Roster Prediction Discussion Thread

[Morbi]

I don't want a roster flood. I want the characters to feel unique. I mean what is the point if everyone plays the same. Not too fun in my opinion.

 

[Opossum]

Yeah, it's the reason why I lose my psychology here in the Smashboards sometimes.

What. You...lose your psychology?

I don't even...

 

[Banjodorf]

You misunderstand me, and that theory is, in fact, a theory. Why would Sonic cost Mewtwo his spot over Lucario? Clearly he didn't want any series to have over 4 reps (not counting transformations). It's logical to assume Lucario got in over Mewtwo, due to recentness especially when he stated in a recent interview he doesn't personally pick Pokemon character on criteria, he asks Pokemon Company about who to add. As in, he asks Pokemon Company who the new hot character is. Besides this is just a theory, just as you have yours. Nothing is concrete, I'm just trying to provide you with my thought process. So don't deal in absolutes, esepcially by saying Lucario did not replace Mewtwo. Are you Sakurai?

For someone who didn't know what Pokemon Smash is, you sure make alot of assumptions about Sakurai's thoughts and what the Pokemon company wants. We can guess based on placement in game code which characters were added last, which is better than a baseless theory such as "Lucario replaced Mewtwo because of reasons". Jigglypuff was one of the last characters added. I will admittedly not be too fussed if Lucario and Mewtwo are in over Jigglypuff. However, I do have one other question.

Are you Sakurai?

 

[BluePikmin11]

I don't want a roster flood. I want the characters to feel unique. I mean what is the point if everyone plays the same. Not too fun in my opinion.

Yeah, Sakurai wants a unique character, I believe he stated before in a SSB4 article.

 

[Morbi]

For someone who didn't know what Pokemon Smash is, you sure make alot of assumptions about Sakurai's thoughts and what the Pokemon company wants. We can guess based on placement in game code which characters were added last, which is better than a baseless theory such as "Lucario replaced Mewtwo because of reasons". Jigglypuff was one of the last characters added. I will admittedly not be too fussed if Lucario and Mewtwo are in over Jigglypuff. However, I do have one other question.

Are you Sakurai?

He said it was a theory of his. He also stated that you have your own theory and nothing is concrete. Another way of saying this is that the interpretations are subjective. I would knock it off.

 

[TheLastJinjo]

Red is the one in the Manga. It is his default name. I don't think he is essential because the balance is ridiculously hard in several different ways. They could be spending that time to develop other "essential" characters. If he was essential he would be in Melee... like Mewtwo. The first generation has been done and over with for a decade. Time to move on. The reason I went on so many tangents was because there are so many reasons not to have him as a character. I mean I don't even see a single reason as to why he is an essential character. There is literally nothing besides Charizard. He isn't worth a slot though.

I reread your post. You are A trainer in each game. Not Pokemon Trainer. He is CLEARLY based off of Red/Blue (the games). You do know that in each game we get to pick whether or not we are a female or male. (counting reboot). That means that there are about a dozen trainers to pick from. The one Sakurai chose is in no way "essential".

You are essentially saying that we should name Link... "Player". That is BS.

Yeah nothing besides Charizard is important......except maybe Squirtle........and one of the Saurs. I think those 3 starter Pok'emon are pretty important.

Also I believe it makes A LOT of sense to have 2 Poke'mon Trainers or just the one from Brawl.

 

[Swamp Sensei]

Yeah....Getting rid of the most popular Pokemon of all time is a bad idea.

You might just get burned.

Not to mention, that these two guys are pretty popular in their own right.

 

[Banjodorf]

He said it was a theory of his. He also stated that you have your own theory and nothing is concrete. Another way of saying this is that the interpretations are subjective. I would knock it off.

The problem with "theories" like that is they get tossed around as fact by those who are less informed. You can have a theory about characters being removed, but I saw something more pushed as "I hate to break it to you guys, but X, Y, Z because I already had a theory forever ago, glad to see I'm finally right." A bit of exaggeration, but come on now.

