Carnivores (video game)

Carnivores

Developer(s)| Action Forms
Publisher(s)| WizardWorks
Producer(s)| Michael Gjere[1]
Programmer(s)| Oleg Slusar[1]
Artem Kuryavchenko[1]
Series| Carnivores
Platform(s)| Microsoft Windows
Release|

* NA: December 16, 1998[2][3]
* EU: 1998

Genre(s)| Sport (hunting)
First-person shooter
Mode(s)| Single-player

Carnivores is a 1998 first-person shooter video game developed by Action Forms and published by WizardWorks for Microsoft Windows. It is the first video game in the Carnivores series of hunting games.

## Contents

* 1 Storyline
* 2 Gameplay
* 3 Development and release
* 4 Reception
* 5 Legacy
* 6 Notes
* 7 References
* 8 External links
* 9 Features
* 10 History
* 11 See also
* 12 References
* 13 External links

## Storyline

Carnivores is set in the year 2190. During an exploration mission in unknown space, a science vessel known as FMM UV stumbled upon a planet with a climate similar to that of Earth, making it suitable for life. The new planet was code-named FMM UV-32. During the initial scouting expedition, the planet was declared inhospitable for colonization due to its unstable terrain and an unexpected abundant population of extraterrestrial organisms that resemble dinosaurs and other prehistoric reptiles. News articles about FMM UV-32 led an Earth corporation to purchase the rights to the planet and to create DinoHunt Corporation, which allowed customers to hunt the planet's dinosaurs.[4]

## Gameplay

At the start of a new game, the player is given a choice whether to create a new game or continue playing from a previous account. The aim of the game is hunting dinosaurs to accumulate trophies and earn points which will unlock better weapons and the rights to hunt more diverse species of dinosaurs. A novice hunter starts with zero points, and is only given a shotgun, crossbow and a few starter dinosaurs to hunt, each dinosaur can grant the player a different set of points required to level up. If the player is killed by a dinosaur, all points accumulated on that specific hunt are forfeited. The player must be picked up by DinoHunt to keep the points he earned.

There are three tiers for a hunter, novice, advanced and expert. A hunter will become Advanced after earning 100 points, and Expert with 300. To begin a hunt, the player must choose the location, the weapon, the dinosaur and some hunting accessories which help the player but will deduct the score during that hunt. Each location is unique, with varying difficulties and terrain. The new hunter will be given three areas, with two more added for the Advanced hunter and a final area for the Expert hunter, for a total of six locations. Level locations include jungles, and deserts accompanied by pyramids and an ancient temple.

Next, the player must choose a dinosaur to hunt. A new hunter will be given the choice of four dinosaurs: Parasaurolophus, Stegosaurus, Pachycephalosaurus and Allosaurus. An Advanced hunter gains the ability to hunt the Triceratops and the Velociraptor. Only an Expert hunter can hunt the Tyrannosaurus rex. Harmless creatures such as Moschops, Gallimimus and Dimorphodon are present in each level. They are worth zero points and can be killed with a single shot. The player must also choose a weapon, which can be set for kill or tranquilize for additional points. A beginning hunter can only use a shotgun or a crossbow. A sniper rifle is unlocked upon becoming an Advanced hunter. First time hunters can use the Observation Mode to familiarize themselves with dinosaur behavior and different terrain.

## Development and release

Carnivores was developed by Action Forms,[5] using the AtmosFear game engine.[6] In designing the game's dinosaurs, the development team referenced bones, paintings, and the Jurassic Park films.[7] WizardWorks published the game for Microsoft Windows.[2] The game was initially available through WizardWorks' website, followed by a release in retail stores in December 1998.[2]

## Reception

Reception

| Aggregate score

Aggregator| Score
GameRankings| 64%[8]
Review scores
Publication| Score
AllGame| [5]
CGSP| [9]
CGW| [10]
GameRevolution| B[11]
GameSpot| 7.1/10[12]
IGN| 7.3/10[13]
PC Gamer (UK)| 40%[14]
PC Gamer (US)| 69%[15]

The game received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[8] Trent C. Ward of IGN praised its dinosaur and environment sounds, but believed that the game was "too damn easy," stating that it was "a surprisingly entertaining game that just doesn't have enough options to keep players busy for the long term."[13] Greg Kasavin of GameSpot praised its sound effects, and its levels for looking "surprisingly authentic," but noted that the game is "tantalizing yet not quite complete to be entirely satisfying."[12]

