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=13710. 
  2. ↑ Gollop, Julian (May 25, 2005). "Rebelstar: Tactical Command – Dev Diary #1 (GBA)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121227042726/http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/rebelstar-tactical-command/619957p1.html. Retrieved 2008-01-26. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Rebelstar: Tactical Command for Game Boy Advance". GameRankings. 6 September 2005. http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/927210.asp. Retrieved 19 November 2012. 
  4. ↑ "Rebelstar: Tactical Command for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. 2005-09-06. https://www.metacritic.com/game/rebelstar-tactical-command/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance. Retrieved 2014-05-18. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bob Colayco (6 September 2005). "Rebelstar: Tactical Command Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/rebelstar-tactical-command-review/1900-6132830/. Retrieved 19 November 2012. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 David Chapman (13 September 2005). "Rebelstar Tactical Command". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 3 May 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090503125145/http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/rebelstar-tactical-command/650630p1.html. Retrieved 19 November 2012. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Rebelstar Tactical Command". Gameboy.ign.com. 9 September 2005. http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/648/648838p1.html. Retrieved 19 November 2012. 
  8. ↑ Neil Reive (16 July 2011). "Rebelstar: Tactical Command RETROspective". GameFan. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120516195913/http://gamefanmag.com/gf-retro/rebelstar-tactical-command-retrospective. Retrieved 16 January 2013. 
  9. ↑ Gollop, Julian (2013-11-29). "Rebelstar 2 - The Game that Never Was". Gollop Games. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214328/http://www.gollopgames.com/2013/11/rebelstar-2-game-that-never-was.html. Retrieved 2014-05-18. 
  10. ↑ Gollop, Julian (2013-11-30). "Rebelstar 2 - The Enemy Characters". Gollop Games. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205526/http://www.gollopgames.com/2013/11/rebelstar-2-enemy-characters.html. Retrieved 2014-05-18. 
  • 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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