Software:Tie Break (video game)
| Tie Break | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Starbyte Software[1] |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Platform(s) | Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Commodore CDTV, ZX Spectrum |
| Release | 1990 |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Tie Break is a 1990 tennis video game developed and published by Starbyte Software for the Amiga. Ports for other home computers were released later. The game is known as Adidas Championship Tie Break on the ZX Spectrum.[3]
Gameplay
The game is depicted from an overhead view. The game is controlled entirely by the joystick, buttons are not used. The game supports simultaneous four-player multiplayer with four joysticks.[4] There are two modes to choose from: practise and tournament. The selected tournament (Wimbledon, US Open, etc.) determines the court surface (grass, clay, etc.).[5]
Reception
| Reception | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Amiga Format called the game "an impressive-looking and polished tennis simulation".[8] Zero didn't like the overhead view because the player can see only three quarters of the court, the reviewer concluded: "This strange perspective combined with a really dodgy soundtrack means that despite some good features Tie Break doesn't quite make the grade."[4] The Games Machine said: "The two- and four-player modes make up for the overly tough computer opponents and are where the fun's at"[9] ST Format said: "The programmers have stuck to the essentials, ignored all frippery and created an excellent game with lasting appeal."[5] Your Sinclair called it "a neatly put-together and enjoyable game."[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Blum, Torsten (April 1990). "Sport-Kaleidoskop - Tie Break" (in German). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic-Verlag) 5 (4/90): 44-45. https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=12152. "Preis/Leistung: 10/12".
- ↑ "Game disk (DOS)". Tie Break (Digitek Software). 1991. https://www.mobygames.com/game/19776/tie-break/cover/group-21412/cover-260590/. "Copyright 1991 Digitek Software".
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Reviews - Adidas Championship Tie-Break". Your Sinclair (Future plc) (59): 24. November 1990. https://archive.org/details/your-sinclair-59/page/n23/mode/2up.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lakin, Paul (July 1990). "Tennis Games Feature - Tie Break". Zero (Dennis Publishing) (9): 51. https://amr.abime.net/review_39884.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Hutchinson, Andrew (October 1990). "Leisure - Championship Tie Break". ST Format (Future plc) (15): 65. http://www.stformat.com/stf15/index.html.
- ↑ Oppermann, Torsten (June 1990). "Konvertierungen - Tie Break [C64"] (in German). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic-Verlag) 5 (7/90): 66. https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=9366. "Preis/Leistung: 10/12".
- ↑ Alt, Guido (January 1992). "Konvertierungen - Tie Break [CDTV"] (in German). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic-Verlag) 7 (1/92): 118. https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=14332. "Gesamtnote: 10/12".
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Evans, Maff (October 1990). "Screenplay - Tie Break". Amiga Format (Future plc) (15): 44. https://amr.abime.net/review_2036.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lapworth, Warren (July 1990). "Reviews - Tie Break". The Games Machine (Newsfield Publications) (32): 36. https://archive.org/details/the-games-machine-32/page/n35/mode/1up.
- ↑ "Banc D'essai Logieciels - Tie Break" (in French). Amstar (SORACOM) (50): 24. October 1990. https://archive.org/details/amstar-magazine-50/page/n23/mode/2up.
External links
- 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

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
- ↑ 1.0 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/.
- ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/.
- ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1.
- ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games.
- ↑ "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/.
- ↑ "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/.
- ↑ 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/.
- ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/.
- ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames.
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- Tie Break at the Hall of Light
- Tie Break at Atarimania
- Tie Break at Lemon64
- Tie Break at Spectrum Computing
