Poor sales of Space Giraffe make Jeff Minter sad

by Scott Jon Siegel { Nov 22nd 2007 at 10:01PM }

Jeff Minter, head of Llamasoft, is apparently a bit upset about the sales of his Xbox Live Arcade title Space Giraffe. Upset enough, in fact, to post a disparaging message to his Livejournal blog, insinuating that he means to stop making games altogether.

Prompting this reaction were apparent Live Arcade statistics, revealing that in one week Frogger on XBLA outsold Space Giraffe. Minter is clearly taking the lack of his game's success a bit hard, but we hope that he doesn't let the sheer popularity of retro titles push him away from any future development.

Minter's angry ranting was posted at 1:45 am, his time. In the event that he sobers up and removes the post, we've copied his frothy words for your perusal. Check out all the anti-retro spite after the break.

[Via CVG]

Jeff Minter's original blog post, in its entirety, follows:

Subject: jesus fucking christ

Body:
not seeing a lot of reason to continue even trying to make games, at this point, when a remake of Frogger, one of the worst games in the history of old arcade games, can outsell Space Giraffe that we put so much love and effort into, by more than ten to one, in one week.

OK, we get the message. All you want on that channel is remakes of old, shite arcade games and crap you vaguely remember playing on your Amiga.

We'll shut up trying to do anything new then.

Sorry for even trying.

Tags: blogs, jeff-minter, jeffminter, llamasoft, space-giraffe, spacegiraffe, xbla

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Geist @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:10PM

I can understand. I mean, putting so much hard work and effort into something, only to see it outsold by something like Frogger, must completely and utterly suck.

John Perkins @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:11PM

Hey Jeff, stop making shitty games and people might buy them. Space Giraffe was horrendous.

Shockgamer @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:14PM

Lol.

Well maybe if he designed games that were actually games instead of giant epileptic seizures, people would actually play them.

What? He thought just because he put a game on a successful console for once that people would just flock to him? That pulsing images of J Allard would become all the rage?

xbob @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:16PM

Live arcade offers free trials so if a game proves it's worth by being fun, it will sell. Space Giraffe really just wasn't that much fun to me. I guess I wasn't the only one who thought so.

ZenGaijin @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:16PM

1.) Wasn't Space Giraffe just a remake of Tempest?

2.) People like to understand what the fuck is going on in the games they play.

Kyouryuu @ Nov 23rd 2007 1:13AM

Space Giraffe is definitely based in Tempest, but the more you screw around with it, the more you realize that the mechanics are quite different. In fact, trying to play it like Tempest invariably leads to much frustration.

dan stabbingworth @ Nov 23rd 2007 11:59AM

I had no idea what was going on in this game. The only instructions were a half-assed tutorial that didn't explain any of the terms that were used in the tutorial. And the game itself was so boring it didn't make me want to spend any more time learning.

He's sad that nobody bought his game. I'm sad it sucked so bad because I wanted it to be cool.

Noxat @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:20PM

Everyone I know that tried SG said the same thing, it was color overload, couldn't figure out what was going on. Sorry your sales suck but that doesn't mean you should take it out on another game. Lots of people have fond memories of Frogger.

Brad Lee @ Nov 24th 2007 2:10PM

I agree as well. There was just too much visual stimulation all over the place, so it was not easy trying to focus on the enemies and on avoiding attacks.

Geometry Wars certainly had a huge amount of visual flare, what with all the exlposions, black holes, background bending, and particles, particles, particles. But I could still tell what could (and likely would) kill me and what was just pretty graphics. Space Giraffe failed on that account.

It was only $5, so I was tempted to buy it anyway, but I figured it would just collect virtual dust like Mutant Storm and Bomberman.

greyseal @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:22PM

Hmmm... tell you what, Jeff... I downloaded the demo of Space Giraffe, and there's a good reason I didn't buy it.

Like Frogger, it was better fifteen years ago. Except back then it was called Tempest, and it wasn't so loaded up with random lights flashing in the background that I couldn't see the game I was supposedly playing.

But you know this already, since you helped program the excellent Tempest 2000 a few years back. Funny how you knock retro games, considering you keep making the same one over and over again. Calling it "Space Giraffe" and beating me over the head with your "light synthesizer" doesn't change the fact that it's an old game in an annoying costume.

J.R. @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:22PM

"OK, we get the message. All you want on that channel is remakes of old, **** arcade games"

You know, except for Geometry Wars, Puzzle Quest, UNO, Exit, Catan, Hexic, E4, Cloning Clyde, and Assault Heroes.

hydralisk456 @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:49PM

Yeah! We want remakes of board games and portables from this generation!

