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Fly!

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 12 min

Short description: Flight simulator software
Fly!
Developer(s)Terminal Reality
Publisher(s)Gathering of Developers
Producer(s)Brett Combs[1]
Richard Harvey[1]
Programmer(s)Richard Harvey[1]
Artist(s)Terry Simmons[1]
Platform(s)Windows, Macintosh
ReleaseWindows
Macintosh
  • NA: September 20, 1999[4]
Genre(s)Flight simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

Fly! is a flight simulator video game for Windows and Macintosh developed by Terminal Reality and published by Gathering of Developers.[5]

Gameplay

Hawker 800 in flight over Oahu, Hawaii

It includes simulation of air traffic control features as well as aircraft's on-board systems,[6] and was acclaimed for its highly detailed fully working interactive cockpits.[6] Featured aircraft are fixed-wing light to medium aircraft. An enhanced version, Fly! 2K, and add-on, Wilco's 737 for Fly!, were released in 2000.[7] Fly! 2K added user-created add-ons, enhanced graphics, real world and real-time weather generation via the ability to import METAR reports from NOAA, and support for Roger Wilco. The improvements were made available for owners of the original Fly! via a free patch.[8][9][10] Another version titled Fly! 2K: German Edition was released in early 2001. It added Ruhr area to the game.[11][12] It is intended to replace the Fly! 2 main program (exe) and remain fully compatible with previous versions, scenery, aircraft, etc. The first publicly available version was released in 2010.[13]

Development

The game was in development for more than three years.[14][15]

Reception

Fly!
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings66%[16]
67% (2K)[17]
Review scores
PublicationScore
4Players65/100 (2K: German Edition)[11]
AllGameStarStarHalf star[18]
CGSPStarStarStar[19]
CGWStarStarStarHalf star[20]
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[22]
GameSpot7.9/10[6]
GameSpy86/100 (2K)[9][17]
GameStar68% (2K)[23]
70% (2K: German Edition)[24]
IGN4.8/10 (PC)[5]
6/10 (Mac)[25]
Jeuxvideo.com18/20[26]
PC Games69% (2K: German Edition)[29]
PC Zone70%[30]
PC Player (Germany)55/100 (2K)[31]
60/100 (2K: German Edition)[12]

Fly! and Fly! 2K received mixed or average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[16][17] It sold 93,000 units by October 2001.[32]

Sequel

Fly! II is a sequel to Fly! released on April 26, 2001 for Windows and Macintosh. Macintosh version was distributed by MacSoft.[33] Said sequel and Fly! 2K sold combined 47,000 units by October 2001.[32]

Reception

Fly! II
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings56%[34]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGWStarStar[35]
GameSpot6.0/10[37]
GameStar52%[38]
53% (German Edition)[38]
Jeuxvideo.com13/20[39]
Inside Mac Games6.75/10[33]
MacAddictStarStarStarStar[40]

