Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/bury-the-shovelware-jake-hunter-detective-chronicles/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/bury-the-shovelware-jake-hunter-detective-chronicles/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/bury-the-shovelware-jake-hunter-detective-chronicles/#commentsFiled under:



Pedigree

Well, we've found one of the weirdest game company names in existence: Aksys Games. It's right up there with "Infogrames" and "Camerica." I was surprised to learn that they're not as obscure as their name would lead one to imagine: they're the folks behind the Guilty Gear series.

Jake Hunter was developed by Arc System Works, which is a large Japanese developer and publisher who publishes overseas via Aksys Games. That'll be something I've gotta keep an eye on in the future: the same-developer-same-publisher factor. I'd probably have to talk to a few people who work for a development team or a publisher to learn more about that one. Any such folks reading this who'd like to help me out? Come on, I know you're out there.

The Critics Said ...

IGN was quick to note that this is a Phoenix Wright-inspired adventure, but also added that "Jake is a stereotype, and the stories are straight forward, humorless affairs." Game Informer followed suit, stating that the game "takes itself way too seriously." So ... the game is being criticized for not being closer to what inspired it? This leaves me a bit befuddled. If Jake Hunter copied Phoenix Wright to a T, it would be criticized for not being original. But when it decides to take a serious approach (as opposed to PW's humorous presentation), it's criticized for not being enough like the original. Poor Jake Hunter can't do anything right.

Criticism of critics aside, the two reviews were basically on-par with their peers: the game holds a 47% aggregate score at Metacritic.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Jake Hunter Detective Chronicles originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jake-hunterjake-hunter-detective-chroniclesjoystiqfeaturesphoenix-wrightshovelwareWed, 21 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2K exec criticizes casual titles on Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/2k-exec-criticizes-casual-titles-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/2k-exec-criticizes-casual-titles-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/2k-exec-criticizes-casual-titles-on-wii/#commentsFiled under:

2K Games Global President Christoph Hartmann doesn't see 2009 as a great year for casual publishers. He sees the console flooded in a flurry of casual games, what he dubs "crappy titles." He thinks that for every ten casual titles produced, publishers expect two to be hits, financing the other eight. The problem is that all of those titles flood the market, making it tougher for casual games to prosper and only servies to confuse consumers.

He points to his own 2K-published Carnival Games as an example. "Had we released it last week, it would have been much tougher," he says. "There's far too much stuff in the Wii market [now] and it's hard to shine."

Regardless of a game's focus, we've always been big advocates of fun. If a game is only a collection of minigames, it's fine so long as they're fun to play. We think even pushing for that ten can mean that more than two are engaging and not "crappy," as he puts it. What do you all think? Too many casual games out there?

[Via Joystiq]

Joystiq2K exec criticizes casual titles on Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2kbusinesscarnival-gamescasualsalessalesfiguresshovelwareWed, 14 Jan 2009 14:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/bury-the-shovelware-cesar-millans-dog-whisperer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/bury-the-shovelware-cesar-millans-dog-whisperer/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/bury-the-shovelware-cesar-millans-dog-whisperer/#commentsFiled under:



You know, I usually have a fairly decent idea of where most of these shovelware titles are going. That's not to say that I haven't been disappointed or pleasantly surprised before, but judging a book by its cover is often appropriate with shovelware. Yet I honestly have no clue what this game will have me do. Is it a Nintendogs clone? Will I be tapping dogs on the neck in a tap-happy minigame? Will I have to make that "tchsszzt" noise into the DS's microphone? Let's find out.

Pedigree

One word: UBISOFT. That's correct; the "not-a-bad-company-per-se-but-still-known-for-creating-copious-amounts-of-shovelware" gaming bigwig both developed and published this title.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Cesar Millan's Dog Whisperer originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesar-millandog-whispererjoystiqfeaturesnintendogsshovelwarethe-dog-whispererWed, 14 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: 2008 in Review]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/bury-the-shovelware-2008-in-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/bury-the-shovelware-2008-in-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/bury-the-shovelware-2008-in-review/#commentsFiled under:



We're barely one week into 2009 and I'm already prepared to make a judgment about the current year: I don't like it one bit. With that in mind, I've decided to take a nostalgic look back to an easier, care-free time: 2008.

Our study began on the 2nd of July with a look at the laughably terrible Homie Rollerz. It will continue indefinitely (in other words, until my overlords decide to give me the axe), or until we can come to a concrete and atomic definition of "shovelware."

That's not to say that we've been woolgathering this past half-year. Indeed, we've learned quite a bit about what constitutes shovelware and what doesn't. Here's a handful of our most acute observations:

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: 2008 in Review

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: 2008 in Review originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008joystiqfeatureslistreviewshovelwareWed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Elf Bowling 1 & 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/24/bury-the-shovelware-elf-bowling-1-and-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/24/bury-the-shovelware-elf-bowling-1-and-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/24/bury-the-shovelware-elf-bowling-1-and-2/#commentsFiled under:



It's Christmas Eve, and Santa has come a little early. But apparently we've all been very terrible, for there exists a gift far worse than coal. In fact, coal seems downright awesome compared to this. After all, it's flammable. I am being utterly sincere when I say that I would much rather play Cake Mania 2 than this pile of reindeer droppings.

Pedigree

Elf Bowling 1 & 2 shares the same developer and publisher: Ignition Entertainment. A quick scan of their products page shows a great diversity in games. Notably but understandably missing is this game. It's difficult to comprehend the fact that the same resources which gave us the excellent and underrated Mercury Meltdown Revolution are also responsible for Elf Bowling 1 & 2. The company also published Metal Slug 7 in North America.

The Critics Said ...

Metacritic is a great tool to use when I determine the critics' reception of a game for this series. I've referenced the bottom of the list before. According to the "Index of Nintendo DS Game Reviews by Score" page, the worst-received game for the DS is Deal or No Deal with a metascore of 17. Yet Elf Bowling for the DS manages to do that 5 points better -- err, worse -- with a metascore of 12. Why it doesn't appear on the list is because it only contains four reviews and five are needed to appear on the grand tally. The four critics that did review Elf Bowling (the poor, poor souls) are all fairly consistent in stating that this game is the suck.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Elf Bowling 1 & 2

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Elf Bowling 1 & 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elfelf-bowlingignition entertainmentignition-entertainmentignitionentertainmentjoystiqfeaturesshovelwareWed, 24 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Bratz Ponyz 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/bury-the-shovelware-bratz-ponyz-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/bury-the-shovelware-bratz-ponyz-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/17/bury-the-shovelware-bratz-ponyz-2/#commentsFiled under:



After a few controversial picks, I've decided to take the edge off and pick on an easy target. After all, doesn't picking on the weak make us all feel a little better? So don't worry about today: we've got not one but TWO S's replaced with Z's!

