No character updates until January 24th?

[GameandWatchGuru]

Hey there, fellow smashers. I've been pouring over these boards for a while now, reading about all these predictions and expectations, but keeping my mouth shut. But a recent realization made me feel the need to finally post for myself.

Does anyone else find it highly suspicious that we haven't had a character update in 54 days? Considering the number of characters we all expect to see in Brawl, wouldn't Sakurai have been able to give us one, even two during this long stretch of time? I think it's high time we all resigned to the possibility that Sakurai's keeping tight-lipped on characters until the game is actually released in Japan. In the past, Sakurai has said that he has no qualms about revealing secret characters, since they will be revealed on the internet anyway. Still, that doesn't mean he wouldn't keep the suspense going as long as he could.

Any thoughts on the matter?

 

[Bassoonist]

The reason we're not getting characters it the last month and a half has been "filler". I'm thinking once January starts we'll get right back on track.

 

[Erimir]

The delay is probably a big factor, as Bassoonist implied.

But I don't expect too many more characters before the release. Maybe more of the returning veterans. Revealing Captain Falcon before release shouldn't be a big deal. No more than one more newcomer before the release tho.

I would say they might reveal all the 3rd party characters (assuming they're all big names) early on because that will improve sales. Not before the release, but soon after.

 

[Sabrewulf238]

I find it a bit surprising there havn't been any new character updates considering how it would bring up the hype for brawl.

I'm hoping that we might get a special character prezzie on christmas day(Tuesday). I think if we don't get anything special on christmas day we can be rest assured we won't be getting anything different for special days of the year.

Quick question: do the japanese celebrate christmas? or something simalar?

 

[Erimir]

They celebrate the commercial aspects. They have Santa Clauses and Christmas music in malls, they might get each other small gifts. The gifts will probably be for a romantic partner (so it's a little like Valentine's Day in a way). They go out to parties and such. It's an excuse to party.

It doesn't have any more significance to them than Halloween has to us, tho. Except, of course, for the small numbers of Japanese Christians. Most Japanese don't know much about the details of Christianity tho, so it doesn't mean much to them.

 

[Cosine]

Im pretty sure the updates will have ended at Jan 24th, because Japan gets updates to, the same ones we do.

The reason we're not getting characters it the last month and a half has been "filler". I'm thinking once January starts we'll get right back on track.

So I would agree with Bassoonist, its because of the delay, so figure, the amount of time between when the bad updates started and Dec 3rd, then put it in front of Feb 10th or Jan 24th like I said and thats when the updates will be back on track, in other words around January.

 

[Venus of the Desert Bloom]

I can see one more starter besides a veteran being revealed.

 

[Meta_Sonic64]

I see one more newcomer, there's a blank spot on Dojo that needs to be filled.

 

[TheLake]

Yep yep...hurry sakuri and fill that gap already!

(Not just the gap on the site but the very gap thats in the hearts of brawl lovers everywhere )

 

[Meta_Sonic64]

The question is. Who will fill it? Will it be Olimar? Claus? Megaman? Who will fill that gap?

 

[Machspeed]

Most likely Krystal or Olimar at this point. (Claus, Geno, Megaman and the likes will most likely be unlockable, and he doesn't reveal those until after release)

 

[xzakcorex]

It's always possible that there are very few characters left to release and Sakurai would rather hold those until the end.

 

[Erimir]

So I would agree with Bassoonist, its because of the delay, so figure, the amount of time between when the bad updates started and Dec 3rd, then put it in front of Feb 10th or Jan 24th like I said and thats when the updates will be back on track, in other words around January.

Wasn't the original release date for Japan in late November? Meaning that the Japanese release date was delayed by two months. Adding two months to the Sonic announcement gives us... December 10th or so.

In which case we've already used up the two months, and we should be done with filler.

Now, if you think about it, following up King Dedede with the last few updates would make sense. It's not like we'd be getting more than one character per week. He has given us some updates that would've gone in their original schedule (i.e. Stage Builder, Event Match and such), so he might have to add in a little filler here in December to make up for that. But overall, we should be done with it.

So I wouldn't be surprised if we got another new character this week or next week.

The question is: will Sakurai reveal all the characters before the Japanese release, extremely soon after it, or slowly and steady after it?

Given his comments about the internet revealing all of them anyway, I could see him revealing them all before the release date. If he wants to be the one to reveal all the new characters, that would make the most sense. If he wants to do that, then he's gotta reveal all of them, or almost all of them, before the release date. He could possibly save the two or three characters that take the longest, or are the hardest to unlock, or have the most hidden method of unlocking, for after the release date. But he's got to realize that they'll most likely all be unlocked in the two weeks before the American release, so there won't be much time for him to finish them off.

