Software:Robotron 64

From HandWiki
Short description: 1998 video game

Robotron 64
Developer(s)Player 1
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • NA: January 5, 1998[1]
  • EU: June 1998
Genre(s)Multidirectional shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Robotron 64 is a 1998 multidirectional shooter for the Nintendo 64. It is a port of Robotron X, which itself is an updated version of the 1982 dual-stick shooter Software:Robotron: 2084. The game was originally scheduled to be released by Midway Games in the summer of 1997,[2] but the game was put on hiatus before it would see a new publisher and a release date of January 5, 1998.[3]

Plot

The player is a mutant scientist trapped in another dimension trying to save the last human family. His mutant powers allow him to defeat the evil robots that are trying to kill all of humanity.

Gameplay

Robotron 64 uses the dual-stick control scheme of the original Robotron. The player has the option to use a single controller using the analog stick for movement and the C-buttons for firing, or use two controllers to allow use of both analog sticks for movement and shooting.

The soundtrack consists of electronica and techno music.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic72/100[4]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM7.75/10[5]
Game Informer5.5/10[6]
Hyper65%[8]
IGN6.9/10[7]
N64 Magazine75%[9]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[10]
Nintendo Power2.275/5[11]

Reviews for Robotron 64 were mostly positive, though many critics questioned whether the game ultimately offered anything over the original Robotron 2084. Dan Hsu proclaimed in Electronic Gaming Monthly, "Finally, a good update of Robotron! This version fixes all of the problems that plagued the PS version. R64 is fast, frantic and sure as hell hard to put down."[5] Nintendo Power likewise described it as "just as fast and wild" as Robotron 2084, while having upgraded graphics.[11] Next Generation was more measured in its praise: "Add to that new bosses and power-ups, hundreds of levels, and a decent non-stop techno soundtrack, and this tiny 4MB cart stands as proof that size isn't everything – it's what you do with it that counts. It still may not improve on the original, but it's much better than expected."[10] On the negative end of the spectrum, Hsu's co-reviewer Sushi-X criticized the low difficulty and the lack of the full-screen overhead view of Robotron 2084 and summed up Robotron 64 as "one last attempt at reviving a game that seems better left to fond memories."[5] Jeff Gerstmann, reviewing the game for GameSpot, also felt it was too easy and concluded it "simply isn't up to snuff. You'd be better off playing the original Robotron 2084."[12] The game holds 72/100 on the review aggregation website Metacritic based on six reviews.[4]

GamePro disagreed about the game being easy, arguing that it only appears easy because the first 30 levels allow the player to breeze through while accumulating a number of surplus extra lives, and that the remaining 170 levels, which comprise the bulk of the game, are a challenge to master.[13] While noting the music is a little repetitive, critics overwhelmingly praised it for its appropriately frenzied pace and mood.[5][7][10][13] Gerstmann disagreed, saying the music is hampered by the storage limitations of the cartridge medium.[12] The vast majority of critics found the graphics to be functional but wholly unimpressive,[5][12][7][10][11] though there was a dissenting voice on this point as well, with GamePro applauding how well the character graphics and animation stand out among the game's chaotic action.[13]

Other commonly praised elements of the game included the huge number of stages[5][10][11][13] and the way the camera views provide a much better view of the action than the PlayStation's Robotron X.[7][10] However, the most widely acclaimed feature of the game was the ability to use two controllers at once, which critics said evokes memories of the original Robotron 2084 arcade machine's dual joysticks while giving the control an impressive level of analog depth.[5][7][10][11][13] Matt Casamassina of IGN, for example, commented that "It sounds odd, but it is absolutely ingenious and replicates the same double-joystick control of the original arcade machine. It allows for so much movement possibility that addiction is inevitable."[7]

References

  1. ↑ IGN staff (January 5, 1998). "Robotron 64 Ships to Retailers". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/01/06/robotron-64-ships-to-retailers. Retrieved December 17, 2020. 
  2. ↑ IGN staff (June 21, 1997). "E3: Robotron 64 Update". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/22/e3-robotron-64-update. Retrieved December 17, 2020. 
  3. ↑ IGN staff (August 26, 1997). "Robotron 64 'Dead in the Water'". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/08/27/robotron-64-dead-in-the-water. Retrieved December 17, 2020. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Robotron 64 for Nintendo 64 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/robotron-x/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-64. Retrieved December 17, 2020. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Ricciardi, John; Hsu, Dan; Kujawa, Kraig; Sushi-X (February 1998). "Review Crew: Robotron 64". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (103): 106. 
  6. ↑ "Robotron 64". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (58). February 1998. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Casamassina, Matt (January 5, 1998). "Robotron 64". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/01/06/robotron-64-2. Retrieved October 11, 2020. 
  8. ↑ Toose, Dan (July 1998). "Robotron X [sic"]. Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (57): 79. http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-687-79.jpg. Retrieved December 17, 2020. 
  9. ↑ Nash, Jonathan (February 1998). "Robotron 64 (Import)". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (12): 65. http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-483-65.jpg. Retrieved December 17, 2020. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 "Robotron 64". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (39): 108. March 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_39/page/n111/mode/2up. Retrieved December 17, 2020. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "Robotron 64". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 99: 95. August 1997. http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-441-95.jpg. Retrieved December 17, 2020. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GSr
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Bro' Buzz (March 1998). "Nintendo 64 ProReview: Robotron 64". GamePro (IDG) (114): 88. 
  • 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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