Software:Wild Earth (video game)

From HandWiki
Wild Earth
Developer(s)Super X
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, motion simulation rides, Wii
ReleaseOnline
Windows
  • FRA: March 16, 2006
  • RU: September 18, 2006
  • NA: November 16, 2006
  • EU: April 5, 2007
Wii
  • NA: April 22, 2008
  • AU: September 12, 2008
  • EU: 2008
Genre(s)Motion simulator
Mode(s)Single-player

Wild Earth is a safari video game and motion simulator ride by Super X Studios. The player photographs 30 types of animals as a photojournalist in Serengeti National Park. It was first released as an online video game in France on March 17, 2006, and in North America on April 24, 2006. Akella published the game for Microsoft Windows as Safari Photo Africa: Wild Earth on September 18, 2006, and Ubisoft published it as Wild Earth: Photo Safari in November 2006, while Xplosiv published it as Wild Earth: Africa on April 5, 2007. Majesco later published a Wii version, Wild Earth: African Safari, in 2008. The game was also installed as a motion simulator ride in multiple American zoos. It won several awards including the grand prize at the 2003 Independent Games Festival.

Gameplay

Screenshot of gameplay

Wild Earth is a safari video game in which players explore and photograph African safari environments.[3] The player acts as a photojournalist in Serengeti National Park and is set to photograph 30 different types of animals, from hyenas to rhinoceroses. In the Wii version, the controller rumbles when the player strays too close to the animals, which affects the camera's steadiness.[4] The game was also installed as a motion simulation ride at zoos including the Philadelphia Zoo, Zoo Miami, and San Diego Zoo.[5]

Development

Super X, an indie developer based in Seattle, built Wild Earth for release on Microsoft Windows and supposedly Xbox, before the latter version was later canceled in 2005 or early 2006. The team won the game design innovation, visual art innovation, and grand prize at the Independent Games Festival in 2003.[3] They had previously worked on Far Gate, which won the audience award at the same festival in 2000.[6] In December 2005, Wild Earth's production was complete but Super X ended its agreement with British publisher Digital Jesters when the latter was being restructured.[3] The game was released as an online video game in 2006.[2][1] Russian game developer Akella published the game for release on September 18, 2006.[citation needed] A bit later, Super X announced that Ubisoft would publish the game. They released the game a week later, on November 16, 2006.[5] A later agreement with Discovery Channel and Animal Planet brought the game to Europe, where it was published by Xplosiv on April 5, 2007.[citation needed] In 2008, Majesco announced a related and Wii-exclusive version of the title, Wild Earth: African Safari.[4]

On March 23, 2022, the game was re-released on Steam as Wild Earth - Africa.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
PCWii
Eurogamer5/10[9]N/A
Game InformerN/A5.75/10[10]
GameZone7.8/10[12]5/10[13]
IGNN/A5/10[14]
Jeuxvideo.com13/20[2]12/20[15]
PC Format71%[16]N/A
PC Gamer (UK)79%[17]N/A
PC Zone64%[18]N/A
VideoGamer.com7/10[19]N/A
USA TodayN/A8/10[20]
Aggregate score
Metacritic72/100[7]60/100[8]

The game received "mixed or average reviews" on both platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[7][8]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Wild Earth is Here". April 24, 2006. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090331195708/http://www.gamezone.com/news/04_23_06_11_54PM.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Romendil (March 16, 2006). "Test: Safari Photo En Afrique" (in fr). Webedia. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201126102446/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00006378_test.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Carless, Simon (December 1, 2005). "IGF Winner Super X Moves Wild Earth From Digital Jesters". Informa. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210824090045/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/98316/IGF_Winner_Super_X_Moves_Wild_Earth_From_Digital_Jesters.php. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Alexander, Leigh (December 13, 2007). "Majesco Announces Wii Exclusive Photo Safari Title". Informa. Archived from the original on August 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210824090130/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/107582/Majesco_Announces_Wii_Exclusive_Photo_Safari_Title.php. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Super X Studios Announces that Safari Photo Africa: Wild Earth Will Be Published by Ubisoft". November 7, 2006. Archived from the original on March 31, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090331205853/http://www.gamezone.com/news/11_07_06_08_17PM.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  6. ↑ "Super X Studios Makes the Cut Again". December 11, 2002. Archived from the original on March 14, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050314152742/http://pc.gamezone.com/news/12_11_02_01_34AM.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Wild Earth: Photo Safari Critic Reviews for PC". Fandom. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160309060712/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/wild-earth-photo-safari/critic-reviews. Retrieved March 17, 2016. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Wild Earth: African Safari Critic Reviews for Wii". Fandom. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141117131420/https://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/wild-earth-african-safari/critic-reviews. Retrieved March 17, 2016. 
  9. ↑ Allen, Darren (April 30, 2007). "PC Game Roundup". Gamer Network. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110218/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/pc-game-roundup-review. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  10. ↑ Reiner, Andrew (July 2008). "Wild Earth: African Safari". Game Informer (GameStop) (183). Archived from the original on September 28, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080928112252/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/A155D607-BF57-4529-93A0-0F4B675A6AA8.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  11. ↑ Fouquet, Gaël (June 14, 2006). "Test : Safari Photo : le devoir de réserve" (in fr). TF1 Group. Archived from the original on January 1, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070101060735/http://www.gamekult.com/tout/jeux/fiches/J000075452_test.html. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  12. ↑ Hollingshead, Anise (July 17, 2006). "Wild Earth: African Safari [sic - PC - Review"]. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081004072737/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r21332.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  13. ↑ Zacarias, Eduardo (May 5, 2008). "Wild Earth: African Safari - WII - Review". Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081006151916/http://wii.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r21332.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  14. ↑ Casamassina, Matt (June 4, 2008). "Wild Earth: African Safari Review". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 8, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130708072120/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/04/wild-earth-african-safari-review. Retrieved March 17, 2016. 
  15. ↑ dharn (October 6, 2008). "Test: Wild Earth : African Safari" (in fr). Webedia. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220709150736/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00009739-wild-earth-african-safari-test.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  16. ↑ "Wild Earth Africa". PC Format (Future plc) (200): 67. May 2007. 
  17. ↑ Meer, Alec (May 2007). "Wild Earth Africa". PC Gamer UK (Future plc): 90. Archived from the original on May 14, 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20070514072704/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=162516&site=pcg. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  18. ↑ "Safari Photo Africa: Wild Earth". PC Zone (Future plc): 82. October 2006. 
  19. ↑ Orry, Tom (May 16, 2007). "Wild Earth [Africa Review [date mislabeled as "June 6, 2021"]"]. Resero Network. Archived from the original on November 24, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121124002830/http://www.pro-g.co.uk/pc/wild_earth/review.html. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  20. ↑ Gudmundsen, Jinny (June 26, 2008). "Roam the Serengeti in 'Wild Earth African Safari'". USA Today (Gannett Company). Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190219104257/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/jinnygudmundsen/2008-06-26-wild-earth_N.htm. Retrieved June 20, 2023. 
  • 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



  • 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





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