Games that are forever doomed to scorn/obscurity because of their IP?
This thread is about which games are almost entirely destined to remain as bargain bin trash, or forgotten and avoided like the plague because of the IP on which they're based. Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen games are a good example because they were neither good games and are considered irrevelant to our current generation, not to mention they're for little girls. Barbie is becoming less relevant. Even some boy games based on forgotten 90s/00s cartoons are subject to that. These games are only ideal for a completist (which are only among the most dedicated) or as replacement parts for other more important games, or as a conversation piece to jeer at. Or, lastly, a paper weight. Sadly, these games contaminate the shelves of stores and other places with no hope of ever disappearing as time goes on. These would be better off in the trash with the parts recycled and only enough copies kept for however many completionists exist in the gaming world. It's actually quite repugnant to see obscure children's franchises from way too long ago flaunting their presence to any gamer hoping to score a decent deal in the wild. The majority of them will never come back in to fashion. It makes me feel some sense of pride that I have had a consistent history as a gamer is not buying stuff like this as a general rule.
What's to be done about them? Do we let them pollute the world by wasting resources to produce or preserve what could be called 'tangible spam' or are we going to make a stand against them? What is your take on these philosophically and what is a creative solution to dealing with them, as well as what are your top candidates for current media that will eventually take this route?
What's to be done about them? Do we let them pollute the world by wasting resources to produce or preserve what could be called 'tangible spam' or are we going to make a stand against them? What is your take on these philosophically and what is a creative solution to dealing with them, as well as what are your top candidates for current media that will eventually take this route?
Comments
This will be an interesting thread.
95% of the Wii library
yeah there was something so inviting about the wii to shovelware sadly :b
I'm gonna go out on a limb though and say that the indie scene, that seems to me to be rising, is doomed to eventually become another major source of shovelware. I don't have much grounds to say this on as i don't really keep up with the indie scene on steam and such but i've just go this feeling.... Maybe it already has?
I really think that we should stop buying them, but for some reason they still sell reasonably or i dont think there'd be any companies left willing to make shovelware. (saying we should stop buying shovelware not indie games )
A good way to initiate this would be having honest reviews posted by gamers in game stores. It's simple but would work really well.
I'm not sure if you'd count this answer as relevant though
Edit: to be clearer
95% of the Wii library
And 99% of the n64 library
The only way we can stand against something like that is to vote with our wallets.
Its the stuff like this that really feeds it. Witch eventually get tossed in the bargain bins. The TV network shows do so well why not make a game for 3DS that is based on it. Then around Christmas time and birthdays the Aunts, Uncles, Parents, Grandparents and stuff buy them. Stopping the cash grab scene that a lot of times is marketed heavily towards kids is near impossible to do. There will always be kids with clueless relative or no knowledge of good or bad game design who are willing to buy a game based on the IP. Like Bouncey said our wallets are the only way to stop it.
Cartoon based games: Adventure Time, Regular Show, Gravity Falls, ect. ect.
Its the stuff like this that really feeds it. Witch eventually get tossed in the bargain bins. The TV network shows do so well why not make a game for 3DS that is based on it. Then around Christmas time and birthdays the Aunts, Uncles, Parents, Grandparents and stuff buy them. Stopping the cash grab scene that a lot of times is marketed heavily towards kids is near impossible to do. There will always be kids with clueless relative or no knowledge of good or bad game design who are willing to buy a game based on the IP. Like Bouncey said our wallets are the only way to stop it.
It would be so different if those licensed games were actually any good. Most games in that vein are boring at best and awful at worst! For example, most nicktoons for gamecube fall into the bad to boring category. It's not fair when they make a game that's actually pretty good since it just gets lumped in with the bad ones. For example, Fairly Oddparents Breaking da Rules is actually a pretty good game. There are very well designed levels based on episodes of the show which feature good action and platforming with a little bit of puzzle solving and stealth mixed in. Add in a similar humor from the show and it could have been an underrated classic in the GameCube library. Instead it gets lost in the countless other stinkers that THQ published with bigger and more famous liscences.
Cartoon based games: Adventure Time, Regular Show, Gravity Falls, ect. ect.
