Topic: Gunvolt [New Inafune & Inti Creates game]

[Sakura Leic]

The thing is I didn't notice the bare midriff in the first place which is why I'm not all that concerned about.  It's the braid that I'm wondering about, why can't he have long hair.

[Fxeni]

Ehh... it's not the biggest of changes, so it doesn't bug me all that much.

[Satoryu]

I'm fine with either design really. I do understand their hesitation though. A 14 year old American kid would likely see him and call him gay.

But yeah, some kid is not gonna impulse buy this on the e-shop. Someone in the 18-24, maybe, but definitely not their target range. This style of game is not what I would think tweens would think is "in."

[Phi]

"Halp! I can't tell if this is a boy or girl and I'm worried for my son's well-being! Is this a girl or gay stripper? My son is too young to see bare midriff. PLEASE NO MIDRIFFF"

[Archer]

[spoiler]I like the US design better.[/spoiler]

[Phi]

who are you and what have you done with ruri

[Sakura Leic]

To be fair, the art kind of makes the braid a point you don't focus on I pretty much forgot it was there when I stared at the 2 pictures.  I mean I don't mind the missing braid I'm just wondering why they took the braid away in the first place.

[Archer]

'Cause braids are girly.

[Protoman Blues]

I'm gonna agree with Ruri here on the [spoiler]US one looking better.[/spoiler]

[OBJECTION MAN]

Sucks to see some homophobia getting in the way of the creator's original intentions for the design. Though even so, personally, I like of like the US one better still. It looks more like a complete high tech suit. I do kind of miss the braid though...

[Phi]

I prefer the braids, if not mostly because FMA got me used to that style. Honestly, Japan doesn't have as many men with braids as you'd think.

[Flame]

IMO the braid just looks unique. I don't get why they'd thing people won't like him with it. People liked Edward Elric, and people have no problem with Zero, who looks far more like a girl, going as far as having glass tits.

A midriff i can understand, (though i'd prefer NO changes, yknow, keep it the way its supposed to be) but the braid is a distinguishing characteristic that makes him look unique. That's like... Like removing the Light blue from X's helmet.
[spoiler]or changing the prongs on Zero's helmet [/spoiler]

And preferences aside, it really does come down to how petty it is. I mean really? Those two things are the BIGGEST points of concern for this game in the US market? Like others have said, the presence or lack of the midriff and braid won't change someone's opinion on the game. It's so inconsequential.

I mean, Castlevania Bloodlines tried to make Eric Lecarde look less feminine in-game by changing the way his face looked in the intro cutscene. But that's actually more visually apparent. This? I didn't even realize there WAS a bare midriff until they decided to remove it and point it out.

[Suppercut ♡]

[spoiler]I liked the midriff as much as the braids.[/spoiler]
Then again, I'm weird as [tornado fang] anyways.

[Soultrigger]

I personally noticed the midriff and also prefer it gone. Not a big fan of effeminate male leads, coming from someone who grow up with those kinds of characters. I guess it's because I grew out of it, and said designs are meant to appeal exclusively to younger kids (usually Japanese).

[Blue Valkyrie]

IMO the braid just looks unique. I don't get why they'd thing people won't like him with it. People liked Edward Elric, and people have no problem with Zero, who looks far more like a girl, going as far as having glass tits.

A midriff i can understand, (though i'd prefer NO changes, yknow, keep it the way its supposed to be) but the braid is a distinguishing characteristic that makes him look unique. That's like... Like removing the Light blue from X's helmet. 

Male characters with braids in anime/Japanese games aren't that unique though; rather common really. The US design is better IMO, the random exposed midriff is a bizarre design choice to begin with; He might as well paint a target on that exposed area that says "Shoot me here". Well unless he's an android/cyborg or something in that case I guess it wouldn't matter. *shrugs*

Honestly japan if you want to have feminine looking heroes just make female protagonists, the game industry could use more of them.

[Archer]

Recently, Azure Striker Gunvolt developer Inti Creates explained to Siliconera why they changed the Gunvolt character’s design for the west. For the game’s U.S. version, Inti Creates removed Gunvolt’s braid and covered up his bare midriff.

Following feedback from the community and a discussion with Keiji Inafune, Inti Creates have decided to settle for a middle ground.

“Inafune-san and [Inti Creates CEO] Aizu-san also discussed the character design of Gunvolt for US version,” the Gunvolt Twitter account said this morning. “Inafune-san concluded that Gunvolt keeps ‘braided hair’ in US version too. Because he emphasises the design.”

The person in charge of the Gunvolt Twitter account then went on to say that Gunvolt’s midriff would still remain covered by black cloth in the U.S. version. When we spoke with Aizu, that was our suggestion as well, and one that I think serves as a good middle ground between the two designs.

Happy now?

[Sakura Leic]

Yay braid!

[OBJECTION MAN]

Huh. Would ya look at that.

I'm happy then, lol.

[Flame]

Good with me.

[Mirby]

This is a decision I'm quite happy with.

[Protoman Blues]

Coo!

[Blue Valkyrie]

That should make everyone happy then---or not, fans are a fickle lot. 

[Dr. Wily II]

Coo!

If it makes PB coo over him, it's more than sufficient.

[Suppercut ♡]

I'll settle for that, I suppose.

[Phi]

蒼き雷霆 ガンヴォルト：ゲームシステムの紹介１ / Azure Striker Gunvolt : Introduction of the game systems, part 1