'Bob's Game' dev confines self in Nintendo protest

If it's coded in C I wonder how rough it would be to try to transfer it to objective-c... it would probably be pretty painful, but it would likely sell really well as an iPhone app. He'd have to go get a Mac to run the iPhone SDK. Bet he's not in to Apple though, he did mention he already as a google phone...

I seen one of his videos on youtube and it would work if it was a GBA game, but for a ds title, he has to add more things to it. It would not be much since he could just add a touch menu screen like Pokemon and Chrono Trigger to make it "DS worthy."

His game has fangame written all over it, which might be why Nintendo didn't consider sellin' him a dev kit. Other then Nintendo not sellin' their dev kit to him, we don't know much about the guy. For all we know, Nintendo may have asked this guy for a demo to review it and the guy either refused to or that Nintendo wasn't happy with the game. In a sense, the games looks nothing more looks like a parody of his life and his school.

If Nintendo does sell him a dev kit and review his game because of his protest, I am sure there will be more amature game devs who will do the same so as they can make a game called "Jill's world" or "Mr. Snowbunny Snowflakes goes to Hade for a Vaction and then dies."

I think if this Bob guy really wants his game to be released officially, release a small demo on the PC so he can get more support, which in turn might impress Nintendo in sellin him their dev kit.

Also, is it true that he gets mad if ppl ask about why the trailer only shows the main character talkin to people? Does one actually fight monsters in this game? I mean, he does show monsters in his trailer, as well mentioning that he is the end boss, but why no battle scenes? I am curious to see what the battle screens look like in this title.

Locking himself in a room is highly unprofessial and doesn't really show why he deserves the kit. It just shows that he is actin' like a child who refuse to eat until he gets what he ask for.

I have a very hard time believin that this Bob guy does not have an internet especially since his videos and website are on the net. If that statement is true, how can he be able to upload a bunch of videos online without leavin his room? I can imagine the guy having a friend to upload the videos and maintin the site for him, but that would be a bit farfetched. I think he just says he has no internet just to gather more sympathy.

In 2002 the word "quality" was removed from the seal when Nintendo re evaluated their relations with 3rd party developers so they didn't have to go through all the restrictions on them that pushed them away to develop for other platforms. Nintendo in the NES -N64 era was very controlling and it didn't hurt them in the NES SNES era when they were king but after that..we know the story. All the seal means now is that it's approved to be sold on the hardware...nothing to do with quality anymore. I really don't know why they kept it since they removed the word "quality" back in 2002.

"Bob's game"...


Interesting read. Bob go grab a pizza and maybe a hooker, jeezus krise...

Alright well I guess I will be the @$$hole that will say.. Just port it to XNA. Hell if its any good Nintendo might actually respond to the guy. And he could be making money on the title via the XNA Community Games marketplace. So he would have some kind of portfolio of prior work. Live and learn I guess.

All right, just sat through both videos at youtube from start to finish.

It seems like there is a lot of stupid little shit you have to do. If it is true you can interact with all these people and they are in different parts of town for each day I hope the dialogue is witty enough to keep my attention. If it blows, screw it.

As most people state in here, I would like a demo please, before I pass final judgement.

Oh, and quit being a little pussy.

I don't get all the talk about the game being ugly.

Looks to me like every other handheld JRPG minus the awful anime.

I have to wonder what really happened, because I don't trust this guy's side of the story at all.

So he has a publisher?

Change the title, maybe the big N will take you more seriously...

In the end, I'm thinking it's all about the $$, nothing else. Sure, you want to be a licensed developer and release this game to the masses, but in the end, the $30 people spend for this game, whether it be good or shovelware, a part of it goes to you.

P.S. Eventually, it WILL get pirated. You'll still get some $$, but not what you'd expect...ask 2D boy...

If his side of the story is indeed complete and accurate, I don't think he's being unreasonable. I don't agree with how he's reacting, but if he has met all the requirements and has put in a formal request to purchase an SDK and that Nintendo has failed to adhere to their own response deadlines then I see no cause to side with Nintendo.

