Piposh
{{short description|Israeli video game series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox video game series
| image = Piposh_game.jpg
| caption = Cover image of the first game
|genre = Point-and-click adventure, comedy
| developer = Guillotine (Renan & Roy Gluzman)
| publisher = Hed Artzi Multimedia
| first release version = Piposh
| first release date = 1999
| latest release version = Piposh
| latest release date = April 2021
}}
Piposh ({{langx|he|פיפוש}}) is an Israeli media franchise that started as a series of comedic point-and-click adventure video games developed by Guillotine and published by Hed Arzi Multimedia for Windows. Based on an eponymous actor-turned-detective who embarks on several adventures solving murders, the titles include Piposh, Piposh 2, Halom SheItgashem (spin-off), and Piposh 3D: HaMahapecha. An English version of Piposh entitled Piposh: Hollywood was published in 2002. The series, which began in 1999, was created at a time when the Israeli video gaming industry was at its peak, particularly in terms of adventure gaming, and served as a notable example of a work targeted specifically at the young local market, with aspects such as inside jokes relating to Israeli culture. The games became very popular within Israel, although never becoming financially successful, and its developers struggled to live off the proceeds.
Piposh evolved into a franchise, with a television series, a comic book, and a soundtrack being created. The series continues to have a dedicated fanbase, and Piposh conventions have been regularly held as a way for fans to celebrate the games together. While the titles have often been criticized for their amateurish visual style and clunky game mechanics, they are looked at fondly by critics who see Piposh as a source of Israeli pride and a key milestone in the advancement of the local industry throughout the 21st century. A reboot of the series was released in April 2021.
Plot and gameplay
The series consists of point and click adventures, requiring players to interact with an inventory and with characters in order to complete puzzles and advance the story. The main character is intended to be a caricature of the arrogant Israeli, with a worldview that "the whole world is an idiot – and that talk can not be done quietly, only with shouting".{{Cite web|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2458275,00.html|title=Cheerful Piposh campaigns|last=Birab|first=Yuval|date=February 26, 2003|website=Ynet|language=he}}
The plot of Piposh follows the quirky adventures of its main character, flawed actor Hezi Piposh and "morbidly tactless guy in his attempts to reach Hollywood and make it big".{{Cite web|url=https://www.calcalist.co.il/internet/articles/0,7340,L-3287147,00.html|title=Play חינם: 24 משחקים מלאים|last=יוגב|first=אודי|date=2009-05-27|website=calcalist.co.il|access-date=2019-01-11}} In the first game, he boards the wrong boat and has numerous antics, including being caught up in a murder. He can interrogate characters, break into their rooms, and accuse them of murder.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2all.co.il/web/sites/hezipiposh/PAGE2.asp|title=Piposh 1 (1999)|date=2018|website=www.2all.co.il|language=he|access-date=June 27, 2018}} In Piposh 2, Piposh finds himself trapped on an island populated by dwarves, who help him assemble an aviation device to escape.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2all.co.il/web/sites/hezipiposh/PAGE3.asp|title=Piposh 2 (2000)|date=2018|website=www.2all.co.il|language=he|access-date=June 27, 2018}} Halom SheHitgashem is focused on eight strange acquaintances who are invited to the castle of an eccentric man.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2all.co.il/web/sites/hezipiposh/PAGE4.asp|title=Halom SheItgashem|date=2018|website=www.2all.co.il|language=he|access-date=June 27, 2018}} Piposh 3D revolves around a political revolution that ensues because the entire country decides to become vegetarian, replacing meat with tofu.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2all.co.il/web/sites/hezipiposh/PAGE5.asp|title=Piposh 3D: HaMahapecha (2003)|date=2018|website=www.2all.co.il|language=he|access-date=June 27, 2018}}
History
= Conception and ''In the Interest of Ratings'' (1997–98) =
In the late 1980 while brothers Renan and Roy Gluzman was at the age of 13 and 11, they began their computer gaming career by creating games and animations on Macromedia Mac Director software.{{Cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/captain/games/1.1180338|title=Goodbye Captain: Renard Gluzman has said goodbye to the game world|last=Yaron|first=Oded|date=September 5, 2011|website=Haaretz}} After Renan left the Israeli army and while his brother Roy was still a member, they set up a small graphics business in Pardes Hanna (פרדס חנה), where they did routine projects for commission.{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.928084|title=Piposh hangs the keyboard|last=Smooha|first=Shahar|date=January 12, 2003|work=Haaretz|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he}} In 1997, one of their projects reached the desk of the CEO of video game distributor Hed Artzi Multimedia (הד ארצי מולטימדיה), the multimedia arm of Israeli record label Hed Arzi Music, who liked the illustration style of the duo and suggested they create a Hebrew-language computer game. He gave them NIS 10,000 in return for 50% of the future profits from the sales.
