Software:Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken

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Short description: 2011 video game
Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken
Steam banner
Developer(s)Ratloop
Publisher(s)
  • Ratloop
  • Reverb Publishing
Director(s)Sian Yue Tan
Producer(s)Ralph Egas
Designer(s)
  • Sian Yue Tan
  • James Anderson
  • Lucas Pope
  • Keiko Pope
Programmer(s)
  • Lucas Pope
  • Keiko Pope
Artist(s)
  • Sian Yue Tan
  • Xinru Zou
  • Tze Yi Ang
Composer(s)Herwig Maurer
SeriesRocketbirds
EnginePhyreEngine
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
ReleasePlayStation 3
  • NA: October 18, 2011
  • PAL: October 19, 2011
Windows
October 15, 2012
PlayStation Vita
  • NA: February 12, 2013
  • PAL: February 13, 2013
OS X, Linux
September 20, 2013
PlayStation 4
  • NA: November 15, 2020
  • PAL: November 16, 2020
Genre(s)Platform game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken is a platform adventure game created and developed by Ratloop for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. OS X and Linux ports were later released in September 2013 as part of Humble Bundle, followed by the PlayStation 4 version in November 2020. A remake of the 2009 Flash game Rocketbirds: Revolution!, Hardboiled Chicken is a cinematic adventure game with full single and co-op campaigns and stereoscopic 3D support.

Gameplay

Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken is an adventure platform game in which the player controls Hardboiled Chicken. The player unlocks many different weapons throughout the campaign, with which they have to dispatch enemies of different ranks. The game balances brutal shootouts and puzzling elements, keeping the player alert.[1] In the co-op campaign, two players can complete the missions together. The maps are the same as in the regular campaign, except the puzzles have to be solved in different ways as the characters are smaller and both players have to help each other to be able to progress.[2]

Plot

Rocketbirds' single player campaign opens with Hardboiled Chicken fighting a barrage of Penguin army soldiers. His mission is to find and kill the corrupt Penguin dictator, iL Putzki, in order to set the citizens of Albatropolis free. Hardboiled's jetpack runs low on fuel during his flight, dropping him into the woods where a nearby building is being guarded by penguins. Elsewhere, Putzki himself finds out about Hardboiled's whereabouts, going into a panic until Brno Albatross, Putzki's bodyguard, ensures him that Hardboiled is only a one-man army fighting against millions. Hardboiled soon enters the building, later getting himself trapped in a cell where he is then tortured by Brno. It is then revealed through a series of flashbacks that Hardboiled, alongside various others, had been initially captured at a young age and forced to serve for the Penguin army, after a failed attempt to cook him at birth led to him still being alive years later. The army's black star symbol was imprinted onto his head during training, where he was made to obey the dictatorial rules set by the Penguins. Hardboiled's reasoning for rebelling is implied in the third of these flashbacks, where during his time serving under Putzki, an adult Hardboiled spotted a younger chicken from Albatropolis who looked very similar to himself when he was young. This caused him to regain some sense of humanity and immediately turn against his own fleet, first by attacking one of his former colleagues after seeing the child being threatened with death if Hardboiled did not follow orders. Having been rescued afterwards, the young chicken gave Hardboiled a grey bandana to cover the black star on his forehead.

After the torture flashback, Hardboiled wakes up in another cell with a cardinal standing next to him. He is then provided with a box of brain bugs to trick the prison guards into letting both them and the other captives free. On his way out of the facility, Hardboiled encounters Brno fleeing with Putzki to go on a rocket ship departing into space. Hardboiled eventually reaches the rocket with his jetpack, provided by a cardinal finding it and giving it to him on his way out, where he is soon ambushed by Brno from behind a nearby door. Hardboiled eventually kills Brno, and he soon gives chase to Putzki on a series of elevators. At the end of the game, Hardboiled corners and possesses Putzki with a brain bug and forces him to walk into the vacuum of space without a suit, causing his head to explode and ultimately killing Putzki. The final cutscene reveals three Cosmic Owls finding Putzki's fez in space and Brno's corpse in the rocket where Hardboiled fought him in, setting up events for the sequel.

In the co-op campaign, the main mission is to rescue the general's daughter (later named Pinky in Rocketbirds 2) and bring her back alive from the hands of the G-Men, who are geese that look similar to Brno. Every time she's found however, she runs off elsewhere and leaves the player characters confused. This persists until the final stage in the campaign, where the now annoyed Budgie Commandos wrap her near the end of their escape rope as they head back into the rescue helicopter, flying her back home with them.[3]

Development

In 2000, Sian Yue Tan and James Anderson made the Flash animation Albatropolis: 'Pilot'.[4] A parody of an 80s trend started by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the video featured chickens and penguins violently fighting against each other in a snowy field. The concept stuck around with Sian Yue for a while until he formed Ratloop Asia the same year, using the characters as a way of practicing game development. Nine years later, Rocketbirds: Revolution! was launched online in 2009 as a browser-based game, with a free playable demo for the first chapter and the remaining ten being paid for as long as the player had an account. This early version was later nominated for three awards in the 2010 Independent Games Festival for Excellence in Audio, Excellence in Visual Art and the Seumas McNally Grand Prize, losing out only to Closure, Limbo and Monaco in each category respectively.

