Toys For Bob

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Toys For Bob are the creators of — among other games — Star Control and Star Control II. They were not responsible for Star Control 3. Prominent members of the company include Paul Reiche III, Fred Ford, Robert Leyland, Dan Nicholson, and Erol Otus. On May 3, 2005 Toys For Bob announced that they were bought by Activision.

The name "Toys for Bob" was chosen just because the founders liked it; it has no other significance.1 2

Released games[edit]

Game Release date Publisher Genre Platform Notes
Star Control July 1990 Accolade Action/Strategy PC (DOS), Commodore Amiga, Sega Genesis The Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum versions were not done by Toys for Bob.
More information needed on the release dates and publishers for all the versions.
Star Control II - The Ur-Quan Masters (PC version) November 1992 Accolade Action/RPG PC (DOS)
Star Control II - The Ur-Quan Masters (3DO version) 1994 Crystal Dynamics Action/RPG 3DO
The Horde April 1994 Crystal Dynamics Action/Strategy 3DO, PC (DOS) [XXX: Was the Saturn version also done by TFB?]
Pandemonium! November 1996 Crystal Dynamics Action/Platform PlayStation The N-Gage version was not done by Toys for Bob
The Unholy War September 1998 Eidos Fighting/Strategy PlayStation
Majokko Dai Sakusen (Little Witching Mischiefs) February 1999 Bandai Action/Strategy PlayStation Released in Japan only.
102 Dalmatians - Puppies to the Rescue November 1999 Eidos Kid's Action/Platform PlayStation The Game Boy Color version was not done by TFB. [XXX: Was the Dreamcast version also done by TFB?]
Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure September 2003 Activision Extreme Sports Game Cube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Madagascar May 2005 Activision Platform/Action Game Cube, PlayStation 2, Xbox The Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance versions were not done by TFB.
Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam November 19, 2006 Activision Skate-boarding Nintendo Wii The Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance versions are not done by TFB.
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa April 11, 2008 Activision Platform/Action PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, XBox 360, Wii, PC (Windows) The Nintendo DS version is not done by TFB.
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure October 11, 2011 Activision Platform/Action 3DS, PlayStation 3, XBox 360, Wii, PC (Windows) [XXX: all need to be verified]

See also[edit]

Notes and references[edit]

1From a mail by Fred Ford to a Star Control II player:
: Also, what is the significance of "Toys for Bob". Is it just a name
: for fun, or does it have special meaning that you would want to share?
There is no particular meaning. We just liked the name and it sure
generates curiosity.
2From an interview on engadget.com:
[...] my wife — she's a poet, very interested in psychology — she said create a name that generates interest, that doesn't distance yourself from people, and that you can reinvent. I love toys, I always have, and she knows that and Fred knows that. And so it was just a perfect fit. Bob is also a universal name — everyone knows a Bob [...]