Software:Wheelman (video game)

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Short description: 2009 video game
Wheelman
Developer(s)Tigon Studios
Midway Studios – Newcastle
Publisher(s)
Producer(s)Joe Neate
Jemma Harris
Writer(s)Flint Dille
John Zuur Platten
Composer(s)Jorge & Guillermo Badolato
EngineUnreal Engine 3
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release
  • NA: March 24, 2009[1]
  • AU: March 26, 2009
  • EU: March 27, 2009[1]
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Wheelman is an action-adventure video game developed by Tigon Studios and Midway Studios – Newcastle and published by Ubisoft in conjunction with Midway Games for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The game was released in March 2009 and stars Vin Diesel.

Gameplay

The game is set in an open world environment modeled after Barcelona, full of destructible objects, alleyways, shortcuts through office blocks and a total of 31 story missions and 105 side missions. While most missions are driving-oriented, there are also foot missions which are played from a third person perspective. A wide variety of weapons are available to the player, such as pistols, assault rifles and RPGs. The game features a unique element called "Airjack", where players are able to hijack an enemy or civilian vehicle by locking on and jumping in from the one they are driving.

Among the vehicles used by Milo Burik in the game is the Pontiac G8[2] and the Opel Astra.[3] In the demo, the license plate says MRTL KM8T which is a reference to Mortal Kombat, Midway's popular fighting game.

Plot

Milo Burik, an undercover agent for the CIA, is assigned to the investigate a briefcase containing classified documents, which the various criminal factions of Barcelona plan on stealing and selling to the highest bidder. Milo is then placed under the supervision of Anton Gallo, the assistant bureau chief, and makes his presence within the city known by acting as a getaway driver for Lumi Vega, an independent thief who is supposedly assembling a team for a potential heist. Afterwards, Milo infiltrates the Chulos Canallas, where Milo befriends Miguel Delgado, the enforcer and brother of the gang's leader, Stavo. After retrieving some stolen vehicles, Milo confronts Felipe Lial, the nephew of Paulo Lial, the head of Los Lantos, the most powerful criminal organization in the city. Because of Felipe's opportunist nature and dissatisfaction with Los Lantos, Milo discovers that he has been in touch with the different criminal factions and revealing private information about each of them. Following this, Milo intimidates Felipe into providing a meeting with Paulo, who becomes impressed with the former's courage and driving skills before ordering him to escort Felipe to a deal with other gangsters in the city; Milo interrogates Felipe regarding the different criminal factions. Afterwards, the deal goes wrong and Felipe betrays Milo before escaping with Lumi, who has selected the former to be her wheelman for the unknown heist, alongside Javier Ramos, her computer scientist and known associate.

Following this, Milo approaches Adrian McGann, who provides him with information, and learns that Micca the Morro, an associate of Felipe, is attempting to become independent. Afterwards, Milo captures Micca and interrogates him for the location of Felipe, though he is unsure of the latter's current whereabouts and reveals that he was working with each of the criminal factions. Simultaneously, Adrian advises Milo to approach Sorin Teodor, the enforcer of a Romanian gang led by Radu Negrea. However, Sorin is unsure of Felipe's whereabouts, though he agrees to work with Milo after he completes a favor for him. Afterwards, Milo works with Canallas lieutenant Che Taraval to rescue Miguel from the Romanians, impressing Stavo. Milo is hired to participate as a wheelman and bodyguard for a heist against the Romanians, in which they kill several gangsters and steal a truck containing weapons, which leads to both factions exploring the possibility of war with one another. Following this, Milo returns to Sorin who asks Milo to deliver a peace offering to the Canallas. However, Milo discovers that Miguel has been beaten and wired to a bomb, and has also been ditched inside a damaged vehicle that is wanted by the police. After avoiding the police, Milo delivers Miguel to the Canallas and they successfully defuse the bomb, earning Stavo's gratitude. Afterwards, Milo returns to Los Lantos and is tasked with kidnapping a rogue information broker before delivering him to Paulo's henchmen, who take him to his own mansion to be sold to the highest bidder. However, the police raid the mansion and arrest Paulo's men before taking the broker away, though Milo intercepts and steals the broker's tracking device before rescuing Paulo's men.