Despite having no experience in the video gaming industry, the team went to work and after nine months of development, released In the Interest of Ratings (בתככי הרייטינג), a title which focused on the incompetent detective Elimelech Egoz (voiced by Moshe Ferster), who goes on holiday at the fictional Nofei Hadera Hotel only to be greeted by a bizarre murder case.{{Cite news|url=https://timeout.co.il/%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%95%D7%97%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%92%D7%99%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A8-%D7%A0%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%99/%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%97%D7%A7-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%A2%D7%9D-%D7%99%D7%95%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%99-%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%A9-%D7%95-%D7%91%D7%AA%D7%9B%D7%9B|title=The Game of Life: An Interview with the Creators of "Piposh" and "The Ratings Games"|last=Blau|first=Dune|date=July 10, 2014|work=TimeOut|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he-IL}} The game contained intertextuality, inside jokes, irony, and cynicism. In the Interest of Ratings received negative reviews in the press, including in Internet Captain (קפטן האינטרנט), the technology/multimedia branch of the leading Israeli newspaper Haaretz, but it received positive reviews in youth-oriented newspapers. Ultimately the game was relatively popular, though it was not financially successful. Nevertheless, it led the duo to decide to try to develop a second video game, which would become Piposh, under their new development company Guillotine (גיליוטין).
{{Timeline of release years
|1999a=Piposh game (פיפוש)
|1999b=Piposh and Other Vegetables comic book (פיפוש ושאר ירקות)
|1999c= Piposh Congress fan conventions (הקונגרס הפיפושי)
|2000=Piposh 2 game (פיפוש 2)
|2001a=Halom SheItgashem game (חלום שהתגשם, spin-off)
|2001b= Batheshet Moav TV show (בטשת מואב, spin-off)
|2002=Piposh Hollywood game (English remake of Piposh)
|2003=Piposh 3D: HaMahapecha game (פיפוש 3די- המהפכה)
|2004= At the Piposh Tavern (album)
|2008=Piposh 2.5 and the Stolen Vase game (fan-made; cancelled)
|2019=Piposh reboot - First Demo
|2020=Piposh reboot - Part 1
|2021=Piposh (reboot)
|title=Games released timeline}}
= ''Piposh'' (1998–99) =
The Gluzman brothers wrote the text and the code, drew the backgrounds and characters, and created the animations; in addition they convinced actors Shai Avivi, Amos Shuv, Anat Magen, Ilan Peled, Dudu Zar, Meni Pe'er, and Ilan Ganani (as Piposh) to voice characters voluntarily. The game was developed by four people in a garage, at a time when the computer gaming industry in Israel was considered practically non-existent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3540692,00.html|title=In honor of Independence Day: "Piposh" free download|last=Birab|first=Yuval|date=August 5, 2008|work=Ynet|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he}} Glutzman recalls that Guillotine was not particularly well managed, lacked business planning and didn't have a financial focus, and instead consisted of a naive team who wanted to simply make something "fun and cool". Ynet asserts the duo was irrational for choosing set up a development company for Israeli games that only appealed to the local market. Renan and Roy would later describe the contemporary Israeli video gaming industry as an imaginary thing to pursue, for four young developers working from their garage. During development, Ronan used the program Macromedia Director 4, and he created each game screens from scratch.{{Cite web|url=http://whileiwasworking.blogspot.com/2008/05/piposh.html|title=Piposh / פיפוש|last=Gafni|first=Etay|date=May 9, 2008|website=WHILE I WAS WORKING...|access-date=May 26, 2018}} At the time of the game's release, Ronan published his phone number to allow stuck players to phone in for help.
