Software:Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown

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Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown
North American cover art
North American cover art
Developer(s)Red Storm Entertainment
Ubisoft Montreal (Xbox)
Publisher(s)Ubisoft[lower-alpha 1]
Producer(s)Stuart White
Deke Waters
Designer(s)Clint Richards
John E. Slaydon
Programmer(s)John O'Brien
Jim Van Verth
Artist(s)Tommy Jacob
Tony Nichols
SeriesTom Clancy's Rainbow Six
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Windows, mobile phone
Release
Genre(s)Tactical shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown is a 2005 tactical first-person shooter video game published by Ubisoft for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and Microsoft Windows. It is the fourth game in the Rainbow Six series. The game's plot follows Rainbow, an international counterterrorist organization, as they battle a terrorist organization that has stolen a deadly bioweapon.

The PlayStation 2, GameCube and Microsoft Windows versions were developed by Red Storm Entertainment and the Xbox version was developed by Ubisoft Montreal.

Lockdown was first released on August 3, 2005 for mobile phones, with console versions being released in September of the same year and the PC version being released in February 2006. The game received average reviews mostly due to its departure from traditional Rainbow Six gameplay.

A sequel, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six, was released on March 17, 2006.

Gameplay

The player controls the main character, Rainbow team commander Domingo "Ding" Chavez, and leads a single squad in real-time through each level. The player can issue orders to team members, such as to breach a door or toss a grenade into a room. Missions are broken up into linear levels, instead of each mission taking place on a single non-linear map. Lockdown also gives players the ability to save their in-game progress at any time during a level, in contrast to some previous games' lack of an in-game save feature.

Console versions

The console versions of Lockdown features several "shooting gallery"-style sniper missions, in which players take control of Rainbow sniper Dieter Weber, and snipe terrorists from a position such as a small room or a helicopter while covering the entry of an AI-controlled squad into an area. The console versions also feature cutscenes that flesh out the personality and background of each Rainbow member, as well as collectible suitcases hidden throughout each level that can be collected for bonus material.

Windows

The Windows version of Lockdown removed the sniper segments and storyline-related cutscenes, and also included redesigned levels to match the less linear gameplay of previous entries in the series. Several other longstanding elements of the series that were removed from the console versions were added back into the PC version, including helmets on the character models. Lockdown is the first game in the series to remove the planning phase.

Multiplayer

The Xbox version of Lockdown features an exclusive gameplay mode for Microsoft's Xbox Live service called "Persistent Elite Creation" (PEC). This mode allows the player to have a persistent character while playing in online multiplayer games, who can gain levels. There are four "careers" to choose from: Commando, Medic, Engineer, and Spec-Op. Each class features different abilities and strengths: Commandos are able to use heavy weaponry and armor, Medics can use items to heal teammates during battle, Engineers can set up gun turrets, and Spec-Ops are stealthy and can use surveillance equipment. As incentive to continue leveling up, bonuses can be unlocked by achieving certain goals, such as new weapons and items. Light role-playing video game-like elements exist, such as stat points that can be distributed across various skills.

The PlayStation 2 version, while lacking the Xbox version's PEC mode, has its own online mode. Called "Rivalry", this mode pits teams of terrorists against teams of counterterrorist operatives.

The GameCube version of the game does not take advantage of the system's optional broadband or modem adapters, meaning there is no online mode. However, the GameCube version does include an exclusive two-player co-op mode.

Plot

In 2009, Rainbow, led by John Clark, deploys their Alpha team, commanded by Domingo Chavez, to rescue the South African President from a rebel army surrounding Pretoria. Elsewhere in the city, the Global Liberation Front, an anti-Western left-wing terrorist organization led by Bastian Vanderwaal, steals "Legion", a nanite aerosol bioweapon that causes massive hemorrhaging and has a 100% fatality rate.

Later, the GLF attacks the Scottish Parliament Building. Alpha saves the hostages and captures some of the terrorists, who reveal a GLF cell's training facility under a distillery in Olivet. Alpha raids it to capture cell leader Derek Mergen; however, Mergen is shot by his own men in an attempt to silence him, but he survives and is hospitalized. After Alpha defends the hospital from a GLF onslaught, Mergen tells Clark the GLF is planning something, though he does not explain what.

