Team Cherry are free to price how they want and fair play to them. However, it's also a lot easier to price a game lower when you see just how crazy people have been going for the game since it was announced as the projected sales must be a lot higher. It's hard to overstate just how hyped this game has been for an indie title - I mean, it crashed Steam, PSN and the eShop on release which is not something I'd ever have expected.
At the same time, I also don't blame the other indie devs for getting stuck between a rock and a hard place here - pricing lower might get more eyes but likely won't recoup development costs as quickly (if at all), pricing higher might mean less sales.
Honestly, Silksong is a unicorn in terms of pricing given the situation and hype, and I'd hope people will take that into account but that doesn't tend to happen, especially with video game fans. 'Lizard Brain' might be a bit much but I can see what the Unbeatable dev is talking about as this will now become expectation when it really isn't that feasible for 99.9% of indie devs
@antdickens Why would you start out liberal and block games from view by default, and not make sure the tag actually only covers game that could be classed as 'Shovelware'? A lot of games have poor labelling as a result of this.
Relying on the community to fix your (multitude of) errors for something launched in a poor state is incredibly lazy.
@antdickens Nour, a game featured in a Sony State of Play and published by Panic (who published Untitled Goose Game and Thanks Goodness You're Here on the eShop, as well as making their own handheld console) is apparently Shovelware. https://www.nintendolife.com/eshop/nour_play_with_your_food
Hell, games from Devolver have been given that tag - Reigns Beyond, Dropsy, Not a Hero, McPixel 3 and a bunch of others
I appreciate the idea to filter Shovelware out but I don't think much care has gone into what games that refers to outside of a cursory glance at the eshop image. What's criteria was used to give games that tag?
You have to be super careful when creating a filter called 'Shovelware' that the games you're tagging as such do actually come under that bracket. On the very first page of the filter you ave an unreleased title called Marron's Day which in no way looks like a shovelware title but the tag looks to have been stuck onto it, and I'd imagine a number of others are caught in the same umbrella from the 6000+ games in that filter.
@nocdaes The tweet about the impact of negative feedback is how it affects morale - it's not that it'll intentionally be made worse, but these attacks and vitriol can affect how people perform in the workplace which can theoretically lead the game itself being impacted.
I also can't agree with the idea that walking away and saying that you don't want to share things anymore due to the abuse you're receiving is in any way just as bad as the attacks being made.
It's 100% fine for people to not like something about a game and even comment about it along with their reasoning but the way some gamers do this on the internet is just ridiculous. Too much vitriol and hyperbole with a hefty dose of 'my opinion means more than yours, creator of game series' from these armchair developers/finance 'experts'
@SteamEngenius This is completely different from being able to 'handle criticism' - no-one should expect to receive tons of comments on their own website filled with anger, personal attacks and entitlement based on something as small as a game's art direction whether they're on the internet or not.
@gcunit I mean they're going to be doing that anyway with the gameplay/trailer anyway so what's the issue? Some people like to see a little behind the curtain of those who are actually working on the games, even moreso for those interested in indie games specifically. Doesn't sound like that bad of a tactic to me.
@gcunit Nothing wrong with a little structure, plus it's nice to see a little personality behind the games especially when they're usually the sole/main developers on the project. If it's not your thing then you just need to be patient for 30 seconds or so which is nothing really.
Always happy to see this game do well - I didn't get on too well with Wii Fit, but the way Ring Fit married up the exercises and progress really gelled with me. A really good companion to other forms of exercise.
Wii Fit being number 14 in the list with just 3 entries into the series really stands out compared to the rest of the list. Lightning in a bottle on the Wii.
All ESA members need to change their thinking on game preservation, and Nintendo especially need to stop actively and aggressively campaigning against any attempt from non-commercial institutions trying to do so.
@Ryu_Niiyama Sony aren't the ones that are currently and publicly closing down a web store and any access to a whole host of games, of course any statement is going to focus on Nintendo. When Sony try to close the PS3 and Vita stores again they'll get the blowback they deserve but right now it's Nintendo's deserved turn for the harsh spotlight.
I really, really hope not. The roster needs an upheaval but only to remove a bunch of babies and duplicates, to be replaced with other Mario-verse characters (Pauline, E.Gadd, Nabbit etc).
