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[Brainfreeze]

I'm fairly certain things like the Weighted Companion Cube from Portal made it out of the first rounds of those types of character contests before. I would not base my definition of a character on that, personally.

In terms of depth and personality? No. But popularity can be based off more than that, and popularity amongst fans as well as general mainstream awareness is important. Companion Cube merch sells quite a bit, it's sort of a franchise icon. That is important and worth considering if you're thinking about changing or replacing that role and deciding the best way to do it.

Not to say Gamefaq poll = mass popularity, but it's not worthless either, and it seems to support the idea that Link is more than a blank slate to be changed at a whim. People are going to be upset either way, but I'd prefer a different character over female Link, personally.

 

[NoKisum]

So since it's decided officially and all, if Zelda Wii U comes out with a male protagonist, is it automatically a shitty game? Should we go ahead and start getting our petitions ready like the Metroid fans the moment the next trailer/gameplay reveal comes down?

 

[tkscz]

Adjust your 1950s-era PR statements and internal development memos as appropriate. Print new editions of your ultra-important half page long Legend of Zelda lore pamphlets.

All your Links are girls.

All of them, from her landmark NES game onward. Thanks for understanding, Nintendo.

This only proves what Nintendo said in the IGN interview

And to be honest, Link isn't the most masculine of guys in the world, depending on how you want to project yourself into the character.

 

[QueenOfThorns]

So since it's decided officially and all, if Zelda Wii U comes out with a male protagonist, is it automatically a shitty game? Should we go ahead and start getting our petitions ready like the Metroid fans the moment the next trailer/gameplay reveal comes down?

Why do you think they delayed it? They're having frantic closed doors meetings right now.

 

[Yoshi]

girls wanna go out and have adventures in hyrule as themselves.

we're talking gender identity, i think you got that confused with sexual orientation.

though keep the romance from skyward sword and have link and princess zelda still hook up and it'd be the best game ever. so sure, can add that to the list.

Because all girls are lesbian? This line of arguing is inconsistent.

My overall thought on the topic should be clear from the past: Any second spent on gender issues is better spent on gameplay. In fact, any second spent on the creative side of a game is best spent on gameplay. If Nintendo decided to make the next Link female, so be it, I don't care, but opening threads just to demand such a thing is nothing I can understand and I disagree with the topic title, I did not decide that and I think the only one who could and should decide the sex of Link is Nintendo.

 

[way more]

I always hoped Link was a girl because I find her hot a fuck in this ad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2TBHppHX1o


And Zelda looks like a broke ass drag queen. .

 

[QueenOfThorns]

Because all girls are lesbian? This line of arguing is inconsistent.

My overall thought on the topic should be clear from the past: Any second spent on gender issues is better spent on gameplay. In fact, any second spent on the creative side of a game is best spent on gameplay. If Nintendo decided to make the next Link female, so be it, I don't care, but opening threads just to demand such a thing is nothing I can understand and I disagree with the topic title, I did not decide that and I think the only one who could and should decide the sex of Link is Nintendo.

Hm? Alright Miyamoto, get out from the broom closet I know that's you.

I don't believe I claimed that all girls are lesbians.

Spoiler

Oh what a world that would be.

 

[Inquisitive_Ghost]

Hylians are light-skinned for now. Maybe that changes with a future game — I can't think of a reason why it shouldn't — but Link shouldn't be the only dark-skinned Hylian.

I just want to correct this--both TP and SS have Hylians with dark skin tones. Auru in TP, and Gonzo and his mother in SS. They're sparse, but they exist.

 

[akidnamededdy]

Sorry EA, we've decided that Faith is officially a man

Don't be silly.

Hey the new game is a reboot so it's not even technically the same Faith. EA should be brave and go for it

 

[A Link to the Past]

Sorry EA, we've decided that Faith is officially a man

Don't be silly.

 

[Yoshi]

Hm? Alright Miyamoto, get out from the broom closet I know that's you.

