Shadwen

Shadwen is a stealth video game developed and published by Frozenbyte. The game was released for macOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, and Windows in May 2016.

## Contents

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

## Gameplay

Shadwen is a stealth video game played from a third-person view.[1]

## Plot

An assassin named Shadwen embarks on a quest to kill the king and must also protect a young girl named Lily. Lily's father was taken to a quarry by kingsmen, and her mother died in the recent spring. She kept herself alive by finding food and shelter throughout the summer, but struggled to feed herself as the weeks went on. She meets Shadwen while trying to steal apples from a tree in the city graveyard. Her mother used to tell her stories where kind and gentle people came out on top. Her opinion of Shadwen can change depending on if she sees Shadwen kill people or not. Shadwen lived in the Dark Forest and was hired by the current king to kill the former king. The current king went back on his word to pay her and instead burned down the forest where she lived to try and kill her. Seeking revenge, Shadwen makes her way to his castle to either end his life or exact payment.

## Development and release

Shadwen was developed by Frozenbyte.[2] The game was announced in December 2015.[2] The game was released for macOS, Linux, macOS, PlayStation 4, and Windows on 17 May 2016.[3] The PlayStation 4 version is notable for being one of the very few PlayStation 4 games not playable on the PlayStation 5 with backwards compatibility, due to a loading screen bug that cannot be fixed.[4]

## Reception

Reception

| Aggregate score

Aggregator| Score
Metacritic| (PC) 53/100[5]
(PS4) 51/100[6]
Review scores
Publication| Score
4Players| (PC) 47%[7]
Destructoid| (PC) 4/10[8]
GamesMaster| (PS4) 37%[9]
Hardcore Gamer| (PC) 3/5[1]
PC Gamer (UK)| (PC) 60%[10]
Push Square| (PS4) [11]
Metro| (PS4) 3/10[13]

The PC and PlayStation 4 versions received "mixed or average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5][6] Destructoid reviewer Joe Parlock was disappointed in the PC version, noting that it wasted the potential of a really cool premise.[8] Hardcore Gamer writer Jordan Helm's review was more positive in his critique, saying that the tactically-focus stealth gameplay enticed him to continue playing the game.[1]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Helm, Jordan (18 May 2016). "Review: Shadwen (PC)". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 19 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160519120442/http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/05/18/review-shadwen/207631/. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (5 December 2015). "Trine-developer announces stealth-action adventure game Shadwen". Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 9 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211209111305/https://www.vg247.com/trine-shadwen-announced-frozenbyte. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
3. ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (5 May 2016). "Trine dev's stealth adventure Shadwen gets a release date". Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220707165902/https://www.eurogamer.net/trine-devs-latest-stealth-adventure-shadwen-gets-a-release-date. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
4. ↑ Croft, Liam (13 October 2020). "Why Shadwen Won't Be Backwards Compatible on PS5". Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230308143059/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2020/10/why_shadwen_wont_be_backwards_compatible_on_ps5. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Shadwen critic reviews (PC)". Fandom. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220811145727/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/shadwen. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Shadwen critic reviews (PS4)". Fandom. Archived from the original on 12 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230312074854/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/shadwen. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
7. ↑ Schmädig, Benjamin (25 May 2016). "Test: Shadwen (PC)" (in de). 4Players GmbH. Archived from the original on 26 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211026093223/https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/PC-CDROM/Test/37509/81862/0/Shadwen.html. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Parlock, Joe (17 May 2016). "Review: Shadwen (PC)". Gamurs. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220724100346/https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-shadwen/. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
9. ↑ "Review: Shadwen (PS4)". GamesMaster (Future plc): 79. July 2016.
10. ↑ Chalk, Andy (27 May 2016). "Shadwen review". PC Gamer (Future plc). Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231209080331/https://www.pcgamer.com/shadwen-review/. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
11. ↑ McCormick, John Cal (22 May 2016). "Shadwen Review". Hookshot Media. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230324165806/https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/shadwen. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
12. ↑ Tassani, Marco (17 May 2016). "Shadwen Recensione PC PS4" (in it). The Games Machine (Aktia srl). Archived from the original on 8 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240808102639/https://www.thegamesmachine.it/shadwen/shadwen-recensione-pc-ps4/. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
13. ↑ GameCentral (18 May 2016). "Shadwen review – adventures in babysitting (PS4)". Metro (DMG Media). Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211024152741/https://metro.co.uk/2016/05/18/shadwen-review-adventures-in-babysitting-5888979/. Retrieved 17 November 2024.

## External links

* Official website
* 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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