Devil May Cry Reboot Designed to Provoke Fans

[ChromeAlchemist]

Digging a deeper hole, ALWAYS a good idea.

If it were true, Ninja Theory would have kept silent and Capcom would have been talking from the start, instead of this crap that every developer thinks they can pull these days.

And this is just from a fan, not a hardcore fan. I barely played 2 and didn't finish 4.

I'm not surprised that part of the redesign was to stir indignation among the die-hard DMC fans.

I'm not entirely sold on the redesign since there doesn't seem to be any word on how different it is past cosmetic, but I personally kind of like that they tried something other than the typical "white haired pretty boy" (no offense).


EDIT: I just saw Upbeat Zombie's comment a little higher up and, now that I think about it, he could have a point: The white hair will probably show up sometime over the course of the game.

I don't doubt that one at all, but they definitely should stick to their guns rather than backslide and say "Muhahaha! That was our plan all along!" I just don't buy it, especially as they admitted to pandering to the western audience (in which case they failed as he needs to be ten years older and much more grizzled). There is more you can do to stop this one being "just another Devil May Cry".

Plus, "White Haired Pretty Boy" is iconic, along with his red jacket. I actually wouldn't mind "dark haired heroin addict" if it wasn't Dante, most wouldn't.

I will admit though, after Bayonetta they had to do something major to get some limelight back...and obviously they'll change it, like Svensson's hinting. But still.

 

[Tony2077]

I think this Dante looks better than the previous one.

I agree, Capcom went from gay fashion designer to angry emo kid, it's a little improvement, but an improvement non the less.

Sir, you have been reported!

he has for what?

 

[tetron]

So they wanted us to hate the new character ? This kind of reminds me of another game that tried to "provoke" the players....

Spoiler: Ah yeah

Just admit defeat Capcom. You won't win.

I'll admit the white haired pretty boy thing was old but you don't go from that to meth addict. Maybe we find out that dante's origin is that of a meth addict though...

Irregardless, I don't think making the character look like an unappealing horse's ass should be the first thing you think of to generate interest for a game. It should be y'know. Changing up gameplay mechanics or something that will actually affect the "game" and not just how it looks.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

Spoiler: So Capcom openly admits to employing this tactic.

Problem, fans?

Yeah, that's a great way to make money off of your franchise. Piss off the fans. It's just like when Nintendo made Mario a hairless serial killer who jumps on people's ribs after he knocks them down and is constantly high on shrooms. The fans were pissed, but bought it en masse anyway. Oh wait, that didn't happen because Nintendo isn't that fucking stupid.

Capcom, you'd better bring your A game when gameplay of this thing shows up. Otherwise, you're looking at another Bionic Commando, only this time around, you'll be fucking with a relevant franchise with previous titles fresh on fans' minds.

 

[Cain_Zeros]

OK, I'm just wondering when Capcom said, "Y'know, this new look is good, but it should look more exactly like the design lead."

 

[DJPope]

I'm kind of confused as to exactly why they are doing a prequel to a series that already has a prequel in it, but meh.
The new Dante looks alright, and I'd much rather have the old Dante back, but I can see what they are getting at with these changes.

uh, the zelda franchise only has one sequel, Zelda 2 on the NES

the rest of the zelda games are all prequels and non canons, with prequels too =P

Not quite true: Majora's mask is a direct sequel to Ocarina of time, following the story of Young Link after returning to his own time.

Also, all of the games bar the CDi ones are considered canon; They just happen to follow different Links across the entire span of two linked but diverging timelines - albeit in a very convoluted and confusing manner - so easy mistake to make!
Sorry for the mini lecture, I'm just at fan that finds this stuff interesting ^_^

More on topic though, opinions on Dante's new appearance aside I'm quite interested to see what's meant by "Svensson said not to expect any major changes to Dante's design before the game launches either, at least not until the end of the game."
If I'm reading this right then we may well see a return to the more familiar look near the end, what with this being a prequel and all.

 

[Madara XIII]

greeeeaaat.

I still hate the new dante for smoking instead of having a strawberry sundae.
and to think they actually had something that looked like dante.......Bastards.

Same here!! Demon Killing is hard work and we don't need Dante breaking out in a little hackers cough every quarter mile he runs or ever demon he slays

 

[Kwatsu]

Does that mean, if people had loved Dante's new look and accepted it right away, their strategy would have failed?

I dunno. This sounds sort of defensive to me. There's got to be better ways to get people talking about a game than making them angry.

 

[WanderingFool]

Hmmm...

Devious bastards, aren't they?

But While im okay with the idea, im still not sold on the fact that Dante looks like the lead designer.

 

[Madara XIII]

Wow Capcom...Ya'll some two faced Bitches!!

Capcom: we need a new look for Dante that people will love

Ninja Theory: Ok here he is, we removed the white hair except for a patch and made him look like a dirty Ralph Machio heroin addict

Capcom: good the fans will love it!!


1 month later after Fans Rage!!!!

Capcom: um um um Settle down people!!!.....Um We Planned this all along.. Yeah that's what we did, to get people to start talking about DMC again....Yeah we are that good.


I Call Bullshit On Capcom!! The Original Creator of Dante (Who is now with Sega) Was PISSED when he found out about the new design and the fact that Capcom is just using it's fans as a marketing ploy is just sick and wrong.

Can't ever stick to a Winning Formula huh Capcom?

