SFV Character Request/Anticipation Thread

[Riot55]

What are Yun and Yang’s chances? I doubt they will be in the base roster, but what are their chances as DLCs?

36.7%

[Eternal]

You know, I lived in Japan for 4 years and they have an entirely different notion of racism. Most japanese residents will just assume than anyone who isn’t asian is from the US, and they mostly only harbor minor racist feelings for chinese and koreans(which often times pass as japanese themselves, appearance wise). I think that all of their character stereotypes are done with lighthearted intentions that no one is supposed to take seriously or be offended by, but then again the western civilization is a lot more critical about these stereotypes. Hell, blackface is still a thing in Japan yet they love black people and take great interest in trying to have some sort of social contact with them if the situation arises.

And while on topic, what is dudley even supposed to be? I’ve heard that he’s indian/britsh from the udon comics, but looks mostly like a white person drawn with black skin tones.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying Capcom’s character designers are sitting in a dark, smoke-filled room plotting how to be disrespectful to everybody who doesn’t look like them. And I fully agree with you that that’s probably the mentality that goes into these designs and characterizations.

Hell, it’s the exact same here in the U.S. when it comes to a lot of problematic material in media: something lighthearted unwittingly incorporates problematic elements and you wind up with something questionable. Why? Same reason it sounds from your experience that it happens in Japan: a lack of understanding of the context of those elements.

Using your example of blackface in Japan, I doubt they have the large scale cultural understanding that blackface was a purposeful part of white America’s campaign to negatively shape broader opinions of black people, in order to better oppress and control them.

Hell, most folks in the U.S. don’t get that. It’s more than just a bunch of funny caricatures. And that lack of understanding leads to the racist element being propagated further and not allowed to die, and those of us in its target range wonder why all media representations of us look like this lazy, big-lipped, dimwitted cartoon, and wonder why society at large treats us as such.

So no, I’m sure Capcom isn’t cackling away as they create these characters for the sole purpose of shitting on brown and black folks’ lives. But without realizing it, they are adding to a really big pile of really bad things in the world. And it wouldn’t mean much if Street Fighter were some local hit confined to Japan’s shores and didn’t have far-reaching cultural influence on a global scale…

But clearly that’s not the case.

Although I agree with you for the most part, I would say racism is something entirely different in Japan. Japanese people have racism within their own country, however they are entirely unaware of it. They honestly believe that only the west can be racist.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/02/22/american-teacher-in-japan-under-fire-for-lessons-on-japans-history-of-discrimination/

Sorry it’s a washington post article but it has many other sources with the same information, just search around. They are misinterpreting as stereotypes as a celebration of culture, because of what everyone here has been saying “these stereotype, offensive or not, are based in culture and history.” The problem is they are misrepresenting these aspects. I remember during Hakan’s announcement and teasing, Capcom was referring to him as an Arab character a few times, which he’s not. Turkish people do not identify as Arabs, neither do Iranians for that matter. I don’t think this is done out of racism but rather because they simply do not understand, but in all honestly this isn’t something we can hold Capcom to yet. They are honestly trying to celebrate the world’s culture. That’s why Dahlsim and DeeJay exist. Proof could be exhibited in Tekken more so. In the Saudi Arabia stage in Tekken there use to arabic script that said “Allah” on the floor where the characters would fight. This, of course, was offensive to Muslims, and they took it out. They didn’t know what they were doing, they just thought the script looked nice and they saw it a lot when they visited the country. This is why they asked the Tekken community before creating and implementing their new Middle Eastern character, Shaheen.

I’m just trying to play the middle ground here, but I don’t really think it’s fair to hold Capcom to the racism standards of the West. I feel as though you ignore the base of their culture and how they see race by forcing your view on them. Because even though you’re right about race, gender, and sexual orientation being treated rather poorly in the series, their culture has much more work to do from within. But then again maybe I’m being slightly racist.

Btw, what’s wrong with Poison as a transgender character? I think her whole backstory and creation is a great because of the awareness she brings to society and culture. And honestly, in the game they don’t do anything stereotype her. She is a bit over sexual, but honestly being a hermaphrodite/post op is only one part of her character. Did I miss something?

Oh well, if anything all I really want in SF5 is Rival Schools characters. There’s only 4 I’d ever want to see in Street Fighter: Kyosuke Kagami, Akira Kazama, Daigo Kazama, and Kurow Kirishima. Honestly the four of them could really fit in both story wise and gameplay pretty well. Kurow and Kyosuke disappeared at the end of Project Justice, could be that Kyosuke is tracking down Kurow for revenge and Kurow took control of Daigo again and is using him for a new plan. Akira is looking for Daigo as well. Fighting wise there aren’t many characters like Kurow out there. Daigo and Akira’s fighting styles haven’t really been in SF before either. Kyosuke is just awesome. And Scorpion from Muscle Bomber could be unique too.

