Software:Ridge Racer Unbounded

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Short description: 2012 video game
Ridge Racer Unbounded
North American PlayStation 3 cover art
Developer(s)Bugbear Entertainment
Publisher(s)Namco Bandai Games[lower-alpha 1]
Producer(s)Joonas Laakso, Kimmo Kari
Designer(s)Karri Kiviluoma
Programmer(s)Fred Sundvik
Composer(s)Hiroshi Okubo, Akitaka Tohyama, Rio Hamamoto, Shinji Hosoe, Ayako Saso, Nobuyoshi Sano
SeriesRidge Racer
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Release
  • NA: 27 March 2012[1]
  • NA: 29 March 2012 (PC)
  • EU: 30 March 2012
  • AU: 5 April 2012
  • JP: 31 July 2012
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Lua error in Module:Lang/utilities at line 332: attempt to call field '_transl' (a nil value). is a 2012 racing video game developed by Bugbear Entertainment and published by Namco Bandai Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the eighth installment of the Ridge Racer franchise following Ridge Racer 7, the first mainline title not to be developed by Namco, and the first in the series overall to be released on Windows. Unbounded is also the most recent game in the series to be released on home consoles as its successors only focused on handheld devices.

Unbounded marks a departure from the traditional Ridge Racer drifting style, and moved to a more combat-oriented and destructive style, similar to the Burnout series and Split/Second, as well as implementing customizations.[2] The game received average reviews.

Gameplay

Plot

Set in a fictional city called Shatter Bay, racers gather to compete in no-rules, all-out street races. Competing for money and superiority in fast-paced blasts through the streets dodging traffic and tearing through any obstacles that get in their way. A mysterious team led by a Japanese Hashiriya master, called "The Unbounded", appears playing a major role in the racing activity throughout Shatter Bay.

Development

Ridge Racer Unbounded offers a number of changes that depart from traditional Ridge Racer gameplay. Additions to the game include the ability to design and share tracks and a new emphasis on vehicular combat.

While Unbounded was originally scheduled for release in North America and Europe in early March 2012,[3] it was delayed just before the planned release, as Namco Bandai wanted to allow more time "to pack the disc with features that will truly make the game sing".[1] The game was released in March the same year in North America and Europe and later in April in Australia on all platforms. The game was never released in Japan. Despite this, it seems to borrow inspiration from an earlier Namco game, Critical Velocity (クリティカルベロシティ, Kuritikaruberoshiti), also a vehicular combat video game, released in 2005 only in Japan.

Ridge Racer Driftopia

A free-to-play version called Ridge Racer Driftopia was made.[4] A beta version was released for Windows and PlayStation 3 in August 2013.[5][6] Driftopia was later cancelled, with the beta servers shut down on 15 August 2014.[7]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPS3Xbox 360
DestructoidN/AN/A5.5/10[8]
EdgeN/AN/A9/10[9]
EurogamerN/AN/A8/10[10]
Game InformerN/A6.75/10[11]6.75/10[11]
GameRevolutionN/AN/AStarStarHalf star[12]
GameSpot8/10[13]8/10[14]8/10[14]
GameTrailersN/AN/A7.6/10[15]
GameZoneN/A8.5/10[16]N/A
IGN8.5/10[17]8.5/10[17]8.5/10[17]
OXM (US)N/AN/A6.5/10[18]
PC Gamer (UK)80%[19]N/AN/A
PSMN/A7/10[20]N/A
The Daily TelegraphN/AN/AStarStarStarStar[21]
Digital SpyN/AN/AStarStarStar[22]
Aggregate score
Metacritic72/100[23]72/100[24]71/100[25]

Ridge Racer Unbounded received "average" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[23][24][25]

411Mania gave the PlayStation 3 version a score of eight out of ten, calling it "a welcome addition that fans of the genre should not ignore".[26] The Digital Fix gave the Xbox 360 version a score of eight out of ten: "Everyone involved deserves a huge pat on the back for Ridge Racer Unbounded - Namco for having the stomach and recognition for change and Bugbear for reinventing an aging and tired series".[27] The Guardian gave the same console version a similar score of four stars out of five, saying that its frustrating moments "are far outweighed by the deeply satisfying ones. It's anarchic, well designed, thrilling to behold and will put a massive grin on any true petrol-head's face".[28] The Daily Telegraph likewise gave the same console version four stars out of five: "The problem with Unbounded is that it doesn't seem comfortable sharing its secrets with you. It's called Ridge Racer, it looks like Burnout, and anyone who has played an arcade racer will, not unreasonably, expect a certain handling model...Unbounded is not that game".[21]