On the other hand, he could decide to hold the suspense for the release date. In which case he could just reveal them all very quickly (again, this is if he wants to be the one to reveal them all), meaning one character per day following the release.

Or, maybe his comments about the internet and wanting to be the one to reveal the characters don't mean much. In which case he might just reveal one or two characters per week following the release. Which would be fine, but it would mean that he wouldn't be the one revealing them, since those Japanese players are gonna be unlocking characters like crazy. I mean, I don't think it's unrealistic to expect someone to beat the Subspace Emissary by playing for 10 straight hours after getting the game. It's not like I haven't played certain games for as long (*cough* Twilight Princess *cough*). He might go that way, but then he's not going to be the first...

 

[Chaosblade77]

It will make no sense for the updates to end on January 24th, especially at the rate things are going. The updates are picking up at least, I mean, we got two stages over the period of two weeks, and that is a whole lot better than what we were getting, isn't it? Prior to that... there was "Melee stages" which only showed Temple but implied other stages, and Norfair was on Nov 9th. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a character every week - two weeks now at all, but who knows.

 

[CGCGrayfox]

Hey it could be we are already getting on track. Yesterday was got a REAL update. A new level that no one has seen before. Since when did we get an update that wasn't something like " Options". If we get a nice update tonight, I think we can concider ourselves back on track.

 

[Meta_Sonic64]

The updates are still lacking to me. Sure it's new stages, but we haven't had a character in a while.

 

[Cosine]

It will make no sense for the updates to end on January 24th, especially at the rate things are going. The updates are picking up at least, I mean, we got two stages over the period of two weeks, and that is a whole lot better than what we were getting, isn't it? Prior to that... there was "Melee stages" which only showed Temple but implied other stages, and Norfair was on Nov 9th. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a character every week - two weeks now at all, but who knows.

The reason we have boring updates now is because of the delay, The Dojo needed to make up 2 months worth of them, and thats what were getting,

And when do you expect the updates to end?

 

[Xerroo]

8 months after the US release.

 

[Cosine]

8 months after the US release.

your kidding right!?

 

[AIM0001]

The reason we're not getting characters it the last month and a half has been "filler". I'm thinking once January starts we'll get right back on track.

I actully think we've been back on track these past few updates. I'll even go as far as saying that we are going to see the end of the CHARACTER DROUGHT by the end of this month

 

[Regiwi]

I actully think we've been back on track these past few updates. I'll even go as far as saying that we are going to see the end of the CHARACTER DROUGHT by the end of this month

I hope so, I think that we might not even have the full starting roster yet. I think that one space is the last starter, in which case, we only really have one update to go before launch. And no, I really don't think any of the released characters are secret, as why would a third party put their character in a game which would provide advertising, just to have them secret? Surely they'd want everyone to see him.

 

[antimatter]

the gap wont be ridley, cause we just got info for a new metroid stage. wtf is it!??!?

 

[Lord Viper]

the gap wont be ridley, cause we just got info for a new metroid stage. wtf is it!??!?

The first stage in Metroid Prime before Samus went to Tallon Overwould. Ridley is in that game, but he was only shown twice and you fought him once.

 

[geemann2236]

They're obviously trying to keep up suspenseful.... AND IT'S WORKING!!! I hope they have updates soon, I will not rest until I see Ridley in Brawl. Not literally of course, lol.

 

[Superninjabreadman]

Well. with the recent pickup in exciting updates,(Mario Kart, Stafy, Co-op stuff, New Metroid stage, ect. ect.) Im expecting to see a Character too. not an "OMG I NEVER SAW HIM COMING!" character update but more of a.. "oh, Hey another Vetran" update. Luigi,Jiggly or Falcon I think.

But I dont think that Sakurai can hold the tension much longer, as several people are getting bored with the updates.

 

[Regiwi]

yeah, although, I don't think the return of coin mode was really an exciting update, but he may do it this week.

 

[Triple_Factorial]

Well. with the recent pickup in exciting updates,(Mario Kart, Stafy, Co-op stuff, New Metroid stage, ect. ect.) Im expecting to see a Character too. not an "OMG I NEVER SAW HIM COMING!" character update but more of a.. "oh, Hey another Vetran" update. Luigi,Jiggly or Falcon I think.

But I dont think that Sakurai can hold the tension much longer, as several people are getting bored with the updates.

Believe me, Sakurai can hold it in with the best of them. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if we didn't get any more characters before January 24th (a.k.a. Judgement Day). He's more than three-fifths of the way there already.

 

[Chaosblade77]

The reason we have boring updates now is because of the delay, The Dojo needed to make up 2 months worth of them, and thats what were getting,

And when do you expect the updates to end?

