The Legend of Funny Pizza Land

Over the years, video games (just like any other form of media) has had its series of myths and legends. From the obviously false Tails Doll, and the recently confirmed ET dump, or perhaps the ever mysterious Polybius -- people tend to continue to tell their own stories about these oddities, real or imaginary. Funny Pizza Land may be just like these, but is unique in its own way.



First of all, there's barely anything on the game. Search it, and you'll only get a few links, all leading back to the same two videos -- though one particularly stands out.

The video only has fourteen thousand views upon the creation of this article, and its comments appear to be blocked. However, the actual video boasts 11 minutes of footage of the fabled game, which was apparently published in 2002.

Out of the gate, we're hit with two things: the engine it was made in (3D game studio) as well as what one could assume as the studio who made it, though it simply says Roman. Checking the website in the video, it appears 3D game studio is indeed a real, German-based engine, and the version in the video does line up with the official version history (A5 lasted 2000-2003). Any searches for "Roman" or "Roman Studio", as expected, ended fruitlessly. 

Upon entry into the game itself, we're met with horrifyingly bad and disturbing art-style that uses 3D characters and 2D everything else. Our main protagonist (who we later find is named Pedro) smashes an unfortunate piggy back, then goes across a bridge to find a wanted poster. This gives us our main objective: find the GlobalMediaMonster.

When we actually get into the game, the graphics are changed to fully 3D with an isometric viewpoint. To our right, there is a... um... well...

As it turns out, the eye of sauron button is actually a map, which turns out to be completely fucking useless. That's alright though -- the game doesn't give us much choice but to go directly to the next area, which we learn Pedro has his own Pizzeria. Probably where the game got its name. 

After a few more minutes of running through Funny Pizza Land's abstract world we meet a particularly low polygon woman who tells us that a creature named Morak Mum can help us find this GlobalMediaMonster.

It was at this point I had to pause. Not because the content of the video itself was disturbing me, but because something else was grabbing my attention.

The name of the uploader: Stefan Roman Hosch.

Roman.

A quick look at the links provided in the video, and its true -- the reason this mystery man on the internet was able to collect footage of such a creation is because he is the creator. As he does confirm, the game WAS in fact made in 2002, but released on IndieDB for what seems like a sketchy five dollars. Its description reads:

OH, GEE: ‘GOBBO GOES’ LAUNCH TRAILER RELEASED
An indie developer thus far known only as Roman has unleashed a new trailer for his upcoming browser-based drag-and-drop puzzle adventure, Gobbo Goes, and we’ve no qualms in saying it’s more than a little mad.Featuring an alluring hand-drawn art style and a rather bewildering, yet strangely infectious aural blend of electro-synthesised trombone noises and urban funk, the game combines the endearing conventions of sci-fi lore and a charming fantasy backdrop before wrapping it up in a humorously embellished package.And despite its childish exterior, Gobbo Goes appears to make use of some devilishly inventive and cerebrally-taxing puzzle mechanics. Just take a look at the trailer below and you’ll get a feel for what I’m saying. Although we haven’t received word of a solid release date yet, Gobbo Goes will be coming soon...


By: Stefan Roman Hosch.

It appears another game was planned, which much more advertising -- it appears however that 2 years has gone and it has yet to see the light of day, not even the trailer that was told to have been released. A browse at his official site finds that its teeming with art, but no signs of either game. It appears this was just another tale of someone like us, trying to attract the attention of the people of the world; just doing it in his own abstract way.

Like this feature? Maybe you'd like one from this assortment of curiosities: perhaps a mysterious broadcast? What about a prison transport gone wrong? Or the classic house on haunted hill?

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