Software:The Incredibles (video game)

From HandWiki
The Incredibles
Developer(s)Heavy Iron Studios[lower-alpha 1]
Helixe (GBA)
Publisher(s)THQ[lower-alpha 2]
Director(s)Shiraz Akmal
Producer(s)Stephen Townsend
Nabil Yared & Dee Brown (PC, Mac)
Designer(s)Kirk Tome
Programmer(s)Daniel Sass
Sylvain Morel (PC, Mac)
Artist(s)Alex Carbonero
Jeffrey Berting
Writer(s)Mark Andrews
Composer(s)Michael Giacchino[lower-alpha 3]
SeriesThe Incredibles
EngineRenderWare
Platform(s)
Release
Genre(s)Action-adventure, beat 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player

The Incredibles is an action-adventure video game based on Pixar's 2004 film of the same name developed by Heavy Iron Studios and published by THQ. The game was released for the Game Boy Advance, GameCube, Mac OS X, PlayStation 2, Windows and Xbox. Samuel L. Jackson (Frozone/Lucius Best), Spencer Fox (Dash), Sarah Vowell (Violet), and Jason Lee (Buddy Pine/Syndrome/Incrediboy) are the only actors to reprise their roles from the film, with the rest of the cast, including Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter, being replaced with other voice actors - the original movie dialogue and can be heard in cutscenes taken directly from the film.[4] The game's music was composed by Michael Giacchino, who also scored the film. The console versions of the game received a T rating from the ESRB, making this the only Pixar video game to receive that rating.

Plot

The mime-styled, French supervillain Bomb Voyage attempts a bank heist in the fictional American city of Metroville. Bob Parr, alias Mr. Incredible, guided by his friend, the ice-powered superhero Frozone (secretly Lucius Best), works to stop his plans. Meanwhile, the metamorphic heroine Elastigirl (secretly Helen Truax), battles against Voyage's mime minions across the Metroville skyline stretch. Mr. Incredible captures Bomb Voyage in the bank when his fanboy, Buddy Pine, shows up. Mr. Incredible is dismissive of Buddy Pine, and Bomb Voyage plants a bomb on Buddy's cape. Buddy flies away with his rocket boots to notify the police. Mr. Incredible notices the bomb on Buddy's cape and grabs hold of Buddy. Mr. Incredible and the bomb both fall onto a rooftop, where the bomb detonates harmlessly as Bomb Voyage appears in a helicopter. Voyage attempts to kill Mr. Incredible with bombs, rockets and laser beams, but Mr. Incredible throws the bombs back at the helicopter, causing it to spin wildly out of control, heavily damaged. Bomb Voyage flees the scene.

Fifteen years later, superheroes across America have been long-since sued and outlawed for causing too much public destruction and are forced by the US government (chiefly the CIA) to permanently remain in their civilian identities and live normal lives. Mr. Incredible has married Elastigirl, who has become Helen Parr, and they have three children together: Violet (who possesses force-field and invisibility powers), Dash (a 190+ mph speedster), and Jack-Jack (who does not appear to have obtained any superhuman abilities).

After narrowly escaping an apartment inferno on an illegal heroic excursion with Frozone, Mr. Incredible is approached by a mysterious woman named Mirage, who tells him about a secret organization based on a remote South Pacific island called Nomanisan. Meanwhile, Dash is late for school and has to race through the Metroville traffic to reach his school on time.

The organization's latest invention, the Omnidroid Mark 08, is endangering the island and its personnel. After a rough beach landing on Nomanisan Island, Mr. Incredible encounters numerous hostile robots before he finds and destroys the Omnidroid during a volcanic eruption. The battle is witnessed by Mirage and her anonymous employer through the eyes of a robotic bird. The shadowy employer remarks that Mr. Incredible's victory is surprising, and asks Mirage to issue him new assignments.

After weeks of rigorous training and having received an improved suit from superhero tailor Edna Mode, Mr. Incredible returns to Nomanisan well-prepared for another mission. When he reaches the conference room, he fights through numerous armed security guards, deadly robots and laser systems in the robot arena, but once he reaches the empty meeting room, an improved Omnidroid (the Mark 09), appears from behind a huge sliding wall and grabs Mr. Incredible, overpowering and trapping him. The Omnidroid's creator, Syndrome, appears, who is Mirage's secret employer and reveals himself to be an adult Buddy Pine. He wants revenge on Mr. Incredible by killing off him and the world's other superheroes. Mr. Incredible is remorseful for his treatment of Syndrome, and escapes his clutches by jumping off the great falls. He evades Syndrome's life-sign scanner by hiding behind the skeletal remains of his superhero friend Gazerbeam (whom Syndrome had previously dispatched in an undersea cave). He is later captured and imprisoned in Syndrome's base when he breaks into the villain's secret computer room, learning of Syndrome's plans to unleash his perfected Omnidroid (the Mark 10) on Metroville. Syndrome then intends to take credit for stopping the robot and saving the city, tarnishing the reputations of Mr. Incredible and his allies in the process, before he becomes the world's only super using his weaponized inventions.

