Software:Siren: Blood Curse

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Short description: 2008 video game
Siren: Blood Curse
Developer(s)Japan Studio (Project Siren)
Publisher(s)Sony Computer Entertainment
Director(s)Keiichiro Toyama
Producer(s)Takafumi Fujisawa
Artist(s)Isao Takahashi
Writer(s)Naoko Sato
Keiichiro Toyama
Composer(s)Hitomi Shimizu
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
Release
  • WW: July 24, 2008
  • AU: October 29, 2008
Genre(s)Survival horror, stealth
Mode(s)Single-player

Siren: Blood Curse[lower-alpha 1] is a survival horror stealth game developed by Project Siren,[1] a development team of Japan Studio, and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. The third and final installment in the Siren series, Blood Curse was released in July 2008 in Japan and on the PlayStation Store in North America and PAL regions. It was released in October 2008 in Australia and Europe and in December on the PlayStation Store in Japan.

Blood Curse is a "reimagining" of the first installment in the series, Siren, with many alterations to structure and content, along with most of the gameplay improvements introduced in Forbidden Siren 2. The game follows a cast of interconnected characters as they try to survive a cursed village in a remote area of Japan.

Gameplay

In Siren: Blood Curse, the Link Navigator from previous games is replaced by a series of twelve chronological episodes, each containing parallel and intersecting chapters for different player characters. Each chapter consists of either a cutscene or a mission, the latter being where gameplay mainly takes place.[2]

The main gameplay of Blood Curse generally involves controlling a player character from a third-person perspective. The player must complete missions to progress the story, while evading the shibito, the game's main enemies.[3] The series' signature "Sight Jack" ability operates in an automated split-screen mode, allowing the player to see through the eyes of others while continuing to play normally. Sight jacking is imperative to surviving in the game; the player can only discover clues to their next goal or target through this ability.[4][5]

Blood Curse puts an emphasis on stealth gameplay. When the player enters a shibito's vicinity, a heartbeat-like drum will sound to warn the player. Shibito are usually found standing guard at certain points, preventing entry; or patrolling the area on a set path. Should the player get a shibito's attention, it will attack the player until the latter's death. It is possible to knock a shibito out for a small amount of time; however, it will eventually resurrect and attack again. If the player manages to successfully hide from an alerted Shibito, it may give up and resume its idle activity.[3]

Characters are generally unarmed at the start of a mission, making them easy targets for any who see them. The player can only carry one weapon at any time. Weapons include shovels, pistols, rifles, and a katana.[6] In some situations, the player must brace doors to prevent shibito from entering; in others, they must hide to sneak past a shibito following a patrol route.[1]

In the Archives catalog, the player has access to audio recordings, videos, and documents collected by fulfilling certain conditions in an episode. The Archive includes a record of the weapons found throughout the game. The documents can uncover story details hinted upon in the episodes.[1][7]

Synopsis

Setting and characters

Siren: Blood Curse features a cast of interconnected characters, caught up in the unnatural forces surrounding Hanuda Village, Japan. The main protagonist is Howard Wright, an American high school student who arrives in Hanuda due to a mysterious e-mail message.[8][9][10] Throughout the game, he encounters members of an American TV crew: Sam Monroe, a cultural anthropologist and college professor; Melissa Gale, a TV presenter and Sam's ex-wife; Bella Monroe, Sam and Melissa's ten-year-old daughter; and Sol Jackson, the cameraman. He also encounters Miyako (美耶古), a girl who wishes to escape Hanuda; Seigo Saiga (犀賀 省悟, Saiga Seigo), a doctor of the local Saiga Hospital;[11] and Amana, an amnesiac Caucasian who is revealed to be the main human antagonist.[12][13]

The game is mostly set in Hanuda Village (羽生蛇村, Hanyūda Mura), including the Karuwari and Tabori districts, the Hanuda Mine, and the Saiga Hospital. The village is home to the unique Mana religion. The dead humans who now roam the area, the shibito (屍人; lit. "corpse people"), are a result of the Mana "god" Kaiko (蚕子; lit. "silkworm child"), the primary antagonist.[14][15][16] Because of Kaiko's influence, Hanuda is "cut off" from the outside world, preventing communication and escape from the village.[17]

