Software:The Maze of Galious

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Short description: 1987 video game
The Maze of Galious
Developer(s)Konami
Publisher(s)Konami
Director(s)Ryouhei Shogaki
Designer(s)Ryouhei Shogaki
Programmer(s)Masahiko Ozawa
Yutaka Haruki
Artist(s)Chiaki Tanigaki
Composer(s)Kazuhiko Uehara
SeriesKnightmare
Platform(s)MSX
Family Computer
ReleaseMSX
  • JP: April 18, 1987
  • EU: 1987
Family Computer
  • JP: August 11, 1987
Genre(s)Action-adventure, platform
Mode(s)Single-player

The Maze of Galious[lower-alpha 1] is a 1987 action-adventure game developed and published by Konami for the MSX home computer. A reworked conversion was released for the Family Computer. Both versions were re-released digitally for Microsoft Windows. The second entry in the Knightmare trilogy, it follows the respective hero and former damsel in distress of the previous game, Popolon and Aphrodite, as they embark on a journey through Castle Greek to free their unborn child Pampas from the evil priest Galious. The player explores each map in search for items and power-ups to progress, while also fighting enemies and bosses.

The Maze of Galious was created by the MSX division at Konami under management of Shigeru Fukutake. The process of making original titles for the platform revolved around the person who came up with the characters. A team of seven members were responsible for its development, lasting somewhere between four and six months, with Ryouhei Shogaki being the project's lead designer. The game garnered a generally favorable reception from critics and retrospective commentators. It served as influence for La-Mulana (2006), while the game's exploration bits were utilized for Software:Castlevania II: Simon's Quest. It was followed by Software:Shalom: Knightmare III (1987). In the years since, fans have experimented with remaking and porting the title unofficially to other platforms.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot of the MSX version.

The Maze of Galious is a platform-adventure game starring the warrior Popolon and his lover, Princess Aphrodite, as they embark on a journey through Castle Greek to free their unborn child Pampas from the evil priest Galious.[1][2][3] Being able to control two characters means the player can switch between Popolon and Aphrodite, both of which have slightly different abilities: Popolon can push stones, open heavy doors and has a variable jumping height, while Aphrodite survives longer under water, can shoot more projectiles and has a fixed jumping height.[1][2][3] The game's structure is similar to The Legend of Zelda; Castle Greek acts as the main overworld, where entrances to the ten "worlds" are hidden throughout.[1][2][3][4]

The player explores each world map, collecting items, defeating enemies and bosses, and obtaining power-ups to progress further.[1][2][3][5] Similar to metroidvania games, new areas can be accessed by acquiring new items.[6] Each map also hosts three hidden items to aid Popolon and Aphrodite against a "Great Demon".[1] In order to face a "Great Demon", the player must inspect a gravestone that reveals an incantation to invoke them at a boss room by typing their names.[1][2][3][4] Some items are optional but others are mandatory such as the "Cross", which is needed to face against the final boss.[1][7] Enemies can drop random items after their defeat, ranging from coins that can be spent in shops to upgrade the character's overall inventory, arrow stocks for projectile-based weapons, and keys to open locked doors.[1][2][3]

There are several types of enemies, each with strengths and weaknesses; some monsters are immune to frontal attacks, while others are more vulnerable to fire and so on. The player can also kill enemies to fill an "experience" gauge, which replenishes a character's health when full.[1][2][3] Another way to heal a character is entering a special room within the main overworld map, which contains a magic dust that can be turned into a fairy by standing at a certain spot.[1] Should either character die, the other can visit a shrine and pay for resurrection.[1][2][3][4] If both characters perish, the game is over, but the player can resume progress via passwords obtained from "Demeter's Shrine".[1][2][3] Extra content is unlocked if the Game Master, Knightmare or Q*bert are inserted in the second cartridge slot available on most MSX machines.

Development

The Maze of Galious was developed by the MSX division at Konami under management of Shigeru Fukutake, who revealed about the creation process in a 1988 interview with Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine.[8] Fukutate explained that the staffer who came up with the characters was in charge of design and facilitating development of the project, as the process of making original titles for the MSX revolved around the person who came up with the characters being assigned to do both planning and the story.[8] Fukutate further explained that the planner would then lead a team of four or five members to proceed with development, which would last somewhere between four and six months.[8]