Easily my favourite game of the year, glad the game is getting some of the attention it deserves on Switch. Having painting as the main mechanic is also such a great tool for knowing where you have and haven't properly explored in the world map.
@MajorTom It's especially odd as the show, while still very popular at the time, was starting its decline in ratings a bit from its peak the year before.
I wonder if there wasn't really much else coming out at that point with the PS1 winding down, the PS2 only just getting going and others not really making a mark in the UK marketplace
Really didn't enjoy this when I played through earlier this year - it's not just that the story is whack and only Willem Dafoe is any good performance wise, but the puzzle gameplay side is pretty dire too.
I mean for sure they're posting this as part of Xbox's 20th anniversary celebrations, but they're not wrong or anything. It's also just kind of nice to see one of the big three actually acknowledge the existence of other consoles and games that aren't on their system every now and then, rather than pretend they don't exist.
@broskiplays Criticising the final product /= harassing the devs
I'm sure Grove Street Games did the best they could with the resources and timeline they were given but it doesn't mean we can't call out R*/Take Two for pushing these out to make a quick buck (likely released now in order to boost their financials for the year without any big releases due)
I also can't see past Tetris as the overall winner, and I think Minecraft is probably its closest competitor. Not that I think they're both the best games ever personally, but I think that they most closely match the criteria.
@AlexSora89 There's no denying that these are low quality animations, but the reasons for it can be more than just laziness.
It's possible for sure that it's because someone was too lazy to animate them properly. It's also just as possible that this was a placeholder added with the intention for it to be changed later on in development but they then ran out of time to do so as other elements may have had a higher priority to fix.
This isn't a slight on you personally but more of a general musing but I find it interesting that lazy developers is the idea that has stuck with people rather than poor project management, or publisher/management interference or even laziness on the part of the people at the very top. It seems to be that the rank and file employees bear the brunt of the criticism rather than those who actually make the decisions.
Some here have mentioned that the term 'developer' refers to the collective rather than individuals whenever they use the phrase, but as we've seen in this comment thread there are certainly those that think it is down to those individuals, and it's certainly something that is taken to heart by some individual developers - imagine working really hard in your role only for the game itself to receive poor ratings and then see the world and their dog talking about how lazy the devs were when you know you worked hard on it. The way we talk about these kinds of things does need to change.
@ULTRA-64 Who said you can't be critical? You can still not a like a game and think mechanics need more work while simultaneously not using phrases like lazy devs.
That phrase ignores other pressures development teams have to face when working on a game, like poor project management and timeline planning, along with pressure from publishers or higher ups to implement things that weren't originally intended, change elements to fit market research or maintain a release date in order to meet a company's financial goals for the year.
Not only that, but using the phrase so liberally means it becomes useless when talking about actual lazy developers (those who want funding for a game but don't really want to to the work, the people behind basic asset flips with misleading descriptions).
I know the internet is the place where discussion goes to die, but that is what's needed when talking about reasons for a product not being entirely up to an individual's standards. The way the phrase is used it lazy in itself.
To anyone thinking this is just a nostalgia driven made for TV- quality film chucked onto a subscription service for the sole purpose of QUANTITY, you're absolutely correct. Prepare for a lot of 'tech bad, family good' messaging.
Nintendo are behind the curve massively when it comes to accessibility options and not just to other big video game publishers but also smaller indie studios. There really is no excuse for the complete lack of options available on the vast majority of their games and it's strange there are people here defending them on that point. They have more than enough money to budget this in, it would have a minuscule effect on their earnings but would allow more people to play. Seems a no brainer really.
The point about innovative control schemes and system gimmicks is something that's a bit more difficult to tackle but I think there's still ways that Nintendo could make those games more accessible if they wanted to.
@BloodNinja Ah yes, brave whistleblowers who shined a light on... (checks notes) at that point unrevealed starter evolutions and Gigantimax Pokemon.
Those specific leaks truly showed Nintendo up for their 'false advertising' and totally wasn't a play for internet kudos. Only to be the 'good guys'. Yup, 100% believe that.