Plot

On August 2, 2007, an American TV crew visits Hanuda Village, Japan, a mountain village that vanished completely in 1976.[1][18] At night, Sol and Melissa stumble upon a Mana ritual, where Yukie Kobe is murdered as a sacrifice. Howard Wright intervenes, allowing Miyako to escape unharmed.[13][19][20] Howard runs to find help; and encounters a policeman who tries to kill him.[citation needed] Howard kills the officer and escapes, discovering that the man was already dead.[21] As he crosses a bridge, an ominous siren shakes the mountain, and the policeman—a shibito—reappears and shoots Howard in the chest. He falls into the river below.[22] Meanwhile, Yukie resurrects as a shibito and attacks the camera crew, separating them as the siren wails.[22]

Howard wakes downstream, having survived the gunshot. Amana assists him, but they are separated when a shibito knocks Howard down and carries Amana away. Sam reawakens at the Hanuda mines, and reunites with Melissa.[23] Meanwhile, Bella, hiding in the Saiga Hospital, calls for help; this draws in Sol, now a shibito, who attacks Bella.[24] Howard encounters Miyako and attempts to escape with her.[25] Later, Sam and Melissa meet Saiga. As they leave, Saiga decides to kill himself after Yukie—his fiancée—appears again. The Monroes encounter Bella—who died and has become a shibito. Amana recovers her lost memories, remembering that she is to bring the god Kaiko into the world.[26][27] She subdues Howard, and takes Miyako into the Shibito Nest. Howard pursues them, but is too late: Miyako has already been sacrificed. He encounters the shibito of Sam and Bella, as well as an insane Melissa, who shoots and kills him.

Howard and Bella's deaths cause a time loop. The player returns to the point when Howard first encountered Amana. This time, Howard remembers her actions from the previous timeline and runs away. Amana, now retaining her memories, does not follow.[28]

In this timeline, Sol and Sam reunite in the Hanuda mines; while Melissa finds Bella safe in the hospital. However, Sol dies after he and Sam are surrounded, and Melissa dies while saving Bella from a maggot shibito.[29] Saiga, getting a strange sense of déjà vu, protects Bella from more shibito, and uncovers an ancient Mana text.[30] Sam finds the text and discovers their experiences were all predestined.[31] Howard, meanwhile, recalls Miyako melded her blood with his to prevent him from becoming a shibito, and he goes in search of her.[31] Bella narrowly escapes from Melissa, now another shibito.[32]

Howard finds Miyako, who explains the village is caught in an unending time loop, and they must release the "other power" to stop it.[33] They break the seals, but Amana appears, knocking Howard unconscious and kidnapping Miyako.[34] Saiga and Bella carry Howard to the hospital.[35] When Howard awakens he discovers Saiga "experimenting" on a shibito.[36] Saiga goes to the Hanuda Mine, fights Yukie (now a mutated shibito) and retrieves an artifact called "the Uryen".[37] Howard, Bella, and Sam enter the shibito nest and see Amana sacrifice Miyako in the red sea, summoning an otherworldly monster—Kaiko. As the others escape, Amana stays, horrified by Kaiko's form: something has gone wrong again.[38]

Saiga arrives with the Uryen—the "fruit" that Amana was supposed to use to resurrect Kaiko in its true form. Kaiko impales Saiga, who dies as he unleashes the Uryen's sacred fire down upon them.[39] Howard gets separated from Bella and meets Sam, who had sent Howard the message that brought him here. Sam asks Howard to keep Bella safe should he find her again, then traverses the Shibito Nest core.[40] He encounters Melissa and Sol, now shibitos.[41] As Sol corners Bella, Melissa intervenes, saving her daughter. However, all three wind up falling through an orange void. Howard, meanwhile, heads back to where Miyako was sacrificed, and finds her spirit looking up from the reflection of the red sea. She requests he make the village disappear, and he falls into the water.[42]

