Software:SimPark

From HandWiki

SimPark is a 1996 video game developed and published by Maxis for Windows and Macintosh. It is a simulation video game where players are tasked to cultivate and manage a successful park in North America. Players must balance the ecosystem by placing a sustainable number of flora, fauna, and facilities for park visitors, whilst managing disasters. Upon release, SimPark received average reviews, with critics praising the game as an educational tool to introduce children to environmental issues, although felt the game was simplistic compared to other simulation titles by the developer.

Gameplay

SimPark screenshot

SimPark is a simulation video game in which players assume the role of a park ranger,[1] and design a park by placing animals, plants and amenities for visitors.[2] Players select a region of North America to situate their park, organised by climate,[3][4][5] and are provided a vacant plot of land to populate.[4] Fauna follow a food chain, and prefer certain climates and seasons, requiring players to manage the balance of plants, animals and people to sustain the park's ecosystem.[6][7][8] Compatible flora and fauna to the climate of the park are highlighted in the user interface,[6] and players can place flora categorised by trees, shrubs, grasses and flowers.[3]

Players can place amenities including include benches, play equipment and services such as hotdog stands.[5][9] Amenities attract visitors to the park, which earns money, although visitors deposit garbage which must be managed by placing trash cans in the park.[4] Disasters can automatically occur or be triggered by players that affect the park, including fires, tornadoes, swarms of kudzu bugs, or an alien invasion.[10][11]

SimPark provides several tools to help players manage the park. Statistics about the park can be viewed in the Park Census and Population Graph menu.[4] A Field Guide provides a database of information on plants and animals, their call, and their relationship in the food chain.[4][7][8][3] The Identa-Species window challenges players to visually identify species from a close-up photograph.[3][4][7] The Budget window overviews the finances of the park.[6] Players receive additional guidance in the form of in-game emails to receive messages on the status of the park, and Rizzo, a frog mascot, who appears onscreen to provide advice on park management.[6][7][11] An Interview feature also allows players to receive verbal feedback on the status of selected flora and fauna.[6]

Development

SimPark was released by Maxis as a spin-off title in its Sim series and designed for children.[5][7] Maxis stated their educational goals for the game were to inspire players to gain real-world insights from playing SimPark, understand the interrelationship between the environment and living organisms, and appreciate the "delicate balance inherent in the natural world".[12] The game was released with a guide for students and teachers to use the software in the classroom.[13] In 2001, SimPark was re-released alongside five other Maxis children's titles in a compilation named SimMania for Kids.[14]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGame3.5/5[10]
GameSpot6.5/10[6]
Evansville Courier & Press4/4[7]

Reviewers praised SimTown as an effective educational tool for learning about ecosystems,[1][15][3] with The Columbian writing that it introduced children to unfamiliar flora and fauna.[5] Some reviewers felt the simulation gameplay was simplistic,[16] with the Albuquerque Journal praising its "open-ended" and "intelligent gameplay, but considering it lacked the "sophisticated management" features of other Sim titles.[17] Reviewers remarked that the game made it impossible to fail or run out of money,[4] with GameSpot writing the game was "extremely forgiving" as "it's virtually impossible to fail at park management".[6]

Reviewers were mixed on the graphics, with The Daily Iberian describing it as "visually stunning",[1] and the Washington Post praising its "finely-animated" wildlife; Allgame felt the visuals were "adequate but nothing spectacular".[10] The disasters were retrospectively identified by Allgame and GameInformer as a highlight of the gameplay.[10][16] In a list of Maxis Sim titles, The A.V. Club ranked SimPark poorly, considering it was "more juvenile" and had a "reduced scope and sense of importance" compared to SimIsle, although was a "fitting introduction" to introducing children to ecosystems.[18]

Accolades

SimPark received an award from Technology & Learning in its 1997-98 software awards for educational games aged at children between 8 to 12.[9]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rushkoff, Douglas (29 September 1996). "The battle for your child's brain". The Daily Iberian: pp. 14. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1342691364/?match=2&terms=%22simpark%22&search-id=80277001-eb1c-47e1-9a84-5d66b3a14e5b&search-rank=4. 
  2. ↑ Kanarick, Mark. "SimPark - Synopsis". Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115185127/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6703&tab=overview. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "The Goods". 27 November 1996. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/technology/1996/11/28/the-goods/c2f8ad5a-5bb6-4f4b-aa70-25e118d44967. Retrieved 13 September 2026. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Carlton, Flint (6 February 1997). "Feed the animals in SimPark or suffer the consequences". The Newark Advocate: 15. https://www.newspapers.com/image/289269645/?match=1&terms=%22simpark%22&search-id=80277001-eb1c-47e1-9a84-5d66b3a14e5b&search-rank=2. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Glicken, Harold (14 November 1996). "SimPark, SimTunes give kids a chance to be creative". https://www.newspapers.com/image/817961137/?match=1&terms=%22simpark%22&search-id=80277001-eb1c-47e1-9a84-5d66b3a14e5b&search-rank=1. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 Anderson, Rebecca (23 December 1996). "SimPark Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/simpark-review/1900-2533023/. Retrieved 13 September 2026. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "SimPark". Evansville Courier: pp. B5. 12 February 1997. https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press/206014976/. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Birkey, Kathleen (1 January 1998). "SimPark". The Booklist: 830. https://www.proquest.com/docview/235423818/fulltextPDF/B892BBCB4DC4784PQ/5?accountid=196403&sourcetype=Trade%20Journals. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "1997-98 Software Awards: Award Winners". Technology & Learning 18 (4): 43. November 1997. https://www.proquest.com/docview/212064092/fulltextPDF/B892BBCB4DC4784PQ/1?accountid=196403&sourcetype=Trade%20Journals. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Kanarick, Mark (13 September 2026). "SimPark - Review". pp. 125. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115185125/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6703&tab=review. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Gelmis, Joseph (24 November 1996). "Super Sim Sequels". Newsday. https://www.proquest.com/docview/278959017/fulltext/BA04101D3BE14A92PQ/169?accountid=196403&sourcetype=Newspapers. 
  12. ↑ Kuntz, (1995) p. 2.
  13. ↑ Kuntz, (1995).
  14. ↑ Gudmundsen, Jinny (28 June 2001). "Kids' Software: Bright Spots in Budled Times". L.A. Times. https://www.proquest.com/docview/421764822/fulltext/BA04101D3BE14A92PQ/141?accountid=196403&sourcetype=Newspapers. 
  15. ↑ "After Hours". PC Mag: 379. 9 September 1997. https://archive.org/details/PC-Mag-1997-09-09/mode/2up?q=%22simpark%22. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "The Forgotten Sims". June 2007. pp. 125. https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-170-june-2007/mode/2up?q=%22simpark%22. 
  17. ↑ "Visions of computer games swim in their heads". Albuquerque Journal: pp. 7. 21 December 1996. https://www.proquest.com/docview/323921731/fulltext/BA04101D3BE14A92PQ/101?accountid=196403&sourcetype=Newspapers. 
  18. ↑ Vorel (20 January 2015). "Every Maxis Sim Game Ranked". https://www.avclub.com/every-maxis-sim-series-game-ranked. Retrieved 13 September 2026. 
  • 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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