After a year and a half of development, Piposh was released; it became a hit among teenagers and sold 6000 copies over a period of one year in retail sales,{{cite web|url=http://www.piposh.co.il|title=Guillotine Hebrew home page|date=2018|website=Piposh.co.il|language=he}} and would ultimately sell or over 7000 copies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.articles.co.il/article/27357/%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%97%20%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%97%D7%A7%D7%99%20%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%A9%D7%91%20%D7%91%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%A5|title=Development of computer games in Israel|last=Gur|first=Adiel|date=October 11, 2008|work=M'amrim (Articles)|access-date=June 27, 2018|language=he}} They achieved this without reducing the original selling price.{{Cite web|url=http://www.piposh.co.il/english.htm|title=Piposh English home page|date=2018|website=Piposh.co.il|access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=March 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326063246/http://www.piposh.co.il/english.htm|url-status=dead}} Haaretz asserts that many thousands more probably illegally pirated it. The game reached 5th place on the sales charts, and for a few weeks was competitive with the best-selling games from abroad. Some of Piposh{{'}}s royalties were donated to the animal rights and welfare organizations.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2all.co.il/web/sites/hezipiposh/PAGE15.asp|title=About the creators|date=2018|website=www.2all.co.il|language=he|access-date=June 27, 2018}} The game originally had text and voice-work in Hebrew, though a few years later it was made available in both English and Russian, and due to its success Guillotine was able to distribute the games to the United States and Russia.{{Cite journal|date=October 2014|title=Gaming|url=https://issuu.com/asat-site/docs/_______________________|journal=Factor: Technion Student Newsletter|volume=62|pages=5}} Due to the title's low minimum requirements, it was able to be played on computers with weaker processing power. The game was deemed an adventure gaming success aimed primarily at the local market, having been developed independently, almost underground.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3878156,00.html|title=From the star to the bamba: The Israelis who make games|last=Brenner|first=Itai|date=April 19, 2010|work=Ynet|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he}} While not officially a Piposh title, In the Interest of Ratings has a link to the series; within Piposh, the main character – a flawed actor – claims to have played Egoz in the previous game.{{Cite web|title=Piposh|date=1999|website=Guillotine|publisher=Hed Arzi Multimedia}}
= Rest of the series (2000–04) =
Roy left the series during production of the second game, believing that in addition to piracy, the distribution networks weren't as efficient at bringing video games to stores as other products like Israeli music. According to Ronan, his brother did not have prowess in the business and marketing side to succeed in the industry.{{Cite web|url=http://news.vgames.co.il/article.aspx?SectionID=2119|title=Special for Yom HaAtzma'ut: Greetings to Piposh|last=Beirav|first=Yuval|date=August 5, 2008|website=Vgames|language=he|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090514015759/http://news.vgames.co.il/article.aspx?SectionID=2119|archive-date=2009-05-14|url-status=dead|access-date=May 26, 2018}} After leaving, Roy moved away from sensationalist nature of the entertainment and gaming industry, and instead focused in personal creative projects. On his own Ronan began to suffer financially, which would continue for years while making the Piposh games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/16/ART/968/091.html|title=Game theory|last=Globerman|first=Dror|date=August 8, 2005|website=Maariv|language=he|access-date=May 26, 2018}} By 2003 he was living on 30 shekels a day. He would later explain that at the time, to be a video game developer in Israel, one was expected not to make money. While the first game took 1.5 years to make, the team spent a year making Piposh 2, and a year making Halom SheItgashem.{{Cite web|url=http://www.piposh.co.il/NK/NK3.htm|title=An interview with Renan and Roi Gluzman about Nahum Heiman and Ya'akov Katz...|last=Gluzman|first=Renan and Roi|date=2018|website=Piposh.co.il|language=he|access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=December 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211230235/http://www.piposh.co.il/NK/NK3.htm|url-status=dead}} Each time the developers made a game, they did it independently and without external funding. Once a title neared completion, Guillotine spoke to their distribution company to print discs and send them to stores. However, as the distribution company was very large they didn't have time to invest into a small local game like Piposh so the games ended up being sent out two weeks later than intended, once the advertising and buzz had died down. For each title, Ronan produced advertising materials such as posters, business cards and funny stickers.
