Minter: Microsoft 'sitting on' nearly finished Gridrunner for XBLA

by Randy Nelson { Dec 16th 2008 at 3:22PM }

Purveyor of video game psychedelia, Jeff Minter, has his follow-up to Space Giraffe – a retooling of Llamasoft classic, Gridrunner++ (shown) – "nearly finished," according to an interview with Eurogamer. The only problem: he hasn't heard from Microsoft for months.

"We sent it off to [Microsoft] months ago, but they've just not said anything – we're just waiting for them," Minter said. "Basically I'm going to carry on with the PC version of it if I don't hear from them soon, because they're just sitting on the demo we sent them three or four months ago. We haven't heard a thing."

We're eager to give Minter's latest a shot, but Microsoft may not be rushing to make that happen given the sales performance and scattershot review scores of Space Giraffe.

Tags: gridrunner, jeff-minter, space-giraffe, xbla

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

offday @ Dec 16th 2008 3:26PM

"We're eager to give Minter's latest a shot, but Microsoft may not be rushing to make that happen given the sales performance and scattershot review scores of Space Giraffe."

And the fact that Minter is a huge douche.

Kizzle @ Dec 16th 2008 3:35PM

Yeah. I don't think I'll be feeling much sympathy for this wad anytime soon.

PeterBeck @ Dec 16th 2008 4:25PM

I wouldn't really call him a "douche", but he does seem to incorrectly believe that his "indie status" exempts him from criticism of Space Giraffe. Of which the game sorely deserves.

The concept was sound, and cool, but the design was just hideous and the sort of thing you'd think an intellectual game designer like himself would avoid.

When a player dislikes game, not because it's "too hard", "dull" or "not my thing", but because it's nearly impossible to discern what anything on the screen is at any point in time, that's the fault of the developers, not the public.

AoE @ Dec 16th 2008 6:29PM

@PeterBeck, that's really a matter of opinion. Space Giraffe is a highly polarizing game... you either love it or hate it. I realize I'm in the minority being on the "love it" side of the fence... but it's the very overload of visual ephemera that you dislike that made me fall in love with the game.

Marty @ Dec 16th 2008 3:32PM

That image looks like what happened if you stepped on your NES back in the good old days.

Haon @ Dec 16th 2008 4:52PM

Or if your friends mom tripped over the control wires on the last fucking level of double dragon 3.

offday @ Dec 16th 2008 5:41PM

lmao.

looks like someone is still holding onto some hate.

Alex @ Dec 16th 2008 3:53PM

i will be quite dissapointed if microsoft doesn't release this, space giraffe may be a terrible game, but i certainly enjoyed all of the fallout after the fact. i would love to see some more of that.

oh wait, here's an idea, why doesn't he release it on community arcade?

MikeD @ Dec 16th 2008 5:50PM

Guess i'm in the minority here that I really enjoyed Space Giraffe. Once you learn how to play it, it's quite nice. I am much better at SG than Tempest 3000 which I felt was too hard!

Hope Microsoft gets off their ass and releases Gridrunner ++++++++++++

Bloo @ Dec 16th 2008 4:49PM

Alex @ Dec 16th 2008 5:27PM

Come now Mr Minter from the sounds of the article you have more important things to do then troll on joystiq :)

chispito @ Dec 16th 2008 6:20PM

I never played Space Giraffe, but Llamatron is one of my all time favorite time wasters. I'm willing to take the stuff Minter says with a grain of salt, just like all the moron actors and directors whose movies I still enjoy.

wise_old_bird @ Dec 16th 2008 5:32PM

I too enjoyed Space Giraffe, but frankly most gamers are too stupid to understand new game concepts. This also works with the article about Mirror's Edge and Dead Space's sales.

Gamers are dumb, they like to play Madden and Wii Play and that's about it. Good games like Banjo Kazooie Nuts & Bolts, Little Big Planet, Elebits continue to fail.