The designs on the kids and baby t-shirts are far more interesting than the adults. Thought there'd be a bit more colour on offer especially given the series
Played it on PS4 and had a really good time with it. Kind of feels like you're moving into a soap opera (in a good way) with the storylines going on around you, and the gardening mini game is quite relaxing
@Yorumi You said Nintendo in general, not QA. The platform QA team wouldn't be looking for those things - they test to see if the game runs and whether it has an adverse effect on the hardware. Any issues that don't require forensic examination which violate copyright would be picked up in the submissions process.
@Yorumi At a level less forensic than diving through a game's code, sure, but even then onus lies with the developer and publisher.
There are many licensing deals which may be in effect which Nintendo wouldn't necessarily know about, but I'm sure if say a Nathan Drake game which used names and trademarks in its submission materials, alarm bells would ring and they wouldn't just let it be released on the store.
@Yorumi I don't think you understand how mammoth the task of checking this would be. They'd need to first check the code (something that isn't exactly brief), understand it and then check it against every known piece of software (of which there are, to put it mildly, a lot) to ensure it doesn't match at all. And now multiply that by the sheer volume of games that release on the eshop any given week.
I also don't think it's a deflection to point out that platform QA does not work like that in the industry and never has. And if Nintendo weren't aware of it no, there isn't a hypocrisy in having hosted it, even while simultaneously going after ROM sites (which did so knowingly)
The blame for all of this lies on the original developers (and publishers, as the responsibility for releasing the product ultimately stops there), but thanks to articles like this the focus is divertd and they're the ones sliding casually away and barely being mentioned or called out about it at all.
@Yorumi Do people just not understand what QA is in relation to uploading a game to a platform store? It's just a basic check to amke sure the game runs (not poorly or well, just runs) and that the game doesn't cause any hardware issues, it has nothing to do with the content of the game. This goes for all platforms.
On the submissions side, adding that kind of question would be smart move but they still can't check the code, and I'd be willing to bet there'd developers and publishers who would still lie on those forms.
The creator of the emulator here seems to have submitted documentation to Nintendo America so hopefully it'll get the ball rolling (although it's the Japan store so may take some time to get to the right people) and if there's a case I'd expect to see it removed from the store pending an investigation. If nothing happens in the next week then I think criticism of Nintendo's position would be valid (although even then, we can't see the documentation or evidence so it still wouldn't be a clear cut case)
@BloodNinja What am I making up here? The actual story here is that a developer is probably using pirate software to run their game. Why isn't the game, publisher responsible or the creator of the original software mentioned in the headline? Why is the focus on Nintendo and the accusation that they're allowing pirated software on the store, when at the time of the tweet they likely weren't even aware of the issue as it had't been reported. That's not 'allowing' anything, that's just not knowing there's a problem.
Not to mention in all of this that I don't think the tweet in question is probably all that serious in tone when it comes to blaming Nintendo...
@BloodNinja As I said, any person writing about games should know that the accusation is silly and that Nintendo aren't allowing it as far as they didn't know anything about it in the first place before it was highlighted. The accusation barely even warrants a mention in the article, let alone the headline
To make it the focus by putting it as the headline and distracting from the actual story is either foolish or entirely planned and I'm loathe to call anyone a fool for no good reason.
@BloodNinja Something doesn't have to be false to be bait. The headline choice seems intentional so as to draw people to an article about a topic where Nintendo has history of being relentlessly opposed to when in fact the blame obviously lies elsewhere as can be understood by anyone with even a modicum of sense or understanding of the industry.
All this notwithstanding the fact that it's an accusation that the article barely even mentions outside of one sentence in six paragraphs and one tweet in a screengrab of five, so the headline badly represents what the article is about anyway.
Comments 60
Re: "I Can't Afford To Give It Away For Free" - Silksong's Low Price Is Causing Devs To Re-Evaluate Their Own Games
Team Cherry are free to price how they want and fair play to them. However, it's also a lot easier to price a game lower when you see just how crazy people have been going for the game since it was announced as the projected sales must be a lot higher. It's hard to overstate just how hyped this game has been for an indie title - I mean, it crashed Steam, PSN and the eShop on release which is not something I'd ever have expected.
At the same time, I also don't blame the other indie devs for getting stuck between a rock and a hard place here - pricing lower might get more eyes but likely won't recoup development costs as quickly (if at all), pricing higher might mean less sales.