Raiding another GLF facility in Paris, Rainbow learns a GLF cell will conduct an arms deal for the plan at the Port of Calais. Rainbow and the GIGN ambush the deal, but the GLF, expecting their presence, hijacks a ferry and rigs it with explosives to deter pursuit. Alpha, assisted by Rainbow sniper Dieter Weber, is able to board the ferry and defeat them without incident. GLF informant Nicolai Yazhov, a KGB rival from Chavez's CIA career, offers to meet with Rainbow in Marseille, but the meeting is an ambush and Yazhov flees; Chavez pursues and captures Yazhov, and Alpha saves him from GLF hit squads. Yazhov claims he was forced to organize the ambush, and presents Algerian arms dealer Faisal Amidan as a lead for their investigation.

Alpha infiltrates Amidan's heavily-guarded compound in Algeria, where they identify Vanderwaal. However, while exfiltrating, Weber is captured by the GLF. NATO, one of Rainbow's overseeing organizations, declares him an acceptable loss, but Chavez defies orders and rescues Weber from captivity. Investigating Vanderwaal's Gibraltar estate, Rainbow learns the GLF's plan is to attack the NATO summit in Barcelona and infect the world leaders present with Legion in a live broadcast. The GLF launches the attack later that day, but Alpha is able to defeat the terrorists and rescue the NATO leaders.

Rainbow tracks Vanderwaal to an old castle on Menorca, but he is nowhere to be found. Interrogations reveal Vanderwaal is attempting to leave Menorca to poison European water supplies with Legion. Alpha intercepts them, defeating the remnants of the GLF and killing Vanderwaal, ending the GLF's threat.

The plot of the PC version is essentially the same as the console version, the only differences being less missions, a slightly different chronology (such as Amidan being identified earlier), and the antagonists being multiple terrorist groups with the GLF acting as their organizer and Legion distributor.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(Mobile) 75.67%[6]
(Xbox) 72.83%[7]
(PS2) 68.67%[8]
(GC) 68%[9]
(PC) 63.47%[10]
Metacritic(Xbox) 74/100[11]
(GC) 72/100[12]
(PS2) 70/100[13]
(PC) 59/100[14]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer6/10[15]
Game Informer(Xbox) 8.5/10[16]
7.5/10[17]
GameRevolution(Xbox) C+[18]
(PS2) C[19]
GameSpot(PC) 8/10[20]
7.7/10[21]
(Mobile & GC) 7.6/10[22][23]
GameSpyStarStarStarHalf star[24][25]
(PC) StarStar[26]
GameZone(Xbox) 8/10[27]
(GC) 7.8/10[28]
(PC) 6.9/10[29]
IGN(Mobile) 7.9/10[30]
(Xbox) 7.8/10[31]
(PS2) 7.6/10[32]
(GC) 7.4/10[33]
(PC) 6.5/10[34]
Nintendo Power6/10[35]
OPM (US)StarStarStarHalf star[36]
OXM (US)6.7/10[37]
PC Gamer (US)45%[38]
Detroit Free PressStarStarStar[39]

The change in gameplay from previous versions of Rainbow Six was considered a controversial move, and the PC version received significantly lower scores than its predecessors.[10][14] Despite this, the console versions of the game have received average reviews from many gaming websites and magazines.[6][7][8][9][11][12][13]

Notes

  1. ↑ Mobile version developed and published by Gameloft.

