Sakurai realized he has turned Samus into a sex object?

[Snafu]

Having read most (*cough*) of this thread, I know that much of my opinion has already been voiced by others, but here it is again.

- Samus has always been the 'sexy' Nintendo lady. The only other two major ladies are Peach and Zelda, both wearing long dresses. So it's not that Sakurai is making Zamus a sex object, he's just putting her in a better graphics engine than she's been seen in before.

-A lot of SSB's fanbase are casual gamers. Casual gamers have often done none of the following:
1) Completed or even played a Metroid game to see Samus stripped down.
2) Looked up anything about Metroid online.
3) Even been told that Samus is female.

An incredible number of SSBM fans don't know Samus is female! The number of times I've heard "I'll go Samus, he's the greatest." is ridiculous. Zamus emphasises that Samus is female.

-In recent years, Nintendo have been trying to lose their 'kiddy' image. Looking at the Melee roster, both (noticably) female characters are dressed in conservative dresses. Fact is, sex sells stuff. You think Nintendo are going to tempt people away from 360 or PS3 if they don't offer them what they want to see: sex and violence? No. Zamus will bring in punters. It's basic marketing.

-Japanese society is completely different to Western society, in that they are far less concerned with things like nudity, etc in media. You watch some anime series, or read a lot of manga, there is full-frontal nudity, both male and female. Whilst you exclaim "OMG, WOT R NINTY DOING??!! THEY GAVE ZAMUS BEWBZ!!!!!!!1!!!", the Japanese are unlikely to even bat an eyelid. They (IMHO correctly) don't give a toss for this whole 'any-suggestion-of-human-nudity-is-pornographic-smut' mindset that seems so prominent in the West, so will see nothing wrong with putting Zamus in.

-It's not just SSBB that's getting "sexed up", have you seen Peach's attire for Strikers? Or Krystal from the Starfox games? No-one thought any less of those characters because of how they were dressed (or undressed if you prefer). You may not have had a high opinion of Krystal to begin with, but you didn't think less.

On a pointless, semi-related sidenote: 'hentai' is Japanese for 'pervert' or 'perversion'.

 

[Chi's Finest]

Nintendo trying to LOSE their kiddy image in the past few years?! lol, Ever heard of Wii Sports, the new Wario, or Mii? The look like those educational interactive games for little kids I see on TV.

 

[Crom]

They should have put in Zero Samus Suit instead of Zero Suit Samus. Everyone knows that weakling Samus just weighs that badass suit down from its full potential. Just give the suit some AI or something and it's samus with all the power and twice the speed / agility. Zero Samus Suit for Brawl!

 

[justice]

Okay Sheik?????? Unless Zero suit samus makes this list we have nothing to worry about http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/27869460/
It's already to late for Sheik and Zero suit samus


The fanart has already started and soon the comics.

Also did Sakurai actually state that are you making this his decision if so..

 

[General_Zod]

First of all... sex sells. That's all.
If they wanna make a character that looks hot and arouse people and bringing more money, they are gonna do it because... THEY CAN. The lara croft phenomenon helped sells in the ps, sadly, it was because a lot of 17 years old males couldn't get girlfriends, so they had to liberate the sexual tension by playing a game controlling a chick with squared boobs and masturbating in the process. That's crude, but hey, that's reality and there's people like that. But this is something for all out there: If you buy a game just to see and get arouse by the fact that a chick is in blue tights and ignoring everything else... I PITY YOU.

A women in blue tights is not a sexual object until somebody says: *drooling* ZOMG I CAN SEE HER BOOBS!!!.

 

[fleapy]

* sighe*
people dont buy ssb games for sex. They would buy soul calibur games. Or a magazine of somesort. I really didnt see Zmus in that light until you started this post. I dont think its a huge deal.

 

[Frozenserpent]

I personally don't like this direction of games. Going down this path only serves to help de-legitimize the game and gaming in general.

I think Samus with her suit on looks way sexier (teh sleek design! xD) than without suit, and i always liked it how ppl who play smash initially think samus is a man.

Look, I resent sex appeal in games mostly because it fuels this notion that gaming is worthless (or something along those lines). Paintings of nude people have legitimacy, while pornography has none. So the deciision of samus is just another little thing that lowers the image of the game and makes it seem more shallow.

I understand that sex appeal sells games, and although i can't do anything about it I wish it wouldn't be a way to sell games. I mean, I didn't buy a game to look at women; I download porn to do that. I'd rather see to keep them separate. You don't go out and buy pornographic chess pieces, do you?

