Software:Return to Krondor

From HandWiki
Short description: 1998 video game
Return to Krondor
Developer(s)PyroTechnix
7th Level[1]
Publisher(s)Sierra Studios
Designer(s)Andy Ashcraft
Jeryd Pojawa
Programmer(s)Chuck Wiggins
John Schnurrenberger
Artist(s)Thomas Miller
Jeff Mills
Michael Brown
Writer(s)Neal Hallford
Joshua Culp
William Maxwell
Composer(s)Chuck Mitchell
SeriesRiftwar
EngineTrue3D[2]
Platform(s)Windows
Release
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single player

Return to Krondor is a role-playing video game set in Raymond Feist's fictional fantasy setting of Midkemia. A sequel to 1993's Betrayal at Krondor, it was released for Windows on the PC in time for the 1998 Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Within the game, the player commands a group of heroes with different attributes, strengths, and weaknesses which the player may upgrade over the course of the game.

Feist later wrote a novelization of this game, entitled Krondor: Tear of the Gods. It is the third part of his Riftwar Legacy trilogy; the first part of which was a novelization of Betrayal at Krondor entitled Krondor: The Betrayal.

Gameplay

Starting in the city of Krondor and eventually venturing out into other specific parts of the Midkemia world, the game focuses on battling humans and evil creatures of various kinds. Although the story is very linear in nature, the game offers a range of possibilities while the player is adventuring in Krondor. While the computer graphics of the game is now visually outdated by games like the plotwise very similar Software:Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II, the game featured some unique or rarely seen features at the time of release, including elaborate alchemy and thieving. Using alchemical equipment, it is possible to brew custom potions from a variety of ingredients. In order to open locked or trapped chests and doors, a simulation of the process of disarming and lockpicking is initiated. Facing a variety of different mechanisms, it is necessary to pick the right lockpicking tools and then use them with care, simulated by carefully timed mouse clicking.

Characters

  • James is the player character in the game. He is a thief who has become a squire by favor of Arutha, Prince of Krondor.
  • Jazhara is a mage from a distant, Middle-Eastern-inspired land called Kesh.
  • William is a Krondorian guard and exceptional fighter.
  • Kendaric is both a mage and an alchemist.
  • Solon is a priest using divine magic and a body that blocks all blows.

Development

In 1994 Dynamix, at this time a division of Sierra On-line, reorganized their staff and canceled a planned sequel to Betrayal at Krondor named Thief of Dreams.[1] Computer Gaming World reported in April 1994:[4]

As it presently stands, Dynamix has no intentions of doing a sequel to Betrayal at Krondor, although the company has the option to do a sequel should they begin work prior to 1995. A significant amount of design work had already been completed on the sequel, but Dynamix elected to terminate both the project and the project's guiding force on the computer side, John Cutter. Cutter and his design talents are currently looking for [a] home.

Fans organized a letter/e-mail campaign to persuade Dynamix to reverse their decision, to no avail.[5]

7th Level purchased the license for the game in 1995[5] and renamed it Return to Krondor. Shortly after, Sierra began work on an unlicensed sequel to Betrayal at Krondor called Betrayal in Antara, setting the two games up to be in direct competition.[6] This is why Return to Krondor was billed as "The official sequel to the best selling RPG" [emphasis added].

Designer Andy Ashcraft stated, "Dynamix was a flight sim company, and their engine [for Betrayal at Krondor] was a flight sim engine that had been tweaked into an RPG. Our strength is in animation, so we're tweaking an animation engine into an RPG."[6] 7th Level developed the game basics, produced the screen backgrounds and added the character voices. They then turned to Cincinnati-based Pyrotechnix for the more technical aspects of the game development.[1] Pyrotechnix was sold to Sierra On-line on December 8, 1997.[7][8] In 1998 Pyrotechnix completed the game.[1] It was published in November.

The game was updated for compatibility with modern Windows systems and re-released on GOG.com on March 4, 2010.[9]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings72%[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStar[11]
CGSPStarStarStarStar[13]
CGWStarStarHalf star[14]
Game Informer8.25/10[15]
GameProStarStarStarStar[16]
GameRevolutionB+[17]
GameSpot7.9/10[18]
IGN7.4/10[19]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[20]
PC Gamer (US)80%[22]

The game received above-average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[10] Next Generation wrote, "The game is well-made, and the plot will keep gamers on the edge of their seats. It's just too bad they won't stay there very long."[20]

Writing for PC Gamer US, Michael Wolf summarized the game as "a fun, quick RPG with a good story."[22] John Altman of Computer Games Strategy Plus found it to be "very engaging" and "a stunning return to form for the Krondor series". He noted that it features "some of the juiciest turn-based battles ever to grace a role-playing game."[13]

Computer Gaming World's Petra Schlunk called the game "completely underdeveloped" and "a lightweight RPG", which failed to match Betrayal at Krondor's quality. However, she believed that it has "a good combat system, a fair story (for what there is of one), and a definite fun factor."[14]