Howard enters "Inferno" (いんふぇるの), where he encounters Saiga's spirit. After giving him the Uryen, Saiga battles him as a test.[43] Howard defeats Saiga, and the doctor leaves behind a sword.[6] Amana appears, and offers herself up to resurrect Kaiko's true form: a mass of floating insect parts. With Miyako's spirit guiding him, Howard turns Saiga's sword into a vessel for the "other power", which the Uryen's flame unleashes. Howard works with Miyako's spirit to see through Kaiko's illusions and destroy the deity. After succeeding, Amana returns and says the ritual has succeeded, then walks away. Sam falls into another orange void, which deposits him into Hanuda in 1976, after the village was washed away in a flood. He comments that "[e]verything must be repeated so that Bella can exist forever", and remembers Howard, ensuring that the events of the game would repeat.[44]

In the epilogue, Howard approaches Hanuda's shibito, while listening to his music player. The camera reveals he is armed with guns, Saiga's sword, and the Uryen. Activating the Uryen, Howard begins to destroy the village—his "promise to Miyako."[45]

Development and release

Director and co-writer Keiichiro Toyama said: "Siren Blood Curse is not a sequel or a standard remake of the other games. Suppose the events of the original SIREN were real, in that case Siren Blood Curse would be like a 'movie based on a true story', adapting and dramatizing the original. While some of the key events bear resemblance to those in the first SIREN, the characters and the background are completely different. The addition of Western characters who have stumbled into horrific events taking place in a world that is foreign to them helps enhance the feelings of isolation and terror. I think they will also present Western players with characters that are easier to relate to. This mix of Western and Japanese characters with the inevitable communication troubles that ensue adds to the frustration the various characters feel toward their situation. We were able to present the game more like a dramatic TV show in a way that hasn’t been done before. A lot of survival horror titles in recent years have been focusing mostly on just the action element, while Siren Blood Curse puts a lot of its effort into scaring the player and presenting a rich story".[46] The game was promoted with a special area at PlayStation Home, including the Ward of Despair minigame lobby for up to five players.[47]

The original soundtrack of Siren: Blood Curse, titled Siren: New Translation Original Soundtrack was released in Japan on August 27, 2008.[48] The European release of Blood Curse includes an exclusive making-of documentary titled Behind the Curtain of Terror, which is accessed via the PlayStation 3's XMB Video menu.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic78/100[49]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid(Rice) 7.5/10
(Chester) 6/10[50]
Edge8/10[51]
Eurogamer(1-3) 9/10[52]
8/10[2]
Famitsu36/40[53]
GameProStarStarStarStar[54]
GameSpot7/10[55]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[56]
GameZone8/10[57]
IGN(5-12) 8.5/10[58][59]
8.4/10[60]
(1-4) 7/10[3]
PSMStarStarStarHalf star[61]
Variety(average)[62]

Siren: Blood Curse received "generally favorable reviews", complimenting its excellent visuals, atmosphere-setting sounds, storyline, and gameplay, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[49] IGN praised the game's "increasingly suspenseful set of chapters and cutscenes, frightening jumps and gameplay sequences", but criticized some of the gameplay's aspects.[60] While reviewing the first chapter of the game, Eurogamer stated that "Siren: Blood Curse is the best thing to appear in the genre in a very long time".[52] GameSpot's Carolyn Petit praised the sight jacking mechanic, while noting repetition in locations and controls.[55] In Japan, Famitsu gave the game a score of all four nines for a total of 36 out of 40.[53] 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die included Siren: Blood Curse as one of its titles.[63]

