Shovelware Set to Invade PSP Minis?

Kris Erickson • Oct 29, 2009 • Comments (1)

The PSP Minis service has been out for about a month, and already it looks like the download store is about to be flooded with shovelware. Games that normally wouldn't have made it through Sony's strict quality restrictions face a lower bar on the Minis service. That has been one of the persistent criticisms of Apple's App Store, which allows just about anybody to publish a game for the iPhone platform. There are over 15,000 aps for the system, and only a small number of those are particularly worthwhile, causing great programs to get 'lost in the noise'. Many PSP Minis games are actually pretty good, but two recently announced titles look ready to break that short-lived trend.

Two Austrian companies are about to launch PSP versions of their online flash games: Red Bull X-Fighters and Yetisports.

Red Bull X-Fighters is an arcade game that features extreme motocross stunts and advertising from the energy drink maker Red Bull. The developer promises 'Head-to-head battles, breathtaking tricks and double backflips up to 40 ft in the air'. The game will also award equipment and bikes based on performance. The game is priced at 3.99 Euros ($6 USD).

Yetisports is a game you might be familar with if you were on the Internet in 2002. You control a giant Yeti that gets to smack a Penguin as far as possible. This game features a slight upgrade over the original -- after been kicked around for years, the Penguin finally gets to fly! The directional pad is used to maneuver Pengu through 25 stages, collect bonus items and chase the daily and global records. Also on board is the classic mode where the only goal is to glide further than any Penguin has done before. This game is priced at 2.99 Euros ($5 USD).