 

[Morbi]

Yeah nothing besides Charizard is important......except maybe Squirtle........and one of the Saurs. I think those 3 starter Pok'emon are pretty important.

Also I believe it makes A LOT of sense to have 2 Poke'mon Trainers or just the one from Brawl.

Do you mean like developing a whole new team? Or just swapping the Red model for Blue? The original starter Pokemon are not important to anything other than Red/Blue or later Fire Red and Leaf Green. Just because they were first... does not make them important. That is probably just your nostalgia speaking. I feel the same way personally. However, I will not allow nostalgia to cloud my judgement.

Except Charizard.

 

[Nick Schovitz]

I predict

Dixie Kong
Daisy
Little Mac
Animal Crossing Character (Already confirmed)
Some new gen pokemon to replace Lucario

 

[Morbi]

Yeah....Getting rid of the most popular Pokemon of all time is a bad idea.

You might just get burned.

Not to mention, that these two guys are pretty popular in their own right.

I highly doubt Charizard is the most popular Pokemon. I mean... Pikachu... yeah. I have no idea where you are pulling that out of. Link or something?

 

[Banjodorf]

I highly doubt Charizard is the most popular Pokemon. I mean... Pikachu... yeah. I have no idea where you are pulling that out of. Link or something?

No, Charizard is the most popular Pokemon, who I believe is followed by Mewtwo. Lucario's somewhere up there to. I can't find the source, but someone on the board with oblige, I'm sure. That's not to say Pikachu is unpopular, but he gets a by no matter what because he's literally the face of the series.

Besides, why do you people advocate the "Out with the old, in with the new" mentality, when you can literally just build upon existing things? I'll never understand.

 

[BluePikmin11]

We might have to wait until Zoroark or Mewtwo is revealed. Then you will figure out the pattern.

 

[Bajef8]

Red is the one in the Manga. It is his default name. I don't think he is essential because the balance is ridiculously hard in several different ways. They could be spending that time to develop other "essential" characters. If he was essential he would be in Melee... like Mewtwo. The first generation has been done and over with for a decade. Time to move on. The reason I went on so many tangents was because there are so many reasons not to have him as a character. I mean I don't even see a single reason as to why he is an essential character. There is literally nothing besides Charizard. He isn't worth a slot though.

I reread your post. You are A trainer in each game. Not Pokemon Trainer. He is CLEARLY based off of Red/Blue (the games). You do know that in each game we get to pick whether or not we are a female or male. (counting reboot). That means that there are about a dozen trainers to pick from. The one Sakurai chose is in no way "essential".

You are essentially saying that we should name Link... "Player". That is BS.

Okay so the point of all that is you don't like PKMN Trainer as a character. Cool. That's not even what I'm debating. I'm saying that PKMN Trainer is to Pokemon as Mario is to the Mario franchise. Well maybe not that drastic, but a Luigi or Peach. He's important to Pokemon, that's why he got in. The trainer Sakurai put in is a representation of any of the trainers from any of the games. Look at the Brawl Dojo, he says he wanted the guy who's been there, but never got a chance to shine. Obviously he had to model PKMN Trainer after one of the many possibilities, so he chose the most significant one, the original. He wasn't adding Red, he's adding the player avatar of Pokemon, hence him not naming him Red, but naming him the generic PKMN Trainer. And please explain how a trainer isn't a PKMN trainer -_- you play as A Pokemon Trainer...

And don't insult my Pokemon intelligence, only child who lived under a rock and didn't pick up Crystal version or later wouldn't know you get to pick boy or girl.

And the Link argument is stupid top, seeing as the whole game's lore refers to the character as Link. That's like you suggesting Mario is named "Player". Not a very smart thing to try and use as an argument.