Piposh 3D was the series' first foray into 3D graphics, after using traditional animation for the previous games; this title was directed by Roy Lazarowitz.{{Cite web|url=http://www.piposh.co.il/DETAILS.htm|title=Disclosure and incriminating information about Gilliotin|date=2018|website=Piposh.co.il|language=he|access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=January 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118014554/http://www.piposh.co.il/DETAILS.htm|url-status=dead}} By this point the developers had grown tired of their distributor and sought to use Indogram, which represented fewer games and could therefore invest more time into each. It was developed using the A5 engine, which Guillotine had purchased specifically for this title. 2004 saw the English release of Piposh entitled Piposh Holywood, which was to be published by The Phantom after Phantom Entertainment bought the distribution rights electronically. Ynet noted that if successful, it would have been a notable achievement for the industry, seeing the first Israeli video game released on console, but noting the unclear outcome of this venture.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2858473,00.html|title=Piposh will ride The Phantom|last=Moore|first=Noam|date=January 13, 2004|website=Ynet|language=he}} Guillotine had aimed to translate their first Piposh game to break it into the international market, but the text and dubbing translations became an astronomical task due to the original game having a badly-constructed programming interface.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2all.co.il/web/sites/hezipiposh/PAGE7.asp|title=Piposh Hollywood|date=2018|website=www.2all.co.il|language=he|access-date=June 27, 2018}} The foreign adaption of the first game is known worldwide by its English title. The games were not intended to meet the technological standards of the global industry, particularly in terms of graphics. They were not targeted at a worldwide audience, instead appealing to Israeli teenagers who were not necessarily gamers, but who wanted immature content with cultural references they would understand. Haaretz contends that despite the development team tapping into the minds of local youth, the rampant pirate copying phenomenon prevented them from making a living of their games.
Piposh saw numerous opportunities for franchise expansion over its history. The team gave up a NIS 20,000 offer by Burger Ranch to distribute the games because they were vegetarians. Soon after the release of Piposh, the duo started creating a weekly comic section in the local youth newspapers Rosh 1 and Maariv LeYanar,{{Cite web|url=http://www.2all.co.il/web/sites/hezipiposh/PAGE15.asp|title=About the creators|date=2018|website=www.2all.co.il|access-date=June 27, 2018}} and also created a comic book which was published by Hed Artzi,{{Cite web|url=http://piposh.vgames.co.il:80/|title=Website to download Piposh games|date=June 15, 2008|website=Piposh.vgames.co.il|language=he|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615031146/http://piposh.vgames.co.il/|archive-date=June 15, 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=May 26, 2018}} released under the title "Piposh and Other Vegetables" (פיפוש ושאר ירקות){{Cite web|url=http://www.piposh.co.il/YEREK.htm|title=Piposh and other vegetables|date=2018|website=Piposh.co.il|language=he|access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008124034/http://www.piposh.co.il/YEREK.htm|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.808274|title=Comics|date=July 9, 2002|work=Haaretz|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he}} which could be purchased from the official Guillotine site.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2all.co.il/web/sites/hezipiposh/PAGE10.asp|title=Beetle and other vegetables|date=2018|website=www.2all.co.il|language=he|access-date=June 27, 2018}} They also lectured to youth at an animation and comics festival at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque. In 2000, the developers thought of porting Piposh to mobile phones, having already set up documents such as an instillation guide, but this never came to fruition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214200557825856&set=g.13843284369&type=1&theater&ifg=1|title=Installation document for mobile port of Piposh|date=2000|website=Guillotine|language=he|access-date=June 27, 2018}} A spin-off television series named Batheshet Moav (בטשת מואב) – ten episodes in length and about five minutes per episode – first aired on the Beep channel in either 2001{{Cite web|url=http://www.piposh.co.il/BATESHET.htm|title=Batheshet Moav|date=2018|website=Piposh.co.il|language=he|access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008123906/http://www.piposh.co.il/BATESHET.htm|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ishim.co.il/m.php?s=%D7%91%D7%98%D7%A9%D7%AA+%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%90%D7%91|title=Batheshet Moav|date=2018|website=Ishim.co.il|language=he|access-date=May 26, 2018}} or February 5, 2002.