Software:Whispers of a Machine

From HandWiki
Short description: 2019 point-and-click adventure video game
Whispers of a Machine
Humble Store header
Developer(s)Clifftop Games, Faravid Interactive
Publisher(s)Raw Fury
EngineAdventure Game Studio
Platform(s)Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Release17 April 2019
Genre(s)Point-and-click adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Whispers of a Machine is a point-and-click adventure video game developed by Clifftop Games and Faravid Interactive, and published by Raw Fury in April 2019.

Plot

Whispers of a Machine is set in a futuristic Sweden. The player is an augmented government agent, Vera Englund, who arrives in a small town to investigate a murder.[1][2]

Gameplay

Whispers of a Machine is a point-and-click adventure game.[3] There are several different cybernetic augmentations that the player character can use to investigate the environment. Forensic scanner is used to scan a room for DNA and fingerprints. Biometric analyser is used to monitor suspect's heartrate. Muscle boost gives Vera super strength for a short time.[3][1] Picking dialogue choices gives points to different personality traits: empathetic, analytical, or assertive. These lead to different augmentations and puzzle solutions.[2]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic77/100[4]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Adventure Gamers4/5[3]
GameSpot7/10[2]
PC Gamer (US)70/100[5]

Whispers of a Machine garnered generally positive reviews, and holds an average of 77/100 on aggregate web site Metacritic.[4]

John Walker of Rock Paper Shotgun gave an overall positive review: "I really enjoyed it, I really appreciated having a methodical, forthright adventure game to play, with excellent art and animations, good music, great acting, and a story worth hearing. I just wish I'd been more of a detective as I did it."[1]

The game was a nominee for Best Adventure and won the Reader's Choice award at the 2019 Aggie Awards.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Walker, John (18 April 2019). "Wot I Think: Whispers Of A Machine". Gamer Network. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/whispers-of-a-machine-review. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 O'Connor, James (15 May 2019). "Whispers of a Machine Review - Hushed Greatness". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/whispers-of-a-machine-review-hushed-greatness/1900-6417134/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Tekaia, Pascal (19 April 2019). "Review for Whispers of a Machine". https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/37574. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Whispers of a Machine for PC Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/whispers-of-a-machine/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  5. ↑ Chalk, Andy (27 April 2019). "Whispers of a Machine review". Future plc. https://www.pcgamer.com/whispers-of-a-machine-review/. 
  6. ↑ "The Aggie Awards – The Best Adventure Games of 2019". 7 February 2020. https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/39494/page17. 
  • Official website
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari




Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Software:Whispers_of_a_Machine&oldid=3960744"