Software:Terracide

From HandWiki

Terracide is a 1997 first-person shooter developed by Simis and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows. Players control a spaceship to defend Earth from a force of mutant human and robot colonists, who have returned to invade the planet. The game was developed to take advantage of the rise in video cards using 3D accelerators and 3DFX, and it was distributed with many video cards. Upon release, Terracide received average reviews, with critics praising its 3D capabilities and performance, although many compared it to a similar title, Descent, and critiqued its controls and level design.

Gameplay

The visuals and effects of Terracide were designed for video cards that supported 3D acceleration, and received praise.

Gameplay in Terracide is set over a series of missions in which players infiltrate a ship and must complete various objectives, such as to locate and destroy the ship's computers, ventilation or defences.[1] Navigation is assisted by the HUD, which includes an animated compass and sensors for nearby weapons and power-ups.[2] Players engage in combat with several weapon options: phasers, a chain gun, rockets, guided missiles, and a flare gun to light darkened areas.[3][1] Bombs can also be used with different effects, such as bouncing towards the target, drawing enemies towards players, or teleporting the enemy away from their location.[3] Up to three weapons can be used at a time, with offensive weapons increasing in levels of firepower when the same weapon is collected, and available in single, scatter, or rapid-fire shots.[2][3] Weapons are left behind by defeated enemies.[2] Terracide supports multiplayer play for up to 16 players over a LAN or online using the MPlayer client.[3] Multiplayer modes include Deathmatch, Co-op, and Capture the Flag.[4]

Plot

In the New Age, the Terran Colonies set out across the galaxy to find new planets to live. Over time, their existence on harsh alien worlds has led the colonists to adapt to planetary conditions through biological and technological mutations.[4] Now returning home, the colonists bring a floatilla of ships, each hosting a crew of mutated humans, robots and alients, to conquer Earth. Players assusme the role of a pilot who is tasked to infiltrate the ships of the invading fleet of marauders.[1]

Development

Terracide was developed by Simis Limited initially under publisher Domark in 1995,[5][6] under the working title Berzerker.[7] In 1996, Domark merged with Eidos PLC to create Eidos Interactive.[8] Eidos showcased Terracide at E3 in May 1996.[8] It was one of the earliest titles in development to widely support cards with 3D acceleration using Direct3D and 3DFX, featuring techniques such as hardware smoothing, bilinear filtering, transluency, reflections and real-time light sourcing.[4][9][10][11] Following the release of a game demo in June 1997,[12] publications anticipated the 3D capabilities of Terracide and praised its visual fidelity.[9][5] [13][14] To demonstrate its capabilities, demos of Terracide were bundled with video cards,[9][15][16] and Eidos distributed a computer benchmarking tool based on the game named Terramark.[17] The game was the last completed by Simis for Eidos before buying themselves out of the company.[18]

Reviews

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSP2.5/5[19]
CGW1.5/5[2]
GameSpot6.8/10[3]
PC Format76%[1]
PC PowerPlay65%[20]
PC Zone8.2/10[21]

Many reviewers praised the visuals and performance of Terracide,[3][4] with PC PowerPlay stating they featured the "some of most incredibly in-depth graphics" available for 3D accelerators due to its wide support for supporting cards.[9] Tim Royal of Computer Games Strategy Plus similarly stated the game featured some of the best visuals to date due to its lighting and effects, although found aspects "jarring", writing that it "profoundly utilizes all of the latest fads in technology as if each one were being revealed for the first time".[19] Mark Clarkson of Computer Gaming World enjoyed the effects and fast frame rates, but critiqued the game's engine, textures and collision.[2] Some reviews expressed that the game's visuals were impressive but masked a lack of gameplay depth.[19][1]

The gameplay of Terracide received an average reception. David Bradley of PC Format enjoyed the handling and weapons of the player's spacecraft and the varied mission design.[1] Shane Mooney of PC Games praised the number of levels and ships on offer, and the differing mission objectives.[4] In contrast, George Soropos of PC PowerPlay considered its handling was unforgiving and uncontrollable, stating he "never felt comfortable playing the game".[20] Similarly, Stephen Poole of Gamespot praised the weapon types and multiplayer options, but found the controls "almost impossible" to line up regardless of keyboard or joystick use.[3]

