Groove Games

Groove Games was a Canadian publishing label founded in 2001. The company primarily focused on publishing budget games for mh:awesomegames:Microsoft Windows, mh:awesomegames:Xbox, and mh:awesomegames:PlayStation 2.

World War II Combat: Iwo Jima was the last game released for the Xbox by Groove Games, and Day of the Zombie is the last game they have ever published.

In December 2006, Groove Media Inc., the parent of Groove Games, launched an online software platform SkillGround. It allowed visitors to download retail-quality games for free and play against competitors of similar skill levels for fun, or for cash. SkillGround closed its doors in 2009 and the domains are now dormant.

Overall

 * 1) Their platform, SkillGround, while offering free games, you had to pay to play the games. Aside from this greedy practice, most of their games weren't that good and they ripped-off well-known games.
 * 2) * WarPath is nothing but a lower-budget mh:awesomegames:Unreal Tournament clone. What's even worse, the game is the responsibility of Digital Extremes, which was involved in the creation of Unreal Tournament.
 * 3) * Close Quarters Conflict was distinguished by its very low quality. It is a shameless Counter-Strike clone, only with a campaign mode where the game consists of six missions. Direct Action Games was responsible for the game, the same developer who made World War II Combat: Road to Berlin and Iwo Jima.
 * 4) * UTour Golf and Kung Fu: Deadly Arts were games that were exclusively released on SkillGround. Since the platform was shut down, you will not buy both games anywhere.
 * 5) ** UTour Golf was developed by British studio Gusto Games, which was officially dissolved on October 15, 2013. Their output consisted mainly of sports games, but in later years they created mobile or handheld games until they ceased their activities.
 * 6) ** Kung Fu: Deadly Arts was developed by Canadian studio Bedlam Games, who made only three games in their activity. Their games were not widely echoed with the exception of Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale, which was poorly-received by critics.
 * 7) The company, although usually took care of the publishing process, was focused on quantity over quality. They absolutely didn't care about the quality control, but the cared about easy cash from naive customers.
 * 8) * The most noticeable games performed along the line of least resistance are every possible Jarhead Games' title, at least all their games, which have been published by Groove Games, especially the Marine Sharpshooter series and Western Outlaw: Wanted Dead or Alive.
 * 9) * The second example is every title from Direct Action Games, which was a short-lived division of Zombie Studios. They focused on making budget first-person shooters, plus they didn't make a single good game, similiary to Jarhead Games.
 * 10) They tend to release games that don't sparkle with originality.
 * 11) * WarPath, Close Quarters Conflict, and L.A. Street Racing: Everything explained in WIS#1.
 * 12) * The Marine Sharpshooter series was a Ghost Recon rip-off in the case of linear stages, frequent killing of opponents mechanics, and elements, only that it is taking place during the time of terrorism in the United States, and you go through missions with teammates.
 * 13) * Every first-person shooter that takes place during any conflicts (including World War II, US conflicts, and Vietnam War), is a soulless, bad-to-borderline unplayable clone of the Call of Duty and Battlefield series. This pointer includes:
 * 14) ** Marine Heavy Gunner: Vietnam
 * 15) ** World War II: Sniper - Call to Victory
 * 16) ** Combat: Task Force 121
 * 17) ** Army Ranger: Mogadishu
 * 18) ** World War II Combat: Road to Berlin
 * 19) ** World War II Combat: Iwo Jima
 * 20) * Playboy: The Mansion is The Sims rip-off, only with a dose of eroticism, including the Playboy license.
 * 21) * Two games appeared that were designed to imitate the Resident Evil series.
 * 22) ** The first one is a game called Land of the Dead: Road to Fiddler's Green, it is based on a 2005 horror movie, Land of the Dead, which is a prequel to the movie itself.
 * 23) ** The second and last game, Day of the Zombie, unlike the 2005 game, it's not a movie tie-in game. It was made on a smaller budget, and was sold only in the CIS regions and Canada. Additionally, it was the last game from Groove Games.

Their Games

 * 1) The graphics were poor in almost every game, seemed like from the early 2000s era, and at worst, they feel like a relic from the mh:awesomegames:Nintendo 64 era. The most notable games were Western Outlaw, which is reminiscent of the good old days of late MS-DOS games, and Marine Sharpshooter IV due to the outdated game engine, and it looked like they were going to release the game back in the days of the original mh:awesomegames:Xbox games.
 * 2) Extremely inept animations, especially ragdolls, which are comparable to the performed tricks, jumps, and other stupidity around the circus. The worst part about it is that it didn't happen in one game, but in most of Groove Games' library, at least in first-person shooters.
 * 3) Almost nonexistent stories that can be quickly forgotten, especially in the Jarhead Games titles, with a lazy scenario and quite generic for a game in chosen theme. You don't even need to pay attention to plots, because it's unprofitable and sometimes you can lose your gray cells after the nonsense they offer.
 * 4) The music is also not pleasant, and sooner in the worst sense, they will cause ear-bleeds because of such a show of embarrassment. On the one hand, it is an annoying loop, and on the other hand, it is a techno hammer or a distorted "African" techno.
 * 5) In some first-person shooters, especially in both World War II Combat games, similar to the old City Interactive games, there are no first aid kits and other health restoring items.
 * 6) Overall boring, repetitive, and sometimes frustrating gameplay. First-person shooters from under their hands are generic and devoid of originality, which is noticeable in both World War II Combat games. Others can be terribly boring, such as Marine Sharpshooter II, Desert Thunder, and Playboy: The Mansion. Sometimes the gameplay can even be frustrating, for example in Western Outlaw.
 * 7) Very poorly-programmed artificial intelligence which is the most notable in Marine Sharpshooter IV. On the one hand, there is a brainless teammate who cannot shoot at someone he is obliged to, on the other hand, the opponents are inexperienced soldiers who let themselves be killed without protecting themselves, and their accuracy also leaves to be desired.
 * 8) Uninspired level design, although the places themselves are interesting, they start to get boring with their repetition and in some games you stay in the same, visible area.
 * 9) Sound effects are devoid of realism and are more like if they were made in a kitchen or garage.
 * 10) Stiff controls, especially in Land of the Dead and Day of the Zombie.
 * 11) Most of their games are underdeveloped and rushed in development, hence a lot of bugs, especially graphic issues.
 * 12) Their games are generally short to complete, especially Marine Sharpshooter IV.
 * 13) Their games were overpriced when the games came out. Their games usually costed $20, which is laughable for the quality they offered in their library.

Redeeming Qualities

 * 1) Pariah was the only good game they had ever released in their careers. Interestingly, the game was developed by Digital Extremes, the developers who created WarPath, a mediocre Unreal Tournament rip-off from Groove Games' hands. Aside from their cooperation with Groove Games, they are responsible for creating mh:awesomegames:Warframe, which is one of the most popular free-to-play games ever with the most fair monetization system. It is also worth recalling L.A. Street Racing, which is a decent game, despite having similarities to mh:awesomegames:Need for Speed: Carbon.
 * 2) Their game boxes are made pretty cool with an elaborate manual, and nice looking cover arts for budget games standards.