Conspiracy to publish Wii budget titles in the U.S.
by John Bardinelli 
{ Jun 28th 2007 at 2:00PM }
Data Design Interactive and U.S. Developer Conspiracy have announced a distribution agreement that will bring nine new Wii-exclusive titles to the U.S. this year. Most of the games seem to be knock-offs of more popular titles such as Mario Kart or the Harry Potter series, but this Ninjabread Man game has our attention. No release date or prices have been set, but the games have been marketed at budget prices in the UK, so we can likely expect the same in the States.
- Mini Desktop Racing - A "minature racer"
- Monster Trux Offroad - a "rugged racer"
- Ninjabread Man - 3D platformer
- Action Girlz Racing - "fairy-tale racer"
- Anubis II - 3D platformer
- Billy Wizard - a "magic/action game" banking on the popularity of Harry Potter
- Myth Makers - SuperKart GP - a racing game, of course
- Rock N Roll Adventures - musical action/platformer
- Earache - Extreme Metal Racing - yet another offroad racer
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
traaw @ Jun 28th 2007 2:09PM
wow these look terrible
Lord Chako @ Jun 28th 2007 2:10PM
Shovelware?
Zachary Hinchliffe @ Jun 28th 2007 2:12PM
Shovelware.
Charron @ Jun 28th 2007 2:12PM
Hit-you-over-the-head-with-a-shovelware.
JodyAnthony @ Jun 28th 2007 2:14PM
NINJABREAD MAN, FUCK YES! I dont care how shitty it is. I cannot resist a game called Ninjabread Man. I have been wanting this game since I first heard about it, I'm glad its leaving europe and coming here.
ymmv @ Jun 28th 2007 2:21PM
What the Wii lacks in quality software, it sure makes up in quantity. It's surprising how many companies jump on the Wii bandwagon only to release crap titles.
Charron @ Jun 28th 2007 2:25PM
ymmv- same with the PS1 and PS2, I'd say. How many of the 1000+ on each were actually worth playing?
XGamerX @ Jun 28th 2007 2:28PM
FUCK YEAH
Jonathan Tran @ Jun 28th 2007 2:31PM
The only thing that even SOUNDS interesting is Ninjabread Man, and I'm sure that, too, will suck.
GodisaMyth @ Jun 28th 2007 2:32PM
Shovelware is what you get for spending $250 on 7 year old hardware with a WeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeMote.
It will only get better (for Weebashers) from here.
Can I say I told you so?
Bring on E3!!!
vidGuy @ Jun 28th 2007 2:33PM
"How many of the 1000+ on each were actually worth playing?"
Probably about 10% were worth purchasing... 20% if you were really into them. I expect the Wii to have about the same ratio, which will be a dramatic improvement in the number of title worth purchasing over the GC.
samfish @ Jun 28th 2007 2:34PM
Crap...
Crap...
Crap...
Crap...
Crap...
Crap...
Crap...
Crap...
Aaaaand...crap..!
megaStryke @ Jun 28th 2007 2:35PM
There's shovelware and then there's EXCAVATORware....
Alex M @ Jun 28th 2007 2:37PM
Actually the games seem to have a little bit of charm.
john @ Jun 28th 2007 2:40PM
When has the system with the most games (crap or not) ever lost the console war of it's generation?
kennethrios @ Jun 28th 2007 2:41PM
Bad games aren’t great news but it must be remember that this is a sign of things to come. The wii will get a thousand games, it will make the most money overall, and it will also get the largest supply of “great” games. If only those who doubt the wii know a little bit about the history of the gaming industry. The developers will go where the money is: right now that is the wii and, less so, the 360. Sorry Sony but the amount of people with the PS3 is not enough to justify the high development costs.
Jonathan Tran @ Jun 28th 2007 2:41PM
I think Mexico is gonna have to open those landfills, push the ET cartridges aside, and get ready for a shipment!
Capt. Castellanos @ Jun 28th 2007 2:42PM
i'd buy ninjabread man if it was like $5.
other than that.
to hell with all of them!
