Software:Robotron X

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Short description: 1996 video game
Robotron X
North American PlayStation box art
Developer(s)Player 1[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)PlayStation, Windows
ReleasePlayStation
Windows
Genre(s)Twin-stick shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Robotron X is a twin-stick shooter video game co-developed by Leland Interactive Media and Player 1 and it was released by Midway Games in November 1996 for the PlayStation. It is a 3D version of the 1982 arcade video game Software:Robotron: 2084. GT Interactive published a Windows port in 1997. A Nintendo 64 version was released in 1998 as Robotron 64, and Crave Entertainment bought out the publishing rights to the N64 version.[2]

Gameplay

The gameplay is similar to the original, but with 3D graphics.

Robotron X features updated graphics and audio, and also multiple different angles for the camera.[3][4]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM6.5/10, 6.5/10, 6.5/10, 5.5/10 (PS)[5]
Next Generation3/5 (PS)[6]

While the game uses gameplay similar to the original, Robotron X was not as well-received,[7][3] though reviews for it ranged from mixed to positive.[5][8][6][9] Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams felt that the moving camera featured in the 3D environment was a negative, and that the original overhead perspective format of a single screen actually presented all the information a player and relied more on the skill of the player. They felt that the moving camera angle obscured playing field areas which would make it hard for the player to avoid being shot when an enemy appears suddenly.[3] Some critics cited this as the game's one major flaw.[6][9] John Vince felt the same way, stating that gameplay suffered due to missing important aspects that the original had.[10] Rollings and Adams instead attribute the late 1990s fad involving classic video game remakes in part to the release of Robotron X,[3] though at the time of that release it was believed this fad was already in place.[5]

Aaron Curtiss for the Los Angeles Times recommended the game for fans of the original, but thought that others would decry it as "mindless".[11]

Bro' Buzz for GamePro was complimentary to its gameplay and graphics.[12]

Malcolm Mayhew for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram gave the game 2 1/2 stars, saying that the game had good idea, but bad execution.[13]

See also

  • Centipede X and Joust X

Notes

  1. ↑ Development assisted by Leland Interactive Media.

References

  1. ↑ "Online Gaming Review". 1997-02-27. http://www.ogr.com/news/news1296.html. 
  2. ↑ I. G. N. Staff (1997-11-12). "Robotron X Gears Up for the Holidays" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/11/12/robotron-x-gears-up-for-the-holidays. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Rollings, Andrew; Adams, Ernest (2003). Andrew Rollings and Ernest Adams on Game Design. New Riders. p. 283. ISBN 1-59273-001-9. 
  4. ↑ Weiss, Brett Alan. "Robotron X - Overview - allgame". Allgame. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2268. Retrieved 2009-03-17. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Smith, Shawn; Hsu, Dan; Boyer, Crispin; Sushi-X (January 1997). "Review Crew". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) 10 (90): 66. https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/eecb0aa7-94a8-452d-b293-606fbebf2056. Retrieved November 29, 2025. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Robotron X". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (27): 88, 90. March 1997. 
  7. ↑ GamesTM Staff (October 2005). "Robotron: 2084 Behind the Scenes". GamesTM (36): 146–149. 
  8. ↑ "Robotron X Review". December 1, 1996. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/robotron-x-review/1900-2549135/. Retrieved 28 January 2018. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "PlayStation ProReview: Robotron X". GamePro (IDG) (101): 72. February 1997. 
  10. ↑ Vince, John (2002). Handbook of Computer Animation. Springer Science+Business Media. pp. 19–20. ISBN 1-85233-564-5. 
  11. ↑ Curtiss, Aaron (1997-05-01). "Blast Chamber Explodes Without Impact" (in en-US). https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-01-ca-54448-story.html. 
  12. ↑ "GamePro Issue 091 February 1997". https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_091_February_1997/page/n73/mode/2up. 
  13. ↑ "Article clipped from Fort Worth Star-Telegram". Fort Worth Star-Telegram: p. 65. 25 January 1997. https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram/123987537/. 
  • 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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