Bob's Ultimatum
Robert Pelloni, creator of the sedate-looking RPG Bob's Game, has resorted to desperate measures in order to secure his game an official release. If you've been following the story elsewhere, you know that he's in the midst of a self-imposed confinement, locked in an office until Nintendo agrees to sell him the DS software development kit.
Now, on day 21 of his protest, Pelloni has discovered a previously unknown, even deeper end off of which to go. After calling out the Nintendo executives he's spoken to, who are apparently holding back his approval as a developer, Pelloni has threatened to bundle Bob's Game with a DSi flash cart if not given the opportunity to develop it as an official DS game. He claims it would be the first "killer app" for a homebrew device, and could "significantly cut into Nintendo's bottom line."
We aren't sure if Pelloni ever catches DS Fanboy posts from within his secret fortress, since he claims to have no Internet access other than email from his phone, but if he is, we would like to suggest that he stop doing this kind of stuff, get out of the office, and either continue contacting Nintendo or just go somewhere else. We suspect that the more public he is with this stuff, the less likely Nintendo is to want anything to do with him -- especially if he's talking about flash carts.
[Via Joystiq]
Now, on day 21 of his protest, Pelloni has discovered a previously unknown, even deeper end off of which to go. After calling out the Nintendo executives he's spoken to, who are apparently holding back his approval as a developer, Pelloni has threatened to bundle Bob's Game with a DSi flash cart if not given the opportunity to develop it as an official DS game. He claims it would be the first "killer app" for a homebrew device, and could "significantly cut into Nintendo's bottom line."
We aren't sure if Pelloni ever catches DS Fanboy posts from within his secret fortress, since he claims to have no Internet access other than email from his phone, but if he is, we would like to suggest that he stop doing this kind of stuff, get out of the office, and either continue contacting Nintendo or just go somewhere else. We suspect that the more public he is with this stuff, the less likely Nintendo is to want anything to do with him -- especially if he's talking about flash carts.
[Via Joystiq]











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Roto13 @ Dec 31st 2008 6:18PM
Nobody, NOBODY, is going to buy a flash cart to play this game. He's delusional and it's hilarious.
hijinx @ Dec 31st 2008 7:34PM
I totally would. I've checked his vids they are fairly impressive. That *and* a DSi-capable flashcart--what's not to like exactly?
Roto13 @ Dec 31st 2008 7:36PM
What exactly is impressive about the videos? The fact that you can run around and talk to people or the fact that he actually managed to screw up the camera in a freaking 2D game?
Coolguy0934 @ Dec 31st 2008 6:32PM
Maybe this is what Ubisoft had to do to get the Imagine games as an official release. Anyway I doubt anyone will buy this game.
Alex @ Dec 31st 2008 6:47PM
The guy is insane. Then, I would be if I was locked in a room for 5 years developing a DS title on my own. Then again, I have no idea why he intended to sell this as a retail title in the first place.
HairyBalls @ Dec 31st 2008 7:10PM
I wonder if people at NOA are laughing too...
aj @ Dec 31st 2008 9:59PM
They'd have to know who he was first.
Phil @ Dec 31st 2008 7:26PM
Bundle it with a flashcart? I bet this is the only way it will get out now... Somebody tell me when he does it so I can DL the game via torrent...
till then, YAWN...
Sia @ Dec 31st 2008 7:39PM
This is really pathetic.
1337stra @ Dec 31st 2008 8:48PM
http://nintendo.joystiq.com/profile/2155609/
Pelloni DOES go on DSF, or at least, someone with his name does.
aj @ Dec 31st 2008 9:58PM
With a keen business sense like this I can't believe a major international corporation isn't willing to deal with him.
Jeez, it's just a production and distribution deal. It's not like Nintendo doesn't have a million dollars to just give to some random guy because he wants it. I mean come on.
GrungeSpoo @ Dec 31st 2008 10:01PM
What is the criteria for Nintendo selling someone a DS SDK?
Sleazy @ Jan 1st 2009 2:32AM
I think you need to be a established developer in some way or another.
Do don't think this guy will win by threatening Nintendo. If you want something from someone, don't you talk about how you help them and not vice-versa?
Dummy00001 @ Jan 1st 2009 10:25AM
It reminds me of old "Yellow Book" - Apple SDK.
Long time ago Apple was very proprietary company. There were times when only four (yes, four) companies only had access to Apple SDK.
Needless to say, that Apple soon became niche company with on average highly overpriced software.
Benefit was of course that there was literally no viruses or malware for Macs. Because few knew how to code anything for Macs.
