Software:Xyanide

From HandWiki

Xyanide is a video game developed by Playlogic Entertainment and published by Evolved Games for the Xbox in 2006. Described as an "innovative amalgam of 2D shooting and modern 3D effects",[1] Xyanide is a 3D interpretation of the 2D side-scrolling shoot 'em up genre. The game was developed in line with a series of unreleased titles for the Game Boy Advance by Engine Software and Nokia N-Gage by Overloaded Pocket Media, with a mobile version of the game being released in 2005. Xyanide was released in 2006 as the final exclusive title to be released for the Xbox. A PAL version was planned to release but got cancelled.[2] Despite this the game features different languages, including German and France and is region free.[3] A sequel of the game, Software:Xyanide: Resurrection, released by Playlogic in 2007 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable and PC.

Gameplay

A screenshot of gameplay in Xyanide.

Xyanide is a shoot 'em up game in which players navigate six 3D levels that alternate between side-scrolling and three-dimensional perspectives and feature branching paths. Players control their ship using a two-stick control scheme, with the left stick controlling movement and the right stick controlling the aim of weapons.[4] Core weapons include a spread gun for smaller ships, a laser for larger enemies, and an auxiliary missile launcher that can lock onto targets. The player's ship and weapons can transform during stages by collecting one of two branches of 'mutator' upgrades, with players able to switch between mutations during gameplay. 'Mech' upgrades enhance the player's laser, and 'Organic' upgrades enhance the player's spread gun, with each providing a range of additional unique abilities.[1] Player performance in levels is ranked with a scoring system, with points accumulated by killing enemies, as well as bonus points earned from acquiring abilities, with scores able to be uploaded to Xbox Live. The game features multiplayer gameplay using local co-op using a second controller.[5] While Xbox Live was shut down on April 15, 2010. Xyanide is supported online with replacement online servers for the Xbox called Insignia.[6][7]

Plot

An intergalactic witch named Aguira has been captured and sentenced to death for her dreadful crimes, but a spaceship transporting Aguira to her execution was struck by an asteroid. To her surprise, the asteroid was rich in Xyanide, a mythical substance known for its abilities to make an exposed person's thoughts become reality. Taking advantage of the situation, the witch uses her new powers to create her own alternate universe as a tool to aid her escape and spread her destructive influence. It is up to the escort pilot Drake to try and stop the evil Aguira from accomplishing her goals and to carry out the sentence.[8]

Development

Xyanide was announced by Dutch developer Playlogic Entertainment in June 2003 and developed at the Game Factory, an in-house studio based in Breda.[9] It was planned to release the game first in Q4 2003.[10]The game was showcased by Playlogic International at E3 in May 2004.[11] In September 2005, development of Xyanide was completed with the game entering a beta testing phase.[12] Ports of Xyanide were also planned by Playlogic for handheld consoles and mobile. Xyanide Advance, a port for the Game Boy Advance developed by Engine Software following their acquisition by Playlogic,[13] was an unreleased title planned for release in Europe in 2004,[14] with an advance release trailer of gameplay released in January 2004.[15] A port of the game for mobile and the Nokia N-Gage by Overloaded Pocket Media was also developed,[16] with a demo of the game being released in February 2005.[17] The design of the ports aimed to prioritise the "look and feel of the original Xbox title, using similar assets compressed to the resolution of portable devices.[18] The mobile port of the game was released in 2005.[19]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic70/100[20]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpot8.1/10[4]
GamesRadar+StarStarStar[21]
GameZone7.7/10[22]
IGN6.3/10[23]
OXM (US)7/10[24]
Play9.0[25]
TeamXbox7/10[26]
X-PlayStarStar[27]
Gaming Target6.9[28]

Xyanide received lukewarm reviews from critics, with review aggregation website Metacritic recording "mixed or average reviews" for the game at an average score of 70% across 16 reviews.[20] Reviewers were mixed on the game's graphics, with positive reviews praising its unique tone and visual presentation. Writing for Play, Dave Halverson praised the tone of the game as "exquisite", praising the "hypnotic" opening cutscene and "eerily serene" effects "as if a cinematographer crafted the voyage."[25] Play subsequently awarded the game as the "best traditional shooter" of 2006, stating the game's "esoteric sci-fi air" and "surreal settings" made Xyanide a "unique experience".[29] However, whilst Greg Kasavin of GameSpot praised the "trippy presentation" of the game, he noted it was "somewhat bewildering" and "prone to some unsightly drops in the frame rate."[4] Similarly, Erik Brudvig of IGN critiqued the game's graphics, stating "the levels look pretty at first, but quickly become nauseating and boring when the same backgrounds continuously scroll by awkwardly."[23]

