| MobyGames | |
| Logocaption: | Logo since March 2014 |
| Collapsible: | Yes |
| Collapsetext: | Screenshot |
| Commercial: | Yes |
| Type: | Gaming |
| Registration: | Optional |
| Language: | English |
| Owner: | Atari SA |
| Founder: | Jim Leonard Brian Hirt[1] |
| Current Status: | Online |
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.[2] The site is supported by banner ads and a small number of people paying to become patrons.[3] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It is currently owned by Atari SA.
The database began with games for IBM PC compatibles. After two years, consoles such as the PlayStation, were added. Older console systems were added later. Coverage of arcade video games was added in January 2014 and mainframe computer games in June 2017.[4]
Edits and submissions go through a leisurely verification process by volunteer "approvers". The approval process can range from immediate (minutes) to gradual (days or months).[5] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copyediting.[6]
Registered users can rate and review any video game. 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 subforum.
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.[7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience.
In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum and a few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial 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).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel.[10]
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]