References

  1. ↑ "What's New? (9th September 2005)" (in en-gb). Eurogamer.net. 2005-09-09. https://www.eurogamer.net/a-whatsnew090905. 
  2. ↑ "Rainbow Six: Lockdown ships" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rainbow-six-lockdown-ships/1100-6132609/. 
  3. ↑ "What's New? (Super Catch-Up Alpha Plus 3)" (in en-gb). Eurogamer.net. 2005-09-30. https://www.eurogamer.net/a-whatsnew-300905. 
  4. ↑ "Ubisoft - Rainbow Six Lockdown™". 2006-03-25. http://www.ubi.com/UK/Games/Info.aspx?pId=4243. 
  5. ↑ "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Lockdown PC Ready for Retail - PC News". 2006-12-13. http://pc.gamezone.com/news/02_13_06_01_47PM.htm. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown for Mobile". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/mobile/928354-tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown/index.html. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown for Xbox". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/925298-tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown/index.html. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/925297-tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown/index.html. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown for GameCube". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/gamecube/927807-tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown/index.html. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown for PC". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/925341-tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown/index.html. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown for Xbox Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown for PC Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  15. ↑ Reed, Kristan (September 13, 2005). "Rainbow Six: Lockdown (Xbox)". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_r6lockdown_x. Retrieved July 26, 2014. 
  16. ↑ Biessener, Adam (November 2005). "Rainbow Six: Lockdown (Xbox)". Game Informer (151): 166. http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/CE5AD9F2-FAA4-4487-9C9C-086DBD95F151.htm. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  17. ↑ Biessener, Adam (November 2005). "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown (GC, PS2)". Game Informer (151): 141. 
  18. ↑ Hurh, JP (September 13, 2005). "Rainbow Six: Lockdown - xbox Review". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on October 13, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20051013084850/http://gr.bolt.com/games/xbox/action/rainbow_six_lockdown.htm. Retrieved July 26, 2014. 
  19. ↑ Hurh, JP (September 13, 2005). "Rainbow Six: Lockdown Review (PS2)". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/rainbow-six-lockdown. Retrieved July 26, 2014. 
  20. ↑ Colayco, Bob (February 16, 2006). "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown Review (PC)". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown-review/1900-6144440/. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  21. ↑ Colayco, Bob (September 9, 2005). "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown Review (PS2, Xbox)". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown-review/1900-6132951/. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  22. ↑ Score, Avery (August 1, 2005). "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown Review (Mobile)". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown-review/1900-6130154/. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  23. ↑ Colayco, Bob (October 10, 2005). "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown Review (GC)". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown-review/1900-6135416/. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  24. ↑ Tuttle, Will (September 14, 2005). "GameSpy: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown (Xbox)". GameSpy. http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/rainbow-six-4-tentative-title/650837p1.html. Retrieved July 26, 2014. 
  25. ↑ Tuttle, Will (September 14, 2005). "GameSpy: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown (PS2)". GameSpy. http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/rainbow-six-4-tentative-title/650838p1.html. Retrieved July 26, 2014. 
  26. ↑ Harms, William (February 21, 2006). "GameSpy: Rainbow Six: Lockdown (PC)". GameSpy. http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/rainbow-six-4-tentative-title/690399p1.html. Retrieved July 26, 2014. 
  27. ↑ Valentino, Nick (September 15, 2005). "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown - XB - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 6, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071006074030/http://xbox.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r25280.htm. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  28. ↑ Romano, Natalie (October 20, 2005). "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown - GC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 30, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081030045034/http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r25280.htm. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  29. ↑ Zacarias, Eduardo (March 6, 2006). "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown - PC - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081208101337/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r25280.htm. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  30. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (August 8, 2005). "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Lockdown (Cell)". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/09/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-lockdown. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  31. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (September 8, 2005). "Rainbow Six Lockdown (Xbox)". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/09/rainbow-six-lockdown-3. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  32. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (September 8, 2005). "Rainbow Six Lockdown (PS2)". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/08/rainbow-six-lockdown-4. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  33. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (December 19, 2005). "Rainbow Six Lockdown (GCN)". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/20/rainbow-six-lockdown-2. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  34. ↑ McNamara, Tom (February 16, 2006). "Rainbow Six Lockdown (PC)". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/02/17/rainbow-six-lockdown. Retrieved July 25, 2014. 
  35. ↑ "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown". Nintendo Power 198: 114. November 2005. 
  36. ↑ "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 110. November 2005. 
  37. ↑ McCaffrey, Ryan (November 2005). "Rainbow Six: Lockdown". Official Xbox Magazine: 128. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080228233810/http://www.oxmonline.com/article/reviews/original-xbox/rainbow-six-lockdown. Retrieved July 26, 2014. 
  38. ↑ "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown". PC Gamer: 54. May 2006. 
  39. ↑ Huschka, Ryan (September 18, 2005). "'Rainbow Six Lockdown' (Xbox)". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on September 19, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050919114900/http://www.freep.com/entertainment/videogames/gmini18e_20050918.htm. Retrieved July 26, 2014. 
  • Official website
  • 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. 
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