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RoboCop (1988 video game)

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 11 min

RoboCop
North American arcade flyer.
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Yoshiyuki Urushibara
Tomo Adachi
Programmer(s)
  • Ryōji Minagawa
  • Mr. Deco Men
  • Kenji Takahashi
  • S. Tamura
  • Masaaki Tamura
Artist(s)
  • Tomo Adachi
  • Asami Kaneko
  • Mix Man
  • Yoshinari Kaiho
Composer(s)
  • Hiroaki Yoshida
  • Hitomi Komatsu
  • Hiroyuki
SeriesRoboCop
Platform(s)Arcade, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Game Boy, MS-DOS, MSX, NES, TRS-80 Color Computer, ZX Spectrum
Release
Genre(s)Beat 'em up, run and gun
Mode(s)Single-player
Multiplayer (not in all versions)
Arcade systemData East MEC-M1[3]

RoboCop is a beat 'em up / run and gun video game developed and published by Data East for arcades in 1988 based on the 1987 film of the same name.[4][5] It was sub-licensed to Data East by Ocean Software, who obtained the rights from Orion Pictures at the script stage.[6][7] Data East and Ocean Software subsequently adapted the arcade game for home computers.

The game was a critical and commercial success. The arcade game was the highest-grossing arcade game of 1988 in Hong Kong, and reached number-two on Japan's monthly Game Machine arcade charts. On home computers, the game sold over 1 million copies worldwide, and it was especially successful in the United Kingdom where it was the best-selling home computer game of the 1980s.

Gameplay

Arcade screenshot

The gameplay is similar to Data East's arcade game Bad Dudes Vs. DragonNinja, released earlier the same year.[8] Robocop includes elements from both beat 'em up and run and gun video games.

Release

In 1988, Ocean adapted Data East's Robocop arcade game for 8-bit home computers, converting much of the arcade game while also adding original content to make it different from the arcade original.[7] This version was produced for the Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum, TRS-80 Color Computer 3, Amstrad CPC, and MS-DOS, meaning that home computers ended up with two different versions of Robocop for North American and European audiences.

Ports for the Apple II, Amiga, and Atari ST; ports for DOS, NES, and TRS-80 Color Computer 3 followed in 1989. The Apple II and IBM PC ports were developed by Quicksilver Software, while the Amiga and Atari ST versions were developed directly by Ocean. The NES version was developed primarily by Data East with programming handled by Sakata SAS Co, and Ocean ported and published a version for the Game Boy in 1990. A port of the game for the Atari Jaguar was planned but never released.[9][10]

Data East published the game in North America.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Crash92%[12]
CVG95%[11]
Sinclair User94%[13]
Your Sinclair8/10[14]
ACE807/1000[15]
The Games Machine81%[16]
Awards
PublicationAward
CrashCrash Smash
Computer and Video GamesGame of the Month

RoboCop was a commercial success in arcades, especially in Hong Kong where it was the highest-grossing arcade game of 1988.[17] In Japan, Game Machine listed RoboCop on their February 1, 1989 issue as being the second most-successful table arcade unit of the month.[18]

On home computers, the game sold over 1 million copies worldwide. It was especially successful in the United Kingdom, where it was the best-selling home computer game of the 1980s.[7] The ZX Spectrum version in particular was the best-selling home video game of 1989.[19] The ZX Spectrum RoboCop was one of the biggest selling games of all time on that platform and remained in the Spectrum software sales charts for over a year and a half;[20] it entered the charts in December 1988[21] and was still in the top five in February 1991.[22] It also topped the UK all-format charts for a record 36 weeks until it was knocked off the number one position by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in August 1989.[23]

The arcade game was critically well-received.[8] The ZX Spectrum version also achieved critical acclaim, receiving a CRASH Smash award from CRASH,[24] 94% in Sinclair User[13] and Your Sinclair gave 8.8 out of 10,[25] also placing it at number 94 in the Your Sinclair official top 100. The overall opinion was that it captures the original material, with smooth scrolling and animation, sampled speech and sound effects highlighted.

