Software:Speed Kings

From HandWiki
Short description: 2003 video game
For other uses, see Speed King (disambiguation).
Speed Kings
Developer(s)Climax London
Publisher(s)Acclaim Entertainment
Platform(s)GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
ReleaseGameCube & PlayStation 2
Xbox
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Speed Kings is a racing video game developed by Climax London and published by Acclaim Entertainment for GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox.

Gameplay

Speed Kings is an arcade-style motorcycle racing game. There are three single-player modes in Speed Kings and five multiplayer options. There are 22 bikes featured in the game based on real-world bike models. The gear and game equipment is authentic as well and is sponsored by Shoei and Alpinestars. Additionally, it includes hidden features based on rewards that can be unlocked during gameplay.[2][3]

The game features racing through traffic-filled streets with multiple tricks, stunts, combat, and dangerous speeds. The street environments also feature moving traffic and destructible objects and the game supports a full deformation system, which illustrates real-time damage to the bike.[2][3]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GCPS2Xbox
Edge6/10[4]6/10[4]6/10[4]
EGM5.5/10[5]N/AN/A
EurogamerN/A5/10[6]N/A
Game Informer7/10[7]6.5/10[8]7/10[9]
GameProN/AN/AStarHalf star[10]
GameSpot7.6/10[11]7.6/10[11]7.6/10[11]
IGN5.5/10[12]5.5/10[12]5.5/10[12]
Nintendo Power3.7/5[13]N/AN/A
OPM (US)N/AStarStarStarStar[14]N/A
OXM (US)N/AN/A5.8/10[15]
The Village Voice6/10[16]N/AN/A
Aggregate scores
GameRankings63.60%[17]62.08%[18]65.06%[19]
Metacritic61/100[20]61/100[21]60/100[22]

Speed Kings was met with mixed reception. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 65% and 60 out of 100 for the Xbox version;[19][22] 64% and 61 out of 100 for the GameCube version;[17][20] and 62% and 61 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version.[18][21]

GameSpot described the game as "a fairly traditional arcade motorcycle racing game with some unconventional gameplay elements." They also stated that the visual effects of the game "looks good" and the audio "has a decent array of sound effects and music."[11] The publication later named it the best PlayStation 2 game of May 2003.[23] IGN said, "We wouldn't exactly crown Acclaim's motorcycle racer as videogame royalty."[12] Eurogamer complained that the textures were "bland and blurry" and the scenery leaves no "lasting impression". But the bikes and riders are "suitably detailed" and "the crashes look sufficiently bone-shattering." Eurogamer said it "isn't a terrible game - it's just that it's so easily ignored."[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cove, Glen (28 May 2003). "Speed Kings Ships". http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/SpeedKingsShips.html. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 IGN staff (10 April 2003). "Speed Kings Hands-on". http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/10/speed-kings-hands-on. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Alex Navarro (14 May 2003). "Speed Kings E3 2003 Preshow Report". http://www.gamespot.com/articles/speed-kings-e3-2003-preshow-report/1100-6026662/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Edge staff (July 2003). "Speed Kings". Edge (125). 
  5. ↑ EGM staff (August 2003). "Speed Kings (GC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (170): 122. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tom Bramwell (27 June 2003). "Speed Kings (PS2)". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_speedkings_ps2. 
  7. ↑ "Speed Kings (GC)". Game Informer (123): 110. July 2003. 
  8. ↑ Andrew Reiner (July 2003). "Speed Kings (PS2)". Game Informer (123): 107. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200307/R03.0716.1825.09137.htm. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  9. ↑ Matthew Kato (July 2003). "Speed Kings (Xbox)". Game Informer (123): 117. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200307/R03.0717.1038.54330.htm. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  10. ↑ Dan Elektro (21 May 2003). "Speed Kings Review for Xbox on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/reviews/29407.shtml. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Ryan MacDonald (27 May 2003). "Speed Kings Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/speed-kings-review/1900-6029024/. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Cory D. Lewis (28 May 2003). "Speed Kings". http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/29/speed-kings. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  13. ↑ "Speed Kings". Nintendo Power 171: 136. September 2003. 
  14. ↑ John Davison (July 2003). "Speed Kings". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 97. http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1494445,00.asp. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  15. ↑ "Speed Kings". Official Xbox Magazine: 81. September 2003. 
  16. ↑ Nick Catucci (17 June 2003). "Macho Men". The Village Voice. http://www.villagevoice.com/news/macho-men-6410135. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Speed Kings for GameCube". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/589522-speed-kings/index.html. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Speed Kings for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/589520-speed-kings/index.html. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Speed Kings for Xbox". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/589521-speed-kings/index.html. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Speed Kings (cube:2003): Reviews". http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/cube/speedkings. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Speed Kings for PlayStation 2 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/speed-kings/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Speed Kings for Xbox Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/speed-kings/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved 28 November 2014. 
  23. ↑ ((The Editors of GameSpot)) (June 1, 2003). "GameSpot's Month in Review: May 2003". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 8, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040408213549/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/gotm/060103/index.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. 
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