I don't believe I claimed that all girls are lesbians.

Spoiler

Oh what a world that would be.

You said, it was important that girls get to play "as themselves". Something I disgree with, in principle, but, considering sexual orientation is part of who you are (or do you disagree with that?), it follows that to you it should also be important that Link has the same sexual orientation as the player. I'd argue more Zelda players are not female homosexuals than there are Zelda players who are. I'd also argue a world in which all girls are lesbian would be a shit one because we would probably be long extinct (if it's not just a recent thing).

How could there be greater praise for someone on a videogame board than being called Miyamoto? Thank you, kind queen!

 

[FF Seraphim]

Only if it wears an adorable tunic.

You and I both know this would easily sell a million copies.

Nintendo Make this HAPPEN!

 

[Wavebossa]

All your Links are girls.

YFW you realize these are guys

nah but all jokes aside, these could be women who self identify as men.

What is gender anyway?

 

[Lee Chaolan]

Spoiler

I like the subtle bite mark on that dog's ass at the bottom.

Haha, holy crap, didn't notice that before.

 

[Riposte]

Is this the new GAF meme? Wow, I can't believe I'm witnessing the birth of a meme, incredible.

 

[ViewtifulJC]

Is this the new GAF meme? Wow, I can't believe I'm witnessing the birth of a meme, incredible.

why isn't your avatar a woman tho

 

[QueenOfThorns]

You said, it was important that girls get to play "as themselves". Something I disgree with, in principle, but, considering sexual orientation is part of who you are (or do you disagree with that?), it follows that to you it should also be important that Link has the same sexual orientation as the player. I'd argue more Zelda players are not female homosexuals than there are Zelda players who are. I'd also argue a world in which all girls are lesbian would be a shit one because we would probably be long extinct (if it's not just a recent thing).

How could there be greater praise for someone on a videogame board than being called Miyamoto? Thank you, kind queen!

Where do I begin. Well. Let's start.

You said, it was important that girls get to play "as themselves". Something I disgree with, in principle

Why do you feel that way?

considering sexual orientation is part of who you are (or do you disagree with that?), it follows that to you it should also be important that Link has the same sexual orientation as the player. I'd argue more Zelda players are not female homosexuals than there are Zelda players who are.

I, phew, whoa. I was saying it would be rad if they kept the Zelda/Link romance even if Link was changed to a girl, so yeah. That's something I'd love to see. That's a pipe dream, of course. And yes, you'd be correct. There are probably more non-lesbian Zelda fans than there lesbian Zelda fans. But does that mean automatically that what they think or what they want means shit? Because your post certainly implies that.

I'd also argue a world in which all girls are lesbian would be a shit one because we would probably be long extinct (if it's not just a recent thing).

We'd be fine. Trans lesbians exist, so the population would continue, though I imagine it would diminish a bit. For the best, I say.

 

[RadarScope1]

Holy shit. Never seen this before. LOL

 

[liliththepale]

I just want to correct this--both TP and SS have Hylians with dark skin tones. Auru in TP, and Gonzo and his mother in SS. They're sparse, but they exist.

Oh, okay. Auru I've always seen as tanned, but maybe that's wrong. I forgot about Gondo though, definitely dark skin there.

 

[Formless]

I'd rather we try to get better female characters when creating a game at inception or support existing ones than trying to start stuff with current games. Yeah this new game has customization features but it's basically Four Swords with some twists. I think everyone can agree that different kinds of characters is good, but not every game needs to have everything to be ok/not-a-terrible-thing-for-the-world.

 

[JediLink]

Meh, this thread has become a serious discussion and gone to shit.

To shiiiiiiiiiiiit!

*walks away and throws a cigarette behind him, blowing up the thread*

*coughs uncontrollably because he doesn't actually smoke*

Whoa, hold the phone. I distinctly remember you saying in SmashGaf ages ago that you were a girl! And I doubted it and you insisted that it was true! First Link is suddenly a girl, but now Neiteio a guy too? WHAT IS HAPPENING??!!

