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Addiction Pinball

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 8 min

Addiction Pinball
Developer(s)Team17
Publisher(s)MicroProse (PC)
Infogrames (PS)
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
ReleaseWindows
PlayStation
  • EU: 12 November 1999
  • UK: January 2000
Genre(s)Pinball
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Addiction Pinball is a pinball video game developed by Team17 and published by MicroProse for Microsoft Windows in 1998. It features tables based on two Team17 games, which are World Rally Fever and Worms.

It was ported to the PlayStation in 1999 as Worms Pinball to capitalise on the success of the Worms franchise. The PlayStation version was published by Infogrames and was only released in Europe.

A cut-down version for the Microsoft Windows was also released in 1998, also titled Worms Pinball, and was initially included in a Worms compilation pack containing Worms and Reinforcements United and Worms 2. It was also included with the first print run of Worms Blast for Microsoft Windows in 2002, and in 2012 was released on Steam. This version does not include the World Rally Fever table.

Tables

Addiction Pinball features 2 tables based on previous Team17 games.

World Rally Fever

World Rally Fever is the default pinball table in Addiction Pinball.

Based on World Rally Fever, the WRF table is based around the theme of racing cars and car maintenance. The primary goal in this table, short of accruing the highest score, is to participate in various races.

Worms

Worms is the additional table included in Addiction Pinball.

Based on the Worms series, the aim of this table is to complete missions and collect weapons in order to increase your rank and move on to the next of five areas—Arctic, Mars, Jungle, Desert and Hell. This table provides more space for the ball to travel and has more ramps and bonuses than its counterpart.

Re-releases

Addiction Pinball was re-released in 1999 on the Hasbro Interactive budget label as an "Action" title. It was also included in The Armageddon Collection, a 2000 compilation release pairing it with Worms Armageddon and a Worms Armageddon screensaver. The PSone version was also re-released in an Infogrames "Best Of" collection which also included Worms Armageddon and Infogrames' own Hogs of War.

The Microsoft Windows version of Worms Pinball, itself a cut-down version of Addiction Pinball featuring only the Worms table, was included with the first pressing of Worms Blast in the UK. More recently the game was re-released on Steam at the same time as the latest spin-off title, Worms Crazy Golf.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings77%[2]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSPStarStarStar[4]
CGWStarStarStarHalf star[5]
GameSpot8/10[6]
Hyper74%[7]
IGN8/10[8]
Jeuxvideo.com(PS) 13/20[9]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[10]
OPM (UK)(PS) 6/10[11]
PC Gamer (US)65%[12]

Addiction Pinball received favourable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[2] Next Generation called it "the smoothest-playing and best-looking pinball game we've seen."[10] GamePro said, "One word sums up this game: Wow."[13][lower-alpha 1]

Notes

  1. ↑ GamePro gave the PC original two 5/5 scores for graphics and control, and two 4.5/5 scores for sound and overall fun factor.

References

  1. ↑ Ocampo, Jason (19 May 1998). "Game touted as hard-core pinball simulation". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on 18 April 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030418225311/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/011/176/microprose_ships_addiction_pinball.html. Retrieved 24 December 2020. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Addiction Pinball for PC". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 3 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190603184416/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/196541-addiction-pinball/index.html. Retrieved 24 December 2020. 
  3. ↑ Dembo, Arinn (25 June 1998). "Addiction Pinball". CNET. Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000816022031/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-1895,00.html. Retrieved 17 September 2023. 
  4. ↑ D'Aprile, Jason (20 July 1998). "Addiction Pinball". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on 27 June 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030627041737/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/013/077/addiction_review.html. Retrieved 24 December 2020. 
  5. ↑ Clarkson, Mark (October 1998). "Addiction Pinball". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (171): 233. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230527133359/https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_171.pdf. Retrieved 17 September 2023. 
  6. ↑ Shamma, Tahsin (18 June 1998). "Addiction Pinball Review [date mislabeled as "April 29, 2000""]. Fandom. Archived from the original on 27 January 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050127040321/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/puzzle/addictionpinball/review.html. Retrieved 17 September 2023. 
  7. ↑ Clarksmith, Ross (July 1998). "Addiction Pinball". Hyper (Next Media Pty Ltd) (57): 79. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230917013346/https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-687-79.jpg. Retrieved 17 September 2023. 
  8. ↑ Harris, Craig (30 July 1998). "Addiction Pinball". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 30 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220930130423/https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/07/31/addiction-pinball. Retrieved 17 September 2023. 
  9. ↑ Kornifex (16 November 1999). "Test: Worms Pinball" (in fr). Webedia. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210501215826/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000344_test.htm. Retrieved 17 September 2023. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Addiction Pinball". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (45): 138. September 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_45/page/n139/mode/2up. Retrieved 24 December 2020. 
  11. ↑ Pierce, Matthew (February 2000). "Worms Pinball". Official UK PlayStation Magazine (Future Publishing) (55): 126. 
  12. ↑ "Addiction Pinball". PC Gamer (Imagine Media). 1998. 
  13. ↑ Dan Elektro (August 1998). "Addiction Pinball". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (119): 87. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_109_August_1998/page/n87/mode/2up. Retrieved 24 December 2020. 
  • 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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