Elastigirl flies to Nomanisan island to rescue her husband and safely stores a stowed-away Violet and Dash in a cave, sneaking into Syndrome's complex. She works her way through the hidden base and into Syndrome's volcanic lair. The next morning, Violet and Dash accidentally activate a robotic cockatoo's alarm system and are forced to use their powers to escape Syndrome's guards. After a 100-mile dash through the jungle and across the beaches and lakes of the island, and Violet's crossing of Syndrome's henchmen (thanks to the use of her invisibility), the two learn not to be ashamed of their powers and work together, combining their abilities to form the Incredi-ball. They battle henchmen and robots, eventually finding their parents, with Mirage having had a change of heart and freeing Mr. Incredible.

As the Incredible family meets up outside the secret lava labs, Mirage helps them activate and launch one of Syndrome's rockets from the rocket silo, which they use to reach Metroville, where the Omnidroid is wreaking havoc on the populace. The Incredibles and Frozone work together to destroy the robot, stop Syndrome and save the world. Syndrome escapes from the battle in the city, but is killed offscreen when he attempts to kidnap Jack-Jack Parr as revenge. The Incredibles meet with their family friend and CIA agent Rick Dicker, who acquits and relieves them of their lives as superheroes in hiding, and they are loved by the public again for their efforts.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
GBAGCPCPS2Xbox
EGMN/A6.33/10[5]N/A6.33/10[5]6.33/10[5]
EurogamerN/AN/AN/A4/10[6]N/A
Famitsu23/40[7]N/AN/A29/40[7]N/A
Game InformerN/A6.5/10[8]N/A6.5/10[8]6.5/10[8]
GameRevolutionN/AC[9]N/AC[9]C[9]
GameSpot6.3/10[10]6.1/10[11]N/A6.1/10[11]6.1/10[11]
GameSpyStarStarHalf star[12]StarStarStarHalf star[13]N/AStarStarStarHalf star[14]StarStarStarHalf star[15]
GameZone7/10[16]7/10[17]7/10[18]7/10[19]6.9/10[20]
IGNN/A6.5/10[21]6.5/10[22]6.5/10[21]6.5/10[21]
Nintendo Power3.2/5[23]3.7/5[24]N/AN/AN/A
OPM (US)N/AN/AN/AStarStarStarHalf star[25]N/A
OXM (US)N/AN/AN/AN/A8.2/10[26]
PC Gamer (US)N/AN/A49%[27]N/AN/A
The Sydney Morning HeraldN/AStarStarHalf star[28]N/AStarStarHalf star[28]StarStarHalf star[28]
Aggregate score
Metacritic55/100[29]63/100[30]55/100[31]62/100[32]64/100[33]

The Incredibles received "mixed" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[29][30][31][32][33] In Japan, where it was ported on December 2, 2004, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40 for the PlayStation 2 version, and 23 out of 40 for the Game Boy Advance version.[7]

Sales

According to the NPD Group, The Incredibles was one of the best-selling movie-based video games from 2004 to 2005, generating $57.4 million in profit.[34] In the United States, The Incredibles' Game Boy Advance release sold 1 million copies and earned $29 million by August 2006. During the period between January 2000 and August 2006, it was the 15th highest-selling game launched for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS or PlayStation Portable in that country.[35]

By July 2006, the PlayStation 2 version of The Incredibles had sold 740,000 copies and earned $24 million in the United States. Next Generation ranked it as the 87th highest-selling game launched for the PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube between January 2000 and July 2006 in that country. Combined console sales of the Incredibles series reached 1.5 million units in the United States by July 2006.[36] The PlayStation 2 version also received a "Platinum" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[37] indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[38]

Sequel

Continuing after the events of the game, a sequel titled The Incredibles was released in 2005. Rise of the Underminer serves as an alternative sequel to the first game and film, featuring Mr. Incredible and Frozone as playable characters, with the option of two-player cooperative play as a new addition. The game revolves around Mr. Incredible and Frozone as they team up together to defeat the Underminer and his robot army from taking over the world.

Notes

  1. ↑ Ported to Mac OS X and Windows by Beenox.[1]
  2. ↑ Published by Aspyr for Mac OS X.
  3. ↑ Additional music by Chris Tilton and Tim Simonec.

