The problem is that there is no common definition for "shovelware". Too many people use it as a euphemism for "stuff I don't like," which is -- quite simply -- stupid with a Capital S. And then we end up with people calling all indies "shovelware", or all PS2 ports "shovelware", or anything made for casual gamers "shovelware." Heck, I even saw one web site put together a list of "all the mobile games that have been ported to the Switch," and the list included titles that originated on consoles, such as de Blob.But the minute I suggest that there's a QC issue with the eShop and there's too much shovelware getting through? I'm a console warrior.
The problem is that there is no common definition for "shovelware". Too many people use it as a euphemism for "stuff I don't like," which is -- quite simply -- stupid with a Capital S. And then we end up with people calling all indies "shovelware", or all PS2 ports "shovelware", or anything made for casual gamers "shovelware." Heck, I even saw one web site put together a list of "all the mobile games that have been ported to the Switch," and the list included titles that originated on consoles, such as de Blob.
The truth is that every successful platform will have lots of games, and many of those games will be stuff that you, Random Joe Gamer, has no interest in whatsoever. And that's JUST FINE. Anyone who sneers "shovelware" while looking down their nose at games just because they're not interested in them are elitist snobs and should be jeered as such.
Nice. And accurate lmao (this time I got it. :P)i COuld Now Say that thOse are poorLy thought out Expressions of disagreement. Weird As it is, theRe iS a lot of it around lately.
Yep, Wii was worse but Switch is still young and you already have to dig a bit to find the great stuff, it's quite annoying tbh.There is some serious shovelware on there, but there are mountains of excellent stuff as well.
Tip: use the monthly eShop threads on Era to get recommendations.
The irony is that even amongst Nintendo fans, I'm probably one of the least dissatisfied with their practices...
But the minute I suggest that there's a QC issue with the eShop and there's too much shovelware getting through? I'm a console warrior. Ah well I'm sure I'm not the first person to have issues with him and I won't be the last.
Fair point which deserves a fair answer. Hopefully this isn't too long and ranty.The problem is that there is no common definition for "shovelware". Too many people use it as a euphemism for "stuff I don't like," which is -- quite simply -- stupid with a Capital S. And then we end up with people calling all indies "shovelware", or all PS2 ports "shovelware", or anything made for casual gamers "shovelware." Heck, I even saw one web site put together a list of "all the mobile games that have been ported to the Switch," and the list included titles that originated on consoles, such as de Blob.
The truth is that every successful platform will have lots of games, and many of those games will be stuff that you, Random Joe Gamer, has no interest in whatsoever. And that's JUST FINE. Anyone who sneers "shovelware" while looking down their nose at games just because they're not interested in them are elitist snobs and should be jeered as such.
Fair point which deserves a fair answer. Hopefully this isn't too long and ranty.
You're right shovelware is a subjective term, but you can't dismiss the term simply for being subjective, because then you're dismissing people's right to have quality standards. And obviously when people (and me specifically) are talking about shovelware, it goes without saying that we're being subjective.
Specifically my issue is that there seem to be zero quality standards and that does drown things out (I've had trouble finding games I didn't realise were on Switch, and missing games which were on sale). I've mentioned before a series of badly google translated soft erotic novels with images from shutter stock because that stuck in my mind. But even looking on the latest releases you've got Akihabara Crash, Tokyo School Life, Percy's Predicament Deluxe (seriously look that one up). These are games getting through Switch's QC process but nowhere else.
These are obviously the worst of the worst, but there are an absolute ton of easy mobile ports (often completely unoptimised, some still in portrait mode) which I would certainly class as shovelware, and I know a lot of people would agree with me on. As you say it's subjective, but that seems like a silly response to questions over videogame quality which is entirely subjective.
I mean, it's a high school erotic visual novel with a bad translation. So I'm quite comfortable calling that low quality. But you do you.Tokyo School Life has "Very Positive" reviews(9/10 with 565 reviews) for the Steam version and comes from M2 and PQube, so yeah if you consider that shovelware you're probably considering a lot of quality stuff shovelware just because it doesn't personally appeal to you.