For what it was worth, I put off an email in support.
Even if it is horrible (and I wont pass judgement based on the youtube trailers), if he's put so much effort into his game and someone is willing to invest in distributing it, I see no reason why it should differ from Imagine: Bratz Ponyz Cooking Cakes Edition

If they do eventually respond and turn him down, I'd be curious as to what reason they'd give...

Funny thing is, Bob... say Nintendo allows you to file and lease an NDS dev kit (which is just software and a dongle with card reader for the DS... any DS)...

You still have to cert. That'd be pretty FAIL if you spent all that time not designing to spec per PG.

Part of the lease also indicates a secured publisher. Sorry man - but really, someone here said you start small and work up.

I couldn't agree more. You may disagree, but the impression you give (and perception is EVERYTHING in this industry) is that you want this your way (seemingly, the easy way) or you'll just lock yourself up and stamp your feet (effectively what you're doing now).

Easy is, believe it or not, getting in bed with a developer/publisher and pitching.

I was razz'ing you about the PG cert stuff - but when you think about it... you know how much it costs to cert? And then re-cert if you fail? That's something you pick up by working from the ground up.

In this economy (especially)... you are only giving people more reason not to give you a chance. You'd rather deprive the world of your game than actually work for it.

I've seen this manchild before. He's literally insane. He's worried "troles" will steal his game ideas. He won't even show a decent amount of gameplay because he's so worried some developer is going to see it and make a ripoff of his shitty game and steal all his profits. And now he's locking himself up in protest. Guys, he's not even starving. He said himself he's got food going in there (presumably from his mom) and he's got a shower and stuff. This is the equivalent of a spoiled toddler holding his breath and stomping his feet when he doesn't get his way. This guy's a joke and I hope Nintendo ignores him, even if it's in favor of a few more shovelware titles.

To hell with Nintendo.

The guy qualifies for the right to buy the software. Theres no reason other than discrimination to not give it to him. I emailed Nintendi out of protest.

If the game is of at least a mediocre quality and he's approaching them professionally, then he shouldn't have too much trouble. Either he's shown the game to Nintendo, and it is terrible. Or, he's not being professional in his approach - perhaps refusing to demo the game for them, or not having formed a company, etc, etc.

Many small developers with no previous experience have been able to work with publishers and platform holders before. It's been happening since the dawn of games right til present day, and on every platform. Even 1 man operations have, and do, exist.

Clearly his attitude is the biggest problem. Locking yourself in a room for 100 days is exactly the height of maturity or professionalism. He's a bit up his own behind it seems - he thinks it's "the largest game ever made my one person", which is far from true. Also he calls himself "a high profile indie-developer", and also suggests "'bob's game' is a sort of masterpiece for me." Heh.

What I think happened is that Nintendo probably asked to sample the game, but the guy refused sayin that he can't because he doesn't want them to still his ideas.

Someone posted eariler mentionin' that he would get caib fever lockin up in his room. However, I think the guy already gotten cabin fever from the way he is acting and thinking that someone at Nintendo is jealous of him, hence not sellin him a dev kit. Not suprisin since the guy seems to be workin on his game for 5 years for at least 20? hours a day.

Here are some of the quotes from his site:

"I don't really know what else to do!
I'm beginning to think someone at Nintendo is insanely jealous they didn't think of it first and
wants to keep me from releasing "bob's game!""

Just got done watching some vids and by the looks of things, kinda reminds me of Animal Crossing, sans the adventure story and last boss...

Seriously, changes the game's name...they might and/or WILL take you even more seriously...I'M not taking the game seriously!

I lock myself in my bedroom all the time and my parents never give me what I want....

I'd respect the guy if he wasn't such a pompous ass. He isn't the first he just took the longest and hyped it up the most. If I spend 5 years making a sculpture and then tell you that because I spent five years on it it means it's the greatest sculpture ever to be created are you going to believe me? He didn't seem to put anything of interest in his game, all I see is running back and forth and talking. Why in the world would nintendo give anything to someone who spent five years of their life to make a 2d game without any hooks other than it was made by one guy who had no training?

Maybe it's worth pointing out that he said it's the game HE'S always wanted to play...maybe he failed to display to Nintendo that it's the type of game anyone else would want to play?