Popularity is a garbage metric to select characters for Smash

[StormC]

Worked just fine for me

 

[Quillion]

Worked just fine for me

At least K. Rool benefitted from being the main villain of the Donkey Kong series, and the DKCR era doesn't really change that since the two villains of those games work as one-shot villains and are clearly intended to be such.

 

[True Blue Warrior]

The irony of using K. Rool as a positive example of popularity metrics is that one of his most common detractor argument before he was confirmed to be a playable character was that he was “too obscure” and “too irrelevant” to do well on the ballot and his support was only a “vocal minority”.

As we know, he got in as one of the few newcomer ballot choices among the newcomer roster heavily owning to him being the signature villain of an iconic, long running Nintendo franchise. And characters that are important to iconic, long running Nintendo franchises always get strong fan demand for Smash.

Oh hi, Tom Nook.

 

[Quillion]

The irony of using K. Rool as a positive example of popularity metrics is that one of his most common detractor argument before he was confirmed to be a playable character was that he was “too obscure” and “too irrelevant” to do well on the ballot and his support was only a “vocal minority”.

As we know, he got in as one of the few newcomer ballot choices among the newcomer roster heavily owning to him being the signature villain of an iconic, long running Nintendo franchise. And characters that are important to iconic, long running Nintendo franchises always get strong fan demand for Smash.

Oh hi, Tom Nook.

Wasn't Nook hated for a long time because he was forcing you to work for him and forcing house upgrades on you in the first few Animal Crossing games? It's only when New Leaf did away with those that he started to develop a fandom.

 

[fogbadge]

Wasn't Nook hated for a long time because he was forcing you to work for him and forcing house upgrades on you in the first few Animal Crossing games? It's only when New Leaf did away with those that he started to develop a fandom.

he’s always had fans and haters from what I can tell

 

[Quillion]

he’s always had fans and haters from what I can tell

I think fans definitely loved his tragic story of how he became a cynical, pushy businessman (if only newer Animal Crossing games would bring those hidden sidestories back...). But it was New Leaf toning down his worst aspects and New Horizons re-spotlighting him rather than Isabelle that his fandom really grew.

 

[True Blue Warrior]

I don’t know about being hated or not, but I do remember the idea of Tom Nook being the villain of Animal Crossing being a popular viewpoint/meme.

 

[Quillion]

I don’t know about being hated or not, but I do remember the idea of Tom Nook being the villain of Animal Crossing being a popular viewpoint/meme.

I mean, characters often get hated for being associated with bad/tedious mechanics all the time, like Tingle for padding out Wind Waker with the map translations, Fi for her endless exposition and hints, and Morgana with night limits.

 

[Arcadenik]

I am just thankful Duck Hunt Dog actually got in Smash in spite of little to no Smash fanbase support.

 

[fogbadge]

I am just thankful Duck Hunt Dog actually got in Smash in spite of little to no Smash fanbase support.

i seem the recall the support list in his old thread was really long

 

[Dinoman96]

i seem the recall the support list in his old thread was really long

In regards to Smash 4, it was about 78 pages.

Social - The Dog Opens a Can of Whoopass: Duck Hunt Social Thread

This thread is designed for fans and supporters of the infamous dog from the classic shoot 'em up NES game, Duck Hunt. credit goes to MrBigTheArtist (on DeviantArt) credit goes to @Juliusaurus These were my ideas for Duck Hunt Dog's special moves. Duck Hunt Dog's standard special...

smashboards.com

What IS worth pointing out though, is that it didn't actually begin to gain serious traction until the roster leaks began to occur, by the end of July 2014. Before hand, it was at only about 8 pages.

Social - The Dog Opens a Can of Whoopass: Duck Hunt Social Thread

@Maffewt I added you to the supporter list. :) If the Duck Hunt Dog somehow finally gets in Smash as a newcomer, then my goal I set in 2002 would finally be accomplished. But the fact none of the SSB4 leaks has Duck Hunt Dog is a little disheartening and it only makes me more determined to...

smashboards.com

 

[fogbadge]

In regards to Smash 4, it was about 78 pages.

Social - The Dog Opens a Can of Whoopass: Duck Hunt Social Thread

This thread is designed for fans and supporters of the infamous dog from the classic shoot 'em up NES game, Duck Hunt. credit goes to MrBigTheArtist (on DeviantArt) credit goes to @Juliusaurus These were my ideas for Duck Hunt Dog's special moves. Duck Hunt Dog's standard special...

smashboards.com

What IS worth pointing out though, is that it didn't actually begin to gain serious traction until the roster leaks began to occur, by the end of July 2014. Before hand, it was at only about 8 pages.

Social - The Dog Opens a Can of Whoopass: Duck Hunt Social Thread

@Maffewt I added you to the supporter list. :) If the Duck Hunt Dog somehow finally gets in Smash as a newcomer, then my goal I set in 2002 would finally be accomplished. But the fact none of the SSB4 leaks has Duck Hunt Dog is a little disheartening and it only makes me more determined to...

smashboards.com

That’s not quite what I meant

 

[Dinoman96]

That’s not quite what I meant

Yeah I now realized I misread it as "his support thread was really long", apologies.

 

[Quillion]

I am just thankful Duck Hunt Dog actually got in Smash in spite of little to no Smash fanbase support.

i seem the recall the support list in his old thread was really long

In regards to Smash 4, it was about 78 pages.

