FIFA 2001 (known as FIFA 2001: Major League Soccer in North America and FIFA 2001: World Championship in Japan) is a football simulation video game and the sequel to FIFA 2000. It was succeeded by FIFA Football 2002. It features Paul Scholes on the UK cover and Ben Olsen on the North American cover. The game's Spanish cover features Gaizka Mendieta on it. It was released on 31 October 2000 for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation, and on 24 November 2000 for PlayStation 2 as a launch title in Europe. The PlayStation 2 version was originally slated for release in the U.S. on 7 November,[5] before it was delayed to 28 November. A Game Boy Color version was planned but cancelled.
The game received "favourable" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6][7][8]CNET Gamecenter gave the PC version a favourable review, a week-and-a-half before its U.S. release date.[11] In Japan, where the PlayStation 2 version was ported and published by Electronic Arts Square under the name FIFA 2001: World Championship (FIFA2001 ワールドチャンピオンシップ,FIFA 2001 Wārudo Chanpionshippu) on 7 December 2000, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40.[18]
Dr. Zombie of GamePro said of the PlayStation version, "Even though FIFA 2001 is also slated for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation owners won't miss out-the gameplay and features should remain the same, as does the high Fun Factor. Once again, EA Sports scores with FIFA 2001!"[33][lower-alpha 2] Air Hendrix said that the PlayStation 2 version "delivers a fine performance. It's not the instant classic that some of EA's other titles are, but if you're a fan of the world's most popular sport, you'll be glued to the controller."[34][lower-alpha 3]Extended Play gave the same PS2 version four stars out of five, saying, "'FIFA 2001 Major League Soccer' for the PS2 is deep, fast, and instantly playable. It is by far the most realistic and best-looking soccer game ever -- and, to top it off, the most fun. This is something we've grown accustomed to with EA Sports. The PlayStation2 [sic] is perfect for capturing the massive scope of this worldwide sport."[35]
The PC version was a finalist for the "Sports" award at Computer Gaming World's 2001 Premier Awards, which went to Sammy Sosa High Heat Baseball 2001.[36] The same PC version was nominated for the Sports Game of the Year award at the CNET Gamecenter Computer Game Awards for 2000, which went to NHL 2001.[37] Said PC version won the award for "Sports Game of the Year" at GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2000 Awards.[38] The PlayStation 2 version was also nominated for the "Best Sports Game (Traditional)" award, which went to NFL 2K1.[39] During the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the PC version won the "PC Sports" award, which it shared with Motocross Madness 2,[40] and was a finalist for "PC Game of the Year" and "Game of the Year", which ultimately lost both to Diablo II;[41] it was also a nominee for "Visual Engineering", which ultimately went to SSX.[42]
The PlayStation version received a "Gold" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),[43] indicating sales of at least 200,000 units in the UK.[44]
Notes
↑Three critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation 2 version each a score of 9/10, 8/10, and 9.5/10.
↑GamePro gave the PlayStation version all perfect fives each for graphics, sound, control, and fun factor.
↑GamePro gave the PlayStation 2 version three 4.5/5 scores for graphics, control, and fun factor, and 4/5 for sound.
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
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobyGames. Read more
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