Samus Aran: Who cares about over-sexualization?

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theNater

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[Kira Must Die said:
]...I don't think it was their intent to make it come across that way nor do I think they're trying to say anything demeaning with their inclusion.
I think they weren't trying to say anything at all with this inclusion. I suspect they simply didn't think about it much, which is the root of my issue here. Character design is as much an art as writing or cinematography. It's not something that just happens, it's something one does deliberately. This is doubly true when working with a widely known character, like Samus.

As a player, you aren't obligated to think about those design choices. But anybody who has the words "character designer" in their job title or job description should absolutely do so.
 

Riotguards

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what about people who have disabilities, fat, unsightly, etc

why is it that they are never the protagonist but put on the sidelines as a plot device to be hated or sympathised with and yet nobody talks about this obvious problem

its always beautiful people whom are in the spotlight and we perceive sexual characters as beautify, we really need to change the standards and make it so we can play as a person who is not only ugly as hell but fat and stupid only then shall we be beyond the patriarchy
 

[Kira Must Die]

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mecegirl said:
theNater said:
*Sigh* You know what? Lets just say we're at an impasse. I don't see the heels as being a big deal, but you guys certainly did, and it's at least nice to hear where other people are coming from.

At the end of the day, I just wanna play a game. I'm not as big of a gamer as I used to be, so most of the issues like this don't bother me as long as the game is still good. Maybe if this were about movies or anime I'd feel more passionate about it, but for games, I just want to unwind and relax without having to take these issues into consideration, that's all, not to mention I'm not a big Metroid fan, having only played one or two games. I just like Samus/Zero Suit Samus in SSB.
 

theNater

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[Kira Must Die said:
]*Sigh* You know what? Lets just say we're at an impasse. I don't see the heels as being a big deal, but you guys certainly did, and it's at least nice to hear where other people are coming from.

At the end of the day, I just wanna play a game. I'm not as big of a gamer as I used to be, so most of the issues like this don't bother me as long as the game is still good. Maybe if this were about movies or anime I'd feel more passionate about it, but for games, I just want to unwind and relax without having to take these issues into consideration, that's all, not to mention I'm not a big Metroid fan, having only played one or two games. I just like Samus/Zero Suit Samus in SSB.
Criticism is not an attack. Saying this was a bad design decision is not saying that SSB is a bad game, or that Zero Suit Samus is a bad character, or that the designers are bad people for making the game, or that you are a bad person for playing the character. No one is telling you to stop playing or enjoying the game. Most artwork, even really good artwork, has flaws in it, and that's okay. Pointing out those flaws is not decrying the artwork as bad.

The point of criticism is to identify possible avenues of improvement. To make the games a better, richer, and fuller experience. Have you ever watch two things, be they movies, anime series, or even two episodes of a single anime series, which were superficially similar but differently enjoyable and you weren't sure why? Like, there's one you keep coming back to again and again while you're pretty well done with the other? And when you try to explain these different reactions, you find yourself saying things like "it just feels better" or "there's just something about it"? Those differences are made up of dozens, hundreds, sometimes even thousands or millions of tiny little details; like the rhythm of a sentence, or the way a camera moves within a scene, or yes, even the choice of footwear for a character. Analyzing those details, seeing where they go right and wrong and why, helps us make right decisions about such details in our own creative works, leading to better entertainment overall.

ETA: Since you mentioned movies and anime specifically, I'm gonna point you to "Every Frame a Painting"(https://www.youtube.com/user/everyframeapainting/videos). It's an analysis of film form-the special things you can do in an environment of moving pictures. It's a superb example of little details that most audience members won't consciously notice, but have a significant impact on how they connect with the story. The episodes on the lateral tracking shot and "editing space and time" are both quite interesting, and highlight shots that need to be anime because they can't be done physically.
 

[Kira Must Die]

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theNater said:
[Kira Must Die said:
]*Sigh* You know what? Lets just say we're at an impasse. I don't see the heels as being a big deal, but you guys certainly did, and it's at least nice to hear where other people are coming from.

