Software:Test Drive: Off-Road 3

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Test Drive Off-Road 3
North American cover art featuring the 1999 Hummer H1.
Developer(s)Infogrames North America (PlayStation, Windows)
Xantera (Game Boy Color)
Publisher(s)Infogrames North America
Infogrames Multimedia (Europe)
Producer(s)Monte Singman(Executive Producer)
Allen Edwards
SeriesTest Drive
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Game Boy Color
Release
  • NA: 18 October 1999 (PS)[1]
  • NA: 25 October 1999 (PC)[1]
  • NA: 21 December 1999 (GBC)[2]
  • EU: 19 April 2000 (GBC, PS)
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Test Drive Off-Road 3 (4X4 World Trophy in Europe) is a racing video game developed and published by Infogrames North America for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Game Boy Color. A Dreamcast version was planned, but was cancelled due to release issues.[3]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GBCPCPS
AllGameN/AStarHalf star[7]StarStarHalf star[8]
CGSPN/AStarStar[10]N/A
EGMN/AN/A6.25/10[11][lower-alpha 1]
Game InformerN/AN/A6/10[12]
GameFanN/A40%[13]N/A
GameRevolutionN/AN/AD+[14]
GameSpotN/A6.3/10[15]4.3/10[16]
GameZoneN/A8.1/10[17]N/A
IGN4/10[18]7.3/10[19]5/10[20]
Next GenerationN/AN/AStarStar[21]
OPM (US)N/AN/AStarStar[22]
Aggregate score
GameRankings50%[4]56%[5]61%[6]

Test Drive: Off-Road 3 received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4][5][6] Doug Trueman of NextGen said that the PlayStation version was "fairly well done, but there are just not enough new features here to raise the game's rating above 'fair.'"[21]

iBot of GamePro said of the PlayStation version in one review, "With Test Drive Off Road 3, Infogrames has delivered a very solid racing game (with a few noticeable flaws) that will really appeal to those who like to drive virtual versions of real cars, but are tired of the paved highways and byways of the other racing titles."[23][lower-alpha 2] However, Air Hendrix said in another review that the same console version's "slick stylings won't give gamers enough meaty gameplay to go the distance. If you're hardcore about off-road action, Test Drive Off-Road 3's worth renting to check out the cool rides, but everyone else should steer clear."[24][lower-alpha 3]