Mr Khan @ Jun 28th 2007 2:47PM
I thought this was incredibly old news, for one. I've known about this shovelware (which i call the Ninjabread man + knock offs dumpload) for some time
Two, yes, this is indicative of the kind of crap that plagued the PS1 and PS2, unseen amidst the cream of the crop
JodyAnthony @ Jun 28th 2007 2:47PM
In all seriousness, I would buy Ninjabread Man for full price. Its just so awesomely ridiculous. The other ones I couldn't care less about.
Dustin @ Jun 28th 2007 2:49PM
I'm throwing my hat in for Ninjabread man too, I don't care if it sucks hard, it must be on my shelf just so one person may see it and say "WTF is Ninjabread Man?!?!?"
WizarDru @ Jun 28th 2007 2:49PM
If you buy Ninjabreadman, then you're part of the problem, not the solution.
john @ Jun 28th 2007 2:52PM
Yeah, I'll be picking up Ninjabread Man when the price is reasonable. It's the greatest game title since "No One Can Stop Mr. Domino!" for the Playstation.
dvdguy @ Jun 28th 2007 2:54PM
Cookie murder simulator...
JodyAnthony @ Jun 28th 2007 2:56PM
if buying ninjabread man is wrong then I dont wanna be right.
Capt. Castellanos @ Jun 28th 2007 2:57PM
#25 JodyAnthony!
AMEN!
hahaha
Obi-Habby @ Jun 28th 2007 3:04PM
Ninjabread Man will be purchased for the same reasons that I own Glover and Battletanx. HYPE!!!!
Gavin @ Jun 28th 2007 3:05PM
These type of crap games aren't going to be anything like the PS2 junk titles. Jonathan Tran is on the right track with the Atari comparison. The Wii is going to be flooded with huge amounts of garbage titles. Nintendo saved the industry with the NES and now they are going down the same Atari route with the Wii. Isn't it funny how history repeats itself?
sheppy @ Jun 28th 2007 3:06PM
I was thinking "Ninjabread Man! How awesome will that be?" Follow the links, check out screenshots, and wow, it looks like they took the best possible idea ever and reduced it to shit. Honestly? The character doesn't even seem to match the gameplay shown.
As for best title, sorry guys... my favorite is still on the Sega CD.
Revengers of Vengeance
CeiverX @ Jun 28th 2007 3:10PM
Be sure to look at the screenshots of several of these games. Especially the 3d platformers, they are essentially the same game. Most of them look like they are geared towards the toddlers. Cheap games, but you get what you pay for.
The Mini Desktop racing game has a micro-machines kinda vibe. It may be fun if the controls & camera are done right.
JodyAnthony @ Jun 28th 2007 3:09PM
Best title contest eh? What about this famicom game?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JESUS:_Dreadful_Bio-Monster
and lets not forget about this gem:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoot_the_Bullet#Shoot_the_Bullet
JulyFlame @ Jun 28th 2007 3:14PM
Action Girlz Racing scares me. ;_;
takao @ Jun 28th 2007 3:15PM
wait some use that as reason for bashing the wii ? guess they missed that _all_ of them are going to be released _on the PS2_ as well
Admiral_Mike @ Jun 28th 2007 3:17PM
@GodisaMyth
Hmm, the hate is strong with this one.
Anyway, yeah these game supreme crap, like most of the ps2 library last gen. Good job my list of wii games I have to buy is too big to fit any of these in. Even Ninjabreadman, dammit.
GodisaMyth @ Jun 28th 2007 3:19PM
"Cookie murder simulator..."
Yes, I agree BAN IT NOW!!!
Otherwise there will be kids all over the planet murdering helpless gingerbread men.
We must raise our voices up now before its too late.
Ban it, burn it, off with their heads!!