 

[Opossum]

Here's the IGN Top 100 Pokemon poll, which Charizard won. Off the top of my head, there was also one around the tenth anniversary, where I think Charizard won, but was definitely in the Top 10 if he didn't. He got a Poke Ball pillow with his image on it. For some reason I remember that.

 

[Morbi]

No, Charizard is the most popular Pokemon, who I believe is followed by Mewtwo. Lucario's somewhere up there to. I can't find the source, but someone on the board with oblige, I'm sure. That's not to say Pikachu is unpopular, but he gets a by no matter what because he's literally the face of the series.

Besides, why do you people advocate the "Out with the old, in with the new" mentality, when you can literally just build upon existing things? I'll never understand.

That would be news to me. I knew he was extremely popular. I just figured he hasn't really had anything going for him since Gen 1. There are so many Pokemon fans that joined late. So I thought his popularity would diminish. It is good to hear that he is still kicking. Maybe that is why Sakurai even put him in the game in the first place.

Anyways I have the "out with the old, in with the new" mentality simply because Sakurai said there would be cuts. I also think it is relevant that he helps promote games in Nintendo. Nintendo is doing horrible as a company right now. People are questioning their decisions. I don't know. Things are not looking good. So if he actually helps cross promote these games with SSB that is a good thing. I would like to see Ike replaced with the current Fire Emblem character to help promote awakening. I would like to see Sheik replaced by Impa to promote Skyward Sword. So on, so forth. I would much rather see new and fresh fighters than more of the same. That is just me though.

Pokemon Trainer is literally the only character I don't want to return. I would rather have 3 new characters and a lot less time spent on balancing. That is just me again I guess.

 

[Bajef8]

For someone who didn't know what Pokemon Smash is, you sure make alot of assumptions about Sakurai's thoughts and what the Pokemon company wants. We can guess based on placement in game code which characters were added last, which is better than a baseless theory such as "Lucario replaced Mewtwo because of reasons". Jigglypuff was one of the last characters added. I will admittedly not be too fussed if Lucario and Mewtwo are in over Jigglypuff. However, I do have one other question.

Are you Sakurai?

Maybe you should read this instead of thinking I just made that stuff up. Seriously.

http://kotaku.com/an-in-depth-chat-with-the-genius-behind-super-smash-bro-530744390

 

[TheTuninator]

Charizard is the most popular Pokemon? Wow! I had no idea. He was always my favorite. Never ceases to bug me that the Pokemon who looks the most like a dragon is not Dragon-type.

 

[Banjodorf]

Maybe you should read this instead of thinking I just made that stuff up. Seriously.

http://kotaku.com/an-in-depth-chat-with-the-genius-behind-super-smash-bro-530744390

Look, I've read that article, and I've read every single article that's been released on Smash so far. Nothing impresses me anymore.

What I'm saying is you're twisting Sakurai's words into "Out with the old, in with the new" when his very words were basically "I won't make any cuts if I don't have to." The guy cares alot about the fans of his characters, and their voices are something he's more able to be connected to. Why won't he try to add both Mewtwo and Lucario, based on the fact that their fans very much want both of them and are prominent?

People need to take a step back, and listen only to the actual words of Sakurai not his patterns. Clearly his patterns change. (Villager.)

 

[Morbi]

Okay so the point of all that is you don't like PKMN Trainer as a character. Cool. That's not even what I'm debating. I'm saying that PKMN Trainer is to Pokemon as Mario is to the Mario franchise. Well maybe not that drastic, but a Luigi or Peach. He's important to Pokemon, that's why he got in. The trainer Sakurai put in is a representation of any of the trainers from any of the games. Look at the Brawl Dojo, he says he wanted the guy who's been there, but never got a chance to shine. Obviously he had to model PKMN Trainer after one of the many possibilities, so he chose the most significant one, the original. He wasn't adding Red, he's adding the player avatar of Pokemon, hence him not naming him Red, but naming him the generic PKMN Trainer. And please explain how a trainer isn't a PKMN trainer -_- you play as A Pokemon Trainer...

