Editing Shovelware (section)

==Shovelware video games==

[[File:The Complete Doom Accessory Pack Volume IV CD-ROM.jpg|thumb|CD-ROM for ''The Complete Doom Accessory Pack Volume IV'', a shovelware collection containing levels for ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'' and ''[[Doom II]]'']]

Low-budget, poor-quality video games, released in the hopes of being purchased by unsuspecting customers, are often referred to as "shovelware". This can lead to [[discoverability]] issues when a platform has no type of quality control.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wallace|first=Chris|date=5 August 2020|title=Why indies are struggling to be seen on the Switch eShop|url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/i-literally-cannot-sell-units-on-switch-its-heartbreaking-and-it-makes-me-really-sad-for-the-eshop-why-indies-are-struggling-to-be-seen-on-the-switch-eshop/|website=MCV UK|access-date=7 August 2020|archive-date=18 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118031406/https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/i-literally-cannot-sell-units-on-switch-its-heartbreaking-and-it-makes-me-really-sad-for-the-eshop-why-indies-are-struggling-to-be-seen-on-the-switch-eshop/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Some developers and publishers have become well-known as creators of shovelware. [[Mastertronic_Group#Blast!_Entertainment|Blast! Entertainment]], a defunct video game developer and publisher, was known for releasing [[Intellectual_property|licensed]] shovelware games based on movies, television shows and books<ref>{{cite web |title=Blast! Entertainment catalog from IGN |url=https://www.ign.com/games/publisher/blast-entertainment |accessdate=6 September 2022 |website=IGN |archive-date=7 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907033918/https://www.ign.com/games/publisher/blast-entertainment |url-status=live }}</ref> such as ''[[An_American_Tail_(franchise)#Video_games|An American Tail]]'', ''[[Beverly_Hills_Cop_(franchise)#Video_games|Beverly Hills Cop]]'', ''[[Jumanji#Games|Jumanji]]'', and ''[[Lassie_(2005_film)#Video_game|Lassie]],'' the majority of which received negative reception.{{Cn|date=June 2023}} Another defunct European publisher, Phoenix Games, was known for its line of value-priced titles for the [[PlayStation 2]], [[Wii]], [[Nintendo DS|DS]], and PC.<ref>{{cite web |title=Phoenix Games B.V.catalog from Giantbomb |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/phoenix-games-bv/3010-2110/published/ |accessdate=18 September 2022 |website=Giantbomb |archive-date=20 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920171318/https://www.giantbomb.com/phoenix-games-bv/3010-2110/published/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A number of their in-house games are adaptations of low-budget animated [[Mockbuster|mockbusters]], which largely function as interactive "activity centre" games with minimal actual gameplay. Games made by other studios, including [[Mere Mortals]], but published by Phoenix, have a similarly poor reputation.<ref name="dfretro">{{Cite web |title=DF Retro Play: Phoenix Games 'Showcase'... The Worst Games on PlayStation 2? |website=[[YouTube]] |date=17 January 2021 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBKF9pcAJtQ |access-date=2023-04-12 |language=en-GB |archive-date=27 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427230545/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBKF9pcAJtQ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Nintendo [[Wii]] became known for large amounts of shovelware, including ports of [[PlayStation 2]] games which had previously only been released in Europe.<ref name="kohler20080305">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/2008/03/opinion-why-w-1/ | title=Opinion: Why Wii Shovelware Is a Good Thing | magazine=Wired | date=5 March 2008 | access-date=7 July 2014 | author=Kohler, Chris | archive-date=5 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705012116/http://www.wired.com/2008/03/opinion-why-w-1 | url-status=live }}</ref> Data Design Interactive became known for creating shovelware for the Wii. Their games ''[[Ninjabread Man]]'', ''[[Anubis II]]'', ''Rock 'n' Roll Adventures'', and ''Myth Makers: Trixie in Toyland'' all used the exact same gameplay and level layouts, but changed the art and character design to make them appear to be unique properties.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Millsap |first=Zack |date=2021-03-26 |title=How One Developer Sold Gamers The Same Game Four Times |url=https://www.cbr.com/data-designs-interactive-gingerbread-man/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=CBR |language=en-US |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928011209/https://www.cbr.com/data-designs-interactive-gingerbread-man/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyon |first=James |date=October 16, 2007 |title=Popcorn Arcade Roundup |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/popcorn-arcade-roundup-review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427034048/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/popcorn-arcade-roundup-review |archive-date=April 27, 2009 |access-date=September 27, 2022 |website=EuroGamer}}</ref> The [[Nintendo eShop|eShop]] on Nintendo's later console, the [[Nintendo Switch]], has also become notorious for featuring an abundance of low-quality games and software.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/the-nintendo-switch-calculator-app-sums-up-everything-thats-wrong-with-the-eshop |title=The Nintendo Switch calculator app sums up everything that's wrong with the eShop |first=Adam |last=Vjestica |date=May 15, 2021 |website=[[TechRadar]] |access-date=September 23, 2023 |archive-date=30 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230153843/https://www.techradar.com/news/the-nintendo-switch-calculator-app-sums-up-everything-thats-wrong-with-the-eshop |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Gavin |last=Lane |date=August 12, 2023 |title=The Rise Of 'Scam Games' And 'Keyword Bingo' Firms Flooding Switch eShop |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/features/the-rise-of-scam-games-and-keyword-bingo-firms-flooding-switch-eshop |access-date=September 23, 2023 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB |archive-date=18 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818041900/https://www.nintendolife.com/features/the-rise-of-scam-games-and-keyword-bingo-firms-flooding-switch-eshop |url-status=live }}</ref> 

[[Asset flip]]s are a subset of shovelware that largely or entirely use pre-made assets in order to release games en masse. Called fake games by [[Valve Corporation]], 173 were removed from [[Steam (service)|Steam]] in one 2017 purge that included several sock puppets of Silicon Echo Studios.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Frank|first=Allegra|date=2017-09-26|title=Valve removes nearly 200 cheap, fake games from Steam (update)|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/26/16368178/steam-shovelware-removed-asset-flipping|access-date=2020-12-15|website=Polygon|language=en|archive-date=26 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926235823/https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/26/16368178/steam-shovelware-removed-asset-flipping|url-status=live}}</ref>