Danny Atkin for Computer Gaming World said "Fly! II is this year's poster child for programs shoved out the door before completion–publisher Gathering of Developers not only shipped FLY! II with bugs and missing features, it even left out most of the manual. The shame of it all is that the finished parts are quire good, and developer Terminal Reality has been very quick to post patches and missing terrain data."[35]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lert, Peter (1999). Fly! Pilot Handbook. p. 283. 
  2. ↑ "Gone Gold : EuroGold". 2001-02-10. http://www.gonegold.com/golden/eurogold99.shtml. 
  3. ↑ "GodGames". 2001-04-17. http://www.godgames.com/main.php?section=news&page=press&pr=Fly!_Ships. 
  4. ↑ "GodGames". 2001-04-17. http://www.godgames.com/main.php?section=news&page=press&pr=Fly!_For_Mac_Ships. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Almásy, László (October 5, 1999). "Fly! (PC)". Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 12, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/19991012124730/http://pc.ign.com/reviews/11649.html. Retrieved February 9, 2021. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lopez, Tony (August 20, 1999). "Fly! Review [date mislabeled as "January 12, 2001""]. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120114161810/http://www.gamespot.com/fly/reviews/fly-review-2536079/. Retrieved February 9, 2021. 
  7. ↑ GameSpot staff (May 12, 2000). "Wilco's 737 for Fly! (Preview)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wilcos-737-for-fly/1100-2568426/. Retrieved February 9, 2021. 
  8. ↑ "Fly! 2K preview". CBS Interactive. 12 May 2000. http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/fly2k/preview_2568252.html. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Farmer, Doug (3 June 2000). "Fly!2K review". IGN Entertainment. http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/fly2k_a.shtm. 
  10. ↑ "Fly! Series". http://www.godgames.com/main.php?section=gamers&game=fly. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Test: Fly! 2k (German Edition)" (in German). 4Players GmbH. 21 February 2001. https://www.4players.de/4players.php/spielinfo/Allgemein/1195/Fly_2k_German_Edition.html. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Schelle, Martin (February 2001). "Fly 2K German Edition" (in German). PC Player (2/2001): 88. 
  13. ↑ "FlightGear forum • View topic - Fly! Legacy, the free and opensource flight simulator is out". https://forum.flightgear.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9423. 
  14. ↑ Manning, Ric (August 7, 1999). "Practicing pilots can learn to Fly". p. 48. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/101802136/green-bay-press-gazette/. Retrieved May 14, 2022. 
  15. ↑ Deniz, Tuncer (1999). "Interview: Fly's Richard Harvey". Archived from the original on August 15, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000815110444/http://www.insidemacgames.com/features/99/richard_harvey/interview.shtml. Retrieved June 12, 2023. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Fly! for PC". CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190602024945/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/64033-fly/index.html. Retrieved February 9, 2021. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Fly! 2K for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/913885-fly-2k/index.html. 
  18. ↑ Woods, Nick. "Fly (PC) - Review". All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115101054/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18925&tab=review. Retrieved February 10, 2021. 
  19. ↑ Atkin, Denny (October 30, 1999). "Fly!". Strategy Plus, Inc.. Archived from the original on July 9, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030709131331/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/023/190/fly_review.html. Retrieved February 9, 2021. 
  20. ↑ Cable, Tim (December 1999). "Let's Fly! (Fly! Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (185): 152. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_185.pdf. Retrieved February 9, 2021. 
  21. ↑ "Fly! 2k" (in French). 5 November 2000. http://gamekult.com/tout/jeux/fiches/J000000167_test.html. 
  22. ↑ Mahood, Andy (August 14, 1999). "Fly! (PC)". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). Archived from the original on August 27, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030827084341/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/831.shtml. Retrieved February 10, 2021. 
  23. ↑ "Fly! 2K Reviews". Fandom. https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/fly-2k/mobyrank. 
  24. ↑ "Fly! 2K: German Edition Reviews". Fandom. https://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/fly-2k-german-edition/mobyrank. 
  25. ↑ Sanchez, Rick (June 7, 2002). "Fly! (Mac)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/07/fly. Retrieved February 10, 2021. 
  26. ↑ Kornifex (August 11, 1999). "Test: Fly! (PC)" (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000031_test.htm. Retrieved February 10, 2021. 
  27. ↑ Morgan, Jennifer (January 2000). "Fly!". MacADDICT (Imagine Media) (41): 54–55. https://archive.org/details/MacAddict-041-200001/page/n55/mode/2up. Retrieved February 10, 2021. 
  28. ↑ Tessler, Franklin (January 2000). "Fly!". Macworld (IDG): 61. https://archive.org/details/MacWorld0001January2000_201806/page/n61/mode/2up. Retrieved February 10, 2021. 
  29. ↑ Steidle, Rudiger (March 2001). "Fly! 2K Germany Edition" (in German). PC Games (3/2001): 108. 
  30. ↑ Presley, Paul (October 1999). "Fly!". PC Zone (Dennis Publishing) (81): 80–81. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_81_October_1999/page/n79/mode/2up. Retrieved February 10, 2021. 
  31. ↑ Schelle, Martin (July 2000). "Fly 2K" (in German). PC Player (7/2000): 128. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "GOD's Games". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (207): 31. October 2001. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_207.pdf. Retrieved February 9, 2021. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Morgan, Tim (19 October 2001). "IMG Review: Fly! II". http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=196. 
  34. ↑ "Fly! II for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/466246-fly-ii/index.html. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 Atkin, Danny (August 2001). "Shoo Fly!". Computer Gaming World (205): 71. 
  36. ↑ "Fly ! II" (in French). 17 July 2001. http://gamekult.com/tout/jeux/fiches/J000004539_test.html. 
  37. ↑ Geryk, Bruce (29 May 2001). "Fly! II Review for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim/fly2/review.html. 
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "Fly! II Reviews". Fandom. https://www.mobygames.com/game/fly-ii/mobyrank. 
  39. ↑ "Fly! 2 - PC - Test". http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00001457_test.htm. 
  40. ↑ Pizor, Rich (March 2002). "Fly II". Future US. http://www.macaddict.com/issues/0203/rev.fly2.html. 
  • Official Fly! II website (archived)
  • Fly! at Terminal Reality (archived)
  • Fly! II at Terminal Reality (archived)
  • Fly at Gathering of Developers (archived)
  • Fly! II at Gathering of Developers (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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