'Bob's Game' 100 day sit-in protest ends early, disturbingly
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Jan 10th 2009 at 4:00PM }
When Bob Pelloni, sole creator of Bob's Game, an old school RPG for the DS, announced that he would be locking himself in his room for 100 days until Nintendo granted him access to the official DS software development kit, we were fairly certain we were going to see the birth of a genuine indie dev folk hero. What we saw instead was the tragic dissolution of a grown man's sanity, and the apparent squelching of a project with some 15,000 hours of development time behind it.
In his most recent blog post, published today, Pelloni announced that he's ending his strike early (after a month of solitary confinement) due to a wicked headache, likely due to a fractured psyche. His post contains a scathing rant directed at Nintendo (a "heartless corporation, only interested in the biggest profits"), as well as a heartbreaking farewell to his five-year project. "I really wanted to finish this game," he concludes. For what it's worth, Bob, we really wanted you to finish it as well.
[Thanks, Greyline.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
KingTorres @ Jan 10th 2009 4:04PM
Nintendo are crying all over their piles of cash right now
Obie @ Jan 10th 2009 5:16PM
Ya know, if this kid simply explored his other options (steam, XNA community games, PSN ), instead of this Norman Bate routine. I bet he would have found some way to get his game out there. NOW he is a bonafide persona non grata.
At least Johnathan Blow as proven to be a douch AFTER he got his game released.
Timing...always timing.
doom saber @ Jan 10th 2009 5:21PM
@ obie
on one of the blogs posted, Bob said he took suggestions from the net and decided to have his game packed inside a memory stick with a homebrew cartridge and is goin to port his game to the XBLA, iphone, etc..
Just he was talkin #$%^ seein as how his sit in is cancelled early.
Obie @ Jan 10th 2009 5:28PM
Sorry for the typos, damn iPhone keyboard!!
finaldarklord @ Jan 10th 2009 6:20PM
I'm going out on a limb here and saying that this was just an elaborate troll. If I've learned anything in my time at 4chan its how to pick out a troll.
Look at the blog updates, and how they read like files from Resident Evil. Its like he's documenting his decent into madness, not how he's making a game. Then the "LOL JUST KIDDING GAIZ" today.
He's a troll. I'd bet my left... no, I'd bet BOTH my nuts.
SpydaKat 17 @ Jan 10th 2009 7:01PM
Have you no shame? You'd bet your nuts so easily? Tsk tsk
Burnt Meatloaf @ Jan 10th 2009 8:58PM
"Nintendo are crying all over their piles of cash right now"
That's the wrong way to launder money.
Vegnagun bwf @ Jan 11th 2009 10:09AM
@Finaldarklord
Obligatory post on how you should never brag or be proud of yourself for visiting 4chan.
Otis @ Jan 10th 2009 4:05PM
Hey, Joystiq, do you have balls?
I dare you to actually take Nintendo, or someone at Nintendo, to task about this the next time you sit down and talk with them for an interview or what have you, and ask about their reaction of this.
Of course, I know you won't do this.
Instead, it'll be all "So, no games." "PR Statement" "Wow, great!"
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jan 10th 2009 4:19PM
You know, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of NOA, but even I have decent idea on why Nintendo passed on this project. More than a couple, actually.
1. As a business partner, would YOU want to be involved with someone who locks himself in a room under protest?
2. More often than not, big time publishers don't fuck with hobbyist. I myself was turned down when applying for a DS dev kit. This is why indie game development is normally stuck on PC. This is why it's really hard to become a console developer. He had no previous experience, he had nowhere near enough startup capital to begin the workings on a minimum sized development studio under Nintendo publishing contracts, and he's proven with his behavior he's a fucking psycho.
3. He began a huge project without previous approval and the fact that NO publisher will work with him, despite mentions of other potential publishers, and just assumed he'd get a publisher.
Shmil @ Jan 10th 2009 4:24PM
Nintendo's simple answer: "We weren't interested in his little project so we did not send him a developer's kit. Were we not allowed to do that?"
