"bob's game" Questions

What is this "bob's game" thing, anyway?

"bob's game" is a "based on a true story" semi-autobiographical black comedy about a developer trying to overthrow the game industry.
The story has been written in real-time as the game was developed over the past 8 years.
It's rubbed many companies and people in the game industry the wrong way, and amassed a large amount of both supporters and critics.

I read on Wikipedia that "bob" said X! I don't trust him!

The "bob's game" Wikipedia page has been a target for trolls for several years now.
It's a mess of factual errors and a collection of the least flattering quotes pulled from semi-reputable sources.
Robert refuses to edit its content in order to uphold the spirit and policies of Wikipedia.

Is "bob's game" real? I heard it was all just a joke/vaporware/trolling!

Yes, it's real. No, it isn't a joke. It is, however, definitely funny.
It isn't vaporware, Robert has continued working on it for 8 years.

If "bob" would have just been nice to Nintendo, he would have gotten an SDK!

Before ever showing his game to the internet, Robert showed it to Nintendo, where they offered him a position as the head of a development team. Robert declined this position, wanting to keep the integrity of his game- and resenting the notion that the ability to sell a game should be an invite-only, exclusive privilege granted only to an elite few.

During his viral campaign, which he pitched to Nintendo management before launching, Robert was offered 12 publishing deals, any of which would have gotten him access to an SDK.

The purpose of this campaign was to persuade Nintendo to make DSiWare and WiiWare open to all and allow developers to retain control of their own IP without signing away their rights to a publisher.

Why didn't he just sign with a publisher?

Since the SDK is licensed to publishers, the source code for a game must also be licensed to the publisher in order to produce a retail copy.

The game industry is notorious for legal issues between publishers and developers regarding the rights to a game property.
The publisher decides how to market the game, how many copies to manufacture and ship, whether to send out review copies to journalists, etc.
Therefore, the success of any given game title is mostly in the control of the publisher.

It is especially difficult for a new or unknown developer to succeed in this environment, regardless of the merit or quality of their title.
Developers are required to sign non-disclosure agreements and are forbidden from discussing the details of their contract, effectively silencing any criticism or complaints they might have afterwards.

Oftentimes, without the professional and legal resources required to protect themselves, developers find themselves bound in a contract that strips them from their rights.
Publishers will, for instance, ship unfinished or altered games, produce sequels with little or no consent from the original author, or license (or withhold) the IP in other regions without compensating the developer.

In the light of modern, vastly superior digital distribution methods, Robert felt that it was better to wait it out for a purely-digital gaming handheld.

This eventually became the nD.

Does Robert/"bob" hate Nintendo? Does he hate video games?

No. Robert has always attempted to work with and persuade the Nintendo management.
In fact, he pitched the nD concept to them in December 2010.

Shortly after, the NOA president began calling the concept of "disposable games" the "biggest threat to our industry."
Robert believes that handheld games will inevitably become overshadowed by mobile devices, and he is simply trying to protect core concepts like directional pads and standard controls, rather than attempt to protect the unsustainable price-point of the retail software market.

Why does everyone hate "bob?"

Because he's a huge jerk, he's an egomaniac, his game sucks, and he's crazy.

Fortunately, "bob" is a character from the game, Robert's alter-ego.
Robert is simply the developer of the game- a quiet, definitely-creepy guy who lives in what appears to be a serial-killer's torture shack.
He's a fan of industrial music and acknowledges that games like Carmageddon and Quake probably "did it" to him.

We've heard he's actually a pretty nice guy, though his sense of humor could use some work.

I still hate "bob!"

Good! Yuu should!
"bob" knows very well that people talk a lot more about things they hate, and he publicly admits using this to his advantage.

Now I hate "bob" even more! I'm going to go complain about him!

Oh no!