The reviewer from the online second volume of Pyramid stated that "I've eagerly awaited the sequel, Return to Krondor, since the moment I heard it was in development. Unfortunately, Return fails to live up to the standard set by Betrayal."[23]

Mark Asher of CNET Gamecenter reported in December 1998 that the game was "selling well".[24]

The game was a nominee for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' "PC Role Playing Game of the Year" during the 2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, along with Computer Gaming World's "Best RPG", CNET Gamecenter's "Best RPG of 1998" and GameSpot's "Role-playing Game of the Year"; all were ultimately awarded to Baldur's Gate.[25][26][27][28]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hitchcock, Jayne (October 1998). "Cover Story: Return to Krondor". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (171): 132–36. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_171.pdf. Retrieved May 3, 2021. 
  2. ↑ "Return to Krondor on PlayStation". Raymond E. Feist. January 16, 1999. http://www.crydee.com/raymond-feist/whats-happening/latest-news/1999/1325/return-to-krondor-on-playstation. 
  3. ↑ GameSpot staff (November 24, 1998). "New Releases". Ziff Davis. http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_11/24_pc_new/index.html. 
  4. ↑ Harmel, Dana (April 1994). "New Riftwar In Krondor?". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (117): 142. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_117.pdf. Retrieved May 3, 2021. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Yee, Bernard (December 1995). "Joyriding". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (12): 26. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_12/page/n27/mode/2up. Retrieved May 3, 2021. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "NG Alphas: Return to Krondor". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (16): 77. April 1996. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_16/page/n79/mode/2up. Retrieved May 3, 2021. 
  7. ↑ "7th Level in Pact To Sell PyroTechnix to Sierra On-Line". December 8, 1997. Archived from the original on January 29, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980129181814/http://www.7thlevel.com/newpages/press/1997/19971208.html. Retrieved August 11, 2021. 
  8. ↑ Jebens, Harley (December 8, 1997). "And Krondor Goes to ...". Archived from the original on January 19, 1998. https://web.archive.org/web/19980119060411/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_12/08_kronder/index.html. Retrieved August 17, 2022. 
  9. ↑ "Community Discussions - New release: Return to Krondor". CD Projekt. 4 March 2010. https://www.gog.com/forum/general_archive/new_release_return_to_krondor/page1. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Return to Krondor for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/90603-return-to-krondor/index.html. 
  11. ↑ Roberts, Joshua. "Return to Krondor - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18641&tab=review. 
  12. ↑ Dembo, Arinn (December 29, 1998). "Return to Krondor". CNET. http://gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2367,00.html. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Altman, John (December 25, 1998). "Return to Krondor". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/016/083/return_krondor_review.html. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Schlunk, Petra (April 1999). "Return to Vender (Return to Krondor Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (177): 194–95. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_177.pdf. Retrieved May 3, 2021. 
  15. ↑ Bergren, Paul (March 1999). "Return to Krondor". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (71): 52. https://archive.org/details/Game_Informer_Issue_071_March_1999/page/n53/mode/2up. Retrieved May 3, 2021. 
  16. ↑ Brenesal, Barry (1999). "Return to Krondor Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/806.shtml. Retrieved May 3, 2021. 
  17. ↑ Johnny B. (January 1999). "Return to Krondor Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33070-return-to-krondor-review. 
  18. ↑ Janicki, P. Stefan "Desslock" (December 21, 1998). "Return to Krondor Review [date mislabeled as "May 5, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/return-to-krondor-review/1900-2532792/. 
  19. ↑ Butts, Steve (January 28, 1999). "Return to Krondor". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/29/return-to-krondor. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Return to Krondor". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (52): 93. April 1999. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_52/page/n93/mode/2up. Retrieved May 3, 2021. 
  21. ↑ Smith, Bob (May 1999). "Return to Krondor". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (9): 88. https://archive.org/details/PCXL09May1999/page/n91/mode/2up. Retrieved May 3, 2021. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Wolf, Michael (March 1999). "Return to Krondor". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 6 (3). http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/882.html. 
  23. ↑ "Pyramid: Pyramid Pick: Return to Krondor". January 15, 1999. http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=545. Retrieved May 6, 2020. 
  24. ↑ Asher, Mark (December 28, 1998). "Game Spin: After Christmas". CNET. http://gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2369,00.html. 
  25. ↑ Gamecenter staff (January 29, 1999). "The CNET Gamecenter.com Awards for 1998! (Best RPG Nominees, Part 2)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards98/ss09b.html. 
  26. ↑ GameSpot staff. "Best and Worst of 1998 (Role-playing Game of the Year - Nominees)". Ziff Davis. http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards1998/genre5.html. 
  27. ↑ "Second Interactive Achievement Awards: Personal Computer". http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html. 
  28. ↑ CGW staff (April 1999). "Computer Gaming World's 1999 Premier Awards (Best RPG)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (177): 97. 
  • 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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