Software:WWE WrestleMania X8

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Short description: 2002 video game
WWE WrestleMania X8
North American cover art featuring Rob Van Dam, Stone Cold Steve Austin and "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan
(Early cover due to WWF changing its name to WWE)
Developer(s)Yuke's
Publisher(s)THQ
Director(s)Hirofumi Morino
Designer(s)
  • Takumi Kon
  • Shinya Masuda
  • Shunsuke Katsumata
Artist(s)Brian Wanamaker
Composer(s)
  • Tomoyuki Hamada
  • Satoshi Miyashita
  • Akira Yasumichi
  • Tenyuu Nakamura
Platform(s)GameCube
Release
  • NA: 9 June 2002
  • JP: 6 September 2002
  • EU: 27 September 2002
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

WWE WrestleMania X8[1] is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and released on the Nintendo GameCube by THQ in June 2002.

Gameplay

WrestleMania X8 features a simple grappling system. Each wrestler has five front grapples, five rear grapples, and miscellaneous grapples, such as an evade and grapple in which a wrestler will dodge and then perform a hold or throw. There are meters based on color for the competitors in a match, and a pin is possible when the player's meter is fully red and their opponent's is fully blue. A large portion of the gameplay revolves around counter moves, with different buttons countering different maneuvers and allow different responses, such as strike and grapple.[2] The game features a wide selection of signature moves used by wrestlers, and all wrestlers in the game have their unique entrances. There are a variety of weapons available, as well as the ability to perform a number of different grapples with them.[2]

The game features a variety of match types, including Standard, Hardcore, Table, Ladder, TLC, Battle Royal, Steel Cage, Hell in a Cell, and Ironman. The number of participants in the match can also be chosen, including a singles match, a tag team match, a handicap match, Triple Threat, Fatal Four-Way, Battle Royal, and Royal Rumble.[2] The Hell in a Cell match features the ability to utilize unique grapples on the walls of the cell, as well as the ability to climb to the roof of the cell and fight atop it, with the option of throwing an opponent through the roof to the mat below.[2]

The game marks the WWE video game debuts of former WCW and ECW wrestlers signed during the Invasion storyline such as Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Hurricane Helms, and Lance Storm (Diamond Dallas Page, another major figure in the WCW/ECW Alliance and the WWF European Champion entering the namesake pay-per-view, was not included in the game). It was also the first appearance of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair on a WWF/WWE video game since the 16-bit WWF Royal Rumble game (Hogan was on the Genesis version, while Flair was on the SNES version), as well as the only appearance for Scott Hall as an active WWE wrestler under the nWo gimmick, as he was released from the company prior to the game's release and was thus removed from WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth. In addition, the game features "Rollin'" as The Undertaker's entrance theme music although Fred Durst was not included in the game in contrast to previous WWF games that featured the song, while some former WCW wrestlers (including the nWo) and The Hardy Boyz do not have their proper entrance music.

Modes

The game features a Path of a Champion mode, a single player mode in which a player can attempt a championship path and make an attempt to win it. The titles offered are the WWE World Championship, WWE Intercontinental Championship, WWE European Championship, WWE Light Heavyweight Championship, WWE Hardcore Championship and World Tag Team Championship. There are four difficulties in which to play the mode, and there are a variety of unlockables for winning championships with particular wrestlers.[3]

Another mode in the game is the Battle for the Belts mode, in which a player can go after one of 51 fictional belts. A player can challenge either the CPU controlled wrestler who holds the belt or another player who has the belt in an attempt to win it. A player can customize the belt by naming it and changing its color.[3] The game also features a Create-A-Wrestler mode in which a wrestler can be created with customized appearance, moves, profile, and a wide variety of other options.[3]

Development

WrestleMania X8 was Yuke's first WWE game on a Nintendo platform, replacing AKI Corporation as the developer for these systems; some former AKI developers were hired by Yuke's to develop a game with gameplay style closer to their titles rather than Yuke's own SmackDown series on PlayStation, while taking advantage of GameCube's graphical capabilities compared to Nintendo 64.[4]

The game's development was complete before the World Wrestling Federation's lawsuit with the World Wildlife Fund, but was released afterwards, causing the packaging to be initially released with the unabbreviated "World Wrestling Federation" before changing to feature the new World Wrestling Entertainment logo. Although the packaging and paraphernalia feature the WWE logo, the actual game still contains the WWF logo, however the logos were removed from the "fist" SmackDown (the "ovaltron" stage is also included) and Raw stages. In addition, Stone Cold Steve Austin was replaced with The Rock in the cover on later releases due to Austin's walkout from the promotion following the game's release.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic64/100[5]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM7.83/10[6]
Famitsu32/40[7]
Game Informer6.5/10[8]
GameProStarStarStar[9]
GameSpot7.6/10[10]
GameZone6.1/10[11]
IGN7/10[2]
NGC Magazine70%[12]
Nintendo Power3.4/5[13]
Nintendo World Report(Powers) 6.5/10[14]
(Orlando) 5.5/10[15]

WWE WrestleMania X8 received "average" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[5] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 32 out of 40.[7]

Sequel

The game was succeeded by WWE WrestleMania XIX for the GameCube in 2003.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "WWF WrestleMania X8 - GameCube". http://www.ign.com/games/wwe-wrestlemania-x8/gcn-16669. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Mirabella III, Fran (7 June 2002). "WWE WrestleMania X8". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/07/wwe-wrestlemania-x8. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 IGN staff (6 June 2002). "Ringside with WrestleMania X8". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/06/ringside-with-wrestlemania-x8. 
  4. ↑ IGN Staff. "WrestleMania X8 Hands-on Report". https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/01/26/wrestlemania-x8-hands-on-report. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "WWE WrestleMania X8 for GameCube Reviews". http://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/wwe-wrestlemania-x8. 
  6. ↑ EGM staff (August 2002). "WWE WrestleMania X8". Electronic Gaming Monthly: 137. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "ニンテンドーゲームキューブ - レッスルマニア X8(エイティーン)". Famitsu 915: 100. 30 June 2006. 
  8. ↑ Leeper, Justin (August 2002). "WWE Wrestlemania X8". Game Informer (112): 82. http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200208/R03.0801.1557.22321.htm. Retrieved 20 February 2015. 
  9. ↑ The D-Pad Destroyer (11 June 2002). "WWE WrestleMania X8 Review for GameCube on GamePro.com". GamePro. http://gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/24147.shtml. Retrieved 20 February 2015. 
  10. ↑ Varanini, Giancarlo (10 June 2002). "[WWE WrestleMania X8 Review"]. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/wrestlemania-x8/1900-2870138/. 
  11. ↑ Tha Wiz (13 July 2002). "WWE Wrestlemania X8 Review - GameCube". GameZone. http://gamecube.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r19395.htm. 
  12. ↑ Hall, Lee (2002). "WWE WrestleMania X8". NGC Magazine. http://gamesradar.msn.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?subsectionid=168&articleid=64229&pagetype=2. Retrieved 20 February 2015. 
  13. ↑ "WWE WrestleMania X8". Nintendo Power 158: 146. July 2002. 
  14. ↑ Powers, Rick (11 June 2002). "WWE WrestleMania X8". Nintendo World Report. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/3904/wwe-wrestlemania-x8-gamecube. 
  15. ↑ Orlando, Mike (28 August 2002). "WWE WrestleMania X8". Nintendo World Report. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/3940/wwe-wrestlemania-x8-gamecube. 
  • 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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