Seven staffers were responsible for the project: director and designer Ryouhei "Ryokun" Shogaki, programmers Masahiko "Mai" Ozawa and Yutaka "Hal" Haruki, artist Chiaki Tanigaki, composer Kazuhiko Uehara, and two members under the pseudonyms "Hipo" and "Tomoyo".[9][10] Other people also collaborated in its development.[9] Maze of Galious was the first game Uehara worked on after joining Konami in 1986 as sound designer; He would be responsible for creating the SCC sound chip, as well as working on Space Manbow and Software:Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.[11] The team revealed in a 1987 article that they never decided upon the gender of Pampas (although it was later in the MSX sequel, Shalom, that Pampas would become a king, therefore being male), while an eleventh map was scrapped due to memory constrains.[10]

Release

Prior to launch, a game titled Majou Densetsu II: Poporon Gekitou Hen[lower-alpha 2] was scheduled to be published in 1987 by Konami for the PC-8801 and X1 home computers.[12][13][14] The game was intended to be a vertical-scrolling shooter similar to Knightmare but with role-playing elements added.[13][14] It was never released for unknown reasons despite being advertised and previewed in Japanese magazines.[12][13][14] The Maze of Galious was first published for the MSX in Japan on April 18, 1987, and later in Europe of that year by Konami.[15][16] A few months after the original release, a completely reworked conversion titled Majou Densetsu II: Daima Shikyou Gariusu[lower-alpha 3] was released for the Family Computer exclusively in Japan by Konami on August 11, featuring changes such as improved visuals and redesigned maps.[1][17][18]

Although it was not officially released outside Japan, an English fan translation for the Famicom version was released online.[17] Both versions were first re-released in digital form for Microsoft Windows on the i-Revo store front.[19][20] In 2006, the full soundtrack of the Famicom version was included as part of a compilation album titled Legend Of Game Music Consumer Box, distributed in Japan by Scitron.[21] The MSX version was also re-released in digital form for Windows through D4 Enterprise's Project EGG service on March 24, 2015.[22]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Famitsu27/40 (FC)[23]
Family Computer Magazine19.79/30 (FC)[25]
Input MSX49/50 (MSX)[26]
Micros MSX17/20 (MSX)[27]
MSX GidsStarStarStarStarStar (MSX)[28]
MSX Magazine (JP)StarStarStarStarStar (MSX)[29]

The Maze of Galious on MSX garnered a generally favorable reception from critics.[23][30][31][32] The Japanese MSX Magazine praised its graphics, character sprites, soundtrack, and playability.[29] An editor for MSX Gids shared similar thoughts, lauding the visuals, sound, and overall quality.[28] MSX Computer Magazine compared the title with Vampire Killer due to its similar setup and game structure, but also found it more difficult than the original Knightmare. Regardless, the editor commended the varied graphical design, music and sound effects.[33]

Spanish publication Input MSX also compared it with Vampire Killer but highlighted its variety of enemies and weapons, as well as the way each world are divided, while giving positive remarks to the imaginative and colorful graphical quality, character animations, and audio.[26] Micros MSX's Yannick Gallois echoed a similar opinion about the audiovisual presentation.[27] In contrast to most reviewers, Tilt's Mathieu Brisou felt that the game's execution was not on par, unfavorably comparing it with Knightmare in terms of visuals.[24] Readers of Family Computer Magazine (Famimaga) voted to give the Family Computer version a 19.79 out of 30 score in a 1991 public poll.[25] Famimaga found the Famicom version to be more fun compared to the MSX original.[25]

Retrospective commentaries for The Maze of Galious have been equally favorable. MeriStation's David Pérez García and Francisco Alberto Serrano identified it as one of the best games for the MSX, noting the lack of slowdown and soundtrack.[17][34] In 2014, HobbyConsolas identified Maze of Galious as one of the twenty best games for the MSX.[35] IGN Spain's Jaume Esteve also regarded it as one of the ten best games by Konami for the MSX.[36][37] Hardcore Gaming 101's Rob Russo disagreed, expressing that neither version of Galious were among Konami's best work. Russo stated that "compared to Falcom's Legacy of the Wizard, also released that year, they're downright dull. But there are just enough good ideas here to make you wish Konami took another crack at this incarnation of the Knightmare series."[1]

Legacy

The Maze of Galious, particularly the original MSX version, served as influence for La-Mulana (2006).[38][39] Spanish developer Francisco Téllez de Meneses also cited the game as an influence for Unepic (2011).[40][41][42][43] In addition, the exploration bits from the game were ultimately utilized for Software:Castlevania II: Simon's Quest.[44][45] In the years since, fans have experimented with remaking and porting the title unofficially to other platforms. In 2002, a remake based on the original MSX version for PCs was released online by the group Brain Games, featuring updated visuals and different graphic sets.[1][17][46] In 2015, a conversion for the ColecoVision was announced to be in development by Opcode Games, requiring the Super Game Module expansion to run on the hardware.[47] That same year, a port for the ZX Spectrum developed by Climacus and McNeil was released online.[48] In 2022, a mod that supports the MSX2 hardware was released online by Víctor Martínez and David Madurga, which allows improved visuals by Toni Galvez and other changes.[49]

