Righting old wrongs: MobyGames on letting developers claim games they weren't credited for
MobyGames Professional introduces paid features for industry members to claim credits, build portfolios, and access job market analytics, aiming to improve accuracy and professional visibility.
In March 2022, Atari acquired MobyGames, a long-standing video game database, with plans to expand its role in preserving and documenting industry history. The platform has now introduced MobyGames Professional, a paid tier designed for industry professionals, offering features such as claiming game credits, customizing portfolios, and tracking salary trends. The service is currently in beta, with a full 1.0 release planned for autumn. Product manager Reece Denzel reports strong early adoption, with thousands of developers claiming their pages.
The new claim feature allows developers to associate their accounts with public-facing profile pages, enabling them to edit personal details while maintaining the integrity of structural credit information. This addresses long-standing issues where developers are omitted from game credits. However, the system includes a verification process to prevent false claims, involving human checks to confirm identities and credit histories. MobyGames emphasizes its commitment to accuracy, correcting errors such as misspelled names or alternate aliases, while relying on a volunteer-driven contributor community for much of its data.
MobyGames Professional also introduces portfolio pages, where developers can showcase their work through demo reels, screenshots, and detailed descriptions, linking to external coverage or personal websites. This feature aims to connect verified credit histories with professional promotion, making it easier for employers to assess candidates' experience. The platform aggregates job listings from various sources, matching them with users' work histories, genres, platforms, and titles to provide personalized job opportunities.
Beyond individual benefits, MobyGames is expanding its analytics capabilities, starting with job market insights such as salary ranges and geographic breakdowns of hiring trends. The platform is collaborating with select partners to refine and distribute this data, leveraging its extensive industry information. The goal is to offer more granular analytics, helping studios and professionals navigate the job market more effectively. Early testing includes job application integrations, allowing users to apply directly through MobyGames or include their MobyGames ID in applications.