Software:Silent Service (video game)

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Silent Service
Cover art by David Phillips
Developer(s)MicroProse
Rare (NES)
France Image Logiciel (Thomson)
Publisher(s)MicroProse
Konami (NES)
France Image Logiciel (Thomson)
Designer(s)Sid Meier
Artist(s)Michael O. Haire
Platform(s)Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari 8-bit, Atari ST, C64, IBM PC, NES, TRS-80 Color Computer, Thomson MO6, Thomson TO8, Thomson TO9, ZX Spectrum
Release1985-1987
Genre(s)Submarine simulator
Mode(s)Single-player

Silent Service is a submarine simulator video game designed by Sid Meier[1] and published by MicroProse for various 8-bit home computers in 1985 and for 16-bit systems like the Amiga in 1987. A Nintendo Entertainment System version developed by Rare was published in 1989 by Konami in Europe and by Konami's Ultra Games subsidiary in North America. Silent Service II was released in 1990. Tommo purchased the rights to this game and published it online through its Retroism brand in 2015.[2]

Gameplay

Atari 8-bit gameplay

Silent Service is set in the Pacific Ocean during World War II, with the player assuming control of a U.S. Gato-class submarine for various war patrols against Japanese shipping. "Silent Service" was a nickname for the US Navy's submarine force in the Pacific during World War II. The player can choose when to attack from a range of realistic tactics, including the End Around and near invisibility at night (if the sub's profile is kept to a minimum). It allows four projectiles concurrently, a challenge when battling multiple destroyers. Real-time is accelerated when not in combat.

Sid Meier described several key factors that influenced the design of the game: The size of the theater, the variety of tactical situations, and evolving technology, such as the use of surface radar and torpedoes that did or did not leave trails of bubbles on the surface—only simulations set after their real-life introduction had access to these. Tasks such as navigation, damage repair, and firing were compartmentalized into different screens to allow players access to a great deal of information, but also to focus on the immediate task.[3]

Development

The game was designed by Sid Meier, the art which was made by Michael O. Haire. Silent Service was in development for 8 months and its creation was inspired by a fractal technological trick.[1]

Reception

Silent Service was MicroProse's second best-selling Commodore game as of late 1987.[4] The company sold 250,000 copies by March 1987,[5] and roughly 400,000 overall.[1]

Info in 1985 rated Silent Service for the Commodore 64 four stars out of five, stating that its quality and graphics "are all unmistakably MicroProse" and "ensure a satisfying level of play for any wargamer".[6] Antic wrote in 1986 that "Sid Meier and his team of simulation experts at MicroProse have outdone themselves". The magazine approved of how the game offered both beginner modes and "complex, historically accurate, and challenging war patrol scenarios" for experts, and noted the Atari 8-bit version's "superb" graphics and "well done" manual".[7] Antic in 1987 also liked the Atari ST version's graphics, sound, adjustable difficulty levels, and documentation, concluding: "It's a traditional MicroProse product and it's nice to see that they've remained dedicated to detail".[8] Compute! wrote in 1986 that "like F-15 Strike Eagle, Silent Service is both intriguing and addictive... a superior product".[9]

Computer Gaming World in 1986 called Silent Service "easily the best [submarine simulator] for its simplicity of use and execution". It praised the game's realism and only criticized the lack of a save game feature.[10] Gregg Williams reviewed the Atari 8-bit home computer version for Computer Gaming World, complimenting the graphics and sound and saying that they support the illusion of realism.[11] A 1987 overview of World War II simulations in the magazine rated the game five out of five stars, praising its "superb graphics coupled with detailed rules, historical accuracy and layers of complexity".[12] In 1993 a survey of wargames in the magazine gave the game two stars out of five, stating that "it has been rendered obsolete by time and superseded by Silent Service II".[13] In 1996 Computer Gaming World ranked it as the 86th best game of all time, for having "introduced the control-room interface for submarine games on variety of platforms".[14]

Silent Service was awarded the Charles S. Roberts Award for "Best Adventure Game for Home Computer of 1985".[15]

Reviews

  • Jeux & Stratégie #43[16]

Sequel

Main article: Software:Silent Service II

A sequel to the game was published by MicroProse in 1990 for MS-DOS and other versions in following years.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Meier, Sid (2016-10-25). "Designer Notes 23: Sid Meier - Part 1" (audio). Interviewed by Soren Johnson. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  2. ↑ "Purchase Agreement between Atari, Inc. and Rebellion Developments, Stardock & Tommo". BMC Group. 2013-07-22. http://docs.bmcgroup.com/Atari/nysb_1-13-bk-10176_313.pdf. 
  3. ↑ Meier, Sid (March 1986). "Silent Service: Designer's Notes". Computer Gaming World: 28–29. 
  4. ↑ Ferrell, Keith (December 1987). "The Commodore Games That Live On And On". Compute!'s Gazette 5 (12): pp. 18–22. ISSN 0737-3716. https://archive.org/stream/1987-12-computegazette/Compute_Gazette_Issue_54_1987_Dec#page/n17/mode/2up. 
  5. ↑ Brooks, M. Evan (March 1987). "Computers in Flight; Gunship". Computer Gaming World (35): 10–13. 
  6. ↑ Dunnington, Benn; Brown, Mark R. (December 1985 – January 1986). "C-64/128 Gallery". Info: 4–5, 88–93. https://archive.org/stream/info-magazine-09/Info_Issue_09_1985_Dec-Jan_1986#page/n5/mode/2up. Retrieved 2019-03-19. 
  7. ↑ Moore, Rich; Plotkin, David; Kershaw, Brad; Lewis, Scott (March 1986). "Product Reviews". Antic. http://www.atarimagazines.com/v4n11/productreviews.html. 
  8. ↑ Teverbaugh, Rick (April 1987). "Silent Service". Antic. http://www.atarimagazines.com/v5n12/STProductNews.html. 
  9. ↑ Randall, Neil (April 1986). "Silent Service". Compute!: pp. 51. https://archive.org/stream/1986-04-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_071_1986_Apr#page/n51/mode/2up. 
  10. ↑ Teverbaugh, Rick (January–February 1986). "Silent Service". Computer Gaming World: 20. 
  11. ↑ Williams, Gregg (August 1986). "Atari Playfield". Computer Gaming World 1 (30): 38, 41. 
  12. ↑ Brooks, M. Evan (May 1987). "Kilobyte Was Here!". Computer Gaming World: p. 6. 
  13. ↑ Brooks, M. Evan (October 1993). "Brooks' Book Of Wargames: 1900-1950, R-Z". Computer Gaming World: pp. 144–148. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=111. 
  14. ↑ "150 Best Games of All Time". Computer Gaming World: pp. 64–80. November 1996. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148. 
  15. ↑ "The 1985 Origins Awards". The Game Manufacturers Association. http://www.gama.org/OriginsAwards/OriginsAwardsWinnersThe1980s/The1985OriginsAwards/tabid/3228/Default.aspx. 
  16. ↑ "Jeux & stratégie 43". February 1987. https://archive.org/details/jeux-et-strategie-43/page/64/mode/2up. 
  • 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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