Honestly, Silksong is a unicorn in terms of pricing given the situation and hype, and I'd hope people will take that into account but that doesn't tend to happen, especially with video game fans. 'Lizard Brain' might be a bit much but I can see what the Unbeatable dev is talking about as this will now become expectation when it really isn't that feasible for 99.9% of indie devs
Re: The Switch eShop Is A Nightmare, So We've Made Our Own "Better eShop"
@antdickens Why would you start out liberal and block games from view by default, and not make sure the tag actually only covers game that could be classed as 'Shovelware'? A lot of games have poor labelling as a result of this.
Relying on the community to fix your (multitude of) errors for something launched in a poor state is incredibly lazy.
Re: The Switch eShop Is A Nightmare, So We've Made Our Own "Better eShop"
@antdickens Nour, a game featured in a Sony State of Play and published by Panic (who published Untitled Goose Game and Thanks Goodness You're Here on the eShop, as well as making their own handheld console) is apparently Shovelware. https://www.nintendolife.com/eshop/nour_play_with_your_food
Hell, games from Devolver have been given that tag - Reigns Beyond, Dropsy, Not a Hero, McPixel 3 and a bunch of others
I appreciate the idea to filter Shovelware out but I don't think much care has gone into what games that refers to outside of a cursory glance at the eshop image. What's criteria was used to give games that tag?
Re: The Switch eShop Is A Nightmare, So We've Made Our Own "Better eShop"
You have to be super careful when creating a filter called 'Shovelware' that the games you're tagging as such do actually come under that bracket. On the very first page of the filter you ave an unreleased title called Marron's Day which in no way looks like a shovelware title but the tag looks to have been stuck onto it, and I'd imagine a number of others are caught in the same umbrella from the 6000+ games in that filter.
Re: Monkey Island's Creator Seemingly Shuts Down Blog After Personal Attacks
@SonOfVon what has he done previously to deserve this?
Re: Monkey Island's Creator Seemingly Shuts Down Blog After Personal Attacks
@nocdaes The tweet about the impact of negative feedback is how it affects morale - it's not that it'll intentionally be made worse, but these attacks and vitriol can affect how people perform in the workplace which can theoretically lead the game itself being impacted.
I also can't agree with the idea that walking away and saying that you don't want to share things anymore due to the abuse you're receiving is in any way just as bad as the attacks being made.
Re: Monkey Island's Creator Seemingly Shuts Down Blog After Personal Attacks
It's 100% fine for people to not like something about a game and even comment about it along with their reasoning but the way some gamers do this on the internet is just ridiculous. Too much vitriol and hyperbole with a hefty dose of 'my opinion means more than yours, creator of game series' from these armchair developers/finance 'experts'
@SteamEngenius This is completely different from being able to 'handle criticism' - no-one should expect to receive tons of comments on their own website filled with anger, personal attacks and entitlement based on something as small as a game's art direction whether they're on the internet or not.
Re: Lorelei And The Laser Eyes Is A Mysterious Adventure Landing In 2023
This was what I came out of the Direct most interested in. Love Simogo games.
Re: Watch: Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase
Good showcase that, pretty much a full Nintendo Direct just without the first party stuff.
Re: Round Up: Every Switch Game Featured In The Day Of The Devs 2022 Presentation
@gcunit I mean they're going to be doing that anyway with the gameplay/trailer anyway so what's the issue? Some people like to see a little behind the curtain of those who are actually working on the games, even moreso for those interested in indie games specifically. Doesn't sound like that bad of a tactic to me.
Re: Former Pokémon Art Director Reveals 'Plucky Squire', The First Game From His New Studio
Highlight of all three shows, looks absolutely wonderful
Re: Cosy Hotel Sim 'Bear And Breakfast' Swipes Summer Switch Release
Looks great, the mention of being inspired by Theme Hospital was a huge plus point for me
Re: Round Up: Every Switch Game Featured In The Day Of The Devs 2022 Presentation
@gcunit Nothing wrong with a little structure, plus it's nice to see a little personality behind the games especially when they're usually the sole/main developers on the project. If it's not your thing then you just need to be patient for 30 seconds or so which is nothing really.
Re: Ring Fit Adventure Switch Sales Have Now Surpassed 14 Million
Always happy to see this game do well - I didn't get on too well with Wii Fit, but the way Ring Fit married up the exercises and progress really gelled with me. A really good companion to other forms of exercise.