During the Konami Action & Shooting Contest hosted by the Shueisha Game Creator’s Camp and Tokyo Game Show 2022, Takumi Naramura (the creator of La Mulana) won the rights from Konami to develop the game through the competition, a remake game titled Maze of Galious Remake is in development.[50]

Notes

  1. ↑ Known as Majou Densetsu II: Gariusu no Meikyuu (Japanese: 魔城伝説II ガリウスの迷宮, Hepburn: Majō Densetsu Tsū: Gariusu no Meikyū; lit. "Demon Castle Legend II: The Maze of Galious" or "Legend of the Devil Castle II: The Maze of Galious") in Japanese.
  2. ↑ 魔城伝説II 〜ポポロン激闘編〜 (Majō Densetsu II ~Poporon Gekitō Hen~)
  3. ↑ 魔城伝説II 大魔司教ガリウス (Majō Densetsu II: Daima Shikyō Gariusu)

References

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Russo, Rob (May 22, 2019). "Knightmare II: The Maze of Galious". Hardcore Gaming 101. http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/knightmare-ii-the-maze-of-galious/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 魔城伝説II ガリウスの迷宮 (ユーザーマニュアル) (Japanese ed.). Konami. April 1987. https://archive.org/details/KnightmareIITheMazeOfGalious1987KonamiJPRC749. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 The Maze of Galious (User's Manual) (European ed.). Konami. 1987. https://archive.org/details/KnightmareIITheMazeOfGalious1987KonamiEURC749. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Todo Sobre... — The Maze of Galious" (in es). Input MSX (Planeta-De Agostini) (21): 30–33. 1988. https://archive.org/details/InputMSXNumero23Ano21988/Input%20MSX/Input%20MSX%2021/page/n29/mode/2up. 
  5. ↑ "Software: The Maze of Galious" (in es). Input MSX (Planeta-De Agostini) (26): 37–41. July 1988. https://archive.org/details/InputMSXNumero23Ano21988/Input%20MSX/Input%20MSX%2026/page/n36/mode/1up. 
  6. ↑ "Knightmare II: The Maze of Galious" (in en-US). http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/knightmare-ii-the-maze-of-galious/. 
  7. ↑ "Trucos: The Maze of Galious — Como Conseguir La Cruz" (in es). Input MSX (Planeta-De Agostini) (25): 51. June 1988. https://archive.org/details/InputMSXNumero23Ano21988/Input%20MSX/Input%20MSX%2025/page/n50/mode/1up. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Yamashita, Akira (September 1988). "山下章のパソコン・ゲーム: ホンキでPlayホンネでReview — TARGET 5 コナミMSXゲーム". Micom BASIC Magazine (ja) (The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation (ja)) (75): 278–282. https://archive.org/details/micomBASIC_1988-09/page/n251/mode/2up.  (Translation by Arc Hound. ).
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Konami (April 18, 1987). The Maze of Galious. MSX. Konami. Level/area: Staff. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Software House Hot Information - Konami News Station: 大好評発売中! — ガリウスの迷き 〜魔城伝説打〜". Micom BASIC Magazine (ja) (The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation (ja)) (60): 296. June 1987. https://archive.org/details/micomBASIC_1987-06/page/n295/mode/1up.  (Translation by Arc Hound. ).
  11. ↑ "We Love コナミ: SCC 上原和彦氏 インタビュー" (in ja). MSX Magazine (ja) (ASCII Corporation) (3): 154–157. May 12, 2005. https://archive.org/details/MSXMAGAZINE3_201808/page/n155/mode/2up.  (Translation by Arc Hound. ).
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "魔城伝説II 〜ポポロン激闘編〜" (in ja). I/O (magazine) (ja) (Kohgaku-Sha (ja)) (123): 97. January 1987. https://archive.org/details/Io19871/page/n98/mode/1up. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 YK-2 (February 1987). "立ちあがれ！勇者ポポロン — 魔城伝説II" (in ja). Micom BASIC Magazine (ja) (The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation (ja)) (56): 244–245. https://archive.org/details/micomBASIC_1987-02/page/n267/mode/2up. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "魔城伝説II 〜ポポロン激闘編〜" (in ja). LOGiN Magazine (ja) (ASCII Corporation) 6 (3): 196–197. March 1987. 