Pedigree

Instead of talking about the developer and publisher, let's just take a long look at the title. It's in three parts. First: "Bratz," a franchise which has been criticized locally for allegedly attempting to sell sex to children. Abroad, things are even worse: "On December 21, 2006, the National Labor Committee announced that the factory workers in China, who make Bratz dolls, labor for 94.5 hours a week, while the factory pays only $0.515 an hour, $4.13 a day. The per doll amount is $0.17, much less than the Bratz dolls actually cost (from $20 to $40)." (Wikipedia).

And most important of all, let's not forget the last letter of the first word, a disgusting trait also shared with the second word: "Ponyz." When did the letter "S" become uncool? Did he totally say ohmigod and she was all like "right?" Or did Z suddenly become incredibly popular? Did Z come skateboarding through space while wearing sunglasses and playing a hot pink electric guitar? That's still cool, right?

Finally, we have the number 2 ... as if there were so many unanswered questions at the end of Bratz Ponyz 1.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Bratz Ponyz 2

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Bratz Ponyz 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bratzbratz-ponyzbratz-ponyz-2joystiqfeaturespinkshovelwaretweentweensWed, 17 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 5: Nintendo's Worst]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/top-5-nintendos-worst/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/top-5-nintendos-worst/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/top-5-nintendos-worst/#commentsFiled under:


15 days ago, Guns N' Roses released their comically delayed album Chinese Democracy, giving hope to those who are still awaiting Duke Nukem Forever. Unfortunately, anyone looking for another Appetite for Destruction will be disappointed, as the new album's overcoming of its absurd delay overshadowed the album itself. One should question the album's association to the same band of twenty years ago, as Velvet Revolver contains more members of that legendary set. A more accurate title would be "Axl Rose solo project with some Buckethead." After hearing the album, I can confirm that it deserves a hearty "meh." If you truly consider this to be a Guns N' Roses album (which I'm not so sure that I do), it's undoubtedly their worst.

This got me thinking about the bottom rungs of other quality serial productions. Being the nerd that I am, it didn't take long for thoughts to drift towards gaming. We're all aware that it's a bit redundant to bash Nintendo as a company. But one aspect of the Big N which is almost never called into question is the quality of their games. Certainly there's always a few outliers which stray from conventional feelings just for disarray's sake, and good for them. Yet one would have to be certifiably bonkers to label anything from the main Zelda or Mario series as a truly terrible game. But like anyone who hasn't sold their soul to the devil, there's bound to be a few slip-ups. When you're talking about a history as enormous to gaming as Nintendo's, it'd be suspicious if there wasn't a blotch here or there.

These aren't quite at the top of the "worst games of all time" list, but they'd certainly be if the list was Nintendo-exclusive.



The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.

JoystiqTop 5: Nintendo's Worst originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-gamesice-climberice-climbersjoystiqfeaturesmario-partymario-party-advancenintendopokemonpokemon-dashshovelwaretop-5urban-championwii-playMon, 08 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Metal Slug 7]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/26/bury-the-shovelware-metal-slug-7/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/26/bury-the-shovelware-metal-slug-7/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/26/bury-the-shovelware-metal-slug-7/#commentsFiled under:



After seeing the ho-hum critical response to Metal Slug 7, I decided to give the title a look in the ol' shovelscope in order to further explore how critics' scores can heavily affect our perceptions of a game before we're ever able to form our own opinions. Plus, I just wanted an excuse to talk about it.

Pedigree

While the Metal Slug series doesn't have much mainstream recognition, it's generally regarded as a well-kept secret amongst 2D enthusiasts. Furthermore, it's near-gospel to fans of side-scrolling run and gun titles, such as Contra and Gunstar Heroes. The original title is interesting in that it served as a glorification of 2D gaming right at the exact time when 3D gaming was taking over. It looked and played like a 16-bit title on steroids. Its characters were cute, its colors were bright, but the game orchestrated sprites into an all-encompassing celebration of hand-drawn beauty and retro charm.

And with great fandom comes great pressure. Let us not forget the support of all things SNK by the company's monomaniacal fans, a group arguably more devoted than Nintendo's fan club. Although SNK must greatly appreciate the support and instant-buzz generated by the fans, they are also subject to very high expectations.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Metal Slug 7

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Metal Slug 7 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>criticcriticsjoystiqfeaturesmetal-slugmetal-slug-7reviewsshovelwaresnkWed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii games drop in price faster than competition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/wii-games-drop-in-price-faster-than-competition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/wii-games-drop-in-price-faster-than-competition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/21/wii-games-drop-in-price-faster-than-competition/#commentsFiled under: ,

The research bods at EEDAR have got their abacuses out and calculated that Wii games are more prone to "price protection" than titles on rival machines.

What's price protection? Price protection occurs when a publisher of a game that isn't selling offers its game to retailers for a lower price, allowing stores to get rid of excess stock quickly. If this happens too soon (EEDAR defines "too soon" as "when a title's third month average selling price has decreased by 20% or more from its original average selling price"), it is known as "early price protection."

Anyway, EEDAR found that 15.1% of all Wii software goes through this process, compared to 7.5% on Xbox 360 and 9.09% on PS3. What does this disparity say about Wii software? EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich thinks it backs up the theory that third-parties struggle on the Wii because they and retailers have "overly aggressive expectations" for Wii games, and that it proves "quality is one of the most impactful features for a video game."

Or, in a nutshell, Wii has waaaay too much half-assed shovelware.

Continue reading Wii games drop in price faster than competition

JoystiqWii games drop in price faster than competition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseedarscienceshovelwareFri, 21 Nov 2008 11:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Zoo Tycoon DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/bury-the-shovelware-zoo-tycoon-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/bury-the-shovelware-zoo-tycoon-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/bury-the-shovelware-zoo-tycoon-ds/#commentsFiled under:



Pedigree

Based on the PC series of the same name, the Zoo Tycoon games are rooted in the business / construction simulation titles that proved to be very popular in the 1990s. These types of games include the SimCity series and its numerous spinoffs, Theme Park, and the Civilization series. These sorts of titles usually appeal to those who take gaming very seriously; perhaps you could say "connoisseurs" of gaming. Thus, a certain level of quality and depth is expected.

Publisher THQ is neither fully innocent nor consistently guilty as a shovelware publisher. Developer Blue Fang Games is an interesting case in that the only games they've ever created are those in the Zoo Tycoon series. This game marks their first appearance on the DS, and one of only two games ever created for Nintendo's portable (the other being Zoo Tycoon 2 DS).

It's worth noting that while neither of the two PC Zoo Tycoon titles were excessively praised nor bashed, they have won numerous awards relating to its family-friendly play. I can't vouch for the prestige of any of these awards, but it's always interesting to find a disconnect between critics and award organizations.

