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Knights of the Crystallion

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 5 min

Short description: 1990 adventure puzzle video game
Knights of the Crystallion
Developer(s)Bill Williams
Publisher(s)U.S. Gold
Composer(s)Bill Williams
Platform(s)Amiga
Release
Genre(s)Adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Knights of the Crystallion is a 1990 video game for the Amiga developed by Bill Williams and published by U.S. Gold.[1] A fantasy-themed adventure game comprising a mix of sub-games with a puzzle element, the game makes extensive use of the Amiga computer's Hold-And-Modify graphics mode.[2][3]

Psygnosis was offered the game before U.S. Gold, but turned it down for being too weird.[4]

Development

Bill Williams, the developer of the game, stated that he "threw most of [his] soul into" the game's development and that he considered the game to be his "epic" and "masterpiece."[5]

Reception

Allen Greenberg reviewed the game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "The diverse yet interlocking segments of Knights of the Crystallion have been well-balanced and orchestrated so that the result is enjoyable. Certain moments, however, such as the ordeal with the crystals, have led this reviewer to wonder what European publishers fear to lose should someone (heaven forbid!) actually win one of their games."[6]

Amiga Format wrote, "the hypnotic quality will keep you playing for hours at a time," and gave an overall score of 91%.[2]

In 2018, BoingBoing called Knights of the Crystallion "the wonderfully weird and impenetrable magnum opus of legendary game designer Bill Williams, which baffled Amiga owners."[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Knights Of The Crystallion : Hall Of Light The database of Amiga games". http://hol.abime.net/2597. Retrieved 2017-09-27. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Knights of the Crystallion review from Amiga Format 9 (Apr 1990) - Amiga Magazine Rack". http://amr.abime.net/review_1923. Retrieved 2017-09-27. 
  3. ↑ Wrobel, Mark (2020-02-22). "Amiga Machine Code Letter XII - HAM" (in en-us). https://www.markwrobel.dk/post/amiga-machine-code-letter12-ham/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Beschizza, Rob (July 11, 2018). "Obscure video games reviewed". https://boingboing.net/2018/06/11/obscure-video-games-reviewed.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Olafson, Peter (March 1998). "A Tribute to the Work of Bill Williams: Part 2". Amazing Computing: 35–38. https://archive.org/stream/amazing-computing-magazine-1998-03/Amazing_Computing_Vol_13_03_1998_Mar#page/n35/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ Greenberg, Allen (November 1991). "Knights in Bright Data: U.S. Gold's Knights of the Crystallion". Computer Gaming World 1 (88): 66, 68. 

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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