NeoGAF

From early caveman drawings to certain gods of Egypt, to contemporary movies, cartoons and games, they've always been there.

Before the internet age, it was quite popular since these kinds of characters transcended racial and gender boundaries quite effectively and had a very broad and child friendly appeal to them.

You probably already see where I'm going with this, but during the internet boom we got a phenomenon called furries. Somehow this relatively tiny subculture managed to make such an uproar that anything depicting anthropomorphic animals is now automatically called furry and also receives the associated stigmas.

I find it problematic that everything gets lobbed together under that moniker, since it should be quite obvious that there's a big difference between anthropomorphic animals and sexual deviants. Not that I'm calling all furries that, I'm just saying it all gets thrown together.

I see furries getting mentioned whenever there's a game with anthro characters in them. From Total Biscuit feeling the need to explain that there isn't any furry porn in Dust an Elysian Tail, to Tim Schaefer saying on a podcast on GT that he refuses to play Khajiit characters in Skyrim because he doesn't want to have anything to do with furries.

Automatically relating these characters to sexual deviants seems batshit crazy to me. Perhaps it's a dumb example, but I more or less see it as someone saying "I don't watch Indiana Jones because it has whips in it and s&m is disgusting".

But perhaps I'm looking at it the wrong way. So I'd like to ask, do these types of characters such as Sonic, Star Fox, the Khajiit race in the Elder scrolls etc. Appal you so much that it influences your buying decision? And if so, why does it?

no, it doesn't affect me.

Now I wish Nintendo would give me a new Star Fox game.

I really couldn't care less.

Don't really care, to be honest.

I would like Dust a lot more if it didn't feature devianart-esque furry art yes.

I'd rather play games with no anthropomorphic animals in it. It just doesn't appeal to me. It's that same with Fantasy. Trolls, Elves and Orcs are just as dumb to me.

They don't bother me... But I am a sexual deviant.

Furries freak me the fuck out. Plain and simple. I almost didn't play Dust an Elysian Tale, but I'm glad I did though it was a great game.

Now Sonic on the other hand was ruined for me by the internet's obsession with it. From original characters do not steal. to the strange preteen obsession with sonic characters and sexual fantasies.


Well it was also ruined by the shitty games.

Never been a problem for me, though it is much better for a story heavy game explaining why anthropomorphic animals/race is there. Not just for the sake of "fetish" or other pointless reasons.

The quality of the art is far more important than the style they're in. I didn't like the character art in Dust because it looked like something I'd see on Newgrounds, not because it was "furry."

Originally Posted by Tokubetsu

I would like Dust a lot more if it didn't feature devianart-esque furry art yes.

Seconded.

I don't have any problem with the Khajiit, so I guess it's mainly the art style of particular works that drives me away.

Anything and everything can be a fetish so you'd basically have to avoid the entire universe if you let someones ejaculate ruin something for you

Depends on the degree of it.

Games like sonic I can play, I can play khajit's in the ES games. But games like dust is where it gets a little too wierd for me.

Some games just have art styles that don't jive with my sensibilities. I will never play a game like Recettear because of it's obnoxious anime style but something like Phantasy Star 4 is okay. Same story with Dust it just takes the anthropomorphic thing too far.

Don't care on the whole furries part, I embrace the idea of adding more animal-like characters in games just for that fantasy aspect though.

If they're just treated as regular characters like in Solatorobo, Sine Mora, or Dust, then no, I don't mind.

If they look like something out of Boss Doggie's avatar collection, then yes, I do mind.

Starfox is my favorite Nintendo franchise , so I dont care at all

Does this count?

My problem with Dust isn't that it has anthro animals, it's that the portrait art is really not very good in my opinion (no offense to the guy that made it, who I know posts here).

I really don't have any problem with playing as anthro animals provided the game is good.

Hmm... I definitely don't consider as "furry" every anthropomorphic animal character. I dislike playing as them, though. I prefer human-ish characters.

I can play Sonic games without issues and stuff like that but when given a chance I'd probably avoid playing as an animal. I just can't seem to relate or connect.

Originally Posted by cosmicblizzard

My problem with Dust isn't that it has anthro animals, it's that the portrait art is really not very good in my opinion (no offense to the guy that made it, who I know posts here).

I really don't have any problem with playing as anthro animals provided the game is good.

I can kinda agree with that, while I respect the technical aspects of that game, a lot of the characters, a vast majority don't look so hot.

There was always something about the eyes of characters in Dust that felt off. Dust himself, having his eyes covered up, did not suffer the same issue until he took his hat off. The rather garish character color schemes didn't do the visuals any favors either.

EDIT: The game was good, but it feels like it could have been improved with adjustments to character design and style.