The Critics Said ...

Nintendo Power gave Zoo Tycoon the sole positive review. They claim that it "faithfully reproduces the ZT experience, from building exhibits and guest facilities to managing cash flow." I haven't played the original, but I can't imagine the series being this successful if all of the games are similar to this (more on that later). Statements made by other critics seem to fit the shovelware definition to a tee. A few snippets from the critics: "the forced or rushed feeling of this title," "tedious gameplay," "unwieldy controls," and "it will bore you into hatred."Game Informer pleasantly noted that the game is "about as much fun as giving an elephant a suppository." Gee ... a simple "I didn't like this game" would have worked just fine.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Zoo Tycoon DS

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Zoo Tycoon DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesshovelwaresimulationzoo-tycoonzoo-tycoon-2zoo-tycoon-dsWed, 19 Nov 2008 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Setting definitive boundaries]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/wii-warm-up-setting-definitive-boundaries/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/wii-warm-up-setting-definitive-boundaries/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/wii-warm-up-setting-definitive-boundaries/#commentsFiled under:

Shovelware is something that comes up a lot in discussions about the Wii's library. Some people think there's a lot of it, and some don't, but what we don't seem to spend a lot of time discussion is just exactly what shovelware is. Everyone seems to drawl the line in a different place. For some, it's easy to write off anything that doesn't look fantastic as simply shovelware, while others seem to turn their noses up at anything that is geared at a family audience. While it's often true that shovelware has poor graphics, or, when it comes to Wii gaming, it's an attempt to get a piece of that Everygamer market, shovelware's definition lies elsewhere. Let's find it.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Setting definitive boundaries originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>shovelwareFri, 07 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Death, Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/05/bury-the-shovelware-death-jr-and-the-science-fair-of-doom/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/05/bury-the-shovelware-death-jr-and-the-science-fair-of-doom/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/05/bury-the-shovelware-death-jr-and-the-science-fair-of-doom/#commentsFiled under:



Pedigree

Death, Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom was published by Konami, one of the most well-known companies in gaming. As a developer, they are known for creating products of the highest quality. Additionally, they don't have too many publishing blemishes on the DS. Developer Backbone Entertainment isn't quite as well-known, but they have been handed the keys to many high-profile franchises: Sonic the Hedgehog, Bomberman, Age of Empires, MechAssault and 1942. Most of the iterations based on these IPs were received relatively fairly.

The Critics Said ...

While the critics didn't despise the title, not many appeared to enjoy it. Issues varied from critic to critic, but a common thread appeared to be the lack of polish, which is a common symptom of shovelware. GameSpot noted that "imprecise controls, shoddy level design, and bland characters spell doom for Death Jr.'s latest adventure." 1UP found that "a whole host of small problems also add up to make each room an absolutely unfun experience." Death, Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom has a Metascore of 47/100.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Death, Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Death, Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>death-jrjoystiqfeaturesportscience-fair-of-doomshovelwareWed, 05 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Wiffle Ball]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/22/bury-the-shovelware-wiffle-ball/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/22/bury-the-shovelware-wiffle-ball/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/22/bury-the-shovelware-wiffle-ball/#commentsFiled under:



Today marks the first pitch in one of the United States' oldest and most cherished traditions. The World Series is a notable custom in American history, as it signifies the annual pinnacle of the nation's de facto pastime. This year, both teams have much on the line. Though similar lines are hurled about before nearly every major sporting event, it holds special weight for this year's World Series participants.

The Tampa Bay Rays have made history by being the first team in the franchise's 10-year history to win over half of the games of the regular season, let alone becoming division and league champions. And after finishing the 2007 season as the worst team in all of baseball, they've achieved a miraculous feat by propelling themselves to the top game. After defeating the Red Sox on Sunday night, they've dethroned the previous World Series champions and now have their sites set on claiming that title. With the momentum that they're carrying, it'll be difficult to slow them down. But in their way lies the Philadelphia Phillies, a team with so much tenacity that it can cause bleeding of the soul. After handily disposing of the Brewers and the Dodgers, the Phillies look to bring a World Series title home to championship-starved Philadelphia, a city which hasn't won a major sporting championship title since the Sixers swept the Los Angeles Lakers in 1983.

With so much on the line, the 2008 World Series is an event that no fan of the sport should miss. Wiffle Ball for the DS? Not so much.

Pedigree

Well, I could write a whole paragraph about the publisher / developer Destination Software Inc., also known as DSI Games. But I think all that needs to be said is that they were willing to publish Deal or No Deal, which is perhaps the worst game I've ever played.

While that would be fun and easy, I guess I can elaborate by stating that their catalogue is comprised of many shovelware suspects, some of which I never even knew about. Looks like I'll be doing Bury the Shovelware for a long time! (Sorry, Nick) Surprisingly, they did publish the excellent port of kill.switch for the GBA.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Wiffle Ball

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Wiffle Ball originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baseballdestination-gamesdsi-gamesjoystiqfeaturesshovelwarewiffle-ballworld-seriesWed, 22 Oct 2008 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Space Invaders Revolution vs Space Invaders Extreme]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/bury-the-shovelware-space-invaders-revolution-vs-space-invaders/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/bury-the-shovelware-space-invaders-revolution-vs-space-invaders/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/15/bury-the-shovelware-space-invaders-revolution-vs-space-invaders/#commentsFiled under:



For this edition of Bury the Shovelware, we're talking Space Invaders. We'll be examining the recently released and critically acclaimed Space Invaders Extreme against 2005's suspected shovelware Space Invaders Revolution.

Pedigree

Space Invaders is a staple of the industry. Some incorrectly identify it as the first video game. Though this is incorrect, its significance to gaming as a whole just might make it the most important game of all-time. Released in 1978, the title was groundbreaking in that it changed the public's perception of gaming from being an interesting obscurity to a major form of entertainment. Check your local Wikipedia for more information.

Like many classics, the game has been re-packaged and re-released countless times. In its four years of life, two separate versions of the game have been released for the DS. Both versions were developed by industry veteran Taito, creator of the original ground-breaking title. But while Space Invaders Extreme was published by heavyweight Square Enix, Space Invaders Revolution was published by Rising Star Games. Though virtually unknown by comparison, the publisher has been given access to a surprising number of classic franchises, including Bomberman, Dungeon Explorer, Bubble Bobble, and New Zealand Story.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Space Invaders Revolution vs Space Invaders Extreme

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Space Invaders Revolution vs Space Invaders Extreme originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesretrorising-star-gamesshovelwarespace-invadersspace-invaders-extremespace-invaders-revolutiontaitoWed, 15 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Mega Man Star Force 2 - Zerker X Saurian]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/bury-the-shovelware-mega-man-star-force-2-zerker-x-saurian/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/bury-the-shovelware-mega-man-star-force-2-zerker-x-saurian/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/08/bury-the-shovelware-mega-man-star-force-2-zerker-x-saurian/#commentsFiled under:



Thanks for the feedback from last week! Reactions to the new format seem to be somewhere in the middle, so perhaps we'll alternate between the two styles, or possibly merge them. Continued feedback is always appreciated. With that said, here's another stab in the new format. This time, with Mega Man 9 fever still running rampant (made all the more frantic with this past Monday's release of Proto Man), we've decided to take a look at the blue bomber's non-ZX series on the DS: Mega Man Star Force.

