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Jeff Minter is a whiny emo: Complains about Frogger outselling Space Giraffe

6:11 AM on 11.23.2007, Jim Sterling 75 comments

Jeff Minter is a whiny emo: Complains about Frogger outselling Space Giraffe photo
     Xbox Live Arcade

This is hilarious. Jeff Minter, old school cult developer who recently released the trippy, arty and not-very-good Space Giraffe for Xbox Live Arcade has thrown a bitchfit over the aforementioned game's lacklustre sales. Because the updated Frogger has done so much better on Arcade than some silly light show, whiny Minter now sees very little point in making games.

not seeing a lot of reason to continue even trying to make games, at this point, when a remake of Frogger, one of the worst games in the history of old arcade games, can outsell Space Giraffe that we put so much love and effort into, by more than ten to one, in one week.

OK, we get the message. All you want on that channel is remakes of old, sh*te arcade games and crap you vaguely remember playing on your Amiga.

We'll shut up trying to do anything new then.

Sorry for even trying.

Maybe he's kidding? One would hope he is, because that's such an amazing crybaby attitude that I'd be embarrassed to make myself look that bad even in jest. What shocks me is that he acted surprised that an obscure, confusing game that had no mainstream appeal did poorly. It's not exactly Wii Sports in terms of accessibility now, is it? While I fully believe that original and inventive games should be supported (if they're good), it's never a surprise when they don't sell well. Sadly, a lot of people DO want old, sh*te arcade games.

Oh, and it doesn't help that Space Giraffe simply isn't better than "one of the worst games in the history of old arcade games." You need some gameplay to go with your lights and pretty music, Jeff.  

[Thanks to Buster]


Next page: More Jealousy stories




Remz's Avatar
Remz at 11/23/2007 06:22
After seeing it on a friends box, I can't exactly vouch for Space Giraffe
glipe's Avatar
glipe at 11/23/2007 06:23
I have to say, I kind of support him on this one though. It's only because Frogger is a well known name that it's done better than Space Giraffe when SG is way more fun. But nobody knows it's way more fun because they haven't played it, whereas they have fond memories of Frogger being something more than it actually is (e.g. fun). It's a shame he sounds so whiney with his complaining but I really can't fault him for the complaint itself!

Would you have been as dismissive of his comments if he'd been the creator of Psychonauts complaining about the attention that other, inferior games got instead of his?
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 11/23/2007 06:27
glipe: Better example -- I adore Killer 7 and I find it shameful it sold poorly, but if Suda51 whined and said he'd throw in the towel and can't believe how Halo sold better than it? I'd laugh him outta town.
wardrox's Avatar
wardrox at 11/23/2007 06:33
Do not speak ill of the Space Giraffe! It's awesome!


wardrox spends his evenings playing Boom Boom Rocket
Boolean's Avatar
Boolean at 11/23/2007 06:35
God SG was a bad game. Hell, SG would make a terrible free flash game. Style can cover up shitty gameplay, for example Flow. But SG was just...well..shit.

Someone should tell Mr. Minter how many people have bought Uno, he'll flip his fucking lid once he finds out.
glipe's Avatar
glipe at 11/23/2007 06:39
@Jim: you're pretty much right on the reaction to such a comedic tantrum but, as you say yourself, it's gutting when a good game does badly.

Maybe he would have been better phrasing it as "Ahhh bollox. =( "
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 11/23/2007 06:48
Also, he needs to stick to weed if the acid is making him this highly strung.
glipe's Avatar
glipe at 11/23/2007 07:00
Maybe he still has a vendetta against Frogger since the old days when his camels and llamas were outsold by the frog as well? Maybe SG is an acid flashback to those days?
Macca's Avatar
Macca at 11/23/2007 07:07
He has a point. It's not like Space Giraffe has less name recognition. Or is easier to pick up and play. Seriously, the demo for this game totally threw me off. At least Frogger didn't give me seizures...
lowercaseluke's Avatar
lowercaseluke at 11/23/2007 07:26
Frankly, I think the fucking ridiculous name didn't help.

Space. Giraffe.

