When will it be okay to spoil the new Smash Brothers games? [Spoiler-Free Discussion]

[Yokta]

I find it strange that we got our knickers in a twist over the new game's character roster being spoiled, yet some of us casually discuss the mechanics of characters like R.O.B in Brawl or Mewtwo in Melee despite their existence being as closely guarded a secret as ********'s place in the SSB4 roster. I think the reason for that is due to the previous games having been out for a very long time... but how long did we have to wait then, and how long do we have to wait now?

How long do you think it will be until we no longer feel the need to affix spoiler warnings to unlockable SSB4 content?

 

[Ussi]

Its a fighting game. I seriously doubt people care thaaat much.

MORE PEOPLE are likely to get the game knowing the full roster than keeping some of them secret.

This isn't some long epic single player game where the story is key to enjoying the game.

 

[the8thark]

The answer to the OP's question is:
"A few days early, whenever the immoral retailers break the street dates." It happened already like this for the 3DS version.

 

[Spirst]

I don't see there being an OK time to spoil the game since that seems to imply there's some point in time upon which it's "morally correct" or "okay to know" or what have you. You can spoil the game for yourself a month in advance if you want or a year after the release. Neither option really matters overall as that's something relative to the individual.

That said, none of the other options other than the first two make sense to me if we're talking about anything other than on an individual level. This is a website dedicated specifically to Smash. As soon as the game is released, people are going to be discussing it thoroughly. It'd be pretty dumb to continue adding all these spoiler alerts after the game has already been released.

 

[Raijinken]

Game's out, internet at your own risk. - my opinion.

It's a fighting game, I don't see a point in not-spoiling it, but try to refrain for the sake of those who don't want to know that ____ is in the game. Plot-heavier games I may even give years before casually referring to major events, but this is Smash. The major events are unlocks, and those can be gotten in a day or two normally.

Basically, for games where plot matters, two years or so, plus respect towards players actively working through the game. Anything else, release is sufficient. I guess there's room for personal definitions on when plot "matters" (for instance, in Pokemon, it does not, for me, but does to some of my friends). I guess the big thing is, people should be respectful of others, but others should not be unreasonable in their demands to not be spoiled. Don't come on a site called SmashBoards that has Megaman and Villager on the site background and expect to not see the roster until you open the game.

 

[Fuqua]

Its not my responsibility to keep people from getting spoiled, thats completely up to them. So to answer your question, it always has been, and always will be ok to spoil the game, unless there is some rule in a thread or somewhere that explicitly tells you not to do so.

 

[LinkNIvy]

It seems like it's easier to unlock everyone in Smash 4 than in Brawl's SSE since everyone can be gotten through Classic mode. Were the streamers really trying to discover new ways to unlock everyone or were they just playing the game? Everyone's going to unlock all the characters withing a couple of days after they get the game, so it's not really much of a surprise.