I agree to a point, but aesthetics can be a huge factor and I can completely understand why. Look at Arcana Heart. It’s a really fun series with fun deep gameplay and a lot of diversity, but many people can never get past the fact that not only are all the characters girls, but most of them are barely in their teens if at all. That’s a line not a lot of people are willing to cross or put up with. First impressions are everything to some folks, and not everyone’s willing to pick up a new game just because it’s out.
If you want a better example, there’s Karnaaj Rally for the Game Boy Advance. It’s one of the best Micro Machines-style racing games out there since Death Rally, but nobody’s probably ever played it because the box art looks like this:
Did people have this same problem when Darkstalkers dropped? Did you need a permission slip to play as Felicia?
Sure this game could have sold way more if it threw in 3 Ryu’s, 4 racist stereotypes, and Chun-Li.
Too bad that doesn’t mean the game would be any good. I tried playing SF4 and all its following renditions and I just could not find one character I enjoyed playing with. How many fucking characters in that game again?
I spend two minutes with Peacock last year at ECT3 and I am set without question.
Honestly this game just needs a bit of spit shine and polish because it’s quite rough around the edges, the gameplay will do the rest.
But that’s also based of previous experience since it’s you know… terrible. Even then you should research more but I do understand your point, as I do that too.
We still don’t know if the game actually bombed. The barrier of entry is debatable because I could argue that MVC3, or SF4 have barriers of entry that are actually worse than SG. They don’t give you turiotals, they don’t explain the system, they just give a movelist/combo trial…let you rock with it. If people overreact to Ms.Fortune’s TOD and or Double’s hornet bomber, I don’t see how Newbs can handle Marvel. SF4 also has a pretty harsh combo system, and you to learn a lot of input tricks(plinking or pianoing) to get good at that system.
Anyway, you guys mean that Skullgirl will have to change their characters to cater what America’s audience think is awesome. AKA this.
No, because there are other games with this type of aesthetic. Skullgirls stands out *because *of it’s unique aesthetics. I wouldn’t be nearly as excited for this game if it looked like every other “mainstream” game out there.
To be fair i would play an Fighting Game with only Soldiers.
Pick an American Soldier, a Russian One, an Arab Insurgent, an British Paratrooper, A German Panzergranadier, a Merc from Blackwater and a Iraq Soldier
Give different weapons to each of those and play with the stereotypes.
The American Soldier super involves some jet bombing the fuck out of the stage while the America Anthem plays, The Russian fights with Combat Sambo, The Arab Insurgent can call Car Bombs.
Bonus Points if when the American dies an Eagle appears in the screen and cries and the phrase “NEVER FORGET” appears in the screen in the most obnoxious way possible
I find it funny the argument over artistic direction when this is the best direction sprite wise they could have gone with.
If we are going to argue the worst art imaginable Melty Blood type games already locked it up a long time ago.
It’s funny if i am following this thread correctly then MK’s was over the top gore is more acceptable then SG’s very nicely done pallets?
False. As Jaxel recently put it, FF8 is great because it’s a playable opera. The story is enthralling, has a lot of twists, and keeps you interested. The graphics are pretty incredible in and out of cutscenes, including the overdone summon cinematics. Great, memorable music. Characters in that game actually have personality (beyond the brooding protagonist) and stand out. I can’t remember one detail about FF9 characters other than Zidane had a tail. The only problem with 8 was the abusable junction system, but that still made the game more fun. FF8 also had Triple Triad, which alone was a better game than FF9. Playing FF8 I wanted to venture out and do every sidequest. Playing FF9 I just wanted to beat the game so I didn’t waste my time and money.
Hudson wanted to cater to Western’s taste in gaming. So they throwout nearly everything that BomberMan a special character to cater the West. Obviuolsy Western people like Giant Robots, Micahel Bay Explosions, Manly characters. So they changed the artstyle, and character design of Bomberman…so that people who hate dislike old school bomberman’s art can play the game.
That game is a example of why selling a iconic game’s soul for money is stupid. Sure you may get the money, but was the quality/appeal for the game worth it?
I would have thought Peacock and Painwheel would count as variety (Double as scary). If you arn’t willing to play games that you know you would like because of some fan service than that’s your decision.