Its the stuff like this that really feeds it. Witch eventually get tossed in the bargain bins. The TV network shows do so well why not make a game for 3DS that is based on it. Then around Christmas time and birthdays the Aunts, Uncles, Parents, Grandparents and stuff buy them. Stopping the cash grab scene that a lot of times is marketed heavily towards kids is near impossible to do. There will always be kids with clueless relative or no knowledge of good or bad game design who are willing to buy a game based on the IP. Like Bouncey said our wallets are the only way to stop it.
Gravity Falls for the 3DS.
This game was mildly dissappointing for me.
The show had some really cool hidden secrets for those who were paying attention.
Was hoping the game would have some of that going on too.
Sadly, it doesn't.
Aside from some hidden items you can pick up in each stage (that aren't all that hidden) - that's it.
The boss fights were all pretty much exactly the same too.
I understand the game was a kid cash-in, but I watched many episodes with my kids and had a tiny hope the IP might have had some stricter quality control.
/rant
It's because things like this that some games migt be passed over.
Too many IPs take a dump in a box and ship it.
Anyone know of the opposite of this?
i.e. The game looks like a kid cash-in and actually ended up being pretty good?
Originally posted by: Commander Santa
Anyone know of the opposite of this?
i.e. The game looks like a kid cash-in and actually ended up being pretty good?
Capcom on the NES! Must have looked like a kid's cash in to those Sega playing teens... until they bought Aladdin and realized not all licenses suck (Capcom or otherwise).
Originally posted by: SoleGooseProductions
Originally posted by: Commander Santa
Anyone know of the opposite of this?
i.e. The game looks like a kid cash-in and actually ended up being pretty good?
Capcom on the NES! Must have looked like a kid's cash in to those Sega playing teens... until they bought Aladdin and realized not all licenses suck (Capcom or otherwise).
Of course!
Chip 'n Dale, Duck Tales, etc. - all great fun!
I like Aladdin on Genesis too.
Another one I took a shining to was Rugrats Royal Ransom for the Gamecube.
When my oldest son was younger he wanted me to play through so he could watch.
It's still kinda fun as an adult by himself today.
Cartoon based games: Adventure Time, Regular Show, Gravity Falls, ect. ect.
Its the stuff like this that really feeds it. Witch eventually get tossed in the bargain bins. The TV network shows do so well why not make a game for 3DS that is based on it. Then around Christmas time and birthdays the Aunts, Uncles, Parents, Grandparents and stuff buy them. Stopping the cash grab scene that a lot of times is marketed heavily towards kids is near impossible to do. There will always be kids with clueless relative or no knowledge of good or bad game design who are willing to buy a game based on the IP. Like Bouncey said our wallets are the only way to stop it.
Gravity Falls for the 3DS.
This game was mildly dissappointing for me.
The show had some really cool hidden secrets for those who were paying attention.
Was hoping the game would have some of that going on too.
Sadly, it doesn't.
Aside from some hidden items you can pick up in each stage (that aren't all that hidden) - that's it.
The boss fights were all pretty much exactly the same too.
I understand the game was a kid cash-in, but I watched many episodes with my kids and had a tiny hope the IP might have had some stricter quality control.
/rant
It's because things like this that some games migt be passed over.
Too many IPs take a dump in a box and ship it.
Anyone know of the opposite of this?
i.e. The game looks like a kid cash-in and actually ended up being pretty good?
A maybe more less obvious one would be The Simpsons games I think.....
For how many there is a lot of them are rather enjoyable or good.
The Adventures of Batman and Robin is supposed to be good too, I hear, though I parted with that before giving it a try too. Then again, the show was amazing, so there is that.
As for "girl" games that were not good, we'd probably need to hear from the people that played them. Most of us may not wax nostalgic for them, but surely someone out there does (boy or girl).
Most people are naming good ips that are just shovelware attached.
What's a bad IP that's actually a good game?
A good example in pinball is Baywatch. It's a good pinball machine, but it's scorned because of the IP.
95% of the Wii library
yeah there was something so inviting about the wii to shovelware sadly :b
I'm gonna go out on a limb though and say that the indie scene, that seems to me to be rising, is doomed to eventually become another major source of shovelware. I don't have much grounds to say this on as i don't really keep up with the indie scene on steam and such but i've just go this feeling.... Maybe it already has?
