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Fair enough and I respect anybody who expects more than 3 or 4. I just can't fathom what's going on in Sakurai's crazy mind. This is the same game that gave me
, and there's no way I'm understanding what's going on behind the scenes beyond leakers saying who's in.
I'd be alright with that lineup but realistically speaking, I feel like only a handful of them have good chances over the rest, those being Geno, Rayman, Doom Guy, Travis Touchdown, Bandana Dee, and Steve.
What's the issue with Crash? He's one of the most likely Western characters I'd wager because he's one of the few to actually be popular in Japan too.
I mean, what other control could Sony be afraid of losing? Marketing control? Is that really so important to them?
Well yeah, but that's the whole point, right? Sony tried to spin the story as though the agreement fell through BECAUSE Feige had too much on his plate, when in reality there's no universe where Feige would be too busy to work on Spider-Man. The deal fell through due to greed on both sides.
I dunno how else you'd describe a movie that made over 100 million less than its critically-panned predecessor
That second pass is damn near flawless IMO, but I don't see it happening. Too good to be true, caters too hard and too singularly to a niche demographic, and Klonoa just ain't happening (as cool as it'd be)
Funny thing is, I have long suspected additional DLC because of a certain echo possibility, that being Kasumi and her relation to the Jane file. I imagine Sakurai would've known early on if he was going to go beyond the first pack(Like, really early on), so the team laying the groundwork for a Joker echo while making Joker isn't impossible. The fact that there is clear indicators that Sakurai knew P5R stuff before anyone else(The focus on the grappling hook) and the whole Jane file being before anything about Kasumi being revealed makes this all the more feasible.
I don't think popularity is the problem, which is why I said I'm just unsure if they'd pick him. I think Crash is possible but I just can't shake the feeling it may not happen. I don't think there is an issue but I just don't think it's super likely. Not impossible. Just not super likely.
I do realize your Kasumi theory hinges on there being more Echoes, and I was totally on board with that idea when it looked (to me) like we were just getting the single Fighter's Pass and maybe some limited additional DLC to end off the season. But then Sakurai went and blew the whole damn speculation scene up and has talked a few times about universes and continuing the achievement of Ultimate in that regard... And I just don't expect Echoes to be on the table anymore. They just seem... rather unambitious for a Sakurai who seems ecstatic about more DLC and going for as long as he can and I'm not sure that Echoes will carry the kind of weight Nintendo wants to keep the DLC going (since they did pick it after all).
i heard someone in this thread say activision wasn't willing to let others use crash.
But wasn't the whole thing about "universes" a mistranslation? And I don't think ambition is what Sakurai is going for, at least not in that regard. He just wants to make people happy, and I can see echo's still scratching that itch.
i honestly think the jane thing was Terry because didn't it mention the model having a ponytail?
Wasn't the original "Jane" file specifically for one of Joker's alt costumes, though? That's the way I remember it, anyway.
It did have a ponytail, but I kinda doubt they would use Joker as the rig for Terry. Plus, I don't think there is any connection between Terry and the name Jane. Banjo had the codename "Buddy", so these codenames do have conections.
It was, but I along with many others have suspected that they made the Kasumi model as Joker's alt to test things early on before switching it with the models we got. If you plan on making an echo for the character you are making at that exact moment, that makes a bit of sense.
I don't think Echoes scratch that itch enough and I've been vocal that I think that while that individual bit of the conversation might have been a mistranslation, the entire context of that statement on further DLC further emphasizes the idea that he's going to focus on expanding Smash and going for the record of crossover game. To further back this up, the translated Famitsu column also emphasizes the same ideas: https://www.sourcegaming.info/2019/09/11/sakurai-talks-more-about-smash-ultimate-dlc-development/. I don't think it's any mistake that Sakurai keeps repeating the notions of Smash as a collaborative title and that he wants to keep pushing the envelope for the series. Especially when he says this might be the only opportunity to get multiple game universes crossing over. I think new series makes the most sense in that regard. We've seen this with DLC as well, it's all been brand new third parties and will end almost undoubtedly with another brand new third party. Of Smash 4's 4 newcomer DLCs, 3 were third parties and the other one was basically a request on Nintendo's part. I don't think Sakurai and Nintendo are going to abandon their successful DLC strategy to just adopt characters from series already in Smash and it just doesn't contribute to his dream of the ultimate collaboration in the same way if he just goes deeper in the existing universes. Basically if a character can add to this photo from E3 2018, I think they have a better shot at inclusion:
