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[Pancake Mix]

Says who?

Inclusion of skin color being diverse is either important or it isn't.

It's a good thing if you have an avatar (like an Inkling, or apparently Yoshi as found in MK8) to have that option. Inklings are an avatar. I'd be shocked if there wasn't a skin colour option, it'd be an oversight.

If it's not an avatar character, then no option is good.

 

[Frozenprince]

It's a good thing if you have an avatar (like an Inkling, or apparently Yoshi as found in MK8) to have that option.

If it's not an avatar character, then no option is good.

Fucks sake.

 

[Izuna]

I mean, they're squid, yet another animal character, and somewhat styilised like anime characters. It's absolutely a waste of time trying to identify with one, but if that's what makes someone happy, that's fine.

It's not like Overwatch where a character is literally from a specific place on this earth that actually exists.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Nintendo created the option for skin colour of an inkling so more people could identify with them, and it's working as this thread shows. That's good. But it's not really something to think too hard about.

They're darker-skinned for anyone who wants them to be darker-skinned, be they of South Asian or African ancestry. Inklings are meant to be universal, but it's just a palette swap you could do in Splatoon proper. Not a huge deal.

You're the one thinking too hard about this.

They're black.

Honest question: what do you think "they're black" means here? You seem to conflate being black with being a specific nationality.

 

[Frozenprince]

Fantasy world apparently means "no darkies".

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

It's a good thing if you have an avatar (like an Inkling, or apparently Yoshi as found in MK8) to have that option. Inklings are an avatar. I'd be shocked if there wasn't a skin colour option, it'd be an oversight.

If it's not an avatar character, then no option is good.

Why yoshi? why?

 

[Pancake Mix]

Why do you bring up characters "from a specific place on this earth" when talking about skin color? They're black

These squid kids have skin colors based on human skin tones. The true waste of time is trying to refute that there are inklings who are black in Splatoon and Mario Kart.

I'm not refuting it. I'm saying Nintendo made them avatars to be universal, absolutely. They aren't black in the sense that they could literally be South Asian, Hispanic, or absolutely anything the user intends. Nintendo generally for as universal as possible, either in creating their animal characters or anime-ish characters. If OP is happy about the representation, that's great, that's what Nintendo was looking for when creating the Inklings as avatars.

Why yoshi? why?

You can choose any Yoshi you please. He's a bit of an avatar in his own way as well.

 

[Izuna]

Honestly, this thread has just made me realise people really see different races as being very different from each other outside of melanin.

I'm not refuting it. I'm saying Nintendo made them avatars to be universal, absolutely. They aren't black in the sense that they could literally be South Asian, Hispanic, or absolutely anything the user intends. Nintendo generally for as universal as possible, either in creating their animal characters or anime-ish characters. If OP is happy about the representation, that's great, that's what Nintendo was looking for when creating the Inklings as avatars.

...

What do you think black means. Please tell me.

 

[Kwame120]

I mean, they're squid, yet another animal character, and somewhat styilised like anime characters. It's absolutely a waste of time trying to identify with one, but if that's what makes someone happy, that's fine.

People identify because of similarities. It helps us to empathise and connect with characters, thus helps us feel more involved in a game, or story, and enjoy it more. There're also self esteem issues that you could feasibly link to a lack or representation, or improper representation, and those similarities are what we take for representation. A fantasy story in a fantasy land technically has no ethnicities in common with our own, but it's obvious that characters look similar to white people, black people, Asian people etcetera (yes I have been intenionally broad) and thus we find ourselves able to form that empathetic link. Colour is the biggest (but not only) indicator of race, so it's obvious that when you move away from humans to creatures that don't share that many features with humans Still talking humanoids here, such as the Inklings, rather than sentient dinosaurs, you're still going to form that link on a basis of skin colour.

 

[Frozenprince]

I'm not refuting it. I'm saying Nintendo made them avatars to be universal, absolutely. They aren't black in the sense that they could literally be South Asian, Hispanic, or absolutely anything the user intends. Nintendo generally for as universal as possible, either in creating their animal characters or anime-ish characters. If OP is happy about the representation, that's great, that's what Nintendo was looking for when creating the Inklings as avatars.

Then what the hell is the point in even posting in this other than to go "well they aren't ACTUALLY black"?

