Citizendia
Your Ad Here

MobyGames
Image:MobyGames.png
URL http://www.mobygames.com
Commercial? Yes
Type of site Gaming
Registration Free
Owner MobyGames
Created by MobyGames

MobyGames is a website devoted to cataloging computer and video games, both past and present. Uniform Resource Locator is an URI which also specifies where the identified resource is available and the protocol for retrieving it A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. The site contains an extensive database of video game information. A Computer Database is a structured collection of records or data that is stored in a computer system The website's goal is defined as the following by the website's FAQ: "To meticulously catalog all relevant information about electronic games (computer, console, and arcade) on a game-by-game basis, and then offer up that information through flexible queries and "data mining". FAQ is an Acronym for " Frequently Asked Question(s " In layman's terms, it's a huge game database. " As of the beginning of 2008, that catalog includes more than 83 separate gaming platforms (consoles, computers and handheld devices including mobile phones) and more than 20,000 unique games. A home computer was a class of Personal computer entering the market in 1977 and becoming common during the 1980s A mobile device (also known as cellphone device, handheld device, handheld computer, "Palmtop" or simply handheld) is a pocket-sized

Contents

Overview

MobyGames website screenshot
MobyGames website screenshot

MobyGames' database is completely relational, meaning that information can be searched for in a variety of ways. A relational database is a Database that groups data using common attributes found in the data set The database contains information on video and computer games, video game developers and publishers and categorizes them by year, manufacturer and platform. A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual that creates Video games A developer may specialize in a certain video A video game publisher is a company that publishes Video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a Video game developer

The Moby software also develops lists of related games. For example, all the games in the Ultima series are included in a group list. Indirectly-linked games are also grouped together, ranging from Tetris variants to The Simpsons licenses. Tetris (Тетрис is a Video puzzle game originally designed and programmed by Alexey Pajitnov in June 1985 while working for the Dorodnicyn

Also, all versions of a particular game released for different platforms also get grouped into a special list. Games are separated by their gameplay and similarity to one another. So that even though two games may share the same name or license, they only comprise the same game sheet if the gameplay represented is the same (or almost the same). Therefore a game such as Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, released for 3D-capable platforms (Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Windows) is separated from Splinter Cell as it appears on the Game Boy Advance or N-Gage. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a series of Video games endorsed by American author Tom Clancy. 3D computer graphics (in contrast to 2D computer graphics) are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer The Xbox is a sixth-generation Video game console produced by Microsoft Corporation. The, often abbreviated as GCN, is Nintendo 's fourth home Video game console and is part of the sixth generation console era. Microsoft Windows is a series of Software Operating systems and Graphical user interfaces produced by Microsoft. The Game Boy Advance (often shortened to GBA) is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed manufactured and marketed by Nintendo. The N-Gage is a Mobile telephone and Handheld game system based on the Nokia Series 60 platform

Content to MobyGames is added on a voluntary basis. The ideas are similar to a wiki, though not identical. A wiki is a page or collection of Web pages designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify content using a simplified Markup language. Anonymous contributions are not allowed, each item is tracked to a user account for auditing purposes. Furthermore, all information submitted to MobyGames is individually verified by users with Approver access before it goes into the database. User accounts are free and require only a valid email address. Several notable developers have contributed to the database, including John Romero, [1] Damon Slye [2] and Harvey Smith. Alfonso John Romero (born October 28 1967 in Colorado Springs, Colorado) is a Game designer, programmer, and Harvey Smith is a game designer interested in deeply simulated immersive environments. [3]

MobyGames also maintains a comprehensive list of developers, such as programmers, game designers and artists. A game programmer is a Programmer who primarily develops Video games or related Software (such as Game development tools. A "game designer" is a person who designs Video games or one who designs traditional games such as Board games Video Games Designer A video game designer A game artist is an Artist who creates art for one or more types of Games Game artists are responsible for all of the aspects of Game development that call This list is garnered from the credit information for games in their database. Some developer "rap sheets" (as MobyGames calls them) have biographical information, similarly to how IMDb tracks credits for various film actors and crew. A criminal record is a record of a person's criminal history generally used by potential employers lenders etc A biography (from the Greek words bíos (βίος meaning "life" and gráphein (γράφειν meaning "to write" is an account An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works A crew comprises a body or a class of people who work at a common activity generally in a structured or hierarchical organization

Almost all information on a game is included in MobyGames. Each entry can include a summary, credits, release information (across different countries and releases — many budget-price reissues are documented), cover art scans, screenshots (rules for contributing these are strict, ensuring perfect quality), reviews (unlimited), technical specifications for the game, trivia, tips & tricks (cheats), advertising blurbs the game may have used, and links for buying or trading the game. A Cheat code (also called debug code or backdoor) is a code that can be entered into a computer program to alter the run-time behavior or configuration of that program MobyGames does not offer any downloadable games, demos or patches, feeling those roles are better left up to the developers. A game demo is an often but not always freely distributed demonstration or preview of an upcoming or recently released computer or video game. They also do not carry game news as there are many other web sites devoted to that task.

One of MobyGames' signature features is that it allows its users to rate their favorite games. The top rated games are then featured in a series of lists sorted by genre, system, year, etc. There is also a list for "The 25 Greatest Games of All Time". [4]

Concepts and goals

The primary goal of MobyGames is to meticulously catalog all video games. MobyGames relies upon user contributions for accurate information of video games ranging anywhere from the '70s to the 21st century. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The goal is to record all historically relevant information about a game.