Of course, it's not that extreme, but I can see these changes being the first preliminary steps.

And on a completely different side note, I wish they would create a high-quality hentai game. The ones I've played can hardly be called games at all. -.-'

 

[YoshiBomb]

I don't know if anyone said cause i didn't rerad the whole thread but have you looked at the trophy of samus in the first game and samus now there is a big difference in her chest plate if you know what i mean

I know that the original game was 8bit but that shouldnt matter

 

[<π]

I think Samus with her suit on looks way sexier (teh sleek design! xD) than without suit, and i always liked it how ppl who play smash initially think samus is a man.

That was a vey funny sentence.

 

[Endless Nightmares]

I think Samus with her suit on looks way sexier (teh sleek design! xD) than without suit, and i always liked it how ppl who play smash initially think samus is a man.

lol
Me: *chooses Samus*
Brother: Dang, Samus runs like a girl.
Me: >_>...I think there's something I should tell you.

 

[technomancer]

Original poster is not aware that there is a ton of Samus pronz out on the interwebs as we speak; Sakurai is taking advantage of this

 

[Zodiac]

Im happy about the decision, because Samus is now going to kick *** with her suit on, people can see she dosnt need a suit for hunting and fighting. its gonna be awesome!

 

[maelstrom218]

I have but one thing to say, and one thing only:

. . .Samus hentai.

 

[Kabyk-Greenmyst]

I have but one thing to say, and one thing only:

. . .Samus hentai.

QFT. LOL.

 

[Milkyway64]

I don't even find Zamus attractive. I don't know why.

 

[DRD]

I agree with Technomancer and Maelstrom. Most people won't say that they now it's out there because they think they will be labeled perverts, and I can understand that, but come on.

Don't even tell me there aren't about 1000 people on this forum that have made the search before, maybe more.

Anyways, I think my opinion would be that Samus always did have an aura of mystery around her, but maybe that is just because the only game with Samus in it that I've played is Mp: Echoes, and a bit of the prequel.

I think that giving her the new appearance is not a bad thing at all, because I am a mature person. I'm not the little kids that look at Zamus, or any other woman and say "Eww Bewbz!!", because I'm mature. If you show me a picture of a naked woman I'm not going to drool and go into the bathroom. I'll be like, "Um, ok. Your point?"

I would probably then proceed to tell them how ignorant and immature they are and bash them for it. But not because they printed a naked woman off of the internet.

Anyways, I love that she has the new suit, it gives her flair and interest.

And not interest in the way immature people think about it.

I love it for it's 'newness', but I hate it for it's revealing quality. No, not Breast revealing quality you immature douchebags, once again, revealing the aura around her. She seems too generic for me now.

 

[Milkyway64]

*applauds DRD*

I'm giving you rep for that when I can.

 

[DRD]

=D Thankie much. To you too when you do =)

 

[The Black Cat]

One thing I noticed a lot is the misuse of the word perverted. Being a pervert means u have STRANGE ideas about sex. Just wanting sex more than most or somthing like that doesnp;t make you a pervert. If your a pervert you'd want ZS Samus S&M, or bestiality. I'd pretty much go along with what everyone else is saying. Not a sex icon, shows shes female, be mature about it. If your an teenage-adult male and feel a "funniness" better that your exsposed to it now if this is a first time thing, cuz you sure as hell don't want it to happen in the middle a public place just from watchng people walk by. I also think the gun/whip thing looks awesome. (Plz use it as a gun and not just a whip god) Also it looks like she'd just be overall a new, fun looking character to play.

 

[DRD]

^That's what I'm talking about.

A+ Cat.

 

[Lord_Deathborne]

Ahem... JUSTIN BAILEY anyone? Samus always an object of desire - she was the original Girl of Gaming. I remember back in the 5th grade I would always get Samus killed in Super Metroid just to see her in her in her space bikini... yeah, it's a bit of an embarrasing confession, but I had the hots for Samus back then. Sakurai hasn't tarnished Samus' image in any way - she always was the ***-kicking babe that we know her to be today...

 

[DRD]

^Lol, nowadays, a simple search on Google images for 'Samus' will give you that, =)

 

[TomH]

I personally suggest that in the interest of avoiding sexual appeal, Z Samus should be changed to a 90 year old, saggy boobed disgusting hag. Of course some people get off on that...so maybe she should just stay in her suit. Of course some people get off on that too...>_<

 

[DRD]

Well lets put it this way, people have been fapping to Samus since she was introduced so it really doesn't make one hell of a difference.

