I have to confess as much as I like Shantae she is not going to get in. Even with WayForward saying they support it, well then where were you when the game was in development? At least Ubisoft tried to get Rayman into Smash before and and during development. WayForward is trying so hard now instead of when the game existed back in 2012 to get her in, when before the roster was finalized. All of these other companies all of a sudden now want to see their characters in Smash as DLC when they had their chances to get them in the initial roster before but never approached Nintendo about it before, this is what kinda irks me about the fighter ballot thing. If this ballot never existed I'm sure they would've still kept quiet about it and not have said anything.
If Sakuari actually considers Shantae or Shovel Knight over Rayman I may have to question his mindset and I'll be somewhat pissed.
Shantae never really been much of a big name, and isn't Shovel Knight just a recent and new IP? Sakuari even states himself that third parties have to be special cases and icons of gaming and I think Shantae and Shovel Knight are just so obscure and almost unrecognizable to anyone they aren't on the same status as the other third parties that we've seen in Smash. Not to mention you have to have legal issues for third party even if they say there okay with it through Twitter or Facebook they still have to strike a deal like they've done with Sega, Capcom, Namco, and Ubisoft to get the rights to use them as a full fledged characters or as trophies.
Since Rayman already has a model, well technically two models I just really hope that Sakuari may actually consider Rayman all he needs for him is just a move set and there you go. You might as well work with what you got Sakuarai, you wouldn't go through all that trouble just to make him out a as a trophy; especially, when Ubisoft already gave you the rights to use him as a trophy. Just make him a full fledged out character to shut all of these other third parties up as much as I hate to say it.
I swear, I would lose faith in Sakurai if the likes of Shantae and Shovel Knight got in over Rayman and Banjo-Kazooie.
If I may throw my view into this..: Ok, Now Shovel Knight I can understand, as you are right about that. He is still fairly young. But you're kinda underestimating Shantae's loyalty a bit... Yes, she is currently indie, but that wasn't always the case. She had her start in a Gameboy color game, in 2002. The only reason I don't think she caught on, and "is too obscure", was because she was unlucky enough to just so happen to have started near the end of the Gameboy Color's life. The games were printed in a limited quantity. In fact due to this, she sorta became one of those obscure, lost Nintendo characters.. In fact it wouldn't see a sequel until 2010.. over eight years later.
And even WITH the company going straight up indie, Most of her new games STILL manage to be mostly on Nintendo consoles, believe it or not. Shantae: Risky's revenge released for the DsiWare. Pirates curse for the 3DS and Wii U, AND the upcoming Shantae: Half-genie hero will be on the Wii U as well. Heck at this rate it should be considered First Party Indie XD
She is honestly very underestimated in this ballot.. And lets not forget how wild Sakurai tends to be. He will be going for the popular requests more than likely... but he will also probably be going for unique fighters.. Its what I love about this ballot. There is just no way to tell how it will turn out.
Does Rayman have a chance? Heck yes. He has a LOT going for him. But straight up being biased and thinking he is the only contender here is foolish.
Edit: Ugh whats with all the typos -_-... I apparently can't type today