Re: New Chart Data Shows That Brits Are In Love With Mario, But Only After FIFA And CoD
Wii Fit being number 14 in the list with just 3 entries into the series really stands out compared to the rest of the list. Lightning in a bottle on the Wii.
Re: Video Game History Foundation Calls Out Nintendo's "Destructive" 3DS & Wii U eShop Closure
All ESA members need to change their thinking on game preservation, and Nintendo especially need to stop actively and aggressively campaigning against any attempt from non-commercial institutions trying to do so.
@Ryu_Niiyama Sony aren't the ones that are currently and publicly closing down a web store and any access to a whole host of games, of course any statement is going to focus on Nintendo. When Sony try to close the PS3 and Vita stores again they'll get the blowback they deserve but right now it's Nintendo's deserved turn for the harsh spotlight.
Re: Random: Nintendo Kart Is Trending On Social Media, Following Claims Of Mario Kart 9 Being "In Active Development"
I really, really hope not. The roster needs an upheaval but only to remove a bunch of babies and duplicates, to be replaced with other Mario-verse characters (Pauline, E.Gadd, Nabbit etc).
Hopefully the new twist is gameplay related only.
Re: New Pokémon Snap Took 'Many Years Of Trial And Error', Core Concept Could Have Been Changed
If we don't get another Pokemon Snap game for further 20 years then I'm at least glad that they knocked it out of the park with NPS.
But I really do hope we see a sequel in a few years time.
Re: Nintendo Obtains High Court Injunction Against Internet Service Providers To Block Switch Pirates
Whenever I see something has been decided in our courts by Justice Smith, I just think of Justice Smith the actor.
Re: Review: Chicory: A Colorful Tale - A Masterful Marriage Of Mechanics, Themes And Visuals
Easily my favourite game of the year, glad the game is getting some of the attention it deserves on Switch. Having painting as the main mechanic is also such a great tool for knowing where you have and haven't properly explored in the world map.
Re: Amazingly, Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Is Nintendo's Only UK Christmas Number 1 Since 1984
@MajorTom It's especially odd as the show, while still very popular at the time, was starting its decline in ratings a bit from its peak the year before.
I wonder if there wasn't really much else coming out at that point with the PS1 winding down, the PS2 only just getting going and others not really making a mark in the UK marketplace
Re: Metroid Dread Crowned #1 In TIME's 'Best Games Of 2021'
Some deserved recognition for Chicory and Inscryption
@RR529 You're right, but the actual article about him accompanying it is unfortunately pretty reverential...
Re: Indie Darling Chicory: A Colorful Tale Is On The Switch, Right Now
My favourite game of the year, glad to see it make its way to Switch. Touch and motion controls will be awesome options for people.
@moodycat is $20 an egregious price tag these days?
Re: Interactive Thriller Twelve Minutes Releases On Switch This December
Really didn't enjoy this when I played through earlier this year - it's not just that the story is whack and only Willem Dafoe is any good performance wise, but the puzzle gameplay side is pretty dire too.
Re: Random: Xbox Celebrates The GameCube (And The Dreamcast!) On Their 20th Anniversary
I mean for sure they're posting this as part of Xbox's 20th anniversary celebrations, but they're not wrong or anything. It's also just kind of nice to see one of the big three actually acknowledge the existence of other consoles and games that aren't on their system every now and then, rather than pretend they don't exist.
Re: GTA Trilogy Fans Aren't Happy With Some Of The Changes In The 'Definitive' Remaster
@broskiplays Criticising the final product /= harassing the devs
I'm sure Grove Street Games did the best they could with the resources and timeline they were given but it doesn't mean we can't call out R*/Take Two for pushing these out to make a quick buck (likely released now in order to boost their financials for the year without any big releases due)
Re: Zelda: BotW, Super Mario 64 And Pokémon GO Shortlisted For The Golden Joystick 'Ultimate Game Of All Time' Award
I also can't see past Tetris as the overall winner, and I think Minecraft is probably its closest competitor. Not that I think they're both the best games ever personally, but I think that they most closely match the criteria.
Re: Soapbox: Can We Please Retire The Phrase 'Lazy Devs' Already?
