One man spent 15,000 hours in 5 years to make a DS game BY HIMSELF!

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-Oath

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#1 -Oath
Member since 2008 • 8014 Posts
http://www.bobsgame.com/

From age 20 to 25 Robert Pelloni created a retail-sized NDS game from scratch, pouring 15,000 hours into it over 5 years. It started off being developed for the GBA, then he shifted to the DS when that came out to take advantage of the touchscreen.

I'd recommended reading some of the interviews he links on the page.
Like this one: http://blog.differentpixel.com/archives/29...-Interview.html

All concepts, story, code, sprites, tiles, music, samples,
fonts, etc. were created entirely from scratch by me-
and I had to teach myself the skills as I went along.

The code is straight C, the music is tracked, and the art is all
completely hand-clicked tiles and sprites- done the right way,
pixel by pixel, like the ****cs we all know and love.


Make sure when you watch the video, the annotations are on. I will definitely buy this when it comes out.
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ZumaJones07

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#2 ZumaJones07
Member since 2005 • 16457 Posts
looks interesting... let's hope it does well.
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Toro_Nev

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#3 Toro_Nev
Member since 2008 • 1074 Posts
wow thats amazing, I want to get it =P
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forgot_it

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#4 forgot_it
Member since 2004 • 6756 Posts
Respect the effort, like the idea, hope it does well, I wouldn't pay for it.
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slimdave21

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#5 slimdave21
Member since 2003 • 2646 Posts
Wow, that takes a lot of heart. I'll definitely be checking this game out.
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Cheagle

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#6 Cheagle
Member since 2007 • 172 Posts
that is so cool, i think ill get it to support him at least, and it looks like some good fun too
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nintendoman562

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#7 nintendoman562
Member since 2007 • 5593 Posts
What do you do in the game?
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Keviliciousness

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#8 Keviliciousness
Member since 2008 • 176 Posts
wow this looks really good.
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Keviliciousness

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#9 Keviliciousness
Member since 2008 • 176 Posts
did a publisher get him yet?
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Lyphe2k

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#10 Lyphe2k
Member since 2007 • 3385 Posts
Holy crap that's amazing. I'll def. keep my eyes peeled for his game.
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scar-hawk

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#11 scar-hawk
Member since 2008 • 5404 Posts

Mmmhmm. I like that he actually put tons of effort and time into the game. I'll certainly be keeping an eye on it. I'm not gonna expect it to be a very hot game due to his lack of a lot of experience in video game designing and he's only one person. But still...

I hope it's just as he said, A Mega Man-like game set in the real world.

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AytVimC

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#12 AytVimC
Member since 2008 • 96 Posts

That's dedication.

I haven't read the links for the game, but I'll look into them.

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Blueskied

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#13 Blueskied
Member since 2008 • 29 Posts
Sounds crazy, if it's true. That's over 8h everyday, 7 days a week. That's more than a fulltime job. So he did not go to college or have a job during the last 5 years? PS: He should have spent another 10 hours to make a better website.
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Shinobisoma

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#14 Shinobisoma
Member since 2005 • 936 Posts
That looked impressive.
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deactivated-5e90a3763ea91

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#15 deactivated-5e90a3763ea91
Member since 2008 • 9437 Posts

Unless the game originally started out as GameBoy Advance game, but he decided to switch handhelds when the Nintendo DS came out, then this story has to be false.

Nintendo DS came out at the end of 2004, and it's still 2008. I don't see how you get 5 years out of that.

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Dwarfeater

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#16 Dwarfeater
Member since 2007 • 430 Posts

Very interesting.

If this game is a sucess it will be something amazing.

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ZumaJones07

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#17 ZumaJones07
Member since 2005 • 16457 Posts
From age 20 to 25 Robert Pelloni created a retail-sized NDS game from scratch, pouring 15,000 hours into it over 5 years. It started off being developed for the GBA, then he shifted to the DS when that came out to take advantage of the touchscreen.-Oath

Unless the game originally started out as GameBoy Advance game, but he decided to switch handhelds when the Nintendo DS came out, then this story has to be false.

Nintendo DS came out at the end of 2004, and it's still 2008. I don't see how you get 5 years out of that.

Ovirew
well... the original post says that exact thing, so it could still be true. :? [QUOTE="Blueskied"]Sounds crazy, if it's true. That's over 8h everyday, 7 days a week. That's more than a fulltime job. So he did not go to college or have a job during the last 5 years?

15,000 hours is only 625 days though, not even a full two years. I'm pretty sure he could have worked a job around that. If not he probably lives at home or something.
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Lyphe2k

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#18 Lyphe2k
Member since 2007 • 3385 Posts

Unless the game originally started out as GameBoy Advance game, but he decided to switch handhelds when the Nintendo DS came out, then this story has to be false.