I’d also like to see some SF4 characters updated too. Hakan, Juri, Abel, C. Viper, and El Fuerte could easily become staples in SF if Capcom continues to let them grow. As for new characters, I’d really like to see a drunken fist style, but not in the usual Jackie Chan form. Maybe a drunken fist Irish boxer. (I already get the irony) They could pay homage to C. Jack from the EX series (one of my favorites) by giving him a gold club instead of a bat. I have an idea for a Canadian female grappler, how is a counter part to Abel. As an Arab american I’d be cool to have a serious Arab character, maybe from Lebanon, they are a pretty modernized country. An upgrade for Karin, Sakura, and Sean would be cool. I have a bunch of ideas for new characters, but I’ll refrain from posting anymore. I don’t want my first post in the forums being too controversial.

All I can find for Hakan being called arab is from other people not Capcom. This interview they specifically say “Turkey” but never call him Arab or Arabian. http://www.eventhubs.com/news/2010/mar/20/japanese-ssf4-team-breaks-down-hakan/ I’m not doubting they have done it though, I just can’t find it.

As for Deejay, that was Capcom USA not Japan and he is actually inspired by Billy Blanks of all things. So whether or not you think they did a good job representing the culture of Jamaica or not is kind of moot since you’re discussing Japan.

[ES_Curse]

What are Yun and Yang’s chances? I doubt they will be in the base roster, but what are their chances as DLCs?

High for 3rd Strike characters. I can imagine a “New Generation” pack with Ibuki, Sean, Yun, and Makoto sometime down the line. I also expect a “Final Fight” pack featuring Cody, Guy, Sodom, and Poison.

[ZealKnight]

As for Deejay, that was Capcom USA not Japan and he is actually inspired by Billy Blanks of all things. So whether or not you think they did a good job representing the culture of Jamaica or not is kind of moot since you’re discussing Japan.

Fair point. Like I said, he’s not really a racist character but black characters could have been done better that’s for sure.

[Naeras]

Discussing ethnicities in SF is kind of weird, considering it’s a japanese game where the most well-known japanese characters are an obsessive fangirl, a fat guy who’s really angry about nobody outside of Japan giving a shit about sumo wrestling, and a hobo.

[blufang]

Yeah I don’t think we should be so upset with Capcom’s handling of ethnicity considering what they do with their own.

[ItsDaveyJ]

Here’s my ideal starting roster:

1.) Ryu
2.) Ken
3.) Chun-Li
4.) Cammy
5.) Nash
6.) Bison
7.) Birdie
8.) Sagat
9.) Sakura
10.) Juri
11.) Alex
12.) R Mika/Zangief/Guile/Karin
13.) Necalli
14.) New Character
15.) New Character
16.) New Character

And I may be one of the only people who want this, but I hope C Viper eventually finds her way back. She would look sick in this game.

[Neclord]

She would look sick in this game.

Yeah, especially on player 2 side. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[PVL_93_RU]

Here’s my ideal starting roster:

1.) Ryu
2.) Ken
3.) Chun-Li
4.) Cammy
5.) Nash
6.) Bison
7.) Birdie
8.) Sagat
9.) Sakura
10.) Juri
11.) Alex
12.) R Mika/Zangief/Guile/Karin
13.) Necalli
14.) New Character
15.) New Character
16.) New Character

And I may be one of the only people who want this, but I hope C Viper eventually finds her way back. She would look sick in this game.

Write Sakura off that list and we’re good to go

[DeOnde]

Ok, everyone is making their prediction lists so i made mine; have in mind this is not my dream roster, but a collection of those i deem likely to be included.

http://i.imgur.com/PJ0a0SW.png

Confirmed characters (8):

• Ryu (Main man Roo)

• Chun (First lady of fighting games, all chinese Interpol officers use traditional dresses)

• Nash (Undead Anime Guile-Wesker)

• M. Bison (Vega with no claw, Bison with no gloves)

• Cammy (Shoutouts to the japanese VA for stepping up and soundng way better in this one, and actually pronouncing Spiral Arrow this time around. And the stretch marks during her CA KO Screen Kreygasm)

• Birdie (I need the most stereotypical british dub ever, Capcom m8s please deliver)

• Ken (Main man’s main man; Family Man; Mr. Online)

• Necalli (Really angry pillar man-thing, stole all the funds for Ken’s hair physics, somehow related to the boss; give him an Arabian hip-hop theme pls)

• Returning from USF4 (2)

• Guile (Friendly connections to Chun-li and Ken, important to the plot point of Nash’s revival, Shades)

• Juri (Important to the plot, overall the most requested newcomer from the SF4 series, Footsies)

• Returning from SF3: 3S (2)

• Alex (Fits with the timeline, fanfavorite, doesn’t lose, praises Gee-Zahs)

• Urien (Fits with the timeline, fanfavorite, extremely plot relevant with Nash’s revival)

• New Characters (3)

• 1º Brazilian revealed at BGS, not named Laura.

