This commentary is about DOA5, and unfortunately, while that game was quite sexy and had tits and bikinis everywhere, that was not the end of this tale.
I watched this happen in realtime. It wasn't just 'suits' it was tournament organizers and the punditry of the fighting game scene itself.
The director of Dead or Alive used to show up personally at western events where the game was being played. He'd enthusiastically promote the game and do everything he could to grease the wheels of it getting stream time. He would beam in pride and genuine delight in the corner watching guys playing the game. This was in the era of Nintendo garroting anyone who dared stream Smash, so it was notable, appreciated, and welcome.
But, he was also there in several events where bikini costumes were banned. "Vanilla costumes only" was the constant refrain from streamers, TOs, and the puritan sycophants who like to lick boot and ass for brownie points. SRK (a popular opinion site at the time for the scene) published a series of tournament rules for eeeeeveryone to follow that banned any skimpy costumes in any game, but specifically targeted DOA as the example they meant. All this because they wanted ESPORTS legitimacy and "it was cringe anyway."
He was obviously impacted by this direct backlash to his game and he stopped showing up to community events after a while. I expected him to be sad about it and stop prioritizing the west due to his hurt feelings, but the far worse thing happened. He took the advice and tried to do the next game differently.
DOA6 was heavily de-sexed, and instead violence was emphasized. Characters bruised and bled for the first time in the series. Something the creator had famously said would never ever be done, because he thought of the girls as his daughters and they were meant to be pretty and happy, not sad and damaged.
It was clear that this was him capitulating his own values to make something he thought the West wanted. DOA5 was just one battle, and we can see where the series went after. So rather than celebrating this interview, it just makes me more sad.
he thought of the girls as his daughters and they were meant to be pretty and happy, not sad and damaged.
Wasn't that Itagaki? He left after DOA4 and DOAX2. Shimbori was a prominent part of DOA5 and the main lead for DOA6, which introduced the ultimates and "cool" gore. I wouldn't be surprised if Shimbori said it though, was a decent guy even if mislead by bad actors.
The unmentioned "core values" Evo controversy isn't even worth getting into. The scene acts so hypocritcal when it comes to DOA vs. other franchises.
Anyway, it's such a waste for the series to go down the drain; beautiful aesthetics and fun and fluid action, which moving forward may very well be solely delegated to far more profitable gacha (DOAX VV).
You're probably right on that point. Shimbori likely doesn't feel the same connection to the characters as Itagaki did, but I recall a mention specifically of battle damage in the past as a complete no-go for those reasons. I'm just unsure of the circumstances and who said it now.
I considered mentioning "core values" but that's just a separate hypocrisy unrelated to any actual effect on the franchise design (so far) since it was over DOA6. You're indeed right in calling the "scene" trash, though. I agree completely.
This commentary is about DOA5, and unfortunately, while that game was quite sexy and had tits and bikinis everywhere, that was not the end of this tale.
I watched this happen in realtime. It wasn't just 'suits' it was tournament organizers and the punditry of the fighting game scene itself.
The director of Dead or Alive used to show up personally at western events where the game was being played. He'd enthusiastically promote the game and do everything he could to grease the wheels of it getting stream time. He would beam in pride and genuine delight in the corner watching guys playing the game. This was in the era of Nintendo garroting anyone who dared stream Smash, so it was notable, appreciated, and welcome.
But, he was also there in several events where bikini costumes were banned. "Vanilla costumes only" was the constant refrain from streamers, TOs, and the puritan sycophants who like to lick boot and ass for brownie points. SRK (a popular opinion site at the time for the scene) published a series of tournament rules for eeeeeveryone to follow that banned any skimpy costumes in any game, but specifically targeted DOA as the example they meant. All this because they wanted ESPORTS legitimacy and "it was cringe anyway."
He was obviously impacted by this direct backlash to his game and he stopped showing up to community events after a while. I expected him to be sad about it and stop prioritizing the west due to his hurt feelings, but the far worse thing happened. He took the advice and tried to do the next game differently.
DOA6 was heavily de-sexed, and instead violence was emphasized. Characters bruised and bled for the first time in the series. Something the creator had famously said would never ever be done, because he thought of the girls as his daughters and they were meant to be pretty and happy, not sad and damaged.
It was clear that this was him capitulating his own values to make something he thought the West wanted. DOA5 was just one battle, and we can see where the series went after. So rather than celebrating this interview, it just makes me more sad.
Wasn't that Itagaki? He left after DOA4 and DOAX2. Shimbori was a prominent part of DOA5 and the main lead for DOA6, which introduced the ultimates and "cool" gore. I wouldn't be surprised if Shimbori said it though, was a decent guy even if mislead by bad actors.
The unmentioned "core values" Evo controversy isn't even worth getting into. The scene acts so hypocritcal when it comes to DOA vs. other franchises.
Anyway, it's such a waste for the series to go down the drain; beautiful aesthetics and fun and fluid action, which moving forward may very well be solely delegated to far more profitable gacha (DOAX VV).
You're probably right on that point. Shimbori likely doesn't feel the same connection to the characters as Itagaki did, but I recall a mention specifically of battle damage in the past as a complete no-go for those reasons. I'm just unsure of the circumstances and who said it now.
I considered mentioning "core values" but that's just a separate hypocrisy unrelated to any actual effect on the franchise design (so far) since it was over DOA6. You're indeed right in calling the "scene" trash, though. I agree completely.