Pedigree

Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker X Saurian is -- hang on, I've gotta catch my breath after that title ... whew ... okay, I'm good -- a sequel to the Mega Man Star Force titles. I say "titles" because Capcom decided to split the title up into three "versions," similar to Nintendogs and most Pokemon games. When done right, this can be awesome. But as is the case with most things Capcom touches, it's a money-maker. That's the rub with Capcom: they produce some of the finest titles ever, but they certainly aren't shy about squeezing every penny from a game or franchise possible. Back to Star Force, once again Capcom has released multiple editions of the title. This time, only two were created: Ninja and Saurian, the latter of which we'll be using. The game is an indirect successor to the Mega Man Battle Network series. Like its predecessors, it involves light-action incorporated into RPG-styled battles. The root gameplay is enjoyable, but doesn't seem to have the lasting power to be re-packaged perpetually until the end of the time as does the primary franchise.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Mega Man Star Force 2 - Zerker X Saurian

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Mega Man Star Force 2 - Zerker X Saurian originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomjoystiqfeaturesmega-manmega-man-9mega-man-battle-networkmega-man-star-forcemega-man-star-force-2mega-man-star-force-3shovelwareWed, 08 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Cake Mania]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/bury-the-shovelware-cake-mania/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/bury-the-shovelware-cake-mania/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/bury-the-shovelware-cake-mania/#commentsFiled under:



Welcome to the first edition of the new Bury the Shovelware. We're going to shake things up a bit in the interest of keeping it fresh. Instead of simply timing the games, we're going to explore the titles in five specific areas. They are:
  1. Pedigree - The background of the developer, publisher, and franchise.
  2. The Critics Said - A brief overview of what the critics said.
  3. Rap Sheet - The main glaring flaws of the game.
  4. Silver Lining - Redeemable qualities found (if any).
  5. Our Deduction - The final word on the title.
We hope you enjoy this new approach. Let us know what you think in the comment section. Our first swing at this new format will take a look at Cake Mania.

Pedigree

Cake Mania is a restaurant simulation based around baking -- you guessed it -- cakes. The franchise is relatively new but is featured on several other systems, including the PS2 and PC. It's published by Majesco Games, a company which walks a thin line between quality titles (Nanostray, Cooking Mama) and shovelware (Nacho Libre, Fish Tycoon). Plus, we're totally angry at Majesco for canceling the remake of A Boy and His Blob. Developer Digital Embryo is relatively green in terms of games produced, as Cake Mania makes up 25% of its entire catalog. Other games developed include the shudder-inducing titled Puppy Luv Adventures.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Cake Mania

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Cake Mania originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cake-maniadigital-embryojoystiqfeaturesmajescomajesco-entertainmentshovelwareWed, 01 Oct 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: N+]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/bury-the-shovelware-n/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/bury-the-shovelware-n/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/bury-the-shovelware-n/#commentsFiled under:



Man, it must feel like I'm just trying to pick fights this week. Allow me to explain myself: I love n+. It's incredibly fun, elegant, and well-made. JC gave the game a 9.5 / 10, and I'd say that's a pretty fair score. So how on earth does a good game get picked for Bury the Shovelware?

Throughout the duration of this column, we've learned a lot about shovelware. We've examined the sharing of blame between the publisher and developer, the curse of a license, the effects of critics' perception, and much more. Our top priority has been determining common attributes. One might ask what is the single, definitive trait common throughout all shovelware. The easy answer would be "it sucks." But to who? You? Me? Everyone? If you were to wander through the graveyard of the DS's library, even the loneliest tombstone will have a sympathizer or two. Particularly for younger gamers who might not know any better, cognizance is everything.

Thus, we must focus on the objective. As the swipe for this series states, "shovelware refers to any game in which time and effort were eschewed in favor of turning a quick profit." Theoretically, any game which shows compromise in any area for the benefit of time and/or money might be considered shovelware. Even if the game is a critical success, one can still identify flaws in its design. Without labeling n+ as shovelware, let's examine how its existence relates to the bottom-feeders of the DS.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: N+

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: N+ originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesmetanetmetanet-softwaren n-plusplatformplatformershovelwareWed, 24 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Tenchu Dark Secret]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/bury-the-shovelware-tenchu-dark-secret/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/bury-the-shovelware-tenchu-dark-secret/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/17/bury-the-shovelware-tenchu-dark-secret/#commentsFiled under:



The fall from grace. Unless your heart is nothing more than a cold, shriveled lump, you probably don't like to witness a once-respectable series slowly degrade. It's happened to many franchises. Often the decay is gradual, with gamers slowly noticing a decline in quality and is correlated with slumping sales. Other times a single misstep can throw an entire series against the ropes and nearly into submission. Either way, it's never pleasant to witness failure. Well, almost never.

What was once a prominent pillar in the stealth world has been slowly regressing into mediocrity. The Tenchu series was one of the first and most successful entries in the emerging stealth-based genre of the late 1990's. Though games involving evasive maneuvering over combat had been around for awhile, they truly flourished in 3D. From the onset, Tenchu was there. Peered with and rivaled against other top-notch franchises such as Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell, the word "Tenchu" was synonymous with heart-thumping, adrenaline-pumping sneaky gameplay. But everything eventually dies. And the Tenchu series received a terminal illness in the form of Tenchu: Dark Secret. Unless somebody steps in and performs some sort of miracle, we might have to talk to Tenchu fans about video game heaven. It's where all game franchises go when they pass away. All of Tenchu's friends are there, like Golden Axe, ToeJam & Earl, and Ecco the Dolphin (Sega, please prove me wrong on these).

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Tenchu Dark Secret

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Tenchu Dark Secret originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eccothedolphingolden-axejack-thompsonjoystiqfeaturesnintendosegashovelwaretenchutenchudarksecrettoejamandearlWed, 17 Sep 2008 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Myst]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/bury-the-shovelware-myst/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/bury-the-shovelware-myst/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/10/bury-the-shovelware-myst/#commentsFiled under:



Ports are tricky. Indeed, the DS's big brother gets a lot of flak for hosting PS2 ports with tacked-on waggle. Yet, if the original game is good and a reasonable amount of bonus content is added, we generally give the game a pass.

