Identifying Filler (11 good updates to go!)

[susu_atari]

As many of have no doubt noticed, a lot of the updates we've been seeing recently aren't particularly informative (Widescreen Support, I'm looking at you). I am making an attempt to work out (by which, I mean guess) which updates we would not have seen, had it not been for the delay.

From the first day of the week that we heard about the delay, October 8th (Zero Suit Samus: Special Moves), to the 3rd of December, there are 40 days of updates (8 weeks). So, if we take out the "Filler" updates, how many of these 40 "Core" updates have we seen so far?

I will also note a makebelieve date, which is the date the latest "Core" update would have been on if we hadn't seen any of the "Filler" updates at all.

CORE Updates: 29
FILLER Updates: 22
DATE: November 15th

The following is a list of necessary updates I think we would have seen, even if the game hadn't been delayed. I am calling them "Core" updates for the purpose of this thread. They are in the order in which they appeared.
Zero Suit Samus: Special Moves
Kirby: Final Smash
Sonic
Sonic: Special Moves
New Pork City
STADIUM: Home-Run Contest
Little Mac
Peach: Final Smash
PictoChat
STADIUM: Target Smash!
King Dedede
King Dedede: Special Moves
Stage Builder
Classic
The Summit
Meta Knight: Final Smash
Gray Fox
Lucas: Special Moves
Norfair
Ike: Final Smash
Ice Climbers: Final Smash
Smart Bomb
Saki Amamiya
Lucas: Final Smash
Wario: Final Smash
Events
Melee Stages
King Dedede: Final Smash
With Anyone/Basic Brawl
Total: 29

This next list is of the updates I call "filler"; updates we probably would not have seen if the game had not been delayed.

Taking Snapshots
How to use the Wii Remote
Meowth
Donkey Kong Makes His Stand
On-Screen Entrances
Fox’s Misfortune
Items from Previous Installments
Grab and Throw
Three Different Taunts
Handicap
Meta Knight: Special Moves
Spectator
Training
Colour Changes
Charged Special Moves
Controls
Widescreen Support
Friend List
Returning Pokémon
The Battle for the Smash Ball
Bonsly
Rotation
Total: 22

NOTE: Some of the "Filler" updates I have listed are not NECESSARILY updates we would not have seen, but that perhaps would have been on double-update days, such as the SSE videos. Similarly, many of the "Core" updates may have also been bundled-up this way. I have omitted Music updates, as they have only ever been appearing alongside other updates for some time now.

If everything I've worked out is correct, we've got 10 more core updates to go before the game's new release.

Here's a summary of what kind of core updates we've seen since the release date was changed. This is to make it easy to consider whether we would have seen more of a certain kind of update within those eight weeks.
Characters: 2
Special Moves: 4
Final Smash: 8 (Max)
Items: 2
Assist Trophies: 3
Stages: 5

 

[Cog]

Wow, seems like you've been thinking a lot lol
But anyways, excellent job. If this is true than I'm glad there wont be just fillers till the game's out.

 

[Puffs]

Seems like the only core updates we would have left are Krystal, Ridley, final 3rd party character, and Rayquaza's boss page.

 

[Mr.Victory07]

Some of those arent filler like:
Taking snapshots
SSE vids
Spectator
Entrances
Three differant taunts
And im sure we would have seen the friend code update anyway

 

[The Director]

There's no patterns in updates...furthermore, nobody can predict what the updates will be.

 

[GreatClayMonkey]

dude you just broke my brain. No actually you fixed my broken brain for the sole purpose of breaking it. I really understood none of that.

 

[susu_atari]

Some of those arent filler like:
Taking snapshots
SSE vids
Spectator
Entrances
Three differant taunts
And im sure we would have seen the friend code update anyway

Are you sure Taking Snapshots would have had an update? Remember, before the release date changed we were more often seeing more than one update per day. Clearly Sakurai didn't think he had enough time to get all the important updates on the Dojo before the release. There's no way he would have shown us "Three different taunts".

Also, I think the Friend List and Spectator updates would have been condensed into a general WiFi update. To me, though, that sort of stuff is "Manual" material, not important updates.

 

[soviet prince]

nice work...............................

 

[Coselm]

You are so pessimistic about the updates.

You should be happy there are any updates at all.

What if Sakurai just left us in the cold until the game came out?

I'm sure then all of this "filler" would be welcome news.

 

[Frogla]

You are so pessimistic about the updates.

You should be happy there are any updates at all.

What if Sakurai just left us in the cold until the game came out?

I'm sure then all of this "filler" would be welcome news.

Dont worry if its delayed again we wont have any updates. Bursts with super special awesome happiness.

 

[Kio Iranez]

You are so pessimistic about the updates.

You should be happy there are any updates at all.

What if Sakurai just left us in the cold until the game came out?

I'm sure then all of this "filler" would be welcome news.

He is correct. If you don't like them, stop going to the dojo.

 

[flyinfilipino]

He is correct. If you don't like them, stop going to the dojo.

