Software:The Elk Moon Murder

From HandWiki
Short description: 1996 video game
Santa Fe Mysteries:
The Elk Moon Murder
Developer(s)Activision
Publisher(s)Activision
Director(s)Shannon Gilligan
Producer(s)Diana Mack
Designer(s)Sam Egan
Shannon Gilligan
Programmer(s)Patrick Griffith
Artist(s)David Dalzell
Writer(s)Shannon Gilligan
Composer(s)Tim May
Platform(s)MS-DOS, Macintosh, Windows
Release1996
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder is a video game, the first in the Santa Fe Mysteries series, followed by Santa Fe Mysteries. In The Elk Moon Murder, a famous Native American artist named Anna Elk Moon is murdered in the American Southwest.

Gameplay

The game is a full-motion video adventure game with a point-and-click interface. The player has five days to solve the mystery, and eight hours in each day .Certain actions use up a portion of the time. The player must "listen to the usual suspects, order forensics and shoot photos", and create an arrest warrant by the end of the game.[1][2]

Development

The game uses the same Activision game engine as Spycraft.[3] The game was distributed by MarkSoft in Poland.[4] The game's original American packaging, which was sent out as a review copy, featured a warning about "clothed sexual touching" on the cover.[5]

The game was created by Shannon Gilligan, who had previously produced the successful Virtual Murder video game series. The game featured actors Amanda Donohoe, Marc Alaimo, and over a dozen Hollywood actors. The scenes were shot on location in Santa Fe, New Mexico.[6]

The project was announced in Electronic Entertainment on September 21, 1995[7] and in Germany in Power Play Magazine in March 1995.[8] In terms of commercial performance, PC Player speculated that The Elk Moon Murder sold satisfactorily to justify Activision creating a sequel to the title.[9]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PC Zone72/100[10]
Computer Games Strategy PlusStarStarStarStar[11]
PC GamesB+[12]
Quad-City Times3/4[13]

The game received mixed to positive reviews. Allgame found the game thrilling and enjoyed its strategic elements.[14] MacGamer thought the game was too short in length and too sparse of interactive options.[15] Though Just Adventure concluded that the game was crafted well, they also thought its lack of puzzles made it less of an adventure game.[16] Adventure Classic Gaming negatively compared the game to the "equally uninspiring Virtual Murder series" as a whodunit adventure, and the Police Quest series as a police procedural adventure simulation.[17] Programmer in Black recommended Under a Killing Moon, The Pandora Directive, The Dame Was Loaded, The Broken Sword, and Gabriel Knight as games with similar detective story elements.[18] PC World said the game is a "classic whodunnit with clever scripting and fine acting".[19] Just Adventure noted that the game was interesting, albeit a bit too complicated, especially at the beginning.[20] Coming Soon Magazine complimented the graphics, sounds, storyline, and reasonable price, while responding negatively to the rambling dialogue from suspects.[21] GameSpot recommended players purchase a paperback detective novel instead of this title.[22] Adventure Gamers praised the game's used of Santa Fe as a backdrop to the story.[23] Entertainment Weekly felt the title was "low-budget fare" when compared to The Pandora Directive.[24] PC Zone thought the title was polished and professional,[25] also describing it as superior fun.[26] MacGamer felt the title fell short of Activision's earlier title Spycraft.[27] Gambler Magazine noted the game had simple mechanics but complex gameplay.[28] PC Games felt the multiple choice dialogue mechanic was boring in the long run,[29] nevertheless in a separate issue the reviewer confessed " I can not fault [the game]" in terms of its technical elements.[30] PC Player felt the title was extremely atmospheric and professionally acted,[31] though the magazine negatively compared the game to Golden Gate Killer.[32] PC Action praised the way the title comfortably records all collected information in its in-game journal.[33]

Entertainment Weekly gave the game a C- and wrote that "The game's tag line reads, 'Fear the desert,' but what I really fear is that CD-ROMs like this are replicating cable TV's more arid terrain."[34]

Reviews

  • PC Games - Oct, 1996
  • PC Player (Germany) - Aug, 1996
  • PC Zone - Aug 13, 2001[35]
  • Adventure Gamers - Feb 27, 2004[36]
  • Computer Gaming World - Oct, 1996
  • GameSpot - Aug 01, 1996[37]

Legacy

Missing in Santa Fe is an online prequel to The Elk Moon Murder, featuring the same setting and many of the same characters. It was presented as an episodic narrative in three parts which commence on Tuesday, June 25, 1996, and continued each week. Additional evidence was presented on Tuesday, July 23. A contest was held with the winners receiving a trip to Santa Fe. The prequel was developed by Newfront Communications, who had previously worked on the mystery website The Case.[38]

