A Competitive Smash Release

[Kabutops]

Do you think Sakurai will ever allow for a spin-off smash bros game that focuses squarely on competitive aspects? He clearly wants smash bros to be played casually, but how long will he keep ignoring the desires of the growing competitive smash community?

 

[InitialK]

It will never happen because his original ideal and dream for the game was to be a fun casual party game for the whole family. All we can hope for is for someone to take head of the development of a new smash game, but I highly doubt that will ever happen.

 

[xamus]

Probably not. It'd be nice though. Melee was made for the more hardcore fans, so it's probably the closest we'll get. I can imagine a game with more competitive potential than current instalments, but I doubt he'd ever advertise it as, or intend it to be, a competitive game only, as it would alienate people.

 

[Kabutops]

I think he actually might some day. He wants a unified community, but eventually he'll realize that people will invariable play the game for different reasons. The line that separates casuals from the competitives will never be broken. He wants everyone to have an equal chance in winning, but those who are most skilled always win. He'll always make the mainstream smash games, but I think he'll eventually throw us a bone some day. Nintendo itself might even encourage him to do it. He changed his mind about DLC due to popular demand. He might do the same here.

but I doubt he'd ever advertise it as, or intend it to be, a competitive game only, as it would alienate people.

He's already alienated so many hardcore players. He wants to make a game for everyone, but it can't happen. But who knows. Maybe some day he'll make a downloadable special multiplayer mode that emulates the hardcore Melee game physics. Just from a sales point a view, it would be a great thing since it would attract an entire new audience to the game.

 

[xamus]

I don't think he's alienated hardcore players, personally. I think he's alienated hardcore melee players, sure, but from a business point of view the casual marker is bigger, and was the logical choice. He certainly didn't alienate brawl players, anyway.

Sakurai dislikes the technical knowledge required to play melee to its current standard, and we know that he's patching ATs (like peach's turnip pull ledge cancel), so even if sakurai did go for a solely competitive game, I think it would be a better quality Melee ,without the advanced techniques. I think that would just disappoint people tbh.

I am interested in the idea of editing the game's physics. I smell a smash5 special feature.

 

[Kabutops]

I don't think he's alienated hardcore players, personally. I think he's alienated hardcore melee players, sure, .

In Sakurai's defense, he probably didn't want to attract players who value a high learning curb & gaming depth to smash bros. But now that he's got them he ought to give them something. Anything.

I think that would just disappoint people tbh.

Those people already have a casual smash game to enjoy. So what if Sakurai makes some little spin-off competitive smash game or competitive downloadable feature. They can get over it.

I am interested in the idea of editing the game's physics. I smell a smash5 special feature.

That too has crossed my mind. IMO it would be the best thing he ever did with the smash series. The customizable movesets of smash 4 would be the 2nd best.

 

[xamus]

In Sakurai's defense, he probably didn't want to attract players who value a high learning curb & gaming depth to smash bros. But now that he's got them he ought give them something. Anything.

Hadn't thought about it like that. I can agree with you here.

Those people already have a casual smash game to enjoy. So what if Sakurai makes some little spin-off competitive smash game or competitive downloadable feature. They can get over it.

Still, even a completely competitive game is going to have new comers. I'd even think a completely competitive game would become such a popular game in the community that it would be the go-to for getting into smash. Again, sakurai doesn't like games that have a lot of ATs to learn in order to play at the expected/normal level.

I think smash4 would be great with melee's gravity. #Gravity4DLC

 

[Kabutops]

Still, even a completely competitive game is going to have new comers. I'd even think a completely competitive game would become such a popular game in the community that it would be the go-to for getting into smash.

I wouldn't be surprised if it did. And it would ultimately demonstrate the primacy of competitive smash over casual smash. And if making an additional competitive spinoff title or downloadable feature draws in more people - especially audiences from outside the Nintendo community since they would be compelled to buy a Wii U - then that just means more money for Nintendo. Nintendo has already sponsered Apex 2015 if I'm not mistaken so I think they would back this. There's no reason why they should only target casual players. They're in the business of making money. The more variety they offer, the wider the audience they will attract, the more money they will ultimately make.

Again, sakurai doesn't like games that have a lot of ATs to learn in order to play at the expected/normal level.

I understand his sentiments here. But what's wrong with making a game that has enough features to where everyone can enjoy it? Nobody's arm is being twisted here. Casuals can keep playing casually. And if they don't want a competitive feature, they don't have to purchase it. It's that simple. At any rate, I imagine most normal people who play smash probably play it casually and will continue to do so no matter what. I don't think Sakurai has much to worry about here. Last but not least let's not forget about the For Glory mode which seems to encourage and reward those high level competitive aspects that IMO run very much counter to his ideal of playing smash casually. And people who prefer casual smash simply ignore For Glory and play For Fun instead. So I think a competitive mode or independent downloadable title with AT's could possibly happen some day in the future.