Software:TFX (video game)

From HandWiki
TFX
DOS cover art
Developer(s)Digital Image Design
Tomcat System (PS1)
Publisher(s)Ocean Software
Imagineer (PS1)
Designer(s)Martin Kenwright
Programmer(s)Colin Bell
Composer(s)Barry Leitch
Dean Evans
Platform(s)DOS, Amiga, PlayStation
Release1993
1997 (PlayStation)
Genre(s)Combat flight simulator
Mode(s)Single player

TFX is a 1993 combat flight simulator video game developed by Digital Image Design and published by Ocean Software that was released for DOS and Amiga computers.

Gameplay

Laser-guided bomb attack in TFX
View from the TIALD pod of a Eurofighter during a laser-guided bombing run in TFX

The game features an instant-action arcade mode, custom missions, and a campaign mode. The player can fly three aircraft: The Eurofighter Typhoon, the F-22 and the F-117, and can customize payload for each aircraft. The campaign mode takes place in five theatres - Colombia, Somalia, Libya, the Balkans, and the South Georgia Islands. "TFX" stands for Tactical Fighter E(X)periment.

While 3 planes were simulated, the internal cockpit for all 3 were the same layout. TFX also featured a virtual cockpit mode, although the cockpit itself was more sparse in this mode.

Development

The Eurofighter Typhoon, a playable plane in TFX, was still in its prototype stage when TFX was released,[1] with a real Eurofighter Typhoon not making its first flight until 1994. The interactive parts of the game were reduced to still images or omitted altogether for the Amiga version which, although never officially released by Ocean, was later included as a give-away game on a CU Amiga cover disk. An experimental port was produced for the original PlayStation shortly after its release. The Soap Opera Engine was manually programmed in TFX, but would be altered to become automated in future games. TFX was shown at the 1994 European Computer Trade Show at the Business Design Centre in London, England .[2] An Atari Jaguar port was slated to be under development by DID but it never released.[2]

Reception

Computer Gaming World briefly reviewed TFX in February 1994, calling it "the most advanced flight model yet" due to the many factors taken into account in the simulation, and further called it a simulator for "purist[s]".[3] Another reviewer from CGW in April 1994 praised TFX's "excellent" effects and "detailed" graphics, but criticized the lack of a rudder and other examples of lack of realism, "predictable" computer tactics, the lack of a campaign setting, and an 'irritating' untoggleable autopilot. The reviewer concluded that "TFX feels old fashioned", further expressing that some aspects felt "unfinished", and recommended it only to casual pilots.[1]

Amiga Computing gave the Amiga version of TFX an overall score of 93% and highly praised its graphics, calling them "breathtakingly atmospheric" and stating that they were "designed to inspire and awe", and expressed that this "visual realism" give the game's missions further depth. Amiga Computing noted TFX's hardware requirements as 'demanding' for the Amiga, but noted that even with lowered settings TFX is 'more impressive than other flight sims' on the Amiga.[4]

In 1994, PC Gamer UK named TFX the 26th best computer game of all time. The editors called it "one of the best flight sims out on the PC and, with a bit of effort, a hugely playable game".[5]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Rigby, Paul (April 1994). "Review - TFX: Ocean's Experimental Flight Sim Design". Computer Gaming World (Ziff-Davis) (117): 98–99. ISSN 0744-6667. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_117/page/n97/mode/2up. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Ripper (April 1994). "Europa!". Diehard GameFan (Die Hard Publishing) 2 (5): 136–137. ISSN 1070-3020. https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_2_Issue_05#page/n135/mode/2up. 
  3. ↑ Matthews, Robin (February 1994). "Over There: How To Make Dinosaurs And Jet Fighters In Three Easy Steps". Computer Gaming World (Ziff-Davis) (115): 134, 136. ISSN 0744-6667. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_115/page/n133/mode/2up. 
  4. ↑ Lofthouse, Gareth (May 1995). "TFX". Amiga Computing (IDG Media) (86): 108–110. https://archive.org/details/amiga-computing-magazine-086/page/n107/mode/2up. 
  5. ↑ Staff (April 1994). "The PC Gamer Top 50 PC Games of All Time". PC Gamer UK (5): 43–56. 
  • 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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  • TFX at the Hall of Light


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