imported>Belbury: image seems more relevant to the previous section

2025-10-13T08:35:40Z

image seems more relevant to the previous section

New page

{{Short description|Poor-quality software collection}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
'''Shovelware''' is a type of video game or [[Bundled software|software bundle]] known more for the quantity of what is included than for its quality or usefulness.<ref name=PCMag>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/51294/shovelware |title=Definition of: Shovelware |website=PC Magazine Encyclopedia |publisher=PC Magazine |access-date=21 July 2014 |archive-date=26 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726195129/http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/51294/shovelware |url-status=live }}</ref>

The metaphor implies that the creators showed little care for the quality of the original software, as if the new compilation or version had been created by indiscriminately adding titles "by the shovel" in the same way someone would shovel bulk material into a pile. The term "shovelware" is coined by semantic analogy to phrases like [[shareware]] and [[freeware]], which describe methods of software distribution. It first appeared in the early 1990s when large amounts of shareware [[Game demo|demo]] programs were copied onto CD-ROMs and advertised in magazines or sold at computer flea markets.<ref name=PCMag/>

==Shovelware CD-ROMs==
[[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]]'']]

''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' wrote in 1990 that for "those who do not wish to wait" for software that used the new CD-ROM format, [[The Software Toolworks]] and [[Access Software]] planned to release "game packs of several classic titles".<ref name="cgw19900708">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1990&pub=2&id=73 | title=The Maturation of Computer Entertainment: Warming The Global Village | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=8 July 1990 | access-date=16 November 2013 | pages=11 | archive-date=3 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203063559/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1990&pub=2&id=73 | url-status=live }}</ref> By 1993 the magazine referred to software repackaged on CD-ROM as "shovelware", describing one collection from Access as having a "rather dusty menu" and another from The Software Toolworks ("the reigning king of software repackaging efforts") as including games that were "mostly mediocre even in their prime"; the one exception, ''[[Chessmaster 2000]]'', used "stunning [[CGA graphics]]".<ref name="cgw199304">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=105 | title=Forging Ahead or Fit to be Smashed? | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=April 1993 | access-date=6 July 2014 | page=24 | number=105 | archive-date=2 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702235842/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1993&pub=2&id=105 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1994 the magazine described shovelware as "old and/or weak programs shoveled onto a CD to turn a quick buck".<ref name="miller199401">{{Cite magazine |date=January 1994 |title=The Shiny New Face Of Shareware |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=114 |department=Best of the Rest |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=128, 130 |access-date=8 November 2017 |archive-date=3 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003001556/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1994&pub=2&id=114 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The capacity of a CD-ROM was 450–700 times that of the [[floppy disk]], and 6–16 times larger than the hard disks with which personal computers were commonly outfitted in 1990. This outsized capacity meant that very few users would install the discs' entire contents, encouraging producers to fill them by including as much existing content as possible, often without regard to the quality of the material. Advertising the number of titles on the disc often took precedence over the quality of the content. Software reviewers, displeased with huge collections of inconsistent quality, dubbed this practice "shovelware" in the early 1990s. Additionally, some CD-ROM computer games had software that did not fill the disc to capacity, which enabled game companies to bundle demo versions of other products on the same disc.

The prevalence of shovelware has decreased due to the practice of downloading individual programs from a [[crowdsourced]] or curated [[app store]] becoming the predominant mode of [[software distribution]]. It continues in some cases with [[bundled software|bundled]] or [[pre-installed software]], where many extra programs of dubious quality and functionality are included with a piece of hardware.

==Shovelware video games==

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]]'', ''[[Little Britain: The Video Game|Little Britain]]'', ''[[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>

==See also==
* {{annotated link|Freeware}}
* {{annotated link|Potentially unwanted program}}
* {{annotated link|Pre-installed software}}
* {{annotated link|Product bundling}}
* {{annotated link|Software bloat}}
* {{annotated link|Video game crash of 1983}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://cd.textfiles.com/ Archive of CD-ROM compilations] at [[Textfiles.com]]
* [http://www.fraser.cc/Talks/Chronicle.html Alistair B. Fraser on Academic Shovelware]
* [https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2008/03/opinion-why-w-1/ Wired: On Wii Shovelware]
* [http://www.pcworld.com/article/185620/make_your_new_pc_hasslefree_part_2_remove_the_crapware.html PC World: Make your new PC hassle free]

{{software distribution}}

[[Category:Software distribution]]
[[Category:Bundled products or services]]
[[Category:Computer jargon]]
[[Category:Criticisms of software and websites]]

Shovelware - Revision history

imported>Belbury: image seems more relevant to the previous section