 

[Eaode]

Okay, I haven't read all of this thread, so I apologize if someone said this already.

I really don't think this will take away from her personality. It can only add to it. I have an analogy for you. Compare a "Mysterious personality" to Darkness. Darkness itself is not a state, it is simply an absence of light, like cold is an absence of heat. A "Mysterious personality is not a personality at all, it is a lack of personality. Revealing something about her gives her personality, it doesn't take it away.


Another thing that has been said. Why does it really matter so much. If Zamus is a woman, she should look like a woman. Nintendo is not making people attracted by her figure. Human nature is making people attracted by her figure. The shape of her body is not influenced by perception, perception is influenced by the shape of her body.

 

[Endless Nightmares]

 

[Red7z7]

Many people posting here have said that nintendo didn't intentionally make her into a sex symbol; some argued that nintendo merely wanted to show that inside of the suit samus is just a “vulnerable female.” Let me refute that argument: they didn't have to make her look sexy to show that she's a vulnerable female. It was a conscious decision by the designers to make her sexy—and because she is both sexy and famous at the same time, by definition that makes her a sex symbol. Certainly, her sex appeal isn't that bad—it could be far more exaggerated. But even if she's only a sex symbol to a small degree compared to females in other games, her sex symbolism is still undeniably evident.

But the question isn't whether or not she's a sex object, or who's a pervert—it's how this new image of her will affect the gaming community as well as future metroid games. Before reading this thread I wouldn't have been able to answer how it will affect the gaming community, but from reading everyone's posts I have a good idea of the different reactions people have to Samus's new image. Everyone's reaction seems to fit into one of three categories:

(1)The first type of person doesn't care if she's sexy or not. The important thing to this type of person is her upcoming gameplay. This group consists primarily of non-hardcore Metroid fans.
(2)The second type of person acknowledges that she's sexy, but they welcome the change and don't care that the entire public sees her this way. For them, this isn't a new image, it's just a variation of her old one. They think she hasn't lost her mysterious aura in SSBB.
(3) The last type of person thinks samus's new image is too sexy. They feel that her mysterious aura will be lost in SSBB because everyone who plays the game who doesn't know about her complex history will view her as a sex symbol and not much more. This group consists almost entirely of hardcore metroid fans.

The majority of people fall into either group 1 or 2—that is, they either don't care about her appearance, or they like the new appearance. It seems very few people think that her new image degrades her personality and history (group 3).

How will her new image affect future metroid games? Well, in my opinion, it doesn't matter when they first depicted her as sexy—whether she's been sexy since the first metroid games or if it's a recent development. What's actually important are these two facts: 1) they have already crossed that maturity barrier by depicting her as sexy, regardless of when. 2) With the integration of that sexy, "uncovered" image into SSBB, everyone will be exposed to it at a very widespread level, and it will thus become the dominantly perceived image of her. Because of these two reasons, future game designers will be more disposed toward keeping up her current, popular image, and therefore it's probable that we'll see more of her butt in future Metroid games.

For me personally, I think she's a waste of a character slot. I'd rather have her be the transformation of samus, and have them both only take one slot like shiek/zelda, but from the trailer it looks like she has her own slot. Do I think Samus will lose her mysterious aura in SSBB? I doubt it, but I do know she will lose her virginity when we **** her with cooler characters

 

[JJC]

How were they supposed to depict her, without making her look sexy may I ask? Since that's been her "Zero Suit" since way back I don't see what the problem is. The only reason it's a big deal is because it's right there in front of us rather than being a tiny pixelated chick back on the NES and SNES. That's just how Samus Aran looks without her suit. You either deal with it or you don't. I haven't seen any fan service so far and dn't expect any so whats the big deal? She has ****? That she's fit? Well duh! She's a female bounty hunter! What did you expect? A flat chested bearded woman?

The only way there'll be a problem is if people make one.

 

[JesterBox]

1.If your a Samus fans chances are, you already know what she looks like, plus she chages a lot somtimes she has green hair somtimes brown

2.When you desigh a female charecter you dont make her ugly, so whats the oppisite?...duh

3.As for the "sex object" thing she is showing less skin than the amish, sure its tight but so what?

4.Youd rather her suit burst off to reveal a 300 pound bearded woman?

 

[DRD]

A+ post Red. Rep for you if I can.

 

[Razed]

why bother yourselves with it, it's a computer generated chick in a blue skin tight suit, whoop de doo, it isn't porn so why are you complaining.

