Software:Space Jam (video game)

From HandWiki
Short description: 1996 sports video game
Space Jam
North American PlayStation cover
Developer(s)Sculptured Software
Publisher(s)Acclaim Entertainment
EngineNBA Jam Extreme
Platform(s)Sega Saturn
PlayStation
MS-DOS
ReleasePlayStation
  • NA: November 15, 1996[1]
  • EU: March 14, 1997
Saturn
  • NA: November 26, 1996
  • JP: February 28, 1997
  • EU: March 14, 1997
DOS
Genre(s)Sports (basketball)
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Space Jam is a sports video game that ties in with the film of the same name, and based on Looney Tunes characters by Warner Bros. It was released for the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn consoles, and MS-DOS computers. Unlike the film and real rules of basketball, each team plays 3-on-3. Players have a choice whether to play as the TuneSquad or the Monstars. It features basic controls and 2D graphics. The game was developed by Sculptured Software, who also developed the Looney Tunes-based basketball game Looney Tunes B-Ball for Sunsoft the year prior to the production of the Space Jam film, and published by Acclaim Entertainment, who also published the NBA Jam series of basketball games.[3]

Gameplay

Before the actual game of basketball begins, Daffy Duck takes part in a game where he has to find parts of Michael Jordan's uniform, avoiding the family dog Charles. In-between quarters, mini-games such as Shoot Out, Space Race, and Hall of Hijinx are available; after the 2nd quarter, Bugs takes part in a minigame where he has to find water bottles containing Michael's secret stuff.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGMStarStar (PC)[5]
Consoles +79% (PS1)[4]
EGM5.25/10 (PS1)[6]
GameRevolutionD (PS1)[7]
GameSpot3.6/10 (PS1)[8]
Mega Fun78% (PS1)[9]
Next GenerationStar (PS1)[10]
OPM (AU)7/10 (PS1)[11]
Video Games (DE)27% (PS1 & SAT)[13]
Saturn Power46/100 (SAT)[14]
Sega Saturn Magazine53% (SAT)[15]

Space Jam received unfavorable reviews, with critics generally commenting that the basketball is overly simplistic and easy.[6][8][14][15][16] Some attributed this to the unbalanced characters, stating that Michael Jordan is overpowered and the Monstars are all underpowered.[6][10] Most found the mini-games to be poor.[6][8][10] The graphics were also criticized, with many critics saying they could have been done on 16-bit consoles,[6][8][10][15][16] though the depictions of the popular Looney Tunes characters were praised.[6][8][10][14][16]

GamePro described the game as "ordinary".[16] GameSpot's Tom Ham stated that "despite the use of much-loved Warner Bros. cartoon characters, Space Jam fails miserably in every category."[8] Dan Hsu and Crispin Boyer of Electronic Gaming Monthly also panned the game, while their co-reviewers Shawn Smith and Sushi-X defended it, arguing that it was clearly designed for children, making the simplistic gameplay and low difficulty appropriate for its target audience.[6] A reviewer for Next Generation countered this argument by pointing out that it uses one more button than NBA Jam does, which he felt made it too complicated for young players. He remarked that "While it's hard to forgive the poor basketball, it's even harder to like Space Jam given the disc's numerous carnival style mini games ... They add some variety, but are so simplistic that the effort put into creating them would have been much better spent on improving the core game."[10] Sega Saturn Magazine's Lee Nutter felt that Space Jam was decent as a multiplayer game, but fell short of other basketball games on the market, most notably Acclaim and Sculptured Software's own NBA Jam Extreme.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Press release: 1996-11-15: Acclaim releases 'SPACE JAM' Video Game in tandem with Warner Bros. movie" (in en). 2016-06-18. https://segaretro.org/Press_release:_1996-11-15:_Acclaim_releases_%27SPACE_JAM%27_Video_Game_in_tandem_with_Warner_Bros._movie. 
  2. ↑ "Online Gaming Review". 1997-02-27. http://www.ogr.com/news/news1196.html. 
  3. ↑ "Space Jam". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (10): 16. August 1996. https://archive.org/details/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_010/page/n15/mode/2up. 
  4. ↑ Niiico. "Space Jam". Consoles + (63): 122. https://archive.org/details/Console_Plus_Numero_063/page/n121/mode/2up?q=%22space+jam%22+. Retrieved June 11, 2021. 
  5. ↑ D'Aprile, Jason (1997). "Space Jam Review". Computer Games Magazine. Archived from the original on July 5, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030705063647/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/001/062/space_jam_review.html. Retrieved June 11, 2021. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 "Review Crew: Space Jam". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (91): 62. February 1997. 
  7. ↑ "Space Jam". Archived from the original on May 18, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060518235718/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/sony/space_jam. Retrieved June 11, 2021. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Ham, Tom (December 17, 1996). "Space Jam Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/space-jam-review/1900-2549417/. 
  9. ↑ Ulf (February 1997). "Space Jam" (in de). Mega Fun: 64. https://archive.org/details/MegaFun0297/page/n47/mode/2up?q=%22space+jam%22+. Retrieved June 11, 2021. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 "Space Jam". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (27): 90. March 1997. 
  11. ↑ "Space Jam". Official Playstation Magazine (Australia) (3): 54. 1997. https://archive.org/details/Official_AUS_PlayStation_Magazine_Issue_003_1997_Next_Gaming_AU_autumn_edition/page/54/mode/2up?q=%22space+jam%22+playstation. Retrieved June 11, 2021. 
  12. ↑ "Space Jam" (in pt). Super GamePower (36): 40. March 1997. https://archive.org/details/SuperGamePower_36_Marco_1997/page/40/mode/2up?q=%22space+jam%22+. Retrieved June 11, 2021. 
  13. ↑ "Space Jam" (in de). Video Games: 80. April 1997. https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_1997-04_Magna_Media_DE/page/n75/mode/2up?q=%22space+jam%22+. Retrieved June 11, 2021. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Price, James (June 1997). "Review: Space Jam". Saturn Power (Future plc) (1): 74. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Nutter, Lee (May 1997). "Review: Space Jam". Sega Saturn Magazine (Emap International Limited) (19): 66–67. http://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:SSM_UK_19.pdf&page=66. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Dr. Zombie (March 1997). "PlayStation ProReview: Space Jam". GamePro (IDG) (102): 75. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_102_Volume_09_Number_03_1997-03_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n75/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 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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