However, Digital Spy gave the same console version three stars out of five, saying that it "lacks the sparkle of games such as Split/Second or Burnout. The destruction elements feel a bit weak, the cars control poorly at times and the computer AI is truly merciless. The biggest problem, though, is the lack of a proper tutorial in the game, a sure-fire way to alienate many players almost instantly".[22] Destructoid gave the Xbox 360 version 5.5 out of ten, praising its "surprisingly good map editor", but criticizing the level design and the poor lighting conditions during sunset scenes, stating that "the lighting makes driving much harder than it needs to be", and suggesting players play the 2010 Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit game instead.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 GameSpot staff (6 March 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded delayed to 'later in 2012'". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ridge-racer-unbounded-delayed-to-later-in-2012/1100-6364786/. 
  2. ↑ Charles Webb (2 April 2012). "Review: 'Ridge Racer Unbounded', or When 'Burnout' and 'Split/Second' Make a Baby". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/2464264/review-ridge-racer-unbounded-xbox-360-ps3/. 
  3. ↑ Brendan Sinclair (3 November 2011). "Ridge Racer Unbounded on March 6". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ridge-racer-unbounded-on-march-6/1100-6343954/. 
  4. ↑ Eddie Makusch (12 April 2013). "Free-to-play Ridge Racer revealed". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/free-to-play-ridge-racer-revealed/1100-6406885/. 
  5. ↑ Katie Williams (7 August 2013). "Get in on Ridge Racer Driftopia's PC beta". PC Gamer UK (Future plc). http://www.pcgamer.com/get-in-on-ridge-racer-driftopias-pc-exclusive-beta/. 
  6. ↑ David Scammell (27 August 2013). "Ridge Racer Driftopia beta starts today on PS3". VideoGamer.com. https://www.videogamer.com/news/ridge-racer-driftopia-beta-starts-today-on-ps3. 
  7. ↑ Wesley Yin-Poole (19 June 2014). "Bandai Namco to shut down F2P Ridge Racer Driftopia servers". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-06-19-bandai-namco-to-shut-down-f2p-ridge-racer-driftopia-servers. 
  8. ↑ Alasdair Duncan (3 April 2012). "Review: Ridge Racer Unbounded (X360)". https://www.destructoid.com/review-ridge-racer-unbounded-224877.phtml. 
  9. ↑ Edge staff (May 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded review (X360)". Edge (240). http://www.edge-online.com/reviews/ridge-racer-unbounded-review. Retrieved 10 April 2017. 
  10. ↑ Tom Bramwell (29 March 2002). "Ridge Racer Unbounded Review (Xbox 360)". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-27-ridge-racer-unbounded-review. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kyle Hilliard (16 May 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded (PS3, X360): Driving Into A Wall At Full Speed". Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/games/ridge_racer_unbounded/b/ps3/archive/2012/05/16/driving-into-a-wall-at-full-speed.aspx. Retrieved 11 April 2017. 
  12. ↑ Daniel R. Bischoff (13 April 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded Review (X360)". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/ridge-racer-unbounded. 
  13. ↑ Mark Walton (11 April 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded Review (PC)". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ridge-racer-unbounded-review/1900-6371144/. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Mark Walton (29 March 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded Review (PS3, X360)". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/ridge-racer-unbounded-review/1900-6368781/. 
  15. ↑ "Ridge Racer Unbounded Review (X360)". GameTrailers. 4 April 2012. http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/vwxiyp/ridge-racer-unbounded-review. 
  16. ↑ Robert Workman (4 April 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded review (PS3)". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/ridge-racer-unbounded-review. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Cam Shea (30 March 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded Review". http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/03/31/ridge-racer-unbounded-review. 
  18. ↑ Cameron Lewis (2 April 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded review". Official Xbox Magazine. http://www.oxmonline.com/ridge-racer-unbounded-review. Retrieved 11 April 2017. 
  19. ↑ Graham Smith (1 May 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded review". PC Gamer UK (Future plc). http://www.pcgamer.com/ridge-racer-unbounded-review/. Retrieved 11 April 2017. 
  20. ↑ "Review: Ridge Racer Unbounded". PlayStation: The Official Magazine: 79. July 2012. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Tom Hoggins (2 April 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded review (X360)". The Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/video-game-reviews/9180282/Ridge-Racer-Unbounded-review.html. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Andrew Laughlin (1 April 2012). "'Ridge Racer: Unbounded' review (Xbox 360)". http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/review/a374140/ridge-racer-unbounded-review-xbox-360/. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Ridge Racer Unbounded for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/ridge-racer-unbounded/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Ridge Racer Unbounded for PlayStation 3 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/ridge-racer-unbounded/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Ridge Racer Unbounded for Xbox 360 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/ridge-racer-unbounded/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. 
  26. ↑ Mark Salmela (9 May 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded (PS3) Review". 411Mania. http://411mania.com/games/ridge-racer-unbounded-ps3-review/. 
  27. ↑ Kevin Luff (8 April 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded (X360)". The Digital Fix. http://gaming.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/802/ridge-racer-unbounded.html. 
  28. ↑ Steve Boxer (4 April 2012). "Ridge Racer Unbounded - review (X360)". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2012/apr/04/ridge-racer-unbounded-game-review. 
  1. ↑ Released under the Namco brand name
  • Official website
  • 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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