Software:Virtua Athlete 2K

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Short description: 2000 sports video game
Virtua Athlete 2K
Developer(s)Hitmaker
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Shinichi Ogasawara
Platform(s)Dreamcast, Arcade, PlayStation 2
ReleaseDreamcast
  • JP: July 27, 2000
  • UK: August 25, 2000[1]
  • NA: September 12, 2000[2]
Arcade
  • NA: 2001
  • JP: March 2002
PlayStation 2
  • JP: July 29, 2004
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Script error: The function "nihongo_foot" does not exist., known as Virtua Athlete 2000 in North America, is a Sega Dreamcast track and field sports game developed by Hitmaker. The arcade game Virtua Athletics, also known in Japan as Script error: The function "nihongo_foot" does not exist., is based on the Dreamcast version. Virtua Athlete 2K supports up to four local players simultaneously as to compete for the top score through all seven of its events. Virtua Athlete was released on the PlayStation 2 in Japan as part of the DecAthlete Collection with DecAthlete and Winter Heat. The collection is the 15th volume of the Sega Ages 2500 series.[3]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic61/100[4]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarHalf star[5]
Edge5/10[7]
EGM5.67/10[8][lower-alpha 1]
Eurogamer3/10[9]
Famitsu31/40[10]
Game Informer7/10[11]
GameFan75%[12][lower-alpha 2]
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[13]
GameSpot7.7/10[14]
IGN(JP) 5.9/10[15]
(US) 4/10[16]
Next GenerationStarStar[17]

The game received "mixed" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4] Kevin Rice of NextGen said of the game, "Already limited by only having seven events, this game falls flat on the Olympic track with frustrating controls and disappointing gameplay."[17] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40.[10]

An IGN review published following the game's release in North America read, "Best described as an interactive movie about the Olympics, Virtua Athlete is as basic a game as you can get [...] It's just too bad that the game play doesn't match their respective graphical accomplishment."[16]

Notes

  1. ↑ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game each a score of 6/10, and the other gave it 5/10.
  2. ↑ In GameFan's viewpoint of the game, one critic gave it 72, and the other 77.

References

  1. ↑ "Virtua Athlete 2K". http://www.chipsworld.co.uk/detProd.asp?ProductCode=2985. 
  2. ↑ Musgrave, Shawn (September 12, 2000). "Virtua Athlete 2000 Races to Stores". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/13/virtua-athlete-2000-races-to-stores. Retrieved January 8, 2022. 
  3. ↑ "DecAthlete Collection". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/games/decathlete-collection. Retrieved June 16, 2019. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Virtua Athlete 2000 for Dreamcast Reviews". Red Ventures. https://www.metacritic.com/game/virtua-athlete-2000/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast. Retrieved June 16, 2019. 
  5. ↑ Thompson, Jon. "Virtua Athlete 2000 - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115203515/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=26722&tab=review. Retrieved June 16, 2019. 
  6. ↑ Rector, Brett (October 13, 2000). "Virtua Athlete 2000". CNET. Archived from the original on October 19, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001019052626/http://www.gamecenter.com/Dreamcast/Reviews/Va/. Retrieved January 9, 2022. 
  7. ↑ Edge staff (October 2000). "Virtua Athlete 2K [Import"]. Edge (Future Publishing) (89): 99. https://retrocdn.net/images/9/9f/Edge_UK_089.pdf. Retrieved January 9, 2022. 
  8. ↑ Sewart, Greg; Kujawa, Kraig; Johnston, Chris (November 2000). "Virtual Athlete 2000". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (136): 246. https://retrocdn.net/images/c/c0/EGM_US_136.pdf. Retrieved January 9, 2022. 
  9. ↑ Taylor, Martin (September 13, 2000). "Virtua Athlete 2000". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_va2k_dc. Retrieved June 16, 2019. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "バーチャ アスリート 2K [ドリームキャスト"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=12710&redirect=no. Retrieved June 16, 2019. 
  11. ↑ "Virtua Athlete 2000". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (90). October 2000. 
  12. ↑ Higgins, Geoff "El Nino"; Jacques Strap (November 2000). "Virtua Athlete [2000"]. GameFan (BPA International) 8 (11): 124. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_11/page/n127/mode/2up. Retrieved January 9, 2022. 
  13. ↑ Cheat Monkey (September 14, 2000). "Virtua Athlete 2000 Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on February 7, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050207030526/http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/6756.shtml. Retrieved June 16, 2019. 
  14. ↑ Provo, Frank (September 12, 2000). "Virtua Athlete 2000 Review [date mislabeled as "May 17, 2006""]. Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/virtua-athlete-2000/1900-2627350/. Retrieved June 16, 2019. 
  15. ↑ Williamson, Colin (August 2, 2000). "Virtual Athlete 2K (Import)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/03/virtua-athlete-2k-import. Retrieved June 16, 2019. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Dunham, Jeremy (September 13, 2000). "Virtua Athlete 2K". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/14/virtua-athlete-2k. Retrieved July 9, 2014. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Rice, Kevin (November 2000). "Virtual Athlete 2K [sic"]. NextGen (Imagine Media) (71): 123. https://archive.org/details/NextGen71Nov2000/page/n123/mode/2up. Retrieved January 8, 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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