That's not what this thread is about though. Since the delay, it's become increasingly clear that there needs to be a bunch of 'filler' updates (ie Widescreen Support, Handicaps, Charged Special Moves). The thread starter just offered a theory based on the proportion of...oh, never mind, you'll never get it.

 

[Tony_]

We're only getting one more character on the Dojo and its more than likely that it will be the last third party. No more character updates until January.

 

[QuickBlade]

i think i understand what u said.....i hope ur right about more "core" updates

 

[Kio Iranez]

That's not what this thread is about though. Since the delay, it's become increasingly clear that there needs to be a bunch of 'filler' updates (ie Widescreen Support, Handicaps, Charged Special Moves). The thread starter just offered a theory based on the proportion of...oh, never mind, you'll never get it.

I just don't like people calling them "filler updates". We can't learn something groundbreaking everyday. I understand what the OP is saying, but nonetheless, all the info still lets us rest about things that we didn't know.

Besides, it stops some of the over-speculation.

 

[flyinfilipino]

We're only getting one more character on the Dojo and its more than likely that it will be the last third party. No more character updates until January.

Sez hoo? Although it kinda looks that way, just from looking at the missing newcomer slot. But anything can happen. And I think Sheik *should* be confirmed before the Japanese release. Who knows though.

I just don't like people calling them "filler updates". We can't learn something groundbreaking everyday. I understand what the OP is saying, but nonetheless, all the info still lets us rest about things that we didn't know.

Besides, it stops some of the over-speculation.

Well, they are 'filler'...they needed to 'fill' up the space caused by the delay.

 

[Firebert]

Seems like the only core updates we would have left are Krystal, Ridley, final 3rd party character, and Rayquaza's boss page.

Lol, the Rayquaza page will be a sad update.

 

[VanillaMummy]

Sez hoo? Although it kinda looks that way, just from looking at the missing newcomer slot. But anything can happen. And I think Sheik *should* be confirmed before the Japanese release. Who knows though.

He's saying you should probably only expect 1 or 2 characters in this whole month, because all of the other characters will be revealed during January to increase the hype going into the Japanese launch. Its Marketing 101.

 

[Chepe]

This isnt unlikely at all. I think most people that can use logic can guess that Sakurai and co. needed to pull updates out of their *** in order to fill in the gap. The updates are sent about a month beforehand to be translated though, so I would say that the week of the Stage Builder update was the last set sent from Sakurai himself before his mind was set on the delay. So Im guessing that it was around late September that he knew he would have to announce a delay soon (which would happen two weeks later)...

My theory is also that after that, he decided to space out a newcomer update to be somewhere in the middle between Dedede's update and the Japanese release. I think one more newcomer profile before the game is out is likely, but only one. 3 rows of newcomers and 3 rows of veterans seems like it would be appealing to Sakurai somehow.

 

[harpuia190]

Well i mean if he really needed filler couldn't he have just given us an entei update a lugia update, a wobbufeet update, instead of doing returning pokemon as one big update?

 

[NDUDE]

Controls isn't really a filler. It shows the default button configuration for every controller, including how the Nunchuck would work. Also, it included turning off tap jumps, AND it revealed the 1 bit of motion-sensing in the game. It's not high-caliber, but it's not filler.

 

[Chepe]

Well i mean if he really needed filler couldn't he have just given us an entei update a lugia update, a wobbufeet update, instead of doing returning pokemon as one big update?

He seems to do this for returning item updates. Do you really think Sakurai would feel right about giving us a Super Mushroom update, or a Suicune update, when they havent changed at all?

 

[DiscoShark]

It baffles me on why Nintendo isn't taking advantage that the game can record 3 minutes of video and packaging it into update form. If you need to kill a month instead of coming up with "Returning pokemon" who wouldn't like to see some Bridge of Eldin madness?

Oh and I'm greatly anticipating that Torchic update!!one!1one!

 

[Chepe]

whoops, my computer messed up or something...

 

[RedKnight]

I dont think that Subspace videos and Taking Snapshots are filler updates

 

[SOJ]

Seems like the only core updates we would have left are Krystal, Ridley, final 3rd party character, and Rayquaza's boss page.

No, those are updates you EXPECT.

What are you thinking?! You can't read Sakurai's mindgames, fool! He will obviously not do this now.

 

[jamesss]

yeah that's pretty good, I wouldn't say the SSE video's were filler updates tho

 

[Mysteryfox1]

Fox's misfortune sse vid a filler update WHAT are you talking about? did anybody know that diddy would meet up with Fox before that update?

 

[shadenexus18]

You are so pessimistic about the updates.

You should be happy there are any updates at all.

What if Sakurai just left us in the cold until the game came out?

I'm sure then all of this "filler" would be welcome news.

I'd rather get nothing and do something else productive with my time rather than get ridiculously pathetic updates at 3:00 A.M. mind you, an inconvient time for everyone.

sigh.....how many of you want to bet that this game is going to get delayed...again?

 

[dan smith]

The only point on which I disagree with this post is the planning. I doubt the updates had been planned out to spread thin, I think that since Dec. 3rd the updates have been filler...the filler was not mixed in with the prior updates.