References

  1. ↑ "Santa Fe Mysteries: Sacred Ground for DOS (1997) - MobyGames". MobyGames. http://www.mobygames.com/game/santa-fe-mysteries-sacred-ground. 
  2. ↑ "Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder for DOS (1996) - MobyGames". MobyGames. http://www.mobygames.com/game/santa-fe-mysteries-the-elk-moon-murder. 
  3. ↑ "Spy Craft: The Great Game". http://www.thecomputershow.com/computershow/reviews/spycraftgreatgame.htm. 
  4. ↑ Gambler Magazine (February 1997). February 1997. pp. 94. https://archive.org/details/gambler_magazine-1997-02. 
  5. ↑ PC Zone 44 (November 1996). https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_44_November_1996. 
  6. ↑ "Activision Games "Santa Fe Mysteries - The Elk Moon Murder"". 1996-10-24. http://www2.activision.com/elkmoon/game.html. 
  7. ↑ Electronic Entertainment 21 Sep 1995. September 1995. https://archive.org/details/ElectronicEntertainment21Sep1995. 
  8. ↑ (in pl) Power Play Magazine (March 1995). March 1995. https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1995-03. 
  9. ↑ PC Player (February 1997) (in de). PC Player German Magazine 1997-02. https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1997-02. 
  10. ↑ Brooker, Charlie (November 1996). "Pick 'n' Mix; Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder". PC Zone: 124. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3387. 
  11. ↑ Voorhees, John (September 7, 1996). "Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder". Computer Games Strategy Plus. http://www.cdmag.com:80/adventure_vault/the_elk_moon_murder_review/page1.html. 
  12. ↑ Cheney, Christina (October 1996). "The Elk Moon Murder". PC Games. http://www.pcgamesmag.com:80/games/Oct96/elk1096.html. 
  13. ↑ "Children's storytelling program is an otter delight". November 3, 1996. p. 37. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89562404/quad-city-times/. 
  14. ↑ Rovi Corporation. "Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder". allgame.com. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=13265&tab=review. 
  15. ↑ "MacGamer - Get In The Game". macgamer.com. http://www.macgamer.com/features/?id=527. 
  16. ↑ "Elk Moon Murder - Just Adventure + Review". justadventure.com. http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/ElkMoonMur/ElkMoon.shtm. 
  17. ↑ "Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder - Review - Adventure Classic Gaming - ACG - Adventure Games, Interactive Fiction Games - Reviews, Interviews, Features, Previews, Cheats, Galleries, Forums". adventureclassicgaming.com. http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/87/. 
  18. ↑ "The Elk Moon Murder: PIB PC Game Review". http://www.pibweb.com/review/elkmoon.html. 
  19. ↑ "PC World". google.com.au. 1996. https://books.google.com/books?id=yTlVAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Santa+Fe+Mysteries%22. 
  20. ↑ Michal Necasek. "Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder". justadventure.com. http://www.justadventure.com/2013-05-20-21-09-14/1171-santa-fe-mysteries-the-elk-moon-murder. 
  21. ↑ "The Elk Moon Murder - PC Review - Coming Soon Magazine". csoon.com. http://www.csoon.com/issue16/elkmoon.htm. 
  22. ↑ Blevins, Tal (1996-08-01). "The Elk Moon Murder Review" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-elk-moon-murder-review/1900-2535821/. 
  23. ↑ "Santa Fe Mysteries: Elk Moon Murder Review" (in en-US). 27 February 2004. https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17687. 
  24. ↑ "New CD-ROMs require detective work" (in en). EW.com. http://ew.com/article/1996/08/16/new-cd-roms-require-detective-work/. 
  25. ↑ "PC Review: Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder - ComputerAndVideoGames.com". 2008-06-01. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3387. 
  26. ↑ PC Zone - Issue 047 (1997-02)(Dennis Publishing)(GB). February 1997. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_047_1997-02_Dennis_Publishing_GB. 
  27. ↑ "MacGamer - Get In The Game". 2003-05-09. http://www.macgamer.com/features/?id=527. 
  28. ↑ Gambler Magazine (November 1996). November 1996. pp. 18. https://archive.org/details/gambler_magazine-1996-11. 
  29. ↑ PC Games Magazine (November 1996). November 1996. https://archive.org/details/pcgamesmagazine-1996-11. 
  30. ↑ Computec (2014-06-13). PC.Games.N050.1996.11-fl0n. https://archive.org/details/PC.Games.N050.1996.11-fl0n. 
  31. ↑ PC Player (September 1996) (in de). PC Player German Magazine 1996-09. https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1996-09. 
  32. ↑ PC Player (October 1996) (in de). PC Player German Magazine 1996-10. https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1996-10. 
  33. ↑ (in de) PC Action Magazine (August 1996). August 1996. https://archive.org/details/pcaction_magazine-1996-08. 
  34. ↑ "New CD-ROMs require detective work". https://ew.com/article/1996/08/16/new-cd-roms-require-detective-work/. 
  35. ↑ "GamesRadar+". http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3387. 
  36. ↑ "Santa Fe Mysteries: Elk Moon Murder review". 27 February 2004. https://adventuregamers.com/article/id,355. 
  37. ↑ "The Elk Moon Murder Review for PC at GameSpot". https://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/elkmoonmurder/review.html. 
  38. ↑ "More Info: Missing in Santa Fe More Info". 1997-02-09. http://missing.activision.com/info/index.html. 
  • 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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