Software:Theme Park Mystery

From HandWiki
Short description: 1990 video game
Theme Park Mystery
C64 box art (US)
Developer(s)Joined Up Writing Software
Publisher(s)Konami, Image Works
Platform(s)Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS
Release1990
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Theme Park Mystery is an adventure video game developed by Brian Howarth and Taeman Irmak released in 1990, for the Amiga published by Konami. It was also released to the Atari ST and MS-DOS later in 1990. The game features themes and activities surrounding a haunted and gruesome amusement park.

Gameplay

The player is tasked with journeying through four worlds, whilst collecting keys, potions and other ingredients to solve the cause of the players uncles' insanity.[1] The player has recently inherited a new property, a Magic Canyon Theme Park.[2][3] The park has become abandoned, and infested with enemies from ghouls to apes.[2]

Starting at a Zoltan Wishing Machine,[4] the player continues through four zones of the theme park - Dragonland, Dreamland, Futureland and Yesterdayland. Hidden within these levels are a total of eight boss fight with Demons, each of which require being brought back to the Zoltan machine.[4]

Each of the four worlds has its own gimmick and control scheme. Yesterdayland is the game's hub world, where the player can access the other worlds and the rest of the game via monorail.[1] Dragonland has the game play as side-scrolling platformer,[4] Dreamworld is set inside a dream, on a chess board[1] and Futureland is an on rails shooter; where the player is firing bullets atop a rollercoaster.[1] Aside from Yesterdayland, the remaining worlds can be visited in any order.[5]

Development

A section of platforming from "Dragonland".

Theme Park Mystery was created by British development company Joined Up Writing Software, a group made up of Brian Howarth and Taeman Irmak. The development company would only ever go onto create this one game, with Howarth moving shortly after to the United States.[6] He would continue to work on games working for CinemaWare; USA until the company dissolved the following year. Howarth would spend time working on this game, whilst he was also working for CinemaWare.[7] Irmak created the artwork, whilst Howarth programmed the game.[8]

The game was developed with a historical feel to the Theme Park, with the game's manual documenting the history of some theme park attractions[9] such as bumper cars and fortune-telling; as well as an A to Z of Divination.[9]

Reception

Review Score
Review scores
PublicationScore
The Games Machine81%[2]
Amiga Computing73%[10]
Amiga Joker74%[11]
ACE: Advanced Computer Entertainment880/1000[4]
CU Amiga86%[1]

Reviews for the game were generally high, with Computer and Video Games gaming newspaper giving the game 85%;[12] claiming that there was "only one way to sum up Theme Park Mystery - Surreal." and that the game had great graphics, and "equally impressive sound effects". CU Amiga rated the game 86% and praised the game as "highly playable".[1] The Games Machine also rated the game well at 81%, complaining that the "gameplay as a whole is on the tough side".[2]

However, publications such as Amiga Computing were not as pleased with the game, and Amiga Joker had lower reviews of 73% & 74% respectively.[10][11] Amiga Computing were especially down on the game, saying the graphics were "gob smackingly mediocre", but were also "unusual and interesting".

Allen Greenberg reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "The conclusion this reviewer must reach is that this one really isn't a very exciting piece of entertainment. For now, you-know-who with the mouse ears has nothing to worry about."[13]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Theme Park Mystery review from CU Amiga (May 1990) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171015201815/http://amr.abime.net/review_8764. Retrieved October 16, 2017. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Theme Park Mystery review from The Games Machine 32 (Jul 1990) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171015201852/http://amr.abime.net/review_5136. Retrieved October 15, 2017. 
  3. ↑ "Back of Box Art". Blurb. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180104013902/http://hol.abime.net/1375/boxscan. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Theme Park Mystery review from ACE: Advanced Computer Entertainment 34 (Jul 1990) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Advanced Computer Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016174027/http://amr.abime.net/review_14423. Retrieved October 16, 2017. 
  5. ↑ "Theme Park Mystery: Variations on a theme". Lemon Amiga. Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180320143822/http://www.lemonamiga.com/games/docs.php?id=1636. Retrieved January 3, 2018. 
  6. ↑ "Moby Games - Joined Up Writing Software". Mobygames. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016180457/http://www.mobygames.com/company/joined-up-writing-software. Retrieved October 16, 2017. 
  7. ↑ "Theme Park Mystery for Amiga (1990) Trivia". MobyGames. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180104013913/http://www.mobygames.com/game/amiga/theme-park-mystery/trivia. Retrieved January 3, 2018. 
  8. ↑ "Theme Park Mystery (1990) credits". Mobygames. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180104013831/http://www.mobygames.com/game/amiga/theme-park-mystery/credits. Retrieved January 3, 2018. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Theme Park Mystery Manual". Mirrorsoft. 1990. Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180320143821/http://hol.abime.net/hol_pic.php?id=YldGdWRXRnNMekV6TURFdE1UUXdNQzh4TXpjMVgyMWhiblZoYkRFdWNHUm02ZVY0VkdobGJXVWdVR0Z5YXlCTmVYTjBaWEo1T2lCV1lYSnBZWFJwYjI1eklFOXVJRUVnVkdobGJXVWdMU0JIWVcxbElHMWhiblZoYkNCdXNERT02ZVY0NmVWNDZlVjRiV0Z1ZFdGc0x6RXpNREV0TVRRd01DOHhNemMxWDIxaGJuVmhiREV1WjJsbTZlVjRNekl3NmVWNFNXMWhaMlZOWVdkcFkycz0=. Retrieved January 3, 2018. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Theme Park Mystery review from Amiga Computing Vol 3 No 3 (Aug 1990) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Amiga Computing. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016174318/http://amr.abime.net/review_24513. Retrieved October 16, 2017. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Theme Park Mystery review from Amiga Joker (Jun - Jul 1990) - Amiga Magazine Rack". Amiga Joker. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171016175115/http://amr.abime.net/review_54210. Retrieved October 16, 2017. 
  12. ↑ Theme Park Mystery review from Computer + Video Games 104 (Jul 1990) - Amiga Magazine Rack. Computer + Video Games. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171015201931/http://amr.abime.net/review_12116. Retrieved October 15, 2017. 
  13. ↑ Greenberg, Allen (August 1991). "The Safety Bar Will Be Released Automatically ... - Konami's Theme Park Mystery". Computer Gaming World 1 (85): 64–65. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This lengthy approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
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