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Bob Ross And The Joy of Painting

hmccabe writes "'The Joy of Painting', the PBS show that taught many of us how to paint 'happy little trees,' is being made into a videogame. Apparently Nintendo's DS and Revolution systems, and PC computers will be seeing the title, which has been confirmed as not-an-april-fools-joke." From the article: "Hatcher himself admits to being a big Ross fan, which is partly why he wants to make games based on his work. 'I personally loved watching Bob Ross growing up and I enjoyed watching how easily he created his paintings. We want to translate that same feeling of watching the TV show into playing a Bob Ross game," he said. "Whether you are an eight-year-old child, or a 65-year-old grandma, we want anyone to be able to pick up the game to create and play to your heart's content.'" "

25 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. Damm those happy trees - mine look nothing like... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    The blobs I painted look nothing like happy trees. Maybe a happy blob, but certainly nothing tree like.

    Jim

  2. and a little dab to brighten the trees... by yagu · · Score: 3, Funny

    There.

  3. Re:Japanese by tsa · · Score: 3, Informative

    And now we paint a happy little tree over here. ... And let's paint another one next to it so it doesn't feel so alone.

    I loved Bob's shows.

    --

    -- Cheers!

  4. This could be kinda cool.. by Tepshen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But it depends on what angle they approach it with. If is some lame sandbox type game along the lines of mario paint I would just as soon pass it up. After all I already have photoshop should I want my kids to play around with paint. But if its approached more as a learning tool I.E. Bob Ross teaches to paint by example I could really get behind that for any kid that might be interested in computer graphics.

    1. Re:This could be kinda cool.. by MilenCent · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think if it doesn't include a sandbox painting tool, then the whole project will be something of a wash. It HAS to include content creation tools, or the thing will be useless since waving a Revolution wand around to paint, for all its coolness, is still dissimilar enough to applying a brush to canvas that little will be actually learned by the process.

      By the way, I would love to see a new Mario Paint after all this time. I think that would be most, most excellent.

    2. Re:This could be kinda cool.. by Tepshen · · Score: 4, Insightful

      My point is that there is little need to create "Virtual Paint Game" in and of itself. For the money you spend on the game you can buy real paint and brushes give it to your kid then depending how old they are take the leftover money and pay someone to clean up the mess. Unless its point is to teach painting (much like Ross did) the game will be pointless. I think it would be an affront to his work if all they did was put his picture on the box and some voice recordings in here and there and made no effort to TEACH. Thats just my opinion though, I could be wrong.

  5. What about the hair? by ToxikFetus · · Score: 4, Funny

    Does the game teach you how to get Bob's wicked cracker-fro?

    1. Re:What about the hair? by bwcarty · · Score: 5, Funny

      How do you do a bad job? According to Bob, there were no mistakes, only happy accidents.

  6. Let's make a happy little game by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    And if you tell anyone about this game I will cut you.

  7. Re:Damm those happy trees - mine look nothing like by maxwell+demon · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You are approaching the whole thing from the wrong side. To get a better feeling of yourself, you should adopt the following view:

    The blobs you painted look exactly like happy trees. It's just the trees out there which don't look tree-like at all.

    --
    The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
  8. Re:More proof Ninshito is going to suck even more by PFI_Optix · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Family friendly needs to go bye bye permanently.

    I agree. I mean, who wants games made for 8-year-olds?

    Oh, wait...8-year-olds and their parents do.

    --
    120 characters for a sig? That's bloody useless.
  9. Happy little.........more trees! by rad_chad · · Score: 3, Funny

    As a kid I watched his show and enjoyed it, but did he ever really paint anything other than happy little trees? And maybe a mountain or a lake to compliment them. Isn't he the AC/DC of the painting world?

    1. Re:Happy little.........more trees! by Red+Flayer · · Score: 4, Informative

      After 20 years (1961-1981) in the USAF, maybe Bob painted happy little trees because all his animosity had been used up in helping blow stuff up?

