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Loopz

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 6 min

Loopz
Cover art
Developer(s)Audiogenic
Publisher(s)Mindscape
Designer(s)Ian Upton
Composer(s)David Whittaker
Platform(s)Atari ST, Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Electron, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Game Boy, Atari Lynx, NES, NEC PC-9800, ZX Spectrum, X68000
Release1990
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Loopz is a puzzle video game designed and programmed by Ian Upton for the Atari ST in 1989. He previously worked as head game designer for Audiogenic, who acquired exclusive rights to the game, then in 1990 arranged for Mindscape to publish it for computers in North America and consoles worldwide.[citation needed]

The Nintendo Entertainment System version (programmed by Bits Studios) and the Game Boy version (programmed by Argonaut Software) were released in 1990. Audiogenic published versions of the original game for the Acorn Archimedes, Acorn Electron, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Atari ST, Amiga, and IBM PC in 1990 and 1991.

Gameplay

The main focus is on the playing board where random pieces of different shapes are presented to the player. A shape is either a single square containing a straight line or 90° corner or a combination of multiple such squares. The player must then try to make loops out of them. Once a loop is completed, all pieces involved will disappear. (You cannot make any line overlapping the edge, in other words, it cannot be placed in this way)

There exist three different play modes, two of which can be played with two players. The third mode of play starts with a loop already created and then takes away random pieces of it, so the player has to put them back in after they show up.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
ACEST: 795/1000[1]
CVG79%[7]
Video Games (DE)69%[9][10]
Your Sinclair77%[12]

Richard Leadbetter of Computer and Video Games gave the game 79% for its Amiga version describing its gameplay as simplistic but decent, while noted that graphics looked dated. The Atari ST version received the same score.[7] Steve Cooke of ACE magazine rated the Atari ST version 795/1000 noting its difficulty and longer learning curve compared to its peers. [1] Stephan Englhart of Video Games gave the game's Game Boy version 69% and noted that it didn't stand out among its peers.[9] Martin Gaksch gave the NES version 69% as well calling the idea innovative, but not well executed.[10]

Legacy

A port was done for the Atari Lynx, also for Audiogenic by Hand Made Software but lay unreleased until picked up by Songbird Productions in 2004.[13]

An agreement was reached between Audiogenic Software and the defunct Atari Classics Programmer's Club in 1995 for development of an Atari 8-bit family version of the game. This version remained incomplete by the time it was abandoned in October 1998.

A sequel, Super Loopz, was published for the Super NES by Imagineer and for the Amiga CD32 by Audiogenic.

Audiogenic licensed the Loopz concept to Capcom who developed a prototype coin-op, but it was never released. Similarly Audiogenic developed an SWP (skill-with-prizes) version on behalf of Barcrest, a leading UK manufacturer of pub games, and this too remains unreleased.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cooke, Steve (November 1990). "Loopz". ACE (Future plc) 38: 67. https://archive.org/stream/ACE_Issue_38_1990-11_Future_Publishing_GB#page/n65/mode/2up. 
  2. ↑ "Loopz" (in de). Aktueller Software Markt: 102. April 1991. https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1991.04/page/n101/mode/2up. Retrieved January 3, 2022. 
  3. ↑ Kleimann, Manfred (February 1991). "Loopz" (in de). Aktueller Software Markt: 90. https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1991.02/page/n89/mode/2up. Retrieved January 3, 2022. 
  4. ↑ "Loopz" (in de). Aktueller Software Markt: 127. February 1992. https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1992.02/page/n121/mode/2up. Retrieved January 3, 2022. 
  5. ↑ Amann, Hans-Joachim (June 1991). "Loopz" (in de). Aktueller Software Markt. https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=11256. Retrieved January 3, 2022. 
  6. ↑ Schmidt, Ottfried (November 1990). "Spiel des Monats: Loopz" (in de). Aktueller Software Markt: 6–7. https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=6032. Retrieved January 3, 2022. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Leadbetter, Richard (November 1990). "Loopz". Computer and Video Games (Emap) 108: 77. https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_108_1990-11_EMAP_Publishing_GB/Computer__Video_Games_Issue_108_1990-11_EMAP_Publishing_GB#page/n75/mode/2up. 
  8. ↑ Boardman, Julian (December 1990). "Loopz". Raze (2): 30–31. https://archive.org/details/RAZE_Issue_02_1990-12_Newsfield_Publishing_GB/page/n29/mode/2up?view=theater. Retrieved January 3, 2022. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Englhart, Stephan (April 1991). "Loopz" (in de). Video Games (Markt & Technik): 74. https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_1991-04_Markt_Technik_DE/Video_Games_1991-04_Markt__Technik_DE#page/n69/mode/2up. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Gaksch, Martin (February 1992). "Loopz" (in de). Video Games (Markt & Technik): 65. https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_1992-02_Markt_Technik_DE/Video_Games_1992-02_Markt__Technik_DE#page/n59/mode/2up. 
  11. ↑ Nakamura, Eric (June 1994). "Super Loopz". VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine (65): 68. https://archive.org/details/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_65_June_1994/page/n65/mode/2up. Retrieved January 3, 2022. 
  12. ↑ Davies, Jonathan (April 1991). "Loopz". Your Sinclair (64). Archived from the original on January 18, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010118012500/http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/loopz.htm. Retrieved January 3, 2022. 
  13. ↑ Kromin, Igor. "Loopz - Atari Lynx | Atari Gamer" (in en). https://atarigamer.com/lynx/game/Loopz/730964739. 
  • 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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  • Loopz at SpectrumComputing.co.uk
  • Loopz at the Amiga Hall of Light


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