Notes

  1. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the PlayStation version, three critics gave it each a score of 6/10, and the other gave it 7/10.
  2. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 4/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 4.5/5 for sound, and 3.5/5 for control in one review.
  3. ↑ GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 3/5 scores for control and fun factor in another review.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kennedy, Sam (18 October 1999). "Test Drive Off-Road 3 Ships [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000""]. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 19 April 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000419111701/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/99_10/18_vg_testdrv/index.html. Retrieved 12 June 2022. 
  2. ↑ IGN staff (21 December 1999). "Infogrames Sneaks Two Under the Wire". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/22/infogrames-sneaks-two-under-the-wire. Retrieved 12 June 2022. 
  3. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (24 April 2000). "Infogrames Slams the Brakes on Dreamcast Test Drive Off-Road 3". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/25/infogrames-slams-the-brakes-on-dreamcast-test-drive-off-road-3. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Test Drive: Off-Road 3 for Game Boy Color". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190522223214/https://www.gamerankings.com/gbc/576132-test-drive-off-road-3/index.html. Retrieved 12 June 2022. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Test Drive: Off-Road 3 for PC". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 27 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190527101106/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/198936-test-drive-off-road-3/index.html. Retrieved 12 June 2022. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Test Drive: Off-Road 3 for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190501150614/https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/198938-test-drive-off-road-3/index.html. Retrieved 12 June 2022. 
  7. ↑ Durham, Joel. "Test Drive Off-Road 3 (PC) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115093543/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19128&tab=review. Retrieved 4 February 2019. 
  8. ↑ Kanarick, Mark. "Test Drive Off-Road 3 (PS) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115093552/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19181&tab=review. Retrieved 4 February 2019. 
  9. ↑ Mahood, Andy (15 December 1999). "Test Drive Off-Road 3 (PS)". CNET. Archived from the original. Error: If you specify |archiveurl=, you must also specify |archivedate=. https://web.archive.org/web/20000816210655/http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Testdriveor3/. Retrieved 13 June 2022. 
  10. ↑ Bauman, Steve (12 November 1999). "Test Drive Off-Road 3". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on 16 May 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030516165637/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/024/054/testdor3_review.html. Retrieved 4 February 2019. 
  11. ↑ Hager, Dean; Hsu, Dan "Shoe"; Boyer, Crispin; Johnston, Chris (November 1999). "Test Drive Off-Road 3 (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (124): 252. https://retrocdn.net/images/4/40/EGM_US_124.pdf. Retrieved 12 June 2022. 
  12. ↑ Reppen, Erik (November 1999). "Test Drive Off-Road 3 (PS)". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (79). Archived from the original on 21 May 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000521031119/http://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=3264. Retrieved 4 February 2019. 
  13. ↑ Howarth, Robert (28 December 1999). "REVIEW for Test Drive: Off-Road 3 (PC)". Shinno Media. Archived from the original on 14 June 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000614181513/http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=1616&t=r. Retrieved 4 February 2019. 
  14. ↑ Shawn (March 2000). "Test Drive Off-Road 3 Review (PS)". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170204085418/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/test-drive-off-road-3. Retrieved 5 February 2019. 
  15. ↑ Bannister, Paul (24 November 1999). "Test Drive: Off-Road 3 Review (PC) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000""]. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 26 May 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050526151059/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/testdriveoffroad3/review.html. Retrieved 4 February 2019. 
  16. ↑ Lopez, Miguel (1 December 1999). "Test Drive: Off-Road 3 Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "May 2, 2000""]. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on 18 March 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050318102357/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/driving/testdriveoffroad3/review.html. Retrieved 12 June 2022. 
  17. ↑ Krause, Kevin (6 November 1999). "Test Drive: Off-Road 3 (PC)". Archived from the original on 6 May 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20040506154323/http://www.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r13036.htm. Retrieved 4 February 2019. 
  18. ↑ Harris, Craig (9 March 2000). "Test Drive: Off-Road 3 (GBC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/10/test-drive-off-road-3-2. Retrieved 1 December 2018. 
  19. ↑ Saltzman, Marc (20 December 1999). "Test Drive: Off-Road 3 (PC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/21/test-drive-off-road-3. Retrieved 1 December 2018. 
  20. ↑ Nix, Marc (17 November 1999). "Test Drive: Off-Road 3 (PS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/18/test-drive-off-road-3-4. Retrieved 1 December 2018. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Trueman, Doug (December 1999). "Test Drive Off-Road 3 (PS)". NextGen (Imagine Media) (60): 114. https://archive.org/details/NextGen60Dec1999/page/n115/mode/2up. Retrieved 12 June 2022. 
  22. ↑ Maruyama, Wataru (November 1999). "Test Drive Off-Road 3". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) 3 (2): 144. https://archive.org/details/Official_US_PlayStation_Magazine_Volume_3_Issue_2_1999-11_Ziff_Davis_US/page/n143/mode/2up. Retrieved 12 June 2022. 
  23. ↑ iBot (27 October 1999). "Test Drive Off-Road 3 Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG). Archived from the original on 17 January 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050117224355/http://gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/2700.shtml. Retrieved 5 February 2019. 
  24. ↑ Air Hendrix (December 1999). "Test Drive Off-Road 3 (PS)". GamePro (IDG) (135): 170. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_135_December_1999_U/page/n163/mode/2up. Retrieved 14 June 2022. 
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari



  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari





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