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Galactic Civilizations

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 10 min

Galactic Civilizations
Developer(s)Stardock
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Brad Wardell
Programmer(s)Cari Begle
Scott Tykoski
Brad Wardell
Michael Duffy
Ian Hanschen
Artist(s)Alex Gounaropoulos
Scott Tykoski
Russ Schwenkler
Writer(s)Brad Wardell
Scott Tykoski
Alexander Antoniades
Composer(s)Eric Heberling
Eric Johnson
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: March 25, 2003[1]
  • EU: September 12, 2003
Altarian Prophecy
  • NA: November 12, 2004
  • EU: February 4, 2005
Genre(s)Turn-based strategy, 4X
Mode(s)Single player

Galactic Civilizations is a turn-based strategy video game developed by Stardock and released in March 2003. The game is a remake of an OS/2 series of the same name. An expansion pack entitled Altarian Prophecy was released in 2004. A sequel, Galactic Civilizations II, was released February 21, 2006. On May 14, 2015, Stardock released Galactic Civilizations III.[2] On April 26, 2022, Stardock released Galactic Civilizations IV.

Gameplay

The goal of the game is to eventually dominate the galaxy. It is possible to achieve victory through war, cultural domination, diplomacy or by developing overwhelming advanced technology.[citation needed]

Story

The game is set in the future. Humankind has made contact with the 5 other major alien races. Space travel is risky and expensive, requiring huge jump gates which only permit travel between two specific points. Because space travel is so difficult, the galaxy remains mostly uncolonized. The humans make a great discovery—hyperdrive. It permits fast travel between any two stars. The humans share their discovery with the other five major races. All communication stops. The humans consider that sharing their discovery may have been a mistake. Now that the galaxy is open for exploration, there's going to be a rush to claim all the uncolonized worlds.

Development

GalCiv for OS/2

Galactic Civilizations was first developed for OS/2 in April 1993 by Brad Wardell. Although revenue from the initial OS/2 release was never paid by the bankrupt publisher,[3] popular support encouraged Stardock to release Shipyards, an add-on pack that allowed users to design their own starships, and this provided enough revenue to support further development, with a simplified version being sold to IBM in 1995 as Star Emperor.[citation needed] The game sold above 30,000 units for OS/2.[4]

Galactic Civilizations II was released later that year, adding several new concepts and tweaks. It was followed by another version of Shipyards (which added both the ship design feature and improved governors/AI), and an expansion pack in April 1997, before Stardock was forced to withdraw from significant OS/2 development with the loss of their market.[citation needed] It is possible to run OS/2 versions of the game under emulation using Virtual PC.[5]

Expansion pack

An expansion pack, called Galactic Civilizations: Altarian Prophecy, was released in 2004.

Reception

Galactic Civilizations

Galactic Civilizations
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic83/100[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGWStarStarStarStarHalf star[7]
GameSpot8.4/10[8]
GameSpyStarStarStarStar[9]
GameZone7.5/10[10]
IGN8.2/10[11]
PC Format86%[12]
PC Gamer (UK)88%[13]
PC Gamer (US)82%[14]
X-PlayStarStarStarStar[15]

The game received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[6] By December 2005, the game had sold 75,000 copies, which Computer Gaming World's Bruce Geryk called "impressive" for its genre.[16] According to writer Greg Costikyan, the game's sales had surpassed 100,000 units by 2008.[17]

Galactic Civilizations was named the ninth-best computer game of 2003 by Computer Games Magazine, and it won the publication's "Best AI" award, tying with Halo. A writer for the magazine called it "the sort of game that will still be on your hard drive when all the other games you are playing right now are gathering dust on a shelf."[18] The editors of Computer Gaming World nominated Galactic Civilizations for their 2003 "Strategy Game of the Year" award, which ultimately went to Age of Wonders. They wrote that they "found it impossible to ignore the [game's] almost overwhelming depth of strategy".[19]

Altarian Prophecy

Galactic Civilizations: Altarian Prophecy
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic77/100[20]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGWStarStarStarHalf star[21]
GameZone8/10[22]
IGN8/10[23]
PC Gamer (US)62%[24]