@AlexSora89 There's no denying that these are low quality animations, but the reasons for it can be more than just laziness.
It's possible for sure that it's because someone was too lazy to animate them properly. It's also just as possible that this was a placeholder added with the intention for it to be changed later on in development but they then ran out of time to do so as other elements may have had a higher priority to fix.
This isn't a slight on you personally but more of a general musing but I find it interesting that lazy developers is the idea that has stuck with people rather than poor project management, or publisher/management interference or even laziness on the part of the people at the very top. It seems to be that the rank and file employees bear the brunt of the criticism rather than those who actually make the decisions.
Some here have mentioned that the term 'developer' refers to the collective rather than individuals whenever they use the phrase, but as we've seen in this comment thread there are certainly those that think it is down to those individuals, and it's certainly something that is taken to heart by some individual developers - imagine working really hard in your role only for the game itself to receive poor ratings and then see the world and their dog talking about how lazy the devs were when you know you worked hard on it. The way we talk about these kinds of things does need to change.
Re: Soapbox: Can We Please Retire The Phrase 'Lazy Devs' Already?
@ULTRA-64 Who said you can't be critical? You can still not a like a game and think mechanics need more work while simultaneously not using phrases like lazy devs.
That phrase ignores other pressures development teams have to face when working on a game, like poor project management and timeline planning, along with pressure from publishers or higher ups to implement things that weren't originally intended, change elements to fit market research or maintain a release date in order to meet a company's financial goals for the year.
Not only that, but using the phrase so liberally means it becomes useless when talking about actual lazy developers (those who want funding for a game but don't really want to to the work, the people behind basic asset flips with misleading descriptions).
I know the internet is the place where discussion goes to die, but that is what's needed when talking about reasons for a product not being entirely up to an individual's standards. The way the phrase is used it lazy in itself.
Re: HBO's '8-Bit Christmas' Is Giving The NES Power Glove Another Shot At Movie Glory
To anyone thinking this is just a nostalgia driven made for TV- quality film chucked onto a subscription service for the sole purpose of QUANTITY, you're absolutely correct. Prepare for a lot of 'tech bad, family good' messaging.
Re: Feature: Steven Spohn On Strides In Accessibility For Gaming, And Nintendo's Room For Improvement
Nintendo are behind the curve massively when it comes to accessibility options and not just to other big video game publishers but also smaller indie studios. There really is no excuse for the complete lack of options available on the vast majority of their games and it's strange there are people here defending them on that point. They have more than enough money to budget this in, it would have a minuscule effect on their earnings but would allow more people to play. Seems a no brainer really.
The point about innovative control schemes and system gimmicks is something that's a bit more difficult to tackle but I think there's still ways that Nintendo could make those games more accessible if they wanted to.
Re: Lil Gator Game Is An Adorable Adventure Waddling Onto Switch
Looks like there's a Steam demo coming in a couple of weeks, will try it out to see if it's more than just A Short Hike with a different hat on.
Re: New Pokémon Snap Is Getting More Areas And Pokémon In Free Update
A free update is great news. Easily one of favourites game of the year so far, I've gotten so much out of New Pokemon Snap - can't wait for this.
Re: Sword And Shield Leakers Required To Pay The Pokémon Company $150K Each
@BloodNinja Ah yes, brave whistleblowers who shined a light on... (checks notes) at that point unrevealed starter evolutions and Gigantimax Pokemon.
Those specific leaks truly showed Nintendo up for their 'false advertising' and totally wasn't a play for internet kudos. Only to be the 'good guys'. Yup, 100% believe that.
Re: Sword And Shield Leakers Required To Pay The Pokémon Company $150K Each
@-Juice- Whistleblowers? If you believe they were leaking photos for anything other than internet clout then I have a bridge to sell you.
@Spiders I guess the solution would have been to not deliberately break an NDA for something so stupid and expose yourself to legal ramifications
Re: Uniqlo's Latest Animal Crossing Clothing Range Is Now Available Online
The designs on the kids and baby t-shirts are far more interesting than the adults. Thought there'd be a bit more colour on offer especially given the series
Re: Reminder: DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power Is Out Now On Nintendo Switch
I get not every game is to everyone's tastes but some of the comments here are just embarrassing...
