Software:Shadow Watch

From HandWiki
Short description: 2000 video game
For the 1988 romance novel written by Sara Chance, see Lacey Dancer.
Shadow Watch
Developer(s)Red Storm Entertainment
Publisher(s)Red Storm Entertainment
Designer(s)Kevin Perry
Composer(s)Bill Brown
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: April 13, 2000[1]
  • EU: April 18, 2000
  • UK: 2001
Genre(s)Tactical role-playing, turn-based tactics
Mode(s)Single-player

Shadow Watch is a video game developed by Red Storm Entertainment and released for Microsoft Windows in 2000.

Gameplay

It is a turn-based tactics game in which the player fights a conspiracy to halt construction of an international space station. It is based on the Tom Clancy's Power Plays novel Shadow Watch.

The player's team consists of six operatives, each of which has a specialist skill. These abilities can be upgraded and characters learn moves after enough experience points are earned.

Missions are somewhat randomised, and often the story mode will branch out into several paths. Most missions involve killing all of the enemies, but other missions include stealing a package, retrieving a hostage, defending a location. Missions typically have a difficulty and alarm rating, some missions will automatically fail if the alarm is sounded.

In a mission, characters have a certain number of action points (APs). Most actions (shooting weapons, opening doors) cost 1 AP, whereas some moves can consume more. Characters can get injured, and a severe injury will automatically fail the mission.

The music for the game was composed by Bill Brown.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings62%[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSPStarStarHalf star[4]
CGWStarStarHalf star[5]
GameFan70%[7]
GameSpot7/10[8]
GameSpy54%[9]
GameZone7/10[10]
IGN8.4/10[1]
Next GenerationStar[11]
PC Gamer (US)71%[13]

The game received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[2] Christian A. O'Brien of NextGen said in an early review, "Unless you want to trudge through medieval technology and game play, pass right on by Shadow Watch. It belongs in the history books."[11] GamePro said that the game was "perfect for a quick mission, with none of the elaborate notes you have to employ for tracking inventory, research, and travels in larger, more complex turn-based tactical games."[14][lower-alpha 1]

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro gave the game 2.5/5 for graphics, 3/5 for sound, 4/5 for control, and 3.5/5 for fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 IGN staff (April 17, 2000). "Shadow Watch [Incomplete Review"]. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000817173428/http://pc.ign.com/reviews/11650.html. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Shadow Watch for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190602015323/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/198607-shadow-watch/index.html. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  3. ↑ Bub, Andrew S. (April 11, 2000). "Shadow Watch". CNET. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000815085404/http://gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3977,00.html. Retrieved June 18, 2021. 
  4. ↑ Mayer, Robert (March 12, 2000). "Shadow Watch". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on June 9, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030609204621/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/026/169/shadoww_review.html. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  5. ↑ Liberatore, Robert (June 2000). "Do Looks Kill? (Shadow Watch Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (191): 118. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230410105218/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_191.pdf. Retrieved November 27, 2023. 
  6. ↑ Walker, Mark H. (September 11, 2000). "Shadow Watch". Greedy Productions Ltd.. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061020185620/http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=3098. Retrieved November 27, 2023. 
  7. ↑ "REVIEW for Shadow Watch". GameFan (Shinno Media). June 15, 2000. 
  8. ↑ Ryan, Michael E. (April 12, 2000). "Shadow Watch Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000""]. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 25, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050325052615/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/shadowwatch/review.html. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  9. ↑ Timperley, Nate (May 4, 2000). "Shadow Watch". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 4, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020204110409/http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/shadowwatch_a.shtm. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  10. ↑ Shif, Gil Alexander (June 9, 2000). "Shadow Watch Review". Archived from the original on April 6, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080406152457/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r14127.htm. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 O'Brien, Christian A. (April 2000). "Shadow Watch". NextGen (Imagine Media) (64): 94. https://archive.org/details/NextGen64Apr2000/page/n95/mode/2up. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  12. ↑ Rausch, Allen (April 2000). "Shadow Watch". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (20): 73. https://archive.org/details/PCXL20Apr2000/page/n75/mode/2up. Retrieved June 18, 2021. 
  13. ↑ Werner, Nash (June 2000). "Shadow Watch". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 7 (6). Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060315143418/https://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/06/shadow_watch.html. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  14. ↑ Brenesal, Barry (April 12, 2000). "Shadow Watch Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG). Archived from the original on February 19, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050219001023/http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/5264.shtml. Retrieved September 7, 2020. 
  • 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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