I really think that we should stop buying them, but for some reason they still sell reasonably or i dont think there'd be any companies left willing to make shovelware.
A good way to initiate this would be having honest reviews posted by gamers in game stores. It's simple but would work really well.
I'm not sure if you'd count this answer as relevant though
The Wii didn't have anymore shovelware than the PS2, but for some reason that system gets a free pass.
The Wii didn't have anymore shovelware than the PS2, but for some reason that system gets a free pass.
I've never owned a ps2 ¯\_(
95% of the Wii library
yeah there was something so inviting about the wii to shovelware sadly :b
I'm gonna go out on a limb though and say that the indie scene, that seems to me to be rising, is doomed to eventually become another major source of shovelware. I don't have much grounds to say this on as i don't really keep up with the indie scene on steam and such but i've just go this feeling.... Maybe it already has?
I really think that we should stop buying them, but for some reason they still sell reasonably or i dont think there'd be any companies left willing to make shovelware.
A good way to initiate this would be having honest reviews posted by gamers in game stores. It's simple but would work really well.
I'm not sure if you'd count this answer as relevant though
The Wii didn't have anymore shovelware than the PS2, but for some reason that system gets a free pass.
Thats because none of the ps2 shovelware was based on a terrible motion control gimmick.
I think we agree that Capcom showed how licensed games could be done, but even in Japan, it seems that licensed titles were treated with more integrity than domestic developers did, and had more variety in genre than just platformers or shitty third person action games. There's some truly good stuff in that category from Japan during its prime.
thinking of food and beverage franchises. I wish 7up would bring back cool spot
I'm gonna go out on a limb though and say that the indie scene, that seems to me to be rising, is doomed to eventually become another major source of shovelware. I don't have much grounds to say this on as i don't really keep up with the indie scene on steam and such but i've just go this feeling.... Maybe it already has?
I really think that we should stop buying them, but for some reason they still sell reasonably or i dont think there'd be any companies left willing to make shovelware.
Indie games are actually more prevalant in the west than asia because of the strong individualist leanings. However, despite this, I have often avoided indie games in general because they seem to be influenced by creepy postmodern art and aesthetics or have suspiciously caucasoid undertones masked with a psuedo-asian guise to mislead and pervert the integrity of a genre for those who are not really well acquainted with these problems or questionable influences. This fits well with the analogy of whether or not you'd eat a biscuit with poop in it, even if it is just a tiny bit of poop. Not good.
I've been meaning to try the Digimon games for the PS1. My little brother used to watch it when it was new and I of course made fun of him for it, being in middle school and all. Somehow I ended up with the whole trilogy of games, but I made the mistake of selling them a while back and have to buy them back now. Every time.
The Adventures of Batman and Robin is supposed to be good too, I hear, though I parted with that before giving it a try too. Then again, the show was amazing, so there is that.
As for "girl" games that were not good, we'd probably need to hear from the people that played them. Most of us may not wax nostalgic for them, but surely someone out there does (boy or girl).
1 and 3 are fun. 2 sucks, it is a dungeon crawler and it is horrible.
1 is a simulation game kind of like monster rancher/tamagotchi. And 3 is basically like pokemon. Random battles, 1 on 1 digimon fights, digevolving, etc. They are by no means great games, but if you like digimon there is some fun to be had with them.
I've been meaning to try the Digimon games for the PS1. My little brother used to watch it when it was new and I of course made fun of him for it, being in middle school and all. Somehow I ended up with the whole trilogy of games, but I made the mistake of selling them a while back and have to buy them back now. Every time.
The Adventures of Batman and Robin is supposed to be good too, I hear, though I parted with that before giving it a try too. Then again, the show was amazing, so there is that.
As for "girl" games that were not good, we'd probably need to hear from the people that played them. Most of us may not wax nostalgic for them, but surely someone out there does (boy or girl).
1 and 3 are fun. 2 sucks, it is a dungeon crawler and it is horrible.