Apple failed in large because MS to compete, instead of selling OS as product, concentrated on selling OS as platform: SDK was available to anybody willing to pay and soon PC platform was flooded with software of all kinds.
Consoles now remind me very much of the practices. The difference is that all producers stick to the same proprietary practices of locking down console. There is very little of real competition in the console market and that keeps prices high.
Tim @ Dec 31st 2008 10:18PM
What a major EUNUCH!
Nadril @ Dec 31st 2008 10:55PM
If he bundles it with a flash cart I'll just pirate the game, haha.
TheCoats @ Dec 31st 2008 11:54PM
even if he gets a retail release i'll just pirate the game ;)
sorry couldn't resist - no but seriously guys - Even though I have an R4 I buy all my games legit
SpriteAttack @ Jan 1st 2009 3:05AM
This is what I would call a childish reaction. There is a point [even after a 5 year dev. cycle] to call quits. The video got heaps and heaps of attention - great for the developer - but it's just another great homebrew development. It's extremely hard getting into the NDS development for professional releases and his actions don't show the maturity a company like Nintendo would look for in their "partners".
If the publishers [and I am sure a lot have seen the video] did not find the game worthy of publishing - and pushing for a dev kit for him, I doubt he will force his way into Nintendo.
Grow up and smell the grass, mate. It's time for a reality check.
Jamar @ Jan 2nd 2009 6:02AM
Well... would you let go of 5 years of your life without a fight? Didn't think so.
SpriteAttack @ Jan 2nd 2009 6:26AM
Jamar...
a) I wouldn't spend 5 years on one project with the slim chance of getting it published...
b) it happens... I have been working in the videogames industry for 20 years now and I have had my share of projects go down the tube due to various reasons incl. not accepted for a professional release by the publishers/ Nintendo.
The fact that he's spent 5 years on a game does not make it a better game... Eg. it took the coder and myself 3 years to develope and finish the homebrew game Anguna GBA and DS - 3 years of spare time work - for an ok homebrew release...
I haven't seen anything other than the video so it's really hard to say if the game is any good... but the fact that besides all the publicity it has not been picked up by a publisher [big or small] says a lot...
PestName @ Jan 1st 2009 8:52AM
Ill so buy it when he bundles it with a DSi flashcart.
Nightwish @ Jan 1st 2009 9:32AM
He is going somewhere else, he's going to port it to the Open Pandora.
Jacksons @ Jan 1st 2009 11:15AM
Sorry buddy, you don't have a prayer. Release it on PC, if it's good, you'll get noticed.
Symytry @ Jan 1st 2009 11:36AM
Yep, I totally agree. Release it as a download app for PC and don't be concerned about money at all - because you aren't going to make any right now.
That doesn't mean that in the future you won't, but you have to start small and build up to commercial releases. And, to own and operate your own business would be a great start. You only need one employee!
Jordan @ Jan 1st 2009 11:29AM
This guy is nuts. Not in a harmless "Keita Takahshi" (the guy who designed Katamari Damacy) way, either. This guy is nuts in a "do NOT let this man have any sharp objects" way.
Seems like a good enough developer, though. XD
raFa @ Jan 1st 2009 12:52PM
Threats?!
jeez..
Clark @ Jan 1st 2009 2:49PM
He never said he would sell it packaged with a homebrew device. What he said was that he might have to resort to releasing it FOR flashcarts as a
HOMEBREW game. He doesn't want to do this because it would support the flashcart companies. Bob LIKES Nintendo, he doesn't intend to hurt them. He really just wants people to play his game, which he spent 15,000 hours of his life on. Seriously, go read his website www.bobsgame.com
aj @ Jan 1st 2009 5:01PM
So he's shot himself in the foot when it comes to dealing with a real distro, and if you are quoting him right, he's also shot himself in the foot with the homebrew community.
This man is a genius.
Clark @ Jan 1st 2009 5:55PM
Not exactly sure how he shot himself in the foot for dealing with a real distro. Nintendo is trying to shoot him down by ignoring him, saying they'd give him a decision in 6-8 weeks, they haven't said anything, it has been 19 weeks. He is dodging the bullets, he is being persistent. How is he shooting himself down? He is on a Japanese style protest, to a Japanese style company. News of his protest has already made it to some Japanese gaming sites. NOJ will not ignore this kind of protest, it dishonors the company.
As for homebrew, Bob never intended his game to be homebrew, so he can't really hurt himself there, he does NOT want to release it as a homebrew game. He is saying that Nintendo has to be crazy for not letting him (now here is what gets me) BUY the SDK, Nintendo cannot lose any money, if anything they would be gaining money and some attention to their handheld. He doesn't want to resort to releasing it for flashcarts.