  15. ↑ "Actualidad: The Maze of Galious" (in es). Input MSX (Planeta-De Agostini) (17): 8. 1987. https://archive.org/details/InputMSXNumero23Ano21988/Input%20MSX/Input%20MSX%2017/page/n7/mode/1up. 
  16. ↑ "MSX's Soft (1987～1990)" (in ja). Konami. 1996. http://www.konami.co.jp/cs/msx2.html. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 Pérez García, David (March 6, 2012). "Regreso al Pasado: Knightmare" (in es). MeriStation. PRISA. https://as.com/meristation/2008/10/04/reportajes/1223100300_037235.html. 
  18. ↑ "Famicon's Soft (1985～1987)" (in ja). Konami. 1996. http://www.konami.co.jp/cs/fc.html. 
  19. ↑ "「i revo ゲーム」で 100 種類以上のゲームが遊び放題の定額課金を開始" (in ja). i-revo. Internet Revolution. September 8, 2006. https://www.i-revo.jp/corporate/news_release/press_20060908.pdf. 
  20. ↑ "ガリウスの迷宮" (in ja). i-revo. Internet Revolution. http://game.i-revo.jp/dl/search/displayDetail.do?productId=10012. 
  21. ↑ "LEGEND OF GAME MUSIC CONSUMER BOX | SCDC-00497~506". VGMdb. https://vgmdb.net/album/6804. 
  22. ↑ "「魔城伝説II ガリウスの迷宮（MSX版）」がプロジェクトEGGで本日配信に" (in ja). 4Gamer.net. Aetas Inc.. March 24, 2015. https://www.4gamer.net/games/008/G000896/20150324032/. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: 魔城伝説II 大魔司教ガリウス (アクション)" (in ja). Famitsu (ASCII Corporation). 1987.  (Transcription by Famitsu.com.)
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Brisou, Mathieu (April 1988). "Coup D'Oeil: The Maze of Galious (Cartouche Konami pour M.S.X.)" (in fr). Tilt (Editions Mondiales S.A. (fr)) (53): 38. https://archive.org/details/Tilt053/page/n37/mode/1up. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 "5月10日号特別付録 ファミコン ロムカセット オールカタログ" (in ja). Family Computer Magazine (Tokuma Shoten) 7 (9): 170. May 10, 1991. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Software: The Maze of Galious" (in es). Input MSX (Planeta-De Agostini) (18): 45. 1987. https://archive.org/details/InputMSXNumero23Ano21988/Input%20MSX/Input%20MSX%2018/page/n44/mode/1up. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Gallois, Yannick (January 1988). "Flash: The Maze of Galious" (in fr). Micros MSX (MIEVA Presse) (9): 43. https://archive.org/details/MicrosMSX5/Micros%20MSX%2009/page/n42/mode/1up. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Software Adventures: Knightmare II - The Maze of Galious" (in nl). MSX Gids (Uitgeverij Herps) (13): 52–53. October–November 1987. https://archive.org/details/MSXGids/MSX%20gids%20nr.%2013/page/n53/mode/2up. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Soft Review: ガリウスの迷宮 ~魔城伝説II~" (in ja). MSX Magazine (ja) (ASCII Corporation) (44): 54–55. June 1987. https://archive.org/details/MSXmagazine198706S/page/n55/mode/2up. 
  30. ↑ "Maze of Galious" (in nl). MSX Club Magazine (DAInamic VZW) (14): 58. September–October 1987. https://www.msxclubmagazine.be/docs/msxclubmag14.pdf. Retrieved 2022-09-07. 
  31. ↑ "ゲーム私説博物誌: ガリウスの迷宮" (in ja). MSX Fan (ja) (Tokuma Shoten Intermedia) (78): 99. February 1994. https://archive.org/details/MSXFAN199402/page/n99/mode/2up. 
  32. ↑ Gutiérrez, Juan Miguel (July 1995). "MSX & 8 bits" (in es). Club Hnostar (31): 29–30. https://archive.org/details/clubhnostar_201909/Club%20Hnostar%20%2331/page/n28/mode/1up. 
  33. ↑ "Computerspellen - Maze of Galious" (in nl). MSX Computer Magazine (MBI Publications) (19): 17–18. December 1987. https://archive.org/details/msxcomputermagazine/msx_computer_magazine_19/page/n16/mode/1up. 
  34. ↑ Alberto Serrano, Francisco (August 3, 2020). "Regreso al Pasado: 30 Años, 30 juegos de MSX" (in es). MeriStation. PRISA. https://as.com/meristation/2013/07/06/reportajes/1373094000_119424.html. 
