Software:The Gunstringer

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Short description: 2011 video game

The Gunstringer
PAL cover art
Developer(s)Twisted Pixel Games
Publisher(s)Microsoft Studios
Writer(s)Edward Kuehnel
EngineBeard
Platform(s)Xbox 360
Release
  • NA: September 13, 2011
  • AU: September 15, 2011
  • EU: September 16, 2011
Genre(s)Third-person shooter, rail shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The Gunstringer is a third-person rail shooter video game developed by Twisted Pixel Games and published by Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360 with Kinect. It was originally planned as an Xbox Live Arcade release, but was later made into a full retail game.[1]

Gameplay

Players use Kinect to control the protagonist. One hand is held as though controlling a marionette while the other is used for aiming and firing the character's weapon.

The Gunstringer is a Kinect title which makes use of the player's body to control the game rather than a gamepad. The player controls the character's movement with their left hand, while the right is used to aim and fire the character's gun.[2] Players can mark multiple enemies to fire on and once the player makes a firing gesture all marked enemies are shot by the character.[2] Certain moments in the game are presented as a rail shooter and allow the player to use both hands to control two guns while the character moves along a pre-defined path.[3]

Plot

The Gunstringer is set as a play that takes place in the Old West, with some modern and fantasy aspects. The game is played as though it were acted out on a theatre stage. It begins with live-action footage in a theater (The Paramount Theater in Austin, TX) where people have attended to see the show.[2] The setting of the play revolves around a character known simply as The Gunstringer, an undead marionette sheriff betrayed by his posse. The game begins as he rises from his grave, bent on revenge.[2] The game is broken up into four different areas or acts, each one based around a member of the Gunstringer's former gang: the desert controlled by the Oil Baron, the bayou being cleared up and settled by the Brothel Madame, the valley being influenced by the Beard Master, and the wasteland and underworld ruled by the Lady of the Dead.

Development and marketing

The game was first announced February 1, 2011. A trailer showcasing elements of gameplay was released at that time.[4] Prior to the announcement developers Twisted Pixel Games shot live action footage to integrate with the game.[5] The video shoot took place at The Paramount Theatre in the developer's location of Austin, Texas.[5]

The character was designed by Josh Bear, President of Twisted Pixel Games. The idea was created during a meeting between Twisted Pixel and publisher Microsoft Studios. During a moment while Twisted Pixel were alone in the meeting they noticed a painting of an Old West-styled skeleton and decided to use it as a theme for their character.[6] Bear later revealed that the idea was fleshed out in the few minutes that the Microsoft Studios representative had left the table. Twisted Pixel's original idea could not be done with the capabilities Kinect then had and the team had to change the pitch quickly. "It was really cool, but it didn't have the fidelity to do what we wanted, it couldn't really track finger movements," Bear said. "I was like 'Oh shit, we're going to pitch this whole thing and they're gonna know that it's not possible with the hardware.'"[7]

The Gunstringer was distributed with a code to download an Xbox Live Arcade Kinect title, Fruit Ninja Kinect. A free downloadable content addon was also released, entitled Wavy Tube Man Chronicles.[8] Instead of the hybrid computer generated/live action presentation of the main game, this add on is a live action FMV rail shooter in the vein of laserdisc games like Mad Dog McCree. Troma Entertainment co-founder Lloyd Kaufman appears as an actor in the downloadable content.[9] The soundtrack was also made available at no charge via the game's official website.[10]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic77/100[11]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid8/10[12]
Edge5/10[13]
Eurogamer4/10[14]
Famitsu(X360) 32/40[15]
30/40[15]
Game Informer8/10[16]
GameProStarStarStarStar[17]
GameSpot8.5/10[18]
GameTrailers7.3/10[19]
Giant BombStarStarStarStar[20]
IGN8/10[21]
JoystiqStarStarStarStarStar[22]
OXM (US)9/10[23]
The Daily TelegraphStarStarStarHalf star[24]
Digital SpyStarStarStar[25]

The Gunstringer received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[11] In Japan, where the game was ported for release on October 6, 2011, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40, while Famitsu Xbox 360 gave it a score of all four eights for a total of 32 out of 40.[15]

Common Sense Media gave it four stars out of five and said, "Teen and adult gamers starving for a more satisfying Kinect experience should be well served by this unique game."[26] However, The Daily Telegraph gave it three-and-a-half stars out of five and called it "one of the best and most original Kinect games to date, and enormously entertaining in the short bursts of play the device is designed for. Perhaps most refreshingly of all, it can be played while seated; couch potatoes discouraged by the activity demanded by most motion-based titles may have just found their ideal Kinect game."[24] Digital Spy gave it three stars out of five and called it "another strong Kinect title let down by a lack of longevity and a few minor issues. Certainly, the short play time is offset by the inclusion of Fruit Ninja Kinect and the budget price, while occasional control issues are easily overlooked with a little patience. For the most part, Twisted Pixel has crafted another wonderfully outrageous video game, which plays well and offers a great deal of entertainment, however short-lived that may be."[25]

