Software:Spy vs. Spy (2005 video game)

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Spy vs. Spy
PlayStation 2 cover art
Developer(s)Vicious Cycle Software
Publisher(s)Global Star Software
EngineVicious Engine
Platform(s)Xbox, PlayStation 2
ReleaseXbox
  • NA: April 6, 2005
  • PAL: April 29, 2005
PlayStation 2
  • PAL: April 29, 2005
Genre(s)Platform

Spy vs. Spy is a video game developed by Vicious Cycle Software and published by Global Star Software. The game is based on the MAD magazine's titular comic strip. The game features the two spies ("Black" and "White") in a unique story mode, plus two other game modes ("Modern" and "Classic"), and a multiplayer mode for up to 4 players. A GameCube version was planned, but it was cancelled. The overall gameplay is a modernized version of the older Spy vs. Spy series of games in 3D environments.

Game modes

Story mode

In this single-player mode, the player is able to choose between Black Spy or White Spy to complete a variety of missions filled with puzzles and a cast of enemies, including the enemy spy, all of which are AI-controlled. The story has been developed to be like an extended episode of the 1960s cartoon with a modern twist. The choice of spy does not matter –– the player will still receive the same weapons and gadgets on either campaign. Likewise also, there are the same missions each way. The main story in this mode revolves around the two spies trying to stop the superweapon of an evil general and trying to outsmart each other along the way.

Modern/Classic mode

These modes can be played in Single player or Multiplayer. The aim of these modes is to collect 4 artifacts, (Key, Disguise, Gadget (Remote), Bucks Bag (Money Bag)) from safes around the map (and a Briefcase in Classic mode to carry all of the items) before the other spy, and then escaping in either the elevator or (in Modern mode) some unusual getaway vehicle. The winner is the player who collects all 4 artifacts from the map and then escapes. This rule applies in both Modern and Classic modes - the only difference is that the 8 Modern maps are all unique and different, but the Classic maps are more like the 1960s cartoon and the original game. The 8 Modern modes are: The Mansion, The Kooky Carnival, The Robot Factory, The Oil Rig, The Haunted House, The Volcano Lair, Area 51 & The Space Station, whereas the Classic mode increases in room size by 1 every level.

Other multiplayer modes

In this mode, two new coloured spies are introduced, Red and Blue. These spies are AI-controlled with 2 players or can be chosen in 3 or 4-player mode. These are basically Deathmatch/Capture the Flag style games - kill all other spies and capture their flags to win, and can be played in either Modern or Classic modes.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PS2Xbox
1Up.comN/AC[1]
EurogamerN/A4/10[2]
GameSpotN/A4.3/10[3]
GameSpyN/AStarStar[4]
GameZoneN/A6/10[5]
IGNN/A4.5/10[6]
OXM (US)N/A5.4/10[7]
TeamXboxN/A6.4/10[8]
VideoGamer.com2/10[9]N/A
X-PlayN/AStarStar[10]
Detroit Free PressN/AStarStar[11]
The Sydney Morning HeraldStarStar[12]StarStar[12]
Aggregate score
Metacritic47/100[13]53/100[14]

The Xbox version received "mixed" reviews, while the PlayStation 2 version received "unfavorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[13][14]

Sequel and remaster

Around 2018, a sequel and remaster, titled Spy vs. Spy vs. Spy (or Spies) was being developed by ONIGAME team. It was put on hold for a long time until it was eventually cancelled with one of the reasons being that ONIGAME asked the rights for the game from Eric Peterson (one of the developers at Vicious Cycle Software which produced the game) but not asking the rights from DC Entertainment which owned the Spy vs. Spy IP.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Vassar, Darryl (April 20, 2005). "Spy vs Spy (Xbox)". http://www.1up.com/reviews/spy-vs-spy. 
  2. ↑ Gibson, Ellie (June 10, 2005). "Spy vs. Spy (Xbox)". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_spyvsspy_x. Retrieved March 23, 2015. 
  3. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (April 14, 2005). "Spy vs. Spy Review (Xbox)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/spy-vs-spy-review/1900-6122292/. Retrieved March 22, 2015. 
  4. ↑ Vasconcellos, Eduardo (April 18, 2005). "GameSpy: Spy Vs. Spy (Xbox)". GameSpy. http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/spy-vs-spy/605181p1.html. 
  5. ↑ Berner, Matt (April 20, 2005). "Spy vs. Spy - XB - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/spy_vs_spy_xb_review. 
  6. ↑ Clayman, David (May 6, 2005). "Spy vs. Spy (Xbox)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/07/spy-vs-spy. Retrieved March 22, 2015. 
  7. ↑ "Spy vs. Spy". Official Xbox Magazine: 89. July 2005. 
  8. ↑ Fisher, Matthew (April 14, 2005). "Spy Vs. Spy Review (Xbox)". TeamXbox. http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/931/Spy-Vs-Spy/p1/. 
  9. ↑ Dransfield, Ian (May 10, 2005). "Spy vs. Spy Review (PS2)". VideoGamer.com. https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/spy-vs-spy-review. Retrieved December 6, 2016. 
  10. ↑ Leeper, Justin (May 24, 2005). "Spy vs. Spy Review (Xbox)". X-Play. http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/51838/Spy_vs_Spy_Review.html. 
  11. ↑ Newman, Heather (May 8, 2005). "Spy vs. Spy". Detroit Free Press. http://www.freep.com/entertainment/videogames/gmini8e_20050508.htm. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Wilcox, Mike (May 28, 2005). "Mad, bad fizzer". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/Games/Mad-bad-fizzer/2005/05/25/1116950735129.html. Retrieved March 22, 2015. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Spy vs. Spy for PlayStation 2 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/spy-vs-spy-2012/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved March 22, 2015. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Spy vs. Spy for Xbox Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/spy-vs-spy-2012/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved March 22, 2015. 
  15. ↑ "Spy vs. Spy vs. Spy official website". onigame.ca. https://spies.onigame.ca/. Retrieved 29 August 2020. 
  • 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

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. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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