 

[Inquisitive_Ghost]

Oh, okay. Auru I've always seen as tanned, but maybe that's wrong. I forgot about Gondo though, definitely dark skin there.

Oh yeah, one of the Skyloft knights that would save you when you fell off was black, too.

 

[Yoshi]

Where do I begin. Well. Let's start.


Why do you feel that way?

Because it's a game and therefore the only thing important is gameplay. Moreover, even if the character has the same sex as you, it's not you. I have the same sex and skin colour as Link, but Link certainly is not me. He also wouldn't be me if he looked exactly like me, because I'd act differently from him. For starters, I would not use a weapon.

I, phew, whoa. I was saying it would be rad if they kept the Zelda/Link romance even if Link was changed to a girl, so yeah. That's something I'd love to see. That's a pipe dream, of course. And yes, you'd be correct. There are probably more non-lesbian Zelda fans than there lesbian Zelda fans. But does that mean automatically that what they think or what they want means shit? Because your post certainly implies that.

No, it does not, I'm just stating that if your goal is that everyone can play "as themselves" (still a concept I disagree with, both in the way of it being possible, and it being desirable), making Link a female homosexual is ensuring this goal could only possibly be met for a miniscule part of the audience.

We'd be fine. Trans lesbians exist, so the population would continue, though I imagine it would diminish a bit. For the best, I say.

If we generously assume that 10% of all (biologically, here and in all other texts I will write) males are transsexuals, also assuming one person who does get children gets on average 2 children, in such a scenario, population would diminish to 10% of that of the last generation from generation to generation. The sequence n*10^i for any fixed n quickly goes towards zero. For i=20 (so, 20 generations) we'd have to start at more than 100000000000000000000 people in order to still have anyone left.

 

[Robotguy]

Whoa, hold the phone. I distinctly remember you saying in SmashGaf ages ago that you were a girl! And I doubted it and you insisted that it was true! First Link is suddenly a girl, but now Neiteio a guy too? WHAT IS HAPPENING??!!

Evilore is gender swapping the universe. You could be next.

 

[PirateKing]

Evil must be drunk and forgot he's on GAF. I bet he posts stuff like this on GameFAQs every other day and got too drunk to care at this point.

Anyway, I'll buy a Zelda game if Link is a female.

 

[QueenOfThorns]

If we generously assume that 10% of all (biologically, here and in all other texts I will write) males are transsexuals, also assuming one person who does get children gets on average 2 children, in such a scenario, population would diminish to 10% of that of the last generation from generation to generation. The sequence n*10^i for any fixed n quickly goes towards zero. For i=20 (so, 20 generations) we'd have to start at more than 100000000000000000000 people in order to still have anyone left.

Why are you critiquing my lesbian paradise fantasy? The only thing that's important is the fantasy.

Spoiler

Calling trans women "biologically male" isn't ideal, for future reference. But, anyway.

In regards to the rest of your post, people...identify with characters. It's just a thing that lots of people do, even if they aren't exactly what they are. Sometimes characters are what you want to be. That's called a power fantasy. Link is a power fantasy in a way, because they do heroic feats and vanquish evil.

If you don't identify with characters, ever, that's fine...but I'd argue that you're a miniscule part of the audience.

 

[EviLore]

Evil must be drunk and forgot he's on GAF. I bet he posts stuff like this on GameFAQs every other day and got too drunk to care at this point.

Did you see those dead serious long-form essays about conflicts with established Zelda canon in response to the OP? I'd damn sure better not be sober when I bring up anything related to Nintendo on the internet.

 

[Mozz-eyes]

I'd rather play as Zelda instead. I don't think they should change an established character's gender just because.

What would be awesome would be a Zelda game where you play as Zelda in the adult timeline after the hero of time disappears.