Bluebrake @ Jan 10th 2009 4:27PM
>1. As a business partner, would YOU want to be involved with someone who locks himself in a room under protest?
Oh, that is classic.
Nintendo: No, we're not working with you.
Bob: Fine, I'm going to lock myself in my room to protest!
Nintendo: Aha! See? That was why we weren't going to work with you! Because we knew you were going to do that!
>2. More often than not, big time publishers don't fuck with hobbyist. I myself was turned down when applying for a DS dev kit. This is why indie game development is normally stuck on PC. This is why it's really hard to become a console developer.
The fact that it's "the way it is" doesn't excuse it.
>He had no previous experience, he had nowhere near enough startup capital to begin the workings on a minimum sized development studio under Nintendo publishing contracts, and he's proven with his behavior he's a fucking psycho.
Who cares about his experience or capital? The game was virtually done. Those things are only issues if he were just starting.
(Yes, it turns out he is a fucking psycho, but Nintendo didn't know that before)
Soulcrux42 @ Jan 10th 2009 4:33PM
Honestly, Nintendo is right for not giving this guy a dev kit.
I wouldn't have given the guy a dev kit either, even as someone who considers himself a "core" gamer and part of the gaming community.
This just looks like a bad business deal all around, the dude seems like hes not that easy to work with, no prior experience, just gives off a really bad vibe.
If I was a Nintendo representative I would have recommended this guy to either find someone else to publish it, or to go find work as a dev for a couple years and come back when hes got more notches on his belt.
Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jan 10th 2009 4:42PM
BlueDrake, allow me to put it another way.
If I draw and write and ink and color 24 issues of my own comic series, regardless of the quality compared to competing products, is Marvel Comics socially responsible for publishing my comic? Nope. They get to say "fuck off, we're not doing it."
If I write and shoot and edit my own 2 hour feature film, is Disney Pictures suddenly socially responsible for publishing my film and handling distribution? Nope, not in the slightest.
If I write and perform the best damn rock album ever created, is BMG socially responsible for printing and selling this CD in every store and iTunes? Nope.
If I write a novel, 600 pages long, and think it's the greatest thing ever, does this mean Random House NOW has to publish my book?
So the query then comes in. Why in the hell is this guy suddenly the one person exempt from all the rules that permeats every entertainment industry. He is NOT some lost fucking genuis. He is someone who created a game. I created a tetris clone long ago for my C++ class. I'm not banging on Nintendos door demanding they publish it, am I?
This guy had unrealistic goals and has proven himself unstabl;e and unable to bend his vision. Remind you of someone else? Luc Bernard perhaps? Just because you created something doesn't obligate a company to publish it. Period. And frankly, this behavior of his has ruined all of his chances of getting into the industry. Even if the game was finished, he could have released it in it's current build form and used it as a resume. Instead he used it as proof that Veruca Salt isn't the only spoiled little bitch deserving of chocolatey cumuppins. He's also proven himself an unreasonable and unbendable "artsy visionary" that typically last two weeks, at the most, in a REAL game studio.
SKI @ Jan 10th 2009 4:47PM
Bluebrake, it 's more like
Nintendo: We don't want to work with you.
Bob: Well now I'll lock myself in a room, didn't think of that one did you?
Nintendo: .....
Bob:Now will you work with me?
Nintendo: We will never even talk to you again.
zuburi @ Jan 10th 2009 5:01PM
Let's even analyze it further:
(All taken from http://www.warioworld.com/apply/)
1) "An Authorized Developer will have demonstrated the ability to develop and program excellent software for Nintendo video game systems or for other game platforms."
- He has no track record at all. He hasn't demonstrated any ability. This could be overlooked, except for...
2) "In addition, an Authorized Developer will have a stable business organization with secure office facilities separate from a personal residence ( Home offices do not meet this requirement )"
- Developing in your parent's house does NOT count as "secure office facilities," and how can he have a "stable business organization" if he is 25 years old and is obviously fully supported by his parents (if his working on this game 16 hours a day for five years comment is to be believed)?
