Software:Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg

From HandWiki
Short description: 2006 video game
Developer(s)Fury Software
Publisher(s)Battlefront.com
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release2006
Genre(s)Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer
(by hotseat or PBEM)

Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg is a grand strategy computer game developed by Canadian studio Fury Software, and published by Battlefront.com in 2006. The second game in the Strategic Command series, Blitzkrieg is a turn-based strategy set in World War II, focusing on the European Theater. The player controls all of either Axis or Allied states.

A sequel to Software:Strategic Command: European Theater, Blitzkrieg was the first game in the series to include weather conditions, new unit types such as paratroops and engineers, as well as diplomatic pressure.[1]

Two expansion packs were later released. The first one, Weapons and Warfare adds new units, combat rules, a deeper weather model, additional terrain types and the simulation of roads and railways,[2] while the second one, Patton Drives East, adds new campaigns and scenarios, some of them – for the first time in the series – post-World War II or hypothetical.[3]

Gameplay

Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg is a turn-based strategy set in World War II. The player controls all of either the Axis or Allied states. The most important fraction of the game is commanding the military units, but the player also controls the research of technologies and diplomatic relations.[1]

Blitzkrieg was the first game in the series to feature weather conditions (such as rain or snow, which, for example, hampers the movement of air units),[1] as well as diplomatic pressure. Using this feature, the player may eventually persuade a neutral country to either join the war on his side, or to prevent it from becoming his enemy.[1]

The major campaigns take place on a map encompassing all of Europe, as well as North Africa, Atlantic Ocean and east coast of North America.[1] However, unlike the previous installment, Blitzkrieg also contains five scenarios played on smaller maps, namely North Africa, Battle of Kursk, D-Day, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.[1] Additional Global Map campaign was later released for free with a patch.[1]

Expansion packs

Weapons and Warfare

The first expansion pack to Strategic Command 2, titled Weapons and Warfare, adds new units, enhanced naval movement and combat rules, a deeper weather model, additional terrain types and resources, and the simulation of roads and railways.[2]

Patton Drives East

The second expansion pack, Patton Drives East, adds new campaigns and scenarios to the game, among them – for the first time in the series – post-World War II or fictional conflicts, including the titular "Patton Drives East", a hypothetical war between the US and USSR following the defeat of Nazi Germany.[3]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings62%[4]
Metacritic64%[5]
Review scores
PublicationScore
IGN5.9 out of 10[6]
PC Zone74 out of 10 [4]
Gamers' Temple58%[7]
Strategy Informer6.7 out of 10[8]

Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg gathered average reviews from game critics. IGN noticed a contrast between the game's interesting gameplay and rather plain graphics and sound effects, commenting: "loads of substance, but not much style,"[6] while Strategy Informer noted "this game really is for the hardcore of turn-based strategists, as otherwise you could soon be finding yourself turned away by the lack of visual and audio passion in Strategic Command 2".[8] Reviewing the game for Armchair General in April 2006, Bob Mackey praised the graphics and presentation of the game but criticised the AI, giving the game 81% overall.[9] Armchair General also positively reviewed the Weapons & Warfare expansion pack, praising the improved AI.[10]

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg features". Battlefront.com. http://www.battlefront.com/products/sc2/index.html. Retrieved 2009-12-12. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Strategic Command 2: Weapons and Warfare Announced". Battlefront.com. http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=272&Itemid=211. Retrieved 2009-12-12. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Strategic Command 2: Patton Drives East features". Battlefront.com. http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=157&Itemid=215. Retrieved 2009-12-12. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Strategic Command 2 Blitzkrieg". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/932505-strategic-command-2-blitzkrieg/index.html. Retrieved 2009-12-13. 
  5. ↑ "Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg reviews". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/strategiccommand2blitzkrieg. Retrieved 2009-12-13. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Strategic Command 2: Blitzkrieg". IGN. 2006-04-28. http://pc.ign.com/articles/744/744061p1.html. Retrieved 2009-12-13. 
  7. ↑ "Strategic Command 2 Blitzkrieg – review". the Gamers' Temple. 2006. http://www.gamerstemple.com/games5/000748/000748r01.asp. Retrieved 2009-12-13. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Strategic Command 2 Blitzkrieg review". Strategy Informer. 2006-04-28. http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/strategiccommand2blitzkrieg/review.html. Retrieved 2009-12-13. 
  9. ↑ Mackey, Robert (26 April 2006). "Strategic Command 2 – Game Review (PC)". Armchair General. http://armchairgeneral.com/game-review-strategic-command-2.htm/2. 
  10. ↑ Levandowski, Larry (1 December 2007). "Strategic Command 2, Weapons and Warfare Expansion". Armchair General. http://armchairgeneral.com/strategic-command-2-weapons-and-warfare-expansion.htm. 

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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