Many critics wrote that the plot and design of Terracide was derivative from Descent, with critics mixed on whether the title was an improvement on its genre predecessor: some agreed,[4] and most felt it was not.[20][2][1][3] Many reviewers critiqued the game's level design.[19][2][1][20] Describing the gameplay and levels as uninspired, Clarkson was apathetic about the game due to its "lack of design, lack of quality control [and] lack of attention to detail".[2] Bradley also stated the level design fell flat and lacked atmosphere,[1] and Soropos described the levels as unoriginal, "claustrophobic and boring".[20]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Bradley, David (July 1997). "Terracide". PC Format: 74-5. https://archive.org/details/pcformat_july1997/page/74/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Clarkson, Mark (December 1997). "Terrible Descent". Computer Gaming World (161): 316-7, 321. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_161/page/n319/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Poole, Stephen (2 May 2000). "Terracide Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/terracide-review/1900-2533377/. Retrieved 21 March 2026. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Mooney, Shane (November 1997). "Terracide". PC Games: 128. https://archive.org/details/pc-games-november-1997/page/128/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Scouting Reporrt". Electronic Entertainment (24): 117. December 1995. https://archive.org/details/ElectronicEntertainment24Dec1995/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  6. ↑ "Domark Lay Death Trap". PC Zone (35): 17. February 1996. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_035_1996-02_Dennis_Publishing_GB/page/n15/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  7. ↑ "Domark continues their onslaught of new releases". Computer Games Strategy Plus (60): 20. November 1995. https://archive.org/details/computer-games-strategy-plus-60-november-1995/page/20/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "E3 Los Angeles '96". Computer Games Strategy Plus (69): 20. August 1996. https://archive.org/details/computer-games-strategy-plus-69-august-1996/page/12/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 "3D Tech News". PC PowerPlay (15): 80. August 1997. https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-015-1997-08/page/n79/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  10. ↑ "3DFX: It's Seriously Killer!". Joystick (75): 30. October 1996. https://archive.org/details/joystick075/page/n29/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  11. ↑ "3D Revolution". PC Review: 38. March 1997. https://archive.org/details/pc-review-66/page/38/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  12. ↑ "Terracide Demo". June 1997. Archived from the original on 26 June 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/19970626064351/http://www.eidosinteractive.com/dempctd.html. Retrieved 21 March 2026. 
  13. ↑ "Demos". Joystick (84): 12. https://archive.org/details/joystick084/Joystick%20084/page/n11/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  14. ↑ Anderson, Chris; Brooker, Charlie (February 1997). "Put On Your 3D Glasses Now!". PC Zone (47): 57. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_047_1997-02_Dennis_Publishing_GB/page/n55/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  15. ↑ "Diamond Stealth II S220". PC Games: 96. February 1998. https://archive.org/details/pc-games-february-1998/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  16. ↑ "Xpert@Play". Australian Personal Computer: 108. March 1998. https://archive.org/details/apc-199803/page/n119/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  17. ↑ "Hardware". Computer Gaming World (160): 223. November 1997. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_160/page/n225/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  18. ↑ "Beyond Lara Croft". PC Player: 91. November 2000. https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-2000-11/page/n89/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Royal, Tim (December 1997). "Terracide". Computer Games Strategy Plus. https://archive.org/details/computer-games-strategy-plus-december-1997/page/n169/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 Soropos, George (October 1997). "Terracide". PC Powerplay (17): 72. https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-017-1997-10/page/n71/mode/2up?q=%22terracide%22. 
  21. ↑ Presley, Paul (13 August 2001). "Terracide". Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090126072228/http://www.computerandvideogames.com:80/article.php?id=3511. Retrieved 21 March 2026. 
  • Official website
  • 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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