Eventually, Milo is brought back by Sorin to meet Radu, who offers him another chance to prove his loyalty by destroying the newspaper advertisements and the office building of the newspaper company that is partnered with the Canallas in retaliation for the heist. Soon after, all three factions track down the documents to the La Monumental bullring and engage in a gunfight in an attempt to retrieve them; Milo arrives and guns down several gangsters, though the Romanians' reinforcements arrive and steal the documents. Following a brief pursuit, Milo kills Sorin, allowing Che to retrieve the documents before fleeing to the subway station and stealing one of the trains. However, Milo pursues and shoots Che, who is killed in the ensuing crash whilst the former retrieves the documents. Afterwards, Milo tracks down Felipe and pursues him to the Barcelona Cathedral, where Lumi dismisses his concerns over Felipe's true loyalties. Later, Felipe demands that Milo meet with him, though he ambushes him with the other Romanians. Felipe is killed in the ensuing gunfight, and Milo discovers a dagger with Romanian engraving on it, which he uses to prove the Felipe's deception to Lumi and Javier. Simultaneously, Milo works for each faction in upsetting the balance of power by massacring, ultimately exposing his undercover status in the process, and depending on which faction was attacked the worst, Milo is forced to eliminate either Paulo, Stavo or Radu in the midst of the gang war. Afterwards, Lumi and Javier are cornered by one of the surviving gangs in the cathedral, leading to a gunfight that results in the death of the leader of the gang and the destruction of the cathedral. Milo, Lumi and Javier escape and use the documents to track down the briefcase, which they successfully steal from the buyer. Unfortunately, the briefcase is stolen by the remaining faction, forcing them to kill the surviving leader and retrieve the briefcase, though Javier is killed in the process. Afterwards, Milo and Lumi approach Gallo, who reveals Milo's undercover status to Lumi before stealing the briefcase. Following this, Milo pursues Gallo to his yacht and drives a car over a ramp at the docks, exiting before it destroys the yacht, killing Gallo, before parting ways with Lumi and ensuring that her death is faked to keep her safe.

Development

Wheelman was announced in February 2006 by publisher Midway Games as the second of three titles in a joint collaboration between Midway and MTV Networks.[4] Midway Games collaborated with Tigon Studios to design the game.[5] After multiple delays over the course of around three years, Wheelman was released in March 2009.

Film adaptation

Simultaneously with the announcement of the video game in February 2006, a film adaptation was announced with Vin Diesel in the lead role and Rich Wilkes, who worked with Diesel on xXx (2002), was hired to write the script. Paramount Pictures and MTV Films were announced to collaborate on the project.[4] Production of the film, with no script written yet, was estimated to be 18 months away from February 2006.[6] The film would be a sequel to the video game. However, the film was cancelled, after getting no updates since 2009.[7]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCPS3Xbox 360
EdgeN/AN/A4/10[8]
EurogamerN/AN/A5/10[9]
Game InformerN/A8.5/10[10]8.5/10[10]
GameProN/AStarStarStarStar[11]StarStarStarStar[11]
GameRevolutionD[12]D[12]D[12]
GameSpotN/A6/10[13]6/10[13]
GameTrailersN/A5.8/10[14]N/A
GameZone6/10[15]7/10[16]5.2/10[17]
Giant BombStarStarStar[18]StarStarStar[18]StarStarStar[18]
IGN4.8/10[19]4.8/10[20]4.8/10[20]
OXM (US)N/AN/A5/10[21]
PC Gamer (US)67%[22]N/AN/A
PSMN/AStarStarStar[23]N/A
The Daily TelegraphN/AN/A7/10[24]
Teletext GamecentralN/AN/A4/10[25]
Aggregate score
Metacritic58/100[26]66/100[27]64/100[28]

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[26][27][28] Many of the reviewers criticized the game for falling short of story mode and lacking multiplayer functionality. Giant Bomb's Jeff Gerstman said "Wheelman has some great ideas that are executed well, but a lot of the peripheral stuff is underwhelming."[18] GamePro, however, called the PlayStation and Xbox 360 versions "a GTA-meets-Burnout romp."[11] GameSpot said of the same console versions, "Wheelman offers plenty of movie-style thrills, although it's hamstrung by terrible on-foot gameplay."[13] Hyper's Darren Wells commended the game for "cool and useful special driving moves [and] genuinely new locale". However, he criticised it for "meaningless vehicle handling, cheating AI, poor on-foot level design [and] bland graphics".[29]