Re: Reminder: DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power Is Out Now On Nintendo Switch
@zapswitch Cool story bro
Re: Get To Know Mutants, Gardening, And Death In Mutazione, Coming To Switch Very Soon
Played it on PS4 and had a really good time with it. Kind of feels like you're moving into a soap opera (in a good way) with the storylines going on around you, and the gardening mini game is quite relaxing
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@lexiestence Oh god, not this again...
Already discussed this at length with someone else, not going to repeat myself.
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@lexiestence As I said, moral difference.
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@lexiestence There's a moral difference between knowingly and unknowingly hosting pirated content
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@Yorumi You said Nintendo in general, not QA. The platform QA team wouldn't be looking for those things - they test to see if the game runs and whether it has an adverse effect on the hardware. Any issues that don't require forensic examination which violate copyright would be picked up in the submissions process.
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@Yorumi At a level less forensic than diving through a game's code, sure, but even then onus lies with the developer and publisher.
There are many licensing deals which may be in effect which Nintendo wouldn't necessarily know about, but I'm sure if say a Nathan Drake game which used names and trademarks in its submission materials, alarm bells would ring and they wouldn't just let it be released on the store.
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@Yorumi I don't think you understand how mammoth the task of checking this would be. They'd need to first check the code (something that isn't exactly brief), understand it and then check it against every known piece of software (of which there are, to put it mildly, a lot) to ensure it doesn't match at all. And now multiply that by the sheer volume of games that release on the eshop any given week.
I also don't think it's a deflection to point out that platform QA does not work like that in the industry and never has. And if Nintendo weren't aware of it no, there isn't a hypocrisy in having hosted it, even while simultaneously going after ROM sites (which did so knowingly)
The blame for all of this lies on the original developers (and publishers, as the responsibility for releasing the product ultimately stops there), but thanks to articles like this the focus is divertd and they're the ones sliding casually away and barely being mentioned or called out about it at all.
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@Yorumi Do people just not understand what QA is in relation to uploading a game to a platform store? It's just a basic check to amke sure the game runs (not poorly or well, just runs) and that the game doesn't cause any hardware issues, it has nothing to do with the content of the game. This goes for all platforms.
On the submissions side, adding that kind of question would be smart move but they still can't check the code, and I'd be willing to bet there'd developers and publishers who would still lie on those forms.
The creator of the emulator here seems to have submitted documentation to Nintendo America so hopefully it'll get the ball rolling (although it's the Japan store so may take some time to get to the right people) and if there's a case I'd expect to see it removed from the store pending an investigation. If nothing happens in the next week then I think criticism of Nintendo's position would be valid (although even then, we can't see the documentation or evidence so it still wouldn't be a clear cut case)
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@BloodNinja What am I making up here? The actual story here is that a developer is probably using pirate software to run their game. Why isn't the game, publisher responsible or the creator of the original software mentioned in the headline? Why is the focus on Nintendo and the accusation that they're allowing pirated software on the store, when at the time of the tweet they likely weren't even aware of the issue as it had't been reported. That's not 'allowing' anything, that's just not knowing there's a problem.
Not to mention in all of this that I don't think the tweet in question is probably all that serious in tone when it comes to blaming Nintendo...
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@BloodNinja As I said, any person writing about games should know that the accusation is silly and that Nintendo aren't allowing it as far as they didn't know anything about it in the first place before it was highlighted. The accusation barely even warrants a mention in the article, let alone the headline
To make it the focus by putting it as the headline and distracting from the actual story is either foolish or entirely planned and I'm loathe to call anyone a fool for no good reason.
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@BloodNinja The intent of the headline is obvious to anyone with an ounce of sense.
Re: Nintendo Accused Of Allowing "Pirated Software On The eShop" By GBA Emulator Developer
@BloodNinja Something doesn't have to be false to be bait. The headline choice seems intentional so as to draw people to an article about a topic where Nintendo has history of being relentlessly opposed to when in fact the blame obviously lies elsewhere as can be understood by anyone with even a modicum of sense or understanding of the industry.
All this notwithstanding the fact that it's an accusation that the article barely even mentions outside of one sentence in six paragraphs and one tweet in a screengrab of five, so the headline badly represents what the article is about anyway.