50 Cent

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Short description: 2005 video game

50 Cent: Bulletproof
Developer(s)Genuine Games
Publisher(s)Vivendi Universal Games
Director(s)David Broadhurst
Designer(s)Haydn Dalton
Rob Reininger
Programmer(s)Steven J. Batiste
Artist(s)Han Randhawa
Gary Brunetti
Yanick Lebel
Writer(s)Terry Winter
Composer(s)Sha Money XL
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable
ReleasePS2, Xbox
  • NA: November 17, 2005
  • EU: November 25, 2005
PSP
  • NA: August 29, 2006
Genre(s)Action
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

50 Cent: Bulletproof is an action third person shooter video game developed by Genuine Games and published by Vivendi Universal Games for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, which released on November 17, 2005. The game was reworked into a PlayStation Portable version titled 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition, with a top-down perspective, which released in 2006. A sequel, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, was released in 2009.

The story revolves around the titular 50 Cent, a rapper searching for vengeance against the hitmen who attempted to murder him. The game features members of the G-Unit rap crew as a gang. Dr. Dre plays an arms dealer, Eminem plays a corrupt police officer, and DJ Whoo Kid plays himself as a person selling "bootlegged" music (of the G-Unit camp) out of his trunk. A soundtrack album, titled Bulletproof, was released by DJ Red Heat's Shadyville Entertainment. It won "Best Original Song" in the 2005 Spike TV Video Game Awards.

Gameplay

50 Cent: Bulletproof gameplay is linear and focused on third person shooting, with use of a cover system, while promoting a run and gun play style, all taking place in an open world with individually designed levels or arenas.[1][2]

The player can run, jump, use movable objects as cover and loot defeated enemies.[1] The game offers a wide variety of weapons to choose from which can be purchased using in-game currency.[2] The player can carry multiple weapons at the same time and freely swap between them while in combat.[2] The player is often accompanied by AI companions during missions, who assist the player by engaging enemies and repeating helpful game hints.[1] These characters are invincible and can effectively clear areas unassisted.[2]

The player must manually adjust the camera to aim at targets.[1] The game offers an aim assist system and the aiming reticle changes color to indicate the precision of the shot.[2] The player can perform executions when prompted, use walls as cover and execute a combat roll for increased mobility.[1] The arenas are populated with waves of enemies all culminating to a boss fight at the end of the level.[2]

The game has a hub, or open world, where the player can freely explore.[2] In this area, the player can spend their game currency to purchase weapons, executions or finisher moves and consumables which replenish the players health or increase their defensive stats.[1]

Plot

50 Cent receives a distress call from his former juvie cellmate and friend K-Dog (Dwayne Adway), and assembles his crew – Lloyd Banks, Young Buck and Tony Yayo – to help him. The crew goes to K-Dog’s location in Queens and shoot their way through an armored tactical squad, but 50 Cent narrowly fails to rescue K-Dog and is shot nine times.

50’s crew brings him to the apartment of Doc Friday, a former licensed doctor until he started writing prescriptions for himself, to recover for a few weeks. 50 Cent then goes to Detective Aaron McVicar (Eminem), a corrupt cop, to buy information about K-Dog’s whereabouts. Though reluctant, McVicar agrees for a favor. He tells 50 that K-Dog was taken in by the FBI, and is being questioned at a safehouse in Scarsdale, New York. He and Lloyd Banks infiltrate the safehouse to find K-Dog and the federal prosecutor already dead, and the same tactical squad from before trying to kill him again. 50 and Lloyd Banks kills them, searches the house for evidence, grabs K-Dog's phone and belongings and notices a strange new tattoo on K-Dog’s arm.

