Software:Vanishing Point (video game)

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Vanishing Point
North American Dreamcast cover art featuring an Alfa Romeo GTV (left) and a Lotus Elise (right)
Developer(s)Clockwork Games
Publisher(s)Acclaim Entertainment
Platform(s)Dreamcast, PlayStation
ReleaseDreamcast
PlayStation
  • NA: January 30, 2001[3]
  • EU: March 31, 2001
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Vanishing Point is a racing video game developed by Clockwork Games and published by Acclaim Entertainment for Dreamcast and PlayStation.

Gameplay

The main mode which is Arcade Mode is where you race against opponents in circuit races, but the goal is to finish the race with the fastest lap time which is the Vanishing Point (hence the title). The game is provided with supposedly accurate car physics, which can be experienced through various game modes, tracks and cars. The majority of content is initially locked and is progressively unlocked as you play through the game, a fact the developers later described as a "mistake" and the result of rushed development.[4] Stunt Mode is unique in that the player must complete short courses that involve a variety of jumps, barrel rolls, chicanes and collectable balloons against a time limit.

Development

Vanishing Point was first announced at the European Computer Trade Show, being self-funded by Clockwork Games until Acclaim licensed the game.[5] The game was developed in 18 months with a team of eight people.[6] Neil Casini, director of Clockwork Games, told Official Dreamcast Magazine that they had adopted the game's title as a reference to their efforts to "create a rendering engine that had no pop-up or 'fogging' as far as the eye could see, i.e. the vanishing point". Casini told the magazine that in developing the gameplay they had sought to "emulate and combine the driving model from Sega Rally with the exaggerated reality of Scud Race".[4]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
DreamcastPS
AllGameStarStarStarHalf star[7]StarStar[8]
Edge3/10[9]N/A
EGM6/10[10]6/10[11]
Game Informer7.5/10[12]N/A
GameRevolutionN/AD+[13]
GameSpot8.1/10[14]7.4/10[15]
GameSpy89%[16]
(PD) 8/10[17]		N/A
GameZoneN/A6/10[18]
IGN8.6/10[19]4.5/10[20]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[21]N/A
OPM (US)N/AStarStarStarHalf star[22]
Aggregate score
Metacritic80/100[23]68/100[24]

The Dreamcast version of Vanishing Point received "favorable" reviews, while the PlayStation version received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[23][24] Greg Orlando of NextGen called the former console version "an example of fine craftsmanship."[21] PlanetDreamcast gave the same console version a favorable review, over two months before the latter was released Stateside.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Console Releases" (in en-gb). Eurogamer.net. 2001-01-19. https://www.eurogamer.net/article-30000. 
  2. ↑ "ACCLAIM'S VANISHING POINT FOR THE SEGA DREAMCAST ZOOMS INTO STORES JANUARY 3rd". January 3, 2001. http://www.acclaim.com/company/pressReleases/product/VanishingPointDCShips.html. 
  3. ↑ I. G. N. Staff (2001-01-31). "The Games of January and February" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/31/the-games-of-january-and-february. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "In the hot seat with Clockwork Games". Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK) (Dennis Publishing) (21): 72–73. 21 July 2001. 
  5. ↑ Mielke, James (January 19, 2000). "Vanishing Point Preview". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/vanishing-point-preview/1100-2546104/. 
  6. ↑ Mielke, James (January 14, 2000). "Hands-on: Vanishing Point". Archived from the original on October 11, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001011074829/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/00_01/14_vg_vanish/index.html. Retrieved June 27, 2022. 
  7. ↑ Miller, Skyler. "Vanishing Point (DC) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23607&tab=review. 
  8. ↑ Grandstaff, Matt. "Vanishing Point (PS) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23367&tab=review. 
  9. ↑ Edge staff (March 2001). "Vanishing Point (DC)". Edge (Future Publishing) (95): 82. https://archive.org/details/edgeuk095/page/n71/mode/2up. Retrieved September 26, 2020. 
  10. ↑ Hager, Dean; Sewart, Greg; Mielke, James "Milkman" (March 2001). "Vanishing Point (DC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (140). http://www.zdnet.com/egm/stories/main/0,11589,2675793,00.html. Retrieved September 26, 2020. 
  11. ↑ "Vanishing Point (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (142). May 2001. 
  12. ↑ "Vanishing Point (DC)". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (95). March 2001. 
  13. ↑ A.A. White (February 2001). "Vanishing Point Review (PS)". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/34130-vanishing-point-review. 
  14. ↑ Provo, Frank (January 4, 2001). "Vanishing Point Review (DC)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/vanishing-point-review/1900-2671000/. 
  15. ↑ Provo, Frank (February 23, 2001). "Vanishing Point Review (PS)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/vanishing-point-review/1900-2689644/. 
  16. ↑ Tsotsos, Alex (January 22, 2001). "Vanishing Point (DC)". IGN Entertainment. http://www.sportplanet.com/features/reviews/vanishingpoint/. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 zerothreat (October 30, 2000). "Vanishing Point". IGN Entertainment. http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/vanishingpoint/. 
  18. ↑ Snackdawg (February 26, 2001). "Vanishing Point (PSX)". http://psx.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r16742.htm. 
  19. ↑ Chau, Anthony (December 20, 2000). "Vanishing Point (DC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/12/21/vanishing-point. 
  20. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (March 5, 2001). "Vanishing Point (PS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/06/vanishing-point-3. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Orlando, Greg (April 2001). "Vanishing Point (DC)". NextGen (Imagine Media) (76): 84. https://archive.org/details/NextGen76Apr2001/page/n85/mode/2up. Retrieved September 26, 2020. 
  22. ↑ "Vanishing Point". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (44). May 2001. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Vanishing Point for Dreamcast Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/vanishing-point/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Vanishing Point for Playstation Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/vanishing-point/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation. 

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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