At the end of the day, I just wanna play a game. I'm not as big of a gamer as I used to be, so most of the issues like this don't bother me as long as the game is still good. Maybe if this were about movies or anime I'd feel more passionate about it, but for games, I just want to unwind and relax without having to take these issues into consideration, that's all, not to mention I'm not a big Metroid fan, having only played one or two games. I just like Samus/Zero Suit Samus in SSB.
Criticism is not an attack. Saying this was a bad design decision is not saying that SSB is a bad game, or that Zero Suit Samus is a bad character, or that the designers are bad people for making the game, or that you are a bad person for playing the character. No one is telling you to stop playing or enjoying the game. Most artwork, even really good artwork, has flaws in it, and that's okay. Pointing out those flaws is not decrying the artwork as bad.

The point of criticism is to identify possible avenues of improvement. To make the games a better, richer, and fuller experience. Have you ever watch two things, be they movies, anime series, or even two episodes of a single anime series, which were superficially similar but differently enjoyable and you weren't sure why? Like, there's one you keep coming back to again and again while you're pretty well done with the other? And when you try to explain these different reactions, you find yourself saying things like "it just feels better" or "there's just something about it"? Those differences are made up of dozens, hundreds, sometimes even thousands or millions of tiny little details; like the rhythm of a sentence, or the way a camera moves within a scene, or yes, even the choice of footwear for a character. Analyzing those details, seeing where they go right and wrong and why, helps us make right decisions about such details in our own creative works, leading to better entertainment overall.

ETA: Since you mentioned movies and anime specifically, I'm gonna point you to "Every Frame a Painting"(https://www.youtube.com/user/everyframeapainting/videos). It's an analysis of film form-the special things you can do in an environment of moving pictures. It's a superb example of little details that most audience members won't consciously notice, but have a significant impact on how they connect with the story. The episodes on the lateral tracking shot and "editing space and time" are both quite interesting, and highlight shots that need to be anime because they can't be done physically.
I know you're not saying that SSB is a bad game, and I know about criticism. I've written reviews of anime before, some of which are longer than the ones you'd find on ANN. I'm all about looking at those little details. It's just that to me this feels less like a flaw and more of a pet-peeve. Some people will have a problem with it, while others won't.

And I know about "Every Frame a Painting." I've subscribed to them a while ago. Very interesting stuff.
 

Vault101

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Sep 26, 2010
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Samus Aran was never sexualised though

and that's what pisses peple off...its not enough to be female...oh no we gotta rock that conventional idea of femininity and attractiveness in the face of all reason just to be sure
 

theNater

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[Kira Must Die said:
]It's just that to me this feels less like a flaw and more of a pet-peeve. Some people will have a problem with it, while others won't.
Fewer people would have had a problem if Samus had been given rocket shoes that weren't heels. For this game, fewer people having a problem is a more desirable outcome. Putting Samus in heels was a mistake.
[Kira Must Die said:
]And I know about "Every Frame a Painting." I've subscribed to them a while ago. Very interesting stuff.
Absolutely! It's really helped me see how the small details affect the overall quality of things.
 

Tsun Tzu

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You see...I'm majorly conflicted about this one.

On the one hand, she's a warrior goddess dressed in a skin-tight body suit and I respect her strength as a character.

On the other, the heels are lime-fucking-green and, as such, clash horribly with the aforementioned body suit.

My inner fashionista is beside herself with unbridled rage at the apparent lapse in judgment on Nintendo's part while my inner man-wolf is too busy ogling to give a shit.

It is, truly, a quagmire.
 

BenzSmoke

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I just don't like how the moment Team Ninja made all her armor fall off, that's all she seems to be now. It just comes off (to me) like she's fighting people in her space underwear/cat-suit and heels. I miss when she actually used her power armor and hate this silly looking skin-tight nonsense. If she didn't need to wear her space underwear before, why does she have to wear it now? (Yes I am a grouchy old man.)
 

Aaron Sylvester

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So from what I'm reading in all these replies, they need to re-color the heels to make them match her outfit better. Also probably a slight re-design to make them look sleeker and lighter.