50 Cent brings K-Dog’s phone to Bugs, a wheelchair-bound pawn shop owner and hacker, and they find a voicemail from biker leader Spider about them meeting. He goes to their base, a junkyard in Brooklyn, and unsuccessfully tries to pose as K-Dog in order to meet Spider. A firefight erupts when he is found out, McVicar arrives to help 50, and 50 kills Spider. 50 recovers some shipping documents and, after noticing Spider had the same tattoo as K-Dog, cuts the skin off Spider’s arm to show it to Bugs. Bugs noticed the same tattoo on the arm of Triad leader Wu Jang. 50 goes to confront Wu Jang at his restaurant in Chinatown, Manhattan, and Wu Jang reveals that K-Dog was removed from their syndicate for being 'careless' before a shootout erupts and 50 kills Wu Jang.

When 50 Cent rides the subway back to Queens, the tactical squad storms the train, having traced K-Dog’s phone to 50’s location. 50 shoots down the assailants and picks up one of their wallets, identifying him as DEA special agent Gabriel Spinoza. In exchange for his help in gathering information about Spinoza as well as his previous help in locating K-Dog, McVicar cashes in the favor 50 owes him, which is to kill fellow corrupt detective Lou Petra to prevent him from testifying against him. 50 goes with Tony Yayo to Harlem, where they kill Petra and his crew.

Booker (Chad L. Coleman), a homeless man that 50 Cent had befriended in recent months, warns him that Spinoza survived their subway encounter and came by his apartment building asking about him. Booker, a Coast Guard veteran, also helps 50 make sense of the shipping documents he took from Spider, which lead to a dockside warehouse. When 50 asks dock worker O’Hare (Sean Donnellan) for next week’s shipping schedule, O’Hare - a former associate of Spider - locks him in the warehouse and tries to have him killed by bikers. 50 and Young Buck kill O'Hare and his crew, and leave with the shipping schedule.

Upon returning to Booker for more help, 50 Cent witnesses Booker get shot down in a drive-by. At Booker’s funeral, 50 meets Booker’s daughter Alexa (Dominique Jennings). Alexa, a news reporter, explains that Booker was actually an undercover CIA agent investigating the same syndicate 50 Cent is. She gives him a note from Booker’s possessions that read “Eduardo Vasquez – Spinoza connection”. McVicar explains to 50 that Spinoza is probably the person that initially shot him nine times, and discovers that Eduardo Vasquez is a deceased drug mule currently in a Midtown Manhattan morgue. Vasquez's gang arrives to kill 50 and morgue employee Matt. 50 protects Matt while getting the heroin sample and cremating Vasquez. 50 escapes to the sewer system, though he is trailed by the gang there. After killing the gang, 50 escapes back to Queens.

50 Cent takes the heroin sample back to local homeless drug addict Popcorn (Tracey Walter), and after rescuing Popcorn from some syndicate hitmen, Popcorn confirms that the heroin is actually pure Afghani opium. McVicar mentions that a Mafioso was recently let off of an opium possession charge because he was secretly an FBI informant. 50 goes to mob boss Frank Capidilupo's (Nick Jameson) casino/meatpacking plant, and is captured. 50 is rescued from a chainsaw executioner by Grizz (Dr. Dre), his longtime arms dealer, and they kill every mobster on site to find out that the informant was Capidilupo himself.

50 Cent, Bugs and McVicar listen to the tape from Capidilupo’s wiretap, and hear him meeting with Spinoza (Nolan North) along with Muqtada Muhammad, a Saudi embassy official with ties to oil money and terrorism. Alexa is kidnapped by Spinoza, and McVicar arrests 50 so he can take credit for busting the syndicate. 50 is thrown in jail, but Booker shows up alive and well to bail him out. 50 takes G-Unit to storm Muqtada’s cargo ship. 50 kills Muqtada and most of the syndicate goons, then goes to confront Spinoza and rescue Alexa. McVicar shows up to try to arrest Spinoza, who shoots McVicar in the knee. 50 then kills Spinoza and rescues Alexa. A tactical team led by Booker seizes a container full of missiles from the ship, but Booker allows 50 to get away with another container full of drugs as a reward. 50 and Alexa begin dating. 50 gives a paltry amount of the reward money to McVicar, then leaves the ship.[3]

