SkeptiMism
Member
They're replacing him already every single time pretty much.Nonsensical internet drama.
Why should Nintendo replace the main character of one of the most beloved gaming series?
They're replacing him already every single time pretty much.Nonsensical internet drama.
Why should Nintendo replace the main character of one of the most beloved gaming series?
Yeeeesh. And okay but most of the people with this sentiment, dead-set against a female protagonist, are actually junior members. I counted. Coincidence, probably, still notable to me.
Trying to let it go.
What's with all the posts like this? I'm also glad that Link isn't getting a gender swap... Does that mean I'm against playing as a girl, or female characters in general being in games? No. No it doesn't. It just means I don't want Link to be a girl, and I don't think there's anything weird or wrong about being happy that he's still essentially the same character he's always been.
Are you actually being serious? Mario, Link and Samus are player avatars to you?This is just completely wrong to me. He's a player avatar. So are Mario and Samus. Sonic and Ryu aren't, they talk a lot in their games and are often part of a larger playable cast. Samus stays female because of the whole twist that she was a girl the whole time. They knew that a mostly male fanbase would be playing her as a player avatar, and they thought it'd be fun to have there be a twist that she was a girl the whole time. People liked that, so they kept it. Mario stays male because it'd be incredibly hard to come up with a marketable female Mario design, as it is very hard to market incredibly short, chubby girls with mustaches wearing clothing that doesn't reveal anything.
He's James Bond, or The Doctor. A set of iconic personality traits & immediately recognizable regardless of who plays them. Some people argue that things like gender are an inherent part of what makes those characters who they are. If Nintendo's argument that Link is, and always must be male - it's understandable from an artistic perspective.
Then have differences in dialog depending on what gender you choose. It wouldn't be the first game. The point is, he Link is supposed to be a projection. If you like the original looking Link, then choose that one.I could see a female Link, but I couldn't see a "choose your gender" Link. To say that the gender of the character has effectively zero influence over their place in the community, and their relationship with Zelda - seems out of place in a distinctly fantasy-focused franchise. It also kind of kills the illusion - past LoZ games felt like you were interrupting a kid's life to engage in this massive adventure. Having a "Pick a Link" screen beforehand really takes that illusion away.
Still, really weird of Aonuma to say that the character in the Zelda teaser wasn't necessarily Link, only to later confirm that it was indeed Link.
Why can't Link be a girl?
And Link "staying the same" doesn't make sense because he has no personality or development, he's just an avatar for the player.
That could be accomplished easily enough by making the next Link female and developing her personality as usual, with occasional nods to past incarnations of Link. It could be seriously interesting. The history of the character would be an asset if the writers were clever enough to play off of people's expectations.Why do you think that people who are against a gender-swapped Link don't want a female MC? I personally am disappointed there is no female MC option in this (make that every) Zelda. But when the title comes that introduces gender equality for the player character I want her to have a distinct personality. I want a new character and not a lazy gender swap or I want Nintendo to commit to a specific female MC in a title.
He was talking about the other parts of the trailer, like the shot with death mountain and that ship in a desert.
Another interesting comment I've heard, quite frequently actually, is that, "Oh Link's a woman. Link is female now."
edit: Actually how did Link's gender become a bigger debate than liiterally everything else in the trailer.
Maybe I wasnt clear enough; I meant that now all the whining can stop about wether is a girl or not. Some people were just overly reacting and wanted it to be a girl, I mean why care so much? I'm fine if it would have been a girl, and zelda would be a prince, if it was worked out well enough story wise, gameplay wise etc., but ultimately it comes down to the gameplay, graphics music etc.
I guess I just dont understand such a commotion about it being whatever gender.
I am extremely excited for this new iteration. Looks like they will finally adress all the negatives thats plagued this franchise for so long now. I edited my original post with this
That was not a strawman argument. If you'd bothered to read my follow up you will have seen that I said I wouldn't mind a female Link but did not think this one was from the trailer.
Beyond that, there's this post of mine in the thread about the original remark, where I conclude that the designers seem to have deliberately made Link look vastly more biologically female than any Link iteration had before. This thing has led me to effort justification bias that acts as my single biggest factor in questioning the MMGN article.
If we all had universal sci-fi style translators this kind of stuff wouldn't happen.Looks like he was just being his highly-untranslatable jokey self
Being a junior member doesn't make any difference.
I'm 34 and I've been playing the series since it's birth on the NES. For me the game does need freshening up, but not to the point where you mess around with the gender of long established characters, or being able to use a custom avatar.
Some of the ideas or theories touted on here are ridiculous at best.
They're replacing him already every single time pretty much.
And how would him being a female change any of that exactly?He looks pretty much the same - changing hair colors is like the only thing that happened to him over the years.
Link's recognizability is one of the most important points of the Zelda series. Especially with all the art style shifts.
He was talking about the other parts of the trailer, like the shot with death mountain and that ship in a desert.
edit: Actually how did Link's gender become a bigger debate than liiterally everything else in the trailer.
Eiji Aonuma said:Eiji Aonuma: That might be something that consciously we kind of did, but not to say anything specific – I am not saying anything specific – but, I am hoping people continue to comment, and I will continue to follow the fan comments and reactions to the trailer. I am certainly curious, and I am sure there are things we as developers can glean.
I'm pissed there are no female iterations of these guys too.
