Software:Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98

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Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98
Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98 box art.
European Nintendo 64 cover art
Developer(s)Software Creations
Publisher(s)Midway Home Entertainment
Platform(s)Nintendo 64, PlayStation
Release
  • NA: December 3, 1997[1]
  • EU: June 1, 1998
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98 is an ice hockey game for the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation, released in 1997. The game is endorsed by hockey star Wayne Gretzky, and is the sequel to Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey.

The game gained widespread criticism for its lack of changes from the original Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey; while the gameplay was tweaked and the A.I. was made tougher, the graphics, music, and sound effects were largely recycled from the original game.

Gameplay

Gameplay consists of two basic options: Arcade and Simulation. Although the graphics and gameplay vary little between the two, other changes have the effect of changing the chemistry and intensity of gameplay between the two options. The gamer has the ability to customize period length, fatigue (on/off), line changes, fighting (on/off), penalties (simulation only), rink size (arcade only), puck-streak (on/off), and camera angle.

  • Simulation Mode

Simulation mode is designed to emulate the real game of hockey. Players may play five, four, or three to a side, depending on preference. Recognition of penalties, off-sides, and icing are all optional, but two-line pass is not considered. Period length can be selected between 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes.

  • Arcade Mode

During the Arcade mode checking, hooking, and tripping are more violent. Fights occur with greater frequency, and penalties are disregarded entirely. Additionally, arcade mode sees the introduction of a "power shot", which a player may utilize to light the net on fire after a goal. Arcade mode tends to be more exciting. By using a code, players can access an additional division in arcade mode that features 4 teams that have since relocated (the rosters are that of the (then) current franchise): Quebec Nordiques (Colorado Avalanche), Hartford Whalers (Carolina Hurricanes), Minnesota North Stars (Dallas Stars) and Winnipeg Jets (Phoenix Coyotes). This division cannot be used however in season mode.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings62% (N64)[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM7/10 (N64)[3]
Game Informer7.75/10 (N64)[4]
GameFan83% (N64)[5]
Hyper68% (PS1)[6]
IGN5.8/10 (N64)[7]
N64 Magazine70% (N64)[8]
Next GenerationStarStar (N64)[9]

The game received generally mediocre reviews. While most critics still liked the series' fast, unrealistic gameplay,[3][7][9][10] they also overwhelmingly complained that the '98 installment was largely unchanged from the original Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey.[3][7][9][10] Kraig Kujawa, for example, wrote in Electronic Gaming Monthly that "I don't think that the adjustments they made warrant buying this game if you have last year's version."[3] Next Generation stated that "last year's hit is this year's deja vu - don't be sucked in by Midway's hype. If you own the original, there's nothing in the update that justifies a purchase."[9] GamePro was more positive, saying that the recycled elements still hold up, but still advised that players who already owned the original game should rent the '98 edition before deciding whether to buy it.[10] N64.com (later renamed IGN) concluded, "Last year, N64.com gave the original Wayne Gretzky 3D Hockey a rating of 8, and it deserves every single point. Does that mean that this year's version, arguably the same title brought out one year later, deserves the same score? Absolutely not. We don't recommend that you go out and spend the $60 to get a duplicate of a game you already own."[7]

Critics had sharply differing opinions about the new A.I. While some praised the tougher goalie A.I. as the strongest improvement in an otherwise unchanged game,[3][10] others complained that the new goalies are virtually infallible, and that the A.I. improvement in the other players is negligible.[7][9]

References

  1. ↑ "GameSpot: Video Games News: New Gretzky Hits Stores". 2001-11-06. http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2468243,00.html. 
  2. ↑ "Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98 for Nintendo 64". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/n64/574500-wayne-gretzkys-3d-hockey-98/index.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Review Crew: Gretzky Hockey '98". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (102): 155. January 1998. 
  4. ↑ "Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98 - Nintendo 64". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (57). January 1998. http://www.gameinformer.com/cgi-bin/review.cgi?sys=n64&path=jan98&doc=gretzky. Retrieved December 16, 2020. 
  5. ↑ Jacques Strap; The Rookie (December 1997). "NHL Gretzkey Hockey [sic"]. GameFan (Metropolis Media) 5 (12): 114. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_5_Issue_12/page/n119/mode/2up. Retrieved December 16, 2020. 
  6. ↑ Shea, Cam (July 1998). "Wayne Gretzky 98 [sic (PS)"]. Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (57): 79. http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-687-79.jpg. Retrieved December 17, 2020. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Harris, Craig (February 25, 1998). "Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/02/26/wayne-gretzkys-3d-hockey-98-2. 
  8. ↑ Kitts, Martin (June 1998). "Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (16): 56. http://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-497-56.jpg. Retrieved December 16, 2020. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 "Wayne Gretzky's 3D Hockey '98". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (39): 108–9. March 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_39/page/n111/mode/2up. Retrieved December 16, 2020. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 The Rookie (December 1997). "The Pucks Keep Coming in the House that Wayne Built". GamePro (IDG) (111): 186. 
  • 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 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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