3) ..."sufficient resources to insure the security of Nintendo confidential information and in order to ensure an effective environment for working with Nintendo and/or its Publishers. Nintendo provides Authorized Developers with highly confidential information and many of Nintendo's Publishers also rely on recommendations and referrals to Authorized Developers. For these reasons, Nintendo exercises a very high level of care in evaluating Authorized Developers."
- The guy went apeshit and started posting contact information that was entrusted to him personally by some folks at NOA. This doesn't exactly sound like the type of guy that I'd trust with an Non-Disclosure Agreement - to say nothing of his making this whole ordeal public.
4) "Financial stability is expected by Authorized Developers in order to purchase the necessary development equipment for your project."
- Again, relying on your parents as your sole source of income doesn't sound like being "financially stable."
In short: This shouldn't have even been an issue. He was not qualified to get one. The (25 year old ADULT!) kid got all pissy and locked himself in his room, thus pretty much ensuring no well-run company will want to deal with babysitting him in the future.
One of the companies I worked for did a few DS games. Nintendo is a cruel taskmaster when it comes to their baby. There is no way this would have ended differently.
zuburi @ Jan 10th 2009 6:19PM
tl;dr version:
Bob done fucked up.
Blank-Mage @ Jan 10th 2009 6:20PM
Man, you guys did on a number on Otis, there. Common sense win!
zuburi @ Jan 10th 2009 6:31PM
That's what he gets for calling me every 5 minutes while I'm in the middle of slashing zombies to pieces with a katana!
Bluebrake @ Jan 10th 2009 6:45PM
Sheppy: The guy is NOT asking that Nintendo publish his game. He is asking that they SELL him the SDK. A piece of software. There is no financial risk to Nintendo.
A better analogy: Nintendo is the company that sells the paper for him to print his comic book/novel on.
The rest of you -- don't even pretend that Nintendo has some stringent experience and quality standards from its third party developers. Console makers don't give two shits about the talent or results from a company so long as it ponies up the dough -- Nintendo least of all. The mountains of crap on Wii and DS are the indisputable proof of that.
Of course they can't work with him NOW -- he's proven to be a lunatic and he's spent the last two weeks threatening them. But they had little excuse before all this.
Otis @ Jan 10th 2009 8:24PM
Uh?
Why in the hell was I downvoted? Because I questioned the integrity of sites like Joystiq, Kotaku, IGN, etc, because they're afraid to actually ask difficult questions?
I don't care about the guy, really. I just think it'd be nice to have people be told flat out "No." instead of getting spit on and tricked.
and why are all people who are like NOT saying "Yay Nintendo! Ignore them whackos!" getting downvoted? What the hell is wrong with you people?
Don't you really wish Joystiq would ask REAL hard hitting questions in interviews? Why not? What's wrong with that? I mean, basically, all interviews with people on these sites are, are basically a venue for conversational PR, instead of getting anything relevant actually answered. It'd be nice to change things up a bit, actually ask difficult things, instead of that.
Otis @ Jan 10th 2009 8:29PM
To elaborate on what I mean.. it's like when asked about the red ring thing, with MS, they'll just say "Cooperate line, free repair, people happy"...
AND NO ONE EVER FRIGGING FOLLOWS THAT QUESTION UP IN AN INTERVIEW.
It's like, internet game "journalists" are the biggest cowards on the planet.
zuburi @ Jan 10th 2009 9:31PM
"The guy is NOT asking that Nintendo publish his game. He is asking that they SELL him the SDK. A piece of software. There is no financial risk to Nintendo."
HE
DIDN'T
MEET
THE
REQUIREMENTS
ill trooper @ Jan 11th 2009 3:55AM
Otis, I agree with you. With all of the attention this blog has paid to this guy and his plight, I'd love to hear some follow-up from Nintendo. That's just common curiosity kicking in.
Of course, I doubt that Nintendo will comment on it.