I don't understand why you felt the need.

 

[Pancake Mix]

What do you think black means. Please tell me.

Generally means of African origin, granted it varies in place and time. It's a social construct. If you want it to be broader, it's not a big deal.

Oh does it now.

Again, social construct.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Fantasy world apparently means "no darkies".

Mutant squid humanoids who transform into actual squid-looking things who can melt into and move though their own color ink? Why of course that makes sense

Some of them are black?

I'm not refuting it. I'm saying Nintendo made them avatars to be universal, absolutely. They aren't black in the sense that they could literally be South Asian, Hispanic, or absolutely anything the user intends. Nintendo generally for as universal as possible, either in creating their animal characters or anime-ish characters. If OP is happy about the representation, that's great, that's what Nintendo was looking for when creating the Inklings as avatars.

The irony of you tut-tutting about others "thinking about this too hard" has to be lost on you

 

[Izuna]

Generally means of African origin. If you want it to be broader, you do you, but that's not the general definition.

Oh does it now.

 

[Frozenprince]

Guess I'll have to let brother Yoenis know he isn't black.

 

[Nepenthe]

Oh does it now.

Technically everyone originated from Africa, so every human character is black. Mario is ours now.

 

[Skittles]

I mean, most Nintendo characters (aside from in the Mario universe, Metroid, and the animal characters) are probably supposed to be persons of colour as they're generally Japanese, despite some European influence in say, something like Fire Emblem. As for the Inklings, pretty sure they're all supposed to be Japanese, so those Inklings would be a darker Japanese.

Elma is definitely not black

Spoiler

because she's an alien, and besides, she has blue eyes. She's ambiguously anime/Japanese, though she represent the US in the game so perhaps she's supposed to be white with a tan. Who knows

Don't play a Nintendo game exclusively if you want to identify racially with someone, unless you're Japanese (or in some cases like Mario or Metroid, you are White). They're not Overwatch. Nintendo focuses on cartoony characters of relatively ambiguous ethnicity, anime characters who are supposed to be Japanese even if they don't look it, and animals. You're wasting your time assuming things OP.

she's not black because she's an alien? but somehow she can probably be japanese or white with tan? damn that's some mental gymnastics you have going, so you don't have to think of the character as black

 

[foxuzamaki]

Technically everyone originated from Africa, so every human character is black. Mario is ours now.

Confirmed

 

[Professor Beef]

It always amazes me how some people will bend over backwards just to argue that a character isn't black. I'm shocked everytime.

 

[Frozenprince]

It always amazes me how some people will bend over backwards just to argue that a character isn't black. I'm shocked everytime.

There's literally 0 reason this time.

 

[Izuna]

Not black either

 

[Pancake Mix]

she's not black because

Spoiler

she's an alien?

That's kind of a significant spoiler....

 

[Gardios]

It's baffling(not really) that people in this thread are okay with declaring the Inklings as being "tanned", "ambiguously brown" or even "Japanese"(???) but calling them black is apparently a step too far.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

That's kind of a significant spoiler....

Nah son. Don't try to distract from your ridiculous posts.

You're saying these quid are japanese, but not black right? Please elaborate

 

[Slayven]

It always amazes me how some people will bend over backwards just to argue that a character isn't black. I'm shocked everytime.

Can't relate

 

[Frozenprince]

Definitely not black

 

[Alienfan]

It's probably just that image, but inkling Girl is obviously unquestionably black, but I don't see it with Inkling boy, he looks like a tanned European. It just looks like they are going for a range of skin colors, rather than a black /white version for each gender.

Cool stuff though, first black Nintendo character?

 

[Izuna]

Inkling is obviously based off of this girl

 

[Nepenthe]

It's baffling(not really) that people in this thread are okay with declaring the Inklings as being "tanned", "ambiguously brown" or even "Japanese"(???) but calling them black is apparently a step too far.

Also note the irony in using supposed non-black features to rule out dark-skinned characters from being considered black, but including anime characters into the fold of being Japanese on the basis regardless of their usually-impossible physical features. And let's talk more about Mario; how often do you see a man with chestnut brown hair, a jet black mustache, and blue eyes? What the fuck is with that?