Exactly! You have to be a 70+ 6 year old's grandma to give a **** what a game character wears. Just because a game character looks good and isnt wearing four layers of clothing doesn't mean it's a bad thing! Look at Soul Cailibur or something!

Get over it people she's a game character, if you think she's a sex symbol in a fully clothed suit then I dunno what's going on in your imagination.

Someone please close this.

 

[MetaKnight0]

Sex appeal sells. Doesn't matter if it's a game character or a bunch of pixels or whatever, or if it's muted compared to other games, sex appeal still sells, and it's there.

 

[Bowserlick]

Well Samus (the original) and Sheik are clothed to the point that their gender is hard to wager. Peach and Zelda are clothed (although wearing a dress and high heels while fighting is not ideal, you would probably lose). Zamus is a bounty hunter. A skintight suit is desirable because she has to slip into her armor. Wearing jeans and a blouse would not work as well against the armor. And besides DK is like a chip and dale dancer, he only wears a tie. And when Captain Falcon shops he likes to find the tightest spandex so you can see every vein outlined underneath.

Zamus wearing a tight suit is fine.

 

[1338h4x]

I'm torn over Zamus. On the one hand, OMGBOOBIES!


But on the other hand, it's supposed to represent a major accomplishment to see Samus without her helmet, let alone the whole suit. Now that's been ruined for everyone who managed to pull off such feats in the Metroid games. Now everybody's seen her under the mask and suit, rather than just those skilled few.

 

[maelstrom218]

I think that it's a miraculous form of irony that "Zero Suit" Samus, in all reality, is bordering on wearing "No Suit" at all. It's just a very skin tight piece of spandex. . .that happens to mould to every single curve of Samus' luscious body. . .caressing her silky skin as it drapes across her soft flesh. . .

. . .er, um. . .
*nervously adjusts sweat-drenched collar*

Anyways, I think this whole discussion is absolutely pointless. Samus without a suit just happens to wear skin-tight spandex. This isn't going to ruin her "mysterious aura" or limit her credibility as a heroine. You're all overanalyzing it.

 

[06Falcon]

Well Samus (the original) and Sheik are clothed to the point that their gender is hard to wager. Peach and Zelda are clothed (although wearing a dress and high heels while fighting is not ideal, you would probably lose). Zamus is a bounty hunter. A skintight suit is desirable because she has to slip into her armor. Wearing jeans and a blouse would not work as well against the armor. And besides DK is like a chip and dale dancer, he only wears a tie. And when Captain Falcon shops he likes to find the tightest spandex so you can see every vein outlined underneath.

Zamus wearing a tight suit is fine.

i said that exact same thing and nobody listened.

 

[6th Sense]

Teeenagers only think this way....

 

[cultofrubik]

This topic is LOL.

Yes Samus is hot for a video game creation. Nintendo is sending several messages that all mean the same thing: more wider audience. If you all recall, the Nintendo Wii is supposed to hit home to new people, young and old in order to prove that they are a videogame company that actually exists. They never specify what KIND of audience that will incite to play the new Smash

1. Your Sex appeal - well you get your average red-blooded american guy that says WHOA! Super Smash with a hot chick!
2. The fact that she proves she can hold her own (hey what do you know, more character depth) - you get your metroid fans
3. Why should Samus be considered mysterious? She's not. There are specific details of Samus that we don't know yet, but then again the series is not over yet either. Therefore you STILL get your hardcore Metroid guy/girl

Affects?
More people playing the game means more people exposed to Samus. Sure you are going to get that perversed kid that thinks oh man i gotta get into the Samus game, but they still rack in cash for Nintendo. I personally do not see why we are making such a fuss about business ploys. Yes you may lose some Old Metroid fans. So what? There is such a mass number of new people that play video games that losing them really is superfulous. Plus most of those Old Metroid fans may have left awhile ago - meaning that they might even return to the series after realizing ses not a metal chick but an actual......human being.

Overall: You get more people into the Metroid series. Is that so bad?

 

[Inferno_blaze]

I have to say I agree with the people who said about CF, it's not really that different, plus she's only naked if your idea of naked women is that they have strange symbols on their backs and lines that run down their arms and sides... you'd have to strain to see her naked when she's that colour of blue, taki however has absolutely no details on her ninja suit if you can call it taht making her appear naked and her boobs bounce all over the place whereas samus' are fixed in place. It's fine people.

 

[keroku_the_thunderwolf]

so how far did this thread get in deciding? what? nowhere? Hah, what a suprise.j/k But seriously, that suit makes her look sexy...