 

[mekashiyu]

I actually don't have any issues with this. The trailer looks absolutely amazing, from what I can see of the action bits this guy seems to have at least some fragment of the Dante attitude, and really I miss DMC a lot. I sat here with a big stupid grin on my face watching the trailer, so I know I'll end up buying this even if it's not quite what I'm thinking it is. Because from what I can see, it looks great and potentially has a great story to be told.

 

[Weaver]

So their plan is to... what?

1) Troll your entire fanbase
2) Have people swear off the game because of this design (I've seen this).

and you're going to... make money off this? I'm not all sure if "good publicity is any publicity." always applies.

If your fanbase is spreading the word of the new DMC coupled with the fact that Dante is a whiny kid who looks like a butch lesbian I don't think this is really the kind of enticing comments that gamers new to the series, who can be the only target market your after, want to play it while simultaneously alienating the people who were going to give you money in the first place.

Not a good play.

 

[Snarky Username]

Wow. The only thing I can say is...

 

[Lord Beautiful]

Does that mean, if people had loved Dante's new look and accepted it right away, their strategy would have failed?

Oh my, would that be interesting.

Inafune: "Mr. Tameem, we have a problem."

Tameem: "I don't care."

Inafune: "No, really, we have a problem. The fans like the new design."

Tameem: "I don't ca-wait, what?"

Inafune: "You know what this means."

Tameem: "No, please, no, I swear I tried! I did everything I could! I made him broody, a smoker, emaciated, sadistic, filthy, style-less, and I gave him a shit haircut! For fucksakes, I made him look like a meth dealer version of myself!"

Inafune: "That doesn't matter. They like it. You have failed us. And for that-"

Tameem: "Oh God, NO!"

Inafune, holding a gun: "-you die."

*POW*

Inafune: "..."

Employee: "So what do we do now?"

Inafune: "We destroy the evidence, kill all of Ninja Theory, cancel the game, and see if we can find a developer that can fuck this IP up proper."

Employee: "Koei?"

Inafune: "Koei."

 

[Cid Silverwing]

This is fucking trolling. And unless they revert his design I ain't buying it.

 

[Madara XIII]

Does that mean, if people had loved Dante's new look and accepted it right away, their strategy would have failed?

Oh my, would that be interesting.

Inafune: "Mr. Tameem, we have a problem."

Tameem: "I don't care."

Inafune: "No, really, we have a problem. The fans like the new design."

Tameem: "I don't ca-wait, what?"

Inafune: "You know what this means."

Tameem: "No, please, no, I swear I tried! I did everything I could! I made him broody, a smoker, emaciated, sadistic, filthy, style-less, and I gave him a shit haircut! For fucksakes, I made him look like a meth dealer version of myself!"

Inafune: "That doesn't matter. They like it. You have failed us. And for that-"

Tameem: "Oh God, NO!"

Inafune, holding a gun: "-you die."

*POW*

Inafune: "..."

Employee: "So what do we do now?"

Inafune: "We destroy the evidence, kill all of Ninja Theory, cancel the game, and see if we can find a developer that can fuck this IP up proper."

Employee: "Koei?"

Inafune: "Koei."

How I wish that would Go down!!!

Get Hideki Kamiya's ass Back from SEGA

 

[chinangel]

actually I'm more concerned about the personality. The original dante was arrogant but capable. a Show-off with needless acrobatics, but it went hand-in-hand with his personality, seperating him from other demon-posessed or what-have-you protagonists who were depressing and anti-social.

This new dante seems to be rude, violent and anti-social. Which isn't really how we picture dante. Sure he has the arrogance down, but it's mixed with a heavy dose of cynicism and violence.

Maybe I'm reading too mcuh into this...but I just hope that dante doesn't become a run-of-the-mill anti-hero.

 

[Dectilon]

I really don't see what the big problem is. The new Dante looks like a crack addict, the old looks like a gay gigolo. If they make a game with combat as good as DMC3's I'm getting it.

 

[Douchebag intent]

Spoiler: So Capcom openly admits to employing this tactic.

Problem, fans?

Yeah, that's a great way to make money off of your franchise. Piss off the fans. It's just like when Nintendo made Mario a hairless serial killer who jumps on people's ribs after he knocks them down and is constantly high on shrooms. The fans were pissed, but bought it en masse anyway. Oh wait, that didn't happen because Nintendo isn't that fucking stupid. .

Why wouldn't people buy that?

 

[d43dr34m3r]

Kind of like the new look. I mean, his design was pretty cool years ago when I was newer to Japanese games and anime, but it really just feels ridiculous at this point, not to mention completely unoriginal. It's like they have a checklist for protagonists that every Japanese child who shows an interest in creating or designing media is given.

Unrealistic hair color/style, check
Clothing impractical for the character's chosen vocation, check
Huge weapon that will give Westerners a chance to make a phallic joke, check
Optional: some part of the character's past will be played up as a vital part of making them who they are (usually giving them some intense emotional conflict), but is really just an excuse for an awesome superpower.
Ok, now just decide if he's going to be the naive optimist who wins with the power of love/justice/self-confidence, the silent protagonist who has no personality, or the snarky wannabe antihero who, try as he might, just can't hide his heart of gold. Let's go with the last one.

Anyway, as far as the new design goes I'd say they lose points on the clothes, get a few back on making him actually look different, and get no change in scoring for the personality, because it's two dimensional and obvious as hell, but that attitude is Dante. The final tallying? Doesn't matter, because Capcom and Ninja Theory are doing everything but screaming from the rooftops that he's gonna end up looking the same as always by the end of the game.