Odama

Short description: 2006 video game

Odama

North American box art

Developer(s)| Vivarium
Publisher(s)| Nintendo
Director(s)| Keiji Okayasu
Producer(s)| Yoot Saito
Designer(s)| Yoot Saito
Takuya Jinda
Programmer(s)| Shintarou Kawahara
Kanta Kobayashi
Tsuyoshi Inada
Takuya Oba
Platform(s)| GameCube
Release|

* EU: March 31, 2006
* NA: April 10, 2006[1]
* JP: April 13, 2006

Genre(s)| Pinball, real-time tactics
Mode(s)| Single-player

Odama[lower-alpha 1] is a video game for the GameCube developed by Vivarium and published by Nintendo in 2006. The game was produced and designed by Seaman creator, Yutaka Saito. It is the penultimate GameCube game to be published by Nintendo, followed by The Legend of Zelda.

Odama blends tactical wargaming with pinball gameplay. The game takes place in a feudal Japan setting. The main character is a young general named Yamanouchi Kagetora, who is intent on avenging his father's death by reviving the most ingenious weapon ever to hit the medieval battlefield: the Odama. The Odama is a gigantic ball powerful enough to destroy whatever it strikes, friend or foe. Using giant flippers, players aim the Odama to bowl over enemies, shatter their defenses and wreak havoc on the battlefield. With the GameCube Microphone, players direct their soldiers out of the Odama's way and into the fray by charging the enemy, defending positions and seizing the enemy gates.

## Contents

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

## Plot

The main character in Odama is Yamanouchi Kagetora, a young general struggling to avenge his clan and preserve the Way of Ninten-do, which is a philosophy that means "The way of heavenly duty". With this philosophy to guide him, he finds that his individual soldiers can band together to create a force strong enough to defeat even the most powerful enemy, a general named Karasuma Genshin. Genshin betrayed Lord Yamanouchi Nobutada, Kagetora's father, in a coup, leading Lord Nobutada to take his own life in order to avoid the shame of defeat. Kagetora exacts his revenge, using only limited resources against a vast army. One of these resources is a sacred object protected by his clan: a legendary weapon called the Odama.

## Gameplay

The player controls flippers, which operate exactly like those in a pinball game: they strike the Odama back into the battlefield, directing it into targets and away from soldiers. Between the two flippers, the commander stands guard, hacking down any soldiers who attempt to pass. Players can tilt the battlefield, allowing them to alter the course of the Odama. The goal is to shatter the enemy gates with the Odama and direct a crew of men carrying a giant bell to pass through the opened gates. Players' soldiers will defend their crew and seize enemy positions to protect their men on the mission.

The GameCube Microphone was included with the game. Using the Microphone, players direct soldiers by giving voice commands. There are 11 commands, ranging from generic (moving left and right, advancing and retreating) to map-specific and special moves.

## Development

Odama was developed by Vivarium Inc. and chiefly designed by Yoot Saito, the creator of Seaman for the Dreamcast.[2][3] According to Nintendo producer Shigeru Miyamoto, the publisher was initially taken aback by the game's curious mix of pinball and real-time tactics and Saito's initial pitch, "I want to make a pinball game set in feudal Japan." However, Saito eventually convinced them after creating a demo of the game.[2]

Odama debuted at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in 2004. This version of the game showcased the use of the DK Bongos, which allowed a second player to raise troop morale and distract enemy troops by repeatedly beating the drums.[4] However, this feature was absent from its E3 showing the next year and dropped prior to the game's release.[3]

## Reception

Reception

| Aggregate score

Aggregator| Score
Metacritic| 62 of 100[5]
Review scores
Publication| Score
Edge| 4 of 10[6]
EGM| 5.83 of 10[7]
Eurogamer| 6 of 10[8]
Famitsu| 31 of 40[9]
Game Informer| 7 of 10[10]
GamePro| [11]
GameRevolution| C+[12]
GameSpot| 6.6 of 10[13]
GameSpy| [14]
GameTrailers| 6.5 of 10[15]
GameZone| 6.5 of 10[16]
IGN| 6.5 of 10[17]
Nintendo Power| 8.5 of 10[18]
The A.V. Club| C−[19]
Detroit Free Press| [20]
| Award

Publication| Award
IGN| 2006 Most Innovative Design[21]

The game received "mixed" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[5] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of three eights and one seven for a total of 31 out of 40.[9]

Odama won IGN's Most Innovative Design for a GameCube game in 2006.[21]

## References

1. ↑ "Odama Released - Press Release". http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/pr/11278/odama-released.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gibson, Ellie (January 6, 2006). "Miyamoto talks Odama". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news060106miyamoto.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Dormer, Dan (January 13, 2006). "Odama Gets Release Date". http://www.1up.com/news/odama-release-date.
4. ↑ IGN Staff (May 11, 2004). "E3 2004: Odama Unveiled". http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/05/12/e3-2004-odama-unveiled.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Odama for GameCube Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/odama/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube.
6. ↑ Edge staff (May 2006). "Odama". Edge (162): 90.
7. ↑ EGM staff (June 2006). "Odama". Electronic Gaming Monthly (204): 119.
8. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (March 31, 2006). "Odama". http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_odama_gc.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Riley, Adam (April 6, 2006). "Famitsu Rates Odama & Legend of Stafi". Cubed. http://www.cubed3.com/news/4880/1/nintendo-reviews-famitsu-rates-odama-and-legend-of-stafi.html.
10. ↑ Miller, Matt (March 2006). "Odama". Game Informer (155): 112. http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/0D68CE06-1497-454A-9FBD-E9084D5A3B86.htm. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
11. ↑ Long Haired Offender (April 10, 2006). "Review: Odama". GamePro. http://gamepro.com/nintendo/gamecube/games/reviews/53240.shtml. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
12. ↑ Dodson, Joe (April 21, 2006). "Odama Review". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/odama.
13. ↑ Davis, Ryan (April 11, 2006). "Odama Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/odama-review/1900-6147488/.
14. ↑ Williams, Bryn (April 11, 2006). "GameSpy: Odama". GameSpy. http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/odama/701217p1.html.
15. ↑ "Yoot Saito's Odama [sic Review Text"]. GameTrailers. April 11, 2006. http://www.gametrailers.com/reviews/ubanqu/yoot-saito-s-odama-review.
16. ↑ Aceinet (May 4, 2006). "Odama - GC - Review". GameZone. http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/odama_gc_review.
17. ↑ Casamassina, Matt (April 11, 2006). "Odama". http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/04/11/odama.
18. ↑ "Odama". Nintendo Power 203: 92. May 2006.
19. ↑ Modell, Josh (May 10, 2006). "Odama". The A.V. Club. http://www.avclub.com/article/odama-9026.
20. ↑ Schaefer, Jim (April 29, 2006). "Squash the Samurai". Detroit Free Press. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060430/ENT06/604300319/1044.
21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Best of 2006: Most Innovative Design (GameCube)". http://bestof.ign.com/2006/cube/31.html.

## Notes

1. ↑ Odama (大玉, Ōdama; lit. "Great Ball")

## 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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