Notes

  1. ↑ Known in Japan as Siren: New Translation (Japanese: サイレン: ニュー トランスレーション, Hepburn: Sairen:Nyū Toransurēshon)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Siren: Blood Curse manual". Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. http://uk.playstation.com/media/113777/SBC_OnLineMan_man_ENG_v3.pdf. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Reed, Kristan (July 24, 2008). "Siren: Blood Curse". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/siren-blood-curse-review. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Haynes, Jeff (August 5, 2008). "Siren: Blood Curse Episode 1-4 Review". http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/08/06/siren-blood-curse-episode-1-4-review. 
  4. ↑ McDonell, Jess (July 29, 2013). "House of Horrors - Siren". http://www.gamespot.com/videos/house-of-horrors-siren-blood-curse/2300-6412146/. 
  5. ↑ Crecente, Brian (May 6, 2008). "Episodic Siren Blood Curse Hits PS3 This Summer". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5007980/episodic-siren-blood-curse-hits-ps3-this-summer. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Scene: Homuranagi. Level/area: Archive. "Category: Heavy Bladed Weapon [...] A sword Seigo was wielding engraved with the name "Homuranagi". It has been well-maintained and keeps a sharp edge despite its age." 
  7. ↑ Yuasa, Kumi (September 16, 2008). "SIREN: Blood Curse Tips Straight From the Producer". PlayStation Blog. http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/09/16/siren-blood-curse-tips-straight-from-the-producer/. 
  8. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Scene: Howard Wright's Student ID. Level/area: Archive. "Yorimi International School / Name: Howard Wright / Birth Date: July 30th, 1989 / Expiration: June 30th, 2008 / hw-biker.blog-paradise.com" 
  9. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Scene: Howard Wright's Cell Phone. Level/area: Archive. "Eric (voice): [...] Oh hey, you said you were going up to Hanuda, didn't you? Yeah, from what some Japanese friends tell me, that place sounds f[***]ed up. They're probably just full of BS. And hey, you want a little excitement anyway right? A bike trip sounds like just what you needed. [...] Well hey, just give me a call when you can." 
  10. ↑ Wright, Howard. "hw-biker-blog-paradise". Wright Rider. Sony Computer Entertainment. http://hw-biker.blog-paradise.com/e/index.html. 
  11. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Scene: Seigo Saiga's Driver's License. Level/area: Archive. "Class D Driver's License / Name: Seigo Saiga / D.O.B.: 21/6/1946 [June 21st, 1946] / Registered Address: 367 Arato, Hanuda Village, Misumi County" 
  12. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Scene: Ending/Credits. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Siren: Blood Curse". PlayStation. http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Games/Siren_Blood_Curse. 
  14. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Scene: Holy Scroll - Ouroboros. Level/area: Archive. "The Ouroboros, a powerful symbol for the Mana religion, is painted on this sacred scroll. It is usually depicted as a snake or a dragon biting its own tail, forming a circle, and represents cyclicality and the concept of infinity. The name Ouroboros itself means "one who devours his own tail". The beginning and the end are as one with this symbol. The snake destroys itself and renews itself in the same action; giving birth to itself, an endless cycle of creation and annihilation. The Ouroboros will exist forever as it continues this process of self-renewal." 
  15. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Scene: Gojaku Mural. Level/area: Archive. 
  16. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Scene: Legends of Hanuda Village. Level/area: Archive. ""The Girl who Devoured the Celestial One"
    A long time ago, a terrible drought forced the village into a deep famine. A girl with the hair of the sun prayed for help and soon a strange animal descended from the sky. The odd creature possessed the physical qualities of both a fish and an insect.
    Upon seeing it, the girl could no longer restrain her hunger. However, the moment she bit into the mysterious being's flesh, the sky grew ominously dark, and a loud, horrible sound echoed throughout the land.
    The girl was frightened and begged for forgiveness. She promised to offer up another divine fruit in exchange for the one she had consumed if her life would be spared."     
  17. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 5. "Sam: [while Melissa sight-jacks either him or Saiga; about using the phone] Hey, does that work? maybe we can use it to call for help. / Saiga: Unfortunately, all means of contact with the outside world have been cut off. We can communicate within the village, but it would be taking a great risk, assuming the person on the other end is really a person. [...] The area surrounding the village has been completely covered by a red sea. Or...perhaps, the village has been ripped from the world and placed in a red sea." 