So they can still resemble heels, just not so...out of place.
 

The Madman

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JUMBO PALACE said:
You're calling rocket heels ridiculous in a game where dinosaurs, foxes, giant monkeys, and pokemon duke it out with punches that make falcons in the air and everyone summons magic bubbles out of their asses for a shield?

I know I'm coming off as dismissive but that's only because I am. I mean of all the games that are out there that appeal to pure fun, whimsy, and ridiculousness for the sake of ridiculousness it's Super Smash Brothers, and people are getting all worked up because they put heels on zero suit Samus? I'd say that if something like that is really bothering you then you either have things pretty easy or your priorities might be due for a reevaluation. Yes she's wearing a type of shoe normally associated with women. Yes they're not practical in combat. No that doesn't mean the patriarchy is rearing its head and that SSB was ever intended to be a realistic fighting game.
I never said I was bothered or offended by it as you seem to think I did, I said I thought Samu's heels were dumb and condescending. Those are very different things. And the heels are dumb and condescending, heck, they don't even match Samus aesthetics...

Then again I'm of the opinion that zero-suit Samus is already pretty stupid looking (And as an idea in general) to begin with so whatever.
 

Patathatapon

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PikaPika2 said:
I don't know why people hate what they did to her in SSB4. They decided to give her heels. ROCKET Heels at that.
I didn't ever notice. I thought this was going to be some sort of Metroid Other M defense thing.


However, I don't like overly "sexy" stuff when it gets to the point of a woman slowly eating a sausage or a banana. That's fucking ridiculous. Unless I'm playing a porn game, I don't want porn (soft-core or not) in my game. Something small like character design in SSB? Again I didn't even notice. I suppose I don't play as her as much, but I'm focused more on their sprite than the details. Now, if all her moves were like Bayonetta I might start to get creeped out, but they aren't.


TL:DR: Most people probably wouldn't notice it or care anyway unless they aren't actually playing the game.
 

Paragon Fury

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Jan 23, 2009
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Vault101 said:
Samus Aran was never sexualised though

and that's what pisses peple off...its not enough to be female...oh no we gotta rock that conventional idea of femininity and attractiveness in the face of all reason just to be sure
You realize that since game 1, Samus has been the conventional idea of femininity as well, right?
 

go-10

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Feb 3, 2010
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I think most people dislike the high heels because their unpractical and unrealistic because you know, in a world full of alien sucking beings, space pirate dragons, power armors, and super powers/magic things realism is SO important...


but I agree with TC
 

momijirabbit

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Nov 2, 2012
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A sexy female video game character who kicks ass?
How dare they, girls could never kick ass and be sexy at the same time.
HIGH HEELS?
CLEARLY SEXISM, it's not like they serve a purpose, like being ROCKET BOOTS.

Really people, you are complaining about Samus FUCKING Aran being sexualized, the same Samus who has been sexy since her creation.
 

Relish in Chaos

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Who gives a shit?

The 'rocket heels' look dumb, but so what? If Samus Aran is still kick-ass and the gameplay works, it doesn't matter.
 

go-10

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I think what Other M did to her personality was far worse than the way she looks in SSB4. Honestly I think she looks cool in and out of armor so I'm totally cool with it since I'm a fan of cool looking characters :)
 

PikaPika2

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I'm just gonna put this here...
http://www.google.cm/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2F24.media.tumblr.com%2Faa546bc9f353ccb3180c589394e71ed0%2Ftumblr_n3xvau6cNt1rssd6co1_r1_1280.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fsmashboards.com%2Fthreads%2Fam-i-the-only-one-who-thinks-that-zams-is-too-big.352264%2Fpage-8&h=723&w=993&tbnid=iC8eQq1UqMKS-M%3A&zoom=1&docid=0HFujSBHEqqNEM&ei=xDWHVMfWEMH2oASw9oAI&tbm=isch&ved=0CBcQMygPMA84yAE&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=580&page=8&start=195&ndsp=32
And also
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrr_VVtyUA8