Going out like a spaz is not a good look! I say the guy regroups and focuses on developing his skill-set to include programming for the iPhone/Touch OS X platform and puts his work there. Good distro and probably a higher percentage of profits. I think he might have some luck; the platform could use a long-form game and he might still be early enough to the party to make a big splash there.
Duke @ Jan 16th 2009 11:41AM
I suggest you read what zuburi posted again if you think this guy should have been given a kit. I don't know how you could believe that dev kits are just handed around to anyone in the world.
Some of you are arguing with emotion rather than sense - it may suck that the guy didn't get a kit, but he didn't have the qualifications. There are people who spend years studying to be doctors, and then they walk in a hospital and kill someone because they just aren't smart enough for the job - should they be allowed to work at your hospital anyway? Cause they tried? There are experienced heads of companies with M.B.A.'s that email confidential financial documents to their buddies without thinking that leaking such information could destroy them if handed to the press. Should they lead your company? Is that a risk you would knowingly take with employees and stockholders to answer to?
Companies, like medicine and law, have standards that have to be met before a person is placed in a position in which trust can be abused. There are obvious needs for such standards. Think it through. 'That's not nice!' is not a valid argument.
ice~ @ Jan 10th 2009 4:06PM
I think bob just needed to masturbate
Levi @ Jan 10th 2009 4:36PM
I think he did, and that picture is the result
Least that's what it looks like when I'm done
The Espiritu (Somebody get me a tie! And it sure as hell better be red!) @ Jan 10th 2009 6:30PM
Yeah, that's what happens when you watch over 2 hours of japanese girls spiting in each others mouth.
Oh damn! Now everybody knows what I watch at night.
xtremeholymuffin @ Jan 11th 2009 1:49PM
hmmmm
do want
C.A. @ Jan 10th 2009 4:07PM
How mean is it if you find that really funny?
Fernando Rocker @ Jan 10th 2009 4:08PM
Joystiq
Did you read the latest update:
"SORRY, EVERYONE!
IM ALIVE!!! ITS JUST A JOKE!!! SORRY EVERYONE!!"
ice~ @ Jan 10th 2009 4:11PM
Wow...just wow
Blank-Mage @ Jan 10th 2009 6:15PM
A legend returns.
ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Jan 10th 2009 7:10PM
New update:
"RAIDED BY THE POLICE WHILE FAKING HIS OWN DEATH ON WEBCAM AND DOESN'T AFRAID OF ANYTHING!
IM ALIVE!
SORRY, REGGIE!"
Zertoss @ Jan 10th 2009 7:19PM
So he didn't kill himself? Damn.
BPMOmega [gamertag] @ Jan 10th 2009 7:34PM
"...AND DOESN'T AFRAID OF ANYTHING!"
Goddammit.
http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Pretty_cool_guy
giantenemycrab @ Jan 10th 2009 4:08PM
Wow, I can't believe Nintendo didn't reach out to this guy. I really thought they would. Poor guy, it must be frustrating to never get to finish your game.
Mr Khan @ Jan 10th 2009 4:22PM
He had a great many options, at least two of which would have resulted in his project getting on a Nintendo platform
Hell, he'd probably get better distribution of his brain-child if it were available as a high-end homebrew project, as opposed to a no-name retail game
Levi @ Jan 10th 2009 4:37PM
His game is finished, and there's nothing stopping him from releasing it as freeware on the PC. If it's as good as he says, it will get attention sooner or later.
...Jan... @ Jan 10th 2009 4:09PM
You giving up Bob? Oh how funny it would be if Nintendo had a developer kit ready to ship to you if you lasted the whole 100 days.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, in honor of the Jan. 6 Massacre) @ Jan 10th 2009 4:09PM
There are few people I want to see die in a horrible flaming death.
This man happens to be one of them.