Whenever he has no more information to put on the site.

Really, there are two options. He continues daily updates until the site is a game guide, or they have a backup site with all of the information that will be uploaded as soon as the game is released in Japan. The former is far more likely than the latter; the Dojo does not just serve as fanservice, but as information for people who play/will play the game.

By the same logic of "The updates will end upon the games release" you could almost say "The dojo will be taken down upon the games release." It has more use than just a hype machine, which it is miserably failing at right now. Some updates have been fairly interesting, but they have been few and far between.

I know that the drought of good updates, characters or not, is most likely due to the delay, but at the same time if Brawl has so much content, why does an extra two months really hurt the Dojo updates? We still have over two dozen updates we could get, just from E for All (which would not be considered good since they are already known).

Evidence says that we will start getting characters again before long though, otherwise Sakurai changed his mind in regards to revealing the roster himself.

 

[Don Tyrant]

The question is. Who will fill it? Will it be Olimar? Claus? Megaman? Who will fill that gap?

I agree, you all have legitimate points, there is only one spot and it will be filled; i also feel that we will only get one more character update, if this had not been the case, we would not have had as long of a character drought.

 

[Xerroo]

No I'm not.

Assuming Sakurai decides to be very thoruough and give us updates on every item, old pokeball, assist trophy, mode, character it will take awhile to show everything.

 

[flalex05]

Originally Posted by Xerroo View Post
8 months after the US release.

your kidding right!?

no, this makes sense. maybe not exactly 8 months but it's going to be a long time until Europe gets Brawl after america i reckon. They'll claim due to translation and stuff, but if they've got it in english now, why cn't they start translating right away?

 

[egaddmario]

Don't forget, we still need 4 FS and to see if Sheik is included...with those plus the last newcommer's (Olimar's *crosses fingers*) update, FS, and moves, would give at least 8. Plus, even with out them, ATs (like the Metroid which has yet to be updated) and pokemon (like Gardevoir) have to be done. We're looking at a ton more stuff which doesn't even start to include subspace. This drought could potentially hold until Jan 24. Let's just hope it doesn't! C'mon Olimar! Show your symbol and strut onto the battlefield!

 

[Chepe]

I think that last blank spot on the third row of newcomers will be given to one more 3rd party guest for one last hype boost before release. I just think Sakurai is planning to have 3 rows of newcomers and 3 rows of veterans for the release. Its just a nice symmetry.

 

[Ic3b0i_666]

...do you think that this might be it for characters? I mean, show me why it couldn't.

 

[Chepe]

...do you think that this might be it for characters? I mean, show me why it couldn't.

Oh no, I dont mean that those would be all the characters in the game! That would be ridiculous. Just that he would start doing character profiles for the rest of the characters after the game's out...

 

[Cosine]

no, this makes sense. maybe not exactly 8 months but it's going to be a long time until Europe gets Brawl after america i reckon. They'll claim due to translation and stuff, but if they've got it in english now, why cn't they start translating right away?

I really don't think translation is a big issue, think about it, there's more work translating the Dojo then the Game, what I mean is, unlike most games, there not much dialog

 

[Jave]

The character drought is going to end in the 25th, when they confirm Claus.

Claus. Santa Claus. Christmas. Get it?

 

[Machspeed]

Yeah... don't do that.

 

[GameandWatchGuru]

Alright, I feel as though my original post was completely ignored. Clearly, everyone seems so completely starved for more characters that the possibility of withholding more character updates until the release (since there are likely only unlockables left) is just unfathomable. I'm willing to bet that the whole reason for the character drought is simply Sakurai's desire to keep things a mystery for as long as possible (in other words, until people are able to find out for themselves). I think this was the plan from even before the December 3rd bump. Seeing as he only had Dedede left to confirm after that point, he decided to reveal him earlier rather than right in the middle of no-man's-land. He probably figured that the fans would prefer that. Clearly, however, it seems that no one would be satisfied without a character confirmation every single day. Maybe the people interested in being surprised about characters aren't being vocal, but I have some trouble believing that.

Also, can I just say that having three characters on the bottom row of newcomers means absolutely nothing. Not everyone needs perfect symmetry with things like this. It would look the same way whether or not there is someone to fill that last slot.

 

[Cosine]

What are you talking about, unlike some threads over half the posts are relative, maybe you need to be more spesific, I already sad it was because of the delay and there is no reason characters would be annouced after Jan 24th because thats when Japan gets it, and they check the Dojo too if you didn't know

Oh but I completly agree with your point about the bottom row, its got to be one of the worse arguements Ive ever seen, I almost feel like posting under the Most Idiotiv Things Said about Brawl Thread.