Fire Emblem Fates Cuts Petting From English Version

[Paradoxrifts]

Go ahead Nintendo.

Keep making changes that aren't needed.
To appease people that weren't going to buy your game anyway.
To impress people that hate you.

See how far it takes you.

 

[Dr. Crawver]

But when I can't use a Mii-Fighter on Super Smash Bros because people are going to put penis's on the face of them or even name my Animal Crossing town or hell even name the Pokemon I capture what I want? Then that's going PAST being politically correct straight into supernova. Yes, I'm still sore I bought a WiiU and I can't even use CM Punk online.

I agree with you. These are things I would love to not be blocks that exist. But do realize these don't exist because nintendo are scared what "SJWs" think. They're scared what parents think. An offended parent won't ever buy from them again for their kids, and will encourage all their friends to not buy these games for their kids either.

*sigh* yeah... They're probably still operating with the Japanese mindset that all these games are really meant for children.

Blech. I'm probably just frustrated with the whole system. There was a time where people just made shit and hoped it sold well, now they're making art designed to sell well... which kinda goes against the games as art shit. Go capitalism, I suppose.

I'd say they're more going for family friendly than just for kids, in the same vein as say pixar do. But because of that, some things are just off the table.

And, like with movies, art does exist. Hell, probably stronger now than ever before. Just don't expect it from big publishers. They're not in that business. You don't go to summer popcorn munchers for highbrow are or commentary, why would you do the same for games?

 

[ShenCS]

Haven't read the entire thread but I feel a certain point needs to be emphasised:

In Japan, the whole skinship thing is considered weird nerdy territory by most people. Japan is nowhere near as weird as you think.


Also, when it comes to this sort of thing, I'm reminded of Tales of the Abyss, where the English version had a whole bunch of extra secrets and super moves that the Japanese didn't get until the 3DS remakes; the game is empirically better for us, stop whining. Making changes in response to criticism and not ruining your tentative new reputation are good artistic and business choices. I mean, look at me, I'm dangerously close to actually buying this game now. For context, Fire Emblem is my favourite gaming franchise and I've been horribly bitter about all the stupid stuff they've been putting in. If they sell a complete edition with all 3 campaigns for around ?notstupid in addition to all these improvements, they may have just made a sale they wouldn't have.

 

[Scarim Coral]

"It was used as a way to improve your relationship with various characters, in order to mimic the physical contact involved in real-world relationship building."

That I can get but to do that to random characters? Yeah no.

The removal of that is not a deal breaker so I still intend to buy it.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

I bet that once this game is finally released, it will be some generic western RPG.

 

[EternallyBored]

Ten bucks this is actually thanks to all the annoying fan art that cropped up when you could do the same in Pokemon X/Y. Maybe after that annoyance, Nintendo just said "Fuck that, not having a repeat of that shit again"

I'll take that bet, considering it makes no sense that Nintendo would include it in the Japanese version if they were worried about fanart. A lot of that weird Pokemon X/Y "petting" fanart was drawn by Japanese people, if the fanart annoyed Nintendo there's 0 reason to give the feature to an audience that was just as weird and annoying as the Western audience. Some of those Dojinshis are just straight up insane.

If I had to bet money, I'd imagine it's like the incest stuff from Awakening, they cut it to try an appeal to Mainstream Western audiences, Nintendo of America seems to have a habit of being kind of conservative when it comes to localizing their games. At least they aren't as iron-fisted about it as they were in the 80's and 90's, the company has an obsession with appearing "family friendly", this is the same company that has, numerous times in the past, convinced or tried to convince third party developers to make changes to violence and sexuality in their games in order to release on Nintendo consoles.

OT: Seriously, why are we suddenly now surprised that Nintendo gets a bit heavy handed with their editing of games when exporting them, did people really forget that Nintendo has had this reputation for decades? They've done it to their own games and third parties since the 80's, agree or disagree with the changes, let's at least not pretend this is some new trend for Nintendo.

 

[Karadalis]

Oh no...that was holding the game together. Really, is anyone seriously going to miss this?

Thing is...you could say that about literally any side feature in a game, no matter how major or minor.

Do you REALLY need to be able to craft your own potions in Skyrim? Or how about the ability to mod your weapons in Far Cry? Would anyone miss that? Its hardly a major thing "holding the game together" as you put it. Or what about the ability to build SHIVs in XCOM? Its not like you can't easily do without them; its not really a core, necessary feature.


Ultimately taking stuff out is still taking stuff out at the end of the day. And as a Japanese game primarily developed for a Japanese audience its frankly weird to expect it to not have things that don't work too well outside Japan (and as such people have the option to just...not buy it if they don't like it). For exactly the same reason I wouldn't really expect most Americans to really appreciate real Haggis or something; its simply not something they're used to.

