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Claymates

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 7 min

Short description: 1994 video game
Claymates
North American cover art
Developer(s)Visual Concepts
Publisher(s)Interplay Productions Ocean Software
Producer(s)Michael Quarles
Designer(s)Gregory A. Thomas
Programmer(s)Brian Greenstone
Artist(s)Colin Silverman
Composer(s)Brian Luzietti
Charles Deenen
Platform(s)Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Release
  • PAL: November 20, 1993
  • NA: April 26, 1994
Genre(s)Platform game
Mode(s)Single-player

Claymates is a platform game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It is one of Interplay's clay animation titles which also included the ClayFighter series.

Plot

The protagonist is named Clayton. His scientist father has developed a serum that can transform people into animals when it is combined with clay. Suddenly, Jobo the witch doctor appears and demands the formula for the serum. The father refuses, to which Jobo replies by changing Clayton into a ball of clay and stealing away both his father and the serum. Clayton vows to save his father despite his new form and embarks on a journey through his backyard, the Pacific, Japan, Africa, and finally outer space.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot.

The protagonist of the game is a boy named Clayton, whose scientist father has developed a serum that can transform people into animals when it's combined with clay. Suddenly, Jobo the witch doctor appears and demands the formula for the serum. The father refuses, to which Jobo replies by changing Clayton into a ball of clay and stealing away both his father and the serum. Clayton vows to save his father despite his new form and embarks on a journey through his backyard, the Pacific, Japan, Africa, and outer space. The player uses samples of serum lying around in these levels to transform into one of five different animals (Muckster the Cat, Doh-Doh the Duck, Oozy the Mouse, Goopy the Guppy, and Globmeister the Chipmunk) to best fit with the environment and make it to the end of the level. Special abilities that are in a clay ball transform Clayton into a helpful animals as he races the clock to collect as much as possible and still makes it to the end, jumping over obstacles and attacking with the animal in use. Clayton must also be careful not to be hit while a blob or he'll die.

Development and release

Claymates was developed by Visual Concepts and published by Interplay Productions. Interplay entered into a distribution contract with clay animation studio Cineplay Interactive, a subsidiary of Will Vinton Productions which also included the fighting game ClayFighter and the chess game Battle Chess 4000. Claymates was produced by Interplay veteran Michael Quarles, designed by Gregory A. Thomas of Visual Concepts, and animated by A-OK Animation, the last of which was responsible for mascots such as Gumby and the Pillsbury Doughboy. Thomas conceived Claymates under the working title "Animal Connection" for the Nintendo Entertainment System before production moved to the SNES. Quarles stated the game's clay characters were made in an attempt "to have the consistency of something like Flintstones in character and story" while Thomas claimed was designed to have "the speed of Sonic, the maps of Mario, and colors that have never been done before".[1] For the game's audio, Interplay employed the Advanced Real-time Dynamic Interplay (ARDI) Sound System. This proprietary MIDI tool allowed composers to play music and sound effects directly from SNES ROM files to save on memory by only occupying 18 kilobytes of space.[2]

Characters from Claymates would also appear in the pre-fight introductions of ClayFighter, which was released around the same time.[3] The line "Blaze Processing" featured on the box art and in the manual[4] of Claymates is a reference to Sega's claims of "Blast Processing" in some its US Sega Genesis advertisements.[5] A Genesis version of Claymates was planned but never released.[6] In July 2021, Claymates was added to the Nintendo Switch Online classic games service.[7]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStar[8]
CVG77/100[9]
EGM7/10[lower-alpha 1]
GamePro4.125/5[lower-alpha 2]
Hyper87%[12]
Mega Fun69%[13]
Nintendo Power3.525/5[lower-alpha 3]
ONM80/100[15]
Video Games (DE)71%[17]
Electronic Games90%[18]
Nintendo Acción83/100[19]
Super Control85%[20]
Super Gamer84/100[21]
Super Pro90/100[22]

Claymates received mostly positive reviews.

