Software:Zig Zag (1987 video game)

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Short description: 1987 video game
Zig Zag
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European cover art
Developer(s)Zig Zag Software
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Antony Crowther[1][2]
Platform(s)Commodore 64/128
Release
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player

Zig Zag is a shoot 'em up video game developed by Zig Zag Software and published by Mirrorsoft for the Commodore 64 in 1987. It was designed by Antony Crowther. Spectrum Holobyte published the game in North America in 1988, part of the company's International Series brand.[3]

Gameplay

The player controls a spaceship and the objective of the game is to collect eight crystal fragments hidden in a maze while shooting enemy aliens and solving puzzles.[4][6] The game is played from an isometric viewpoint.[2] The game has been compared to Sega's Zaxxon.[2][4][5]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
ACE783/1000[2]
CVG8/7/8/7[4]
Zzap!6492%[5]
Commodore User8/10[1]
Your Commodore7/7/7/8[6]

Zig Zag received generally positive reviews. Computer and Video Games said "[i]t will probably appeal to people who like games that are original and full of new ideas."[4] Commodore User called it "[...] one of the most sophisticated hunt 'n' kill maze games that you're ever likely to see on the 64, with smooth action, flawless animation, solid 3D scenery and a nice line in clanky metallic sound effects." ACE was disappointed that the game gradually lost the puzzle elements in favor of shooting.[2] Zzap!64 called it "[a]n unusual, but highly polished shooting and exploring game", and a return to form for Crowther after a string of disappointing releases.[5] Tilt called Zig Zag "a very original and exciting program".[7] Your Commodore said that it's "[...] a game that requires a combination of shoot' em up, mapping, and arcade adventure skills."[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Scolding, Bill (December 1987). "Screen Scene - Zig Zag". Commodore User (EMAP) (51): 81. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Wade, Bob (January 1988). "Screen Test - Zigzag". ACE (Future Publishing) (4): 72. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Taking A Peek - Zig-Zag". Computer Gaming World (Russell Sipe) (46): 51. April 1988. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Boughton, Paul (December 1987). "Reviews - Zig Zag". Computer and Video Games (Future Publishing) (74): 42. "Graphics: 8, Sound: 7, Value: 8, Playability: 7". 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Jarratt, Steve; Rignall, Julian; Sumner, Paul (December 1987). "Test - Zig Zag". Zzap!64 (Newsfield Publications Ltd) (32): 142–143. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Hetherington, Tony (February 1988). "Games Reviews - Zig Zag". Commodore User (Argus Specialist Publications) 4, no.5 (41): 44. "Originality: 7/10, Playability: 7/10, Graphics: 7/10, Value: 8/10". 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Huygues-Lacour, Alain (March 1988). "Tubes - Zig Zag" (in French). Tilt (Editions Mondiales S.A.) 52 (3/88): 55. "Intérêt: 15, Graphisme: 5/6, Animation: 5/6, Bruitage: 5/6, Prix: B". 
  • 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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