Sounds like an indie band.
vandamguy's Avatar
vandamguy at 11/23/2007 07:36
he could probably get a job at silicone knights with that attitude.

lulz.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 11/23/2007 07:39
Oh game developers... haven't you learned not to put your crybaby rants online yet?
runedig's Avatar
runedig at 11/23/2007 07:46
if you don't understand how to play, that doesn't mean the gameplay sucks. the point of the game is to score points and finish level 100
atheistium's Avatar
atheistium at 11/23/2007 07:48
but frogger is awesomes.
WDot's Avatar
WDot at 11/23/2007 07:48
Okay, so Space Giraffe didn't work out. Try again. Yes, sequels and rereleases sell well, and those are easy. But you know what? If you can fill a niche that's been itching to be filled, and put it out and the right time, success'll come your way. This Tempest variant just wasn't it.
Xavier's Avatar
Xavier at 11/23/2007 07:48
Who cares about what Jeff Minter has to say, make a real game for once & stop complaining.
fish_lx's Avatar
fish_lx at 11/23/2007 08:20
I don't get it... Isn't Space Giraffe exactly this: A remake of old, sh*te arcade game and crap i vaguely remember playing on my errr... Atari... (Tempest) ???
queefy's Avatar
queefy at 11/23/2007 08:26
Space Giraffe is great.

Most people are either too intimidated by it or to lazy to figure the game out.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 11/23/2007 08:30
lol. thats just silly... hes older than 12 right?
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar
michiyoyoshiku at 11/23/2007 08:37
Yeah Jeff Minter is a Hack. I want my Live points back for this game.
SPIDER PIG's Avatar
SPIDER PIG at 11/23/2007 08:44
"love and effort" my ass, Microsoft Interns did better with Aegis Wings
Christiangamer's Avatar
Christiangamer at 11/23/2007 08:45
Seeing as how Frogger is free (atleast it was for me) I don't see why he's complaining.
Amayirot Akago's Avatar
Amayirot Akago at 11/23/2007 09:18
Ironically, Space Giraffe looks like a ripoff of Tempest.
aborto thefetus's Avatar
aborto thefetus at 11/23/2007 09:19
I wouldn't go as far as calling space giraffe a bad game, but I definitely would call it a mediocre game. I could see why some people would like it and some people would hate it. Personally, I didn't like it and deleted the demo immediately after I played it.

But like Jim said, whining about your game not doing good is completely unforgivable. Tim Schafer didn't do that, Hell it seemed like he didn't even care. People should make videogames because they like it, not because they want to turn a profit. If this guy is going to complain about how his game did, then he really shouldn't be in the videogame business.
ScreamingSlave's Avatar
ScreamingSlave at 11/23/2007 09:23
A crappy ripoff of Tempest. I really do hope he is joking, because really, this guy is a d**k. First he goes on about how "art" his game is, then I download it and it's ugly, easy, and pointless (and did I mention ass ugly?) It looks like what Every Extent Extra vomits after a long night of drinking. Now he throws a damn "I'm taking my football and going home" tantrum because it doesn't sell as well as one of the biggest selling games of all time. Yeah Jeff, I think you are in the wrong line of work, and I wish more people that made crappy games got the hint and, you know, stopped making crappy games.
Diomeneus's Avatar
Diomeneus at 11/23/2007 09:26
You have got to be shitting me... he wants space giraffe to sell well?!?! I keep the demo of the game as a JOKE so friends can come over and laugh at it! The game is dismal at best. Filling it with internet catch phrases and stylings does not make you original either... what a tool.
I also have to go with aborto. The guy makes a poor selling gmae, bitches about it doing poorly then quits? He doesn't have what it takes to make it in the industry. Final Fantasy was named such because they felt it was actually their final fantasy at making a game before going bankrupt.

Jeff Minter isn't worthy to lick the semen off my boot.
aborto thefetus's Avatar
aborto thefetus at 11/23/2007 09:27
@Diomeneus

Why do you have semen on your boot?
Diomeneus's Avatar
Diomeneus at 11/23/2007 09:30
*shrug*
look I drink...
BluFire's Avatar
BluFire at 11/23/2007 09:42
Bitching does not make anything better. It makes you a douche. Nobody likes douches. Doesn't he realize that getting all emo and stuff just annoys everybody?

I just checked the blog with the original post. Here's his post from two days after posting his bitchfest(please BBCode, please work):

[quote]
I'm not going to be writing about game development here any more after this. Yes, I had a bit of a rant the other night because frankly yes, it is a bit disappointing to see a repackaged MAME rom doing much better than original content, but hey, that's how it goes. People are more inclined to buy stuff they remember rather than stuff that's new.

We're invested in XBLA now, and we *need* to re-use the SG framework for a couple of reasonably quick games - I think that's the way to make it work out for us, we just need more games in the pipeline. I'm already halfway through the next one and I just want to get my head down and get on with it.

To those who came on here to have a go at me and tell me how much I suck - just piss off, I don't care. If you do that I shall delete your comments and ban you. Guess what, I think you suck too, and I don't give a rat's arse if you don't like my games; they aren't made for you anyway.