(I appreciate that example might have seem to have come out of nowhere but...I had Haggis for dinner and I'm still thinking about how nice it was since I'd not had it in ages. >_>)


Personally I'm starting to wonder as to what else they might strip out in the name of 'localisation'. Its a small thing to start with but the question is will it actually end there.

Oh but dont you know... its OKAY to take things out aslong as they are sexual!

I mean you cant possibly expose people to sexual suggestive content! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

Besides.. havent you known? Features like these are toooooootaly STUPID.. and we cant have STUPID things in our Japanese games that are amongst other things known for having quirky stupid features like this for some cheap laughs. I mean its not like people actually play these games because they enjoy japanese culture (including the cringy/awkward stuff that adds to its uniqueness)

Nah... we need morale apostles who dont even play these kind of games to whitewash and westernize these games untill no japanese influence besides the artwork is left... its not like these features actually impact the storyline in any negative way or that you are forced to use them in the game... but lets take them out non the less... just to be save. I mean seriously... dont you know that adults cant handle some sexual suggestive content?

And hell... havent you people learned anything from listening and believing good ol saint anita about how anything sexy in games is the devils work and set the human species back to the dark ages?

HOW SHOULD GAMES EVER GROW UP AS A FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT?

Better censor ALL THE THINGS before they come to the west, better not give people the option to enjoy or not enjoy content from the getgo... i mean.. its not like we live in a free society or anything.. better have the puritans decide what you can enjoy and what you cant.. the responsibility for the single person would be just to much...

I mean its for your own good you know? You sensible little western flower you.... (yes this was entirely meant sarcastical to make certain people on here realize how stupid they sound when they applaud censorship in any way or form because things are "stupid")

In all seriousness.. this is another case of "better react to outrage culture even thought our real customers want an uncensored product"

Its funny though... they arent afraid of their own customers.. they are afraid of their NON customers.

It seems like people have learned absolutely nothing from history.

Books, comics, movies... all of them have gone through the same censorhappy phases because people claimed that these forms of entertainment could be "dangerous" and "negatively effect" people.

And wouldnt you know.. despite all that dangerous content nowadays the crime statistics are at a historical low throughout the western world.

So applauding blatant censorship like that is really applauding other people telling you what you can and cannot enjoy.. and to be quite frank: I do not like some pearl clutching authoritanian regressives to tell me what kind of games i can and cannot enjoy. I will decide that for myselfe, thank you very much!

 

[Sleepy Sol]

Anyway, I'll never support the removing of a video game feature. Best to just default it to "off" and let the player decide to turn it on. Everyone wins and everyone is happy... or at least they should be.

I think I'll default to this stance as well. Like...yeah, I wouldn't use it, and the previous instance of "localization" was more than understandable, but really? Wouldn't really blame it on anybody but Nintendo of America considering they have a thing for appearing "family-friendly."

Still a definite purchase for me (as it's not really close to anything I think Fire Emblem should be in the first place), just another instance in which I have to roll my eyes a bit at localization choices.

 

[wulf3n]

Really, is anyone seriously going to miss this?

In general the answer to any question that begins "Is anyone x" is usually yes.

Who is the target audience of Fire Emblem games in Japan? Cause I sure as shit hope it ain't kids.

It's CERO 15+ so I guess it depends on whether you consider 15 year olds kids.

Best to just default it to "off" and let the player decide to turn it on. Everyone wins and everyone is happy... or at least they should be.

Everyone wins, yes. Everyone happy, not so much.

 

[Hades]

The people who have a problem with skinshiping being removed just irk me.

Its skinshiping you people are defending. Let this Fire emblem fan tell you how the fanbase viewed that feature.
Skinshiping was a feature most fans were downright EMBARESED to have in their series. Skinship was the clearest and most unwelcome exemple of IS putting in more and more fanservice no matter the cost to the product. It was the stain on a proud series we just had to stomach because Otaku's had more money to spend. And now people are willing to overlook all that to fight "censorship". Thats just weak and even damaging to Fire emblem if Nintendo would listen to that.

Skinshiping does not and will never belong in Fire emblem. It clashes with about every theme the series ever had.

I suppose one legitimate concern is that skinship had gameplay benifits. Maybe they will remplace it with something , maybe they won't . To me even putting nothing in Skinships place is still preferable to one of the greatest game series debasing itself with skinship.

 

[SquallTheBlade]

The people who have a problem with skinshiping being removed just irk me.

Its skinshiping you people are defending.

It's fiction. No worse than well, anything we do in games regularly.

Let this Fire emblem fan tell you how the fanbase viewed that feature.
Skinshiping was a feature most fans were downright EMBARESED to have in their series. Skinship was the clearest and most unwelcome exemple of IS putting in more and more fanservice no matter the cost to the product. It was the stain on a proud series we just had to stomach because Otaku's had more money to spend.