But things get even trickier when discussing the retro-port. I touched on this at the end of the Petz Dogz Fashion post, but it's worth restating: would you pay full retail price for an exact copy of your favorite retro game? As the Super Mario Advance series proved: yes, you will. Apparently, identical or near-identical copies of older games at standard market prices can still sell extremely well. It'll be interesting to see how successful the Chrono Trigger port will be (my prediction: very). It'd be especially nice if we could determine how many of those purchasing the game have never played it before (my second prediction: not very many). Information such as this would allow us to determine what effect -- if any -- retro-ports have on the current state of gaming.

Examining Myst for the DS has been on my queue for quite some time. The reason for the delay was simply because I was unsure if it was fair to put it under the spotlight since I never played the original. But upon deliberating the sentiments above, I realized the DS port of the 1993 graphic adventure would be the perfect opportunity to put the question to a litmus test.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Myst

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Myst originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeatureslostmidwaymystpetzportretroshovelwareWed, 10 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Peter Jackson's King Kong]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/bury-the-shovelware-peter-jacksons-king-kong/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/bury-the-shovelware-peter-jacksons-king-kong/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/27/bury-the-shovelware-peter-jacksons-king-kong/#commentsFiled under:



They say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but who'd expect it to plummet far away from its source, carried far by strong winds and subsequently rolled down a series of steep hills, and later to be picked up by a curious passer-by who takes it home as a souvenir ... overseas. Well, that might be a bit strong. While some felt that Peter Jackson's 2005 remake of King Kong was too long or used too many distracting CGI effects, it was generally well-received. The critical reception of the home console games based on the film were also fairly positive. I personally didn't play any of the other versions of the game, all of which looked to have that big-budget feel. Lacking access to the DS version's development financial reports, I'm not sure about the amount of resources that went into creating it. But whether it was an honest effort that encountered flaws along the way or it was simply lacking from the start, there's no denying that it's shovelware once you've gotten your hands on it.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Peter Jackson's King Kong

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Peter Jackson's King Kong originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesking-kongpeter-jacksonshovelwareubisoftWed, 27 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Petz Dogz Fashion]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/bury-the-shovelware-petz-dogz-fashion/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/bury-the-shovelware-petz-dogz-fashion/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/bury-the-shovelware-petz-dogz-fashion/#commentsFiled under:



This title seemed to be doomed from the beginning: it's made by Ubisoft, it's a pet simulator, and it uses Z's where there should be S's. But you may be surprised to learn that this actually isn't quite a terrible game. Yet it's still shovelware. So how does one achieve this seemingly contradictory state? Last week, we discussed imitation. While Best of Tests DS was clearly trying to bite off some of the Brain Age momentum, its limited content and awful design made it a lackluster game. Thus, it was easily identified as shovelware. But what does one do when a seemingly good game is, at its core, nothing more than a simple clone of an existing title (albeit a well done clone)? Here's my take on things.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Petz Dogz Fashion

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Petz Dogz Fashion originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dogzjoystiqfeaturespetspetzshovelwareubisoftvirtualpetWed, 20 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Best of Tests DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/bury-the-shovelware-best-of-tests-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/bury-the-shovelware-best-of-tests-ds/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/13/bury-the-shovelware-best-of-tests-ds/#commentsFiled under:



Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but in the world of gaming it often comes across as a slap in the face. Let us distinguish between inspiration and outright mimicry. It's not at all uncommon for a good game to have strong roots in a previously-released title. Descendants of popular titles are acceptable and standard, as many early popular arcade games including Galaxian and Centipede were heavily based on the groundbreaking Space Invaders. Even the industry-revolutionizing Super Mario Bros can be seen as the prototype for nearly every side-scrolling game since, itself having traces of Pitfall.

But in order to avoid being a cheap imitation, the inspired game must expand upon or branch the formula in a new direction. Before its release, the excellent Banjo-Kazooie was seen by some gaming journalists as nothing more than a Super Mario 64 clone. In hindsight, that's an amazingly foolish indictment. But there's the trick: while they do share similarities, they are very different games. Banjo-Kazooie did what a good game inspired by another should do: use a solid foundation and build upon it. Some titles, like Best of Tests DS, takes the solid Brain Age foundation, but instead cuts it open and squeezes lemon juice inside.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Best of Tests DS

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Best of Tests DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brain-agebrainagejoystiqfeaturesshovelwareWed, 13 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Worst idea EVAR]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/wii-warm-up-worst-idea-evar/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/wii-warm-up-worst-idea-evar/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/08/wii-warm-up-worst-idea-evar/#commentsFiled under:


Let's put aside for a moment titles like Chicken Shoot. We don't want to talk about the obvious bad eggs or the crap that litters the shelves. Instead, let's talk about some of the bad ideas that actually started out as good ideas, or that came from otherwise interesting or good developers. What Wii games have made you pull out that handy Captain Picard image of WTFery? We're sure a couple of things might come to mind.

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Worst idea EVAR originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad-ideashovelwareworst-gamesFri, 08 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Superman Returns]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/bury-the-shovelware-superman-returns/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/bury-the-shovelware-superman-returns/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/bury-the-shovelware-superman-returns/#commentsFiled under:



Opinion leadership. It's quite a scary concept. When planning the waves of advertisement for a product, marketers will implement what they describe as "opinion leaders": those who are viewed with respect by the potential market and will help persuade "lower-level consumers" to purchase their product. In other words, we're too stupid to know what we want and so they're going to pay someone we think is legitimate to tell us what we like. I wouldn't dare point fingers, but perhaps you've seen this before: a large gaming news source suddenly seems to be hot for a certain upcoming game. (Don't look at us.)

As discomforting as this sounds, it's actually a very common and natural occurrence. Certainly we've all been persuaded by friends, family, and respectable gaming news sources. Additionally, the influence isn't restricted towards the positive. Indeed, in the wake of anti-French sentiments and boycotts following France's denouncement of the Iraq war, French's Mustard (unrelated to the country) felt the need to release a press statement assuring consumers that "the only thing French about French's Mustard is the name." As you can see, unrelated negativity can percolate into that which is only similar in the letters used to identify it.

