TL;DR Rich makes a $2,000 bet, loses, and is currently attempting to ruin a not-for-profit organization that didn't want his money.
This story is a bit long and extremely autistic. I hope you enjoy it.
Rich's Terrible $2,000 Bet:
[Source: Richard Bunell
Tweet]
Rich's latest spergout started on a live stream when he claimed that 95% of all physical video games released on the disc are unplayable without multi-gigabyte updates. His claim was challenged by DoesItPlay, a video game preservation group known for keeping a database of video games that are playable offline.
DoesItPlay [DIP] conducts offline tests to see if a game is playable enough in the 1.0 or day-one release on disc or cartridge. Typically, they give some leeway to games that contain the occasional glitch but are otherwise playable without updates. DIP also notes qualities such as a DRM requirement, online mode, or missing content. They are often used as a source for physical media and game console preservation matters. A source Rich himself has used multiple times to produce his plagiarized article regurgitation videos. For some unknown reason, Rich believes all physical games bought from the store require large updates to be playable. This is the crux of his bet.
"I will pay you to get any single fucking game from the store that doesn't have a multi-gigabyte update. I'll pay them two thousand dollars!"
On
this stream, Rich was provided many examples by his own chat of games released physically, without updates. Super Mario Wonder was brought to his attention. He rejected this example.
DIP took notice of Rich's bet when an alog of RTUSA, Richard Bunell sent them the above clip. They replied with a photo of the Super Mario RPG remake cartridge which had just come out a couple of weeks prior and was still on version 1.0.0. This is important to note
Super Mario RPG was released in a playable form and many had completed the game without issues.
[Source: DoesItPlay
Tweet]
Richard's terrible bet started making rounds on Twitter.
Modern Vintage Gamer weighed in.
[Source:
Tweet]
The community demanded Rich respond to DIP's example and pay up on the bet he quickly lost.
But Richard refused to look at their example and began moving the goalposts.
[Source:
Tweet]
Mutahar chimed in declaring he had played and completed multiple physical games without patches, but Rich did not acknowledge his post and carried on welching on his bet.
[Source:
Tweet]
Enter Lance McDonald: For context, Lance is known in the video game homebrew community for coding the 60FPS patch for Bloodbourne and makes Soulsbourne content. Lance calls out Rich for being disingenuous about DIP's documentation of physical games and for stirring up drama for attention.
[
Tweet thread]
Rich took offense to Lance's callout. He offers Lance and anyone to come on his stream.
This would later become a big mistake.
Rich then hosts a
cope stream to explain why he shouldn't pay DoesItPlay $2,000. The following clips have been truncated to remove unnecessary information, frequent pausing, and the breaths of a diabetic man.
1. Rich starts the stream by acknowledging the games DoesItPlay listed are technically playable but then tacks on more conditions to redefine the word, so he doesn't have to pay.
2. Rich invites Lance and DoesItPlay to the stream. He promises it will be a civil discussion and he's the kinda guy that can hold his "L's".
3. A Youtuber named Hikikomori joins the stream. He talks with Rich about game preservation issues and the definition of playable. [
I had to cut a lot of this because he rambled a lot] Hikikomori presses Rich on the $2k, offers to show Super Mario RPG 1.0.0. on stream and the life leaves his eyes.
4. Rich remarks about how it was a good thing to have a nuanced conversation off Twitter and Hikikomori presses him again to donate the $2,000. Rich is
not salty about it.
5. To everyone's surprise, Rich donated $2,000 to DoesItPlay's Patreon. He subscribed in monthly increments where the first charge will be posted on January 4th, 2024. Which gives him a month to back out.
6. Lance McDonald joins the stream. Rich emphasizes the importance of conversing outside of Twitter.
Rich ended the stream having paid the $2,000.00 he owed without throwing a fit in the process. He was a good sport for a night.
The very next day...
Rich teases a big video and his pivoting begins.
Jay Hooft, Rich's editor claims DoesItPlay misrepresented the state of Super Mario RPG due to a game-breaking bug found in the cartridge. Rich alludes to still honoring the bet.
Hikikomori points out that the game-breaking bug is random and could be fixed by reloading a map.
Rich then begins accusing DoesItPlay of tricking him with the example of Super Mario because it had a minor glitch. DIP provides him with more examples of "playable" games... Which Rich ignores.
Rich continually spergs on the Super Mario RPG example and accuses others of moving the goalposts.
Rich continues attacking DoesItPlay, but assures all the doubters that he is still going to pay up.
Sometime after this string of tweets, DoesItPlay contacts Rich to settle the matter in DMs and cancel Rich's scheduled payment. At some point during this discussion, Rich implies he was requested to sign an NDA, which will become relevant soon.
Immediately after, Rich pins a tweet begging former DoesItPlay members/volunteers to send him information.
Now the fire has been lit. Rich is working towards discrediting DoesItPlay, so he can play the victim and get out of his bet. He releases a video titled
"I'm Now A "Proud" $2000 Financial Supporter of DoesItPlay.org" which he later changed to "DoesItPlay.org Hustled Me For $2000. It Didn’t End Well…" It's a disingenuous characterization of the events surrounding his bet, with Rich cherry-picking examples where DoesItPlay allegedly misleads gamers with their testing. It's filled with misdirection and low IQ copes.
Richard Burnell posted the most concise clip of the video.
Rich reveals the discussion he had with the founder of DoesItPlay. They wanted to refund Rich's 2,000 and have a private conversation with him, involving an NDA. DIP wanted to end the bet privately.
ReviewTech's audience turns against him for this video. He is roasted for being disingenuous and a bad sport.
A sample of the top comments:
The next morning...
DoesItPlay make a statement apologizing for getting involved with Rich and they post a refund receipt. DoesItPlay goes on hiatus from Twitter and seemingly, stops work on their testing.
Rich and his producer JayHooft are shocked. Why would DoesItPlay want to refund the money and cut all ties!?
DoesItPlay goes dark and then Rich's producer Jayhooft begins contacting everyone associated with DoesItPlay, claiming they want to put the issue to rest, as long as they answer a few questions first.
Rich posts the logo for the founder of DoesItPlay's new job which has no involvement with the preservation group.
Rich and Jay are now trying to investigate DoesItPlay and figure out where the money they didn't want is going.
You can trust them.
And that's the developing story about how Rich made a 2k bet and then walked back any goodwill he earned with the gaming community. We all hope his investigation of a non-profit game preservation group bears fruit. This is certainly going to end well and not with a libel case.