Software:Speed Busters

From HandWiki
Short description: 1998 video game
"Speed Devils" redirects here. For the 1935 film, see Speed Devils (film).
Speed Busters
European Windows cover art
Developer(s)Ubi Soft Montreal
Publisher(s)Ubi Soft
Platform(s)Windows, Dreamcast, Mobile phones
ReleaseWindows

Dreamcast
  • EU: October 14, 1999[3]
  • NA: October 29, 1999[2]
  • JP: November 18, 2000

Online Racing
  • NA: December 13, 2000
  • EU: February 2, 2001

Mobile
  • NA: July 3, 2003
Genre(s)Arcade Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer


Speed Busters (known in North America as Speed Busters: American Highways) is a video game developed by Ubisoft's Montreal studio for Microsoft Windows in 1998. It was released for the Dreamcast in 1999 as Speed Devils. This racing game features courses with hazards such as dinosaurs, rolling boulders, and UFOs set in exotic locales, including Louisiana, Louisiana Tornado, New York City, New York City Winter, Mexico, Nevada, Aspen Summer, Aspen Winter, Canada (supposedly northern Quebec), Canada Light Winter, Canada Heavy Winter, Montreal Industrial, Hollywood, and Hollywood Disaster. The console version's career mode allows players to advance through the ranks of a fictional racing league. Colorful rivals challenge players to accomplish specific feats during races, placing bets using prize money earned from competitions. The money earned from gambling and performance is used to purchase cars, upgrade them, and maintain them. The game also supports up to five players on a single Dreamcast console.

In December 2000, Ubisoft published Speed Devils Online Racing, an updated version of the game for the Dreamcast that added online play.[4]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DreamcastmobilePC
CGWN/AN/AStarStarStarHalf star[10]
EGM6.83/10[11]N/AN/A
Famitsu29/40[12]N/AN/A
Game Informer7.25/10[13]N/AN/A
GameFan(J.W.) 81%[14]
71%[15]		N/AN/A
GameProStarStarStarStarHalf star[16]N/AN/A
GameRevolutionC+[17]N/AB+[18]
GameSpot8.2/10[19]6.5/10[20]7.5/10[21]
GameSpy8.5/10[22]N/AN/A
IGN7.9/10[23]N/A7.8/10[24]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[25]N/AN/A
PC Gamer (US)N/AN/A85%[27]
Aggregate score
GameRankings78%[5]65%[6]79%[7]

Speed Busters: American Highways and Speed Devils received favorable reviews, while the mobile version of the latter received mixed reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[5][6][7] GameRevolution reviewed the Dreamcast version, stating, "At the finish line, Speed Devils is an above-average racer, but not much more." The reviewer noted that the game featured good graphics and appealing cars but suffered from poorly designed tracks, leaving players wondering how they managed to drive off a cliff without noticing it. The article also criticized the game's two-player mode for being boring and drawn out.[17] Edge rated the same console version seven out of ten, stating, "While not outstanding in any particular regard, Speed Devils is good entertainment that should captivate anyone tired of realistic racers with its accessible and player-friendly arcade-like nature."[28] Chris Charla of NextGen described the same console version as "the best racing game you can find on Dreamcast today."[25] In Japan, where the same console version was released on November 18, 1999, Famitsu awarded it a score of 29 out of 40.[12]

Nick Smith of AllGame gave Speed Busters: American Highways three-and-a-half stars out of five, stating, "You'll have a fast and furious time with SpeedBusters [sic]—but only if you have a competent graphics card. If you've got a puny PC with little video memory, forget it."[29] However, Jonathan Sutyak rated Speed Devils two-and-a-half stars out of five, commenting, "If you can overlook the obstacles, or even enjoy them, you may get a kick out of some of the races. Although the ability to run tracks in the opposite direction with some different obstacles is a plus, Speed Devils becomes repetitive due to the long laps of each track and the weak computer opponents. They may try to block you when you attempt to pass and will also ram into you, but ultimately, they do not provide an exceptional challenge."[30]

Speed Devils Online Racing

Speed Devils Online Racing
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic76/100[31]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Game Informer7.5/10[32]
GameSpot7/10[4]
IGN7.2/10[33]

Speed Devils Online Racing received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[31]

