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World Games (video game)

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 6 min

World Games
Apple IIGS cover art
Developer(s)Epyx
K-Byte
Publisher(s)
Composer(s)Steve Mage
Platform(s)Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MSX, NES, Master System, IBM PC, ZX Spectrum
Release1986
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player

World Games is a sports video game developed by Epyx for the Commodore 64 in 1986. Versions for the Apple IIGS, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, Master System and other contemporary systems were also released. The NES version was released by Milton Bradley, and ported by Software Creations on behalf of producer Rare.

The game is a continuation of the Epyx sports line that includes Summer Games and Winter Games.

World Games was made available in Europe for the Wii virtual console on April 25, 2008.[1]

Events

The events available vary slightly depending on the platform, and may include:

The game allows the player to compete in all of the events sequentially, choose a few events, choose just one event, or practice an event.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Crash71%[5]
Sinclair UserStarStarStarStarStar[6]
Your Sinclair9/10[7]
Zzap!6498%[8]
Your ComputerStarStarStarStarStar[9]
Computer Gamer65%[10]
Award
PublicationAward
Zzap!64Gold Medal

Writing for Info, Benn Dunnington gave the Commodore 64 version of World Games three-plus stars out of five and described it as "my least favorite of the series". Stating that slalom skiing was the best event, he concluded that "Epyx does such a nice, consistent job of execution, tho, that it's hard to take off too many points even for such boring material".[11] Computer Gaming World's Rick Teverbaugh criticized the slalom skiing and log rolling events' difficulty, but concluded that "World Games is still a must for the avid sports games".[12] Charles Ardai called the game "an adequate sequel" to Epyx's previous Games, and praised the graphics. He criticized the mechanics "as bizarre little joystick patterns which have little to do with the events" but still recommended the game because of the log rolling event.[13] Jame Trunzo praised the game's use of advanced graphics and sound, including humorous effects. Also noted was the variety in the included games, preventing the game from getting too repetitive.[14]

The game was reviewed in 1988 in Dragon #132 by Hartley, Patricia, and Kirk Lesser in "The Role of Computers" column. The reviewers gave the game 5 out of 5 stars.[15]

A budget-priced re-release of the Commodore 64 version was positively received in Commodore User who said it was "the pinnacle of the Games series".[4]

References

  1. ↑ "World Games". https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Virtual-Console-Wii-/World-Games-280229.html. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Commodore User Magazine Issue 39". December 1986. https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-39/page/n56/mode/1up?view=theater. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Commodore User Magazine Issue 39". December 1986. https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-39/page/n55/mode/1up?view=theater. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Cheapo Round-Up". Commodore User (EMAP Frontline) (65): 66. February 1989. https://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-65/Commodore_User_Issue_65_1989_Feb#page/n65/mode/1up. Retrieved 8 August 2021. 
  5. ↑ "Crash". http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=Crash/Issue40/Pages/Crash4000126.jpg. 
  6. ↑ "Sinclair User". http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=SinclairUser/Issue062/Pages/SinclairUser06200052.jpg. 
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.ysrnry.co.uk/articles/worldgames.htm. 
  8. ↑ "Zzap!64 100th Issue Pull-Out Special Page 5". http://www.zzap64.co.uk/zzap100/100thspec5.html. 
  9. ↑ "Your Computer". http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=YourComputer/Issue8612/Pages/YourComputer861200046.jpg. 
  10. ↑ "Computer Gamer". http://www.worldofspectrum.org/showmag.cgi?mag=ComputerGamer/Issue26/Pages/ComputerGamer2600022.jpg. 
  11. ↑ Dunnington, Benn; Brown, Mark R.; Malcolm, Tom (January–February 1987). "64/128 Gallery". Info: 14–21. https://archive.org/stream/info-magazine-13/Info_Issue_13_1987_Jan-Feb#page/n13/mode/2up. 
  12. ↑ Teverbaugh, Rick (March 1987). "Sports Scoreboard". Computer Gaming World: pp. 14. 
  13. ↑ Ardai, Charles (April 1987). "Titans of the Computer Gaming World / Part 1 of V: Ardai on Epyx". Computer Gaming World: pp. 12. 
  14. ↑ Trunzo, James (Apr 1988). "Spanning the Globe... Epyx' "World Games" Explored". Computer Gaming World: pp. 20. 
  15. ↑ Lesser, Hartley; Lesser, Patricia; Lesser, Kirk (April 1988). "The Role of Computers". Dragon (132): 80–85. 
  • 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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