And don't insult my Pokemon intelligence, only child who lived under a rock and didn't pick up Crystal version or later wouldn't know you get to pick boy or girl.

And the Link argument is stupid top, seeing as the whole game's lore refers to the character as Link. That's like you suggesting Mario is named "Player". Not a very smart thing to try and use as an argument.

All of the games lore refers to PKMN Trainer as Red/Ash they never refer to the trainer as PKMN Trainer. So it does apply. Mario isn't named player at the beginning, you cant name Mario, His name is Mario. You can choose the name of Link (you are clearly not aware of this) just as you can choose to name Red/Ash whatever you want. That is my point. It isn't a stupid argument at all.

I didn't insult your PKMN knowledge. I am just saying that Red is not any more important than Gold or Silver. I mean they push him in the Anime/Manga. So he is more important than say Pearl. However, I still think it is irrelevant. He isn't the be all end all Trainer.

I do like Red. I just don't like that he essentially takes up 3 characters and a lot of time. He is easy to cut because he is difficult to develop. I understand that essentially he is supposed to be modeled off Red... but he really isn't Red... which is why he isn't significant to the series. Red/Original Trainer is significant to the series. Not a no name trainer. I mean LITERALLY. I already know the reasoning behind it and how he is actually important. I am just saying that he LITERALLY isn't important. That is all.

 

[Bajef8]

Look, I've read that article, and I've read every single article that's been released on Smash so far. Nothing impresses me anymore.

What I'm saying is you're twisting Sakurai's words into "Out with the old, in with the new" when his very words were basically "I won't make any cuts if I don't have to." The guy cares alot about the fans of his characters, and their voices are something he's more able to be connected to. Why won't he try to add both Mewtwo and Lucario, based on the fact that their fans very much want both of them and are prominent?

People need to take a step back, and listen only to the actual words of Sakurai not his patterns. Clearly his patterns change. (Villager.)

I spaced and used the wrong link. Read this.

Didn't twist his words, just used this source as the base of my "How he picks Poke-reps" argument.

http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1970393/pokemon_in_super_smash_bros_how_theyre_selected.html

 

[BluePikmin11]

They are pretty similar in move set, it might take up space. Toon Link doesn't get the excuse because he represents the other side of Zelda. Lucario just represents the Pokemon franchise at the time of Brawl.
You could possibly say the same (similar) thing to FE, in which it's kept to two because the icons of FE tend to be Swordsmen. Unless it gets more diverse with its classes.

 

[FalKoopa]

http://kotaku.com/an-in-depth-chat-with-the-genius-behind-super-smash-bro-530744390

Kotaku: My first question is, what is the process like for deciding which characters in a Smash Bros. game to include and which to cut from game to game?

Sakurai: First of all, in regard to cutting characters: at this point there's nothing I can say in any official position regarding that process. But let's go ahead and talk a little bit more about how we decided what characters to have.

I wanted to hear this.

 

[BluePikmin11]

Yeah because he keeps it a secret anyways.

 

[TheTuninator]

I doubt swords are what kept FE at two reps. We've had three Star Fox reps using fists, legs and blasters, for instance. FE was kept to two reps most likely because it just wasn't that popular a franchise. Awakening may change things going forward, but only time will tell.

 

[Bajef8]

All of the games lore refers to PKMN Trainer as Red/Ash they never refer to the trainer as PKMN Trainer. So it does apply. Mario isn't named player at the beginning, you cant name Mario, His name is Mario. You can choose the name of Link (you are clearly not aware of this) just as you can choose to name Red/Ash whatever you want. That is my point. It isn't a stupid argument at all.

Again, now you insult my Zelda intelligence. Chillax home skillet. Duh you pick a name, it just so happens the character is still referred to as Link. Do you own Hyrule Historia? I live and breath Zelda, so especially don't insult that.

