Software:WWF Royal Rumble (2000 video game)

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Short description: Professional wrestling game
WWF Royal Rumble
Arcade flyer art featuring Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock.
Developer(s)Sega (Arcade)
Yuke's (Dreamcast)
Publisher(s)THQ
Yuke's (Japan release)[1]
Sega (arcade distribution)
Platform(s)Arcade, Dreamcast
ReleaseDreamcast
  • NA: 14 August 2000[2]
  • EU: 22 September 2000
  • JP: 26 April 2001
Arcade
  • WW: 2000
Genre(s)Fighting, sports
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer
Arcade systemSega NAOMI

WWF Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling video game released in 2000 for arcades and the Dreamcast. THQ published the title for the Dreamcast while Sega released it for arcades. It is based on the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) professional wrestling promotion and its yearly Royal Rumble event. This game took its influence from the event's 2000 edition.[3] Yuke's, creators of the WWF SmackDown! series, developed Royal Rumble, which had several unique features including support for up to nine wrestlers on the screen simultaneously.[4]

The Dreamcast version was released to mixed reviews that faulted its small roster and lack of gameplay modes.

Gameplay

Royal Rumble mode allows for more than eight characters on screen at once, including multiple instances of one wrestler; in this picture there are three Steve Austins.

The game has two modes, Exhibition and Royal Rumble. In Exhibition mode, the player chooses a wrestler along with a partner and wrestles a series of singles matches. The player's partner can interfere on the player's behalf on command. These partner moves can be used any number of times during the match, but must be recharged before they can be used again. The object of each match is to wear down the opponent using various attacks and grappling maneuvers, decreasing their life bar before ending the match by pinfall or knockout.[5]

Royal Rumble mode involves a multi-wrestler match in which the player must eliminate a certain number of opponents from the match within a time limit by sending them over the top rope and onto the floor. Eliminating opponents adds more time to the player's clock; eliminating larger wrestlers offers a higher time bonus. Due to size of the game's roster, wrestlers appear multiple times in the same Royal Rumble match.[5]

Each player has a super meter that fills up during the course of the match. When it fills up, the player receives an "S" icon, which can be used to instantly recover from pin attempts in Exhibition mode or re-enter the ring during a Royal Rumble match.[5]

This was Big Show's only video game appearance with the 2000 roster, as he was removed from WWF SmackDown! 2 and WWF No Mercy due to his demotion to Ohio Valley Wrestling. Coincidentally, he returned at the following year's Royal Rumble. Kurt Angle and Tazz (who debuted in a match against Angle on the 2000 edition of the titular pay-per-view) made their first WWF video game debuts in this game, before No Mercy and SmackDown! 2.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic66/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStar[7]
EGM5/10[9][lower-alpha 1]
Famitsu30/40[1]
GameFan(E.M.) 87%[10]
78%[11][lower-alpha 2]
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[12]
GameSpot6.5/10[5]
GameSpy4/10[13]
IGN5.2/10[4]
Next GenerationStarStarStar[14]
Maxim8/10[15]

The Dreamcast version received "average" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[6]

One of the biggest criticisms was of the small number of playable characters, which IGN called "paper thin" and GameSpot's Jeff Gerstmann called confining. The game's lack of modes was also criticized. IGN recommended other Japanese Dreamcast wrestling titles such as Toukon Retsuden and Giant Gram over Royal Rumble.[4][5] The earliest review came from PlanetDreamcast, which gave it a low score of four out of ten over a month before the game was released.[13] Daniel Erickson of NextGen said that the game is neither deep nor revolutionary but overall fun.[14] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40.[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Dreamcast version each a score of 5.5/10, and the other gave it 4/10.
  2. ↑ In GameFan's viewpoint of the Dreamcast version, three critics gave it each a score of 77, 82, and 76.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "ドリームキャスト - WWF ROYALRUMBLE" (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain) 915: 53. 30 June 2006. 
  2. ↑ "PR - 08/14/00 - THE MOST ELECTRIFYING BRAND IN SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT HAS ARRIVED ON THE SEGA DREAMCAST". 2000-08-19. http://www.thq.com/About/PressReleases/press-210.asp. 
  3. ↑ "WWF Royal Rumble (Arcade)". https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10386. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Dunham, Jeremy (15 August 2000). "WWF Royal Rumble (DC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/16/wwf-royal-rumble. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Gerstmann, Jeff (14 August 2000). "WWF Royal Rumble Review (DC)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/wwf-royal-rumble-review/1900-2615291/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "WWF Royal Rumble for Dreamcast Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/wwf-royal-rumble/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast. 
  7. ↑ Ottoson, Joe. "WWF Royal Rumble (DC) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25136&tab=review. 
  8. ↑ Ham, Tom (18 August 2000). "WWF Royal Rumble". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Dreamcast/Reviews/Wwfrr/. 
  9. ↑ Boyer, Crispin; Mielke, James "Milkman"; Funk, Joe (October 2000). "WWF Royal Rumble (DC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (135): 176. https://retrocdn.net/images/2/21/EGM_US_135.pdf. Retrieved 22 December 2021. 
  10. ↑ Mylonas, Eric "ECM" (October 2000). "WWF Royal Rumble (DC)". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (10): 45. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_10/page/n45/mode/2up. Retrieved 6 December 2020. 
  11. ↑ Van Stone, Matt "Kodomo"; Weitzner, Jason "Fury; Ngo, George "Eggo" (October 2000). "WWF Royal Rumble (DC)". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (10): 17. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_10/page/n17/mode/2up. Retrieved 6 December 2020. 
  12. ↑ The D-Pad Destroyer (15 August 2000). "WWF Royal Rumble Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/6384.shtml. Retrieved 28 February 2015. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Mr. Domino (3 July 2000). "WWF Royal Rumble". IGN Entertainment. http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/wwfroyalrumble/. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Erickson, Daniel (October 2000). "WWF Royal Rumble". NextGen (Imagine Media) (70): 113. https://archive.org/details/NextGen70Oct2000/page/n113/mode/2up. Retrieved 6 December 2020. 
  15. ↑ Boyce, Ryan (4 August 2000). "WWF Royal Rumble (DC)". Maxim (Biglari Holdings). http://www.maximonline.com/articles/review_videogames.asp?videogame_id=528. Retrieved 28 February 2015. 

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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