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10211859423455801&set=p.10211859423455801&type=3&theater&ifg=1|title=Batheshet Moav listing|date=2002|website=Beep|language=en|access-date=June 27, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10211859422335773&set=g.13843284369&type=1&theater&ifg=1|title=Batheshet Moav listing|date=2002|website=Beep|language=he|access-date=June 27, 2018}} A previous concept for the show – where viewers could interact by choosing which of two outcomes they wanted to watch – was offered to Fox Kids. While Fox wanted to sign a contract, Guillotine refused as they did not want to give up the rights and the artistic freedom, for instance they would be censored from using the swear word קיבינימט and from mentioning that Piposh's father drowned in the Yarkon River. An album featuring music, interviews, and other content entitled At the Piposh Tavern was released by Guillotine and the Tag Group in 2004.{{Cite web|url=http://www.piposh.co.il/n_store-tav_playlist.htm|title=At the Piposh Tavern|date=April 11, 2004|website=Piposh.co.il|language=he|access-date=May 26, 2018|archive-date=December 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211232851/http://www.piposh.co.il/n_store-tav_playlist.htm|url-status=dead}} A fourth game (excluding the spin-off) was to be released but this was eventually cancelled. Running until at least 2004, 'Piposh Congresses' have been held as national meeting for all the fans of Piposh and Guillotine.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2980392,00.html|title=The Ninth Congress|last=Zarbiv|first=Danny|date=September 22, 2004|website=Ynet|language=he}} The developers sold an "I'm Pipposi Proud" game package, which included 5 game discs including the first three titles, plus a demo of Piposh 3D and a disc with rare files and documents.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2all.co.il/web/sites/hezipiposh/PAGE11.asp|title=אני פיפושי גאה|website=www.2all.co.il|access-date=June 27, 2018}}
= Aftermath (2005–17) =
The last title developed by Guillotine was the network-strategy nonsense game Vajimon, which saw players fight against each other over the internet using a variety of vegetables. Around 2003–4, the company's operations were terminated and its managers retired.{{Cite web|url=http://www.piposh2ah.2us.co.il/|title=Welcome to the new site of Search 2.5|date=December 16, 2008|website=Sellotape|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216010237/http://www.piposh2ah.2us.co.il/|archive-date=2008-12-16|url-status=dead}} Renan Gluzman left the industry soon after due to the financial and mental burden the series had given him, and became a yacht skipper. He earned money as a writer of games for interactive TV and cell phone in a leading high tech company. In 2005, the brothers lectured for a Gameology course at Beit Berl College as part of the first Israeli curriculum course for video game development.{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/captain/games/1.1511799|title=For the first time in Israel, a path for game developers|last=Yaron|first=Oded|date=March 21, 2005|work=Haaretz|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he}} The program was started by Dr. Diana Silverman Keller who discovered while writing her thesis that there was no formal education in the field of game creation in the country. She noted that "despite the success of Israeli high-tech, the Israelis do not excel at developing games".{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/gallery/1.1075310|title=Bush is out of the game|last=Ofek|first=Kobi|date=2006|work=Haaretz|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he}} Keller contacted Renan, who at the time was known as the "spiritual father of the Israeli gaming community", and he soon became a central figure in the program.{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1029708|title=An academic path will train the future generation of computer game creators|last=Gotliv|first=Tzvika|date=July 22, 2005|work=Haaretz|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he}}
On May 7, 2008, on Israel's 60th Independence Day, all Guillotine games were re-released free to download on the Internet. By this time, it was impossible to get the games anymore, as there were no orderly backups. The Gluzmans noted that the games were unplayable unless the player had a Windows 95 computer, and commented "I felt that I had to do this, in order to save the game from falling into the abyss". Tal Dinovich, a fan of the series who had volunteered for years on the site and answered phone calls from stuck players, helped locate all the game files and create updated versions that would work on Windows XP. The brothers noted that it was strange to revisit these games after having not touched them since the series ended in 2003. While he had since moved on from the series, Roy and Renan did create a Facebook group for the fans who had grown up with the series and wanted to reminisce. According to Calcalist, the series released 7 games, 4 of which are available for free download.{{Cite news|url=https://www.calcalist.co.il/internet/articles/0,7340,L-3287147,00.html|title=Play Free: 24 full games|last=Yogev|first=Audi|date=May 27, 2009|work=Calcalist|access-date=May 26, 2018}} As part of the campaign, the brothers aimed to print special nostalgic shirts, as this was a common fan request.
