Software:Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing

From HandWiki
Short description: 2001 video game
Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing
North American box art
Developer(s)Lucas Learning
Publisher(s)LucasArts
SeriesStar Wars
EngineRenderWare
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • NA: April 25, 2001
  • EU: May 25, 2001
Genre(s)Racing, vehicular combat
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing is a 2001 racing and vehicular combat game with characters from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Star Wars (1977), and Return of the Jedi (1983). The playable characters are portrayed in a super deformed style (featuring unusually large heads and small bodies). This game is available on PlayStation 2 only, as the Dreamcast, Windows, and Mac OS versions were cancelled due to poor sales of the PlayStation 2 version.

Gameplay

Super Bombad Racing features characters and locales from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.

Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing is a kart racing game. Players select one of various Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace characters to compete on various courses patterned after the film. Each course also features a reversed, mirrored variant. Boba Fett and Darth Vader appear as unlockable guest characters. Races are conducted with eight competitors and consist of three laps. Powerups are littered throughout each course, and each provides the player character with varying temporary attributes, such as a boost in speed, a shield, or offensive weaponry.[1] Up to four players can join in splitscreen play using the PlayStation 2 multitap peripheral.[2]

A variant on the standard race mode, known as "Teams", limits the race to four competitors, each split into teams of two. An Arena mode is also included. Here the player controls their character in a vehicular combat scenario. Powerups from the racing modes are used, but instead of navigating a race course the objective is to eliminate enemy characters and be the last character standing. Nine race courses and four arenas are available to choose from.[1]

Development and marketing

The game was developed by LucasArts subsidiary Lucas Learning as its first entertainment-only title, and was the final title developed under that brand.[3][4] The concept for the game was created by Lucas Learning, and the decision was made for them to serve as developer and publisher for the title.[5] Development took close to two years, and at its peak consisted of over 20 people.[6] The music was composed by Peter McConnell, and features cartoon-like, satirical renditions of John Williams' Star Wars score.[7] McConnell had previously worked on soundtracks for other LucasArts games such as Grim Fandango and Full Throttle. Some actors from the films reprise their roles in the game. Jake Lloyd voices Anakin Skywalker, Ahmed Best returns as Jar Jar Binks, and Lewis MacLeod again voices Sebulba. Grey Griffin, Tom Kane and Kevin Michael Richardson are among the voice actors used to voice double the remaining characters.[8] Lucas Learning utilized RenderWare from Criterion Software as the engine to power Super Bombad Racing.[9]

In early May 2000, leaked information revealed Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing was in development.[10] It was officially unveiled at E3 2000.[3] The game was later promoted at the Sony Metreon in San Francisco, California in April 2001. Copies of the game signed by George Lucas were raffled away.[11] It was released in North America on April 25, 2001[12] and in Europe on May 25. Super Bombad Racing is a PlayStation 2 exclusive. Additional releases were planned for the Sega Dreamcast, Windows, and Mac OS.[6] These were cancelled due to poor sales.[13][14]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic71/100[15]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStar[16]
EGM3.67/10[17][lower-alpha 1]
Game Informer2.5/10[19]
GameRevolutionB[20]
GameSpot6.2/10[21]
GameSpy80%[22]
GameZone8.5/10[23]
IGN7.8/10[1]
Next GenerationStarStar[24]
OPM (US)StarStar[25]
X-PlayStarStarStar[26]

The game received "mixed or average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[15] Some praised the game, calling it an accomplished kart racer and a welcome addition to the then-short list of PlayStation 2 titles. Others, however, felt that while the game was mechanically sound, the Star Wars setting and appearance felt "tacked on" and therefore a dirty ploy to make money for LucasArts. Others roundly criticized the game, both for turning Star Wars into a childish kart racer and for simply making a bad game. Shahed Ahmed of GameSpot said that the game introduced a few clever concepts, but was critical of the length and flaws relating to the gameplay.[21] Uncle Dust of GamePro said that the game "offers enough challenge and replay value to be a good party game for younger Star Wars fans."[27][lower-alpha 2] However, Jeff Lundrigan of NextGen said of the game in its negative review, "We've said it before, but the world really does not need another licensed kart racing game."[24]

Retrospective opinions on the game were sometimes more critical. GamesRadar+'s Henry Gilbert included Super Bombad Racing in a list of "The most forgettable kart racers ever released".[28] In contrast the IGN staff included it in a list of "The 11 Goofiest Weirdest Silliest Strangest Funniest Dumbest Star Wars Video Games Ever".[29] It also appeared in Game Informer's list of "The 8 Strangest Kart Racing Games".[30] They also listed is as the 2nd worst Star Wars game in 2015.[31]

