Software:The Urbz: Sims in the City

From HandWiki
Short description: 2004 video game
The Urbz: Sims in the City
North American PlayStation 2 box art
Developer(s)Maxis[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)Electronic Arts[lower-alpha 2]
SeriesThe Sims
Platform(s)
Release
Genre(s)Life simulation
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The Urbz: Sims in the City is a 2004 life simulation video game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts for the Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo DS. It is the third Sims game for consoles, and the second not to be released for Microsoft Windows, after a planned PC port and sequel were both cancelled due to mediocre sales. The next release for consoles and handhelds was the console port of The Sims 2.

For the console versions of the game, music group The Black Eyed Peas provided several music scores which were translated into Simlish; they also appeared as guest Urbz in the game. The Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS version has its own storyline, which is a sequel to the handheld version of The Sims Bustin' Out (2003).

Plot

The Urbz: Sims in the City takes place in Urbzville. There are nine groups, each with unique styles and Sims. The aim of the game is to build "Rep" with allied Sims to gain popularity and access to VIP and other groups.

Console

In the console version of the game, the protagonist of the story moves from their mother's house to SimCity, where they move into an apartment in the city. In the intro, the protagonist decides to go clubbing. Once the protagonist gets to the club, they are refused entry due to failing at performing a dance move. However, will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas, along with the other members of the band, arrive at the club and help the protagonist enter. After the intro, a few days later, the protagonist goes home and is greeted by Will and his friend Darius, who is the most popular person in SimCity. After showing off their guitar moves, Darius welcomes the protagonist to the city and they leave. Later on, it is discovered that Darius is missing parts from his secret machine. He promises the protagonist that if they find the parts, he will have a special surprise for them. After defeating the villains in the game's districts, the protagonist is asked to come to the penthouse owned by Darius. After arriving at the penthouse, they are greeted by Darius, along with the faction bosses from the city districts, and are given a key by Darius to the penthouse. Afterwards, Darius leaves the city on his blimp to travel to Miniopolis (the setting of the handheld version of the game).

Handheld

The handheld version of the game plays as a sequel to the Game Boy Advance and N-Gage releases of The Sims Bustin' Out. Unlike the console versions, the Black Eyed Peas do not appear in this game. The protagonist, who recently arrived in the city from SimValley, is fired after the owner of King Tower sells the tower to Daddy Bigbucks. After a failed attempt to steal a key from Lily Gates, the assistant of Daddy Bigbucks, the player is arrested and taken to jail. After convincing the city sheriff to let the player go, they are put on probation and prohibited from leaving the Urban area of the city. After doing certain tasks, they are recruited by Grandma Hattie to lead a strike to open the city bridges to Sim Quarter. Afterwards, they are knocked off of a ship by Bigbucks and wash up in the Bayou, where the player is mistaken by its inhabitants, the twins Bayou Boo and Crawdad Clem, as being a vampire. The twins help the player get home; however, Bayou Boo is bitten by a vampire and turns into one. Upon the player's return to Sim Quarter, they are informed by Grandma Hattie that Daddy Bigbucks took over the city and has outlawed running. She then gives the player a cookbook in order to help them make chocolate, which cures Bayou Boo's vampirism. Later on, the protagonist and Grandma Hattie are arrested for running, but are let go by the Sheriff. Eventually, the protagonist arrives in Glasstown and finds the original King Tower owner, Mr. King. The player discovers that Daddy Bigbucks has built a time machine to stake a claim to land in the past, so that he will own it in the present. With the help of Ewan Watahmee and Sue Pirnova, the player makes their own time machine and uses it to thwart his plans. Daddy Bigbucks is banished to an island outside of the city, and a lifelike statue of the protagonist is built in the city center.