I do like Red. I just don't like that he essentially takes up 3 characters and a lot of time. He is easy to cut because he is difficult to develop. I understand that essentially he is supposed to be modeled off Red... but he really isn't Red... which is why he isn't significant to the series. Red/Original Trainer is significant to the series. Not a no name trainer. I mean LITERALLY. I already know the reasoning behind it and how he is actually important. I am just saying that he LITERALLY isn't important. That is all.

THIS. This is what I wanted to hear. So if the Trainer was named Red, you'd deem him more significant?

I'm saying A PKMN trainer is important to each Pokemon game, however, choosing a generic one (by naming him PKMN Trainer, not Red) was how he was able to make it represent "the idea" of the character itself. Repping the actual character avatar's spirit, if you will, in Smash. It just happens he chose to base it off of Red. I mean he had to choose one, it's not like he could add each gen's Trainer. That's why I say the idea of A Trainer (regardless who the trainer is) is important, just to have A Trainer in Smash since trainers are a big deal in Pokemon

 

[mimgrim]

That would be news to me. I knew he was extremely popular. I just figured he hasn't really had anything going for him since Gen 1. There are so many Pokemon fans that joined late. So I thought his popularity would diminish. It is good to hear that he is still kicking. Maybe that is why Sakurai even put him in the game in the first place.

Anyways I have the "out with the old, in with the new" mentality simply because Sakurai said there would be cuts. I also think it is relevant that he helps promote games in Nintendo. Nintendo is doing horrible as a company right now. People are questioning their decisions. I don't know. Things are not looking good. So if he actually helps cross promote these games with SSB that is a good thing. I would like to see Ike replaced with the current Fire Emblem character to help promote awakening. I would like to see Sheik replaced by Impa to promote Skyward Sword. So on, so forth. I would much rather see new and fresh fighters than more of the same. That is just me though.

Pokemon Trainer is literally the only character I don't want to return. I would rather have 3 new characters and a lot less time spent on balancing. That is just me again I guess.

I have to disagree with you about Nintendo doing horrible as a company. Last generation the Wii sold 99.84 million copies worldwide while the ps3 Solde 75 mil and the 360 sold 74.94 mil. Not to mention the complete sucsess of their handhelds. To bakc that up; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_wars#Seventh_generation. The Wii-U is still going strong, but we will see how it fairs once the PS4 and One get released. But you gotta understand that Nintendo caters to a different kind of gaming crowd then Sony and MS. They cater the casual players while stil lgiving thought to Hardcore players. Their marketing shceme is actually great and works very very well for them. The only reason I can think of you saying that Nintendo is doing horrible as a company is that you just don't like that they don't do enough "hard-core" games and/or are biased against them. Granted I am a Nintendo fanboy but I think their sales speak for themselves.

 

[DragonSniperNintendo]

I think 2 Characters from the same FE is excessive and other ones should be given a chance

and having Toon Ganondorf because of Giriham is a long shot. That sounds more like an idea than a prediction, and I'd be pretty dang surprised if that happened as you foresaw. You'd be like THE smash speculator to correctly guess something so unlikely and weird like that.

I'd be upset if Isa got in over Saki. (Mostly because she is a girl and cooler.) But, he is more recent and there are only 2 installments so it makes sense.

1. Well small chance but possible. Plus it gives us a new class, the mage.
2. Just some thoughts on making an interesting Zelda roster. Ganondorf can easily be a Twilight Princess/Skyward Sword mix like Link while Ghirahim has that look too.
3. FYI Saki is a guy. Also I picked Isa because he marks the localization as well.

 

[BluePikmin11]

He would be named Red if there was another Generation trainer joining.
But Sakurai called him Pokemon Trainer, assuming this is the trainer is the best representation.

 

[BKupa666]

Kotaku: My first question is, what is the process like for deciding which characters in a Smash Bros. game to include and which to cut from game to game?