  35. ↑ Alonso, Álvaro (April 9, 2014). "Reportaje: Los 20 mejores juegos de MSX" (in es). HobbyConsolas. Axel Springer SE. https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reportajes/20-mejores-juegos-msx-67820. 
  36. ↑ Esteve, Jaume (August 1, 2013). "Los 10 mejores juegos de Konami para MSX — Celebramos los 30 años del estándar repasando el catálogo de un estudio clave". IGN Spain. Marca. pp. 1–2. https://es.ign.com/retro/67953/feature/los-10-mejores-juegos-de-konami-para-msx. 
  37. ↑ Esteve, Jaume (April 28, 2015). "El hit de ayer: Knightmare y Maze of Galious — Konami conquista el MSX". IGN Spain. Marca. https://es.ign.com/retro/92999/feature/el-hit-de-ayer-knightmare-y-maze-of-galious. 
  38. ↑ Lavaux, Rudy (July 10, 2012). "Interview | Nigoro Discusses LA-MULANA (Nintendo WiiWare)". Cubed3. Cubed3 Limited. http://www.cubed3.com/news/17255/1/interview-nigoro-discusses-la-mulana-nintendo-wiiware.html. 
  39. ↑ Lada, Jenni (October 25, 2019). "Nigoro's Takumi Naramura Talks About La-Mulana 1 & 2, The Maze Of Galious, And Rose & Camellia". Siliconera. Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.siliconera.com/nigoros-takumi-naramura-talks-about-la-mulana-1-2-the-maze-of-galious-and-rose-camellia/. 
  40. ↑ Zeros (June 15, 2012) (in es). Entrevistamos a Francisco Téllez de Meneses, creador de UnEpic. Game It. https://www.gameit.es/entrevista-a-francisco-tellez-de-meneses-creador-de-unepic/. Retrieved 2022-09-05. 
  41. ↑ Pérez, Raúl (January 20, 2014). "Francisco Téllez de Meneses: "UnEpic gusta más al público que a los jurados"" (in es). Softonic (Softonic International S.A.). https://www.softonic.com/articulos/francisco-tellez-de-meneses-entrevista-unepic-gusta-mas-al-publico-que-a-los-jurados. Retrieved 2022-09-05. 
  42. ↑ Shepard, Ryan (December 14, 2017). An Unepic Interview with Francisco Téllez de Meneses. Voxel Voice. https://voxelvoice.com/unepic-interview-with-fran/. Retrieved 2022-09-05. 
  43. ↑ Borondo, Sara (November 7, 2020). "Fran Téllez de Meneses, el desarrollador en solitario que desafía a los grandes — El creador de aclamados juegos como Unepic y Ghost 1.0 está a punto de lanzar al mercado su nuevo trabajo, Unmetal. Repasamos con él su apasionante trayectoria" (in es). Vandal. El Español. https://vandal.elespanol.com/noticia/1350739459/fran-tellez-de-meneses-el-desarrollador-en-solitario-que-desafia-a-los-grandes/. 
  44. ↑ "Castlevania – Developer Commentary". Shmuplations. http://shmuplations.com/castlevania/. 
  45. ↑ Yarwood, Jack (May 17, 2022). "Tracking down the obscure mind behind Castlevania". Wireframe (Raspberry Pi Foundation). https://wireframe.raspberrypi.com/articles/tracking-down-the-obscure-mind-behind-castlevania. Retrieved 2022-09-05. 
  46. ↑ "Maze of Galious". Brain Games. 2009. https://mog.jorito.net/. 
  47. ↑ GraziGamer (April 5, 2016). "The Maze of Galious (Knightmare II) official thread". https://forums.atariage.com/topic/251152-the-maze-of-galious-knightmare-ii-official-thread/. 
  48. ↑ Verdin, Guillaume (November 3, 2015). "ZX Spectrum : la fournée d'octobre" (in fr). MO5.com (fr). Association MO5.COM. https://mag.mo5.com/actu/80169/zx-spectrum-la-fournee-doctobre-3/. 
  49. ↑ Verdin, Guillaume (April 28, 2022). "Le mythique The Maze of Galious transfiguré sur MSX2" (in fr). MO5.com (fr). Association MO5.COM. https://mag.mo5.com/actu/222567/le-mythique-the-maze-of-galious-transfigure-sur-msx2/. 
  50. ↑ Ahmed, Mansoor (September 28, 2022). "Konami To Award 30 Million Yen Funding And Remake Rights For Classic IP's". eXputer. https://exputer.com/news/games/konami-development-ips-in-competition/. 

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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