The Altarian Prophecy expansion pack received "favorable" reviews, although slightly less than the original, according to Metacritic.[20]

References

  1. ↑ Staff, I. G. N. (2003-03-03). "Galactic Civilizations Gold" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/03/galactic-civilizations-gold. 
  2. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (October 15, 2013). "Galactic Civilizations III revealed for 64-bit PCs". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/galactic-civilizations-iii-revealed-for-64-bit-pcs/1100-6415595/. 
  3. ↑ Wardell, Brad (April 5, 2006). "Postmortem: Stardock's Galactic Civilizations 2: Dread Lords". http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2653/postmortem_stardocks_galactic_.php. 
  4. ↑ "GameSpot Presents: A History of Space Empire Games". http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/pc/history_spaceempire/p3_01.html. 
  5. ↑ Armstrong, Benjamin (May 25, 2005). "Galactic Civilizations for OS/2 (under Virtual PC)". Microsoft. https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/virtual_pc_guy/2005/05/25/galactic-civilizations-for-os2-under-virtual-pc/. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Galactic Civilizations for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/galactic-civilizations/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  7. ↑ Geryk, Bruce (June 2003). "Galactic Civilizations". Computer Gaming World (227): 99. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_227.pdf. Retrieved April 18, 2017. 
  8. ↑ Parker, Sam (March 26, 2003). "Galactic Civilizations Review". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/galactic-civilizations-review/1900-6023968/. 
  9. ↑ Rausch, Allen (March 28, 2003). "GameSpy: Galactic Civilizations". GameSpy. http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/galactic-civilizations/5720p1.html. 
  10. ↑ Schutz, Jake (April 16, 2003). "Galactic Civilizations - PC - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/galactic_civilizations_pc_review. 
  11. ↑ Brenesal, Barry (April 8, 2003). "Galactic Civilizations Review". http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/04/08/galactic-civilizations-review. 
  12. ↑ Griliopoulos, Dan (November 2003). "Galactic Civilizations". PC Format (154). http://www.pcformat.co.uk/reviews/default.asp?pagetypeid=2&articleid=19541&subsectionid=680. Retrieved April 18, 2017. 
  13. ↑ "Galactic Civilizations". PC Gamer UK. 2003. 
  14. ↑ Peckham, Matthew (June 2003). "Galactic Civilizations". PC Gamer: 82. http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/galactic_civili.html. Retrieved April 18, 2017. 
  15. ↑ Jackson, Jonah (June 4, 2003). "'Galactic Civilizations' (PC) Review". X-Play. http://www.techtv.com/xplay/reviews/story/0,24330,3439185,00.html. 
  16. ↑ Geryk, Bruce (June 2006). "Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords". Computer Gaming World (263): 86–89. 
  17. ↑ Costikyan, Greg (October 21, 2008). "The Independent Developer Shall Rise Again!" (PPT). SCAD Game Developers Exchange 2008. Atlanta, Georgia. pp. 64. http://www.costik.com/presentations/The_Independent_Developer_Shall_Rise_Again.ppt. 
  18. ↑ Staff (March 2004). "Best of 2003; The 13th Annual Awards". Computer Games Magazine (160): 58–62. 
  19. ↑ ((Editors of CGW )) (March 2004). "Computer Gaming World's 2003 Games of the Year". Computer Gaming World (236): 57–60, 62–69. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Galactic Civilizations: Altarian Prophecy for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/galactic-civilizations-altarian-prophecy/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  21. ↑ Geryk, Bruce (December 2004). "Galactic Civilizations: Altarian Prophecy". Computer Gaming World (245): 99. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_245.pdf. Retrieved April 18, 2017. 
  22. ↑ Lafferty, Michael (January 16, 2005). "Galactic Civilizations: Altarian Prophecy - PC - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/galactic_civilizations_altarian_prophecy_pc_review. 
  23. ↑ Butts, Steve (January 12, 2005). "Galactic Civilizations: Altarian Prophecy". http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/01/12/galactic-civilizations-altarian-prophecy. 
  24. ↑ "Galactic Civilizations: Altarian Prophecy". PC Gamer: 71. March 2005. 
  • 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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