Sakurai: First of all, in regard to cutting characters: at this point there's nothing I can say in any official position regarding that process. But let's go ahead and talk a little bit more about how we decided what characters to have.

That past tense...sounds as if the roster is pretty close to, if not fully finalized.

 

[Morbi]

THIS. This is what I wanted to hear. So if the Trainer was named Red, you'd deem him more significant?

I'm saying A PKMN trainer is important to each Pokemon game, however, choosing a generic one (by naming him PKMN Trainer, not Red) was how he was able to make it represent "the idea" of the character itself. Repping the actual character avatar's spirit, if you will, in Smash. It just happens he chose to base it off of Red. I mean he had to choose one, it's not like he could add each gen's Trainer. That's why I say the idea of A Trainer (regardless who the trainer is) is important, just to have A Trainer in Smash since trainers are a big deal in Pokemon

Yes. Honestly.

I also get what you are saying in the second paragraph. I just think it would have been better if he literally labeled him as Red. That is the one being pushed in the lore. It isn't even about the character. I was just saying that I personally didn't like the decision to make him an original character that is a clone of a prominent character. My real problem is with the balance of the game. I would rather 3 other characters got a roster slot and that the development team could spend more time working on something else.

After learning that Charizard is still the most popular Pokemon even after all of these years I mostly change my mind. I mean I think it would be cool to just have Charizard as a playable character. He played a big role in the anime and the 3rd movie. So I could see that happening. There is no reason to drag the other two along. This is actually another problem I have. Why couldn't they also have a few different Pokemon from other regions to further signify PKMN Trainer's universal significance. I mean Bayleef was pushed pretty hard in the anime and Mudkip is a meme.

If PKMN Trainer truly represented multiple generations of Pokemon I could get on board.
1. Charizard
2. Bayleef
3. Mudkip

 

[3Bismyname]

I spaced and used the wrong link. Read this.

Didn't twist his words, just used this source as the base of my "How he picks Poke-reps" argument.

http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1970393/pokemon_in_super_smash_bros_how_theyre_selected.html

cool. now show me the line that says he'd cut Pokemon from the previous Smash in order to give us the flavor of the month.

 

[Bajef8]

Yes. Honestly.

I also get what you are saying in the second paragraph. I just think it would have been better if he literally labeled him as Red. That is the one being pushed in the lore. It isn't even about the character. I was just saying that I personally didn't like the decision to make him an original character that is a clone of a prominent character. My real problem is with the balance of the game. I would rather 3 other characters got a roster slot and that the development team could spend more time working on something else.

After learning that Charizard is still the most popular Pokemon even after all of these years I mostly change my mind. I mean I think it would be cool to just have Charizard as a playable character. He played a big role in the anime and the 3rd movie. So I could see that happening. There is no reason to drag the other two along. This is actually another problem I have. Why couldn't they also have a few different Pokemon from other regions to further signify PKMN Trainer's universal significance. I mean Bayleef was pushed pretty hard in the anime and Mudkip is a meme.

If PKMN Trainer truly represented multiple generations of Pokemon I could get on board.
1. Charizard
2. Bayleef
3. Mudkip

Yeah I like that reasoning, if he's supposed to be some generic representation of A PKMN Trainer, he should have more than just gen 1 Pokemon. They honestly should have just named him Red, but that'd probably just confuse casual Pokemon audiences. Most Pokemon players probably aren't reading the manga and would probably be like huh? Why isn't his name Ash or something. I say rename him Red in 4, and I'd be happy with that. Otherwise do the different gen Pokemon thing, with Charizard remaining of course.

 

[---]

http://www.nowgamer.com/news/1970393/pokemon_in_super_smash_bros_how_theyre_selected.html

Just to get rid of the whole misconception of choosing Pokemon the big thing to take away from that article is this:

find out which ones are going to be central to any of conversations in Pokemon going forward.