  18. ↑ Harradence, Mike (January 27, 2011). "Inside PlayStation Network - Siren: Blood Curse". PlayStation Universe. http://www.psu.com/a010511/Inside-PlayStation-Network---Siren--Blood-Curse?page=0. 
  19. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 1 - Chapter 1. "Sol Jackson: [coming up to a clearing, where a ceremony is taking place] Uhh, that don't look right. What is that? / Melissa Gale: [...] Huh? What are they doing? I thought this was an abandoned village. Who are those people—? / Sol: Shh! [...] Damn, that's some f**ked-up shit! They just straight up killed her! F**k...! [...] / Melissa: No! They're gonna kill her, too! [...] [The second girl escapes; a man from the group goes after her.] / Howard Wright: Stop! Hey! [runs into view of the camera] Leave her the f**k alone! [attacks the man going after the girl]" 
  20. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 5. "Sam: [while Melissa sight-jacks either him or Saiga; about the ritual, which he hadn't witnessed] But someone came in and stopped it. Apparently, the other girl [Miyako] managed to get away. / Saiga: So you weren't there, I see. That's a relief that you and your daughter didn't have to witness that." 
  21. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 1 - Chapter 2/Lower Arato. "Howard: [running for a police station] Help! A woman got stabbed! [in Japanese] Help! Somebody died! [...] / Police officer: [in Japanese] 10-4. Shoot to kill." 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Scene: Chapter 3. Level/area: Episode 1 - Chapter 3. 
  23. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Scene: Sam Monroe's Voice Recorder. Level/area: Archive. "Sam (voice): What is this place in Bella's picture? Could it really be somewhere in this town? What relation does it have to those monsters? It looks like a nest, but if they're building a nest, does that imply that they have a type of hive intelligence, like bees or ants? Why would they need a nest, and what could they be hiding in there?" 
  24. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 3. "Sol: Bella! Bellaaaa! ... I've found you! Now you're IT! / Bella: No!" 
  25. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. "Howard: Hey... you were part of that ritual!" 
  26. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 5. "Amana: O my lord, what is it you desire?" 
  27. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 5. "Howard: [to Miyako, in Japanese] Uh... My name is Howard Wright. Okay? Let's get out of here, together. We can do this! I'm Howard. You are? / Miyako: Miyako." 
  28. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. "Amana: No! [smiles] ...Wait..." 
  29. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 9. "Melissa: I love you, Bella! Run!" 
  30. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 9. "Saiga: [in Japanese; to himself] I don't understand... Have I done this before? [...] What an odd feeling..." 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 9. "Miyako: [in Japanese] This is my blood, an eternal pact of salvation... This is the only thing I could do. You were untainted, but now... [...] / Howard: [after the memory] Miyako... [...] / Sam: [examining the Ancient Book] My God... It was all foreseen? There are drawings of us in here?! I don't believe this..." 
  32. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 10. 
  33. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 10. "Howard: [to Miyako] I remember now. / Miyako: [in Japanese] We're trapped within a closed loop, and everything keeps happening over and over. We have to release the other power sleeping over there." 
  34. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 10. "Amana: [incapacitationg Howard] There is no escape. You have no place to run!" 
  35. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 10. "Saiga: [discovering Howard, out cold; in Japanese] It seems this is no chance encounter." 
  36. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 11 - Chapter 1. "Howard: [to Bella, who is sitting near his gurney(?)] Hey, who are you? Are you here alone? / [...] Saiga: [to Howard; in English] Oh, our savior! How do you feel, now that you've started your new existence? While I was waiting for you to wake up, I've been doing a little...experimenting. [...] You're more than welcome to stay as long as you like, but I have work to do." 
  37. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 11 - Chapter 2 - Mount Gojaku, Hanuda Mine. "Saiga: [picking up the cube-like object; in Japanese] This must be the buried ancient power..." 
  38. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Chapter 11. "Amana: Now, the gates [of] Paradise shall open... / Howard: [as Miyako's body combusts] Miyako? Miyako! / Bella: [seeing Sam] Daddy! / Sam: No! I'm too late! This is exactly as the prophecy said! / Bella: [running towards Sam] Daddy! / Sam: [seeing her] No, Bella! Stay back! It's too dangerous! [...] / Amana: [seeing Kaiko's form] No... This isn't how it's supposed to be!" 