White and Japanese characters can look like anything and get away with it. Black characters? Hold on a second, let me get out my invisible checklist just to make sure we're being accurate.

 

[Izuna]

Also note the irony in using supposed non-black features to rule out dark-skinned characters from being considered black, but including anime characters into the fold of being Japanese on the basis regardless of their usually-impossible physical features. And let's talk more about Mario; how often do you see a man with chestnut brown hair, a jet black mustache, and blue eyes? What the fuck is with that?

White and Japanese characters can look like anything and get away with it. Black characters? Hold on a second, let me get out my invisible checklist just to make sure we're being accurate.

Didn't you know? Black people all have the same nose and hair.

 

[ScribbleD]

Didn't think this could be taken as anything other than an unambiguous good thing, and yet here we are 16 pages later. How is there even controversy about this.

 

[blitzwolf215]

It's probably just that image, but inkling Girl is obviously unquestionably black, but I don't see it with Inkling boy, he looks like a tanned European. It just looks like they are going for a range of skin colors, rather than a black /white version for each gender.

Cool stuff though, first black Nintendo character?

There's Anthony and Elma.

 

[thumb]

I mean, they're squid, yet another animal character, and somewhat styilised like anime characters. It's absolutely a waste of time trying to identify with one, but if that's what makes someone happy, that's fine.

It's not like Overwatch where a character is literally from a specific place on this earth that actually exists. Nintendo created the option for skin colour of an inkling so more people could identify with them, and it's working as this thread shows. That's good. But it's not really something to think too hard about.

You make the process of identification sound effortful and time-consuming, rather than automatic and often unconscious. Why is that?

 

[Izuna]

Nintendo and their tanned Japanese characters

 

[DecoReturns]

There's Anthony and Elma.

There's Basilio from Fire Emblem.
There's a earlier Fire Emblem character as well but I can't remember their name.

 

[Skittles]

Didn't think this could be taken as anything other than an unambiguous good thing, and yet here we are 16 pages later. How is there even controversy about this.

because people in gaming side always be playing this card

 

[OmegaSmash]

There's Anthony and Elma.

But don't she know? She doesn't count because

Spoiler

she's an alien

! Nevermind that that also means she isn't japanese nor "white with a tan".

 

[Mega]

"Black" isn't an ethnicity. You can discern their color by looking at them.

They're black

They're universally brown or at least should be regarded as such. There are many brown-skinned ethnicities on the planet with worse representation in gaming than black people. These other people are often not black (African-American) and don't identify as black. If we want to be more inclusive of all these people we would all do good to appreciate that distinction and not insist an ambiguously tan or dark skinned character is black by default (just like a light tan character isn't white by default). Be mindful that some of us other brown minorities have had to deal with shittier representation in gaming and other media.

 

[Kwame120]

Didn't think this could be taken as anything other than an unambiguous good thing, and yet here we are 16 pages later. How is there even controversy about this.

Partly denial, partly ignorance, partly racism - though the third links into the first. People seem to deny the very existence of black characters, using all kind of mental leaps to deny them being black, while not applying the same mental leaps to "the default", often white or Japanese, in the anime case. Ignorance, links to people not being able to understand the need for empathy and representation in media, not only for the positive effects, but for the negative effects relating to its absence, or misuse. I suspect that that's linked to people being used to being catered to as the norm, thus never actually noticing that there's such a thing as not being catered to.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

They're universally brown or at least should be regarded as such. There are many brown-skinned ethnicities on the planet with worse representation in gaming than black people. These other people are often not black (African-American) and don't identify as black. If we want to be more inclusive of all these people we would all do good to appreciate that distinction and not insist an ambiguously tan or dark skinned character is black by default (just like a light tan character isn't white by default). Be mindful that some of us other brown minorities have had to deal with shittier representation in gaming and other media.

Why do you think "black" equals "african american"?

And why do you think anyone is trying to claim these character alts as their own? This isn't the Chappelle's Show Racial Draft

 

[Izuna]

These other people are often not black (African-American) and don't identify as black.

I'm sorry but, does black have to mean African-American to you?

 

[Madness]

I honestly and without malice thought this was a joke much like people say Piccolo is the 'black' representation or character in DBZ. I get it though in the face of no representation, people attach to characters they feel may represent them. I have heard people say the same for Knuckles or Ganondorf etc. Sonic is apparently white but knuckles is black.