 

[PirateKing]

Did you see those dead serious long-form essays about conflicts with established Zelda canon in response to the OP? I'd damn sure better not be sober when I bring up anything related to Nintendo on the internet.

Just poking at you. I never even played a Zelda game in my life which I would if Link was a female for some reason. And I have no argument to explain why

 

[Kalentan]

As someone who is developing (slowly) a game where you can be male or female and persue both same-sex and straight romances...

I honestly don't like this idea of changing characters sex or attributes. It just feels pandering. Like I'm fine with something like in comics where a new character inherits another role, because it's a new character. Which is good because it's an addition rather than an addition through change.

I'd honestly rather have a game focus on Zelda in the position of Link than other wise. Cause in my mind it's like: Why not take the character whose already established and could use more fleshing out... And flesh them out. I'd rather see Prince Link and Hero of Time Zelda before FemLink.

This is my opinion, people are free to disagree.

 

[Outtrigger888]

why this game and not every other game you only play as guys? I don't see threads bitching about uncharted 4 only having male playable character. Please someone explain the difference.

 

[DICKS AHOY]

Is this the new GAF meme? Wow, I can't believe I'm witnessing the birth of a meme, incredible.

there's normally less video game 'canon' debates and more just cringe when memes are born into this world

 

[h#shdem0n]

With female Link, my OTP of Link and Sonic can become reality.

 

[Yoshi]

Why are you critiquing my lesbian paradise fantasy? The only thing that's important is the fantasy.

Spoiler

Calling trans women "biologically male" isn't ideal, for future reference. But, anyway.

Speaking about it in an abstract way (not addressing a specific person who might feel personally offended by it) it is easiest to just stick to biological sex in order to prevent confusion.

In regards to the rest of your post, people...identify with characters. It's just a thing that lots of people do, even if they aren't exactly what they are. Sometimes characters are what you want to be. That's called a power fantasy. Link is a power fantasy in a way, because they do heroic feats and vanquish evil.

If you don't identify with characters, ever, that's fine...but I'd argue that you're a miniscule part of the audience.

Of course people might identify with characters, but said characters are still not them and if sexual orientation is not a problem with that (so a hetero female being able to identify with a female homosexual Link whose homosexuality is actually playing a role in the story) then I cannot see how Link's sex (which has never played a role in the Zelda games) can then be a hindrance. That is, if we do not assume all female heterosexuals idolize homosexuality and secretly or not-so-secretly want to be homosexual, which I don't.

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

Because it's a game and therefore the only thing important is gameplay.

Even if you could not empathize, you are aware that different people have different priorities and values about what they feel "important", yar?

 

[DICKS AHOY]

With female Link, my OTP of Link and Sonic can become reality.

if he's already gotten it on with a human chick with a thing for dead rodents may as well break down more barriers and make him gay for regular Link

video games are great

 

[QueenOfThorns]

With female Link, my OTP of Link and Sonic can become reality.

Sonic and Tails aren't gay? I thought that was canon. They live together. Tails serves him drinks.

 

[QueenOfThorns]

Speaking about it in an abstract way (not addressing a specific person who might feel personally offended by it) it is easiest to just stick to biological sex in order to prevent confusion.

Ok, so you'll ignore what trans women tell you because you're not addressing a single person who might feel offended by it. To prevent confusion. Got you.

Of course people might identify with characters, but said characters are still not them and if sexual orientation is not a problem with that (so a hetero female being able to identify with a female homosexual Link whose homosexuality is actually playing a role in the story) then I cannot see how Link's sex (which has never played a role in the Zelda games) can then be a hindrance. That is, if we do not assume all female heterosexuals idolize homosexuality and secretly or not-so-secretly want to be homosexual, which I don't.

Edit: Ah, didn't mean to double post. Went too fast.

 

[Laughing Banana]

Just poking at you. I never even played a Zelda game in my life which I would if Link was a female for some reason. And I have no argument to explain why

That's a weird thing to do.