Atra @ Jan 10th 2009 4:15PM
That's a horrible thing to say. Can you imagine working years on something and then having someone further along the line just spitting on your face? I think that's what Nintendo is doing here. I am saddened that Bob did not get a chance to finish his protest and that Nintendo was so unwilling to even contact him about an SDK.
http://digg.com/nintendo/Bob_s_Game_100_day_sit_in_protest_ends_early_disturbingly
Is the digg incase anyone wants to share this news with other sites.
Shmil @ Jan 10th 2009 4:18PM
Life's full of disappointments, get used to it.
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, in honor of the Jan. 6 Massacre) @ Jan 10th 2009 4:22PM
getting a Dev Kit is like a job interview. Just because you "meet all qualifications" doesn't mean you get the job. Bob obviously either didn't realize that or is one of those kids who got everything in life handed to him.
If he would've had the foresight to realize that Nintendo, nor any other company, is going to give a SDK to a 1 man company and instead started with say, the App store or gone Freeware, he wouldn't have this problem. He wouldn't have needed anything to finish the game and if it was good enough, he would've had Nintendo come to him.
Levi @ Jan 10th 2009 4:40PM
Moptimus, you are officially a troll. All you do is put other people down. You just HAVE to be one step more negative than the most negative post on every page.
He may have been a little nuts, but you're a piece of crap just for saying that.
DBuck_Eye @ Jan 10th 2009 4:54PM
That's a horrible thing to say. It doesn't matter how annoying someone may be to you, you shouldn't want them to do. Seriously, how would you feel if this man got hit by a car tomorrow and died?
Moptimus Slime (Leader of the Ryan Scott Defense Force, in honor of the Jan. 6 Massacre) @ Jan 10th 2009 4:59PM
"He may have been a little nuts, but you're a piece of crap just for saying that."
so i'm a piece of crap for telling the truth? Here allow me to try lying to you then:
Bob is an AWESOME dude! He is no way mentally unstable and he sure wouldn't lock himself in his room for something as meaningless as getting denied a Dev kit. He's also a great people person and works well with others. I can't see why Nintendo would even hesitate for a second to help this man.
Tough shit. That's life. If he got denied a DS Dev kit, he should've released it for free on the PC. But no, he's a greedy asshole and demanded that it be released as a retail game. He'll get no sympathy from me.
Levi @ Jan 10th 2009 6:17PM
no. I'm saying you're a piece of crap for saying he should die because he did something that you don't agree with.. I don't agree with people when they up vote you for saying something stupid like Bob should die in a fire because of some stupid little protest.. but guess what? I'm not going to wish death upon them for up voting you or down voting me.
The Fatass of Kickassness @ Jan 10th 2009 7:48PM
That's a fucking lame thing to say, Moptimus.
Why don't you actually go onto his website and read his update? He wasn't doing this because 'he was greedy', you prick.
And the fact that you said you wanted him to die in a fire...
I can't fucking believe you got upvoted for that. Is that how the minds of Joystiq posters work?
I'm done. I thought it'd be the slew of fucking retarded fanboy posts that'd get me to stop coming here
but in the end, it was an ignorant comment from a poster I actually respected.
Kotaku time.
Fatass of SickOfJoystiqCommentersness @ Jan 10th 2009 8:02PM
One more post, before I leave.
"he sure wouldn't lock himself in his room for something as meaningless as getting denied a Dev kit"
Are you stupid?
For five years, this guy had a vision of what he wanted to do - he wanted to make a game for a system he enjoyed. He worked hard at it, hoping that there'd at least be a chance of his game being released. As was said by a blog that DOESN'T have moronic readers - "But this is a game that was built — over the course of five years — for the DS. And realizing the end of that dream, Bob takes it a little hard.".
Yeah, life is full of disappointment. Does knowing that, make things less disappointing? No. Bob was a little bit crazy, sure, but wishing death on him is fucking despicable.
Oh, one more thing. He's looking into porting the game over to XBLA, Steam, i-Phone, etc. (which isn't as easy as you paint it to be, by the way - he was making a game for DS, meaning if he wants to remake it for XBLA or Steam, there'll be significant engine reworking, asset redrawing, this, that, you know.)
Bye.