References

  1. ↑ Cohen, Peter (November 1, 2004). "'The Incredibles' games ship". Macworld. https://www.macworld.com/article/1040423/incredibles.html. Retrieved November 1, 2004. 
  2. ↑ "What's New? [date mislabeled "June 10, 2005""] (in en-gb). Eurogamer.net. 2004-11-05. https://www.eurogamer.net/whatsnew-051104. 
  3. ↑ Adams, David (2004-11-01). "The Incredibles Form Up, Head Out" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/01/the-incredibles-form-up-head-out. 
  4. ↑ Navarro, Alex (November 3, 2004). "The Incredibles Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on May 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170507093220/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-incredibles-review/1900-6112324/. Retrieved May 7, 2017. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 EGM staff (January 2005). "The Incredibles (GC, PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (187): 132. 
  6. ↑ Garratt, Patrick (December 21, 2004). "The Incredibles (PS2)". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_theincredibles_ps2. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Famitsu scores (first for DS)". NeoGAF. November 24, 2004. http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24798. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Juba, Joe (January 2005). "The Incredibles (GC, PS2, Xbox)". Game Informer (141): 118. Archived from the original on November 1, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051101093329/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/F0BC8E3B-6D0C-47B3-A4BC-9C700AB5775E.htm?CS_pid=281095. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Ferris, Duke (November 7, 2004). "The Incredibles Review (GC, PS2, Xbox)". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/the-incredibles. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  10. ↑ Provo, Frank (November 11, 2004). "The Incredibles Review (GBA)". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-incredibles-review/1900-6112978/. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Navarro, Alex (November 3, 2004). "The Incredibles Review (GC, PS2, Xbox)". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-incredibles-review/1900-6112322/. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  12. ↑ Chapman, David (November 8, 2004). "GameSpy: The Incredibles (GBA)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 16, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051216191947/http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/the-incredibles/564481p1.html. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  13. ↑ Chapman, David (November 8, 2004). "GameSpy: The Incredibles (GCN)". GameSpy. http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/the-incredibles/564479p1.html. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  14. ↑ Chapman, David (November 8, 2004). "GameSpy: The Incredibles (PS2)". GameSpy. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/the-incredibles/564477p1.html. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  15. ↑ Chapman, David (November 8, 2004). "GameSpy: The Incredibles (Xbox)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 26, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051226034827/http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/the-incredibles/564475p1.html. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  16. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (November 11, 2004). "Disney's The Incredibles - GBA - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on August 9, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070809041149/http://gameboy.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23431.htm. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  17. ↑ Hollingshead, Anise (November 14, 2004). "The Incredibles - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on June 6, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090606103722/http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23431.htm. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  18. ↑ Code Cowboy (December 19, 2004). "The Incredibles - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081224145201/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23431.htm. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  19. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (November 9, 2004). "The Incredibles - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090211163550/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23431.htm. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  20. ↑ David, Mike (November 15, 2004). "The Incredibles - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on May 26, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060526223325/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23431.htm. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Castro, Juan (November 4, 2004). "The Incredibles (GCN, PS2, Xbox)". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/04/the-incredibles-5. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  22. ↑ Castro, Juan (November 18, 2004). "The Incredibles (PC)". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/19/the-incredibles-2. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  23. ↑ "The Incredibles (GBA)". Nintendo Power 186: 150. December 2004. 
  24. ↑ "The Incredibles (GC)". Nintendo Power 186: 141. December 2004. 
  25. ↑ "The Incredibles". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 105. January 2005. 
  26. ↑ "The Incredibles". Official Xbox Magazine: 82. January 2005. 
  27. ↑ "The Incredibles". PC Gamer: 68. February 2005. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Hill, Jason (December 18, 2004). "Fightin' family". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/Games/Fightin-family/2004/12/15/1102787132739.html. Retrieved May 6, 2016. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "The Incredibles for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/disney-pixar-the-incredibles/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance. Retrieved October 4, 2014. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "The Incredibles for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/disney-pixar-the-incredibles/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube. Retrieved October 4, 2014. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "The Incredibles for PC Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/disney-pixar-the-incredibles/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved October 4, 2014. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "The Incredibles for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/disney-pixar-the-incredibles/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved October 4, 2014. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "The Incredibles for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/disney-pixar-the-incredibles/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved October 4, 2014. 
  34. ↑ "Best Selling Games". Forbes. 2006. https://www.forbes.com/2006/03/21/best_selling_games_slide/#10f1768452e8. Retrieved December 4, 2017. 
  35. ↑ Keiser, Joe (August 2, 2006). "The Century's Top 50 Handheld Games". Next Generation. Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071010052300/http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3557&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=0. 
  36. ↑ Campbell, Colin; Keiser, Joe (July 29, 2006). "The Top 100 Games of the 21st Century". Next Generation. Archived from the original on October 28, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071028115051/http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3537&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=1. 
  37. ↑ "ELSPA Sales Awards: Platinum". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090515224703/http://www.elspa.com/?i=3944. 
  38. ↑ Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063107/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php. 
  • 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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  • 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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