MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes nearly 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] The site is supported by banner ads and a small number of people paying to become patrons.[2] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It is currently owned by Atari SA.
Prior to being merged into the database, changes go through a leisurely verification process by volunteer "approvers".[3] There is a published standard for game information and copyediting.[4] The most commonly used sources are video game packaging and title and credit screens.
Registered users can rate and review any game. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists which can generate a list of games available for trade with other users. The site has an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own subforum.
History
Logo used until March 11, 2014
MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999 by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, then joined by David Berk 18 months later, three friends since high school.[5] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about electronic games with a larger audience.
The database began with games for MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows, since those were the systems the founders were familiar with. After two years, contemporary consoles such as the PlayStation, were added. Older systems were added later. Support for arcade video games was added in January 2014 and mainframe computer games in June 2017.[6]
In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[7] This was announced to the community post factum and a few major contributors left in protest, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercially owned website.
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).[8] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel.[9]
On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[10] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[11][12]
^"Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
^"Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million". VGC. March 9, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
External links
Official website
January 15, 2023
mobygames, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, this, article, adding, secondary, tertiary, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december, 2018, learn, when, remove, this, template, mess. This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources MobyGames news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing This includes nearly 300 000 games for hundreds of platforms 1 The site is supported by banner ads and a small number of people paying to become patrons 2 Founded in 1999 ownership of the site has changed hands several times It is currently owned by Atari SA MobyGamesLogo since March 2014ScreenshotFrontpage as of April 2012 update Type of siteGamingAvailable inEnglishOwnerAtari SAURLmobygames wbr comCommercialYesRegistrationOptionalLaunchedJanuary 30 1999 23 years ago 1999 01 30 Current statusOnline Contents 1 Content 2 History 3 References 4 External linksContent EditPrior to being merged into the database changes go through a leisurely verification process by volunteer approvers 3 There is a published standard for game information and copyediting 4 The most commonly used sources are video game packaging and title and credit screens Registered users can rate and review any game Users can create private or public have and want lists which can generate a list of games available for trade with other users The site has an integrated forum Each listed game can have its own subforum History Edit Logo used until March 11 2014 MobyGames was founded on March 1 1999 by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt then joined by David Berk 18 months later three friends since high school 5 Leonard had the idea of sharing information about electronic games with a larger audience The database began with games for MS DOS and Microsoft Windows since those were the systems the founders were familiar with After two years contemporary consoles such as the PlayStation were added Older systems were added later Support for arcade video games was added in January 2014 and mainframe computer games in June 2017 6 In mid 2010 MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount 7 This was announced to the community post factum and a few major contributors left in protest refusing to do volunteer work for a commercially owned website 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 8 Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames interface to its pre overhaul look and feel 9 On November 24 2021 Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for 1 5 million 10 The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022 with Freyholtz remaining as general manager 11 12 References Edit Wikidata has the property MobyGames game ID P1933 see uses MobyGames Stats MobyGames Retrieved September 18 2019 MobyGames Patrons MobyGames Retrieved December 25 2022 MobyGames FAQ Emails Answered When will my submission be approved MobyGames com Blue Flame Labs March 30 2014 Retrieved January 19 2016 The MobyGames Standards and Practices MobyGames com Blue Flame Labs January 6 2016 Retrieved January 19 2016 20 Years of MobyGames Oldskooler Ramblings February 28 2019 Retrieved May 11 2022 New ish on MobyGames the Mainframe platform MobyGames com Blue Flame Labs June 18 2017 Retrieved July 6 2017 Report MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media Gamasutra July 2 2011 Corriea Alexa Ray December 31 2013 MobyGames purchased from GameFly improvements planned Polygon Retrieved January 1 2014 Wawro Alex December 31 2013 Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner Gamasutra Retrieved January 1 2014 Atari invests in Anstream may buy MobyGames Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition Details Plans for the Site s Continued Support March 8 2022 Retrieved March 8 2022 Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for 1 5 million VGC March 9 2022 Retrieved May 11 2022 External links EditOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title MobyGames amp oldid 1130716557, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