Development

Development of the console version of the game was carried out by Maxis from 2002 to 2004. It was initially planned to be the first Sims game on consoles; however, Edge of Reality developed a remake of the original game for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube, and it was released in 2002. Maxis then split the Urbz team in two. One team focused on the development of a console sequel to the console version of The Sims, which eventually became The Sims Bustin' Out and released in 2003 on the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube consoles, with a version developed for the Game Boy Advance and Nokia NGage by Griptonite Games (who would also develop The Urbz portable), while the other focused on The Urbz. During development, Electronic Arts wanted to get the game some more publicity, so the Electronic Arts division, EA Trax, contracted with The Black Eyed Peas, who at that time had recently shot to mainstream fame after their recruitment of Fergie and release of Elephunk. The Black Eyed Peas recorded a majority of the game's soundtrack, producing new songs exclusive to The Urbz, while also recording Simlish versions of "Shut Up" and "Let's Get It Started", both of which appeared on Elephunk. The game went gold in June 2004 and was shipped to stores in late November 2004.

According to a former Maxis employee, an Urbz 2, as well as a PC port of The Urbz, were both planned if the game was successful.[2] Electronic Arts wanted The Urbz to be a spin-off breakout series, similar to how The Sims was a spin-off breakout series of SimCity. Unfortunately, the game did not sell as many copies as Electronic Arts wanted, so the PC port was cancelled, and the sequel eventually was reworked into a console version of The Sims 2, which released in 2005. Assets, as well as a logo, were left over in the PlayStation 2 version of The Sims 2 and can be viewed with a model viewer.

Gameplay

Console

The gameplay is similar to The Sims Bustin' Out, and the objective of the console games is to go to each of nine districts and build their reputation (called "Rep" in-game). Rep is a measure of how popular a character is; as the character gains more Rep, they gain access to larger apartments and different districts. In the end, the character will have the largest apartment and be able to visit any of the districts.

In addition to gaining Rep, the player must also make sure that their character has its needs fulfilled, and to increase the character's skills by playing minigames. The amount of money Sims can make at the various jobs in each of the districts is determined by what skills they've leveled up. As they progress through the game, players will get messages for rent from Darius, the Sim with the highest rep in the city, and get programmed messages to their XAM. Other challenges, like helping Urbz, gain the player income.

The player will be given different tasks depending on the district they are in. The tasks are varied in nature, including fulfilling needs, furnishing an apartment, building reputation, mastering a job, making friends, tagging an object, and helping other Urbz.

Handheld

The handheld versions are played as an adventure game, similar to the handheld releases of The Sims Bustin' Out, and give the player direct control of the character "Urb". The goal of the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance versions is to complete the five missions included. The versions are largely similar, but the Nintendo DS version includes an additional, exclusive mission and location that is not found on the Game Boy Advance version. Like the other games of The Sims franchise, an Urb has eight basic needs. In order to succeed in the handheld versions of this game, these needs must be kept high and steady.

There are four different "Rep Groups" in the game: Richies, Artsies, Streeties, and Nerdies. The player is assigned to one in the beginning of the game, but it can later be changed with the completion of certain objectives. There are three districts that can be unlocked upon completing certain sets of goals. Once the player has beaten the game, they are free to live in any of the houses or apartments in the game so long as they have enough money.

Soundtrack

The Urbz console soundtrack was released digitally on last.fm as an album for download in March 2007. Most of the game's soundtrack is present; however, due to licensing issues with A&M Records, music recorded by hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas was not present on the album. A physical release was planned by EA, but was cancelled after poor sales of the game.[3]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DSGBAGCPS2Xbox
EGM8.5/10[9]N/A6.5/10[10]6.5/10[10]6.5/10[10]
EurogamerN/AN/AN/AN/A5/10[11]
Famitsu28/40[12]29/40[13]26/40[14]26/40[15]N/A
Game Informer8/10[16]7.5/10[17]7.75/10[18]7.75/10[18]7.75/10[18]
GameProN/AN/A4/5[19]4/5[19]4/5[19]
GameRevolutionB[20]N/AN/AN/AN/A
GameSpot7.3/10[21]7.5/10[22]7.3/10[23]7.3/10[23]7.3/10[23]
GameSpyN/A2/5[24]4/5[25]4/5[25]4/5[25]
GameZoneN/AN/AN/A7.1/10[26]7.5/10[27]
IGN7/10[28]8/10[29]7.5/10[30]7.5/10[30]7.5/10[30]
Nintendo Power3.8/5[31]3.9/5[32]3.6/5[33]N/AN/A
OPM (US)N/AN/AN/A3.5/5[34]N/A
OXM (US)N/AN/AN/AN/A6.4/10[35]
Detroit Free PressN/AN/AN/A2/4[36]N/A
The Sydney Morning HeraldN/AN/AN/A2/5[37]N/A
Aggregate score
Metacritic67/100[4]72/100[5]73/100[6]70/100[7]70/100[8]

