Internet rallies around Bob's Game DS homebrew martyr
This time, the Big N has gone too far
This bizarre story has been drifting around all day, although it started in August, when homebrew developer Robert Pelloni managed to get the blogosphere to write up his ambitious 5 year, 15,000 hour project: a top-down RPG in the 16-bit style called Bob’s Game.
Since then, Pelloni's story has taken a strange turn, as he writes on the Bob's Game website:
"I met with Nintendo in February - almost a YEAR ago- to ask for the SDK.
"I did teleconferencing. I flew to GDC and had a face-to-face meeting.
"I asked the WarioWorld division, and they sent me to marketing.
"I talked to marketing, and they said apply with WarioWorld division!
"The agreement on the application states I will receive a decision in 6-8 weeks. It has been 17 weeks!
"I fulfill all the requirements- I'm a financially stable registered company with a FEIN working from a commercial address.”
17 weeks. Poor show. Pelloni is understandably distraught.
“I worked on this project for five years because I wanted to make a "Nintendo game." [...] Will the men of talent at Nintendo - those with passion and ideas of their own- dismiss mine? I REALLY WANT TO FINISH THIS GAME!"
In protest at this silent treatment, Pelloni has taken dramatic steps to draw attention to his case. With scant regard for his own mental and physical well-being, he’s locked himself in a small room for 100 days, or until Nintendo gets in touch to tell him everything’s going to be okay. We’re currently sitting on day 12.
“I cannot leave this viridian room. The door is locked and barricaded from the outside.
"I am sleeping behind the camera, and yes- I've got a shower. Food is delivered once a week by a friend.
"I have no internet access, television, or game consoles besides those I am developing on.
"I can receive and send email on my Android G1, so I can get Nintendo's reply and update my site with tether.
"The LED counter will be incremented once a day, and sometimes it will display hints and secret messages.”
So, what exactly is the issue? According to Pelloni, Nintendo isn’t refusing to publish the title - several other unnamed publishers are purportedly keen - but it’s withholding a DVD Pelloni needs to get the game licensed and sold.
Why? In Pelloni’s view, “because it blurs the line between homebrew and commercial.” As a consequence, “some stubborn intern or mid-level marketing exec at NOA is deleting my emails! I want an answer, and I want to hear it from the top.”
Pelloni occasionally seems a bit manic in his exasperation, and an uncharitable reader might call him hubristic. And mad. Take this line from his website blurb: “Nobody has ever single-handedly created a retail length RPG type console game this size. How do I know that? They told me! It's a special case - an industry first”.
And what about this: “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!" I've got my eye on that "Reggie" guy, he's suspicious for sure!”
What this self-imposed solitude amounts to, in Pelloni’s words, is “a nonviolent passive sit-down protest.” Like what Gandhi done. Whereas Gandhi maintained a serene countenance, however, Pelloni is less stately.
“I plan on staying in here 100 days or more, so we'll see where it goes. The lease on my office might have to be extended.
"Solitary confinement isn't exactly pleasant. I'm working 16 hour days with no human contact.
If I'm not mad yet, I will be! Of course, that'll only make the sequel better.. ;}”
So far, much of the coverage has been on Pelloni’s side. And the case has a romantic air about it - indie developer fights the machine. Recent movies Be Kind Rewind and Son of Rambow pull at the same strings, and it’s true that a gentleman would rather play a game that’s rough and original than one that’s gleaming and soulless.
However, before getting swept up in it all it’s probably worth bearing in mind that Bob’s Game might actually be utter pap, and that this is a commercial appeal, not a moral one. The length of time Pelloni spent making it is completely irrelevant, as is the fact that he’s holing himself up. Maybe it’s a great game; maybe it’s not. Either way, Nintendo doesn’t owe Pelloni anything.
Still, if you want to petition the Big N to give him his reply, you can do so here. In the meantime, why not enjoy this vaguely interesting, highly boastful video demonstration.
Joystiq