In December 2008, a group of Piposh fans, believing that it had died prematurely, started a campaign to create a new chapter of the series and started looking for volunteers. The game, to be developed through their company Sellotape (סלוטייפ) was entitled Piposh 2.5 and the Stolen Vase.{{Cite web|url=http://gamer.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=599719|title=Piposh 2.5?|last=David|first=Noa|date=December 12, 2008|website=Nana 10|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130108000948/http://gamer.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=599719|archive-date=2013-01-08|url-status=dead}} The official website of the project wrote that while the developers were unable to reach the quality level of the official games, they hoped to emulate it as much as possible. Their aim was to "remember, save, and enjoy" the Piposh series. The plot, taking place immediately after Piposh 2, saw the protagonist try to find the magic 'vase of life' that can be used to resurrect characters that died in the previous game.{{Cite web|url=http://www.2all.co.il/web/sites/hezipiposh/PAGE16.asp|title=Piposh 2 and a half – the stolen vase|date=2018|website=www.2all.co.il|language=he}} The producer/director was Ben Werchizer, the artist/designer was Daniel Avdo, the music and dubbing producer was Itay Jeroffi, and the writer was Shahar Kraus; they were looking for professional programmers in Director or Flash as well as voice talent. Their site contained a "build your own character" minigame from the series as a flash game, and a forum dedicated to the resurrection of Piposh. The project was discontinued around 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.xplace.com/il/en/job/12362|title=We need a programmer to develop a sequel to the Israeli series "Piposh" in the Piposh style on Macromedia Direcor|date=June 7, 2010|website=Xplace|language=he|access-date=May 26, 2018}}
Video game archivist and founder of the Movement for Preservation of Games in Israel Raphael Ben-Ari got in touch with the series' creators and detailed the story behind its development process and in a documentary film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/ShimurIsrael/posts/1398126163819442|title=Piposh|last=Ben-Ari|first=Raphael|date=February 25, 2016|website=Movement for Preservation of Games in Israel|publisher=Facebook|language=he|access-date=May 26, 2018}} The documentary was uploaded to YouTube on Ben-Ari's Oldschool account.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28jxusMNkhw|title=The most fun game in Hebrew (and how it was developed)|last=Ben-Ari|first=Raphael|date=Feb 25, 2016|website=Oldschool|language=he}} Ben-Ari believes the work boosted the Piposh community in Israel and introduced the series to many new people.
In 2015, Renard was given the "Half Life" award at the 2015 GameIS Awards due to his work on the series having a "significant impact on the short history of the Israeli gaming industry", thereby helping it to flourish.{{Cite web|url=https://il.ign.com/gameis/12138/news/tqs-mshkhq-hshnh-gameis-awards-2015|title=טקס משחק השנה GameIS Awards 2015|last=Izack|first=ע"י Inbar|date=2016-01-13|website=IGN Israel|language=he|access-date=2019-01-24}}
During this time, Piposh was surrounded by a loyal fanbase who held onto the franchise even while no games were in active development. Writing a game quote in one of the Piposh Facebook groups would be met with relevant written responses and memes, and links to legally download the games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gadgety.co.il/215262/piposh-coming-back/|title=משחק הקאלט הישראלי פיפוש יחזור במהדורה חדשה|date=2018-11-15|website=מגזין גאדג'טים וטכנולוגיה - Gadgety.co.il {{!}} גאדג'טי|language=he|access-date=2019-01-09}} Over the years, the large community of fans who love and reminisce over the series "ran Facebook groups, organized events and constantly asked for a new game".
