Software:The Adventures of Mighty Max

From HandWiki
Short description: 1994 video game
The Adventures of Mighty Max
North American Genesis box art
Developer(s)WJS Design
Publisher(s)Ocean Software
Platform(s)Sega Genesis, Super NES
ReleaseGenesis
Super NES
Genre(s)Action-adventure, platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The Adventures of Mighty Max is a 1994 action-adventure platform game developed by British studio WJS Design and published by Ocean Software for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game is based on the Mighty Max television series.

Gameplay

The player controls Mighty Max from the television series. The game has several environments that the player has to explore, including: a factory, Hell, a pyramid, a cave system, and a jungle. The player is given a ball launcher gun, which can be used to help traverse these environments. The player can also manipulate objects, most notably a metal crate which the player has to carry to complete each of the game's levels.

Development and release

The Adventures of Mighty Max was developed by WSJ Design. Founded by Wayne Smithson in 1984 and based in Leeds, the studio previously worked on numerous titles for the Amiga, Atari ST, Dragon 32, and Sega Genesis.[5][6][7] Production on the game began as an original concept by WJS on the Amiga.[8] Smithson claimed it was worked on for one year before publisher Ocean Software paired with it with the Mighty Max license.[5] Ocean had a penchant for adapting film and television properties into games and Mighty Max was just one of several in simultaneous development beginning in mid-1993.[9] Mighty Max was the WJS's first licensed game.[5][6]

The game was in development for the Amiga 1200, SNES, and Genesis. According to programmer Paul Hoggart, the Amiga version was the priority early on, focusing heavily on its two-player split screen mode. Hoggart stated that he wished he could have contributed more to the design to make it "even more 'arcadey' as opposed to strategy-ish".[8] Smithson revealed that that the levels were initially created using DPaint, but the team shifted to a level editor to simultaneously playtest the mechanics. A total of 50 levels were crafted over two weeks but this was eventually cut down to 25.[5]

Despite significant magazine coverage around a projected launch at the end of 1994,[8][10][11][12] the Amiga version was cancelled.[13] Ocean began releasing the console editions in PAL regions in November 1994 with Sony Electronic Publishing handling distribution.[1][2] The Genesis and SNES versions were released in North America in February and March 1995 respectively.[3][4]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CVG35% (GEN)[14]
37% (SNES)[14]
EGM4.8/10 (GEN)[15]
Hyper48/100 (GEN)[2]
48/100 (SNES)[2]
Next GenerationStar (SNES)[17]
Nintendo Power2.8/5 (SNES)[4]
Total!81/100 (SNES)[18]
Consoles +70% (SNES)[19]
MAN!AC39% (SNES)[20]
Player One60% (GEN)[21]
60% (SNES)[21]
Power Unlimited74/100 (GEN)[22]
Sega Magazine41/100 (GEN)[23]
Sega Pro58% (GEN)[24]
TodoSega85% (GEN)[25]

Next Generation reviewed the SNES version of the game, rating it one star out of five; the magazine was critical of the game's design and gameplay and considered the game "awful" and "not fun".[17]