Notes

  1. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 2.5/10, 4/10, and 4.5/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 4/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 4.5/5 for sound, and 3.5/5 for control.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Smith, David (April 23, 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/23/star-wars-super-bombad-racing. 
  2. ↑ Adams, Dan (May 18, 2000). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (Preview 1)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/19/star-wars-super-bombad-racing-4. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gantayat, Anoop (May 22, 2000). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (Preview 2)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/23/star-wars-super-bombad-racing-3. 
  4. ↑ Macworld staff (June 19, 2001). "Lucas Learning axes Mac game, exits consumer market". Macworld (IDG). https://www.macworld.com/article/161754/bombad.html. Retrieved February 12, 2024. 
  5. ↑ Griffin, Josh (November 2, 2000). "An Interview with Todd Reamon[, Lead Artist at Lucas Learning"]. https://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/interview/toddreamon.asp. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Bombad Racing Interview: Page One". https://mixnmojo.com/features/interviews/Bombad-Racing-Interview. 
  7. ↑ "Profile". https://www.petermc.com/. 
  8. ↑ "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing (Video Game 2001) - Full Cast & Crew". https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284515/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast. 
  9. ↑ Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing box art
  10. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (May 2, 2000). "Two PS2 Star Wars Games Unveiled". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/03/two-ps2-star-wars-games-unveiled. 
  11. ↑ IGN staff (April 17, 2001). "Super Bombad Racing at the Sony Metreon". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/17/super-bombad-racing-at-the-sony-metreon. 
  12. ↑ IGN staff (April 18, 2001). "Release Date Set for Super Bombad Racing". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/18/release-date-set-for-super-bombad-racing. 
  13. ↑ Chau, Anthony (January 11, 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing Cancelled". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/12/star-wars-super-bombad-racing-cancelled. 
  14. ↑ Walker, Trey (June 20, 2001). "Cancelled: Super Bombad Racing for the PC [date mislabeled as "June 21, 2001""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/cancelled-super-bombad-racing-for-the-pc/1100-2778834/.  No old archived link for the article that has the correct date exists; the correct date is only shown in this link here.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/star-wars-super-bombad-racing/. 
  16. ↑ Terwilliger, Todd. "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25404&tab=review. 
  17. ↑ Sewart, Greg; Boyer, Crsipin; Kujawa, Kraig (June 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (142): 109. https://retrocdn.net/images/0/01/EGM_US_143.pdf. Retrieved February 12, 2024. 
  18. ↑ MacIsaac, Jason (May 7, 2001). "[Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing"]. Greedy Productions Ltd.. http://www.elecplay.com/review.html?article=5757&full=1. 
  19. ↑ Reiner, Andrew (May 2001). "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (97). http://gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200105/R03.0804.1823.39204.htm. Retrieved August 17, 2014. 
  20. ↑ G-Wok (April 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33609-star-wars-super-bombad-racing-review. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Ahmed, Shahed (April 25, 2001). "[Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing Review"]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/super-bombad-racing-review/1900-2712486/. 
  22. ↑ Thornton, Benjaman (May 4, 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racer". GameSpy Industries. http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/2001/superbombadracer/. 
  23. ↑ The Badger (April 24, 2001). "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing [score mislabeled as "8.8/10""]. http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r15352.htm. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Lundrigan, Jeff (July 2001). "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing". NextGen (Imagine Media) (79): 83. https://archive.org/details/NextGen79Jul2001/page/n83/mode/2up. Retrieved February 12, 2024. 
  25. ↑ Davison, John (June 2001). "Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (45): 98–99. https://archive.org/details/official-us-playstation-magazine-issue-45-june-2001/page/98/mode/2up. Retrieved February 12, 2024. 
  26. ↑ Weigel, Ray (May 4, 2001). "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing (PS2) - Review". TechTV. http://www.techtv.com/products/games/story/0,23008,3324542,00.html. 
  27. ↑ Uncle Dust (June 2001). "Star Wars Super Bombad Racing". GamePro (IDG) (153): 105. https://retrocdn.net/images/d/d7/GamePro_US_153.pdf. Retrieved February 12, 2024. 
  28. ↑ Gilbert, Henry (May 28, 2014). "The most forgettable kart racers ever released". Future plc. https://www.gamesradar.com/most-forgettable-kart-racers-ever-made/. 
  29. ↑ Altano, Brian; Ryan, Jon; Scoville, Max (November 18, 2019). "The 11 Goofiest Weirdest Silliest Strangest Funniest Dumbest Star Wars Video Games Ever". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/11/19/the-11-goofiest-weirdest-silliest-strangest-funniest-dumbest-star-wars-video-games-ever. 
  30. ↑ Gwaltney, Javy (January 17, 2016). "The 8 Strangest Kart Racing Games". Game Informer (GameStop). https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2016/01/17/the-strangest-kart-racing-games.aspx. Retrieved February 12, 2024. 
  31. ↑ Gwaltney, Javy (December 19, 2015). "A Disturbance In The Force: The 10 Worst Star Wars Games". Game Informer (GameStop). https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2015/12/19/worst-star-wars-games.aspx. Retrieved February 12, 2024. 
  • Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
  • 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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