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Turnabout (video game)

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 8 min

Turnabout
North American PlayStation cover art
Developer(s)Artdink
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Shinichi Senoo
Platform(s)PlayStation, browser, mobile
ReleasePlayStation
  • JP: April 6, 2000
  • NA: March 31, 2003
  • EU: November 7, 2003
Browser
  • JP: January 21, 2001
PlayStation Network
  • JP: December 21, 2006
  • NA: September 25, 2012
Mobile
  • JP: March 5, 2010
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Turnabout, known in Japan as Migi Hidari (U-SA) (右左 （U-SA）, literally "Right Left (U-SA)") is a puzzle video game developed by Artdink for the PlayStation. The player's objective is to rotate the stage's screen 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise until colored balls fall and touch other balls or stationary blocks of the same color, causing the matched objects to disappear. The round is complete when all colored objects have been removed.

Shinichi Senoo was the creator and project lead. Artdink self-published the game in Japan in 2000. It was released by Natsume Inc. in North America and distributed by Zoo Digital Publishing in Europe in 2003. The game was made available on the Japanese and North American PlayStation Network, while Japan also saw a Java-based browser version and a mobile version for iPod Touch and iPhone.

Gameplay

Turnabout is a puzzle game. Each round consists of one or more stationary and non-stationary objects enclosed within a bordered stage. Gameplay involves rotating the stage 90 degrees either clockwise or counterclockwise, causing all the unfixed objects to fall downward due to gravity. The goal is to rotate the stage in order to remove certain elements. These include colored balls, which are dynamic, and colored blocks, which are stationary. When a ball collides with another ball or block of the same color, they both disappear.[1] This repeats until the player makes all colored pieces disappear or cannot make a move, requiring the level to be restarted. There is no time limit.[1]

The player's goal is rotate the stage until the red ball and red block touch. The colorless blocks act as obstacles.

Balls and their corresponding blocks can have five different colors: red, blue, yellow, green, and purple. Each color can only match with itself, and can touch a block of a different color without disappearing. Obstacles take the form of colorless blocks, which are dynamic pieces and, unlike balls, are not limited to taking up only one space. Colorless blocks may have very complicated and specific shapes that can obstruct ball movement. Colorless blocks can also not be matched, meaning they exist for the entire round.

Turnabout consists of 100 stock levels that become increasingly more challenging. The player can only access them in groups of ten, requiring most of the levels in a group to be completed to reach the next ten.[2] Progress can be saved to a memory card. The game includes an Edit Mode for creating one's own puzzles. Up to 50 custom levels can be saved to the memory card slot.[1][2][3]

Development and release

Turnabout was developed for the PlayStation by Artdink. It was directed, programmed, and designed by Shinichi Senoo, who devised a number of its stages as well. He had previous credits on PlayStation such as PaRappa the Rapper, Um Jammer Lammy, Robot × Robot, and Segare Ijiri. Senoo would go on to be the main creator and project lead on the puzzle game Kowloon City.[4][5] Artdink self-published Turnabout in Japan on April 6, 2000.[6] An overseas localization was handled by Natsume Inc. in North America on March 31, 2003 and distributed by Zoo Digital Publishing in Europe late that same year.[2][7] In Japan, the game was re-released for download via the PlayStation Network first on the PlayStation Portable on December 21, 2006 and then on the PlayStation 3 on May 31, 2007.[8][9] It was made downloadable for both platforms in North America on September 25, 2012.[10]

A free browser rendition of Turnabout was made available by J-Game on its Java-based, Japanese gaming website starting on January 21, 2001.[11] A versus mode was added that let players compete against one another or the computer to solve a set of three random puzzles in the least number of steps.[12] A mobile port of Turnabout for iPhone and iPod Touch was distributed by BB Soft Service in Japan on March 5, 2010. The app allowed the player to use either the device's gyroscope or touchscreen to rotate the puzzle field. A free "Lite" edition included three beginner puzzles, one intermediate puzzle, and one advanced puzzle. The full edition included 10 puzzles of each difficulty level with the option to purchase an additional 50 puzzles for each difficult level.[13][14] The app was included in the membership for subscribers of Japan's Yahoo! Premium internet service starting on February 8, 2013.[15]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStarHalf star[2]
Famitsu23/40[16]
OPM (US)StarStarStarStar[17]
Dengeki PlayStation85/100[18]
Famitsu PS21/40[19]