Electronic Gaming Monthly's five-critic review crew gave the Genesis version of Mighty Max an average score of 4.8 out of 10, calling the game "incredibly slow" and "unappealing".[15]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 CVG staff (October 1994). "News: Super Sony Stuff". Computer and Video Games (Future plc) (155): 15. ISSN 0261-3697. https://retrocdn.net/images/1/14/CVG_UK_155.pdf. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Fish, Elliot (December 1994). "Byte Size: Mighty Max". Hyper (nextmedia) (13): 78. ISSN 1320-7458. https://archive.org/details/hyper-013/page/78/mode/1up. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 EGM staff (January 1995). "Mighty Max". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (66): 226. ISSN 1058-918X. https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20066%20%28January%201995%29/page/n239/mode/1up. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Nintendo Power staff (June 1995). "Now Playing: Mighty Max". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) (73): 104, 107. ISSN 1041-9551. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-127-december-1999/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20073%20June%201995/page/104/mode/1up. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Groves, Will (July 1994). "Mega Focus: Mighty". Mega (Future plc) (22): 24–7. ISSN 0966-6206. https://retrocdn.net/images/e/ea/Mega_UK_22.pdf. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Hawkin, Kieren (November 2018). "From the Archives: WJS Design". Retro Gamer (Future plc) (186): 55. ISSN 1742-3155. https://archive.org/details/retro-gamer-raspberry-pi-buenos-aires/Retro%20Gamer%20186/page/55/mode/1up. 
  7. ↑ Jones, Neil (August 1994). "Mighty Max". Super Action (Europress) (24): 58–9. https://archive.org/details/super-action-24-august-1994/page/58/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Broughton, Matt (December 1994). "Work in Progress: High and Mighty". The One (EMAP) (74): 30–1. ISSN 0955-4084. https://archive.org/details/TheOne19Apr90/TheOne/TheOne74-Dec94/page/n29/mode/2up. 
  9. ↑ SNES Force staff (September 1993). "Profile: Brace Yourself". SNES Force (Europress) (3): 14–5. https://archive.org/details/snes-nforce-magazine-03/page/n15/mode/1up. 
  10. ↑ McNally, Steve (October 1994). "Blue Print: Crest of the Wave – Mighty Max". Amiga Action (Europress) (62): 69. ISSN 0957-4050. https://archive.org/details/amigaaction62/page/n68/mode/1up. 
  11. ↑ Joystick staff (July 1994). "CD Previews: Mighty Max" (in fr). Joystick (Hachette Filipacchi Médias) (51): 153. ISSN 1145-4806. https://archive.org/details/joystick051/page/n152/mode/1up. 
  12. ↑ Amiga Computing staff (September 1994). "Report: Entertainment USA". Amiga Computing (Europress) (77): 46. ISSN 0959-9630. https://archive.org/details/AmigaComputingIssue077Sep94/page/n45/mode/1up. 
  13. ↑ Gasking, Frank (March 13, 2024). "Mighty Max". https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2024/03/mighty-max/. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 CVG staff (March 1995). "Reviews: Super Shorts". Computer and Video Games (Future plc) (160): 101. ISSN 0261-3697. https://retrocdn.net/images/5/53/CVG_UK_160.pdf. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Semrad, Ed; Carpenter, Danyon; Manuel, Al; Sushi-X; Weigand, Mike (February 1995). "Review Crew: Major Mike's Game Roundup: Mighty Max". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (67): 32. ISSN 1058-918X. https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20067%20%28February%201995%29/page/n31/mode/1up. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 El Consolero Enmascarado (March 1995). "Lo Mas Nuevo: Mighty Max" (in es). HobbyConsolas (Hobby Press) (42): 72–3. https://archive.org/details/hobby-consolas-ganadores-concurso-mangas-videojuegos/Hobby%20Consolas%20042/page/n71/mode/2up. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Next Generation staff (June 1995). "Finals - Mighty Max". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (6): 113. ISSN 1078-9693. https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-006/page/n123/mode/2up. 
  18. ↑ Dyer, Andy (February 1995). "The Adventures of Mighty Max". Total! (Future plc) (38): 59. ISSN 0964-9352. https://archive.org/details/total-38/page/n58/mode/1up. 
  19. ↑ Pandalladur, Marcozy (April 1995). "Super Nintendo Review: The Adventures of Mighty Max" (in fr). Consoles + (M.E.R.7) (42): 118. ISSN 1162-8669. https://archive.org/details/consoles-042-avril-1995/page/118/mode/1up. 
  20. ↑ MAN!AC staff (November 1994). "Mighty Max" (in de). MAN!AC (Cybermedia) (13): 75. ISSN 2191-012X. https://archive.org/details/MANIAC.N013.1994.11/MANIAC.N013.1994.11-DURiAN_Searchable/page/n74/mode/1up. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Le Flou, Stef (March 1995). "Mighty Max" (in fr). Player One (Média Système Édition) (51): 108. ISSN 1153-4451. https://archive.org/details/playerone-magazine-051/page/n103/mode/1up. 
  22. ↑ Rene (November 1994). "Review: The Adventures of Mighty Max" (in nl). Power Unlimited (VNU Media) (15): 50–1. ISSN 0929-760X. https://archive.org/details/008_20231030_20231030_1241/015/page/n49/mode/2up. 
  23. ↑ Guise, Tom; Leadbetter, Richard (February 1995). "Review: Mighty Max". Sega Magazine (EMAP) (14): 84–5. ISSN 1360-9424. https://archive.org/details/sega-14/page/24/mode/2up. 
  24. ↑ Pilkington, Mark (March 1995). "Review: The Adventures of Mighty Max". Sega Pro (Paragon Publishing) (42): 54–5. ISSN 0964-2641. https://archive.org/details/sega-pro-42/page/54/mode/2up. 
  25. ↑ Lorente, Roberto (February 1995). "Historias del otro lado: Mighty Max" (in es). TodoSega (Hobby Press) (23): 55. https://archive.org/details/todosega_20220103/Todosega%2023/page/55/mode/1up. 
  • 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



Warning: Default sort key "Adventures of Mighty Max" overrides earlier default sort key "Mobygames".



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:The_Adventures_of_Mighty_Max&oldid=3956799"