 

[lotor611]

with the way sakurai is updating, here is where i think we are headed:
UPCOMING UPDATES
monday: ITEM EXPLANATION : "FAN"
tuesday: HOW TO CHARGE A SMASH MOVE
wednesday: HOW TO SELECT YOUR CHARACTER
thursday: ANOTHER SMASHBALL UPDATE
friday: ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT PUSHING THE RELEASE DATE TO WINTER 2009.....
sorry....

 

[PrettyGoodYear]

I'd rather get nothing and do something else productive with my time rather than get ridiculously pathetic updates at 3:00 A.M. mind you, an inconvient time for everyone.

sigh.....how many of you want to bet that this game is going to get delayed...again?

1. You'd rather get nothing and do something productive with your time? Do you need the Dojo to shut down just so you can stop looking at it? Are you like, joined at the hip to the Dojo? No.
2. You don't have to stay until 3:00 to see hte update. And it's not incovenient for everyone... Japan is in another timezone, what do you expect?

 

[schlepboogie]

Right, I've been picking apart the recent updates. From the first day of the week that we heard about the delay, to the 3rd of December, there are 40 days of updates. I'm sure you've all noticed that many of the updates we've seen are clearly filler.

My analysis begins on the Zero Suit Samus: Special Moves update. I have omitted Music updates, as they generally appear alongside other updates.

The following is a list of necessary updates I think we would have seen, even if the game hadn't been delayed. I will nickname them "core" updates for the purpose of this thread. They are in the order in which they appeared.

Zero Suit Samus: Special Moves
Kirby: Final Smash
Sonic
Sonic: Special Moves
New Pork City
STADIUM: Home-Run Contest
Meowth
Little Mac
Peach: Final Smash
PictoChat
STADIUM: Target Smash!
King Dedede
King Dedede: Special Moves
Stage Builder
Classic
The Summit
Meta Knight: Final Smash
Gray Fox
Lucas: Special Moves
Norfair
Ike: Final Smash
Ice Climbers: Final Smash
Smart Bomb
Saki Amamiya
Lucas: Final Smash
Wario: Final Smash
Events
Melee Stages

This next list is of the updates I call "filler"; updates we would not have seen if the game had not been delayed.

Taking Snapshots
How to use the Wii Remote
Donkey Kong Makes His Stand
On-Screen Entrances
Fox’s Misfortune
Items from Previous Installments
Grab and Throw
Three Different Taunts
Handicap
Meta Knight: Special Moves
Spectator
Training
Colour Changes
Charged Special Moves
Controls
Widescreen Support
Friend List
Returning Pokémon
The Battle for the Smash Ball

So, we can see here that the core updates add up to 28. If you pretend, for a moment, that the delay never happened, and we haven't seen any of the filler, today's date, December 6th, would actually be November 14th.

If everything I've worked out is correct, we've got 12 more core updates to go before the game's new release.

Here's a summary of what kind of core updates we've seen since the release date was changed. This is to make it easy to consider whether we would have seen more of a certain kind of update within those eight weeks.

Characters: 2
Special Moves: 4
Final Smash: 7
Items: 2
Assist Trophies: 3
Pokemon: 1
Stages: 5

all sounds logical... i think you have a little too much time on your hands though....

 

[VVayfarer]

I don't really think the Final Smash updates are so important, and i don't really agree with your list of fillers.

Donkey Kong makes his stand and Fox's misfortune are clearly fillers. But three different taunts, widescreen support, the battle for the smash ball (three things not told before), controls... most of these are a lot more important to know than what a character's Final Smash is like. (Don't kill me for this)

 

[heety9]

I don't think takign snapshots is a filler...

 

[GreenKirby]

I'd rather get nothing and do something else productive with my time rather than get ridiculously pathetic updates at 3:00 A.M. mind you, an inconvient time for everyone.

sigh.....how many of you want to bet that this game is going to get delayed...again?

Or you could just not go to the Dojo. Let alone, go on there at 3 in the morning and ruin your sleep patterns.

Gah, you are so pathetic.

 

[falco999]

i always thought that since there was a delay that sakurai had to put in filler updates

 

[Jumpinjahosafa]

You are so pessimistic about the updates.

You should be happy there are any updates at all.

What if Sakurai just left us in the cold until the game came out?

I'm sure then all of this "filler" would be welcome news.

He's not complaining.

He's analyzing.

There is a difference.

 

[susu_atari]

OP Update!!

OK! So we got King Dedede's Final Smash. This is the 8th Final Smash update included in my analysis. Considering there would have been 8 weeks until launch, were it not for the delay, any further Final Smashes will be denoted Filler, simply because I don't think we'd have seen more than 8 Final Smashes in 8 weeks.

 

[Devastlian]

I don't agree with most of the updates you called filler being filler. Except maybe Charged Special Moves. Most of them make sense alongside the previous updates and a lot of what you call "core" updates. I agree that most your filler updates would've been doubled up with something else if the delay hadn't happened, though.