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Burnout

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 9 min

Short description: 1998 video game
Burnout: Championship Drag Racing
Developer(s)MediaTech West[1]
Publisher(s)Bethesda Softworks[2]
Designer(s)Brent Erickson
EngineXnGine
Platform(s)MS-DOS
Release
  • NA: March 20, 1998
Genre(s)Racing video game
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Burnout: Championship Drag Racing, also known as simply Burnout, is a video game developed by MediaTech West and published by Bethesda Softworks for MS-DOS, released on March 20, 1998.[3][4][5] A Player's Choice Edition was released in September 1998[6] for both DOS and Microsoft Windows. Burnout was licensed by the Hot Rod magazine. Although the name suggests otherwise, the game is not a part of the Burnout series, which would begin 3 years later in 2001.

Gameplay

Burnout Championship Drag Racing is a game of 40-second races, involving a meticulous pre-race setup of each vehicle. With over 60 adjustable components, from suspension and tires to transmission and brakes, the game demands precision tuning to shave off mere fractions of a second. Far from an arcade-style experience, Burnout is a hardcore simulation, designed for players who savor technical depth over flashy gameplay.[7]

Development

The game was developed by Washington based MediaTech West, the same team that did Software:XCar: Experimental Racing[8] in conjunction with Hot Rod Magazine.[9][10] The game utilizes Bethesda's XnGine[11] It was originally scheduled to be released in November 1997.[12] The game went gold on March 13, 1998[10] Burnout was released on MPlayer.com in June 1998.[9][13]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings68%[14]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGWStarStarStarStar[16]
GameRevolutionB[17]
GameSpot7/10[18]
Next GenerationStarStarStarStar[7]
PC Gamer (US)88%[19]
PC Zone52%[20]
The Cincinnati EnquirerStarStarHalf star[21]
New York Daily NewsStarStarStarStar[22]

The game received average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[14] GameSpot said, "Burnout has such a refreshing feel and intense bursts of white-knuckled action that it's really worth sticking it out for a while."[18] Next Generation found that "The single race is nice for a quick, visceral moment, but the real game is competing in a season or going head-to-head with someone over a network – by far the most adrenaline-pumping way to play."[7]

According to Pete Hines, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Bethesda, the game is the best-selling drag racing game of all time.[23] According to Tony Sciascia from Sega Dojo, the game sold over 300,000 copies.[24]

References

  1. ↑ McNamara, Marie (September 7, 1998). "Managing to be creative in the business of fun". https://southsoundbiz.com/examiner_posts/managing-to-be-creative-in-the-business-of-fun/. 
  2. ↑ "Burnout: Championship Drag Racing". http://gamezone.com/gamesell/p11347.asp. 
  3. ↑ Jebens, Harley (March 6, 1998). "Feeling Burned Out? That's the Idea". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/feeling-burned-out-thats-the-idea/1100-2462862/. 
  4. ↑ Gentry, Perry (March 13, 1998). "What's in Stores This Week". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-1564,00.html. 
  5. ↑ "News for March 20, 1998". March 20, 1998. http://ogr.com/news/news0398.html. "March 20, 1998: Bethesda announced that Burnout, their drag racing simulation, has shipped and should be hitting stores in the next few days." 
  6. ↑ Bassave, Roy (June 12, 1998). "Burnout: Championship Drag Racing". Corvallis Gazette-Times (Lee Enterprises): p. 44. https://www.newspapers.com/article/85182524/. Retrieved September 5, 2023. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Burnout Championship Drag Racing". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (43): 115. July 1998. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_43/page/n115/mode/2up. Retrieved October 17, 2020. 
  8. ↑ Goble, Gordon (October 7, 1997). "Bethesda's Hot Rodding Burnout". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,1180,00.html. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "A Call to All Speed Demons! Online Racing Begins -BURNOUT Now Available on MPlayer.com". June 1, 1998. https://www.proquest.com/docview/447462096. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Jebens, Harley (March 13, 1998). "Burnout Is Hot". Ziff Davis. http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_03/13_burnout/index.html. 
  11. ↑ Buttars, Shaffer (May 18, 1998). "Burnout Championship Drag Racing Review". http://gamezilla.com/reviews/b/burnout.asp. 
  12. ↑ GameSpot staff (October 2, 1997). "Crash and Burn Courtesy of Bethesda". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/crash-and-burn-courtesy-of-bethesda/1100-2467804/. 
  13. ↑ "Burnout Lays Tracks Onto Mplayer.com!". June 3, 1998. http://www.mplayer.com/news/980603/burnout.html. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Burnout: Championship Drag Racing for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/196843-burnout-championship-drag-racing/index.html. 
  15. ↑ Goble, Gordon (April 30, 1998). "Burnout: Championship Drag Racing". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0%2C6%2C0-1672%2C00.html. 
  16. ↑ Goble, Gordon (February 1999). "Choice Drag (Burnout Championship Drag Racing Player's Choice Edition Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (175): 224. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_175.pdf. Retrieved September 5, 2023. 
  17. ↑ Anderson, Tom (May 1998). "Burnout: Championship Drag Racing Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33130-burnout-championship-drag-racing-review. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Poole, Stephen (April 28, 1998). "Burnout: Championship Drag Racing Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/burnout-championship-drag-racing-review/1900-2538256/. 
  19. ↑ Vaughn, Todd (June 1998). "Burnout". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 5 (6). http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/145.html. Retrieved October 17, 2020. 
  20. ↑ Green, Roger (August 1998). "Burnout Championship Drag Racing". PC Zone (Dennis Publishing) (66): 121. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_066_1998-08_Dennis_Publishing_GB/page/n119/mode/2up. Retrieved October 18, 2020. 
  21. ↑ Bottorff, James (1998). "'Burnout' for die-hard fans only". The Cincinnati Enquirer (Gannett Company). http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/burnout.html. 
  22. ↑ Bassave, Roy (June 21, 1998). "No foot-dragging in this race". New York Daily News (Daily News Enterprises): p. 50. https://www.newspapers.com/article/99037709/daily-news/. 
  23. ↑ Crowe, Greg (December 14, 2000). "Still Out There...". Noble Order Press Enterprises Inc.. https://www.gameindustry.com/interviews/still-out-there/. 
  24. ↑ Sciascia, Tony (June 11, 2000). "IHRA Drag Racing". Archived from the original on December 9, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20001209165400/http://www.segadojo.com/previews/index.cgi?id=160. Retrieved September 30, 2025. 
  • Official website (archived)
  • 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. 
  • No URL found. Please specify a URL here or add one to Wikidata.

Template:Atari




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