Superman for the N64 -- commonly referred to as Superman 64 -- is widely regarded as one of the worst games of all-time. So when I discovered Superman Returns for the DS floating around the very bottom of the system's metascores, I was truly puzzled. "Could they really have messed up Superman this bad twice?" Read on to find out.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Superman Returns

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Superman Returns originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joystiqfeaturesshovelwaresupermansuperman-returnssuperman64Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Deal or No Deal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/30/bury-the-shovelware-deal-or-no-deal/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/30/bury-the-shovelware-deal-or-no-deal/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/30/bury-the-shovelware-deal-or-no-deal/#commentsFiled under:



To learn all there is about something, you sometimes need to go to the extremes. For shovelware, we are about to boldly trek into the eye of the storm. Deal or No Deal has the lowest aggregate score according to Metacritic, narrowly edging out Homie Rollerz. But we need to give it a fair chance. We can't succumb to the self-fulfilling prophecy. And besides, as a poster hanging in my high school English teacher's classroom profoundly stated, "what is right is not always popular, and what is popular is not always right." Indeed, just because one nerd hates Castlevania 2 doesn't mean you should automatically define it as a bad game. Okay, I can't fluff this anymore: Deal or No Deal for the DS isn't as crappy as you expected. It's crappier.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Deal or No Deal

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Deal or No Deal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>deal-or-no-dealdestination-softwaregame-showhowie-mandeljoystiqfeaturesshovelwareWed, 30 Jul 2008 10:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Jackass the Game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/bury-the-shovelware-jackass-the-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/bury-the-shovelware-jackass-the-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/23/bury-the-shovelware-jackass-the-game/#commentsFiled under:



Licenses can be lethal. But as in all facets of life, prejudice shouldn't rule our thoughts. Every title should be given a fair chance. And yes, the same ought to apply to a game based on a television program in which Johnny Knoxville artificially inseminates a cow.

To be honest, I was really hoping to be pleasantly surprised by this game. While Jackass was never the Jeopardy! of its time, it has swiped at least a chuckle or two from nearly all who bear witness to its inane displays of consenting human mutilation. This kind of brainless nihilism could easily lend itself to an arcade-style video game: small challenges with cheap thrills. Maybe Sensory Sweep could deliver a unique collage of pain and amusement. Perhaps it could be a truly unique experience, going against the grain of nearly every other game in history and rewarding the player for injury and humiliation, not sustainment or style: the true anti-parkour. But I might be expecting too much from something titled Jackass the Game. Yes folks, you guessed it ... we've got shovelware.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Jackass the Game

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Jackass the Game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jackassjoystiqfeaturesmtvred-milesensory-sweep-studiosshovelwareWed, 23 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury The Shovelware: Pokemon Dash]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/bury-the-shovelware-pokemon-dash/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/bury-the-shovelware-pokemon-dash/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/bury-the-shovelware-pokemon-dash/#commentsFiled under:



Nintendo's big E3 press conference has come and gone. While the mainstream media outlets will praise titles such as Wii Music and Wii Sports Resort, the hardcore gamer has reason to feel underwhelmed. Whenever the Big N fails to please its base, one might wonder how the seemingly impervious Nintendo could fail to deliver on expectations. However, like all that is human, the house Miyamoto built is not without its blemishes. When "mistake" and "Nintendo" are mentioned in the same sentence, those who aren't hurling bricks at the heretic are known to immediately think of the Virtual Boy. Nonetheless, Nintendo has had its fair share of publishing misfires involving some of its biggest licenses.

Often, the company will allow its intellectual properties to be used in games developed by second or even third parties. Mario, Donkey Kong, Zelda, and Metroid have all had titles outsourced. Like a mother bear protecting her cubs, Nintendo tends to insist on quality development. They will publish these games themselves in part to assure the consumer that the title is worthy of its featured IP (otherwise, things can get ugly). Nintendo is a business, however, and businesses need to make money. And what's one of the quickest ways to turn a profit? That's right: slap a well-known franchise onto a subpar piece of shovelware. The exemplar piece can be found in Pokémon Dash, a disastrous "scratch-your-DS-into-submission" racer.

Continue reading Bury The Shovelware: Pokemon Dash

JoystiqBury The Shovelware: Pokemon Dash originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambrellajoystiqfeaturesmario-kart-dsnintendopikachupokemonpokemon-dashshovelwareWed, 16 Jul 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Ping Pals]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/bury-the-shovelware-ping-pals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/bury-the-shovelware-ping-pals/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/09/bury-the-shovelware-ping-pals/#commentsFiled under:



While the response to last week's inaugural column was universally appreciated, the very first comment was particularly intriguing. The reader brought up an excellent point: definitively labeling a developer as poor because of one bad game is very narrow-minded. After all, good developers and bad games are not always mutually exclusive. In order to prove this idea, one should start with an incredible game. Fortunately, the DS has plenty of those. Then, the developer's catalog should be searched for any traces of shovelware.

And when talking about good games on the DS, one need not look further than the only title to receive a perfect 10 from DS Fanboy: Contra 4. It is awesome. For any other game, that wouldn't be enough for a "review," but with Contra 4, nothing else is necessary. WayForward Technologies' 2007 masterpiece was about as close to perfect as a game can be. Thus, the California-based developer was a perfect candidate for closet searching. And was there ever a skeleton to be found inside! Ping Pals, which is well known as being one of the DS's earliest atrocities, was the first game WayForward developed for the DS. At face value, the tween-focused chat utility appears to be nothing more than a glitter-coated PictoChat used to discuss iCarly and Webkinz. Released mere weeks after the launch of the DS, it was universally censured by both critics and love-to-hate gamers. Electronic Gaming Monthly called it "An abysmal failure," and IGN -- who employs Mark Bozon, brother of WayForward's creative director Matt Bozon -- pulled no punches when stating that "Ping Pals is easily the most unnecessary product for the system." Ouch. Clearly, somewhere between Ping Pals and Contra 4 lies the purest definition of shovelware.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Ping Pals

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Ping Pals originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contra-4joystiqfeaturesping-palspingpalsshovelwarewayforwardwayforwardtechnologiesWed, 09 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Bury the Shovelware: Homie Rollerz]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/bury-the-shovelware-homie-rollerz/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/bury-the-shovelware-homie-rollerz/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/bury-the-shovelware-homie-rollerz/#commentsFiled under:



Bury the Shovelware is a new weekly feature in which DS Fanboy dives deep into the mounds of gaming abominations dumped upon the unsuspecting public by various developers. Like a stool sample collected from a heap of animal dung in order to learn more about its creator, we'll be dissecting, studying and testing our subjects. We will record our findings, and mark how long the title can be endured. Every Wednesday, we'll take a closer look at the proletariat of the DS's vast library.

For this first installment, I sought something that epitomizes shovelware: a game that shows too little inspiration (or too much from one blockbuster title) and/or is virtually unplayable. These attributes are all well represented in Homie Rollerz. In an attempt to feed off the momentum of the "Homies" craze (of many years ago), developer Webfoot Technologies created a racing title that aspired to capture the invigorating frenzy of Mario Kart DS, but instead leaves the user bored, frustrated, and robbed of their time. How long could I stand Homie Rollerz? Roll on to find out.