White dudes, white dudes, as far as the eye can see... everything was white dudes
I'm not even sure where you're going with this, but these reasonings sound like they came right out of Nowhere, Kansas POP: 1. I can assure you that Mario, Samus, and Link are more than just player avatars. They have become characters through their interactions with the gameworlds and supporting characters. Just because they aren't running off at the mouth doesn't mean they lack characterization. My mind is quite frankly blown that you seem to think Mario and Link are player avatars in the year 2014. Samus maybe I can see, but even she was given characterization in Prime, maybe even farther back than that.This is just completely wrong to me. He's a player avatar. So are Mario and Samus. Sonic and Ryu aren't, they talk a lot in their games and are often part of a larger playable cast. Samus stays female because of the whole twist that she was a girl the whole time. They knew that a mostly male fanbase would be playing her as a player avatar, and they thought it'd be fun to have there be a twist that she was a girl the whole time. People liked that, so they kept it. Mario stays male because it'd be incredibly hard to come up with a marketable female Mario design, as it is very hard to market incredibly short, chubby girls with mustaches wearing clothing that doesn't reveal anything.
I'm not trying to be rude. But this thing you're doing is extremely annoying and I literally groan in pain everytime you post this sarcastic tripe. You've done it twice now. Can you please stop?I just hope they never make Metroid a girl. Ugh, how would she even fire her arm cannon without shrieking and trying to cover her ears?
I took that as "Thank God... We can finally put this to rest". I suppose I just interpreted it differently. Now it looks like the author has clarified and that was their intent.Oh, all right. How's that "misrepresenting people who were hoping for a female protagonist" working out for you? And I don't see anyone being called out as misogynistic for saying Link is/looks like a dude in the trailer, but some exasperation at posts that amount to "thank god they didn't change anything about the protagonist!".
I know. I'm not a fan of the "junior members" tag honestly cause it causes you to leap right to conclusions and give in to your preconceived notions about people. Even though we definitely disagree.
I just hope they never make Metroid a girl. Ugh, how would she even fire her arm cannon without shrieking and trying to cover her ears?
Some people on gaming side are way too hostile towards discussions that involve sexuality, gender, and race.
Seeing so many people be bothered by the idea of a female Link is rather sad.
He looks pretty much the same - changing hair colors is like the only thing that happened to him over the years.
Link's recognizability is one of the most important points of the Zelda series. Especially with all the art style shifts.
Lol cmon now, vastly? You're grasping for straws here.
"He's got long hair/pony tails? Vastly more girl than before."
The chances of them ditching the tunic and cap are slim to none.It has a lot to do with the outfit IMO and it looks like they might be ditching that here. Too soon to say though.
And how would him being a female change any of that exactly?
Well it's good to know names don't matter but gender does for a character that has no personality, goals, or dreams.As somebody who always just plays as "Link", that never really altered it for me. It felt like more of a standard trope of the RPG/adventure genre, rather than a real part of the world. Changing the name doesn't really impact who that character was before you picked up the controller. Changing the gender (in most cultures), would. So it doesn't break the illusion for me.
In the end, link is al elf.
See lotr as example (they look more female by default then a none elf).
I'm making a point in a way that's amusing to me. There are lots of other posts to read if you don't appreciate mine.I'm not trying to be rude. But this thing you're doing is extremely annoying and I literally groan in pain everytime you post this sarcastic tripe. You've done it twice now. Can you please stop?
In the same way as if you suddenly turns Samus into a male space marine.
Are you actually being serious? Mario, Link and Samus are player avatars to you?
I can't...
If you want to play as a girl, that's fine. Ask to play as Zelda, or to make a new female character. But Link has always been male, and I'm sorry that some of us think he should stay that way.
If that was a brand new female MC, I'd be completely cool with that. But as long as it's Link, he should stay male.
That could be accomplished easily enough by making the next Link female and developing her personality as usual, with occasional nods to past incarnations of Link. It could be seriously interesting. The history of the character would be an asset if the writers were clever enough to play off of people's expectations.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't getting a good chuckle out of the people on both sidesGosh, I wonder why that would be? Have you taken a look at the OT lately? Or maybe you LOVE all that draconian PCness.
Each main game has a different person. Each iteration of the hero of time is a male. What's Nintendo telling young girls?
There's nothing wrong with you personally thinking Link should stay male, but there's absolutely no real reason for why he should remain as male. He's a different person every single time. Just because things have always been the same before, doesn't mean they necessarily should remain that way. So no, people wishing Link to female for at least one single reincarnation continue to ask for him to be her, not to play as Zelda and you should understand that.If you want to play as a girl, that's fine. Ask to play as Zelda, or to make a new female character. But Link has always been male, and I'm sorry that some of us think he should stay that way.
If that was a brand new female MC, I'd be completely cool with that. But as long as it's Link, he should stay male.
If you want to play as a girl, that's fine. Ask to play as Zelda, or to make a new female character. But Link has always been male, and I'm sorry that some of us think he should stay that way.
If that was a brand new female MC, I'd be completely cool with that. But as long as it's Link, he should stay male.
In the same way as if you suddenly turns Samus into a male space marine.
I said in that first sentence, and I quote, "Ignoring the eyelash/eyebrow matter, the ponytail, and..."
Hylians aren't really Tolkien style elves.
Zelda's lore makes it sound like they're just an offshoot of regular humans(The round eared people in Ordonna would probably count as "regular humans").