1 is a simulation game kind of like monster rancher/tamagotchi. And 3 is basically like pokemon. Random battles, 1 on 1 digimon fights, digevolving, etc. They are by no means great games, but if you like digimon there is some fun to be had with them.
didn't they make a game about the Digimon TCG too? I remember getting the cards when I was little and not understanding how to play
For the nes the main offenders are the sesame st games and fisher price games.
I think it's safe to add Captain Planet, Toxic Avengers, and Swamp Thing.
Indie games are actually more prevalant in the west than asia because of the strong individualist leanings. However, despite this, I have often avoided indie games in general because they seem to be influenced by creepy postmodern art and aesthetics or have suspiciously caucasoid undertones masked with a psuedo-asian guise to mislead and pervert the integrity of a genre for those who are not really well acquainted with these problems or questionable influences. This fits well with the analogy of whether or not you'd eat a biscuit with poop in it, even if it is just a tiny bit of poop. Not good.
You know, i never noticed this until you brought it up. I haven't seen many with a "psuedo asian guise" at least that i noticed. With that aside i still enjoyed games like "gonner" and "the binding of isaac" even though, especially the binding of isaac, they both have a very dark tone. Hyper light drifter (not sure if it's indie) was also a great game with a dark tone but that game was a lot pf challenging fun. What you've said is definitely true now that i think of it, but it doesn't seem to have gotten in the way of the fun of these games for me yet.
Also i edited my original post to be clear i wasn't saying we should stop buying all indie games. I meant that of shovel ware.
I've been meaning to try the Digimon games for the PS1. My little brother used to watch it when it was new and I of course made fun of him for it, being in middle school and all. Somehow I ended up with the whole trilogy of games, but I made the mistake of selling them a while back and have to buy them back now. Every time.
The Adventures of Batman and Robin is supposed to be good too, I hear, though I parted with that before giving it a try too. Then again, the show was amazing, so there is that.
As for "girl" games that were not good, we'd probably need to hear from the people that played them. Most of us may not wax nostalgic for them, but surely someone out there does (boy or girl).
1 and 3 are fun. 2 sucks, it is a dungeon crawler and it is horrible.
1 is a simulation game kind of like monster rancher/tamagotchi. And 3 is basically like pokemon. Random battles, 1 on 1 digimon fights, digevolving, etc. They are by no means great games, but if you like digimon there is some fun to be had with them.
didn't they make a game about the Digimon TCG too? I remember getting the cards when I was little and not understanding how to play
The TCG game that I remember was on WonderSwan Color, though honestly I can't remember if the PS1 version got a US release or not. I may be thinking of Monster Rancher TCG in that respect.
The first Digimon video game was actually on Saturn, and I have it, though I can't play it now because I sold my Saturn and SSF doesn't work on my PC. It was basically an expansion of the LCD pet toys with scenarios. You can raise multiple digimon as in the toys and work through a fake Desktop OS. You log into simulated forums to get updates and URLs to log in to to collect items or initiate battles. Digimon has sort of been forgotten for the more popular Pokemon though most 90s kids like myself still have some fondness for it. That's why there is no demand to create a fan translation of the Saturn game, but it's not like the IP is hated either. Though I admit, Digimon World frustrated the hell out of me. Was glad to be rid of it when I sold my copy. Bad memories of it as a youth.
The Lord of the Rings strategy games are fairly good for licensed fare. The Third Age is basically a Final Fantasy X clone, but with a western flavor that it tastefully done, though not perfect. The GBA game of the same name is a Fire Emblem clone, and also another respectable attempt to imitate a Japanese franchise with a western flavor. We could say the same thing about Sierra's "The Hobbit" from 2003 which is inspired by the 3D Zelda games.
Kim Possible: What's the Switch? for PS2 is a decent 2.5D platformer but will likely be overlooked because the franchise is mostly forgotten (I have never seen the show myself).
didn't they make a game about the Digimon TCG too? I remember getting the cards when I was little and not understanding how to play
Digital Card Battle, and it's a good PS1 game. It's actually a lot better than the real card game. Monster Rancher Battle Card Episode II is also a good PS1 card game. Both are easy to recommend if you like those kinds of games.
Pam Anderson