Notes

  1. ↑ In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review, three critics scored Claymates 7/10, one 6/10, another 8/10.[10]
  2. ↑ GamePro scored Claymates 4/5 three times for sound, control, and fun factor, and 4.5/5 for graphics.[11]
  3. ↑ Nintendo Power scored Claymates 3.5/5 three times for play control, challenge, and theme/fun, and 3.6/5 for graphics/sound.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Ceccola, Russ (March 1993). "A Hundred Pounds of Clay". Electronic Games (Decker Publications, Inc.) 1 (6): 36–7. ISSN 0730-6687. https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-03/page/n35/. Retrieved March 27, 2022. 
  2. ↑ Worley, Joyce and Chamberlain, Ross (January 1994). "EG Hotline: Sound System Improves SNES". Electronic Games (Decker Publications, Inc.) 2 (4): 13. ISSN 0730-6687. https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-01/page/n13/. Retrieved March 27, 2022. 
  3. ↑ Jasper, Gavin (July 11, 2016). "ClayFighter: The Muddy Fighting Game Series of the 90s". Den of Geek. DoG Tech LLC. https://www.denofgeek.com/games/clayfighter-the-muddy-fighting-game-series-of-the-90s/. Retrieved March 27, 2022. 
  4. ↑ Interplay staff (April 26, 1994). Claymates Instruction Manual. Interplay Productions. p. 5. SNS-Y5-USA. 
  5. ↑ Carter, Chris (July 21, 2021). "Claymates SNES is on Switch now and y'all need to try it". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. https://www.destructoid.com/claymates-snes-is-on-switch-now-and-yall-need-to-try-it/. Retrieved March 27, 2022. 
  6. ↑ "News: Interplay Announce New Sega Titles". Sega Power (Future Publishing) (50): 6. January 1994. 
  7. ↑ Hardawar, Devindra (July 21, 2021). "Nintendo's next SNES Switch Online games include Claymates and Jelly Boy". Engadget. Yahoo. https://www.engadget.com/nintendo-snes-switch-online-claymates-jelly-boy-bombuzal-150021227.html. 
  8. ↑ Weiss, Brett Alan. "Claymates". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141116143825/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=12327&tab=review. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  9. ↑ Rand, Paul (November 1993). "Claymates". Computer and Video Games (144): 89. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File%3ACVG_UK_144.pdf&page=89. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  10. ↑ Semrad, Ed; Carpenter, Danyon; Manuel, Al; Sushi-X; Weigand, Mike (March 1994). "Review Crew". Electronic Gaming Monthly 7 (3): 30–42. https://archive.org/details/ElectronicGamingMonthly_201902/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Issue%20056%20%28March%201994%29/page/n29/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  11. ↑ Music, Boss (February 1994). "Claymates". GamePro (55): 110–111. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_055_February_1994/page/n111/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  12. ↑ Fish, Eliot (August 1994). "Claymates". Hyper (9): 42–43. https://archive.org/details/hyper-009/page/42/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  13. ↑ Philipp; Markus (June 1994). "Claymates". Mega Fun: 36. https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File%3AMegaFun_DE_1994-06.pdf&page=36. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  14. ↑ "Now Playing". Nintendo Power 56: 102–107. January 1994. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-power-issue-127-december-1999/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20056%20January%201994/page/102/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  15. ↑ Andy; Steve (October 1993). "Claymates". Nintendo Magazine System (13): 84–85. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-magazine-system-uk-13-october-1993/page/n83/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  16. ↑ Nicholson, Zy (October 1993). "Claymates". Super Play (12): 50–51. https://archive.org/details/Superplay_Issue_12_1993-10_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n49/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  17. ↑ "Claymates". Video Games: 105. June 1994. https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=19371. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  18. ↑ Ceccola, Russ (January 1994). "Claymates". Electronic Games. https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1994-01/page/n75/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  19. ↑ "Claymates". Nintendo Acción (21): 42–43. August 1994. https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Accion_021/page/n41/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  20. ↑ Paul; Allie; Andy (April 1994). "Claymates". Super Control (11): 22–25. https://archive.org/details/super-control-11/page/n21/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  21. ↑ Keith; Andy; Ryan (May 1994). "Claymates". Super Gamer (2): 62–63. https://archive.org/details/super-gamer-02/page/62/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  22. ↑ Butt, Ryan (October 1993). "Claymates". Super Pro (11): 92–94. https://archive.org/details/super-pro-11/page/n91/mode/2up. Retrieved March 26, 2021. 
  • 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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