Having grown up in the era of Bubsy Bobcats and Rocky Rodents and Alfred Chickens and Fox McClouds and Sonic the Hedgehogs and Awesome Possums and Aero the Acrobats and Zero the Kamikaze Squirrels and Gex the Chameleons and Ardy Lightfoots and Dinosaurs for Hire and Wildwest Cowboys of Moo Mesa and Bucky O'Hares and James Ponds and Psycho Foxes... no, not really. I can deal. I don't have any particular affection for them though. In fact, I think one of the reason Mario is one of my favorite "mascots" is because he's NOT an animal (granted, he is a furry). Sly Cooper is one of my favorite series', but I think I'd like it more if Sly and his universe were human... the Carmelita Fox sexualization is kind of offputting sometimes...

Don't care.

Nah. Sly Cooper is like my favorite series of all time so it doesn't affect me to have anthro characters.

"god damn skaven"

or, "in games" is a broader topic than "in Japanese anime art styles"

i like rat men or wolf-headed gnolls that raid elf farms and lead warbands across snowy mountain forests

i don't like cats that look like 13 year old kids with playboy tits

Originally Posted by The Tofunator

There was always something about the eyes of characters in Dust that felt off. Dust himself, having his eyes covered up, did not suffer the same issue until he took his hat off. The rather garish character color schemes didn't do the visuals any favors either.

This is also a good point. Dust himself, was mint colored and and everyone else just various shades of browns ands reds.

My character could be a rock. I don't care, as long as the game is good.

Depends how it's presented. Sonic is repulsive. Sine Mora is fucking awesome.

Don't care. As long as the art style isn't eye-bleedingly bad.

Animal-like characters in games doesn't effect me from enjoying the game.

I mean considering I've played games like Sonic, Sly Cooper, Ducktales, etc over the years with the animal characters with the human-like qualities to them.

I mean considering I grew up watching Don Bluth films such as Amercian Tail and All Dogs go to Heaven, and of course The Secret of NIHM.

Should I also start to bring up games like The Magical Adventure, Quackshot, or even Kingdom Hearts? While not of the "furry" categorization, these games STILL contain anthropomorphic character designs.

Quality of art and presentation matters far more to me. If it looks cheap and unappealing, then that's the end of that.

This makes me think of a question. Whete do you think Ratchet would fall under this? Personally I don't feel that way because he isn't anthropomorphizing any specific animal (and is an alien), but does have animal traits.

Originally Posted by EatChildren

Depends how it's presented. Sonic is repulsive. Sine Mora is fucking awesome.

I think the opposite, sonic knows what it wants to be.Sine mora.. eh its leaning on a weird fence.

Nope, doesn't bother me at all. If all you guys can think of when seeing those animals is other guys jerking off to them - your loss.

To everyone who didn't buy Dust because of "furries" - Close your eyes during cutscenes if you must. Don't miss such an amazing game over the design of characters you don't give a shit about either way.

It's not a deal breaker but I think the art of the characters has a lot to do with it.

If the character looks like a dude in a fursuit, it takes a lot to get over. The internet has done that design no favors.

I find them hilarious the more deviantart they are so I can't say they really bother me.

Doesn't really concern me one way or the other nowadays. It did catch my eye during the PS1 days though leading to Bloody Roar and T'ai Fu purchases!

Originally Posted by Village

Not in a negative way



In some cases it drastically increases my chances of buying .


oh what happened to my avatar look at that.




What does this mean?

Now go on deviantart and search "furry"

Originally Posted by EatChildren

Depends how it's presented. Sonic is repulsive. Sine Mora is fucking awesome.

Yea, I love Sine More and it's handled really well there.

Wait, what constitutes "DeviantArt" quality again?

Originally Posted by Tokubetsu

Now go on deviantart and search "furry"



Yea, I love Sine More and it's handled really well there.

That doesn't explain to me what you men.

Also I find Sine Mora to be visually boring personally.

Originally Posted by The Tofunator

Wait, what constitutes "DeviantArt" quality again?

maybe

Originally Posted by The Tofunator

Wait, what constitutes "DeviantArt" quality again?

The FEEL of the art.

Depends on how its drawn. I skipped Dust because it was drawn in a furry style. Mickey Mouse, Sonic, and Starfox never gave me those weird vibes though.

That is not an actual book, right?

Not bothered. In fact, think anthropomorphic animals can be pretty awesome. Case in point, fuckin' Space Samurai Bears!

(From Stardrive)

Originally Posted by Village

That is not an actual book, right?

http://www.amazon.com/How-Draw-Manga.../dp/0439317452

Used to be all sorts of shitty "how to" books like that back in the day!

this too! http://www.amazon.com/Manga-Mania-Dr.../dp/0823030350