Interesting how that is only mentioned in other regions. You'd think that would be an important detail that everyone should know so they have a better idea of where their character vote may end up. It also hints that Nintendo doesn't intend to end the Smash franchise any time soon even if Sakurai decides to step down as director.
I know that feel. Being a dedicated supporter of a character that no one else believes can make it in. People say that assist trophy characters can't be put in and that Takamaru is a no-go, and others say that the 3DS limitations that held back the Ice Climbers during initial development was the one and only nail in their coffin. It's not easy dealing with all those nonbelievers. Then all these stigmas are attached to characters, for example: "Ridley is too big." "Chrom is too ordinary." "Takamaru is too obscure." "Ice Climbers are 'impossible'" *smh*. etc. I would love it if Takamaru was added to Smash and it's heartbreaking knowing that he was considered multiple times and still never made it. But since this is the Inkling thread, I might as well leave it there. I think I'll stop by the Takamaru thread some time.
Onto Inklings now, I'm not sure if this was brought up, but considering the Inkling Mii outfits and the Inkling trophy came out alongside Roy, Ryu, and Lucas, who were added without the influence of the Ballot, it means the team wasn't too sure if fans really wanted them in. So they gave the outfits to the Gunner to test the waters (more puns) and simulate how they would look in Smash. Besides, these were in development before Splatoon came out, so Sakurai probably would've wanted a better idea on how they are in game when it was complete to be fully inspired. Saying the trophy and outfits deconfirm the Inklings is nothing more than nautical nonsense.
