Software:Silk Worm

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Short description: 1988 video game
Silk Worm
North American arcade flyer
Developer(s)Tecmo[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)
Composer(s)Amiga
Barry Leitch
Platform(s)Arcade, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, NES
ReleaseArcade
Home computers
NES
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Script error: The function "nihongo_foot" does not exist. is a 1988 horizontally scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Tecmo for arcades. In 1989, it was ported to the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC systems by The Sales Curve as Silkworm and released by Virgin Mastertronic. Sammy released a version for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990.

Silk Worm inspired the 1991 game SWIV; despite not being a direct sequel, it followed the same core gameplay design of a helicopter/jeep team, albeit as a vertically scrolling shooter instead of a horizontally scrolling one. It was described in several contemporary and retrospective reviews as being "inspired by" and a spiritual successor to Silk Worm.

Gameplay

The player can take control of a jeep mounted with a machine gun or a helicopter mounted with forward and downward firing guns. Two players can work simultaneously and cooperatively against enemies, with one controlling the jeep and the other controlling the helicopter.

Silk Worm features a variety of enemies, some of which have specific weaknesses, such as the armored AA guns that can only be harmed when their shields are down. Enemies include the "Goose" helicopter, a gigantic, heavily armored "mini-boss" helicopter composed of several smaller vehicles connected together.

The players collect shields (which can alternatively be shot by the player in order to destroy all enemies on the screen) and power cells that increase firepower, and an additional bonus can be added to the score achieved. The game becomes more difficult with each level, with more destructible environmental elements, such as buildings and ancient ruins.

The speed is one of the defining parts of the gameplay, which the programmers who worked on the home conversions were keen to preserve, using a variety of programming techniques.[3] Silkworm features a background music theme composed by Barry Leitch, which went on to be included on a Sinclair User covermounted cassette, along with Shinobi and Continental Circus.[4]

Release

Silk Worm was released at a time when scrolling shooters were among the most popular genres. It was released at the same time as Forgotten Worlds,[5] Sanxion,[6] Battle Chopper[7] and DNA Warrior.[8]

The ZX Spectrum version of the game took three months to develop, and was converted from the Amiga version, which was almost identical to the arcade original.[3] The game reached number three on the UK Spectrum sales charts, behind RoboCop and Dragon Ninja.[9]

In November 1990, Virgin Mastertronic re-released Silkworm as part of the Edition 1 compilation, which also included Double Dragon and the shoot 'em ups Gemini Wing and Xenon.[10]

Hamster Corporation released the arcade version as part of their Arcade Archives series for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in February 2024.[11]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Crash73%[13]
CVG87%[15]
Sinclair User86%[14]
Your Sinclair90%[12]
The Games Machine77%[16]
Awards
PublicationAward
Your SinclairMegagame
Sinclair UserSU Classic

In Japan, Game Machine listed Silk Worm as the fifth most popular table arcade unit of March 1988.[17]

The game was well received. Your Sinclair praised the 2-player mode and the sound effects.[18]

Legacy

The 1991 game SWIV was considered a spiritual successor to Silk Worm, which The Sales Curve had previously converted to home computer formats in 1989. The game's heritage is evident from the game design whereby one player pilots a helicopter, and the other an armoured Jeep. SWIV is not an official sequel, as noted by ex-Sales Curve producer Dan Marchant: "SWIV wasn't really a sequel to Silkworm, but it was certainly inspired by it and several other shoot-'em-ups that we had played and loved."[19][20][21]

SWIV was described in the game's manual as meaning both "Special Weapons Intercept Vehicles" and "Silkworm IV".[22]

Notes

  1. ↑ Home computer versions developed by The Sales Curve.

References

  1. ↑ Akagi, Masumi (13 October 2006) (in ja). アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005). Japan: Amusement News Agency. p. 49, 138. ISBN 978-4990251215. https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n50. 
  2. ↑ "NES Games". Nintendo of America. https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/nes_games.pdf. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Sinclair User". http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=SinclairUser/Issue087/Pages/SinclairUser08700060.jpg. 
  4. ↑ "World of Spectrum - Sinclair User issue 92: 6 Amazing Coin-Op Tracks". http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0013713. 
  5. ↑ "The YS Rock'n'Roll Years - Issue 43". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/ys43.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-22. 
  6. ↑ "The YS Rock'n'Roll Years - Issue 42". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/ys42.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-22. 
  7. ↑ "The YS Rock'n'Roll Years - Issue 44". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/ys44.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-22. 
  8. ↑ "The YS Rock'n'Roll Years - Issue 41". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/ys41.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-22. 
  9. ↑ "The YS Rock'n'Roll Years - Issue 46". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/ys46.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-22. 
  10. ↑ "Edition 1". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/edition1.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-22. 
  11. ↑ Yarwood, Jack (2024-01-31). "Tecmo's Silkworm Is This Week's Arcade Archives Release" (in en-GB). https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/01/tecmos-silkworm-is-this-weeks-arcade-archives-release. 
  12. ↑ "Silkworm". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/silkworm.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-21. 
  13. ↑ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue66/Pages/Crash6600025.jpg. Retrieved 2012-01-21. 
  14. ↑ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=SinclairUser/Issue088/Pages/SinclairUser08800027.jpg. Retrieved 2012-01-21. 
  15. ↑ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=C+VG/Issue093/Pages/CVG09300036.jpg. Retrieved 2012-01-21. 
  16. ↑ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=TheGamesMachine/Issue20/Pages/TheGamesMachine2000043.jpg. Retrieved 2012-01-21. 
  17. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (329): 25. 1 April 1988. 
  18. ↑ "Silkworm". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/silkworm.htm. Retrieved 2012-01-21. 
  19. ↑ Bevan, Mike (2008). "The Making of SWIV", Retro Gamer (58): 40-43.
  20. ↑ Mason, Graeme (30 Jul 2023). "The story of SWIV". Eurogamer.net. https://www.eurogamer.net/the-story-of-swiv. 
  21. ↑ Caswell, Mark (April 1991). "SWIV review". Crash. Newsfield. https://archive.org/details/crash-magazine-87/page/n48/mode/1up?view=theater. 
  22. ↑ "ACE - Issue 40". ACE. January 1991. https://archive.org/details/ace-magazine-40/page/n41/mode/1up?view=theater. Retrieved 2023-09-09. 
  • 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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