Basketball
Member
Oh shit. Its 2016 guys
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Time: Next Link May Not Be a Girl, But Hes Androgynous by Design
- Thread starter Tripon
- Start date
mikefrails
Banned
Well I give a lot of shits. There's nothing wrong with caring about who you're playing as.
Skittzo0413
Member
Yeah people are ignoring pretty much the entire quote in the OP and article apparently.
AcademicSaucer
Member
Clockwork5
Member
Yup. This entire situation is silliness that manifested from an unsubstantiated rumor.
Prevolition
Member
Geez people, these aren't excuses. He clearly made the androgynous design before any of this stupid crap started. In fact it's what caused it to begin with.
Let the artist make the creative decisions.
Let the artist make the creative decisions.
I was just quoting our wonderful PM.
But it's not my fault Nintendo is stuck in the past like always. They need to get on with the times.
Night Angel
Member
Yeah, man. Didn't you get the memo? Any character should arbitrarily be what I want it to be because the last number in the year changed to a 6. Get with the times.
If Nintendo wants to stop getting heat about this have them state "Link was specifically designed to be genderqueer" and then they'll get patted on the back for being progressive. Asking Link to be a woman at that point would be seen as regressive.
Promising to break Zelda conventions, in a clearly Ghibli inspired game (who are know for a large amount of female protagonists) and showing perhaps the least masculine depiction of Link yet is the perfect storm of "why aren't you doing this?".
He needs to be black as well though....Black Link or Bust.
dollartaco
Member
Why can't Link be an elderly woman?
And what does that entail?
The 18th Letter
Banned
Why not just make a game with Sheik as the main character?
James Scott
Banned
They think it would be cool http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1234984
"As far as gender goes, Link is definitely a male, but I wanted to create a character where anybody would be able to relate to the character.
I don't understand how people still want Nintendo to "own up to it". At this point the fans are just being stupidly obtuse in wanting the thing that they want.
Nintendo fans have always been ridiculously stubborn.
I don't understand how people still want Nintendo to "own up to it". At this point the fans are just being stupidly obtuse in wanting the thing that they want.
Nintendo fans have always been ridiculously stubborn.
Next up, Aonuma will say that he made him deaf-mute to be more inclusive.
HammerFace
Banned
Why do people keep blaming the rumor? Like fuck is it that hard to believe that people just want a lady Link, a character that fits the opportunity being gender swapped, without a rumor sparking it. It feels like the rumor is some sort of hand wave towards people who want it.
He definitely looks like a very tomboyish girl, which I love. I also love Aloy from Horizon because she looks kinda androgynous (not overall, but her face structure).
I don't play games because I want to identify with the main character, but I just like playing as a character I find attractive.
I think the main reason I would have personally not be surprised if the female option turned out to be true is because the game feels way more RPG to me than past entries, and those games almost always have character creation. Given how open this game seems to be, having the main character also be more flexible would have been nice.
Again, I wouldn't have wanted a female Link because it's more "politically correct", but because I enjoy playing as girls.
I don't play games because I want to identify with the main character, but I just like playing as a character I find attractive.
I think the main reason I would have personally not be surprised if the female option turned out to be true is because the game feels way more RPG to me than past entries, and those games almost always have character creation. Given how open this game seems to be, having the main character also be more flexible would have been nice.
Again, I wouldn't have wanted a female Link because it's more "politically correct", but because I enjoy playing as girls.
Before the rumour how many times was Aonuma asked about Link's gender in an interview?
The Zelda situation combines a number of things.
From a lore perspective, each canonical Link is a different person, and the hero being female on occasion makes a ridiculous amount of sense. It would be a seamless transition, and simple to justify.
On the other hand, it's harder to justify not doing it. A lot of people, such as myself, aren't satisfied with deferring to tradition, to demographics, or to the idea that a male Link is the "default" for whatever reason.
And part of the charm of the Zelda series is being introduced to a new Link every mainline entry. Each one has a different design, theme, background, etc., and fans tend to have their favorites. It's understandable that a lot of people are sitting back and thinking about how interesting and refreshing it would be for Link to be a girl for once.
There's a general push for more female leads, and I'm sure people wouldn't mind seeing one in all the games you listed (ignoring that MGS is dead, and Uncharted is done). But Zelda's case is just unique among them.
decoyplatypus
Member
The issue certainly blew up since the rumor, but GAF has hard arguments about the possibility of a female Link since before the first Zelda Wii U teaser. This is not just a reaction to a rumor.
