Software:Speed Devils

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Speed Busters: American Highways aka Speed Devils (Dreamcast Title)
North American Dreamcast cover art
Developer(s)Ubi Soft Montreal
Publisher(s)Ubi Soft
Platform(s)Windows
Dreamcast
Mobile Phone
ReleaseWindows
Dreamcast
  • NA: October 14, 1999
  • JP: November 18, 1999
Mobile
  • NA: July 3, 2003
Genre(s)Arcade Racing
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Speed Devils is a series of video games developed by Ubisoft's Montreal studio for Microsoft Windows in 1998 and Dreamcast in 1999. Both Speed Busters: American Highways (also known as just Speed Busters) and Speed Devils are racing games in which the courses feature hazards such as dinosaurs rolling boulders, and UFOs 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 allowed a player to rise a racer through the ranks of a fictional racing league. Colorful rivals would challenge you to accomplish certain feats during races, making accompanying bets using prize money from competition. Money earned from gambling and performance is used to buy cars, upgrade them, and maintain them. The game also supports five players on one Dreamcast console.

Speed Devils Online Racing

Speed Devils Online Racing
Developer(s)Ubi Soft Montreal
Publisher(s)Ubi Soft
Platform(s)Dreamcast
Release
  • NA: December 13, 2000
  • EU: February 2, 2001
Genre(s)Arcade Racing
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Sega released Speed Devils Online Racing (also known as just Speed Devils Online), an updated version of the game in 2000 for Dreamcast that added online play.[1]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DreamcastmobilePC
AllGameStarStarHalf star[2]N/AStarStarStarHalf star[3]
Edge7/10[5]N/AN/A
EGM6.83/10[6]N/AN/A
Game Informer7.25/10[8]N/AN/A
GameFan76%[7]N/AN/A
GameProStarStarStarStarHalf star[9]N/AN/A
GameRevolutionC+[10]N/AB+[11]
GameSpot8.2/10[12]6.5/10[13]7.5/10[14]
GameSpy8.5/10[15]N/AN/A
IGN7.9/10[16]N/A7.8/10[17]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[18]N/AN/A
PC Gamer (US)N/AN/A85%[19]
Aggregate score
GameRankings78%[20]65%[21]79%[22]

Speed Busters: American Highways and Speed Devils received fairly positive reviews. GameRankings gave it a score of 79% for the PC version,[22] 78% for the Dreamcast version,[20] and 65% for the Mobile version.[21] Game Revolution wrote a review on the Dreamcast version, saying, "At the finish line, Speed Devils is an above average racer, but not much more." The reviewer said the game had good graphics and cool cars, but suffered from poorly made tracks that leave the player wondering how they managed to drive off a cliff without noticing the cliff in front of them. The article also criticized the games two player mode for being boring and drawn out.[10]

Chris Charla reviewed the Dreamcast version of Speed Devils for Next Generation, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "Simply put, it's the best racing game you can find on Dreamcast today"[18]

Speed Devils Online Racing

Speed Devils Online Racing
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic76/100[23]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Game Informer7.5/10[24]
GameSpot7/10[1]
IGN7.2/10[25]

Speed Devils Online Racing received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[23]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fielder, Joe (2001-01-12). "Speed Devils Online Racing Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/speed-devils-online-review/1900-2674333/. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  2. ↑ Sutyak, Jonathan. "Speed Devils - Review". AllGame. 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. 
  3. ↑ Smith, Nick. "Speed Busters: American Highways - Review". AllGame. 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. 
  4. ↑ Goble, Gordon (May 1999). "Vehicular Abuse (Speed Busters: American Highways Review)". Computer Gaming World (178): 161. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_178.pdf. Retrieved 2016-12-24. 
  5. ↑ Edge staff (November 1999). "Speed Devils". Edge (77). 
  6. ↑ "Speed Devils". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 1999. 
  7. ↑ "REVIEW for Speed Devils". GameFan. October 21, 1999. 
  8. ↑ McNamara, Andy; Fitzloff, Jay; Anderson, Paul (October 1999). "Speed Devils - Dreamcast". Game Informer (78). http://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4234. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  9. ↑ Uncle Dust (1999-10-29). "Speed Devils Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/2744.shtml. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Colin (November 1999). "Speed Devils Review". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/speed-devils. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  11. ↑ Johnny B. (January 1999). "Speed Busters Review". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/speed-busters. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  12. ↑ Fielder, Joe (1999-09-29). "Speed Devils Review (DC)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/speed-devils-review/1900-2540687/. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  13. ↑ Brown, Damon. "Speed Devils Review (Mobile)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/speed-devils-review/1900-6103560/. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  14. ↑ Dulin, Ron (1998-12-23). "Speed Busters: American Highways Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/speed-busters-american-highways-review/1900-2533134/. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  15. ↑ Subskin (1999-11-02). "Speed Devils". PlanetDreamcast. http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/speeddevils. 
  16. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (1999-11-01). "Speed Devils (DC)". http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/02/speed-devils. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  17. ↑ 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. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Charla, Chris (January 2000). "Finals". Next Generation (Imagine Media) 3 (1): 93. 
  19. ↑ Williamson, Colin (March 1999). "Speed Busters". PC Gamer. http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/983.html. Retrieved 2014-11-28. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Speed Devils for Dreamcast". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198737-speed-devils/index.html. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Speed Devils for Mobile". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/mobile/922033-speed-devils/index.html. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Speed Busters: American Highways for PC". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/71640-speed-busters-american-highways/index.html. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Speed Devils Online Racing for Dreamcast Reviews". http://www.metacritic.com/game/dreamcast/speed-devils-online-racing. Retrieved 2014-11-27. 
  24. ↑ Fitzloff, Jay (January 2001). "Speed Devils Online [Racing]". Game Informer (93): 122. 
  25. ↑ Justice, Brandon (2001-01-03). "Speed Devils Online [Racing"]. http://dreamcast.ign.com/reviews/15203.html. 
  • 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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