Tom Hoggins of The Daily Telegraph gave the Xbox 360 version a score of seven out of ten and said that it "isn't exactly the smartest video game out there. In fact, it's quite possibly the dumbest game I've played in a long while. However, it's wickedly self-aware of its own silliness and revels in it, leading to the kind of guilty pleasure that can only come with such a willful grasp of absurdity. And smashing things up, of course."[24] 411Mania gave the PS3 version six out of ten and said, "Wheelman will probably be a decent rental, and maybe a solid pick-up during Best Buy's awesome $10 clearance sales, but it's not worth a full retail purchase."[30] Teletext GameCentral gave the Xbox 360 version four out of ten and said, "Vin Diesel proves not to have the magic touch after all, with this technically inept Driver wannabe."[25]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Midway and Ubisoft announce strategic relationship to publish Wheelman". February 18, 2009. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090221064555/http://www.midway.com/us/pr/mpr_5593.html. Retrieved February 19, 2009. 
  2. ↑ "Pontiac G8 GT Featured in Wheelman – New Video Game and Movie with Vin Diesel". April 17, 2008. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080623225547/http://www.g8nation.com/2008/04/pontiac-g8-gt-featured-in-wheelman-new-video-game-and-movie-with-vin-diesel/. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  3. ↑ "Midway's Simon Woodroffe on Wheelman". Ferrago Ltd. December 16, 2008. Archived from the original on February 14, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090214144647/http://play.tm/interview/22648/midway-s-simon-woodroffe-on-wheelman/=en. Retrieved January 27, 2009. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 ""Wheelman" To Come to Life as Video Game Property and Feature Film; Vin Diesel to Star and Produce". February 22, 2006. Archived from the original on January 20, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080120065738/http://www.midway.com/rxpage/mpr_3977.html. Retrieved December 26, 2007. 
  5. ↑ Winda Benedetti (December 7, 2006). "Almost all that has been produced when video games go Hollywood, and movies become games, is a series of bombs. The first trailer told the new game engine with realistic graphics and car and foot missions. The successful blockbuster formula gets... lost in translation". Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Hearst Communications). 
  6. ↑ Eric Gwinn (February 28, 2006). "Vin, Midway put pedal to metal". Chicago Tribune (Tribune Publishing). https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-02-28-0602280262-story.html. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  7. ↑ Cotter, Padraig (April 9, 2022). "Wheelman is the Vin Diesel Action Movie Franchise That Wasn't". Screen Rant. https://screenrant.com/wheelman-movie-vin-diesel-failed-action-franchise/. 
  8. ↑ Edge staff (May 2009). "Wheelman (X360)". Edge (Future plc) (201): 95. 
  9. ↑ Tom Bramwell (March 26, 2009). "Wheelman (Xbox 360)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/wheelman-review. Retrieved December 2, 2018. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Matthew Kato (May 2009). "Wheelman (PS3, X360): Wheelman Delivers The Goods". Game Informer (GameStop) (193). Archived from the original on March 29, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090329085711/http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/EFE68847-2EA1-4499-91DD-1BA3168E36C3.htm. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Matt Cabral (May 2009). "Wheelman (PS3, X360)". GamePro (GamePro Media). Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607134542/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/209369/wheelman-ps3. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Ben Card (May 12, 2009). "Wheelman Review". CraveOnline. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714201400/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/wheelman. Retrieved December 2, 2018. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Guy Cocker (March 26, 2009). "Wheelman Review (PS3, X360)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/wheelman-review/1900-6206820/. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  14. ↑ "Wheelman (PS3)". Defy Media. April 8, 2009. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714164806/http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/g0t8p9/wheelman-review. Retrieved December 2, 2018. 
  15. ↑ Dan Liebman (March 28, 2009). "Wheelman – PC – Review". Archived from the original on April 4, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090404053556/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r28935.htm. Retrieved December 2, 2018. 
  16. ↑ Heath Hooker (April 15, 2009). "Wheelman – PS3 – Review". Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090419003515/http://ps3.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r28935.htm. Retrieved December 2, 2018. 
  17. ↑ Dakota Grabowski (March 28, 2009). "Wheelman – 360 – Review". Archived from the original on April 8, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090408133701/http://xbox360.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r28935.htm. Retrieved December 2, 2018. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 Jeff Gerstmann (April 13, 2009). "Wheelman Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/wheelman-review/1900-140/. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  19. ↑ Greg Miller (April 14, 2009). "Wheelman Review (PC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/04/14/wheelman-review. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Greg Miller (March 25, 2009). "Wheelman Review (PS3, X360)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/25/wheelman-review-3. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  21. ↑ Mike Channell (March 26, 2009). "Wheelman". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US). Archived from the original on March 28, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090328011723/http://www.oxmonline.com/article/xbox-soapbox/wheelman. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  22. ↑ "Wheelman". PC Gamer (Future US) 16 (6): 76. June 2009. 
  23. ↑ "Review: Wheelman". PlayStation: The Official Magazine (Future plc) (20): 82. June 2009. 
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Tom Hoggins (March 30, 2009). "Wheelman review (X360)". The Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/5075261/Wheelman-review.html. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Roger Hargreaves (March 2009). "Wheelman (360)". Teletext Ltd.. Archived from the original on April 1, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090401040009/http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/cd86589c27cd419add0de9330b1176aa/Wheelman+(360).aspx. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "Wheelman for PC Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/wheelman/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "Wheelman for PlayStation 3 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/wheelman/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-3. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "Wheelman for Xbox 360 Reviews". CBS Interactive. https://www.metacritic.com/game/wheelman/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-360. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  29. ↑ Darren Wells (April 2009). "Wheelman". Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (187): 52–53. ISSN 1320-7458. 
  30. ↑ Mark Salmela (April 29, 2009). "Wheelman (PS3) Review". Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090502185146/http://www.411mania.com/games/reviews/103247/Wheelman-(PS3)-Review.htm. Retrieved December 1, 2018. 
  • Wheelman on IMDb
  • 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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