Reviewers were similarly mixed on the accessibility of the game's control scheme and handling. Zak Downing of Gaming Target described Xyanide as a "very well controlled game", praising the handling as "smooth and engaging", although critiquing the "constantly moving" and "irregular" camera movement.[28] Erik Brudvig of IGN noted that controlling the player's ship was "simple and intuitive", but noted "you won't always be able to shoot the target you're trying to aim for", remarking "the targeting is spotty" and "the aiming system (is) awkward".[23] Writing for GameSpot, Greg Kasavin stated the game was "relatively hard to get into", citing the lack of guidance from the user interface and the "unclear" differentiation of weapons, although finding the difficulty level for the game appropriate.[4] Douglas Trueman of GamesRadar expressed frustration with the targeting, stating "since the game automatically targets enemies on all three axes, players will occasionally find themselves firing into the distance while enemies...swarm in for the kill."[21]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Xyanide". Edge (128): 40. October 2003. https://archive.org/details/Edge_Gaming/Edge%20Gaming%20Magazine%20128/page/n31/mode/2up?q=Xyanide. 
  2. ↑ GamePro Germany 06/2004 p.86
  3. ↑ "MobCat's OG Xbox Title ID DB v0.9" (in en). https://mobcat.zip/XboxIDs/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Kasavin, Greg (August 18, 2006). "Xyanide Review". Red Ventures. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/xyanide-review/1900-6156056/. 
  5. ↑ Xyanide - Game Manual. Playlogic. 2006. https://archive.org/details/MicrosoftXboxManuals/Xyanide%20%28USA%29. 
  6. ↑ "Insignia - Xyanide" (in en). https://insignia.live/games/50430001. 
  7. ↑ Xbox, Pure (2023-11-16). "Xbox Live 1.0 Replacement 'Insignia' Now Supports 150 Games" (in en-GB). https://www.purexbox.com/news/2023/11/xbox-live-1-0-replacement-insignia-now-supports-150-games. 
  8. ↑ "Xyanide". Xbox Nation (10): 62–63. October–November 2003. https://archive.org/details/xbox-nation-issue-10-october-november-2003/page/n61/mode/2up?q=Xyanide. 
  9. ↑ "First look: Xyanide". 15 July 2003. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-look-xyanide/1100-6071674/. 
  10. ↑ "Wayback Machine". http://www.playlogicinternational.com/. 
  11. ↑ E3 2004 Directory - Official Exhibit Guide. Prima Games. 2004. pp. 75. https://archive.org/details/e-3-2004-directory-official-exhibit-guide. 
  12. ↑ "Breathtaking Shoot´em up Xyanide prepares its blasters for Microsoft's Xbox". 12 September 2005. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/breathtaking-shootacuteem-up-xyanide-prepares-its-blasters-for-microsoftrsquos-xbox. 
  13. ↑ Calvert, Justin (16 July 2003). "Playlogic games coming to GBA". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playlogic-games-coming-to-gba/1100-6071758/. 
  14. ↑ Harris, Craig (29 January 2004). "Xyanide Blasting to GBA". https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/28/xyanide-blasting-to-gba. 
  15. ↑ "Xyanide Advance Game Boy Gameplay". 28 January 2004. https://www.ign.com/videos/xyanide-advance-game-boy-gameplay. 
  16. ↑ Calvert, Justin (3 December 2003). "Xyanide coming to N-Gage". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xyanide-coming-to-n-gage/1100-6084819/. 
  17. ↑ "Something wicked this way comes!!!!". 7 February 2005. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/something-wicked-this-way-comes. 
  18. ↑ "Xyanide Mobile". 2007. http://www.playlogicgames.com/games/?id=xyanidemobile. 
  19. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (5 October 2005). "Xyanide". https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/10/04/xyanide. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Xyanide Critic Reviews for Xbox". Red Ventures. https://www.metacritic.com/game/xyanide/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Trueman, Douglas (12 September 2006). "Xyanide Review". https://www.gamesradar.com/xyanide-review/. 
  22. ↑ Pettinelli, Derek (September 5, 2006). "Xyanide - XB - Review". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/xyanide_xb_review/. 
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Brudvig, Erik (August 29, 2006). "Xyanide Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/08/29/xyanide-review. 
  24. ↑ "Xyanide". Official Xbox Magazine (Future US): 81. October 2006. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Halverson, Dave (December 2006). "Xyanide". Play (60): 60. https://archive.org/details/Play_060_Dec_2006/page/n61/mode/2up?q=Xyanide. 
  26. ↑ Ahearn, Nate (September 5, 2006). "Xyanide Review (Xbox)". IGN Entertainment. http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/1212/Xyanide/p1/. 
  27. ↑ Adam Sessler (2006). Xyanide Review (G4TV).
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Downing, Zak (4 October 2006). "Xyanide". https://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=6087. 
  29. ↑ "2006: Year in Review". Play: 53. February 2007. https://archive.org/details/Play_Feb_2007/page/n49. 
  • Official website (Playlogic Entertainment)
  • Official website (Evolved Games)
  • 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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