The game received "average" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4][5][6][7][8] In Japan, where the handheld versions were ported for release on December 2, 2004, followed by the GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions on January 13, 2005, Famitsu gave it a score of 29 out of 40 for the Game Boy Advance version,[13] 28 out of 40 for the DS version,[12] and 26 out of 40 each for the latter two console versions.[14][15]

Notes

  1. ↑ Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS versions developed by Griptonite Games.
  2. ↑ Released under the EA Games banner.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 van Leuveren, Luke (October 24, 2004). "Updated Australian Release List - 24/10/04". PAL Gaming Network. Archived from the original on July 2, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050702120951/http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=1696. Retrieved January 8, 2023. 
  2. ↑ "The Urbz 2 was planned". April 28, 2013. https://modthesims.info/t/502059. Retrieved February 17, 2014. 
  3. ↑ "The Urbz: Sims In The City (Soundtrack)". Paramount Streaming. https://www.last.fm/music/EA+Games+Soundtrack/The+Urbz:+Sims+In+The+City+(Soundtrack). Retrieved February 17, 2014. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "The Urbz: Sims in the City for DS Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city/critic-reviews/?platform=ds. Retrieved November 24, 2013. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Urbz: Sims in the City for Game Boy Advance Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance. Retrieved November 24, 2013. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "The Urbz: Sims in the City for GameCube Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube. Retrieved November 24, 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "The Urbz: Sims in the City for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved November 24, 2013. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "The Urbz: Sims in the City for Xbox Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved November 24, 2013. 
  9. ↑ EGM staff (February 2005). "The Urbz: Sims in the City (DS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (188): 115. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 EGM staff (Christmas 2004). "The Urbz: Sims in the City (GC, PS2, Xbox)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (186): 108. 
  11. ↑ Garratt, Patrick (November 16, 2004). "The Urbz: Sims in the City (Xbox)". Gamer Network. Archived from the original on September 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140916183713/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_theurbz_x. Retrieved January 8, 2023. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "ザ・アーブズ シムズ・イン・ザ・シティ [DS"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=3144&redirect=no. Retrieved March 15, 2022. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "ザ・アーブズ シムズ・イン・ザ・シティ [GBA"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=3145&redirect=no. Retrieved March 15, 2022. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "ザ・アーブズ シムズ・イン・ザ・シティ [ゲームキューブ"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=14443&redirect=no. Retrieved March 13, 2022. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "ザ・アーブズ シムズ・イン・ザ・シティ [PS2"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=3140&redirect=no. Retrieved March 15, 2022. 
  16. ↑ Mason, Lisa (February 2005). "The Urbz: Sims In The City (DS)". Game Informer (GameStop) (142): 125. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200502/R05.0225.0946.51510.htm. Retrieved March 16, 2022. 
  17. ↑ Juba, Joe (November 2004). "URBZ: Sims In The City [sic (GBA)"]. Game Informer (GameStop) (139): 170. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200411/R04.1119.1435.04244.htm. Retrieved March 16, 2022. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Mason, Lisa (November 2004). "URBZ: Sims In The City [sic (GC, PS2, Xbox)"]. Game Informer (GameStop) (139): 164. http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/B1E00870-3F79-4E11-9085-53088350EE6B.htm?CS_pid=210616. Retrieved March 16, 2022. 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Manny LaMancha (November 10, 2004). "The URBZ: Sims in the City [sic (GC, PS2, Xbox)"]. GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on December 9, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20041209184019/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/39440.shtml. Retrieved March 17, 2022. 