= Comeback (2018–present) =
{{Main|Piposh (2021 video game)}}
In 2018, Piposh creators announced a reboot of the series.{{Cite web|url=https://il.ign.com/pypvsh-pc/39060/interview/pypvsh-2018-ryvn-bldy-m-yvtsry-hmshkhq-hkhdsh|title=פיפוש 2018: ראיון בלעדי עם יוצרי המשחק החדש|last=פרוינד|first=ע"י גד|date=2018-11-18|website=IGN Israel|language=he|access-date=2019-01-09}} A new installment, simply titled Piposh, was released in April 2021.
Critical reception
The games became a cult hit in Israel, known for their unique humor, original characters and a satirical look at Israeli society.{{cite web|url=http://10tv.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=554015|title=Free Piposh|last=Jnana|date=May 13, 2008|website=Eser}} The Gluzmans are notable for being one of a few Israelis who have managed to develop a computer game within the country and distribute it in Israel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3164686,00.html|title=Israel's first school for game developers was launched|last=Azar|first=Lihi|date=November 6, 2005|website=Ynet|language=he}} According to Timeout, the games are hilarious and brave. Eser felt that Piposh was a "semi-decent adventure game". Bikorate felt the title had a "fascinating plot and humor ahead of its time".{{Cite web|url=https://www.sites.google.com/site/bikorate/mishakim|title=Video Games|date=2018|website=Bikorate|access-date=June 27, 2018}} The student newsletter Factor thought the game was "more funny, more ingenious, and generally more universal" than In the Interest of Ratings had been a year earlier, and felt the two games were "exemplary examples of Israeli creativity". Sport5 listed the game in their article There is honor: the greatest Israeli computer games ever, rating it 10/10 and praising its unique crazy and sharp sense of creativity and humour, as well as for sparking one of the "most cohesive computer game communities ever in the country".{{Cite web|url=http://www.sport5.co.il/articles.aspx?FolderID=7901&docID=278533&lang=HE|title=There is honor: the greatest Israeli computer games ever|last=Ben-Yishai|first=Matan|date=April 19, 2018|website=Sport5.co.il|language=HE|access-date=May 26, 2018}}
Haaretz deemed it ultimately a failed initiative to establish the Israeli video gaming industry, despite its significance.{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.co.il/misc/1.1105033|title=Looking for the Israeli Pacman|last=Grimelnad|first=Gia|date=March 14, 2006|work=Haaretz|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he}} Vgames deemed the series "the most daring attempt to create computer games for Israeli audiences only".{{Cite web|url=http://www.vgames.co.il/news_article.aspx?NewsID=14297|title=Special for Independence Day: Free Piposh!|last=Beirav|first=Yuval|date=June 15, 2008|website=Vgames|language=he|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615035703/http://www.vgames.co.il/news_article.aspx?NewsID=14297|archive-date=2008-06-15|url-status=dead|access-date=May 26, 2018}} In 2001, Ynet asserted that the few games of Israeli origin such as Piposh were "quite negligible in terms of scope and technicality", and were "not close to being competitive in the global market",{{Cite web|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-709312,00.html|title=Game Made in Israel|last=Yogev|first=Udi|date=May 2, 2001|website=Ynet|language=he}} but in 2003 the site saw the series as a source of Israeli pride. The site would later come to feel that the series offered some of the most "bizarre, funny and hallucinatory quests" to come out of gaming, noting that the first title is widely regarded as a cult game, and that many peculiar moments from the series are etched into the minds of players.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4368049,00.html|title=Blue and white gaming: From Xonix to Blue Star|last=Frost|first=Tal|date=April 16, 2013|work=Ynet|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he}} Bikorate thought Piposh 2 surprised with its "witty and satirical jokes about Israeli society".