Ratloop would eventually make a deal with Sony Computer Entertainment to have the game be an exclusive for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, with PC ports releasing two years afterwards. These versions added the co-op story mode, jetpack stages, more cutscenes and miscellaneous visual improvements to the initial Flash version. The Vita version in particular featured different stage layouts and added short tutorial cutscenes, along with a teaser for the then-in-development Rocketbirds 2 that showcased early concept art. Some of these included concepts of tanks and Hardboiled riding a motorcycle, both of which never got implemented into the released game.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(Vita) 76/100[5]
(PC, PS3) 74/100[6][7]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid(PS3) 8.5/10[8]
Edge(Vita) 7/10[9]
GamePro(PS3) StarStarStarStarHalf star[10]
GameSpot(PS3) 6/10[11]
Gamezebo(PC) StarStarStarStarHalf star[12]
GameZone(PS3) 7/10[13]
IGN(PS3) 7.5/10[14]
Pocket Gamer(Vita) StarStarStarStar[15]
PSM(PS3) 8/10[16]
Push SquareStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar[17][18]
411Mania(Vita) 7.5/10[19]
The Digital Fix(PS3) 6/10[20]
(Vita) 5/10[21]

The PlayStation Vita version received "generally favorable reviews", while the PC and PlayStation 3 versions received "mixed or average reviews", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5][6][7]

Sequel

A sequel titled Rocketbirds 2: Evolution was released in 2016. The game featured various changes in controls and graphics to allow for a faster-paced experience. Hardboiled and the other playable characters can now double jump, aim in various directions, and use melee combat. The cooperative Rescue mode, released as free DLC, also gave players the opportunity to play as Hardboiled alongside the Budgie Commandos after unlocking him in the story campaign.

References

  1. ↑ Medina, Victoria. "Review: Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken". Destructoid. https://www.destructoid.com/review-rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-213777.phtml. Retrieved 7 September 2016. 
  2. ↑ Moriarty, Colin (18 October 2011). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Review". http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/10/19/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-review. Retrieved 7 September 2016. 
  3. ↑ "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken". Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160416130429/https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-ps3/. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  4. ↑ Tan, Sian Yue (September 22, 2011). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Hits PSN This October, Meet the Birds". Sony Interactive Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2011/09/22/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-hits-psn-this-october-meet-the-birds/. Retrieved August 19, 2022. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken for PlayStation Vita Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-vita. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken for PC Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  8. ↑ Medina, Victoria (October 17, 2011). "Review: Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken (PS3)". Gamurs. https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken/. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  9. ↑ Edge staff (February 22, 2013). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken review (Vita)". Edge (Future plc). Archived from the original on March 2, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130302211440/http://www.edge-online.com/review/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-review/. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  10. ↑ Terrones, Terry (October 21, 2011). "Review: Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken (PS3)". GamePro (GamePro Media). Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111023161515/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/224166/review-rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-ps3/. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  11. ↑ Petit, Carolyn (October 19, 2011). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Review (PS3)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-review/1900-6341279/. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  12. ↑ Rose, Mike (October 16, 2012). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Review (PC)". https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-review/. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  13. ↑ Workman, Robert (October 20, 2011). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Review (PSN)". Archived on October 26, 2011. Error: If you specify |archivedate=, you must also specify |archiveurl=. https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-review-psn/. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  14. ↑ Moriarty, Colin (October 18, 2011). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Review (PS3)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/10/19/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken-review. Retrieved September 7, 2016. 
  15. ↑ Rose, Mike (March 1, 2013). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken". Steel Media Ltd. https://www.pocketgamer.com/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken/. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  16. ↑ "Review: Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken (PS3)". PlayStation: The Official Magazine (Future plc) (52): 69. December 2011. 
  17. ↑ Barker, Sammy (October 19, 2011). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Review (PS3)". Gamer Network. https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psn/rocketbirds_hardboiled_chicken. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  18. ↑ O'Neill, Jamie (March 17, 2013). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken Review (PS Vita)". Gamer Network. https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/psnvita/rocketbirds_hardboiled_chicken. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  19. ↑ Randle, Stephen (February 19, 2013). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken (Vita) Review". Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130223043705/http://www.411mania.com/games/reviews/273982. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  20. ↑ Howard, Luciano (October 18, 2011). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken (PS3)". Poisonous Monkey. Archived from the original on October 21, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111021050656/http://gaming.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/391/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken.html. Retrieved February 4, 2023. 
  21. ↑ Howard, Luciano (February 25, 2013). "Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chicken (Vita)". Poisonous Monkey. Archived from the original on June 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160605080101/http://gaming.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/1533/rocketbirds-hardboiled-chicken.html. Retrieved February 3, 2023. 
  • Developer Ratloop 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 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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