Software:Transformers (2004 video game)

From HandWiki
Short description: Third-person shooter for the PlayStation 2
Transformers
North American cover art depicting Optimus Prime
Developer(s)Atari Melbourne House
Publisher(s)Atari
Director(s)Andrew Carter
Producer(s)Mark Coombes
Myles Abbott
Mark Morrison
Designer(s)Andrew Symons
Phil Anderson
Programmer(s)Adam Boyle
Trevor Powell
Dick Hunton
Artist(s)Russel Comte
Holger Liebnitz
Writer(s)Thuyen Nguyen
Composer(s)Gavin Parker
SeriesTransformers
Platform(s)PlayStation 2
Release
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Transformers is a video game based on the Transformers: Armada animated series. It was developed by Atari Melbourne House, published by Atari and released exclusively for the PlayStation 2 in 2004. Although non-canon to the series, the game follows a similar premise, depicting the Autobots and the Decepticons' search for Mini-Cons on Earth, whose combined powers will grant either faction victory in the war for their home planet, Cybertron. The game received generally positive reviews.

Gameplay

Transformers is a third-person shooter game, where players assume the role of one of three Autobots: Optimus Prime, Red Alert or Hot Shot, who are all able to transform between robot and vehicle modes at the push of the triangle button. The game revolves around the collection of Mini-Cons, which can be equipped to the Autobot and provide various weapons and abilities. These include giving their blasters secondary weapons; support items, such as glider wings; and stat-enhancements, such as an armour boost. Up to four can be equipped at once, and with the exception of stat-enhancements, they can be activated using the shoulder buttons. The primary weapon will always be assigned to R1, and its default fire can be altered by assigning certain Mini-Cons to the button (such as charging and firing blasts by holding and subsequently releasing the button). There is a limit to what Mini-Cons can be equipped with respect to power limitation, with more powerful Mini-Cons requiring more power. The more of the same colour Mini-Cons equipped, the stronger one's character will be alongside an increase in health. This is referred to as "Mini-Con linking." For the most part, the Mini-Cons do not change the aesthetics of the transformer.[citation needed] The three Autobots have their own Mini-Con partners who, in addition to providing minor fire support, can "Powerlinx" with the player which strengthens the Autobot at the cost of gradually draining their health. Despite being based on the Armada series, classic G1 quotes are recited throughout the game, especially quotes from The Transformers: The Movie. Garry Chalk and David Kaye are the only voice actors from the series to be in this game, as their roles of Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively.

Plot

The game doesn't follow the already established storyline of the Armada series, but has a similar premise. Millions of years ago, Mini-Cons - miniature Transformers who can grant Cybertronians special powers if merged with them - fled Cybertron and crash-landed on Earth, where they went into stasis. In the present, the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, and the Decepticons, led by Megatron, are engaged in a deadly war for control of Cybertron. The game's opening sequence shows Megatron launching a final assault on the Autobot Headquarters on Cybertron, alongside his Decepticlones, a large army of Decepticon drones. The Decepticlones soon overpower the Autobot resistance, as Megatron and Optimus engage in a one-on-one fight. Before the winner can be decided, a Mini-Con distress beacon activates on Earth. Well-aware of what this means, Megatron and his Decepticlone forces abandon the battle and head to Earth to find the Mini-Cons, believing their powers will guarantee the Decepticons' victory. Meanwhile, Optimus, Red Alert, and Hot Shot return to their headquarters, from where they operate a Space Bridge to travel to various locations across the planet and retrieve the Mini-Cons before the Decepticons can.

They first travel to the Amazon, where they retrieve several Mini-Cons and fight Decepticlone patrols. Eventually, the Autobots encounter Cyclonus at some ancient ruins, who dispatches a Decepticlone Heavy Unit to attack them. After destroying it and chasing Cyclonus away, the Autobots find the Mini-Cons Sparkplug, Jolt, and Longarm, who send out a call to the other Mini-Cons on Earth and join the Autobots in the search for their brethren. The Autobots next go to Antarctica, making their way past icy canyons, an open glacial area, and a crashed human plane and ice breaker in order to reach a research facility, where the Decepticons have already found more Mini-Cons. They defeat the Decepticlone guards and Starscream, before planning to return to the Amazon to stop Cyclonus. The Autobots depart, unaware that Starscream is still online.

Back at the Amazon, the Autobots fight their way through the jungle and then an ancient pyramid, where they defeat Cyclonus, causing him to crash and explode. Afterwards, the Autobots spot several Decepticlone Dropships heading to the Atlantic Ocean and follow them. There, they find a massive warship, and fight their way across multiple small islands, ultimately finding a Mini-Con who grants them the ability to glide. They use this to board the ship and make their way to its control room, learning it is headed to Alaska. The ship then transforms into robot mode revealing itself to be Tidal Wave, but the Autobots defeat him, sending him plunging into the ocean.