You also can't assume that a game not having a metascore means its shovelware. This just came out on Switch:
It doesn't have enough reviews to receive a metascore, but it's got a 9/10 average on Steam from 81 reviews.
But that's exactly what you're doing when you dismiss entire swaths of games as "shovelware" -- "all these games aren't interesting to me, therefore they shouldn't interest you, either."You're right shovelware is a subjective term, but you can't dismiss the term simply for being subjective, because then you're dismissing people's right to have quality standards.
You're confabulating two separate problems, the quality of the titles in the eShop and the findability of the eShop itself. Findability is a continuous problem in e-commerce that I'm well aware of, and nobody -- even outside of video games -- has a viable solution yet. Just look at Steam or the PlayStation Store for examples.Specifically my issue is that there seem to be zero quality standards and that does drown things out (I've had trouble finding games I didn't realise were on Switch, and missing games which were on sale).
And if someone likes those and buys them, then what? Are you going to tell them their tastes are bad and they should feel bad?But even looking on the latest releases you've got Akihabara Crash, Tokyo School Life, Percy's Predicament Deluxe (seriously look that one up). These are games getting through Switch's QC process but nowhere else.
Ah, appealing to the invisible crowd of supporters, a classic! Next you'll be telling me you're the spokesman for the Silent Majority of gamers.These are obviously the worst of the worst, but there are an absolute ton of easy mobile ports (often completely unoptimised, some still in portrait mode) which I would certainly class as shovelware, and I know a lot of people would agree with me on.
Video game quality is not entirely subjective -- a game that crashes six minutes after playing or corrupts save files is unarguably bad quality, for instance. You can't use "it's all subjective" as a shield to hide the core of your elitist view that "SOME games (which I like) are high-quality titles, and OTHER games (which I don't like) are 'shovelware' that should be buried in a dark hole forever."As you say it's subjective, but that seems like a silly response to questions over videogame quality which is entirely subjective.
Its not unreasonable to have some kind of standards as to what games get on a system's store. It's not elitist. It's curation. Its quality control. It's what other stores do.But that's exactly what you're doing when you dismiss entire swaths of games as "shovelware" -- "all these games aren't interesting to me, therefore they shouldn't interest you, either."
You're confabulating two separate problems, the quality of the titles in the eShop and the findability of the eShop itself. Findability is a continuous problem in e-commerce that I'm well aware of, and nobody -- even outside of video games -- has a viable solution yet. Just look at Steam or the PlayStation Store for examples.
As for quality, like you said, that's an entirely subjective argument used to dismiss things you dislike, and has no place in this discussion. One man's trash is another man's treasure.
And if someone likes those and buys them, then what? Are you going to tell them their tastes are bad and they should feel bad?
Ah, appealing to the invisible crowd of supporters, a classic! Next you'll be telling me you're the spokesman for the Silent Majority of gamers.
Video game quality is not entirely subjective -- a game that crashes six minutes after playing or corrupts save files is unarguably bad quality, for instance. You can't use "it's all subjective" as a shield to hide the core of your elitist view that "SOME games (which I like) are high-quality titles, and OTHER games (which I don't like) are 'shovelware' that should be buried in a dark hole forever."
It's possible that's true while also being true they've severely ruined the credibility of their online offerings.Switch will end up being Nintendo's most successful platform for software sales by a significant amount. Save this post.
Implosion is really, really mediocre. Voez I'll give you.Games like Implosion, Voez and Mercenaries Chronicles all originated on mobile and are all at the very least good games. Being a mobile game means absolutely nothing in terms of quality.
Also the vast majority of the shovelware on the eShop is also on PSN and XBO.(nevermind Steam/PC)
Those are rookie numbers, you got to pump those numbers up
I was mistaken, I own 9. ;)