"They Called It Blinding of Isaac" - There Was Nearly a Binding of Isaac Animated Series

Why It Matters

Misunderstanding an IP can waste resources and damage brand integrity, so developers must protect their properties through careful partner screening.

Key Takeaways

• Pitching game IP to producers often leads to miscommunication
• ChatGPT era increased unsolicited pitches and scams for indie developers
• Producer misnamed 'Binding of Isaac' as 'Blinding of Isaac'
• Pitcher lacked basic knowledge of the game's core concepts
• Developers should verify credentials before investing time on collaborations

Summary

The video recounts a developer’s encounter with a pitch to turn the indie hit 'The Binding of Isaac' into an animated series, only to discover the proposer repeatedly misnamed the property as 'the blinding of Isaac.'

The creator highlights how the flood of unsolicited offers—exacerbated by AI tools like ChatGPT—often turn into scams or wasted effort, noting that even seemingly legitimate producers can lack basic familiarity with the IP they claim to represent.

He recalls entertaining the proposal for two months, nearly green‑lighting a pilot, before realizing the pitcher's ignorance: 'He had no clue what the Binding of Isaac was,' he says, underscoring the absurdity of the situation.

The episode serves as a cautionary tale for indie developers, emphasizing the need for rigorous vetting of partners, clear IP ownership checks, and realistic expectations when navigating media adaptations.

Original Description

Edmund McMillen recounts the time he was nearly tricked into doing an animated series based on The Binding of Isaac