I can appreciate the difference between being considered for Super Smash Bros. and almost being in the game. Let’s consider character development for Super Smash Bros. like a beach party. Of course, first you need an invitation to the beach – this “invitation” is analogous of being considered as new characters for the latest game.
Now, when the characters arrive, some stay on the beach all day. These characters don’t make it anywhere near the water, which represents development. Some may go into the water, but stay in the shallows, while others go into deeper water still. They’re all technically in the water, but some are way out there, surfing and snorkeling. Exploring what the ocean has to offer, or in this case, development. Then, out in the middle of the ocean, you have the S.S. Super Smash Bros. Characters who manage to swim all the way out here can finally make an appearance in the next game. Everyone who even so much stepped foot in the metaphorical ocean was more “almost” in the game than those who were simply considered for development. However, relatively speaking, there are characters who make it further than others, so some characters are more almost than others.
Saying a character was almost in Super Smash Bros. can sometimes be equated to me saying I almost met the emperor because we both live in Tokyo. Sure, I have a better chance than somebody living in Germany, but it’s not saying much. Simply being considered is clearly not the same as almost being in the game. Further still, characters who have their name in the code are further back than having an unused polygon. This is where the metaphorical seafloor drops, as naturally some characters come closer to the S.S. Super Smash Bros. than others. For example, Roy and Mewtwo had some semblance of development within Super Smash Bros. Brawl. At the end of the day, however, as a character, you're either in or you're not. Saying a character was “almost” in the game doesn't mean much if we don't have a measurement of how much “almost” they were.
We could debate Ayumi Tachibana until the cows come home, but at the end of the day, all we have to go in in the end is Sakurai’s word and a polygon in the form of a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee. From there, it’s up for debate how “almost” she was. It should be noted, however, that it is clearly unusual for a character as relatively unknown as Ayumi to have received a trophy at all, and I think this says the most about her potential development. To say she was almost in and to what extent, however, is up for debate.
Rather disappointingly, this week's issue of Famitsu and this month's issue of Coro Coro and Nintendo Dream contain no new information on the remake of Famicom Detective Club. I'll keep everyone posted whenever new information comes up here in Japan.