Development

The game was created by British developer Genuine Games. Early in development it was conceived as an open-world game in the style of Software:Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, but strict deadlines meant it was scaled back to a more-linear experience.[4]

G Unit Edition

On August 29, 2006, Vivendi Universal Games released a G Unit Edition for the PlayStation Portable. While the story and cutscenes are the same as the console counterpart, the game eschews the third-person perspective game-play for a top-down, isometric viewpoint. Also added is multiplayer game-play through ad hoc wireless connectivity.[citation needed]

Soundtrack

Bulletproof
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedNovember 2005
Recorded2005
Genre
  • East Coast hip-hop
  • hardcore hip-hop
  • gangsta rap
LengthScript error: No such module "hms".
Label
  • G-Unit
  • Shadyville
Producer
  • Sha Money XL
  • J.Bonkaz
50 Cent chronology
The Massacre
(2005)
Bulletproof
(2005)
Curtis
(2007)

The soundtrack was released in November 2005 and features 13 new songs from 50 Cent.[5] Consumers who pre-ordered the album were also given a previously unreleased DVD of 50 Cent's 2003 European tour called "No Fear, No Mercy".[6]

Track listing

All tracks produced by Sha Money XL, except "Pimpin, Part 2" produced by J.Bonkaz [7] Script error: No such module "Track listing".

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings47.38% (PS2)[8]
51.75% (Xbox)[9]
53.56% (PSP)[10]
Metacritic47/100 (PS2)[11]
50/100 (Xbox)[12]
52/100 (PSP)[13]
Review scores
PublicationScore
1Up.comD+ (PSP)[14]
CVG7/10 (PS2, PSP)[15][16]
Edge2/10 (PS2, Xbox)[17]
EGM3.3/10 (PS2, Xbox)[11][12]
4.5/10 (PSP)[18]
Eurogamer4/10 (PS2)[19]
5/10 (PSP)[20]
Game Informer6/10 (PS2, Xbox)[21]
6.25/10 (PSP)[22]
GameProStarStar (PS2)[23]
GameSpot4.8/10 (PS2, Xbox)[26]
5.1/10 (PSP)[27]
GameSpyStarHalf star (PS2, Xbox)[28]
GamesRadar+StarStarHalf star (PS2, Xbox)[24]
StarStar (PSP)[25]
GameTrailers5.2/10 (PSP)[29]
GameZone5/10 (PSP)[30]
IGN6.5/10 (PS2, Xbox)[31]
5/10 (PSP)[32]
OPM (US)3/10 (PS2)[11]
OXM (UK)4/10 (Xbox)[34]
OXM (US)5/10 (Xbox)[33]
PSM4/10 (PS2)[35]
5.5/10 (PSP)[36]
PSM34.8/10 (PS2)[37] 4.7/10 (PSP)[38]
TeamXbox6.8/10 (Xbox)[39]
X-PlayStar (PS2, Xbox)[40]
StarStar (PSP)[41]
USA TodayStarStarStar (PS2, Xbox)[42]

50 Cent: Bulletproof received generally below average reviews due to poor gameplay mechanics but was praised for its solid storyline and music. It received 1 out of 5 and a Golden Mullet from X-Play.[40] In spite of this, it received a positive rating of 8/10 from Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine.

The PlayStation Portable G Unit Edition received mixed reviews from critics. GameSpot's Alex Navarro did, however, say that it was a better game than the PS2 or Xbox versions.[27]

In Australia, the game was banned for encouraging game violence,[43] with the distributor proving unsuccessful in its attempts to appeal the decision.[44][45] In January 2006, the Australian Classification Board approved of a censored version which removed its arcade mode, downplayed its level of gore and declared itself to be over automatically if any innocent people are killed during the game; this version was rated MA15+.[46][47]