Continue reading Bury the Shovelware: Homie Rollerz

JoystiqBury the Shovelware: Homie Rollerz originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>destineerhomie-rollerzjoystiqfeaturesracingshovelwarewebfoot-technologiesWed, 02 Jul 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Steering blobs and dropping dudes with Costco's $10.99 sale]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/steering-blobs-and-dropping-dudes-with-costcos-10-99-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/steering-blobs-and-dropping-dudes-with-costcos-10-99-sale/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/steering-blobs-and-dropping-dudes-with-costcos-10-99-sale/#commentsFiled under:



Is Mercury Meltdown Revolution a part of your Wii collection? If not, it absolutely should be, for Ignition's addictive puzzler must be one of the most criminally overlooked gems on the platform. And now Costco has it for $10.99, along with a bunch of other titles that range from pretty damn good to shovelware (oh, hai Pool Party). Angelina Jolie favorite Ghost Squad is also on sale, giving you a chance to knock terrorists from their speeding, swan-shaped jet skis, and save money in the process. If a better offer has come along this century, we've yet to see it.

Below are the six titles that most stood out to us (the full list is past the jump); we expect at least two of these to be in your house by June 22nd, when the sale ends:
  • Ghost Squad
  • Sonic and the Secret Rings
  • Sega Bass Fishing
  • Mercury Meltdown: Revolution
  • Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
  • SSX Blur

Gallery: Mercury Meltdown Revolution


Gallery: Ghost Squad Wii

Continue reading Steering blobs and dropping dudes with Costco's $10.99 sale

JoystiqSteering blobs and dropping dudes with Costco's $10.99 sale originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alien-syndromearctic-taleavatarcarscode-lyokocostcocounter-forcedragon-ball-zfishingghost-squadindianopolismercury-meltdownminigamesmonkey-ballplatformpool-partypuzzleracingsega-bass-fishingshootershovelwaresonicsonic-and-the-secret-ringssonic-ridersspongebob-squarepantsssx-blurultimate-board-game-collectionwilliams-pinballwinter-sportszapperWed, 11 Jun 2008 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft loves getting exclusive with the Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/ubisoft-loves-getting-exclusive-with-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/ubisoft-loves-getting-exclusive-with-the-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/ubisoft-loves-getting-exclusive-with-the-wii/#commentsFiled under: ,

In an interview with Ubisoft UK's Managing Director, Rob Cooper, GamesIndustry unveiled some insight regarding Ubisoft's policy on Wii-exclusive titles. Many gamers have complained about the piles of shovelware and lousy ports while Wii Play and other mini-game compilations continue to dominate sales charts worldwide.

His line of thinking makes sense. While it may be easy to port the latest rubbish from other consoles, Wii gamers are clearly buying original titles by the bucketload. Cooper explains that exclusive titles for the Wii will always get that extra bit of attention, and since gamers are already rocking out with casual party games, they will be looking for bigger games you can't find anywhere else. Okay, Ubisoft still likes to throw a few random games out there, but based on Cooper's interview, from a business perspective they know what will end up being the most popular.

Need some examples? The Raving Rabbids series, No More Heroes and yes, even Red Steel are some of the successful names in Ubisoft's portfolio. As gamers, we already know the Wii is something different entirely, and it's good to see some positive reinforcement from the powerful players in the industry. For further Ubisoft shenanigans, check out the full interview.

JoystiqUbisoft loves getting exclusive with the Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exclusiveno-more-heroesraving-rabbidsred-steelrob-coopershovelwareubisoftubisoft-ukwii-exclusivewii-playThu, 05 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft forum moderator explains forthcoming shovelware]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/ubisoft-forum-moderator-explains-forthcoming-shovelware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/ubisoft-forum-moderator-explains-forthcoming-shovelware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/ubisoft-forum-moderator-explains-forthcoming-shovelware/#commentsFiled under:



It was only a few months ago that Ubisoft's Yves Guillemot was promising us all "Nintendo-like quality" games. Since then, the company has announced Raving Rabbids TV Party, Babies Party, Shaun White Snowboarding, and much, much less. It's a line-up that has generated only ripples of laughter on the internetz, rather than tremors of fear in Kyoto.

The snickering is not limited to NeoGAF. Ubisoft's own forums have come under attack from those who are disillusioned by the company's planned Wii output, so much so that UK Forum Manager "Raide" recently had to ride to Ubi's defense. The gist of his argument seems to be: because the best-selling games on the Wii aren't necessarily the best games, it's actually okay for Ubisoft to release stuff that, well, doesn't have "Nintendo-like quality."

"If you look at the most successful Wii games, they are not amazing new AAA games, they are predominantly family-orientated games/alternative games," explained Raide, adding that Ubisoft is pursuing the casual dollar because "parents who are buying a console for their children do not really care about Prince of Persia, Rainbow Six or Far Cry on the box."

On one level, Raide's logic is fairly sound; after all, games targeted at the casual sector do sell well (particularly in the UK and Europe), and it's understandable that Ubisoft has shareholders to keep happy. But promising higher quality Wii games and singularly failing to deliver on that pledge? That's just weak. Hit the "Source" link below for Raide's full defense.



[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqUbisoft forum moderator explains forthcoming shovelware originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiencebabiesbabies-partycasualhardcoremehwarerabbidsraving-rabbidsshaun-whiteshaun-white-snowboar...shovelwaresnowboardingsportsubisoftMon, 02 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WiiWare developer argues the case for shovelware]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/wiiware-developer-argues-the-case-for-shovelware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/wiiware-developer-argues-the-case-for-shovelware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/wiiware-developer-argues-the-case-for-shovelware/#commentsFiled under:



One of the biggest criticisms routinely thrown at the Wii is related to the amount of shovelware that has popped up on the system, yet not everybody is convinced that the likes of Pool Party and Rig Racer 2 are a force for evil. Chatting to Next-Gen.biz about his company's forthcoming Major League Eating: The Game, Mastiff chief Bill Swartz seemed to defend the wealth of filler software that appears on Nintendo's machine, arguing that a wider range of games will ultimately yield more gems, and that consumers are perfectly capable of making their own choice.

For what it's worth, we agree that bigger libraries generally produce a greater number of top-drawer titles -- the PlayStation 2 is a fine example of this trend -- but we're not so sure about the second part. Are consumers really educated enough about games to make a good choice? Game Party's continued success in the UK suggests not.

JoystiqWiiWare developer argues the case for shovelware originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 May 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill-swartzmajor-league-eatingmastiffminigamesshovelwareTue, 13 May 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Wii games aren't good]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/report-wii-games-arent-good/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/report-wii-games-arent-good/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/report-wii-games-arent-good/#commentsFiled under: ,


Based on data pulled from GameRankings, folks over at GameFunk have prepared the nice little chart above. Apparently, Wii games don't get that great of marks from reviewers. Compared to the marks of games on other consoles, it makes the Wii's library look even worse!

