Software:Test Drive: Off-Road

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 video game
Test Drive Off-Road
PAL cover art featuring a 1997 Hummer H1
Developer(s)Elite Systems
Publisher(s)
SeriesTest Drive
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
Release
  • NA: 27 March 1997[1]
  • EU: July 1997 (PS)
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Test Drive Off-Road is a racing video game developed by Elite Systems and published by Accolade for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation.

Gameplay

There are two different play modes: Class Racing, in which only vehicles of one type race, and Unlimited, in which all types of vehicles compete.[2]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPS
AllGameN/AStarStar[3]
CGSPStarStar[4]N/A
CGWStarStar[5]N/A
EGMN/A7.5/10[6]
FamitsuN/A23/40[7]
Game InformerN/A5.25/10[8]
GameSpot6.3/10[9]6/10[10]
Next GenerationStarStar[12]N/A
PC Gamer (US)64%[11]N/A

Test Drive: Off-Road received mixed reviews on both platforms. Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, stating that "all in all, TDOR doesn't muster up to the competition. Not by a long shot".[12]

Reviewing the PlayStation version, Kraig Kujawa of Electronic Gaming Monthly praised the use of real vehicles and complexity of the tracks, while criticizing the small selection of vehicles. His co-reviewer Dean Hager said the game has a sufficient mixture of intensity and realism, but many of the tracks become repetitive and the competitors are not challenging enough. Both concluded it to be the most acceptable of the "hordes of mediocre off-road racing titles [that] have been coming out recently".[6] While GamePro complimented the realistic engine sounds and soundtrack, it had a more negative overall assessment, summarizing that "Test Drive: Off-Road's loose controls, aggravating pop-up problems, and uninspired gameplay stall its overall appeal".[13] Greg Kasavin of GameSpot said of the PC version, "Test Drive: Off Road is pure arcade action".[9] Jeff Kitts, also from GameSpot, said of the PlayStation version, "Test Drive: Off Road is an acceptable entry in the suddenly crowded field of off-road racing games".[10] In Japan, where the PS version was ported for release under the title Gekitotsu! Yonku Battle (激突！四駆バトル, Gekitotsu! Yonku Batoru) and published by Coconuts Japan on 31 July 1997, Famitsu gave it a score of 23 out of 40.[7]

As of March 1998 the game sold over 500,000 copies.[14]

Sequel

Accolade stated in a press release that the commercial successes of the game and Test Drive 4 caused Test Drive to become the top-selling racing series at the time.[15] Accolade published Test Drive Off-Road 2 in 1998, which uses the Test Drive 4 engine and includes licensed off-road vehicles.[15][16]

References

  1. ↑ "For Immediate Release". http://www.accolade.com/press/news032697_02.htm. 
  2. ↑ "Test Drive: Off-Road (Preview)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (91): 148. February 1997. 
  3. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Test Drive Off-Road (PS) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115093537/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2319&tab=review. Retrieved 31 January 2019. 
  4. ↑ Bauman, Steve (1997). "Test Drive: Off-Road". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on 22 May 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030522162844/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/001/167/test_drive_off_road_review.html. Retrieved 31 January 2019. 
  5. ↑ Goble, Gord (July 1997). "Monster Truck Mayhem (Test Drive: Off-Road Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (156): 206. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_156.pdf. Retrieved 31 January 2019. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 EGM staff (April 1997). "Team EGM Sports: Test Drive: Off-Road". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (93): 114. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "激突！四駆バトル [PS"] (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=2724&redirect=no. Retrieved 31 January 2019. 
  8. ↑ Storm, Jon; Reiner, Andrew; McNamara, Andy (May 1997). "Test Drive Off Road - PlayStation". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (59). http://www.gameinformer.com/may97/offroad.html. Retrieved 31 January 2019. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kasavin, Greg (22 April 1997). "Test Drive: Off-Road Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/test-drive-off-road-review/1900-2533387/. Retrieved 1 December 2018. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kitts, Jeff (10 April 1997). "Test Drive: Off-Road Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000""]. CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/test-drive-off-road-review/1900-2549725/. Retrieved 1 December 2018. 
  11. ↑ Williamson, Colin (June 1997). "Test Drive Off Road". PC Gamer (Future US) 4 (6). Archived from the original on 5 March 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000305033549/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/1045.html. Retrieved 31 January 2019. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Finals". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (31): 170. July 1997. 
  13. ↑ The Rookie (June 1997). "PlayStation ProReview: Test Drive: Off-Road". GamePro (IDG) (105): 69. 
  14. ↑ "Accolade plans to further its highly successful Test Drive series, with Test Drive 5 and Test Drive Off-Road 2". http://www.accolade.com/press/032498E3.htm. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Accolade Kicks Off 1998 With Record Selling Franchise, 12 New Titles And An Increased Focus On Sony PlayStation Market" (Press release). San Jose, CA: Accolade, Inc. 24 March 1998. Archived from the original on 6 December 1998. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  16. ↑ Wigmore, Glenn. "Test Drive Off-Road 2 (PC) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115093545/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19517&tab=review. Retrieved 4 February 2019. 
  • 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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