But he states fighter in a general way, not as if it was third party or it was wholly unique. As long as the fighter can please people, he would be willing to do it. Also, I think predicting what Nintendo would choose is kinda a losing battle, as clearly we have grossly underestimated them before when it comes to fighter choices. And if Sakurai knew P5R stuff ahead of time, don't you think it's possible that Atlus and Nintendo made a deal in regard to P5R? Maybe not to bring the game over, but for a fighter to coincide with its release. Advertising like this is a two way street after all, and Sakurai did promote the Xbox one in the Banjo stream, so I don't think being on a different console matter too much.I don't think Echoes scratch that itch enough and I've been vocal that I think that while that individual bit of the conversation might have been a mistranslation, the entire context of that statement on further DLC further emphasizes the idea that he's going to focus on expanding Smash and going for the record of crossover game. To further back this up, the translated Famitsu column also emphasizes the same ideas: https://www.sourcegaming.info/2019/09/11/sakurai-talks-more-about-smash-ultimate-dlc-development/. I don't think it's any mistake that Sakurai keeps repeating the notions of Smash as a collaborative title and that he wants to keep pushing the envelope for the series. Especially when he says this might be the only opportunity to get multiple game universes crossing over. I think new series makes the most sense in that regard. We've seen this with DLC as well, it's all been brand new third parties and will end almost undoubtedly with another brand new third party. Of Smash 4's 4 newcomer DLCs, 3 were third parties and the other one was basically a request on Nintendo's part. I don't think Sakurai and Nintendo are going to abandon their successful DLC strategy to just adopt characters from series already in Smash and it just doesn't contribute to his dream of the ultimate collaboration in the same way if he just goes deeper in the existing universes. Basically if a character can add to this photo from E3 2018, I think they have a better shot at inclusion:
As for Jane? I have no clue. We've left lots of stuff on the Smash cutting room floor in many different instances, so maybe this is just another example (or it got used somewhere else in a weird way). My bigger issue with Jane at this point is that Nintendo picked the DLC... and I can't really picture Nintendo picking Echoes for one thing and I especially don't think they'd pick Kasumi unless they managed to yank Persona 5 Royal legitimately to Switch. Kasumi made more sense with Sakurai's passion for Persona 5 as the driving force, but Sakurai keeps emphasizing Nintendo chose the DLC, and that's where Kasumi falls apart for me.
That's not what I'm referring to. I'm calling out the context of the greater conversations he keeps making about Smash and saying that, much in the same way that Reggie blatantly told us what to expect from the Fighter's Pass at The Game Awards despite people's resistance, Sakurai is largely framing what he will focus on in continued DLC for Smash Ultimate and it's likely third party. One mistranslation in the Direct does not remove the rest of the context of his conversation of Ultimate and its characters, and while I don't doubt the possibility of a first party or fan favorite from an existing franchise... I do think we're going to see predominately new third parties as we have up until this moment. We predict Nintendo to the best of our ability through speculation and I don't think we've necessarily underestimated them as much as just usually had too limited of blinders on in that regard. With how many surprises Smash has already pulled out, I'm not so sure they're capable of it as much anymore given just how much we've been taught to consider and expect.
I wouldn't even believe that. Not singling out Sabi here but the insiders in general: it was mentioned that no one had any idea on character 4 and people were actually happy potentially going into a future Direct with Smash news blind. 4 was a mystery. Then the SNK leak on Nintendo's site happened and all of a sudden insiders were all 'Nah, we knew it was Terry for awhile.' Yet just 20 minutes before this, everyone was in the dark.
Yeah, I mean we basically already heard what name was being passed around at the time of the direct: Ryu from Ninja Gaiden. Most people have written that off since because the 4chan leak was fake, but love it or hate it that was the name Sabi and others admitted to hearing. We just to wait and see if that's legit.
I found my old post where I transcribed the English translation of Sakurai's comments and why it appears to me that we'll be getting new third parties going forward from that (just to give you more context on where I'm coming from in my change of opinion):
Basically every time that Sakurai speaks on Smash post the announcement of more DLC, I feel like he's giving off certain red flags that would imply this focus on new third parties will continue. His Famitsu article pushed me into further confidence and the way he talks about getting to work with all of these video games, licenses, and IPs just communicates to me that he is most excited about that prospect continuing for longer with Smash Ultimate. And I'm especially inclined to hold that course when I consider that Smash 4 and Smash Ultimate have both pushed new third party DLC as their definite focus, and I don't see any reason for Nintendo to be keen to abandon what seems to be making Smash bigger and more successful than ever.
This is Smash Bros though, getting your character in is not just cool, it's also a huge marketing thing that boosts attention and sales to the game the character is from. There's a reason why so many devs want to there franchises crossover, and at this point with how big the collaborations have gotten, I think Sakurai could get Activision to talk
I'm not really sure that any company is going to turn down Sakurai at this point in Ultimate's life cycle. That's why when people bring up Disney I just kind of brush it off. Smash Bros. is literally the most esteemed gaming crossover and quite possibly the most esteemed in terms of media (in the sheer numbers of IPs in one department at least) that also seems to be making absolute **** tons of money. Not to mention, you know Sakurai will devote himself to lovingly and accurately realizing your character in exactly the manner you request. It just seems like a no brainer at this point.
Ovaltine
, Great work as always! Also also, Klonoa got his trademark renewed? ...that would be pretty neat.
hopefully, crash would have a good reason to be in smash.
i will accept all but Monika
I came here to rain on your parade:
I honestly wouldn't be surprised that (at least part of) the "list" Nintendo brought to Sakurai was actually, "Hey, these companies have approached us and will pay us the advertising money for their character to be in. Any objections?"
Could this turn out to be, well into 2020, Bandai Namco's rep? 
