Software:Xyphus

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Xyphus is a role-playing video game first released in 1984. The game was designed by Skip Waller and Dave Albert, with a Mac version by Bob Hardy, for Penguin Software.[1] It was the first RPG on Macintosh. It had upgraded graphics and a mouse friendly user-interface. Xyphus is pronounced, Eks-see-foose, and is the Greek word for sword.

Plot

The game takes place in the world of Arroya 10,000 years after the demon lord Xyphus was defeated, but not killed. His heart had been ripped out, and magic amulets sprang from drops of his blood, becoming the source of all magic in Arroya. The land became forbidden to humankind for monsters and dangerous creatures of all kinds inhabit Arroya. But a great leader, Das, has arisen and vows to bring civilization back to Arroya. This can only be accomplished by a small band of mercenary troops recruited from the races of humans, elves, and dwarves. As told in song only this band can destroy Xyphus, for as long as Xyphus lives, his minions shall roam and no peace will ever reign over the lands of Arroya.[2]

Gameplay

The game begins with the creation of a party of four characters a mix of Humans, Dwarves, Elves, fighters, and magic-users. These four adventurers must then explore the lands of Arroya battling a plethora of monsters; which include various races of goblins, various lycanthropes, giant slugs, anthrodons, various demons, and villainous leaders such as the tribal shaman Erse, the orcish hetman, the Demon Prince Erranugh, and a vampire. Through these battles the adventurers gain gold and experience points which they can use to upgrade and purchase new magic, weapons, and armour as they go. The characters need to gather Xiphoid amulets to cast magic spells and visit forts or trading posts in order to heal, level-up, and/or purchase new items. The game consists of six scenarios including the final one where your adventurers head underground to face the Demon Lord Xyphus, himself.

Reception

Commodore Power/Play picked Xyphus as the best role-playing game of 1984.[3] MacUser considered Xyphus a good introductory role-playing game and the least intimidating role-playing game available for Macintosh due to its "sequential structure and icon control."[4] A 1985 Computer Games magazine review rated Xyphus A+, calling it "easily the best new role-playing game of the year."[5] Games magazine selected Xyphus as one of the best computer games of 1984 in the Adventure category, praising its originality and calling it an excellent introduction to role-playing games that would satisfy experienced players with its brevity and detail.[6] The 1986 Macworld Game Hall of Fame named Xyphus as runner-up to Software:Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord in the Best Role-Playing Game category.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Role Playing and Strategy Games, Xyphus Package and Documentation". Polarware Archive site. http://graphicsmagician.com/polarware/roleplaying.htm. 
  2. ↑ Apple Doc Online Manual
  3. ↑ Addams, Shay (October–November 1985). "Put an Orc in Your Party". Commodore Power/Play (Contemporary Marketing Inc.) 4 (5 issue 14): 19. 
  4. ↑ Forman Hines, Tracie (October 1985). "The Wizard Is In". MacUser (MacUser Publications, Inc.) 1 (1): 62. ISSN 0884-0997. 
  5. ↑ Addams, Shay (January–February 1985). "Buyer's Guide: Computer Game of the Month". Computer Games (Carnegie Publications Corp.) 3 (5): 61. 
  6. ↑ Schmittberger, Wayne; Hochberg, Burt (December 1984). "Computer Capers". Games (Playboy Enterprises, Inc.) 8 (12 issue 58): 50. 
  7. ↑ Levy, Steven (December 1984). "The Game Hall of Fame". Macworld (PCW Communications, Inc.) 3 (12): 120. 
  • 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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