And here is me, and other fans who welcome these changes. I liked Awakening for the affinity system. There is a clearly market for these kinds of games and the developers are just filling to demand. Nothing wrong with that.

Skinshiping does not and will never belong in Fire emblem. It clashes with about every theme the series ever had.

So you can never try out new things? It clashes with what themes exactly?

 

[Hades]

The people who have a problem with skinshiping being removed just irk me.

Its skinshiping you people are defending.

It's fiction. No worse than well, anything we do in games regularly.

Let this Fire emblem fan tell you how the fanbase viewed that feature.
Skinshiping was a feature most fans were downright EMBARESED to have in their series. Skinship was the clearest and most unwelcome exemple of IS putting in more and more fanservice no matter the cost to the product. It was the stain on a proud series we just had to stomach because Otaku's had more money to spend.

And here is me, and other fans who welcome these changes. I liked Awakening for the affinity system. There is a clearly market for these kinds of games and the developers are just filling to demand. Nothing wrong with that.

Skinshiping does not and will never belong in Fire emblem. It clashes with about every theme the series ever had.

So you can never try out new things? It clashes with what themes exactly?

I liked Awakening and a lot of things about it as well. I just think a line needs to be drawn somewhere. Pairing characters up makes sense and already has a precedence. But Fire emblem is a relatively serious game and fates story marketed it as such. Its NOT a wacky dating sim anime.

You don't see where it clashes? Does "skinship with your real sister" as one infamous review put it fit with death, war and rasism? Is it normal that after a unit dies for good that the general gives the cheeks of that units sister a good pinch?

 

[SquallTheBlade]

But Fire emblem is a relatively serious game and fates story marketed it as such. Its NOT a wacky dating sim anime.

I don't understand why it CAN'T be. It worked in Persona 3.

You don't see where it clashes? Does "skinship with your real sister" as one infamous review put it fit with death, war and rasism? Is it normal that after a unit dies for good that the general gives the cheeks of that units sister a good pinch?

Yeah, why not? I mean, game can have serious AND not so serious elements. Just because a "serious" game has a joke or two in it doesn't make all the serious aspect not-serious.

 

[Silverspetz]

Oh no...that was holding the game together. Really, is anyone seriously going to miss this?

Thing is...you could say that about literally any side feature in a game, no matter how major or minor.

Do you REALLY need to be able to craft your own potions in Skyrim? Or how about the ability to mod your weapons in Far Cry? Would anyone miss that? Its hardly a major thing "holding the game together" as you put it. Or what about the ability to build SHIVs in XCOM? Its not like you can't easily do without them; its not really a core, necessary feature.


Ultimately taking stuff out is still taking stuff out at the end of the day. And as a Japanese game primarily developed for a Japanese audience its frankly weird to expect it to not have things that don't work too well outside Japan (and as such people have the option to just...not buy it if they don't like it). For exactly the same reason I wouldn't really expect most Americans to really appreciate real Haggis or something; its simply not something they're used to.

(I appreciate that example might have seem to have come out of nowhere but...I had Haggis for dinner and I'm still thinking about how nice it was since I'd not had it in ages. >_>)


Personally I'm starting to wonder as to what else they might strip out in the name of 'localisation'. Its a small thing to start with but the question is will it actually end there.

Oh but dont you know... its OKAY to take things out aslong as they are sexual!

I mean you cant possibly expose people to sexual suggestive content! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

Besides.. havent you known? Features like these are toooooootaly STUPID.. and we cant have STUPID things in our Japanese games that are amongst other things known for having quirky stupid features like this for some cheap laughs. I mean its not like people actually play these games because they enjoy japanese culture (including the cringy/awkward stuff that adds to its uniqueness)

Nah... we need morale apostles who dont even play these kind of games to whitewash and westernize these games untill no japanese influence besides the artwork is left... its not like these features actually impact the storyline in any negative way or that you are forced to use them in the game... but lets take them out non the less... just to be save. I mean seriously... dont you know that adults cant handle some sexual suggestive content?

And hell... havent you people learned anything from listening and believing good ol saint anita about how anything sexy in games is the devils work and set the human species back to the dark ages?

HOW SHOULD GAMES EVER GROW UP AS A FORM OF ENTERTAINMENT?

Better censor ALL THE THINGS before they come to the west, better not give people the option to enjoy or not enjoy content from the getgo... i mean.. its not like we live in a free society or anything.. better have the puritans decide what you can enjoy and what you cant.. the responsibility for the single person would be just to much...