Sequel

On January 3, 2013, a sequel titled The Gunstringer: Dead Man Running was released exclusively for Windows 8 devices.[27][28] It was delisted on May 21, 2014, due to Microsoft deciding to delist all titles not owned by them, and they deemed unfit for their current portfolio.[29]

References

  1. ↑ Chester, Nick (June 7, 2011). "E3: The Gunstringer ditches XBLA, going retail". Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.destructoid.com/e3-the-gunstringer-ditches-xbla-going-retail-203106.phtml. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Hatfield, Daemon (February 24, 2011). "Pulling Gunstringer's Strings". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/02/25/pulling-gunstringers-strings. 
  3. ↑ Newton, James (February 19, 2011). "Interviews: Twisted Pixel – The Gunstringer". http://www.kinectaku.com/news/2011/02/interviews_twisted_pixel_the_gunstringer. 
  4. ↑ Adams, Ross (February 1, 2011). "Twisted Pixel reveals 'The Gunstringer', a western themed shooter for Kinect". http://xblafans.com/twisted-pixel-reveals-the-gunstringer-a-western-themed-shooter-for-kinect-5679.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Fletcher, JC (January 26, 2011). "Twisted Pixel shooting video in Austin for unannounced game". Oath Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/twisted-pixel-shooting-video-in-austin-for-unannounced-game/. 
  6. ↑ Tong, Sophia (February 24, 2011). "The Gunstringer Michael Wilford Interview". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-gunstringer-michael-wilford-interview/2300-6300911/. 
  7. ↑ McElroy, Justin (September 26, 2011). "The three terrifying minutes that created The Gunstringer". Oath Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/the-three-terrifying-minutes-that-created-the-gunstringer/. 
  8. ↑ Kietzmann, Ludwig (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer's launch DLC free to all Xbox Live members on Sept. 20". Oath Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/the-gunstringers-launch-dlc-free-to-all-xbox-live-members-on-se/. 
  9. ↑ Mallory, Jordan (September 12, 2011). "Watch the first 15 minutes of The Gunstringer's FMV DLC, 'Wavy Tubeman Chronicles'". Oath Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2011/09/12/watch-the-first-15-minutes-of-the-gunstringers-fmv-dlc-wavy-t/. 
  10. ↑ Mallory, Jordan (September 17, 2011). "You must download The Gunstringer's soundtrack". Oath Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2011/09/17/you-must-download-the-gunstringers-soundtrack/. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "The Gunstringer for Xbox 360 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-gunstringer/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. 
  12. ↑ Chester, Nick (September 13, 2011). "Review: The Gunstringer". Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.destructoid.com/review-the-gunstringer-211161.phtml. 
  13. ↑ Edge staff (September 14, 2011). "The Gunstringer review". Edge (Future plc). http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/gunstringer-review. Retrieved June 21, 2019. 
  14. ↑ Whitehead, Dan (September 16, 2011). "The Gunstringer". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-09-16-the-gunstringer-review. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "ザ ガンストリンガー [Xbox 360"] (in Japanese). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=20442&redirect=no. Retrieved June 20, 2019. 
  16. ↑ Reiner, Andrew (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer". Game Informer (GameStop). https://www.gameinformer.com/games/the_gunstringer/b/xbox360/archive/2011/09/13/kinect-lands-a-bona-fide-core-game.aspx. Retrieved June 21, 2019. 
  17. ↑ Hayward, Andrew (September 13, 2011). "Review: The Gunstringer (360)". GamePro (GamePro Media). http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/222861/review-the-gunstringer-360. Retrieved June 21, 2019. 
  18. ↑ McShea, Tom (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-gunstringer-review/1900-6334310/. 
  19. ↑ "The Gunstringer Review". Viacom. September 16, 2011. http://www.gametrailers.com/gamereview.php?id=14524. 
  20. ↑ Davis, Ryan (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/the-gunstringer-review/1900-417/. 
  21. ↑ DeVries, Jack (September 14, 2011). "The Gunstringer Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/09/14/the-gunstringer-review. 
  22. ↑ McElroy, Justin (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer review: Dig my grave". Oath Inc.. https://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/the-gunstringer-review/. 
  23. ↑ Cohen, Corey (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer review". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US). http://www.oxmonline.com/gunstringer-review. Retrieved June 21, 2019. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Schilling, Chris (September 14, 2011). "The Gunstringer review". The Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/video-game-reviews/8760739/The-Gunstringer-review.html. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Martin, Liam (September 20, 2011). "'The Gunstringer' (Xbox 360)". Hearst Communications. https://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/a341327/the-gunstringer-xbox-360/. 
  26. ↑ Sapieha, Chad (2011). "The Gunstringer". https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/the-gunstringer. 
  27. ↑ Sapieha. "Gunstringer: Dead Man Running (Game) - Giant Bomb". https://www.giantbomb.com/gunstringer-dead-man-running/3030-41368/. 
  28. ↑ "Buy The Gunstringer - Microsoft Store". https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/the-gunstringer/9wzdncrfhwf9. 
  29. ↑ Smith, Rebecca (2014). "The Gunstringer: Dead Man Running to be Delisted". https://www.trueachievements.com/n16969/the-gunstringer-dead-man-running-to-be-delisted. 
  • Official website (archived)
  • 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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