And thanks to those who gave me a bit of encouragement at a low moment. Rest assured I'm not giving up; I'm just getting on with it quietly.

So no more dev stuff here, from now on this will just be about sheep and plushies and other such non-work-related stuff. There will be no talk, no press, no screenshots and no videos of work in progress except as and when we are ready to release them, at the appropriate time, through the appropriate channels.
[/quote]
BluFire's Avatar
BluFire at 11/23/2007 09:44
Damn it... just read the text. I guess there will not be any cool effects for this.
JACK of No Trades's Avatar
JACK of No Trades at 11/23/2007 09:55
The guy has his fellings hurt. He put alot of thought and effort into making the game. I take pride in my work and would be just as pissed as him......but I wouldn't make a game like Space Giraffe so thats his fault.
Grapefruit Juice's Avatar
Grapefruit Juice at 11/23/2007 09:57
Talentless, high and crying is no way to go thru life son.
Arcanum's Avatar
Arcanum at 11/23/2007 10:18
bawwwwww
Turtule Soup's Avatar
Turtule Soup at 11/23/2007 10:20
WHat was space giraffe about? it confused me.
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 11/23/2007 10:37
What a lamer. Besides, Space Giraffe didnt sell because it sucks
Imako's Avatar
Imako at 11/23/2007 10:44
Guess he should have ripped off of frogger instead then. seriously though, I never played SG, but it didn't look good at all.
Electrobes's Avatar
Electrobes at 11/23/2007 10:48
Maca said it best.. fucking demo gave me seizures. I mean shit, if I wanted that I cold get it AND enjoy it via other measures.. but to seize and not enjoy it... hell to the no.

I am really shocked he bitched about anything at all, I would have laughed him out the building if he had shown me that to put on XBLA... it could possibly make them liable for causing utter stupidity.

Yes that's how much I HATED the thing.
F Whipple's Avatar
F Whipple at 11/23/2007 10:59
Sounds like someone has sand in his vagina
Clockwork's Avatar
Clockwork at 11/23/2007 11:00
I really had no clue what the fuck was going on when I played Space Giraffe. I wasn't a fan.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 11/23/2007 11:14
Space Giraffe confused me. Frogger doesn't. Guess which one I'm more likely to play?
kobewan0824's Avatar
kobewan0824 at 11/23/2007 11:16
Here's what I'll say to anyone who is on the fence or defending him based on Frogger's assness: Play the Space Giraffes demo. A winner is Frogger on this win.
9to5's Avatar
9to5 at 11/23/2007 11:21
Frogger>Space Giraffe. simple.

I used to like Jeff's monthly column in Edge magazine, he seemed like an ok kind of chap. Sadly though Jeff, love and effort don't make a great game.
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 11/23/2007 11:25
My game isnt good...WHY DID NO ONE BUY IT.
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 11/23/2007 11:31
Like I always say, if you don't want your work criticized, don't publish it.
wonky360's Avatar
wonky360 at 11/23/2007 12:08
Jeff is ok, he needs to get good at writing instructions. Do I watch or play this thing? Shoot? Collect? WTF is this tempest????........Dashboard. Delete.
Rosseh's Avatar
Rosseh at 11/23/2007 12:12
Aww man, I really liked Grid Runner. It had a good balance of those bright graphics and great gameplay but space giraffe wasn't as balanced. It was a good concept and had pretty decent gameplay it just hurt my eyes a bit too much. Both of those posts were pretty whiney, I never thought he'd act like this.

I hope you were joking about the tempest ripoff thing.
mrkonchu's Avatar
mrkonchu at 11/23/2007 12:26
You know its not really a good idea to compare Space Giraffe sales to Frogger. Now I dont know if he is talking one week as of last week or launch week but if its the later he should really think of this. Frogger was released a while back there was no VC there was no Playstation Store and If im remember right there was no game every Wednesday. So basically there is alot more competing for my money now and Im sure for others too. I used to buy almost every title on live but that is dying down now cause there just so many other things to play. And Frogger for all its flaws is still reguard as a classic thus insighting nostalgia for purchaces(its familiar if I just got a 360 today and was looking in the now long list of games Space Giraffe would probably not jump out at me like Frogger) and its 5 bucks cheaper than Space Giraffe. I also wonder if the free codes count for sales too on Frogger they had those Funky madcat joysticks at Best Buy marked down to like 15 bucks with Frogger, Astropop, and Time Pilot.
GrayFox's Avatar
GrayFox at 11/23/2007 12:41
Yeah, in spite of Jeff Minter's weirdness, Space Giraffe is an excellent game. I can't believe it is so despised around here.
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