I mean its for your own good you know? You sensible little western flower you.... (yes this was entirely meant sarcastical to make certain people on here realize how stupid they sound when they applaud censorship in any way or form because things are "stupid")

In all seriousness.. this is another case of "better react to outrage culture even thought our real customers want an uncensored product"

Its funny though... they arent afraid of their own customers.. they are afraid of their NON customers.

It seems like people have learned absolutely nothing from history.

Books, comics, movies... all of them have gone through the same censorhappy phases because people claimed that these forms of entertainment could be "dangerous" and "negatively effect" people.

And wouldnt you know.. despite all that dangerous content nowadays the crime statistics are at a historical low throughout the western world.

So applauding blatant censorship like that is really applauding other people telling you what you can and cannot enjoy.. and to be quite frank: I do not like some pearl clutching authoritanian regressives to tell me what kind of games i can and cannot enjoy. I will decide that for myselfe, thank you very much!

People who think removing some pointless and creepy fanservice is a sign of big brother will never not be funny to me.

 

[SquallTheBlade]

People who think removing some pointless and creepy fanservice is a sign of big brother will never not be funny to me.

How was it pointless? And what do you mean creepy? Have you considered that maybe the content wasn't aimed at you? There are people who would have liked it. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it should be removed.

 

[NPC009]

As a long term Fire Emblem fan, I'm not sad to see this part of Fates go. Even if it had been left in, I would have ignored it as much as possible anyway. Why? Because it's really dumb and kinda creepy and I rather play Fire Emblems without awkward bullshit.

 

[Hades]

But Fire emblem is a relatively serious game and fates story marketed it as such. Its NOT a wacky dating sim anime.

I don't understand why it CAN'T be. It worked in Persona 3.

You don't see where it clashes? Does "skinship with your real sister" as one infamous review put it fit with death, war and rasism? Is it normal that after a unit dies for good that the general gives the cheeks of that units sister a good pinch?

Yeah, why not? I mean, game can have serious AND not so serious elements. Just because a "serious" game has a joke or two in it doesn't make all the serious aspect not-serious.

I don't think Persona is a good comparison. Okay, i'm no expert on the serie but with its highschools and Idols it seems designed to come off as a cooky anime. Fire emblem and has a history dating back to the ness. You can't just turn it into something its not.

Sure, have your funny bits but don't have them be massive shifts in tone.

 

[SquallTheBlade]

I don't think Persona is a good comparison. Okay, i'm no expert on the serie but with its highschools and Idols it seems designed to come off as a cooky anime.

Maybe you should give it a try. Persona 3 deals with death, mortality etc. and high school setting or dating sim elements don't away from the experience at all. Idols? You are thinking of Persona 4, not 3.

Fire emblem and has a history dating back to the ness. You can't just turn it into something its not.

And SMT dates back to SNES. I don't see how it's relevant. In my opinion you SHOULD try new things. It keeps things fresh.

 

[ShenCS]

And SMT dates back to SNES. I don't see how it's relevant. In my opinion you SHOULD try new things. It keeps things fresh.

If it was about boldly trying out a new experimental idea, then they should make a new IP for it. I mean really, what kind of nonsense argument is this? The idea isn't new, isn't relevant and doesn't offer anything interesting to the gameplay. The same way you don't slice your own bollocks off to "keep it fresh," you can quite clearly see that it's a Bad Idea. This is IS/Nintendo realising that "wow, turns out we have a whole bunch of fans who care about things OTHER than getting their avatar's rocks off."

Oh and your comparisons to Persona don't help. "I support developers keeping it fresh by copying someone else's stuff."

 

[DudeistBelieve]

But when I can't use a Mii-Fighter on Super Smash Bros because people are going to put penis's on the face of them or even name my Animal Crossing town or hell even name the Pokemon I capture what I want? Then that's going PAST being politically correct straight into supernova. Yes, I'm still sore I bought a WiiU and I can't even use CM Punk online.

I agree with you. These are things I would love to not be blocks that exist. But do realize these don't exist because nintendo are scared what "SJWs" think. They're scared what parents think. An offended parent won't ever buy from them again for their kids, and will encourage all their friends to not buy these games for their kids either.

*sigh* yeah... They're probably still operating with the Japanese mindset that all these games are really meant for children.

Blech. I'm probably just frustrated with the whole system. There was a time where people just made shit and hoped it sold well, now they're making art designed to sell well... which kinda goes against the games as art shit. Go capitalism, I suppose.

I'd say they're more going for family friendly than just for kids, in the same vein as say pixar do. But because of that, some things are just off the table.

And, like with movies, art does exist. Hell, probably stronger now than ever before. Just don't expect it from big publishers. They're not in that business. You don't go to summer popcorn munchers for highbrow are or commentary, why would you do the same for games?

Yeah... but... eh... that's a shame that it is like that. It makes the AAA titles bland :/