• 2º New Final Fight character (Haggar would be dope), could be a completely original character too.

• 3º (Boss)

Ultimate Wildcard (1)

• Anyone, literally. From R. Mika to Abel to Sagat to Sodom to Q, anyone. Mika is likely because she brings the goofyness that the game is kind of lacking (outside of Birdie) and Ono likes, while also satisfying the fans, it’s a win-win.

Free Early DLC

• Akuma; yes, Gouki “The Kuma” himself. Hear me out, there’s nothing the entitled gamers from today love more than their “free DLC”, it might be content that could be there at launch but as long as it’s free they will go “oh my god thank the devs we did it leddit, capkam must’ve learned it’s leçun now gaev us magamun will throw cash at the skreen”. Easiest PR ever. Either that or add him as an easy unlockable character like inputing a code in the main menu or something, give the nostalgic something to like; no press X to buy Goro; expanding the 16-character roster with an “extra” character would also make people feel like they got more than what they payed for, PR gold.

Later DLC

• Karin. Swim in sweet FGC money until Street Fighter 8.
• Q. Same reason.

[Daemos]

I don’t think Guile will be part of the original roster. In fact, I’m hoping he sits this one out for storyline reasons (mainly I want him hospitalized and in critical condition, at the hands of Charlie). Maybe he can join at a later date.

Instead I would rather more unique SF2 designs be given the V treatment like Gief, Sim, and Claw.

Akuma is easy money so they should keep him as a DLC or as a hidden unlockable.

[DeOnde]

Nah, many speculated we would get Akuma (or Ken before he was announced) as DLC but that would lead to gaming drama, and SFxT consumed enough gaming drama for the next decade; we don’t need more of that. His inclusion is inevitable, so just add him at once and get it over with.

As for Guile, this is a hard one, the part of me that trusts Capcom’s storytelling believes there is no way he is not included (as the changes to Nash’s playstyle clearly go in the direction of differentiating him from Guile), but he may be put aside and limited to cutscenes/arcade endings to be added later, i really don’t know at this point. Claw could be interesting if he got a redesign (that purple-yellow pant isn’t cutting it nowadays), but i’d rather have a new grappler/zoner than Gief and/or Sim to be honest.

[Daemos]

That’s like saying i’d rather have a new shoto than Ryu… It shouldn’t happen. Besides, Gief is a god! I am biased towards SF2 because I want to see these characters evolve and change more than any other SF character. They earned this right by sheer seniority.

I disagree on Akuma unless he goes through a radical transformation. The game has limited resources for launch, why expend them on another shoto when this can be done at any time later and will be guaranteed to sell? From a business and a logical perspective it doesn’t make sense to add one more headswap shoto.

Sure Nash is different from Guile now, but I don’t think he is different enough superficially speaking. To the laymen, Nash is to Guile as Evil Ryu is to Ryu. This is why I am against Guile making it to the initial roster. The initial 16 should be as unique and diverse as fuck.

[Windalfr]

I’d love to see an elder woman character that fights with Wing Chun, or something along those lines. It would be nice to see more original archetypes in this game’s future

[Daemos]

I’d love to see an elder woman character that fights with Wing Chun, or something along those lines. It would be nice to see more original archetypes in this game’s future

I’d like to see an wlder woman or just a plain old woman.

Or maybe a woman whose beauty isn’t a main point in her design at all.

[Toxic_Beauty]

According to her official bio, Poison was born in 1968, so she’s about 47 years old.

[blufang]

I think Daemos is speaking of a woman who actually looks old, who is devoid of sex appeal. A character no one will say ‘omg my waifu!’ or whatever.

[Daemos]

According to her official bio, Poison was born in 1968, so she’s about 47 years old.

Poison’s sex appeal is still a focal point in her design, regardless of her age she is still a sexually driven design. Warriors can be beautiful, male or female, but I would like to see a female warrior who does not aesthetically appeal to the lowest common denominator. There are many examples of strong and in their own way beautiful women who are not sexy, at least not the way teen boys dream them to be. The closest the SF universe got to this is Makoto and Rose. SF Ex had Hokuto.

I was hoping Chun Li would mature more into a Michelle Yeoh type lady, but she keeps becoming more girly and ‘waifu-esque’ with each iteration.

A female character like Jade Fox from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon

Or Brienne of Tarth from Game of Thrones

Or my absolute favorite fictional female character, Ellen Ripley <3

I don’t know why I feel like I’m in a minority for asking for women to be represented more like people and less like porn stars. It shouldn’t be this way. It really shouldn’t.

[jedi]

I just think everyone in the FGC needs a little more Skull-O-Mania in their lives…

[blufang]

It shouldn’t be that way, but it should be obvious why it is that way. Considering the FGC demographic.