Press Coverage: The Bob Ross Video Game Project

In 2006, the announcement of a video game based on Bob Ross's The Joy of Painting received widespread coverage from technology and gaming media outlets. The project, developed by AGFRAG Entertainment Group, was planned for the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PC. Below is a selection of original articles that reported on the project and its later cancellation.

For the full story of the project and this domain's history, see our in-depth article on the lost Bob Ross video game and the history of AGFRAG Entertainment Group.

Timeline

• March 2006 — Bob Ross Inc. and AGFRAG Entertainment Group announce a partnership to develop a video game based on The Joy of Painting for Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS and PC.
• April 2006 — Major media outlets including The Guardian, Engadget, MTV News and GameSpot cover the announcement. The story gains international attention.
• May 2006 — AGFRAG launches a fan art contest inviting Bob Ross fans to submit oil paintings for possible inclusion in the game. Ars Technica and Nintendo World Report cover the contest.
• December 2006 — AGFRAG announces it is "no longer involved in the development of ANY Bob Ross Game." Bob Ross Inc. states they are still seeking a new developer, but no replacement is found.
• 2007–present — The game joins the list of notable cancelled video game projects. It is referenced in Bob Ross's Wikipedia entry and periodically discussed in gaming retrospectives.

Mainstream Media

• The Guardian — "Paint-by-numbers in interactive land" (April 2006)
  Technology editor Aleks Krotoski covered the Bob Ross game announcement, noting the intriguing pairing of a cult TV painter with innovative gaming hardware.
• NPR — "The King of the Canvas, Bob Ross, Returns" (April 2006)
  National Public Radio covers the Bob Ross cultural resurgence, including the video game announcement — bringing the story to a mainstream audience beyond gaming and technology circles.
• MTV News — "Video Game Based On Bob Ross' 'Joy Of Painting' In The Works" (April 2006)
  Mainstream entertainment media picks up the story, bringing the announcement to a wider audience beyond the gaming press.
• Yahoo News — "Bob Ross game contest" (May 2006)
  Yahoo — then one of the world's most visited websites — covers the art contest for the Bob Ross game, detailing how winners would have their paintings featured in the final game.

Technology Press

• Engadget — "Joy of Painting coming to Revolution & DS" (April 2006)
  One of the first outlets to break the news that Bob Ross was coming to Nintendo's upcoming console and handheld.
• Ars Technica — "Bob Ross offers YOU the chance to be part of his game" (May 2006)
  Coverage of the art contest AGFRAG launched to promote the game, inviting fans to submit their own Bob Ross-style paintings.
• GameSpot — "Bob Ross painting DS, PC, Revolution" (April 2006)
  GameSpot's initial coverage of the announcement, with details on AGFRAG's licensing deal with Bob Ross Inc.

Gaming Press

• GameSpot — Bob Ross Painting game page
  The game's official listing on GameSpot, including platform details and developer information.
• GameSpot — "Wii, DS, PC Bob Ross game dries up?" (December 2006)
  Report on the project's cancellation after AGFRAG announced they were no longer involved in development.
• Nintendo World Report — AGFRAG Entertainment Group company page
  AGFRAG's official profile on Nintendo World Report, listing them as the developer of the Bob Ross game.
• Nintendo World Report — "Bob Ross Wants Your Art" (May 2006)
  Coverage of the fan art contest that invited Bob Ross fans to submit paintings for possible inclusion in the game.
• Nintendo World Report — "Bob Ross Game Canceled?" (December 2006)
  Report that AGFRAG had left the project, with Bob Ross Inc. still seeking a new developer.
• N-Europe — Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting (Wii)
  European gaming outlet's listing for the planned Wii version of the game.
• N-Europe — Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting (DS)
  Separate listing for the Nintendo DS version, highlighting touchscreen painting controls.
• SPOnG — "Painter Hippy Game Still in Development" (2006)
  UK gaming press coverage questioning the project's development status.
• SnackBar Games — "The Games that Weren't: Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting" — site no longer online.
  Retrospective feature examining the cancelled Bob Ross game as part of a series on unreleased titles.
• WiisWorld — "Bob Ross Game Canceled" (2006)
  Wii-focused outlet confirming that the painting game would not be coming to the console.
• PTT BBS (Taiwan) — Nintendo board discussion of the Bob Ross game development status (December 2006)
  Taiwan's largest online forum covered the announcement and tracked the cancellation news in real time, reflecting the international reach of the story.
• Kotaku — Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting game page
  Listing on one of the most widely read gaming publications.
• Destructoid — "Bob Ross rises from the grave to bring Wii game" (2006)
  Destructoid's coverage of the announcement, confirming the Bob Ross franchise was bringing a painting game to the Wii.
• Destructoid — "Bob Ross Wii game canceled?" (December 2006)
  Follow-up report covering AGFRAG's departure from the project and the game's effective cancellation.
• The Escapist — "Happy Trees: Painting on the Wii" (2006)
  Feature article exploring the concept of a Bob Ross painting game on the Wii, with details from Joseph Hatcher about the project's origins.
• GameZone — "Bob Ross Interview" (2006) — original link no longer available.
  Exclusive interview with AGFRAG founder Joseph Hatcher about the studio's vision for the Bob Ross game and development plans.
• VideoGamesBlogger — "Bob Ross: The Joy of Painting Game still coming to Wii, DS, PC" (December 2006)
  Late 2006 report suggesting the project might still be alive despite AGFRAG's departure.

University and General Press

• The Miami Hurricane — University of Miami student newspaper (April 2006)
  The Bob Ross game announcement reached campus publications, reflecting the broad cultural interest in the project.
• Wikipedia — Bob Ross article
  The AGFRAG video game project is documented in the Legacy section of Bob Ross's Wikipedia entry.
• Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias — Bob Ross
  Encyclopedia entry documenting the AGFRAG video game project as part of Bob Ross's cultural legacy.
• University of Nebraska Omaha Libraries — "Bob Ross: Happy Little Accidents — Games Collection"
  University library research guide documenting Bob Ross games, including the cancelled AGFRAG project, as part of an academic collection on the cultural impact of Bob Ross.

Community Discussion

• Slashdot — "Bob Ross And The Joy of Painting" (April 2006)
  Major discussion thread on the influential technology news site, with extensive community debate about the project's potential.
• NeoGAF — "I was promised a Bob Ross video game. Where is it!?"
  Gaming forum discussion from fans wondering about the game's fate after the announcement went quiet.

Reference Databases

• GameFAQs — Bob Ross Painting (Wii)
  The game's entry in GameFAQs' comprehensive database of released and unreleased titles.
• PixlBit — AGFRAG Entertainment Group
  Company profile page listing AGFRAG as the developer behind the Bob Ross game.

This page documents the original media coverage of AGFRAG Entertainment Group and the planned Bob Ross video game announced in 2006. If you have information about additional coverage or the game's development history, please get in touch.

See also: Complete List of Cancelled Video Games →