Social - The Dog Opens a Can of Whoopass: Duck Hunt Social Thread

This thread is designed for fans and supporters of the infamous dog from the classic shoot 'em up NES game, Duck Hunt. credit goes to MrBigTheArtist (on DeviantArt) credit goes to @Juliusaurus These were my ideas for Duck Hunt Dog's special moves. Duck Hunt Dog's standard special...

smashboards.com

What IS worth pointing out though, is that it didn't actually begin to gain serious traction until the roster leaks began to occur, by the end of July 2014. Before hand, it was at only about 8 pages.

Social - The Dog Opens a Can of Whoopass: Duck Hunt Social Thread

@Maffewt I added you to the supporter list. :) If the Duck Hunt Dog somehow finally gets in Smash as a newcomer, then my goal I set in 2002 would finally be accomplished. But the fact none of the SSB4 leaks has Duck Hunt Dog is a little disheartening and it only makes me more determined to...

smashboards.com

I mean, Smash Crusade had its own iteration of Duck Hunt Dog long before Smash introduced its canon version. Being in a 2-for-1 pack with SMB1 gave it way more mileage than it would have otherwise.

 

[fogbadge]

I mean, Smash Crusade had its own iteration of Duck Hunt Dog long before Smash introduced its canon version. Being in a 2-for-1 pack with SMB1 gave it way more mileage than it would have otherwise.

are you saying his status as an icon is an accident?

 

[Quillion]

are you saying his status as an icon is an accident?

I don't know about "accident", but I'm sure that if, say, Ice Climber was in a 2-in-1 pack with SMB1 and Duck Hunt wasn't, their fandoms would be switched.

 

[fogbadge]

I don't know about "accident", but I'm sure that if, say, Ice Climber was in a 2-in-1 pack with SMB1 and Duck Hunt wasn't, their fandoms would be switched.

I doubt it would be that simple

 

[Opossum]

I doubt it would be that simple

Nah I definitely agree with the sentiment. Duck Hunt has a LOT more notoriety in regions where it was a pack in game (ie, North America), both among the black box games, and among the NES Zapper games. In NA it was one of only two games every NES owner was guaranteed to have.

And if there's any further doubt, Sakurai literally referenced Duck Hunt's notoriety mostly stemming from being a North American pack in game in the Smash 4 design document.

"The US version of the NES came packaged with Duck Hunt and an NES Zapper, so the game and character enjoy surprising notoriety!"

 

[fogbadge]

Nah I definitely agree with the sentiment. Duck Hunt has a LOT more notoriety in regions where it was a pack in game (ie, North America), both among the black box games, and among the NES Zapper games. In NA it was one of only two games every NES owner was guaranteed to have.

And if there's any further doubt, Sakurai literally referenced Duck Hunt's notoriety mostly stemming from being a North American pack in game in the Smash 4 design document.

"The US version of the NES came packaged with Duck Hunt and an NES Zapper, so the game and character enjoy surprising notoriety!"

didn't the notoriety come from the dog rather than the game being bundled with NES?

 

[Opossum]

didn't the notoriety come from the dog rather than the game being bundled with NES?

And the dog only became notorious BECAUSE it was a pack in game.

 

[fogbadge]

And the dog only became notorious BECAUSE it was a pack in game.

I always read it was cause it was laughing at the player

 

[True Blue Warrior]

didn't the notoriety come from the dog rather than the game being bundled with NES?

It’s both.

 

[Opossum]

I always read it was cause it was laughing at the player

Yes, and those players wouldn't have the game in the first place if it wasn't a pack-in title. It being a pack-in game for one of the single largest markets is absolutely why it was able to get that degree of mindshare.

 

[fogbadge]

Yes, and those players wouldn't have the game in the first place if it wasn't a pack-in title. It being a pack-in game for one of the single largest markets is absolutely why it was able to get that degree of mindshare.

well my point is I don’t think I’ve climber had anything that would have had the same effect

 

[Arcadenik]

i seem the recall the support list in his old thread was really long

It only got that long after the ESRB leak. I think it was most active during August/September/October 2014.

 

[fogbadge]

It only got that long after the ESRB leak. I think it was most active during August/September/October 2014.

really? shame

 

[Arcadenik]

really? shame

From page 8 to page 13, we were just speculating about the leak.

Page 13 is when we first saw Duck Hunt Dog in leaked pictures.

Page 37 is when we finally got confirmation that Duck Hunt Dog is really in the game.

 

[fogbadge]

From page 8 to page 13, we were just speculating about the leak.

Page 13 is when we first saw Duck Hunt Dog in leaked pictures.

Page 37 is when we finally got confirmation that Duck Hunt Dog is really in the game.

i was talking about your list of supporters

 

[Arcadenik]

i was talking about your list of supporters

Ah yeah, it got long due to bandwagoning after the leaks happened.

 

[fogbadge]

Ah yeah, it got long due to bandwagoning after the leaks happened.

oh well.

 

[nirvanafan]

The Duck Hunt situation is an interesting story. Do think that says something about how decent choices fly under the radar until they look like a decent possibility.

 

[Lenidem]

Last I checked on the Zelda forums I hate, there's also this growing idea that Tatl was an earlier and better Midna in every way.

Oh, really? I'm glad to read that: I've had this opinion since the release of Twilight Princess!