MobyGames relies upon the idea that the website is built largely upon the contributions of the members of the site. The games added to the site are all added by users that contribute a missing game or some aspect of the game like credits or screenshots. Games can range anywhere from the 1970s up until the release date before it is entered into the database. Many games are missing relevant information such as credits, cheats, screenshots, and covers which can be contributed by users as long as the information is accurate. Almost all information relevant to the game is cataloged including its rating (ESRB, PEGI, CERO, etc. The Entertainment Software Rating Board ( ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, Advertising guidelines and Pan European Game Information ( PEGI) is a European Video game content rating system. The ( CERO) is the Organization that rates video games and Computer Software in Japan with levels of rating that informs the customer ), screenshots, cover art, technical specifications, release info (including release info for every country the game is released in), and advertising blurbs.

Besides this information, users can write reviews for any game entry. MobyGames subscribes to the concept that the average of multiple user ratings is more accurate than a few ratings from professional journalists. A journalist (also called a newspaperman) is a person who practices Journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events trends Reviews are written and submitted to the website, and later re-edited by the author if necessary. The site also allows for users to enter in trivia or their own walkthroughs/cheats/hints for others to use.

History

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999 by Jim Leonard, Brian Hirt, and David Berk (joined 18 months after project started, but still credited as a founder), three friends since high school. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) High school is the name used in some parts of the world (in particular Scotland, North America and Australia) to describe an institution Leonard had the idea of sharing information about electronic games with a larger audience; out of that desire came MobyGames.

MobyGames began with just entries for DOS and Windows games, since those were the only systems the founders were familiar with. DOS, short for "Disk Operating System" is a shorthand term for several closely related Operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market On its second birthday, MobyGames started supporting other platforms, initially the leading consoles of the time such as the PlayStation, with classic systems added later. The PlayStation (abbreviated PS, PSone, PS1, or informally as PSX) is a 32-bit fifth generation Video game console The significance of the site is perhaps summed up by the creation of an online petition calling for the ZX Spectrum to be added. The Sinclair ZX Spectrum is an 8-bit personal Home computer released in the United Kingdom in 1982 by Sinclair Research Ltd It was added in late 2004, and as of late 2005 has around 1000 games documented for that platform.

Other 2005 additions include the MSX, Amstrad CPC, TRS-80, Palm OS, Windows Mobile, Java ME, Xbox 360 and Gizmondo . MSX was the name of a standardized Home computer architecture in the 1980s The Amstrad CPC is a series of 8-bit Home computers produced by Amstrad Plc during the 1980s and early 1990s TRS-80 was Tandy Corporation 's desktop Microcomputer model line sold through Tandy's Radio Shack stores in the late 1970s and early Palm OS (also known as Garnet OS) is an embedded Operating system initially developed by U Windows Mobile is a compact Operating system combined with a suite of basic applications for Mobile devices based on the Microsoft Win32 In computing the Java Platform Micro Edition or Java ME (still commonly referred to by its previous name Java 2 Platform Micro Edition or J2ME) is a specification The Xbox 360 is the second Video game console produced by Microsoft, and was developed in cooperation with IBM, ATI, and SiS. The Gizmondo is a handheld gaming console with General Packet Radio Service and Global Positioning System technology which was manufactured by Tiger Telematics According to David Berk, new platforms are added once there is enough information researched to design the necessary framework for them in the database, as well as people willing to be approvers for the new platform. In 2006, Atari 8-bit, Commodore PET, Apple Macintosh computers, Channel F, Magnavox Odyssey, CD-i, Dragon 32/64, Magnavox Odyssey², iPod, PlayStation 3 and Wii were added to the database. The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit Home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992 The PET ( P ersonal E lectronic T ransactor) was a home -/ Personal computer produced by Commodore starting in 1977 Macintosh, commonly nicknamed Mac is a Brand name which covers several lines of Personal computers designed developed and marketed by Apple Inc The Fairchild Channel F is a game console released by Fairchild Semiconductor in August 1976 at the retail price of $169 The Magnavox Odyssey is the world's first Video game console. CD-i or Compact Disc Interactive is the name of an interactive multimedia CD player developed and marketed by Royal Philips Electronics N This article is about the Dragon home computers. For other uses see Dragon (disambiguation. The Magnavox Odyssey², known in Europe as the Philips Videopac G7000, in Brazil as the Philips Odyssey, in the United States iPod is a popular brand of Portable media players designed and marketed by Apple Inc Systems such as the BBC Micro and SAM Coupé are still absent. The SAM Coupé is an 8-bit British Home computer that was first released in late 1989

Awards

MobyGames was nominated for, but did not win, a Webby Award for Best Game-related Website [5] by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences on April 11, 2006. The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences or IADAS was founded in 1998 in New York to help drive the progress of the Internet and evolving Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar.

Notes

  1. ^ Rap Sheet - User : John Romero
  2. ^ Rap Sheet - User : Damon Slye
  3. ^ Rap Sheet - User : harvey smith
  4. ^ "The 25 Greatest Games of All Time" list from MobyGames
  5. ^ 2006 Webby Nominees, Games-Related category

References

External links

High Score! The Illustrated History of Electronic Games is a book published in April 2002 by McGraw-Hill Osborne Media The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc, ( is a Publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Morgan Kaufmann Publishers is a San Francisco based book publisher specialized in computer science and engineering SAGE is an independent for-profit academic Publisher of books more than 500 Journals, and databases in the humanities social sciences and scientific Polity Press is an international publisher in the social sciences and humanities
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic