 | |
Type of site | Video game journalism |
|---|---|
| Owner | 4Players GmbH |
| Editor | Mathias Oertel |
| URL | www |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | August 2000 |
4Players is a German online magazine that provides news and reviews of video games and related content. Established in August 2000, 4Players is owned by the Hamburg-based company 4Players GmbH, an indirect subsidiary of the Marquard Group conglomerate.
The company 4Players GmbH was established in May 2000 by the internet agency Active Newmedia GmbH in association with Freenet AG. [1] [2] 4Players GmbH subsequently launched the website 4Players in August that year. [3] Freenet sold 4Players GmbH to Computec Media in December 2012, with the purchase taking effect on 1 January 2013. [4] [5] On 30 June 2020, Computec Media owner Marquard Group transferred 4Players GmbH to 4Players AG, a newly formed Aktiengesellschaft in Switzerland owned directly by Marquard Group. The conglomerate stated that it expected "extraordinary expansion" of 4Players as a result of the move. [2] However, the site announced in August 2021 that it was to close on 31 October 2021. Consequently, 40 of 4Player GmbH's 50 employees would be laid off, while the remainder would continue to operate the company's other businesses, including the game server hosting service 4Netplayers, the communication software Odin, and the multiplayer tool Scill. [6] Shortly after the last article was published, 4Players AG announced that there had been multiple offers to continue operating the site. Reporting resumed on 11 November with Mathias Oertel as the acting editor and several freelances who nominally work for Computec as writers. [6] [7]
4Players provides news, reviews and downloads for various video games platform. The mainpage is split into sections for every platform the portal covers: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, VR and handhelds. Additionally 4Players providers coverage around the general video games community, eSports, a tips section, an internet forum as well as a video section with video reviews. [8] The portal also provides additional features such as an iPhone and android app as well as a teamspeak server service. [9] [10]
As of February 2016, 4Players was one of the largest German online video gaming portals, with about 7 million page impressions and 801.000 unique visits per month. [11]
In 2008, 4Players was one of the main reviewers of Atari's new game Alone in the Dark which were threatened with legal action after they gave the game a mediocre rating. 4Players was accused of obtaining an illegal version of the game before it was released and Atari wanted to force 4Players to pull the review from their webpage. At the same time Atari also cancelled an advertising campaign on the 4Players website, which was interpreted as applying further pressure on the online portal. This garnered an enormous media echo nationally and internationally, which forced Atari to row back on its demands, and both 4Players and Atari were able to settle differences out of court. [12] [13] [14]
Zool 2 is a side-scrolling platform video game originally developed by The Warp Factory and published by Gremlin Graphics for the Amiga in November 1993. It is the sequel to the original Zool, which was released earlier in 1992 on various platforms.
Pinball Fantasies is a 1992 pinball video game originally developed by Digital Illusions and published by 21st Century Entertainment in Europe for the Amiga home computers. It is the sequel to Pinball Dreams, which was released earlier in the same year on multiple platforms. In the game, players can choose between any of the four available playfields, both of which have their own thematic and main objectives in order to obtain the highest score possible.
The Humans is a puzzle-platform video game developed by Imagitec Design in Dewsbury, England and originally published by Mirage Technologies for the Amiga in May 1992. It was later ported to other home computers and consoles. The goal of the game varies per level but usually revolves around bringing at least one of the player-controlled humans to the designated end area marked by a colored tile. Doing this requires players taking advantage of the tribe's ability to build a human ladder and use tools such as spears, torches, wheels, ropes and a witch doctor in later levels.
Soulstar is a hybrid rail shooter/third-person shooter video game developed and originally published by Core Design for the Sega CD in Europe in April 1994, then in North America by Time Warner Interactive in September, and later in Japan by Victor Entertainment on December 22.
Defender 2000 is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up video game developed by Llamasoft and published by Atari Corporation for the Atari Jaguar on December 1995. Part of Atari Corp.'s 2000 series, it is a remake by Jeff Minter of Eugene Jarvis and Larry DeMar's 1981 arcade game Defender, which drew inspiration from Space Invaders and Asteroids.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a fighting video game developed and originally published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment in Europe for the Sega Genesis in June 1994. It is based on the 1993 film of the same name, which is a semi-fictionalized account of the life of Hong Kong-American actor and martial artist Bruce Lee. Following the events of the movie, players take control of Bruce Lee across several stages that takes places in different time periods of his life and fight against some of his adversaries.
Checkered Flag is a racing video game released for the Atari Lynx in 1991. A remake was released for the Atari Jaguar in 1994. Destination Software also planned to release a Game Boy Advance version of the title around 2005, but it was cancelled before it was released.
Battlemorph is a shooter video game developed by Attention to Detail and published by Atari Corporation exclusively for the Atari Jaguar CD in North America and Europe in December 1995. It is the sequel to Cybermorph (1993), a pack-in game for the Atari Jaguar.
Dracula - The Undead is a video game released in 1991 for the Atari Lynx handheld system. The game is loosely based on Bram Stoker's novel Dracula and features Bram Stoker in the story as the narrator.
Attack of the Mutant Penguins is a tower defense video game developed by Sunrise Games and originally published by Atari Corporation for the Atari Jaguar first in Europe on December 20, 1995 and later in North America on December 29 of the same year.
Club Drive is a racing video game developed and published by Atari Corporation exclusively for the Atari Jaguar on November 28, 1994, and later in Japan by Mumin Corporation on March 24, 1995.
Robinson's Requiem is a 1994 survival simulation video game developed and originally published by Silmarils exclusively in Europe for the Atari ST, Atari Falcon and Amiga. Taking place in the 22nd century where Earth and colonized planets are facing overpopulation, the game sees players assuming the role of Robinson officer Trepliev 1 from the Alien World Exploration department in his attempt to escape imprisonment from the fictional planet of Zarathustra alongside another AWE Robinson named Nina1, while facing several hostile creatures and dangers in order to survive.
PC Games is a monthly-released PC gaming magazine published by the Computec Media GmbH in Germany.
Manchester United Europe developed by Krisalis Software is the follow-up to the 1990 video game Manchester United which had sold over 100,000 copies. The Atari Lynx port was released under the title of European Soccer Challenge.
FlipOut! is a tile-matching puzzle video game developed by Gorilla Systems and originally published by Atari Corporation for the Atari Jaguar in Europe on July 7, 1995 and later in North America on August 28 of the same year. It is one of the first titles developed by Gorilla Systems.
Computec Media GmbH is a German computer media company headquartered in Fürth. It is a subsidiary of the Swiss Marquard Media Group. The company publishes multiple magazines and websites related to computers, video gaming and media.
Checkered Flag is a Formula One racing video game developed by Rebellion Developments and published by Atari Corporation for the Atari Jaguar on November 28, 1994, and later released in Japan by Messe Sansao in July 1995. It is a remake of Atari's 1991 Atari Lynx title of the same name.
Blue Lightning is a combat flight simulation video game developed by Attention to Detail and published by Atari Corporation exclusively for the Atari Jaguar CD on September 21, 1995. It is a remake of Epyx's 1989 Atari Lynx title of the same name and was, alongside Vid Grid, one of the pack-in games for the peripheral when it launched.
Legions of the Undead is an unreleased action role-playing video game that was in development by Rebellion Developments and originally planned to be published by Atari Corporation on a scheduled Q3, 1995 release date for the Atari Jaguar. It was also intended to be released for the Windows and PlayStation.
Space War 2000 is an unreleased first-person space combat simulation video game developed and originally planned to be published by Atari Corporation on a scheduled November 1995 release date exclusively for the Atari Jaguar. It is an update by Robert Zdybel of Ian Shepard's 1978 Atari 2600 game Space War. In the game, players assume the role of a space knight to fight against other opponents.