Software:Widget (video game)

From HandWiki
Widget
Developer(s)Graphic Research
Publisher(s)Atlus
Designer(s)K. Onishi
R. Saito
Programmer(s)R. Takahashi
Y. Mizutani
Composer(s)Shinji Tachikawa
Fumito Tamayama
T. Uchibori
Yoko Kawashima
Platform(s)Nintendo Entertainment System
Release
Genre(s)Action, platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Widget is an action-platform video game series created for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the 1990s by Atlus. It was based on the cartoon series Widget the World Watcher, which stars a purple alien named Widget. The original game came out in 1992, followed by the sequel Super Widget on the Super NES in 1993.

Widget

The original Widget video game was released in 1992. In this game, Widget must stop his evil twin from destroying the planet Earth. Widget can shoot pellets out of a gun. There are five levels, and the player can choose which order to play the middle four levels. After beating a level, Widget gains the ability to transform into a new form (including a golem, a cannon, a bird and a speedy mouse).

The game has various bugs, including numerous errors that allow the player to move through walls. Other bugs are capable of crashing the game or warping the player to the next room of a level. Many of these glitches are exploited by speed-runs of the game.

Super Widget

Reviews for Super Widget (SNES)
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarHalf star[1]
EGM4/10[2]
GamePro4.5/5[lower-alpha 1]
Nintendo Power3.15/5[lower-alpha 2]

Super Widget is a video game for the SNES made in 1993 by Atlus. It is a sequel to Widget for the NES. In the game, a new alien force threatens Earth. Widget, with his sidekick Mega-Brain, must explore the Horsehead Nebula and save the planet once again.

The game is a platform game in which Widget must travel through various planets in his quest to reach the rank of World Watcher. In these planets, Widget would need to traverse rigorous terrain and collect "W" coins along the way. One hundred of the coins would grant Widget an extra life. In his natural state, Widget can only succumb to one hit before losing a life. However, if he could find tokens with letters embedded on them, he can transform into a more powerful creature that can take more hits. If he collects another identical token, Widget will evolve once again and take the form of an even greater creature – one that can take three hits before losing a life. If three are collected, the player will get a forcefield that can act as a shield from one hit.

Unlike most platformers, performance is ranked on a grading scale of D-S (with S being the best rank possible). After conquering each level's boss, players are taken to a screen which evaluates the time it took to finish the level, combat rank and overall Watcher experience points. Rankings have no effect on the gameplay or the ending of the game.

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro scored Super Widget 4.5/5 twice for graphics and control, 5/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 for fun factor.[3]
  2. ↑ Nintendo Power scored 3/5 twice for challenge and play control, 3.5/5 for graphics/sound, and 3.1/5 for theme/fun.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Weiss, Brett Alan. "Super Widget". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115094524/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=2641. Retrieved March 7, 2021. 
  2. ↑ Semrad, Ed; Carpenter, Danyon; Alessi, Martin; Sushi-X; Weigand, Mike (October 1993). "Review Crew". Electronic Gaming Monthly 6 (10): 32–44. https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_51/page/n39/mode/2up. Retrieved February 16, 2021. 
  3. ↑ Ms. Demeanor (June 1993). "Super Widget". GamePro (47): 74. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_047_June_1993/page/n73/mode/2up. Retrieved March 7, 2021. 
  4. ↑ "Now Playing". Nintendo Power 50: 102–107. July 1993. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-127-december-1999/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20050%20July%201993/page/101/mode/2up. Retrieved March 7, 2021. 
  5. ↑ "Super Widget" (in es). Superjuegos (25): 96–98. https://archive.org/details/SuperJuegos_025/page/n95/mode/2up. Retrieved March 7, 2021. 
  6. ↑ Nicholson, Zy (October 1993). "Super Widget". Super Play (12): 70. https://archive.org/details/Superplay_Issue_12_1993-10_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n69/mode/2up. Retrieved March 7, 2021. 
  • Widget at IGN
  • 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:Widget_(video_game)&oldid=792418"