See also

  • Asphalt, a series of arcade racing games by Gameloft

References

  1. ↑ Mayer, Robert (1998-11-23). "Ubi Soft Ships Speed Busters". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on 2003-07-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20030709100345/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/015/148/speed_busters.html. Retrieved 2021-04-24. 
  2. ↑ "Speed Devils". http://www.sega.com/sega/catalog/SegaProduct.jhtml?PRODID=300. 
  3. ↑ Langan, Matthew (September 2, 1999). "European Dreamcast Release Date Revealed" (in en). IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/03/european-dreamcast-release-date-revealed. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fielder, Joe (2001-01-12). "Speed Devils Online Racing Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/speed-devils-online-review/1900-2674333/. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Speed Devils for Dreamcast". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2019-05-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20190505070222/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198737-speed-devils/index.html. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Speed Devils for Mobile". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2019-05-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20190519144914/https://www.gamerankings.com/mobile/922033-speed-devils/index.html. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Speed Busters: American Highways for PC". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2019-05-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20190520224532/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/71640-speed-busters-american-highways/index.html. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  8. ↑ Derr, Andrew L. (1999-12-22). "Speed Devils". CNET. Archived from the original on 2000-08-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20000823160135/http://gamecenter.com/Consoles/Dreamcast/Speeddevils/. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  9. ↑ Cirulis, Martin E. (1999-01-12). "Speed Busters: American Highways". CNET. Archived from the original on 2000-08-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20000816213129/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2400,00.html. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  10. ↑ Goble, Gordon (May 1999). "Vehicular Abuse (Speed Busters: American Highways Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (178): 161. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_178.pdf. Retrieved 2016-12-24. 
  11. ↑ "Speed Devils". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (124). November 1999. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "SPEED DEViLS （スピード･デビル） [ドリームキャスト"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12834&redirect=no. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  13. ↑ McNamara, Andy; Fitzloff, Jay; Anderson, Paul (October 1999). "Speed Devils - Dreamcast". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (78). https://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4234. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  14. ↑ Weitzner, Jason "Fury" (January 1999). "Speed Devils". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (1): 68. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_01/page/n69/mode/2up. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  15. ↑ Mylonas, Eric "ECM"; Ngo, George "Eggo"; Rodriguez, Tyrone "Cerberus" (January 1999). "Speed Devils". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (1): 18. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_01/page/n19/mode/2up. Retrieved 2021-05-18. 
  16. ↑ Uncle Dust (1999-10-29). "Speed Devils Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/2744.shtml. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Colin (November 1999). "Speed Devils Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924053320/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/speed-devils. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  18. ↑ Johnny B. (January 1999). "Speed Busters Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 2014-12-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20141205155916/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/speed-busters. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  19. ↑ Fielder, Joe (1999-09-29). "Speed Devils Review (DC)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/speed-devils-review/1900-2540687/. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  20. ↑ Brown, Damon. "Speed Devils Review (Mobile)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/speed-devils-review/1900-6103560/. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  21. ↑ Dulin, Ron (1998-12-23). "Speed Busters: American Highways Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/speed-busters-american-highways-review/1900-2533134/. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  22. ↑ Subskin (1999-11-02). "Speed Devils". IGN Entertainment. http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/speeddevils. 
  23. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (1999-11-01). "Speed Devils (DC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/02/speed-devils. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  24. ↑ Ward, Trent C. (1999-01-06). "Speed Busters: American Highways". http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/01/07/speed-busters-american-highways-2. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Charla, Chris (January 2000). "Speed Devils". NextGen (Imagine Media) (61): 93. https://archive.org/details/NextGen61Jan2000/page/n93/mode/2up. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  26. ↑ Hudak, Chris (February 1999). "Speed Busters: American Highways". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (6): 97. https://archive.org/details/PCXL06Feb1999/page/n95/mode/2up. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  27. ↑ Williamson, Colin (March 1999). "Speed Busters". PC Gamer (Imagine Media). http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/983.html. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  28. ↑ Edge staff (Autumn 1999). "Speed Devils". Edge (Future Publishing) (77): 96. https://archive.org/details/edgeuk077/page/n77/mode/2up. Retrieved April 25, 2021. 
  29. ↑ Smith, Nick. "Speed Busters: American Highways—Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 2014-11-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20141114150210/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15798&tab=review. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  30. ↑ Sutyak, Jonathan. "Speed Devils—Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 2014-11-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20141114152731/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18673&tab=review. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Speed Devils Online Racing for Dreamcast Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/speed-devils-online-racing/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  32. ↑ Fitzloff, Jay (January 2001). "Speed Devils Online [Racing]". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (93): 122. 
  33. ↑ Justice, Brandon (2001-01-03). "Speed Devils Online [Racing"]. Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/05/speed-devils-online-2. Retrieved 2021-04-25. 
  • 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.



  • 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.




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