The Hebrew site Eser, despite having sympathy for Israeli game developers, who are "forced to work in almost impossible conditions" when compared to their American and European colleagues, gave Piposh 3D a scathing review; while calling its premise amusing, and noting that the patient Piposh fanbase would overlook its inferior graphics the site felt the game was very bad, likening it to a "singer singing without makeup".{{Cite web|url=https://www.10.tv/online/57155|title=Piposh: The Revolution|last=Zeerman|first=Idan|date=June 23, 2008|website=Eser|language=he|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526190031/https://www.10.tv/online/57155|archive-date=2018-05-26|url-status=dead|access-date=May 26, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://10tv.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleID=561139|title=Piposh: The Revolution|last=Zeerman|first=Idan|date=February 7, 2008|website=Eser|language=he}} Ynet criticised 3D's graphics and interface, though noted its humour and charm might make up for the experience.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-2615517,00.html|title=Piposh 3D: A matter of taste|last=Reshef|first=Noam|date=May 3, 2011|work=Ynet|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he}} Ben-Ari feels a sense of patriotism toward the game as a piece of video gaming software that is proudly and unabashedly Israeli.{{Cite web|url=http://oldschool.org.il/videos/%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%A4%D7%95%D7%A9-%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%A8-%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%A2%D7%9D-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A4%D7%AA%D7%97%D7%99%D7%9D/|title=Search: Coverage and interview with developers|last=Ben-Avi|first=Raphael|date=February 25, 2016|website=Oldschool|language=he-IL|access-date=May 26, 2018}} Factor thought the series attempt to enter the 3D market was an "utter failure". Even though Walla thought Piposh 3D was a bad game, it thought the game looked like a masterpiece in comparison with Dangerous Vaults, a Lara Croft parody that forces players to have sex with animals.{{Cite news|url=https://tech.walla.co.il/item/782874|title=Sex with Animals|last=Moshe|first=Nimrod Ben|date=September 20, 2005|work=Walla|access-date=May 26, 2018|language=he-IL}}
When news of a fan-made Piposh 2.5 was brought to Nana 10, the site made an emotional appeal to its readers, hoping to attract anyone who could "help this promising project take shape", while hoping it would be the first of many. Meanwhile, 2all.co.il wished the developers success.
Noting a recent campaign to name a road in Israel "Lara Croft street", Nana 10 hoped that soon there would be a "Piposh street" to honour the series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.10.tv/online/40550|title=On Lara Croft Street you take a right ...|last=David|first=Noa|date=August 3, 2009|website=Nana 10|language=he|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627090822/https://www.10.tv/online/40550|archive-date=2018-06-27|url-status=dead|access-date=June 27, 2018}} The paper believed Piposh to be possibly the most successful and profitable Israeli computer gaming project, deeming Guillotine a champion of the local industry. Makorrishon deemed Guillotine a "stubborn pioneer" due to persisting with making a game in Israel, though noted that despite their bravery, the company did close down a mere 6 years later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.makorrishon.co.il/nrg/online/10/ART/757/903.html|title=The Israeli Who Will Fly Harry Potter|last=Rivlin|first=Jesse|date=July 20, 2004|website=Makorrishon|access-date=June 27, 2018}} Looking back at the games in 2008, the brothers were impressed at how the humour held up, and noted ultimately that Piposh is "not a game of technology, but of people, behavior and relationships". Comedy Children listed the original title as the only Israeli entry in an article entitled "The Most Funny Games".{{Cite web|url=http://comedychildren.com/%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%97%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%97%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%9D/|title = המשחקים הכי מצחיקים|date = February 5, 2015}}
According to Gadgety, the games have "earned cult status among Israeli players". Calcalist deemed it "most important series of games - well, the only one - that was done in Israel in this millennium".{{Cite web|url=https://www.calcalist.co.il/consumer/articles/0,7340,L-3752947,00.html|title=המפץ הקטן: תנו לפִּיפּוֹש לנצח|last=קלינג|first=עמית|date=2018-12-27|website=calcalist.co.il|access-date=2019-01-09}} Additionally, it argued that the series' humor combined the nonsense of LucasArts and Sierra with the experimental weirdness of Channel 2. Renard and Roy have said that "what Piposh is good at is being crazy, being delusional and telling a good story with an emphasis on humor and Israeliness".