I kid, XBLA rules!

Rususeruru @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:57PM

Heavy Weapon: Atomic Tank.

Granted it's an old style but it's fun let's not forget Boom Boom Rocket either

squeevi @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:27PM

I Was looking forward to SG Before it came out. It sounded really cool and fun. But my mind was instantly changed the moment I played the demo. What an incoherent piece of mind overloading crap. So yeah, make good games, people will buy.

n2 @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:29PM

I was one of the ones looking forward to Space Giraffe.

On the surface you think it might be an update of Tempest, but it's not. In fact, the gameplay is far deeper. So much so, that I couldn't get into the mechanics of how to play.

Couple that with the over-powering graphics, and you have a game that tries hard, but may be too out there for most people.

If the game were to not have such complicated backgrounds and it was easier to see what you were doing, there's no doubt in my mind it would have done a lot better. There were times I had no idea where I was, or what was going on.

I don't mean to be so critical. I like innovation. I like originality. I like games that overwhelm the senses. Every Extended Extreme overwhelms the senses, but it still playable.

For what it's worth, I hope Jeff Minter doesn't give up. He does have talent, and I'd like to see more from him.

Kyouryuu @ Nov 23rd 2007 1:16AM

Taking the underlying game behind Space Giraffe and painting it with clean, Lumines/E4-style visuals would be a major win. As I said, there really is an engaging game underneath all of that visualizer piffle. It's just a shame Minter felt so compelled to bury it.

quickshade @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:31PM

Class A jackass. Make a game thats fun before you come out blaming it on us. We didn't have fun with the game. In fact it sucked. The Irony is it's also a remake. LOL. Make games that are fun (hint: switchball, uno) and people will flock to your game. Make games that suck and well, you get beat out by frogger, which is a classic so him bashing that is also another low blow.

In his defense though he's most likely drunk off his ass.

AzaMcWazza @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:33PM

Haha what a whiner. Jeff, when you actually make a good game that doesn't have llamas or giraffes in it, then maybe people will buy it.

He is so overrated as a developer.

quickshade @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:34PM

hey, he posted an update today:

'm not going to be writing about game development here any more after this. Yes, I had a bit of a rant the other night because frankly yes, it is a bit disappointing to see a repackaged MAME rom doing much better than original content, but hey, that's how it goes. People are more inclined to buy stuff they remember rather than stuff that's new.

We're invested in XBLA now, and we *need* to re-use the SG framework for a couple of reasonably quick games - I think that's the way to make it work out for us, we just need more games in the pipeline. I'm already halfway through the next one and I just want to get my head down and get on with it.

To those who came on here to have a go at me and tell me how much I suck - just piss off, I don't care. If you do that I shall delete your comments and ban you. Guess what, I think you suck too, and I don't give a rat's arse if you don't like my games; they aren't made for you anyway.

And thanks to those who gave me a bit of encouragement at a low moment. Rest assured I'm not giving up; I'm just getting on with it quietly.

So no more dev stuff here, from now on this will just be about sheep and plushies and other such non-work-related stuff. There will be no talk, no press, no screenshots and no videos of work in progress except as and when we are ready to release them, at the appropriate time, through the appropriate channels.

LOL!!!!!!!!!

dan stabbingworth @ Nov 23rd 2007 12:02PM

"We're invested in XBLA now, and we *need* to re-use the SG framework for a couple of reasonably quick games - I think that's the way to make it work out for us, we just need more games in the pipeline."

So he's going to reuse assets from a game that blew. Great. Sounds like shovelware to me.

Maurice M @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:37PM

I think it's a well made game and deserves better than Frogger, but I too did no buy it. Well, I wouldn't waste my money on Frogger either but I still didn't want Space Giraffe.

driven2sin @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:37PM

yep it was terrible. that dude needs to get away from them llamas

frogger still has gameplay elements you still see today. Even in stuff like Portal

Cabcru @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:41PM

He was just milking his fanbase forum for some sympathy, the egotistical little twerp. No intention whatsoever of packing it all in. I've honestly never seen a more blatant fishing trip for compliments in my life.

BIGGEN @ Nov 23rd 2007 5:13AM

haven't heard the word twerp used in quite sometime. somehow, here, it is the perfect word. bravo!

Kenban @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:45PM

I download every Live Arcade trial and at least give the games a shot. I have purchased around 25 so far. I tried Space Giraffe and I don't remember it being good because if it was I would have at least kept the trial around in case I changed my mind on it. It takes more then just making a new and unique game to sell.

I am tempted to download the trial again and post some thoughts on the game.

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:47PM

I don't trust in llama lovers.