I'm gonna ignore your sarcasm, this man really is a genius.
aj @ Jan 1st 2009 8:25PM
....
Clark @ Jan 1st 2009 8:44PM
lol, sorry, i got carried away. I just think bob is misunderstood, that's all.
lwelyk @ Jan 6th 2009 12:10AM
Clark, you are Bob aren't you? XD
Or at least someone unhealthily obsessed with him. No matter how you slice it, locking yourself in a room for 100 days doens't look good to someone you're trying to do business with. Neither does calling out a nintendo exec IN CRAZY CAPITAL LETTERS ITALICS AND RED FONTZ!
Clark @ Jan 6th 2009 1:46AM
lwelyk, you're stalking me aren't you, you are [molly] lanfear from team fortress 2. The one that got all offended cause i was copying you. lol @ your "I repor joo" crap.
http://upload.theqclan.com/4141286untitled.JPG
Pill @ Jan 1st 2009 10:40PM
It makes me sad to know that this guy has no family or friends he deems worth leaving a room to spend time with, on Christmas or New Years.
Besides, how is this guy's protest any different from how he spent the last 5 years of his life?
-Z- @ Jan 1st 2009 7:15PM
The responses to this post display well the epic amounts of fagboyism that runs rampant on this site, on both the writers and the readers.
Nintendo is god, painful death to the heretics that dare to protest against the will of his almighty greatness!
As a hobbyist game developer myself, I often drop my projects after a week, or even a couple of days. Spending five years on a single project displays incredible determination and patience. If I had wasted 15,000 hours on making a single game, I would even go way further than bob has to get it published. Nintendo is the one being childish, not selling a SDK to a guy that fills all the criteria to buying one.
And before you ask - yes I've had a DS for four years, i play it every day and like it very much thank you
Adolph @ Jan 1st 2009 8:53PM
The game actually looks pretty good. However acting like a little brat and than threatening a company is not a smart idea.
Any reason why he can't just put it on iPhone. Tons of games are on that, and being touch screen it should work.
That would be his ultimate revenge that game has 1 million downloads off iTunes and is the biggest hit on iPhone and DS could of easily had it. Somebody should tell him this.
Clark @ Jan 1st 2009 9:12PM
He is already working on ports for the Google Android and the iPhone/iPod Touch.
Olicon @ Jan 1st 2009 11:08PM
I have to say, it's a real shame that Nintendo is trying its best to keep its software lineup..err..up to standard? Not really.. With all these crap wares floating around, Nintendo should just sell him a dev kit. What's wrong with having more developer? (Or are they afraid he would reverse engineer the kit to make ultra flashcart of sort?)
aj @ Jan 2nd 2009 9:57PM
I think you hit the nail on the head.
Nintendo only wants companies with something to lose to have the dev kits because there has to be a reason to not want to reverse engineer it and sell it.
Bob has nothing to lose. No sizeable assets, no property, no money, he's just this guy. What would stop him from doing just that? Fear of legal action? Ha.
JFreshInEffect! @ Jan 3rd 2009 12:30AM
The dude should make this an Iphone app. At least he would make some money off it even if the game was bad. If he just wanted people to play it he would release it as homebrew!
Slappy @ Jan 4th 2009 12:25AM
I think Nintendo not bothering to give him their answer is a pretty obvious "no". The guy spends his free time from the last five years developing his first game and expects Nintendo to back him up. If he had his way, then everyone who makes a game will think that the Big N is required to provide them with means to develop it for one of their systems.
Funny, I never imagined any company/group/person except Nintendo having power over the official seal, and what appears on their console(s). Then again, I never imagined someone would go this far even though it's pretty obvious they won't succed.
Compare Bob to a random person who walks into a resturant and demands free food claiming that they're opening up their own place and thinking about sharing customers with that establishment. There's no gurantee that their business won't flop, and cost the resturant they partnered with a lot of money. What gurantee is there Bob's Game won't flop and whatever money Nintendo spent on advertising, producing copies, making official guides, producing boxart, and whatever else goes into publishing a game.
Summed up, a biased opinion from the creator of the game, demands for a developer's kit, and a "protest" won't accomplish anything. Unless there's a massive amount of positive feedback for the game, and Nintendo feels a bit safer about using their time, money, and resources, there's no way the game will make it to the DS. The best way for that to happen is to present the completed game to Nintendo and let them decide if they want to take a risk. The next best option is to release it as a downloadable app for PCs.
Personally, I think he's just in it for the money and fame, and his little protest is a massive cry for attention.
evanderaim @ Jan 4th 2009 11:22PM
Do your part to stop Bob. Enough is enough, and this guy doesn't need more attention:
http://www.petitiononline.com/pabob/petition.html