Sales

50 Cent: Bulletproof sold 1,123,000 units, according to NPD Group (it is unclear whether this figure includes the PSP's "G-Unit Edition" release).[48] By July 2006, the PlayStation 2 version had sold 600,000 units and earned $27 million in the United States. Next Generation ranked it as the 98th-highest-selling game launched for the PlayStation 2, Xbox or GameCube between January 2000 and July 2006 in that country. Overall sales of Bulletproof reached 850,000 units in the United States by July 2006.[49] Its PlayStation 2 version received a "Gold" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[50] indicating sales of at least 200,000 units in the United Kingdom.[51]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Roper, Chris. "50 Cent: Bulletproof 50's gun-filled romp is anything but bulletproof.". https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/22/50-cent-bulletproof. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Gerstmann, Jeff. "50 Cent: Bulletproof Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/50-cent-bulletproof-review/1900-6140473/. 
  3. "50 Cent Bulletproof XBox cover Scan". http://www.covergalaxy.com/xbox/50+cent+bulletproof/cover/. 
  4. Hobbs, Thomas (15 August 2025). "‘The idea was for a Black James Bond’: the making of 50 Cent: Bulletproof". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/aug/15/the-idea-was-for-a-black-james-bond-the-making-of-50-cent-bulletproof. 
  5. "50 Cent: Bulletproof Heavy On The Music ". IGN (November 4, 2005). Accessed February 8, 2008.
  6. Stephen Totilo (November 2, 2005). "50 Loads Up 'Bulletproof' Video Game With New Songs, Remixes ". MTV. Accessed February 8, 2008.
  7. "50 Cent Bulletproof soundtrack revealed". GamesRadar. November 4, 2005. http://www.gamesradar.com/xbox/50-cent-bulletproof/news/50-cent-bulletproof-soundtrack-revealed/a-2006022311014468016/g-2005120714190959185791. Retrieved February 9, 2012. 
  8. "50 Cent: Bulletproof for PlayStation 2". http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/926686-50-cent-bulletproof/index.html. 
  9. "50 Cent: Bulletproof for Xbox". http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/928453-50-cent-bulletproof/index.html. 
  10. "50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition for PSP". http://www.gamerankings.com/psp/928454-50-cent-bulletproof-g-unit-edition/index.html. 
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 "50 Cent: Bulletproof Critic Reviews for PlayStation 2". https://www.metacritic.com/game/50-cent-bulletproof/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 "50 Cent: Bulletproof Critic Reviews for Xbox". https://www.metacritic.com/game/50-cent-bulletproof/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox. 
  13. "50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition Critic Reviews for PSP". https://www.metacritic.com/game/50-cent-bulletproof/critic-reviews/?platform=psp. 
  14. Coffey, Robert (August 31, 2006). "50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition". http://www.1up.com/reviews/50-cent-bulletproof. 
  15. PSW Staff (December 17, 2005). "Review: 50 Cent: Bulletproof". Computer and Video Games (PlayStation World). http://www.computerandvideogames.com/131299/reviews/50-cent-bulletproof-review/. 
  16. PSW Staff (November 3, 2006). "Review: 50 Cent: G Unit Edition". Computer and Video Games (PlayStation World). http://www.computerandvideogames.com/148619/reviews/50-cent-g-unit-edition-review/. 
  17. "50 Cent: Bulletproof". Edge: 91. January 2006. 
  18. "50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition". Electronic Gaming Monthly: 116. October 2006. 
  19. Rossignol, Jim (December 11, 2005). "50 Cent: Bulletproof Review". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_50cent_ps2. 
  20. Whitehead, Dan (November 12, 2006). "50 Cent: Bulletproof G-Unit edition Review". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_eg_fiddy. 
  21. Helgeson, Matt (February 2006). "50 Cent: Bulletproof". Game Informer: 104. http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/5A69B78B-589C-4FC4-A836-258E148499DB.htm. Retrieved June 8, 2013. 
  22. "50 Cent: Bulletproof G-Unit Edition". Game Informer: 146. November 2006. 
  23. Ouroboros (December 16, 2005). "Review: 50 Cent: Bulletproof". GamePro. http://gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/50649.shtml. Retrieved June 8, 2013. 
