Software:Swing Away Golf

From HandWiki
Short description: 2000 video game
Swing Away Golf
North American cover art
Developer(s)T&E Soft
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
  • JP: March 23, 2000
  • NA: October 26, 2000[1]
  • EU: December 8, 2000
Genre(s)Sports (golf)
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Swing Away Golf, known in Japan as Golf Paradise (ゴルフパラダイス, Gorufuparadaisu), is a sports game developed and published by T&E Soft for the PlayStation 2. It was shown as a launch title for the system at the PlayStation Festival in 2000[2] Electronic Arts' third-party publishing arm EA Distribution acquired publishing rights to the game outside Asia and released the title that same year.

Gameplay

Players have several available gameplay modes such as a story mode along with additional single and multiplayer settings. The game allows players to choose from seven available character models to start a career with. Players do not have a preset skill level for each character, and the game allows players to instead determine their skill with Skill Points to be distributed among the attributes of Distance, Accuracy, Control and Recovery.[3]

Development

In 1999, many third-party developers, including T&E Soft, joined Sony. Not only that but according to IGN, Sony "showed how another winning characteristic that helped to launch it to the top of the console heap".[4] On February 8, 2000, T&E Soft announced a release postponement for the game. The game was announced as a PlayStation 2 launch title in Japan, and was scheduled for release on March 23, 2000, priced at 5,800 yen (around $54 US).[5][6] The game was later shown at the PlayStation Festival in 2000.[2] Before the game was released in Japan, Sony released the demo of the game via a shady source.[7]

On May 26, 2000, Electronic Arts picked up the publishing rights to the title.[8]

On October 12, 2000, Electronic Arts promoted to advertise the game in the United States. The ad covered a two-page span, where the left three-fourths of the spread shows two golfers at urinals holding golf bags on their backs. The golfer on the left is smaller but has a larger golf bag holding a variety of clubs, while the larger golfer on the right has a tiny bag with only a couple of clubs. The text written in the upper left hand corner of this layout says, "Whoever has the most toys wins."[9] The game was released in the United States on October 26, 2000, the same date as the launch of the PlayStation 2.[1]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic78/100[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStar[11]
EGM7.33/10[12][lower-alpha 1]
Famitsu27/40[13]
Game Informer7.75/10[14]
GameProStarStarStarStar[15]
GameRevolutionB−[16]
GameSpot8.7/10[17]
GameSpy73%[18]
GameZone9.5/10[19]
IGN7.3/10[20]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[21]
OPM (US)StarStarStar[22]

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[10]

IGN member David Zdyrko praised the graphics as "beautiful" for a PS2 game. He stated it was "a lot like Hot Shots Golf with some cool improvements, as well as some minor downfalls." He also stated that it "might not be as great as Hot Shots Golf, but it's a phenomenal golf game nonetheless."[20] GameSpot's Frank Provo said that the Japanese import is "a game whose features and execution could barely be explained by a book, let alone by a review."[17] GameRevolution's G-Wok called the game "a fun little golfer whose attitude and extras keep the game from getting too dull." He did criticize the loading screens and stated that "some problems with minor slowdown and the lack of creative courses are a disappointment, but the game doesn't suffer too greatly."[16] NextGen's Blake Fischer said, "If you want a middle-of-the-road game for your PS2 and you dig golf this might be worth a try, but you're probably better off waiting for Tiger Woods [PGA Tour] 2001."[21] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 27 out of 40.[13]

Notes

  1. ↑ Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 7.5/10, 8/10, and 6.5/10.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 IGN staff (October 23, 2000). "Swing Away Ships". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/24/swing-away-ships. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Horst, Timothy (February 18, 2000). "PS Festival 2000: Golf Paradise". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/19/ps-festival-2000-golf-paradise. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  3. ↑ Electronic Arts (2000) Swing Away Golf Manual
  4. ↑ IGN staff (September 13, 1999). "Sony's Got Games". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/14/sonys-got-games. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  5. ↑ Zdyrko, David (February 8, 2000). "Bad News for Golf Fans". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/09/bad-news-for-golf-fans. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  6. ↑ Zdyrko, David (February 14, 2000). "Golf Paradise: Official Date". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/15/golf-paradise-official-date. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  7. ↑ Nix, Marc (March 22, 2000). "Demo Repo". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/23/demo-repo. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  8. ↑ "EA Picks up Paradise Golf". 26 May 2000. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/26/ea-picks-up-paradise-golf. 
  9. ↑ IGN staff (October 12, 2000). "PS2 Ads: Swing Away Golf". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/13/ps2-ads-swing-away-golf. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Swing Away Golf for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Red Ventures. https://www.metacritic.com/game/swing-away-golf/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  11. ↑ House, Matthew. "Swing Away Golf - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141114225536/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25242&tab=review. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  12. ↑ Leahy, Dan; Kujawa, Kraig; Funk, Joe (November 2000). "Swing Away Golf". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (136): 268. https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c0/EGM_US_136.pdf. Retrieved January 4, 2022. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "ゴルフパラダイス [PS2"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=9345&redirect=no. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  14. ↑ Anderson, Paul (November 2000). "Swing Away Golf". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (91). http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200011/R03.0807.1327.03942.htm. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  15. ↑ Kilo Watt (October 25, 2000). "Swing Away Golf Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on November 13, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20041113185032/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/7143.shtml. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 G-Wok (December 2000). "Swing Away Golf Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150910124005/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/swing-away-golf. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Provo, Frank (April 14, 2000). "Swing Away Golf Review [Japan Import [date mislabeled as "October 26, 2000"]"]. Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/swing-away-golf-review/1900-2558008/. 
  18. ↑ Sparkes, Ralph (November 27, 2000). "Swing Away Golf". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050212093029/http://www.sportplanet.com/features/reviews/swingaway/. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  19. ↑ Da bomb mom (February 13, 2001). "Swing Away Golf". Archived from the original on February 8, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050208131024/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r16973.htm. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Zdyrko, David (October 23, 2000). "Swing Away Golf". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/23/swing-away-golf. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Fischer, Blake (November 2000). "Swing Away Golf". NextGen (Imagine Media) (71): 117. https://archive.org/details/NextGen71Nov2000/page/n117/mode/2up. Retrieved August 8, 2020. 
  22. ↑ "Swing Away Golf". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (38). November 2000. 
  • 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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