Less masculine than toon link?
Black-Wind
Member
It's his own damn fault really. I use to be big into Zelda forums and for years people have been wanting a gender option or CC of some kind ... first trailer comes out and people are confused on Link's gender. He fans the flames by saying " I never said that was link :>". I do believe this was like 2 years ago IIRC.
Gets people buzzing, he goes back to say that that is Link and he was shocked by people's desire for a female Link or some shit. Says HW has tons of female characters sooo if that does well then it would prove there's a market/ demand for it! Game does great, gets ported to the 3DS and we get "Linkle" or w/e.
NOW we know for sure that there's no CC or gender option and now he has to explain away his dance-about attitude to it with more BS like saying how Link can be designed "androgynous" but not female or how they thought about making a female option Link but then thought at that point you might be better off making Zelda a PC (Sure, w/e. Would love to play as Zelda to). BUT if you could play as Zelda ... what would LINK DO?!?!
It's a cluster fuck of reasoning, for all the new and cool things they're doing to catch up or surpass the things that other companies have been doing for a long time in these kinda open world games it's jarring seeing his logic on this topic.
Game looks fire and everyone's gonna get it but I don't like this old fashioned thinking or half ass excuses with whisy washy statements.
Thank you. I thought I was going crazy. If we must insist on a female playable character, then fine. But Link is Link.
HammerFace
Banned
I wasn't talking about the interview I just meant in general. Like the way I see the rumor being brought is almost like "lol you wanted fem link. You're dumb" or in some similar condescending tone.
As if people would have never wanted a female link before. Which isn't the case.
is this an excuse? sounds like a design philosiphy. also why do people think sex and gender are the same? they are mutually exclusive. of course link is a male but males can have different genders, like a spectrum. his design decision was to have him be as gender neutral as possible. i dig it and his reasoning makes sense.
doesnt sound like an excuse at all. sounds like the rabble rabble are from folks who believed a rumor as fact.
doesnt sound like an excuse at all. sounds like the rabble rabble are from folks who believed a rumor as fact.
M0nochromatic
Member
Which Link.
While we're on the subject, where the fuck is my clean-shaven Mario?
I get that originally, the moustache was included because it was easier to distinguish than a mouth, but that was the 8-bit era.
I like to play Mario, but I don't have a moustache, and it's therefore impossible for me to relate to the character on screen. I'm trying to make-believe that it's me collecting those coins but as long as Mario has a moustache the suspension of disbelief is too much.
It's 2016, we have the technology. Why not just give players the option? Come on, Nintendo. You're better than this.
I get that originally, the moustache was included because it was easier to distinguish than a mouth, but that was the 8-bit era.
I like to play Mario, but I don't have a moustache, and it's therefore impossible for me to relate to the character on screen. I'm trying to make-believe that it's me collecting those coins but as long as Mario has a moustache the suspension of disbelief is too much.
It's 2016, we have the technology. Why not just give players the option? Come on, Nintendo. You're better than this.
I think they want Link to have a identifiable sex, but as far as gender goes he's androgynous. So holding firm on Link being a male regardless makes sense. It's how the series has always felt to me. Link was always a male up until Ocarina of Time, and in that game he was pretty much female. However, it's spotty. His appearances in other games are hit and miss in regards to gender. It's true to the character and his history to say he's ultimately male, however quite a bit transgender. I've always imagined him just teetering on the gender line, ultimately falling below gender-neutral into being a male. Saying he's absolutely gender-neutral would involve some history rewriting.
that would be pretty bad ass to be honest. make two versions like pokemon, see which sells better! id love to play as zelda in her own crafted storyline with gameplay that focuses on the Wisdom angle that she portrays
Kayo Police
Member
We saw Link shirtless in BOTW already, Least masculine depiction of Link is flat out wrong. Inconsistent artwork is another issue entirely.
DarknessTear
Banned
The main character of the Zelda games is male. Why debate with the fans about it?
Triggerhappytel
Member
Y'know, if everyone who wanted a female protagonist were to buy Horizon next February/March, that would send a strong message to publishers that we're okay with strong female leads. If that game sells, say, 6 million copies then developers of other open-world adventures would probably sit up and take note.