Software:Self Simulated

From HandWiki
Short description: 2025 video game
Self Simulated
Developer(s)2nd Law Games
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Game Boy Color
Release
  • WW: July 10, 2025
Genre(s)platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Self Simulated is a 2025 platform game developed by independent developer Martin Cremerius-Gauer (2nd Law Games) and published by ModRetro for its Chromatic retro handheld console, and also backwards compatible with the Nintendo Game Boy Color. A physical cartridge version of the game was released for the Chromatic in 2025, with a digital release being planned for Steam in 2027.[1]

Gameplay

Self Simulated is a two-dimensional platforming game characterized by precision controls and split-second timing. Players control a nameless, amnesiac android in an AI-operated facility, tasked with completing a number of platforming challenges while avoiding various fatal obstacles ("glitches") and enemies (other robotic entities). Whenever the android is killed, its memory is 'resynced' to a new robotic body, granting the players an unlimited number of attempts to complete each level. As players progress through the game's levels, they unlock new abilities, such as double jump, dash attack, stomp and wall jump. Cremerius-Gauer has cited games like Celeste and Katana Zero as influences for the design of Self Simulated's precision platforming gameplay.[2]

To counterbalance the game's reliance on split-second timing and reflexes, players can opt to enable several "assist settings", designed to make the game more accessible to newcomers and users with various types of impairments, without compromising the core experience. Such settings include an "anti-glitch" mode (where the player's android can freely move through otherwise fatal "glitch" areas and platforms), auto-stomp (the player automatically performing a stomp jump without having to press the corresponding input buttons to perform the move), infinite jumping, etc. Upon finishing the game's "Normal Mode", players unlock "Speedrun" and "Hardcore" modes, introducing less narrative elements and focusing on speed and increased challenge respectively. The game also features an "Insane" mode, which disables the autosave feature, and forces players to complete the entire game in one perfect run.

Release and reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Nintendo World Report9/10[3]
Retro Dodo8.5/10[4]
Daily Nintendo4/5 stars[5]

Self Simulated was released on July 10, 2025, as a new title for the ModRetro Chromatic alongside four other games announced together with the console's permanent restock.[6]

Since its release, reception for Self Simulated has been highly positive. In a mini review article covering all the games released by ModRetro on July 10, 2025, Willem Hilhorst of Nintendo World Report gave Self Simulated a 9/10 score, calling it "some of the most fun I’ve had on Nintendo’s handheld in quite some time".[3] Independent online magazine Retro Dodo similarly awarded the game an 8.5 out of 10 score, calling the game "brilliant", with the only criticism being that "it isn't the longest game in the world", leaving them wanting more.[4] Whilst calling the game's story "forgettable", Jorden Bakker of Daily Nintendo gave Self Simulated four out of five stars, highly praising its gameplay, calling its precision controls "impressive for a device on par with the Game Boy Color", and finding the game well worth getting for the gameplay alone.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Paternostro, Emi (2025-09-08). "Completing the Simulation" (in en). https://gbstudiocentral.com/interviews/completing-the-simulation/. 
  2. ↑ "Self Simulated". https://modretro.com/products/self-simulated. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hilhorst, Willem. "Four Game Boy Games Reviewed (Self Simulated, F.C.P., Wicked Plague, Gravitorque DX)". https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewmini/72699/four-game-boy-games-reviewed-self-simulated-fcp-wicked-plague-gravitorque-dx. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Santabarbara, Sebastian. "Self Simulated Review: Old-school Room Clearing Gameplay That's Impossible To Put Down". https://retrododo.com/self-simulated-review-old-school-room-clearing-gameplay-thats-impossible-to-put-down/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bakker, Jorden. "[Mini Review Self Simulated – vergeet het verhaal, gameplay is top"]. https://dailynintendo.nl/mini-review-self-simulated-vergeet-het-verhaal-gameplay-is-top/. 
  6. ↑ Cichacki, Shaun (2025-07-10). "ModRetro Is Here To Stay; The ‘Chromatic’ Returns With a Lower Priced Option, New Colors, and More Games" (in en). https://www.vice.com/en/article/modretro-is-here-to-stay-the-chromatic-returns-with-a-lower-priced-option-new-colors-and-more-games/. 
  • 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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