Bring on E3
Joryn @ Jun 28th 2007 3:23PM
I have no problem with shovelware as long as there is at least a decent list of AAA titles to back it up. The Wii is doing well in the quantity dept but where are the good titles? Specifically where are the good 3rd party titles??? Some new IP would be nice while their at it ;)
Dustin @ Jun 28th 2007 3:29PM
Well since I am also part of the DLC problem (bought Horse armor and ALL the guitar hero packs) and part of the expensive controller add on problem (own 4 guitars,3 360 and one PS2, I painted one, have pre-ordered the Ace Combat flight stick, guitar hero 3 and wireless guitar, also paid off Rockband with all instruments) I don't mind being part of the crappy games with kick ass titles problems.
I yes by paid off rockband I mean at the current price, if it goes up I'll pay that too.
zwarrior @ Jun 28th 2007 6:04PM
They'll be cheap and casual friendly. Perfect for when I have family at home, my little cousins always want to play games but Zelda and even Paper Mario are too complicated for them
uglyteeth @ Jun 28th 2007 4:45PM
What happened to the "Nintendo Seal of Quality?"
Jonathan Tran @ Jun 28th 2007 4:47PM
@Gavin
haha wait no you didn't get my point at all
This game will suck, not every Wii game..
It is too bad Ninjabread man might suck, since it could build a ton of hype on the title alone
mothing will ever, EVER suck as hard as ET for the Atari
Mr Khan @ Jun 28th 2007 4:52PM
@ Jonathan
Yeah. Because no game these days is ever developed in 5 weeks by one guy
Even with shovelware, that kind of dev time is unheard of
Karen @ Jun 28th 2007 5:19PM
"wait some use that as reason for bashing the wii ? guess they missed that _all_ of them are going to be released _on the PS2_ as well"
@takao I don't understand either. All these game already came out for the PS2. Maybe no one clicked the links...
Kye @ Jun 28th 2007 5:47PM
Myth Makers - Superkart GP
You mean mario kart crossed with Greek and other ancient civilizations mythologies?
FUCK YEAH!
(no sarcasm)
Trenchalicious @ Jun 28th 2007 6:09PM
The Wii will be the Atari 2600 of this generation. They get millions of people interested and then they flood the market with crap and the industry goes down the toilet.
That reminds me, I gotta use the bathroom.
why not the LS2/LS7? @ Jun 28th 2007 6:52PM
Super fuckin' shovelware.
I said it before, and I'll say it again, shitty 3rd party titles will be the death of the Wii.
Every developer sees that you can make a game without spending a lot of money and assumes that means this is the platform for cheap ripoff games.
It's the "Deer Hunter" platform.
Hater3000 @ Jun 28th 2007 7:36PM
Ninjabread man I wish you were develop by other company.I hope Take two buys that game rights someday.
Well now thats a lot of crap but none of them cant be worst than Big rigs.
Zsavior @ Jun 28th 2007 7:40PM
@ GodisaMyth
The PS2 had an insane amount of Shovelware also, on top of the worst graphical hardware out there compared to xbox and gamecube. You seen how badly that system did right...am I right Ps2 was like the biggest failure EVA!
(01) @ Jun 28th 2007 9:22PM
I had always kindda hoped that the $$ devs saved on graphics for the wii could be put towards more quality games... not crap like this. Oh well, at least we have wiiware to look forward to.
Ryuukuro @ Jun 28th 2007 11:44PM
Who cares about the other titles? They'll go right in the bargain bin and no one but the kiddies will see them.
But Ninjabread Man? Ninjabread Man is the s***, y'all. He's a gingerbread man and he's a freakin' ninja, damnit. That's AWESOME. I want him in Smash Bros Brawl or it will suck.
syco @ Jun 29th 2007 12:02AM
The problem with shovelware is that, occasionally, one of those games is GOOD. I present, as an example, Top Shop. It's basically a monopoly clone, with an excessive amount of japanese wackiness. for the PS1. It's something like $6. All those games might suck, but one of them might be good? We won't really know until they come out. The concept of a Ninjabread Man, I would say, has the most potential.