Here's the numbers:
  • Xbox 360: 374 games: 26% good, 24% bad
  • PS3: 122 games: 33% good, 17% bad
  • Wii: 189 games: 11% good, 37% bad
But, before you punch your computer monitor in a fit of rage, know this: the Wii does have a lot of shovelware. It's just the price of success, as publishers and developers see the console as a means to make money. And that's what they're in it for.

Also, keep in mind that the PS3 and Xbox 360 don't have Metroid Prime 3: Corruption or No More Heroes. So they pretty much lose.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqReport: Wii games aren't good originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>criticsmicrosoftps3reviewsshovelwaresonyxbox360Fri, 02 May 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: The Nintendo Seal of Quality]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/wii-warm-up-the-nintendo-seal-of-quality/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/wii-warm-up-the-nintendo-seal-of-quality/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/16/wii-warm-up-the-nintendo-seal-of-quality/#commentsFiled under:

You may or may not know that Nintendo no longer subjects games to the company's Seal of Quality. Do you think that this is a good or bad thing?

Would you rather the Seal of Quality be enforced, in order to prevent some of the shovelware that we've seen flood the Wii? Or, do you think it wouldn't make much of a difference? After all, even with Nintendo's seal, there were more than enough bad games in existence.

So, which is it: Seal, or no seal?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: The Nintendo Seal of Quality originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>seal-of-qualityshovelwareSun, 16 Mar 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A convincing defense of Wii budget games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/a-convincing-defense-of-wii-budget-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/a-convincing-defense-of-wii-budget-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/06/a-convincing-defense-of-wii-budget-games/#commentsFiled under:

Chris Kohler has taken a somewhat surprising stance on an issue that Wii enthusiasts have to face daily: shovelware. Most people online seem to be of the opinion that Wii shovelware will cause the Wii to fail, the game industry to crash, and life on Earth to end (when aliens discover our copies of Chicken Shoot and declare us unfit stewards of our planet), but Kohler sees Wii shovelware as not just not terrible, but maybe even good.

Supporting his argument is one of his best examples of shovelware gone right: D3 Publisher's Simple series. D3 admits in the very packaging that their games are cheap, with the implication that you shouldn't expect much. People buy them expecting flawed experiences, and can then ignore the technical issues. Simple games allow games by new developers with small budgets to share shelf space with AAA games. And if people don't want that, they know not to pick up the game.

People can spot a crap game, Kohler says, and know to avoid it. Nobody's going to be fooled into thinking a Data Design Interactive game is high-quality. Kohler likens it to knockoff He-Man toys or bargain-bin DVDs in Walgreens: people can tell the difference, and these things don't deter sales of real products at all. What they offer is a cheap, occasionally novel choice, and more choice is always better. If a "shovelware" game is at least a little bit fun, then it's good that it exists.

The final point he makes, which is something we hadn't considered: allowing garbage on the system is a message that Nintendo isn't so closely restricting content for the Wii. This could translate into AO-rated games in the future, or (we think) wildly experimental games.

JoystiqA convincing defense of Wii budget games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>d3shovelwaresimpleThu, 06 Mar 2008 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Major League Eating crammed into WiiWare]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/major-league-eating-crammed-into-wiiware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/major-league-eating-crammed-into-wiiware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/29/major-league-eating-crammed-into-wiiware/#commentsFiled under: ,

mle
Shovelware has graduated to the next level: irony. Turns out Mastiff plans to debut its coveted Major League Eating license on WiiWare, when the service launches May 12. Players will literally simulate the shoveling of food into their mouths using Nintendo's patented Waggletech(R). You thought busted TVs were bad? Wait till someone swallows a Wiimote.

Major League Eating: The Game features two-player offline play, plus an online mode and leaderboards. Players will be taught to use various techniques -- like the cram, toss and typewriter -- while engaging opponents with an arsenal of 'gurgitatory' weaponry, including bites, burps, belches, mustard gas and jalapeño flames. Burp-offs and hot potato challenges are also con-firmed. This can't be ... Oh yes, it's real.

JoystiqMajor League Eating crammed into WiiWare originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>major-league-eatingmastiffmleshovelwareWiiwiiwareFri, 29 Feb 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Phoenix plans twelve games to avoid this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/phoenix-plans-twelve-games-to-avoid-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/phoenix-plans-twelve-games-to-avoid-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/28/phoenix-plans-twelve-games-to-avoid-this-year/#comments
Generally, when it comes to the DS, we tend to associate the name "Phoenix" with good things. European publisher Phoenix Games, though, is determined to break the mold, tainting the name we've come to know and love on our handhelds. The company is bringing twelve games to the DS this year (with twelve Wii titles to match), none of which sound fun unless you like the sound of Jungle Crew, Love Heart, and Dalmatians 4.

Grabbed from the bowels of the "rejected game ideas" pile, these twelve games probably never even had a chance. Of course, if they're developed with care, we'd be able to overlook some bad concept decisions. Seeing how Phoenix is popping them out faster than an over-sexed rabbit, though, we doubt this is the case.

Even though these games are budget titles and obviously marketed to kids, we don't think we're being too harsh. Phoenix has a track record for releasing awful titles, and we wouldn't recommend subjecting children to these horrors.

For a list of what games to expect from Phoenix, check out the company's website here.

[Via GoNintendo]

JoystiqPhoenix plans twelve games to avoid this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budgetdalmatians-4jungle-crewlove-heartphoenixphoenix-gamesshovelwareThu, 28 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[WRUP: Choose your shovelware edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/wrup-choose-your-shovelware-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/wrup-choose-your-shovelware-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/wrup-choose-your-shovelware-edition/#commentsFiled under:


Checking this week's releases, the titles on that list have become quite the story. The whole debate over shovelware on the Wii and its possible benefit or harm to the console is one that is likely to not resolve in quite some time. So, we wonder about how we'll game through the time times up until we get No More Heroes and, after, a crack at paradise.

How will you get through? Get a new title over the holidays you have yet to finish?

JoystiqWRUP: Choose your shovelware edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>releasesshovelwareFri, 04 Jan 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Let's talk shovelware]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/wii-warm-up-lets-talk-shovelware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/wii-warm-up-lets-talk-shovelware/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/04/wii-warm-up-lets-talk-shovelware/#commentsFiled under:

Shovelware: it's been an issue since the Wii took off. Some people are concerned, some don't care, and some think that any attention on the console is good attention, but today? We're not interested in where you stand on that, or on the origins thereof; we talked about that yesterday, after all. Oh, we care, but we have some other things we want to know today. What we want to know is: how many people do you know who buy things you might consider shovelware, and why? Is it the box that lures them in? The sound of a game? Is it that they don't ever read reviews?

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Let's talk shovelware originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>shovelwareFri, 04 Jan 2008 09:00:00 EST