Nintendo DS came out at the end of 2004, and it's still 2008. I don't see how you get 5 years out of that.

Ovirew

It was. Read it somewhere in his blog.

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Xraydon

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#19 Xraydon
Member since 2005 • 1227 Posts
Very nice find! I bookmarked it and appreciate it. Looks great. I will be keeping tabs on this. That first video moves way to fast.
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ASK_Story

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#20 ASK_Story
Member since 2006 • 11455 Posts
His game is more than just for sells. It can be a great portfolio in getting a job.
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k3nne3e

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#21 k3nne3e
Member since 2008 • 473 Posts

whoa that is amazing

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aznstyle11

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#22 aznstyle11
Member since 2008 • 1125 Posts
The teacher that loves giving F's can only mean....FAIRYS
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-Oath

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#24 -Oath
Member since 2008 • 8014 Posts

this is really old news.dr_doongy

And? Some people havent heard about it before.

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Junior_AIN

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#25 Junior_AIN
Member since 2007 • 4703 Posts
That's great, if the game is good, I'll consider it.
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black_tempest

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#26 black_tempest
Member since 2008 • 2459 Posts

Yeah, fairly odd parents ftw. Anyways, who else thinks that many characters are big cliches and stereotypes (although I do like the one about the old teacher, its so true)

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rifton

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#27 rifton
Member since 2005 • 1716 Posts
This looks like the game I've been looking for since I finished Earthbound but was not completely satisfied. A real life RPG with tons of personality plus some Animal Crossing elements. I'll buy this game immediately when it gets published.
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Darth_Snutch

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#28 Darth_Snutch
Member since 2005 • 1865 Posts
Very impressive, nearly unbelievable a single person made it. Reminds me of Earthbound.
If it's ever released i'll definitely buy it.
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fiercedeity901

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#29 fiercedeity901
Member since 2005 • 6291 Posts
[QUOTE="Blueskied"]Sounds crazy, if it's true. That's over 8h everyday, 7 days a week. That's more than a fulltime job. So he did not go to college or have a job during the last 5 years? PS: He should have spent another 10 hours to make a better website.

correct i believe...might seem like he wasted his life, but if this sells well and he gets a publisher, this guy will be swimming in cash...then he can afford and actual TEAM for his next game the game looks great, i can't wait to play it
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XBadNewsX

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#30 XBadNewsX
Member since 2004 • 1332 Posts
Good work. I respect him for the effort but... yeah I wouldn't pay for it. And why work alone? Why not hire a couple people yourself. Or even a handful of talented friends could have made faces for the sprites during dialogue.
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Cartman121

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#31 Cartman121
Member since 2005 • 25 Posts

Amazing job. Cannot believe he has actually done this entirely by himself, just crazy.

At 4:48 "Some dude who locked himself in a room for five years and made a really awesome game" He put himself in the game...gotta love that. 8)

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Masterx1220

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#32 Masterx1220
Member since 2005 • 2426 Posts
i remember reading about this on gonintendo.com a while back. god speed to him.... god speed
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InuTails

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#33 InuTails
Member since 2004 • 32 Posts
This could be a a welcome addition to the NDS and its library of adventure games. Looks like fun.
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gokuofheaven

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#34 gokuofheaven
Member since 2004 • 3452 Posts
it's great to see the effort and heart put into a self project like this ... but respectfully i would not purchase it.
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Blueskied

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#35 Blueskied
Member since 2008 • 29 Posts
15,000 hours is only 625 days though, not even a full two years. I'm pretty sure he could have worked a job around that. If not he probably lives at home or something.ZumaJones07
Yes, if you work 24h/day. Humans usually don't do that cause they need sleep and time for other activities like eating or hygiene. That said: 15,000 hours are MORE than what you work in 5 years in a normal job.
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#36 cfamgcn
Member since 2004 • 5587 Posts
Amazing. I would definitely support his effort by buying the game if it comes out. ~ de arimasu
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El_Jarvo

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#37 El_Jarvo
Member since 2005 • 398 Posts

Kudos to the guy for putting that much effort into it, but I don't think I'd buy it.

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Apocalypse97

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#38 Apocalypse97
Member since 2008 • 1758 Posts
Thats dedication! The game looks interesting.. I dunno if I'd buy it though..
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#39 sonic_spark
Member since 2003 • 6195 Posts

Respect the effort, like the idea, hope it does well, I wouldn't pay for it.forgot_it

Wouldn't pay for it because?

Look's interesting, obviously its amazing that he managed to do this all himself.