  20. ↑ Reilly, Mike (December 3, 2004). "The Urbz [Sims in the City Review (DS)"]. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 1, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001184545/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/the-urbz. Retrieved March 17, 2022. 
  21. ↑ Kasavin, Greg (November 23, 2004). "The Urbz: Sims in the City Review (DS)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city-review/1900-6113883/. Retrieved March 15, 2022. 
  22. ↑ Kasavin, Greg (November 23, 2004). "The Urbz: Sims in the City Review (GBA)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city-review/1900-6113880/. Retrieved March 15, 2022. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Park, Andrew Seyoon (November 9, 2004). "The Urbz: Sims in the City Review (GC, PS2, Xbox) [date mislabeled as "November 10, 2004""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city-review/1900-6112791/. Retrieved March 15, 2022. 
  24. ↑ Chapman, David (November 11, 2004). "GameSpy: The Urbz: Sims in the City (GBA)". IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 10, 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060110224123/http://gba.gamespy.com/gameboy-advance/urban-sims-working-title/565523p1.html. Retrieved March 16, 2022. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Tuttle, Will (November 4, 2004). "GameSpy: The Urbz: Sims in the City (GCN, PS2, Xbox)". IGN Entertainment. http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/urban-sims-working-title/563389p1.html. Retrieved March 16, 2022. 
  26. ↑ Bedigian, Louis (November 19, 2004). "The URBZ: Sims in the City [sic - PS2 - Review"]. Archived from the original on February 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080229073447/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23884.htm. Retrieved March 17, 2022. 
  27. ↑ Sandoval, Angelina (November 23, 2004). "The URBZ: Sims in the City [sic - XB - Review"]. Archived from the original on February 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080229033601/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r23884.htm. Retrieved March 17, 2022. 
  28. ↑ Harris, Craig (November 22, 2004). "The Urbz: Sims in the City (NDS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/22/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city. Retrieved March 15, 2022. 
  29. ↑ IGN staff (November 15, 2004). "The Urbz: Sims in the City (GBA)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/15/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city-2. Retrieved March 15, 2022. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 Castro, Juan (November 9, 2004). "The Urbz: Sims in the City (GCN, PS2, Xbox)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/22/the-urbz-sims-in-the-city. Retrieved March 15, 2022. 
  31. ↑ "The Urbz: Sims in the City (DS)". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 188: 114. February 2005. 
  32. ↑ "The Urbz: Sims in the City (GBA)". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 187: 141. January 2005. 
  33. ↑ "The Urbz: Sims in the City (GC)". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 187: 139. January 2005. 
  34. ↑ "The Urbz: Sims in the City". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (88): 102. January 2005. 
  35. ↑ "The Urbz: Sims in the City". Official Xbox Magazine (Imagine Media): 70. Christmas 2004. 
  36. ↑ Gardner, Omari (December 19, 2004). "'The Urbz: Sims in the City' (PS2)". Detroit Free Press (Gannett Company). Archived from the original on December 30, 2004. https://web.archive.org/web/20041230090518/http://www.freep.com/entertainment/videogames/gmini19e_20041219.htm. Retrieved March 16, 2022. 
  37. ↑ Hill, Jason (January 6, 2005). "Something for everyone". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on July 28, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160728040636/https://www.smh.com.au/news/Games/Something-for-everyone/2005/01/10/1105206008475.html. Retrieved March 16, 2022. 
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.



  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.




Warning: Default sort key "Urbz" overrides earlier default sort key "Mobygames".



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:The_Urbz:_Sims_in_the_City&oldid=4221293"