Basically they're looking for memorable Pokemon, not just the latest yearly monster to get it's own 70 minute movie, that's not to say that having your own movie is a bad thing to have on your resume though.

 

[BluePikmin11]

Weegee should be added because he is a meme

 

[Bajef8]

cool. now show me the line that says he'd cut Pokemon from the previous Smash in order to give us the flavor of the month.

Wut? When did I ever say that was in the article. I said the "flavor of the month cuts" are my theory, based on what I read in that very article. Nice try though, maybe you should read more carefully what I said earlier.

Dr. W™][/SIZE]Basically they're looking for memorable Pokemon, not just the latest yearly monster to get it's own 70 minute movie, that's not to say that having your own movie is a bad thing to have on your resume though.

Exactly. I'm saying he finds popular and new Pokemon (usually banking on a movie Pokemon), that will also leave a mark, just like Lucario and Mewtwo did.

 

[3Bismyname]

Wut? When did I ever say that was in the article. I said the "flavor of the month cuts" are my theory, based on what I read in that very article. Nice try though, maybe you should read more carefully what I said

Problem is that ur theory is not supported by that article. it tells us that he does ask who is relevant now and who's popular. never once does it say that he has any intention of removing a character in order to fit that one in

 

[Morbi]

I have to disagree with you about Nintendo doing horrible as a company. Last generation the Wii sold 99.84 million copies worldwide while the ps3 Solde 75 mil and the 360 sold 74.94 mil. Not to mention the complete sucsess of their handhelds. To bakc that up; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_wars#Seventh_generation. The Wii-U is still going strong, but we will see how it fairs once the PS4 and One get released. But you gotta understand that Nintendo caters to a different kind of gaming crowd then Sony and MS. They cater the casual players while stil lgiving thought to Hardcore players. Their marketing shceme is actually great and works very very well for them. The only reason I can think of you saying that Nintendo is doing horrible as a company is that you just don't like that they don't do enough "hard-core" games and/or are biased against them. Granted I am a Nintendo fanboy but I think their sales speak for themselves.

I am on Smash boards. I am a Nintendo fanboy. They even apologized to consumers and said that more first party games were coming. The Wii U flopped according to their adjusted expectations. I mean maybe I was a little harsh. They aren't on the brink of death or anything. I just think that releasing a current gen console during the next console marketing was stupid. I have a Ps3/Xbox for my hardcore gaming needs. So it isn't that. I have just been reading those scandalous internet articles. I shouldn't go around claiming that stuff as fact though. I apologize.

 

[Starbound]

Kotaku: My first question is, what is the process like for deciding which characters in a Smash Bros. game to include and which to cut from game to game?

Sakurai: First of all, in regard to cutting characters: at this point there's nothing I can say in any official position regarding that process. But let's go ahead and talk a little bit more about how we decided what characters to have.

That past tense...sounds as if the roster is pretty close to, if not fully finalized.

Yeah, I can see what you mean here.

If Kid Icarus Uprising was finished end of 2011/start of 2012 (it was released March 2012), then that means they're likely 18 months into development as is with around another 12 to go, adding to 30 months.

Brawl's roster was finalized in 06, except for Sonic in 07, and supposedly started development after E3 2005. So that's no more than 18 months to build Brawl's roster.

Yeah, I can definitely see the possibility that the roster is finished at this point.

 

[DragonSniperNintendo]

What potential characters (newcomers or veterans) do you think would have "codec moments" (the ability to talk to characters)?

A few I can think of are:

-PKMN Trainer Gold w/ Professor Elm
-PKMN Trainer Red w/ Professor Oak
-Link w/ Fi
-Zelda w/ Impa
-Little Mac w/ Doc Louis
-Pit w/ Palutena
-Fox w/ Star Fox
-Falco w/ Star Fox
-Wolf w/ Star Wolf
-Isa w/ Kachi
-Mewtwo/Awakened Metwo w/ Mew