(3DS) (EA)
Another original IP that we got to Alpha but EA killed it, choosing not to release. Another mistake! :-) Originally called Bloom, we started work on this before the Nintendo 3DS was released. The game was another idea conceived by Dustin Hansen and I. It began when I was talking to the truly brilliant Rod Humble, who at the time was President of the EA Play/Sims label and who EASL found itself reporting into after yet another reshuffle. Rod was looking for an original idea to develop for the new Nintendo platform which promised virtual 3D above the screen. Of course, we hadn’t seen the device at the time and didn’t know it was never going to really work. I pitched him an idea Dustin and I had kicked around, where you would nurture a small Zen garden - kind of tamagotchi with plants, but the 3D effects would make this so much more ‘alive’. Rod liked it and we set about making the game. We pitched Unity on the idea that we would adapt their engine to 3DS if they let us and gave us support - and of course a break on the licensing fee - which they ultimately did. We had quite a few Japan culture fans on the team including programmer Ben, and pretty soon we had a character - the mythical Tanuki in various forms.
Anyway, as always I loved the game. Phil Katz became Producer, and we got it as far as Alpha and even a showcase with Nintendo - before EA killed it, deciding that the platform would be DOA. ABout two weeks prior, I recall showing the game to John Shappert (at the time EA’s COO) and John Riccitiello (at the time EA’s CEO) and the first thing they did was tap the screen of the pre-release 3DS, being so used to mobile smartphones by that time. Having to use a stylus was not intuitive. Another game I loved and am super proud of everyone that made this happen.