The readers of YS voted it the 9th best game of all time.[26]

The title theme of the Ocean Software versions (composed by Jonathan Dunn) has become well known for its serene, calm tune, which heavily contrasted the tone of both the actual game and the source material; the version of the theme heard in the Game Boy port was later licensed by European kitchen appliance company Ariston for use in a series of TV adverts.[27] The song was also used as the theme song for Charlie Brooker's documentary How Videogames Changed the World,[28] and was one of Brooker's selections on Desert Island Discs. It was also used as the music for the Internet short "Dilbert 3"[27] and was sampled in Lil B's song "In Down Bad" from his mixtape "White Flame".[27][29]

References

  1. ↑ "FAMICOM Soft > 1989". GAME Data Room. http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTC1_FC1989.html. 
  2. ↑ "GAMEBOY Soft > 1991". GAME Data Room. http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTM1_GB1991.html. 
  3. ↑ "Data East MEC-M1 Hardware (Data East)". 2015-02-12. http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=939&page=1#18908. 
  4. ↑ "RoboCop - The Future of Law Enforcement". https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=robocop-the-future-of-law-enforcement&page=detail&id=2240. 
  5. ↑ Kenjō, Kōji (October 1988). "Video Games - ビデオゲーム新作インフォメーション". Micom BASIC Magazine (The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation) (76): 268–269. https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1988-10#page/n249/mode/2up. 
  6. ↑ Mason, Graeme (January 19, 2014). "The making of Robocop - Thank you for your co-operation". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-19-the-making-of-robocop. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Mellor, Robert (January 2008). "The Making Of: RoboCop". Retro Gamer (Future Publishing) (46): 62–65. http://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/the-making-of-robocop/. Retrieved 2018-09-05. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Arcade Action: RoboCop". Computer and Video Games (86 (December 1988)): 149–52. November 1988. https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-086/page/n148. 
  9. ↑ "Atari Jaguar Sector II Forum Link". http://www.jaysmith2000.com/. 
  10. ↑ "Atari Jaguar Lost Games". https://www.janatari.de/atari-jaguar/jaguar-lost-games/. 
  11. ↑ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=C+VG/Issue087/Pages/CVG08700042.jpg. 
  12. ↑ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue59/Pages/Crash5900024.jpg. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=SinclairUser/Issue082/Pages/SinclairUser08200013.jpg. 
  14. ↑ "Robocop". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://ysrnry.co.uk/articles/robocop.htm. 
  15. ↑ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ACE/Issue16/Pages/ACE1600103.jpg. 
  16. ↑ "Archive - Magazine viewer". World of Spectrum. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=TheGamesMachine/Issue15/Pages/TheGamesMachine1500045.jpg. 
  17. ↑ "The World's Largest Arcade". ACE (20 (May 1989)): 23. 6 April 1989. https://archive.org/details/ACE_Issue_20_1989-05_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n22/mode/1up. 
  18. ↑ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (Amusement Press, Inc.) (349): 25. 1 February 1989. 
  19. ↑ "The Best Games of '89". Computer and Video Games (98 (January 1990)): 9. 16 December 1989. https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-098/CVG_098_Jan_1990#page/n7/mode/2up. 
  20. ↑ "The YS Complete Guide To Shoot-'em-ups Part II" from Your Sinclair issue 56, August 1990; retrieved from The Your Sinclair Rock 'n' Roll Years
  21. ↑ "Top Twenty Full Price Games". New Computer Express (Future Publishing). 24 December 1988. https://archive.org/details/NH2021_New_Computer_Express_Issue007.pdf/page/n1/mode/2up. Retrieved 1 December 2021. 
  22. ↑ "The YS Rock'n'Roll Years - Issue 62". Ysrnry.co.uk. http://ysrnry.co.uk/ys62.htm. 
  23. ↑ "Indy Topples Robocop". New Computer Express (Future Publishing). 9 September 1989. https://archive.org/details/NH2021_New_Computer_Express_Issue044.pdf/page/n2/mode/1up. Retrieved 1 December 2021. 
  24. ↑ RoboCop review from CRASH issue 59, December 1988; retrieved from CRASH Online
  25. ↑ RoboCop review from Your Sinclair issue 39, March 1989; retrieved from The Your Sinclair Rock 'n' Roll Years
  26. ↑ Your Sinclair magazine issue 93, Future Publishing, September 1993, page 58
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Person, Chris (February 16, 2012). "What do Robocop, Washing Machines, Dilbert & Lil B have in Common?". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5885431/what-do-robocop-washing-machines-dilbert--lil-b-have-in-common. 
  28. ↑ Whitehead, Dan (December 5, 2013). "TV review: How Videogames Changed the World" (in en-UK). Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-12-05-tv-review-how-videogames-changed-the-world. 
  29. ↑ Rougeau, Michael (February 16, 2016). "Gameboy "Robocop"'s Theme Song Also Sold Washers, Made Dilbert Homicidal And Got Sampled By Lil B". Complex. http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/02/gameboy-robocops-theme-song-also-sold-washers-made-dilbert-homicidal-and-got-sampled-by-lil-b. 
  • 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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