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:54PM

I guess his best friend is Carl Wheezer.

Undead Priest @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:51PM

Jeff Minter...he really whips the llama's ass.

Jonah Falcon @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:06PM

Hey Jeff, want some cheese with your whine? Your game didn't sell.

snowy @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:13PM

Or maybe put a tutorial in a game that it too trippy to figure out what going on.

L @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:14PM

What a douchebag. I'm glad his game didn't sell well. It's a lame shooter that flashes the word "GIRAFFETASTIC!" across the screen while playing the shittyist techno music. I'd choose Frogger over that any day. And I'm not even going to broach the subject of what he decided to title his post, I think that assholery speaks for itself. I say just let him alone with his probably phallic obsession with long necked animals while real developers make real games. Honestly, I'd rather play Ikaruga than Space Giraffe OR Frogger. I think only people who are high could appreciate Space Giraffe...which means there's nothing to appreciate.

Knoxximus @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:15PM

I bought your game Jeff....and I didn't buy Frogger.

Hope you feel better now. :)

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:20PM

Buu

Fernando Rocker @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:20PM

... rns.

mietha CAG @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:16PM

I bought it, but I kind of regret it. It's a shitty Tempest clone with horrible achievements. You can't make a ho-hum game with bad achievements and expect it to sell.

L @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:17PM

For the love of...seriously guys, check out youtube.com/stinyok...that's Jeff Minter's Youtube account...there's llama porn there...lamma porn...nuff said.

Intellectualdiot @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:24PM

It. Was. Shit.

That's all I can really say on the matter. Well that, and thank God for free trials. I would have instantly regretted spending 400 points on that psychotropic tripe. I can certainly understand and sympathize with the anguish that he must feel at this upset, but there is inarguably something to be said for nostalgia and familiarity. Increasingly, our console developers are making a healthy market of it, in fact.

Singapura @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:34PM

Minter is one of my all time game heroes but if he starts to talk like that he can take his game and sh@ve it. Anyway, I didn't even know that he had a game out but I do know that most old-time fans from the days of Attack of the Mutant Camels and Mama LLama aren't on X-Box live because they have a busy job or just no interest in consoles. Minters games were original and very addictive back in the day but after the 600th version of Colourspace I kind of lost track of old hairy llamalover.

lunatic core @ Dec 3rd 2007 8:30AM

1. Frogger came out when we had little else to buy/play. Back when arcade wasn't weekly.
2. I loves Space Giraffe, but its obviously not for everybody.

amx1978 @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:38PM

I love Tempest, and that wasn't Tempest, and you can't convince me of that. Tempest didn't cause by brain to explode through my temples from all the shit going on the screen at once.

amx1978 @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:39PM

See? It made me say "by brain" instead of "my brain".

Josh VanHalteren @ Nov 24th 2007 12:09PM

Oklay first off. Dude, stop fucking whining. I would kill to be in your shoes right now with the whole having made a video game of my very own thing. That's something to be proud of, not to bitch about because someone elses game sold more than your in one week. Quie acting like some crybaby Emo kid. K?

and Secondly. What the fuck IS Space Giraffe? I think a good amount of the reason that people are buying Frogger instead of your game is because nobody knows what the fuck it is. I don't know what the hell your games about or anything about it.

Maybe...

Just maybe... you should try to get people informed about the game, cause I read game news every day. EVERY SINGLE DAY, and I have no idea what Space Giraffe is. I know what Frogger is, and considering just that alone. I would be leaning more towards the Frogger game instantly.

I mean is it like a side scrolling Gradius type shooter in space except instead of a spaceship shooting lazers you're a Giraffe spitting saliva? Seriously dude. Don't just whine and give up, do something about it. Get the word out on the game, and give people a freaking reason to buy it.

Nuff. Said.

Temple @ Nov 23rd 2007 12:05AM

I think the game is great, however the demo I think sucked. It was hard to get into the game based off the demo, the game needed a degree of investment; once you "get it" its great. Sad to here.

Josh VanHalteren @ Nov 24th 2007 12:10PM

P.S. This guys a complete tool.

and he's Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too in love with llamas and such... guy needs a shrink.

Blue_Falcon @ Nov 23rd 2007 12:29AM

I bought Space Giraffe with no regrets whatsoever, and I'll be buying Gridrunner++ when that drops as well. Or whatever else he releases.

I have never actually played a Minter game prior to SG, but I hyped Unity for the GameCube (which was being co-developed by Llamasoft and Lionhead Studios) before it got cancelled.

'Tis a shame that SG is selling so poorly. Although I can understand, given that the game is an eyesore at times, if not an altogether acid drop of confusion.