      --
      "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  10. Re:MM Painting Online??? by slavemowgli · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Pokémon Snap was a lovely game indeed - but you really should forgive them for requiring centered pokémon for good pictures. The game is (was) aimed at children, after all, not at professional photographers. ;)

    --
    quidquid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
  11. Must have Feature by Irish_Samurai · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I will only buy this if it comes with a "Theater Mode" where I can let Bob's voice lull me into a happy tree coma.

  12. Re:MM Painting Online??? by J-Doggqx · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Can you imagine it as a MMPORG???"

    My God! Its full of 'fros!

    --
    END OF LINE
  13. The Hidden Level by photojunkie · · Score: 2, Funny

    I hope they include some sort of hidden level, maybe i you just stare at the canvas for ten minutes without moving you will start to hear that 'rat-a-tat-tat' of the Victor-Charlie gunning down your position, and you will lob a tube of titanium white at the cameraman before trying to dive for cover behind one of the "happy little bushes" you've painted. (seriously though, as lame as this Could be - there's a part of me that has to see it in real life)

  14. Re:Damm those happy trees - mine look nothing like by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's just the trees out there which don't look tree-like at all.

    Either that or they're just not very happy.

    --
    This guy's the limit!
  15. Serious Thought by American+AC+in+Paris · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I love jumping on the ol' good-natured-poking-fun-at-Bob-Ross bandwagon, but let's actually consider what this game could end up being--and doing.

    First, consider where Bob Ross' style meets computer technology. Ross is best known for two things: painting landscapes and easily recycled phrases. Now, think about what you could do with this in a computer game: dynamically-generated landscapes ("never the same painting!"); reasonably intelligent guidance (processing...object:forest. Speak: "happy little trees". Append random advice on painting trees. Bleep bleep.); Ease-of-use (no setup, no cleanup--paint for five minutes at a time! No need to buy brushes and canvas--you've got a full professional setup already!); and finally, the Revolution's controller (select: 1/2" fan brush. Dab, dab, dab, tilt, dab, dab--whoa, a happy little tree!) Get past the obvious snark, and this game actually holds some promise.

    While I doubt it'll end up being a killer game, it could very well end up being a tipping-point game for parents/casual gamers making a purchasing decision. "Hey, here's something I could see myself enjoying..." "Hey, it has Tetris, Scrabble and this painting game...looks like it could be fun!" Heck, even I'm intrigued by it--and it certainly isn't the kind of thing I'd typically consider for a video game.

    There are a lot of unsolved variables in this equation, but it could turn out to be something fun, profitable and--dare I say it--revolutionary...

    --

    Obliteracy: Words with explosions

  16. Re:Wow...so easy by MilenCent · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Nintendo is chasing after non-gamers for the DS and Revolution, so this has the potential to be a real coop for them to have this on their systems. Bob Ross has greater name recognition, outside of gaming circles, than Grand Theft Auto.

  17. Re:More proof Ninshito is going to suck even more by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    I would like to point out the parent AC said Family Friendly games need to go "bye bye".

    Sounds like the parent may have been forced to play one too many Sesame Street games this weekend and they're a little bitter. Isn't 'ims a widdle bitter? Yes he is!! Bye bye!

  18. Re:MM Painting Online??? by ClamIAm · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Yes, yes I can imagine it as an MMO. It would consist entirely of griefers running around slopping paint over other peoples' work and yelling "OMFG NUB!"

  19. Where's Acclaim when you need them? by ShawnDoc · · Score: 2, Funny

    The evil Republicans, tired of Bob being funded with taxpayer money have stolen all of Bob's paint. Help Bob get his paint back! You control Bob through 27 levels of platforming fun, dodging right wing kooks, NRA members, and the religious right while collecting every color of paint under the rainbow.

  20. Oblig. Family Guy by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 3, Funny
    Bob Ross: And we're just gonna paint a happy little tree there, and that'll be our little secret....

    ....and if you tell ANYONE, I will come to your house and I will CUT you!

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  21. Re:More proof Ninshito is going to suck even more by duncanbojangles · · Score: 2, Funny

    Would you be upset if I called the Revolution's funky new controller a "Nintildo", cunningly combining the words Nintendo and dildo?

    Note: Not a fanboy, don't hate the Revolution, please don't hate me.