Retailers and DS games

Gummy Panda

What is about irish retailers and the DS, that they fill the shelves with some god awful games?

I was in a few shops over the weekend and it seemed like they stocked a few good new releases then had two bays of shovelware. The games reminded me of those spinning displays that sold really bad PC games for a fiver.

I couldn't find some of more decent recent releases but i could find my petz panda.

I guess i'll be sticking to web sites like play.com and ebay

Diddler82

There is a lot of shovelware on the DS, I agree. I have spent around €250 on games and none of them really inspire me to spent a whole lot more on them, GTA, Henry Hatsworth and Layton have kept me interested but other than that...none of them really can hold my attention...not even Zelda:(


That heavens for the magic card!

Retr0gamer

Unfortunately that shovelware sells. Absolutely atrocious games like carnivalvgames are doing great business while great stuff like soul bubbles doesn't get a look in.

IsThatSo?

The worst of the drivel is aimed at our children

How many "Imagine" titles are there? Too many!!! There is one called Imagine Baby and all I can think when I see it is "How can that game be fun" But I guess its a virtual doll for girls

valleyoftheunos

Because of the vast numbers of shovelware for the DS titles get very limited time in decent shelf space which means that sales plummet and titles go "out of print very quickly" I challenge anyone to find a new or used copy of either Soul Bubbles or The World Ends With You. Two excellent titles form 2008 that disappeared from shelves about 6 months ago, never to return.

Anyone thinking of picking up Henry Hatsworth move quick, it too will be gone before the end of summer.

Jip

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Unfortunately that shovelware sells. Absolutely atrocious games like carnivalvgames are doing great business while great stuff like soul bubbles doesn't get a look in.

Got that game for next to nothing in HMV back in December. God damn game, after 15 years or so working on a computer it's the only thing to gve me RSI. Oddly enough I got the World Ends with You at the same time. I find HMV the best for getting titles like this but you have to work your way through the shelves to find them, they don't get prominent display space.

Mr E

I was helping my brother look for a DS game for his girlfriend in Game a few months ago.

Soul Bubbles - €11.99, new. Easy choice.
It was the last one there, and will probably never return.

johnnyrotten

IsThatSo? wrote: »

The worst of the drivel is aimed at our children

How many "Imagine" titles are there? Too many!!! There is one called Imagine Baby and all I can think when I see it is "How can that game be fun" But I guess its a virtual doll for girls

Because the console is aimed at children

Retr0gamer

I'm actually worried that if this shovelware is some childs first experience of gaming it could put them off it. Which would probably be good for their health and wallet later in life but not so much for the industry

And isn't it wrong to be aiming bad quality drivel at the kids market. I'm sure kids appreciate good games just like I did when I was younger.

IsThatSo?

johnnyrotten wrote: »

Because the console is aimed at children

Gotta disagree with that one:) I have a DS, so does my husband and so does my 7 year old Its a bit like the wii though, its aimed at encompassing the "non gamers" as well as "gamers" but I, personally, don't think its particularly suitable for hardcore gamers.

It is a good console and there are some great games, for both adults and children. Shame about the drivel.

giddybootz

What is Soul Bubbles?
I'm so bored with my DS and all i can seem to see in shops are those Imagine games. Any good, fun, interesting games out there??

valleyoftheunos

Mr E wrote: »

I was helping my brother look for a DS game for his girlfriend in Game a few months ago.

Soul Bubbles - €11.99, new. Easy choice.
It was the last one there, and will probably never return.

Spectacular value!

giddybootz wrote: »

What is Soul Bubbles?
I'm so bored with my DS and all i can seem to see in shops are those Imagine games. Any good, fun, interesting games out there??

Its a puzzle game that involves using the stylus to blow/cut/inflate bubbles around a series of environments and levels. Its addictive and great fun, wish I hadn't traded it.

You should be able to find in on Play.com or Amazon easy enough.

There are Hundreds of great, interesting and original titles for the DS in almost every genre, unfortunately if all you do is look at the shelves in Gamestop you may never find out about them, Check out some gaming websites and then buy from the Web.

Retr0gamer

giddybootz wrote: »

What is Soul Bubbles?
I'm so bored with my DS and all i can seem to see in shops are those Imagine games. Any good, fun, interesting games out there??

How can you be! The amount of amazing games is staggering on the DS!

giddybootz

Retr0gamer wrote: »

How can you be! The amount of amazing games is staggering on the DS!

Really?? I guess it's like Valley said...I just go to Gamestop or Xtravision. What site do you guys recommend?

Retr0gamer

The american sites give the best value and it's region free. I suggest you look at something like IGN or metacritic that compiles all the reviews by score and pick the games that sound good to you.

www.videogamesplus.ca are excellent and have better delivery than most english sites.
www.play-asia.com are good but make are buying an english language version of the game.

valleyoftheunos

NintendoLife.com is another independent website that has lots of reviews as well.

kaiser soza

Gamestop have Soul Bubble for €10 second hand and Game have a great sale on at the moment with Bangai O for DS for €12 and several new release RPGs for €25 including Valkyria Profile and Rhapsody.

elekid

I think the stock in most Dublin retailers has become very bad in recent years. I remember a time when a new release was guaranteed to be on the shelves of most shops the morning it came out.

I want to get Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon the week it was released and there was no sign of it in any of the shops despite multiple searches. You'd swear it had never been released in Ireland and I ended up buying it online from Game's UK site instead. The likes of Dragon Quest V and Suikoden Tierkreis are already disappearing off the shelves seemingly for good. It's a real shame there can't be more balance between the shovelware and the more niche games in the shops

Gummy Panda

elekid wrote: »

I think the stock in most Dublin retailers has become very bad in recent years. I remember a time when a new release was guaranteed to be on the shelves of most shops the morning it came out.

I want to get Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon the week it was released and there was no sign of it in any of the shops despite multiple searches. You'd swear it had never been released in Ireland and I ended up buying it online from Game's UK site instead. The likes of Dragon Quest V and Suikoden Tierkreis are already disappearing off the shelves seemingly for good. It's a real shame there can't be more balance between the shovelware and the more niche games in the shops

This is how i feel. Luckly videogamesplus.ca are great for getting these titles. Play.com are a bit ropey lately. Relying more on their playtrade to have stocks after they've sold out. Also you get better value from you GAME card by using on the UK site then in store. £2.50 translates to €2.50 in a store.

davenewt

kaiser soza wrote: »

Gamestop have Soul Bubble for €10 second hand

Gamestop in Stephens Green has 2 copies of Soul Bubbles left for 11.99 second hand... shame it's not a tenner but not far off... just throwing it out there.

Picked myself up a copy last night after reading the above. Can't wait to give it a go at the weekend.

Thanks for the tips guys! (assuming you're right )

Chumpski

Thats true the shelves are full of useless sh%t. Saying that another annoying thing is that DS games rarely if ever drop in price as well.

New Super Mario Bros. a three year old game is still retailing for 44.99 in most stores now. Pre owned games are outrageous price as well usually 10% or so cheaper than the same game new.

RuggieBear

just bought soul bubble and that hatworth game on the strength of this thread

13 euro for soul bubble and 25 for the other in GAME. nice.

valleyoftheunos

RuggieBear wrote: »

just bought soul bubble and that hatworth game on the strength of this thread

13 euro for soul bubble and 25 for the other in GAME. nice.

good man, let us know what you think, two lesser known gems IMO.

giddybootz

Hey guys, got Soul Bubbles at the weekend and i LOVE it!!! So a big thank you to you all!! I'm travelling from Dublin to Kerry on Fridays so it will keep me entertained!!