 

[Forkball]

Further official genderings:

Yoshi: Girl
Kirby: Boy
Shy Guy: Girl
Pokey: Girl
Thwomp: Boy
Gogo from FFVI: Girl
Shadow's dog from FFVI: Girl
Toad: Girl
Toadette: Boy
Queen Metroid: Boy
Federation Force characters: Girls
Chibi Robo: Boy

 

[Yoshi]

Even if you could not empathize, you are aware that different people have different priorities and values about what they feel "important", yar?

I am aware, but since we're discussing opinions and wishes in here obviously, I can also state mine, which is, that Nintendo never spends a thought on this issue and solely concetrates on delivering the best gameplay they can. If you were to demand the same thing for experience games and other games (Uncharted for instance) or other games that do not primarily focus on gameplay, you won't read a comment by me, because I don't care for those games. And by the way I'm saying the same things to people who demand Link to always be male or Samus should be replaced by a male (happening in a German forum I frequent): It's not concerning gameplay, so Nintendo should not put any thought into it, if Link being female helps the gameplay in any way, make him female, if replacing Samus by a male does not help gameplay, why bother. I cannot think of any instance, where the sex changes the gameplay, so I'd argue, in principle, every character should stay as he is.

Sonic and Tails aren't gay? I thought that was canon. They live together. Tails serves him drinks.

You know Princess Elise? The princess who kisses Sonic back to life? I think Sonic is straight. Don't know about Tails though, "I wanna fly high" certainly implies a certain fixation for Sonic.

 

[h#shdem0n]

Sonic and Tails aren't gay? I thought that was canon. They live together. Tails serves him drinks.

Sonic is bi and cheating on Link with Ganondorf. Tails and Zelda are experimenting.

 

[PsychBat!]

Did you see those dead serious long-form essays about conflicts with established Zelda canon in response to the OP? I'd damn sure better not be sober when I bring up anything related to Nintendo on the internet.

Spoiler

lol keep on evilore

 

[QueenOfThorns]

You know Princess Elise? The princess who kisses Sonic back to life? I think Sonic is straight. Don't know about Tails though, "I wanna fly high" certainly implies a certain fixation for Sonic.

Sonic was out cold, that kiss was non-consensual. That and the entire thing was written out of existence at the end of the game.

Pictured: Sonic getting out of his car holding some flowers he bought for Tails.

Spoiler

i love these pictures can you tell

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

I am aware, but since we're discussing opinions and wishes in here obviously, I can also state mine, which is, that Nintendo never spends a thought on this issue and solely concetrates on delivering the best gameplay they can. If you were to demand the same thing for experience games and other games (Uncharted for instance) or other games that do not primarily focus on gameplay, you won't read a comment by me, because I don't care for those games. And by the way I'm saying the same things to people who demand Link to always be male or Samus should be replaced by a male (happening in a German forum I frequent): It's not concerning gameplay, so Nintendo should not put any thought into it, if Link being female helps the gameplay in any way, make him female, if replacing Samus by a male does not help gameplay, why bother. I cannot think of any instance, where the sex changes the gameplay, so I'd argue, in principle, every character should stay as he is.

Alright. Considering that you only care about gameplay, does it really matter to you if the main character of said games had different gender?

 

[liliththepale]

Oh yeah, one of the Skyloft knights that would save you when you fell off was black, too.

Honestly, my exposure to SS is watching my brother play sometimes and seeing a run in AGDQ. I'm not very well versed in the game, but I'm glad there seems to be some diversity now.

 

[Don_Tombery]

Sonic and Tails aren't gay? I thought that was canon. They live together. Tails serves him drinks.

Bruce Wayne and Alfred live together, and Alfred serves him Drinks...

 

[Timeaisis]

Incredible.

 

[QueenOfThorns]

Bruce Wayne and Alfred live together, and Alfred serves him Drinks...

did they do this

 

[Richie]

This makes trying to sneak into the Gerudo tribe as Young Link with a Gerudo mask and being pushed away supremely hilarious.