Upon release in Japan, a panel of four reviewers from Famitsu gave Turnabout a cumulative score of 23 out of 40, while the magazine's PlayStation-centric spin-off publication, Famitsu PS, scored it slightly lower at 21 out of 40.[16][19] Dengeki PlayStation gave the game an overall rating of 85 out of 100.[18] Press coverage of Turnabout was seemingly more limited in other regions. It received a favorable review from Roy Rybicki of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, who noted its addictive gameplay and challenge. He thought highly of its Edit Mode and soundtrack, proclaiming the latter as "sometimes jazzy, sometimes trancey" and that it "never gets too repetitive or intrusive." He felt that the game, being a budget title, lacked certain appealing features like a two-player mode and variety in its stage graphics.[17]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Artdink staff (2000). "右左(U-SA)" (in ja). Artdink. https://www.artdink.co.jp/japanese/title/usa/usa1.html. Retrieved November 9, 2023. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 House, Michael L.. "Turnabout". RhythmOne. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=42985. Retrieved November 10, 2023. 
  3. ↑ Natsume staff (2003). "Turnabout". Natsume Inc.. http://natsume.com/games/Turnabout/index.html. Retrieved November 9, 2023. 
  4. ↑ Senoo Shinichi (2002). "その他関わったもの" (in ja). Rimnet. http://www.cc.rim.or.jp/~senoo/etc.html. Retrieved November 5, 2023. 
  5. ↑ Senoo Shinichi (2002). "せのーぺーじ" (in ja). Rimnet. http://www.cc.rim.or.jp/~senoo/top.html. Retrieved November 5, 2023. 
  6. ↑ Artdink staff (2000). "右左(U-SA)" (in ja). Artdink. https://www.artdink.co.jp/japanese/title/usa/usa2.html. Retrieved November 9, 2023. 
  7. ↑ Zoo Digital Publishing staff (December 2003). "Release Schedule". Zoo Digital Publishing. http://www.zoodigitalpublishing.com:80/article.asp?id=76633&sec=9. Retrieved November 3, 2023. 
  8. ↑ Dengeki staff (December 20, 2006). "PSPでプレイ! PLAYSTATIONStoreで「ゲームアーカイブス」9タイトルの販売開始" (in ja). ASCII Media Works. https://dengekionline.com/data/news/2006/12/20/113b35a3c15fae216029c7ae8ab2be1b.html. Retrieved October 31, 2023. 
  9. ↑ Dengeki staff (May 31, 2007). "PLAYSTATION Storeで「ゲームアーカイブス」11作品が本日販売" (in ja). ASCII Media Works. https://dengekionline.com/data/news/2007/5/31/ef4df323d4e4ec37ee6b6b3f6f81aecd.html. Retrieved October 31, 2023. 
  10. ↑ Chen, Grace (September 25, 2012). "PlayStation Store Update". Sony Computer Entertainment. https://blog.playstation.com/2012/09/25/playstation-store-update-258/. Retrieved October 31, 2023. 
  11. ↑ Impress staff (January 22, 2001). "ジェイゲーム、Javaゲームサイトをスタート 3月からは携帯電話のユーザーとPCユーザーの対戦も可能に" (in ja). Impress. https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20010122/jgame.htm. Retrieved November 6, 2023. 
  12. ↑ J-Game staff (2002). "ゲームルール" (in ja). J-Game. http://jp.jgame.com/rule/r_usa.html. Retrieved November 6, 2023. 
  13. ↑ ASCII Editorial Department (March 6, 2010). "iPhoneも頭もフル回転！　パズル「右左」" (in ja). ASCII Media Works. https://ascii.jp/elem/000/000/504/504610/. Retrieved October 31, 2023. 
  14. ↑ BBSS staff (March 5, 2010). "SoftBank SELECTIONより、iPhone向けパズルゲームアプリ「右左（U-SA）」を提供開始" (in ja). BB Soft Service Co., Ltd.. http://www.bbss.co.jp/company/news/2010/news_20100305.html. Retrieved October 31, 2023. 
  15. ↑ BBSS staff (February 7, 2013). "BBソフトサービス、眼精疲労予防アプリ「ストレッチアイ」と思考型パズルアプリ「右左（U-SA）」をYahoo!プレミアム会員特典として提供開始" (in ja). BB Soft Service Co., Ltd.. http://www.bbss.co.jp/company/news/2010/news_20100305.html. Retrieved October 31, 2023. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Famitsu staff (April 14, 2000). "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: クライムクラッカーズ (PS)". Famitsu (Enterbrain) (591). https://web.archive.org/web/20190511173721/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=11601&redirect=no. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Rybicki, Roy (June 2003). "Reviews: Turnabout". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) (69). https://archive.org/details/official-u.-s.-playstation-magazine-issue-69-june-2003/page/n106/mode/1up. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Dengeki staff (April 14, 2000). "電撃SoftStation" (in ja). Dengeki PlayStation (ASCII Media Works) (140). 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Famitsu PS staff (April 14, 2000). "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: クライムクラッカーズ (PS)". Famitsu PS (Enterbrain) (79). 
  • Turnabout at GameFAQs
  • 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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