Software:Spirit of Speed 1937

From HandWiki
Short description: 1999 video game
Spirit of Speed 1937
North American Dreamcast cover art
Developer(s)Broadsword Interactive
Publisher(s)Hasbro Interactive[lower-alpha 1] (PC)
Acclaim Entertainment[lower-alpha 2] (Dreamcast)
Producer(s)Nick Court
Designer(s)David Rowe
John Jones-Steele
Programmer(s)Jim Finnis
John Jones-Steele
Artist(s)David Rowe
Andy Nicholas
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast
ReleaseWindows
Dreamcast
  • EU: June 9, 2000
  • NA: June 27, 2000[2]
  • AU: July 28, 2000[3]
  • JP: April 5, 2001
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player

Spirit of Speed 1937 is a racing video game developed by Broadsword Interactive. The game was originally released in 1999 exclusively in Europe by Hasbro Interactive, who released the game under the MicroProse brand name. In 2000, the game was ported to the Dreamcast, and was published by Acclaim Entertainment under the LJN banner, the final game published with this label, five years after LJN was shut down by Acclaim. This version saw a North American release, and was released there on June 27, 2000. Spirit of Speed 1937 takes place in 1937, when motorsport was in its infancy.

Gameplay

Spirit of Speed 1937 features 15 classic vehicles, including the first twin-supercharged single-seat racer, the Alfa Romeo P3. Also featured are the twin V8 Alfa Romeo Bimotore designed by Scuderia Ferrari, the Alfa Romeo 12C, the Auto Union Type C which was designed by Ferdinand Porsche, and the Auto Union Type D.

Other cars include the Bugatti Type 35, Bugatti Type 59, Prince Bira's ERA "Remus", Mercedes-Benz W125, Mercedes-Benz W154, Duesenberg, Miller, and the 24-litre Napier-Railton. Players race around nine legendary courses located in Melhalla (Libya), AVUS (Germany), Montana (U.S.), Roosevelt Raceway (U.S.), Montlhéry (France), Pau (France), Donington (England), Brooklands (England), and Monza (Italy).

Spirit of Speed 1937's modes of play are Single Race, Championship Season, and Scenario. Single Race allows players to select a car and course to race on. Championship Season is where users take part in a series of races in an attempt to win the title. Scenario is a mode that sets up a historic racing moment for the player to experience. Each mode is broken into three separate difficulties but none of them include a two-player feature. Along with the standard controller, the game also supports arcade sticks and steering wheels.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DreamcastPC
Famitsu25/40[5]N/A
GameSpot1.9/10[6]N/A
GameSpy1/10[7]N/A
GameStarN/A44%[8]
IGN2.2/10[9]N/A
Jeuxvideo.com7/20[10]16/20[11]
Joypad2/10[12]N/A
Aggregate score
GameRankings39%[4]N/A

The Dreamcast version received unfavorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4] IGN's Jeremy Dunham called it "the poorest excuse for a Dreamcast game I have ever laid eyes on", harshly criticizing nearly every aspect of the game, including the load times, course designs, control, and graphics.[9] GameSpot's Frank Provo criticized the sound effects and the visuals of the game.[6] In Japan, however, where the game was ported and published by Acclaim Japan on April 5, 2001, Famitsu gave it a score of 25 out of 40.[5]

GameSpot named it the Worst Video Game of 2000 – the first year the award was given for console games.[13]

Conversely, DC Swirl gave the game 3 out of 5 swirls, commending the accurate portrayal of auto racing of the period, and approving of the relatively low price point at which the game was retailed.[14] HappyPuppy gave a rating of 6.5/10 and a mixed review criticizing the gameplay but complimenting the graphics.[15] Argentine magazine Next Level gave the game 70%, approving the low price and the authentic representation of themes of the era.[16] Spain-based magazine Super Juegos gave a better score of 72.[17] GF3K.com gave a far better score of 7.8 out of 10, praising the controls, sound, and the game's accuracy in portraying vintage racing cars.[18]

Notes

  1. ↑ Released under the MicroProse label.
  2. ↑ Released under the LJN label.

References

  1. ↑ "The Games Of 1999 ~ Europe". http://www.gonegold.com/golden/eurogold99.shtml. 
  2. ↑ Musgrave, Shaun (June 27, 2000). "Spirit of Speed Takes to the Road". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/06/28/spirit-of-speed-takes-to-the-road. Retrieved January 22, 2021. 
  3. ↑ "Dreamcast Reviews & Games List". July 16, 2001. http://www.futuregamez.net:80/outnow/dc.html. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Spirit of Speed 1937 for Dreamcast". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190505070809/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/366732-spirit-of-speed-1937/index.html. Retrieved January 22, 2021. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "スピリット オブ スピード 1937 [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=12496&redirect=no. Retrieved January 22, 2021. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Provo, Frank (August 15, 2000). "Spirit of Speed 1937". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/spirit-of-speed-review/1900-2616088/. Retrieved January 22, 2021. 
  7. ↑ Mad Carl (August 5, 2000). "Spirit of Speed 1937". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000815081145/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/spiritofspeed/. Retrieved January 22, 2021. 
  8. ↑ "Spirit of Speed 1937" (in de). GameStar (Webedia). January 2000. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Dunham, Jeremy (July 11, 2000). "Spirit of Speed 1937". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/12/spirit-of-speed-1937. Retrieved January 22, 2021. 
  10. ↑ Pseudo supprimé (August 10, 2000). "Test: Spirit of Speed 1937 (DCAST)" (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000798_test.htm. Retrieved January 22, 2021. 
  11. ↑ la redaction (December 8, 1999). "Test: Spirit of Speed 1937 (PC)" (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000398_test.htm. 
  12. ↑ "Spirit of Speed 1937" (in fr). Joypad (100): 160. September 2000. http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joypad/joypad_numero100/Joypad%20100%20-%20Page%20160%20(2000-09).jpg. Retrieved January 22, 2021. 
  13. ↑ GameSpot staff (January 5, 2001). "Best and Worst of 2000 (Worst Game)". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 28, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010628130557/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/bestof_2000/p5_03.html. Retrieved January 22, 2021. 
  14. ↑ J.M. Vargas (July 7, 2000). "1937:Spirit of Speed". DC Swirl. http://www.dcswirl.com:80/reviews/rev_spiritofspeed.shtml. Retrieved 2018-09-15. 
  15. ↑ "Happy Puppy / Dreamcast / Spirit of Speed 1937 /". August 16, 2000. http://happypuppy.com/dc/reviews/spiritofsp-dc-1.html. 
  16. ↑ A. Laborde, Rodolfo. "Final Test" (in es). Next Level (Argentina): 37. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ANextLevel_AR_20.pdf. Retrieved 2 January 2024. 
  17. ↑ "Spirit of Speed 1937" (in es). Super Juegos: 111. September 2000. https://archive.org/stream/SuperJuegos_101#page/n109. 
  18. ↑ James. "Spirit of Speed". GF3K.com. http://www.gf3k.com:80/game_reviews/DC_spirit_of_speed.htm. Retrieved 2018-09-15. 
  • 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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