Software:Thunder Truck Rally

From HandWiki
Short description: 1997 video game
Not to be confused with Monster Truck Rally (video game).
Thunder Truck Rally
Monster Trucks
North American Windows box art
Developer(s)Reflections
Publisher(s)Psygnosis
Platform(s)PlayStation, Windows
ReleasePlayStation
Windows
1997
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Thunder Truck Rally (released as Monster Trucks in Europe) is a 1997 racing video game developed by Reflections and published by Psygnosis for the PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. Players select a monster truck or otherwise 4X4 vehicle equipped with monster truck tires and have the option of either racing or crushing cars in an arena.

Gameplay

In car crushing mode, players are awarded style points for how well they crush other vehicles.[4]

Development

During development of the game, project leader Martin Edmondson stated, "No code is shared between DD2 and Monster Trucks (with the exception of surrounding code such as sound and sprite routines). Monster Trucks started development about three quarters through DD1 and is a game based on those famous car-crushing, monster pick-up trucks with the oversized wheels."[5]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings63%[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarHalf star[7]
Edge6/10[3]
EGM7/10[8]
Game Informer7.75/10[9]
GameFan79%[10]
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[11]
GameRevolutionC−[12]
IGN7/10[13]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[14]
OPM (UK)6/10[15]
PC Games(PC) 78%[16]

The PlayStation version received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[6] Glenn Rubenstein of GameSpot described it as "A fairly average driving game with a few new bells and whistles",[17] Next Generation as "Not horrible, but nothing special either",[14] and IGN as "a good, solid title, although the grainy graphics do grate sometimes."[13] GamePro concluded that "For off-road fans, it's a pretty solid buy, but run-of-the-mill racing buffs should get enough with only one rental."[11]

Most critics found that the game's car crushing mode, which they anticipated would have the most immediate appeal to players, is shallow and ultimately unexciting.[17][14][11] Some also complained that in endurance mode, the guiding arrow tends to veer unexpectedly, which they felt was unfair, since the AI opponents always immediately know how to take a turn.[13][14] Both Rubenstein and Next Generation remarked that while the controls are generally very good, the physics make it too easy to go off on a high jump that severely damages the player's truck.[17][14] Other common criticisms were the extensive pop-up[17][11] and weak sound effects,[8][11] while subjects of praise included the rigorous course design,[8][17] and the numerous modes and options available.[8][17][13]

References

  1. ↑ "Wayback Machine". 1997-06-05. http://www.next-generation.com/. 
  2. ↑ I. G. N. Staff (1997-06-04). "Thunder Truck Rally" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/04/thunder-truck-rally. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Edge staff (March 1997). "Monster Trucks (PS)". Edge (Future Publishing) (43): 83. https://archive.org/details/edgeuk043/page/n69/mode/2up. Retrieved November 30, 2020. 
  4. ↑ EGM staff (March 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally: Psygnosis' Rough Racing Game Rumbles and Tumbles onto the PlayStation". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (92): 106. 
  5. ↑ "NG Alphas: Destruction Derby 2". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (17): 54. May 1996. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_17/page/n59/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Thunder Truck Rally for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/199005-thunder-truck-rally/index.html. Retrieved November 30, 2020. 
  7. ↑ Sackenheim, Shawn. "Thunder Truck Rally (PS) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=7984&tab=review. Retrieved November 30, 2020. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean (May 1997). "Team EGM Sports: Thunder Truck Rally". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (94): 117. 
  9. ↑ Reiner, Andrew; Storm, Jon; McNamara, Andy (May 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally - PlayStation". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (49). http://www.gameinformer.com/may97/thunder.html. Retrieved November 30, 2020. 
  10. ↑ Halverson, Dave "E. Storm"; Jevons, Dan "Knightmare"; Stockert, Bruce "Reubus" (May 1997). "Thunder Truck [Rally (PS)"]. GameFan (Metropolis Media) 5 (5): 24. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_05/page/n25/mode/2up. Retrieved November 30, 2020. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Air Hendrix (June 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally (PS)". GamePro (IDG) (105): 69. 
  12. ↑ Dr. Moo (September 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally Review (PS)". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33951-thunder-truck-rally-review. Retrieved November 30, 2020. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 IGN staff (June 3, 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally (PS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1997/06/04/thunder-truck-rally. Retrieved October 7, 2018. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 "Thunder Truck Rally". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (33): 131. September 1997. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_33/page/n131/mode/2up. Retrieved November 30, 2020. 
  15. ↑ OPMUK staff (March 1997). "Monster Trucks". Official UK PlayStation Magazine (Future Publishing) (17): 92–93. https://archive.org/details/opm-uk-017/page/n91/mode/2up. Retrieved November 30, 2020. 
  16. ↑ "Monster Trucks" (in de). PC Games (Computec). August 1997. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GSrev
  • 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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