The Autobots travel to Alaska, believing it to be the location of Megatron's base on Earth, and make their way through the snowy mountains and a cave system, before Starscream attempts to crash a ship on purpose to stop them with the Autobots barely escaping. Fighting their way through the crashed ship, the Autobots confront Starscream on the bridge, but the scuffle causes the ship to fall off a cliff and into a valley down below. After making their way out of the ship, the Autobots defeat Starscream, who is then knocked out by Optimus. With Red Alert hacking into his warp transponder, they learn that Megatron's base is actually located on a volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean, so the Autobots head there next. They fight their way to the island's center, which is an active volcano, and eventually confront Megatron. Just as the volcano erupts after a grueling fight, Optimus attempts to save Megatron, but the latter refuses his help and allows himself to fall into the lava. Escaping from the volcano, the Autobots believe they won, unaware that the planet-sized Transformer Unicron has arrived on Cybertron.

As Unicron begins destroying Cybertron, Optimus, Red Alert and Hot Shot return home alongside all the rescued Mini-Cons, whose combined powers give the three Autobots the means to stop Unicron. Equipped with jetpacks and powered up weapons, they fly into Unicron and destroy his core, causing him to explode. Afterwards, the Autobots and the Mini-Cons celebrate their victory as Cybertron is finally at peace.

Development

Prior to release, the game was titled Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon.[3] The worldwide debut of the Transformers PlayStation 2 demo occurred at TransformersCon on March 12–13, 2004. In September 2005, Atari released a Directors Cut of the game exclusively in the EU. This version includes several "Making of" movie clips and commercials on the game disc. A playable demo was included on the disc for Driv3r. Australian band Regurgitator provided the soundtrack to the game.[citation needed] The song "Wishbone" by the band Dropbox was used to promote the game.[4]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings78%[5]
Metacritic75/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge8/10[7]
EGM7.67/10[8]
Eurogamer8/10[9]
Game Informer7/10[10]
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[11]
GameSpot7.8/10[12]
GameZone7.4/10[13]
IGN7.5/10[14]
OPM (US)StarStarStarHalf star[15]
X-PlayStarStarStarStar[16]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[17]
The TimesStarStarStarStar[18]

The game received "generally favorable" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[6] GameSpot named it the best PlayStation 2 game of May 2004.[19]

References

  1. ↑ "Transformers (2004)". https://www.gamespot.com/games/transformers-2004/. Retrieved August 21, 2022. 
  2. ↑ "Melbourne House: Transform!". Eurogamer.net. 4 May 2004. https://www.eurogamer.net/i-transformers-ps2. Retrieved August 21, 2022. 
  3. ↑ Dunham, Jeremy (December 9, 2003). "Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon Hands-On". IGN. http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/12/09/transformers-armada-prelude-to-energon-hands-on. 
  4. ↑ Regardie, Jon (May 14, 2004). ""Transformers" rock in new Atari game". Entertainment Weekly (765). http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,634038,00.html. Retrieved May 23, 2012. 
  5. ↑ "Transformers for PlayStation 2". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/917920-transformers/index.html. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Transformers for PlayStation 2 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/transformers-2004/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  7. ↑ Edge staff (May 2004). "Transformers". Edge (136): 94. http://gamesradar.msn.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=29956&subsectionid=1605. Retrieved June 28, 2014. 
  8. ↑ EGM staff (June 2004). "Transformers (2004)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (180): 103. 
  9. ↑ Reed, Kristan (June 11, 2004). "Transformers (PS2)". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_transformers_ps2. 
  10. ↑ Zoss, Jeremy (June 2004). "Transformers". Game Informer (134): 128. http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/EF9B5BEE-B6EA-44BD-AD26-A5534743CB80.htm. Retrieved June 28, 2014. 
  11. ↑ The D-Pad Destroyer (May 6, 2004). "Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/35337.shtml. Retrieved June 29, 2014. 
  12. ↑ Shoemaker, Brad (May 21, 2004). "Transformers Review (PS2)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/transformers-review/1900-6099041/. 
  13. ↑ Tha Wiz (May 23, 2004). "Transformers - PS2 - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2004/05/23/transformers_ps2_review. 
  14. ↑ Sulic, Ivan (May 7, 2004). "Transformers (PS2)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/05/08/transformers. 
  15. ↑ "Transformers". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 92. June 2004. 
  16. ↑ Speer, Justin (June 14, 2004). "Transformers (PS2) Review". X-Play. http://www.g4techtv.com/xplay/features/813/Transformers_PS2_Review.html. 
  17. ↑ Walk, Gary Eng (June 18, 2004). "Transformers Review". Entertainment Weekly (770): L2T 20. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,649866,00.html. Retrieved June 28, 2014. 
  18. ↑ "Transformers (PS2)". The Times. May 29, 2004. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/technology/article1861804.ece. 
  19. ↑ Staff (June 1, 2004). "GameSpot's Month in Review for May 2004". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/features/6099556/index.html. 
  • 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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