Tom Chick of Computer Gaming World praised the dinosaurs and environments, but stated that the game can be a little tedious for players who are not into hunting games, although he noted that "This is clearly a game about stalking rather than action".[10] Don St. Jon of GamePro was disappointed by Carnivores as an action game, but stated that it was a "mildly pleasant surprise" as a hunting game. Jon stated that the game showed "its budget status in some ways" such as the minimal weapon and level choices, as well as the repetitive appearance of the environments, but he concluded that the game's action elements "take it a notch above most hunting titles".[16][lower-alpha 1] GameRevolution praised the realistic appearance and behavior of the game's dinosaurs, as well as the large environments and the graphics, but criticized the game for "long periods of boredom and tedium".[11]

Andrew S. Bub of Computer Games Strategy Plus noted that the game's story was "weak and more than a bit silly," but he praised its graphics, sound, and the "challenging and surprisingly fun" gameplay.[9] Michael L. House of AllGame praised the graphics and the lack of music, writing, "Ambient sounds definitely let you feel as if you've arrived in a prehistoric landscape." House also praised the limited amount of ammunition available on each hunt, stating that it made the game "much more grounded in fact – it just doesn't offer a chance for the undisciplined trigger-happy hunter to blast away at anything that moves without ever running out of ammunition."[5]

## Legacy

Carnivores was the first installment in what would become a series. The first sequel, Carnivores 2, was released in 1999, followed by Carnivores in 2001 and Carnivores in 2002. Carnivores, the fifth installment in the series and an updated port of the original Carnivores game, was released in 2010. Carnivores, a sequel in the series and a modern remake of the original Carnivores game, was released in 2013. Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter Reborn, the seventh installment in the series, was released in 2015, as a sequel to Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter.

## Notes

1. ↑ GamePro gave the game two 4/5 for graphics and sound, and two 3.5/5 scores for control and fun factor.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Carnivores - Credits". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18379&tab=credits.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "GT INTERACTIVE MAKES HUNTING PREHISTORIC WITH WIZARDWORKS' 'CARNIVORES' FOR PC". December 2, 1998. http://www.wizworks.com/press/pr_carno.htm.
3. ↑ "New Releases for 1998.". 2001-01-27. http://www.gonegold.com/golden/golden98.shtml.
4. ↑ WizardWorks (1998). Carnivores instruction manual. "The year is 2190 AD. On a routine exploration mission, science vessel FMM UV discovered a planet with suitable climate for humankind. During the initial scouting expedition this young planet, code-named FMM UV-32, was declared inhospitable for colony life due to its unstable terrain and immense population of prehistoric reptiles. News of this amazing planet spread and articles on the "Dinosaur Planet" lead an earth corporation to purchase the rights to the planet, and create DinoHunt Corp. DinoHunt created the unique opportunity for paying customers to become dinosaur hunters for the first time in 50 million years. You are the newest client of DinoHunt Corp."
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 House, Michael L.. "Carnivores - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18379&tab=review.
6. ↑ Olowoyeye, Folahan (June 26, 2010). "Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter for iPhone". IDG Communications. https://www.macworld.com/article/1152338/dinosaurhunterreview.html.
7. ↑ Abadsidis, Savas (September 30, 2014). "Carnivore!". BuzzFeed. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/carnivore_b_5903508.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Carnivores for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/196874-carnivores/index.html.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Bub, Andrew S. (February 23, 1999). "Carnivores". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/018/008/carnivores_review.html.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Chick, Tom (April 1999). "Shooting Gallery (Carnivores)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (177): 174. https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_177/page/n177/mode/2up. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Brian B. (March 1999). "Carnivores Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33092-carnivores-review.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Kasavin, Greg (January 24, 1999). "Carnivores Review [date mislabeled as "May 1, 2000""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/carnivores-review/1900-2538321/.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Ward, Trent C. (December 30, 1998). "Carnivores". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/31/carnivores.
14. ↑ Pierce, Matthew (September 1999). "Carnivores". PC Gamer UK (Future Publishing) (73). http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=187. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
15. ↑ Poole, Steve (April 1999). "Carnivores". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 6 (4). http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/1267.html. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
16. ↑ St. Jon, Don (1999). "Carnivores Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/730.shtml. Retrieved November 12, 2018.

## External links

* 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 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]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

## 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.
18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628.

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