Software:Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way

From HandWiki
Short description: 1998 video game

Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way
Developer(s)Zombie Studios
Publisher(s)Ripcord Games
Producer(s)Sandra B. Smith
Designer(s)
  • Eric Church
  • Javier Garavito
  • Mark Long
Programmer(s)Wyeth Ridgway
Artist(s)Mel Guymon
Composer(s)
  • Roland Barker
  • Joseph Zajonc
SeriesSpec Ops
Platform(s)Windows
Release
Genre(s)Tactical shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Spec Ops: Rangers Lead The Way (Spec Ops: Ranger Assault in Europe and Australia) is a tactical shooter video game developed by Zombie Studios and published by Ripcord Games exclusively for Windows. Players take control of United States Army Rangers; the game's subtitle is the Ranger motto. It is the first game in the Spec Ops series.

Gameplay

Spec Ops: Rangers Lead The Way is a tactical shooter game.

Development

Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way was designed to be more of a simulation than previous video games involving the control of ground forces. The developers chose the United States Army Rangers as the subject because of their dangerous missions, aggressive combat tactics, and high casualty rates.[2]

Zombie conducted extensive research for the game, including consulting and using motion capture with a former special forces instructor, attending live fire drills at Fort Lewis, and photographing real soldiers for texture mapping.[2]

Originally the game was to be published for both Windows and PlayStation by BMG Interactive.[2] The PlayStation version was to stream data in order to eliminate load times and utilize true 3D-clipping in order to eliminate tearing in polygonal seams.[2] In mid-1997 BMG Interactive shut down its North American operations,[3] and as 1998 opened the game was still left without a publisher.[4] Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way was also originally planned to have no music. BMG executive producer Mike Suarez commented, "Why waste money on a CD-quality soundtrack? We're focusing on what's more critical to the gameplay and giving it a production value that more than makes up for the absence of music."[2]

The game was picked up by Ripcord Games, which opted to release it only for Windows.[5]

Reception

Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings77%[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSPStarStarStar[8]
CGWStarStarStar[9]
CVGStarStarStarStar[10]
Edge7/10[11]
Game Informer7.5/10[12]
GameRevolutionB+[13]
GameSpot6.8/10[14]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[15]
PC Zone88%[16]

The game received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[6] Next Generation said that the game "succeeds at delivering the tension and excitement of a true Army Ranger mission."[15]

By 2001, the game generated more than $29 million in revenue.[17]

Expansion

Spec Ops: Ranger Team Bravo
Developer(s)Zombie Studios
Publisher(s)Ripcord Games
SeriesSpec Ops
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s)Tactical shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Spec Ops: Ranger Team Bravo is an expansion pack developed by Zombie Studios and was published by Ripcord Games. The expansion launched exclusively for Microsoft Windows on October 23, 1998. The add-on features three new campaigns in Bosnia, Vietnam, and Iraq, and a multiplayer module.

Reception

Spec Ops: Ranger Team Bravo
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings59%[19]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSPStarHalf star[20]
CGWStarStarHalf star[21]
GameSpot6.4/10[22]

Ranger Team Bravo received more mixed reviews than the original Spec Ops according to GameRankings.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "News for April 22, 1998". April 22, 1998. http://ogr.com/news/news0498.html. "RipCord's SpecOps: Rangers Lead the Way has hit store shelves." 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "NG Alphas: SpecOps". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (30): 82–84. June 1997. https://archive.org/details/NextGeneration30Jun1997/page/n83/mode/2up. Retrieved April 15, 2021. 
  3. ↑ "Cleaning Time: Corporations Slim Down". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (31): 22–23. July 1997. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_31/page/n23/mode/2up. Retrieved September 4, 2023. 
  4. ↑ "Sneak Previews: Spec Ops". GamePro (IDG) (114): 66. March 1998. https://retrocdn.net/images/2/22/GamePro_US_114.pdf. Retrieved September 4, 2023. 
  5. ↑ "The Fall of BMG: Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (41): 47. May 1998. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/198734-spec-ops-rangers-lead-the-way/index.html. 
  7. ↑ Cirulis, Martin E. (June 18, 1998). "Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way". CNET. http://gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-1877,00.html. 
  8. ↑ Chick, Tom (June 1, 1998). "Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/012/051/specops_review.html. 
  9. ↑ Nguyen, Thierry (September 1998). "Rangers in the Rough (Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (170): 225. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_170.pdf. Retrieved September 4, 2023. 
  10. ↑ Key, Steve (July 1998). "Spec Ops: [Ranger Assault"]. Computer and Video Games (EMAP) (200): 56. https://archive.org/details/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_200_1998-07_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n71/mode/2up. Retrieved April 16, 2021. 
  11. ↑ Edge staff (June 1998). "Spec Ops: Rangers Assault [sic"]. Edge (Future Publishing) (59): 90. https://retrocdn.net/images/7/77/Edge_UK_059.pdf. Retrieved September 4, 2023. 
  12. ↑ Bergren, Paul (July 1998). "Spec Ops [Rangers Lead the Way]". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (63). 
  13. ↑ Hubble, Calvin (June 1998). "Spec Ops [Rangers Lead the Way Review"]. CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32822-specops-review. 
  14. ↑ Dunkin, Alan (May 21, 1998). "Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way Review [date mislabeled as "April 12, 2000""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/spec-ops-rangers-lead-the-way-review/1900-2533133/. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Spec Ops [Rangers Lead the Way"]. Next Generation (Imagine Media) (43): 109. July 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_43/page/n109/mode/2up. Retrieved April 15, 2021. 
  16. ↑ Shoemaker, Richie (July 1998). "Spec Ops: Rangers Assault [sic"]. PC Zone (Dennis Publishing) (65): 94–95. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_65_July_1998/page/n93/mode/2up. Retrieved April 16, 2021. 
  17. ↑ Ernst, Steve (February 16, 2001). "Zombie principals shift careers to VC investing". Archived from the original on February 19, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010219201138/http://seattle.bcentral.com/seattle/stories/2001/02/19/focus3.html. Retrieved September 16, 2025. 
  18. ↑ Hulsey, Joel (October 23, 1998). "Ripcord Releases Spec Ops Multiplayer". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/015/033/ops.html. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Spec Ops: Ranger Team Bravo for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/198733-spec-ops-ranger-team-bravo/index.html. 
  20. ↑ Chick, Tom (December 9, 1998). "Spec Ops: Ranger Team Bravo". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/016/011/ranger_tb_review.html. 
  21. ↑ Larka, Lance A. (March 1999). "Spec Ops:Ranger Team Bravo [sic"]. Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (176): 162. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_176.pdf. Retrieved September 4, 2023. 
  22. ↑ Dunkin, Alan (January 11, 1999). "Spec Ops: Ranger Team Bravo Review [date mislabeled as "April 12, 2000""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/spec-ops-ranger-team-bravo-review/1900-2533139/. 
  23. ↑ Klett, Steve (December 1998). "Spec Ops: Ranger Team Bravo". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (4): 100. https://archive.org/details/PCXL04Dec1998/page/n99/mode/2up. Retrieved April 15, 2021. 
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari



  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari





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