  39. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 12. "Saiga: [while impaled by Kaiko; to Amana, in English] I'm afraid you can't get rid of me that easily. / Amana: So it was you who stole the fruit! / Saiga: [raises the Uryen up] It was only a small piece... [The Uryen activates.] / Amana: NO!" 
  40. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 12. "Sam: [to Howard] Hey, what's your name? / Howard: Howard Wright. / Sam: My name's Sam Monroe. If you see my Bella again, please make sure she's okay. / Howard: Wait, you're Sam Monroe? So you're the one who sent me the message. / Sam: I don't know what you're talking about." 
  41. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 12 - Shibito Nest. "Sam: [in disbelief] Melissa, is that you...?!" 
  42. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 12. 
  43. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 12 - Inferno. "Howard: You...! / Seigo: [tosses the Uryen to Howard, who catches it in surprise] This role is meant for you. I'm afraid you are more suited for it. [aims rifle at Howard] [...] / Seigo: [discarding his rifle for the Homuranagi; in Japanese] I'm no Dante...and I have no Beatrice to guide me..." 
  44. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 12. "Sam: Everything must be repeated...so that Bella can exist forever. Howard... That was his name."  According to in-game files, Sam's reason for saying this is because Amana is actually a grown-up Bella, who would fall into the past and become the priestess that would bring Kaiko into the world.
  45. ↑ Japan Studio (July 24, 2008) (in English, Japanese). Siren: Blood Curse. PlayStation 3. Sony Computer Entertainment. Level/area: Episode 12. "Howard: [after using the Uryen to signal Hanuda's end] This is my promise to Miyako." 
  46. ↑ Inaba, Tsubasa (June 13, 2008). "Developer Q&A: SIREN Blood Curse". PlayStation Blog. http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/06/13/developer-qa-siren-blood-curse/. 
  47. ↑ Fahey, Mike (May 6, 2009). "Japanese Siren Home Space Creeps Westward". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5242627/japanese-siren-home-space-creeps-westward. 
  48. ↑ "Siren R: New Translation Original Soundtrack". CDJapan. http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/KDSD-227. 
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 "SIREN: Blood Curse for PlayStation 3 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/siren-blood-curse/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. 
  50. ↑ "Destructoid review: Siren: Blood Curse". August 7, 2008. https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-siren-blood-curse-98498.phtml. 
  51. ↑ Edge staff (September 2008). "Siren: Blood Curse". Edge (192): 86. 
  52. ↑ 52.0 52.1 Fahey, Rob (July 8, 2008). "Siren: Blood Curse - Chapters 1-3". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/siren-blood-curse-chapters-1-3-review. 
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 Ashcraft, Brian (February 10, 2009). "Famitsu's Best PS3 Games of 2008". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5150196/famitsus-best-ps3-games-of-2008. 
  54. ↑ Ramsey, Andrew (July 28, 2008). "Review: Siren: Blood Curse". GamePro Arcade. http://www.gameproarcade.com/article/99373/review-siren-blood-curse/. Retrieved January 3, 2017. 
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Petit, Carolyn (August 11, 2008). "Siren: Blood Curse Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/siren-blood-curse-review/1900-6195746/. 
  56. ↑ McGarvey, Sterling (August 8, 2008). "GameSpy: Siren: Blood Curse". GameSpy. http://ps3.gamespy.com/playstation-3/team-siren-project-untitled/897745p1.html. 
  57. ↑ Hopper, Steven (August 3, 2008). "SIREN: Blood Curse - PS3 - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/siren_blood_curse_ps3_review. 
  58. ↑ Haynes, Jeff (August 5, 2008). "Siren: Blood Curse Episodes 5-8 Review". http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/08/06/siren-blood-curse-episode-5-8-review. 
  59. ↑ Haynes, Jeff (August 5, 2008). "Siren: Blood Curse Episodes 9-12 Review". http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/08/06/siren-blood-curse-episode-9-12-review. 
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 Haynes, Jeff (August 5, 2008). "Siren: Blood Curse Review". http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/08/06/siren-blood-curse-review. 
  61. ↑ "Siren: Blood Curse". PlayStation: The Official Magazine: 89. November 2008. 
  62. ↑ Alexander, Leigh (August 11, 2008). "Review: 'Siren: Blood Curse'". Variety. https://variety.com/2008/digital/features/siren-blood-curse-1200507815/. Retrieved January 3, 2017. 
  63. ↑ Mott, Tony (2010). 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die. Universe Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7893-2090-2. 
  • (US)
  • (UK)
  • Siren: Blood Curse on IMDb
  • 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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