Mines of Titan

Short description: 1989 video game

Mines of Titan

Developer(s)| Westwood Associates
Publisher(s)| Infocom
Platform(s)| Apple II, Commodore 64, MS-DOS
Release| 1989
Genre(s)| Role-playing
Mode(s)| Single-player

Mines of Titan is a single-player role-playing video game, developed by Westwood Associates (later Westwood Studios), and published by Infocom in 1989 for Apple II, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS.

## Contents

* 1 Remake
* 2 Plot
* 3 Release
* 4 Reception
* 5 Reviews
* 6 References
* 7 External links
* 8 Features
* 9 History
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 External links

## Remake

Mines of Titan is a remake, or update, of the Commodore 64 game Mars Saga. Mines of Titan is lengthier, with some new storylines, a few more creatures and a colors are different. The game's location is moved from Mars to Titan and the cities and maps look the same.

## Plot

Mines of Titan is set in the year 2261, well into the era of mankind's colonization the inner Solar System. The game takes place on a barely terraformed Titan, the largest moon of the gas giant Saturn, at the edge of frontier space.

The player character is a charismatic 22-year-old astronaut Tom Jetland, who has crashed on Titan after bullet-sized rocks from the Rings of Saturn pierced his ship's hull. Forced to eject payload and has no means of transport off the world. In order to raise money, Jetland must search for, recruit, create and control a party of characters ready for exploration and combat. The player develops Jetland and other characters by improving their natural attributes and by adding and training in over twenty new skills which will aid in both the central quest and various side missions.

Success depends upon competence in battle with various creatures and human foes alike; exploration of underground colonies and mining settlements; using characters' skills to their best advantage; utilising a wide array of weaponry and aid acquired from merchants; and most importantly tracking down the clues to solve the mysteries of Titan. For only by uncovering a vast conspiracy and learning the fate of the disappeared Proscenium Colony (presumably named after the Proscenium "archway" of a theatrical stage) will the player be able to raise enough credits to pay for safe passage off Titan.

## Release

Infocom often released their games with merchandise referred to as feelies. Mines of Titan originally came on floppy disk format which was provided in a secret agent-style packaging, which also contained a thirty-seven page manual and various paraphernalia, such as a "command reference card"; supposedly secret classified military and scientific documents; weapons schematics; illustrations of alien lifeforms; and hidden maps, all connected with the game. The more expensive game packages had small figurines. These box sets are now extremely rare.

## Reception

The game was reviewed in 1990 in Dragon #154 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars.[1] In 2006, abandonware website Abandonia gave a negative review to the game, chiefly criticizing its battle system and lack of sound.[2]

Jim Trunzo reviewed Mines of Titan in White Wolf #21 (June/July 1990), rating it a 4 out of 5 and stated that "Mines of Titan not only challenges the gamer intellectually but also excites him visually."[3]

## Reviews

* Info (January 1989)[4]
* ACE (Advanced Computer Entertainment) (March 1989)[5]
* The Games Machine (February 1990)[6]
* Zzap! (January 1989)[7]
* Power Play (December 1988)[8]
* Joker Verlag präsentiert: Sonderheft (1992)[8]
* ASM (Aktueller Software Markt) (January 1990)[9]
* ASM (Aktueller Software Markt) (January 1989)[10]
* Australian Commodore and Amiga Review (April 1989)[11]

## References

1. ↑ Lesser, Hartley; Lesser, Patricia; Lesser, Kirk (February 1990). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (154): 76–83.
2. ↑ Mano, Ro (June 9, 2006). "Download Mines of Titan". Abandonia. Abovo Media Group. http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/894/.html. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
3. ↑ Trunzo, Jim (June–July 1990). "The Silicon Dungeon". White Wolf Magazine (21): 47–48. https://imgur.com/a/NhA9PD7.
4. ↑ "Info - Issue 24 (1989-01) (Info Publications) (US)". January 1989. https://archive.org/details/Info_Issue_24_1989-01_Info_Publications_US/page/n68/mode/2up.
5. ↑ "ACE Magazine Issue 18". March 1989. https://archive.org/details/ace-magazine-18/page/n95/mode/2up.
6. ↑ "The Games Machine Issue 27". https://archive.org/details/the-games-machine-27/page/n84/mode/2up.
7. ↑ "Mars Saga review from Zzap 45 (Jan 1989) - Amiga Magazine Rack". http://amr.abime.net/review_15934.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Kultpower Archiv: Komplettscan Powerplay 1/1989". http://www.kultpower.de/archiv/heft_powerplay_1989-01_seite58.
9. ↑ "Aktueller Software Markt (ASM) Magazine (February 1990)". February 1990. https://archive.org/details/asm_magazine-1990-02/page/n61/mode/2up.
10. ↑ "Kultboy.com - DIE Kult-Seite über die alten Spiele-Magazine und Retro-Games!". https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=3557.
11. ↑ "Australian Commodore and Amiga Review, the - Volume 6 Issue 4 (1989-04) (Saturday Magazine) (AU)". April 1989. https://archive.org/details/Australian_Commodore_and_Amiga_Review_The_Volume_6_Issue_4_1989-04_Saturday_Magazine_AU/page/n25/mode/2up.

## External links

* 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

## 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.
18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628.

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