  24. Leeper, Justin (June 22, 2007). "50 Cent Bulletproof Review". http://www.gamesradar.com/50-cent-bulletproof-review/. 
  25. Edison, Bryce (October 9, 2006). "50 Cent: Bulletproof G-Unit Edition Review". http://www.gamesradar.com/50-cent-bulletproof-g-unit-edition-review/. 
  26. Gerstmann, Jeff (November 28, 2005). "50 Cent: Bulletproof Review (PS2)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/50-cent-bulletproof-review/1900-6140473/. 
  27. 27.0 27.1 Navarro, Alex (August 30, 2006). "50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition Review (PSP)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/50-cent-bulletproof-review/1900-6156822/. 
  28. Fischer, Russ (December 6, 2005). "50 Cent: Bulletproof". http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/50-cent-bulletproof/673872p1.html. 
  29. "50 Cent: Bulletproof G-Unit Edition Review". GameTrailers. September 11, 2006. http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/izeov7/50-cent--bulletproof-g-unit-edition-review. 
  30. Sandoval, Angelina (September 24, 2006). "50 Cent: Bulletproof G-Unit Edition - PSP". http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/2006/09/24/50_cent_bulletproof_g_unit_edition_psp_review. 
  31. Roper, Chris (November 21, 2005). "50 Cent: Bulletproof". http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/22/50-cent-bulletproof. 
  32. Roper, Chris (August 28, 2006). "50 Cent: Bulletproof G-Unit Edition". http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/08/29/50-cent-bulletproof-g-unit-edition-review. 
  33. "50 Cent: Bulletproof". Official Xbox Magazine: 80. February 2006. 
  34. "50 Cent: Bulletproof Review". Official Xbox Magazine UK. January 2006. 
  35. "50 Cent: Bulletproof Review". PSM: 81. February 2006. 
  36. "50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition Review". PSM: 82. November 2006. 
  37. "50 Cent: Bulletproof Review". PSM3. January 2006. 
  38. PSM3 Staff (December 19, 2006). "Review: 50 Cent: Bulletproof: G-Unit Edition". PSM3: 98. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/152610/reviews/50-cent-bulletproof-g-unit-edition-review/. Retrieved June 8, 2013. 
  39. Fisher, Matthew (November 23, 2005). "50 Cent: Bulletproof Review". TeamXbox. http://reviews.teamxbox.com/xbox/1078/50-Cent-Bulletproof/p1/. 
  40. 40.0 40.1 "50 Cent: Bulletproof Review". X-Play. http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/53364/50_Cent_Bulletproof_Review.html. 
  41. Mastrapa, Gus. "Reviews - 50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition". X-Play. http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1266/50_Cent_Bulletproof_G_Unit_Edition.html. 
  42. Saltzman, Marc (December 8, 2005). "'50 Cent: Bulletproof' produces stale gameplay". USA Today. http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/marcsaltzman/2005-12-08-50-cent-bulletproof_x.htm. 
  43. "50 CENT BULLETPROOF". 24 October 2005. https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/50-cent-bulletproof. 
  44. "50 CENT BULLETPROOF". 24 November 2005. https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/50-cent-bulletproof-0. 
  45. Ramsay, Randalph (29 November 2005). "50 Cent shot down by Australian censors". http://www.cnet.com.au/games/0,39029232,40058623,00.htm. 
  46. "50 CENT BULLETPROOF". 30 January 2006. https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/50-cent-bulletproof-1. 
  47. "Games: 0 to 9 | Censor". http://www.refused-classification.com/Games_50Cent.htm. 
  48. Totilo, Stephen (May 8, 2009). "50 Cent's New Game Selling 1/12th Of His First One". https://kotaku.com/50-cents-new-game-selling-1-12th-of-his-first-one-5245761. 
  49. "The Top 100 Games of the 21st Century". Next Generation. July 29, 2006. http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3537&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=1. 
  50. "ELSPA Sales Awards: Gold". Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association. http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3943. 
  51. Caoili, Eric (November 26, 2008). "ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK". Gamasutra. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php. 
  • 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. 
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