 

[koss424]

I'm not refuting it. I'm saying Nintendo made them avatars to be universal, absolutely. They aren't black in the sense that they could literally be South Asian, Hispanic, or absolutely anything the user intends. Nintendo generally for as universal as possible, either in creating their animal characters or anime-ish characters. If OP is happy about the representation, that's great, that's what Nintendo was looking for when creating the Inklings as avatars.



You can choose any Yoshi you please. He's a bit of an avatar in his own way as well.

No yoshis are yoshis. They are characters not avatars. Anyway customization is good for the most part. I would want Mario or Link customization but yeah new iPs should have options in this day of age. Maybe not always depending on the creators vision but more often than not.

 

[Mega]

No, of course not black isn't just African American, but that doesn't change that there are many brown people who don't self identity as black, and it would be great if the Inklings were for all of us darker skinned people.

 

[Izuna]

I honestly and without malice thought this was a joke much like people say Piccolo is the 'black' representation or character in DBZ. I get it though in the face of no representation, people attach to characters they feel may represent them. I have heard people say the same for Knuckles or Ganondorf etc. Sonic is apparently white but knuckles is black.

That's a very different thing.

 

[Garrett Hawke]

I honestly and without malice thought this was a joke much like people say Piccolo is the 'black' representation or character in DBZ. I get it though in the face of no representation, people attach to characters they feel may represent them. I have heard people say the same for Knuckles or Ganondorf etc. Sonic is apparently white but knuckles is black.

ummmm

piccolo is literally green

the inklings have human skin tones and the ones in the op have skin tones which resemble dark human skin

???

 

[Pancake Mix]

Nah son. Don't try to distract from your ridiculous posts.

Xenoblade spoilers are a big deal, so no, the fact that he hasn't edited his post shows his disregard for people around you who haven't finished X like I or maybe you have.

Don't "son" me because he can't seem to comprehend or don't care why people would prefer spoiler tags.

 

[Izuna]

No, of course not black isn't just African American, but that doesn't change that there are many brown people who don't self identity as black, and it would be great if the Inklings were for all of us darker skinned people.

So what you're saying is

"We're not a monolith, but let's all identify with the same character."?

This is a different topic but, with someone as dark as that inkling, why wouldn't they "identify" as black? Because FWIW, society would.

She has black skin. She's black. End of story really.

Xenoblade spoilers are a big deal, so no, the fact that you haven't edited your post shows your disregard for people around you who haven't finished X like I or maybe you have.

Don't "son" me because you can't seem to comprehend why people would prefer spoiler tags.

Glad to see where your priorities are.

"black people are identifying with this inkling, can't have that!"
"spoilers about xenoblade?! not on my watch!"

 

[Alienfan]

They're universally brown or at least should be regarded as such. There are many brown-skinned ethnicities on the planet with worse representation in gaming than black people. These other people are often not black (African-American) and don't identify as black. If we want to be more inclusive of all these people we would all do good to appreciate that distinction and not insist an ambiguously tan or dark skinned character is black by default (just like a light tan character isn't white by default). Be mindful that some of us other brown minorities have had to deal with shittier representation in gaming and other media.

Anyone using black to only mean "African American" are straight up wrong. You'll find it's a category that is mostly made up of people outside of the US. This character could be Aboriginal, Maori or South African, but they're still "black"

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Xenoblade spoilers are a big deal, so no, the fact that you haven't edited your post shows your disregard for people around you who haven't finished the game like I or maybe you have.

Son, where have I quoted that spoiler?

And we're all still waiting to hear why the inklings can be japanese, but they cannot be black. Please, proceed

Don't "son" me because you can't seem to comprehend or don't care why people would prefer spoiler tags.

Son? Son. The reasoning behind your japanese squid mutant assertion: provide it please

 

[shiyrley]

she's not black because

Spoiler

she's an alien

? but somehow she can probably be japanese or white with tan? damn that's some mental gymnastics you have going, so you don't have to think of the character as black

I'm on your side (because it's the factually correct side), but that's a huge spoiler of the game. You really really should tag it. Like, it's not even debatable, it's a big spoiler of a huge surprise the game has.