From Nier: Automata to ARMS, developers are baiting fandoms

Nier: Automata saved the Nier franchise from obscurity, introduced the greater gaming community to Yoko Taro, and bailed Platinum Games out of a tight spot. Some say this is do to Yoko Taro’s storytelling, which is on a different level than we’re used to in video games, while others say it was Platinum’s amazingly implemented gameplay and Teflon slick UI that turned an obscure niche title into a million plus seller. However, Taro’s stories never saved any of his previous games from obscurity, and Platinum’s masterful game design had yet to deliver them a mega-hit, so James must attribute this newfound success to Yoko Taro’s genius move to focus on creating a virally appealing character.

[UCForce]

You can say that again, my friend.

[GameBoyColor]

We are in the Ass era finally, thank god

[camel_toad]

You have to love Japan for not buying into the whole SJW mindset.

[killbillvolume12]

YES YES YES for all the negatives that come with being slow to change. Im so glad they haven't bowed to the whole sjw cult like mentality.

[nix]

This news always makes me happy. Gotta love Japan.

https://www.forbes.com/site...

[donthate]

and thus part of the reason why Japanese games are fading into irrelevance.

[ChronoJoe]

So are you guys happy with the way that women are treated in Japan too? They're not 'free of the SJW mindset', the culture is outright sexist.

As an example, my sister was sexually assaulted while she was in Japan recently, and the police blamed her because she was drunk. Women's rights in Japan are terrible, the way they are treated and portrayed is astoundingly sexist, and I don't think people should be happy with that aspect of their culture.

[bluefox755]

@ChronoJoe Video games have absolutely no causal link to the way women may or may not be treated in Japan. Also, anecdotal accounts are evidence of absolutely nothing.

[rainslacker]

@Chrono

while that is terrible what happened to your sister, that happens in other countries as well, including the US. Sometimes even if they're not drunk.

What they decided to pursue isn't official policy though. While Japan is more traditional, and in some ways not as far along the equal rights ladder as other countries, it isn't inherently sexist. It's just that tradition plays a very big part in their culture, and people are expected to stay in their place. Woman have their own place in their culture, and in some ways, those places are just as important as anything else....like they traditionally handle the household fianances while the males provide an income.

These things aren't as rigid as they used to be though, and the female workforce has increased steadily over the years.

What you spoke of with your sister isn't a womans rights issue. While women in Japan still don't have all the same rights as men everywhere, they've made significant progress in becoming more equal. What happened is a issue of policy on how to handle such cases which may or may not stem from sexist attitudes, but in Japan, being drunk, and then assaulted does not mean that the woman is blamed for fault. That's just one person, or a small group of people deciding they didn't want to deal with it, and those pockets of sexism do exist everywhere.

In any case, it is irrelevant to the topic at hand. It's the same argument that games cause violence, and if you think your argument is valid, then you think that one is too. The way people deal or treat others is typically learned long before media becomes relevant to how a person behaves, and is generally taught by influence of those that the person is connected to(friends/family).

[Darkfist_Flames]

how long until we get jiggly ass physics xD

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

First there was boob physics, now with next-gen processing power, we present ass Physics!

[PlebeGamer]

Pretty sure Dead or Alive has been making their girls jiggle in all the places you'd want them to for a while now.

[joethetimelord]

Soft engine has you covered.

[rainslacker]

DOA6?

[annoyedgamer]

@Chrono Women are assaulted in Europe too, and they are told to deal with it because the immigrants are from a culture where attacking women is the norm. And its getting worse. But as long as they "look" progressive the real problems simply dissapear behind the veil of propaganda.

[Uken12]

@donthate

Really dumb comment dude. Look at all the recent releases with high ratings. Mostly Japanese games. Nintendo is known for having high quality games. Mostly Japanese games.

Dark Souls created a revolution with it's difficulty and shear amazingness all around. It's a Japanese Game.
Persona 5, Zelda BotW, Mario Kart 8, Nier, The Last Guardian, Dark Souls 3 and more. Japanese developers are actually making a comeback. They will never fade.

[bluefox755]

He's an Xbox fan.

[rainslacker]

Considering we see the backside the most in the game, it's a good thing.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

The booty is ...... https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[Last_Boss]

Lmao

[Princess_Pilfer]

Appealing visuals matter to a games success. I'm shocked. It's not like most of the big name actors in the cinema of every country with a decent sized film industry are incredibly arrtactive people under 45, and that same logic definitely couldn't get people to look into games.

Oh wait.

[PlebeGamer]

There are plenty of visually and/or sexually appealing games that die in obscurity. The article is about how very specific audiences are being targeted so they become massive free marketing campaigns, and doing so with enough tact that you don't become Randy Pitchford, which is a little different from putting Brad Pitt in a movie and calling it a day.

[Princess_Pilfer]

I didn't say determine success, I said matter to success. Those are very different statements.

[opinionated]

There are quite a few actresses over 50 that are very attractive. But I see your point and concur.

[rainslacker]

Sex sells.

But sexy and fan service are two different things. There are people who appreciate such things. I'm kind of indifferent myself, but I do find it amusing when done well and not so over the top where it's trying to be silly. Haven't gotten into Nier too much yet, but it doesn't look like it's trying to be silly with it.

I do like that there are devs out there who aren't trying to be so PC as to just avoid it all together. I don't think they are baiting the way this article tries to describe, I just think it's the nature of the series(or overall IP that it exists in), and it's keeping to that formula without trying to appease people that never had an interest in the first place. That baits me more than the fan service itself.

[covcha]

GOTY.

[Qwarf456]

BOOTY 2017

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

Nothing new for Japanese games. Which why I prefer Japanese games because they let their creativity, imagination and freedom run wild and free where the west side of thing is just alpha male left and right and same realistic dated feel.

The real train started for Japanese developer with Senran Kagura on 3DS back in 2011.

[InMyOpinion]

What is "fandoms"? Some kind of paedo/pervert thing?

[PlebeGamer]

Kinda but not really lol.

Fandoms are excessively devoted fanbases. Sometimes it does lead to perversion, like the creepy sonic fan art, but it's not required.

[InMyOpinion]

Lol yeah the term made me think of creeps who are into sodomizing My Little Pony and sh*t. Lots of whom hang around N4G without a doubt :D

[Segata]

Video games are just a load of ass these days...and I love it. I welcome it. I like big butts and you other geeks can't deny. Baby got back.

[Heavenly King]

I LOVE DAT A$$!!! So i have no problem with those sexy lady ASSets.

[MorpheusX]

Sex sales. That's it.

[YoungKingDoran]

I think theyre 'bating just fine on their own

[Fist4achin]

As Kevin Federline once coined the phrase iin portuguese in a crappy song, popozao!

[ChronoJoe]

None of Yoko Taro's games had good gameplay. None of them were highly received. Do you think it's the protagonist' design, or the astoundingly positive critical reception that's driving the games sales?

[rainslacker]

Maybe both. Plus it's a spin off of the Drakengard series which is fairly popular among some segments.

[Platformgamer]

The difference is nier is awesome, ARMS stinks

[Sirk7x]

And what user/critic ratings or personal experience with the game have you derived this conclusion from again?

[joethetimelord]

Except provocatively dressed characters didn't save Nier 1 from obscurity either.
https://vignette2.wikia.noc...

I feel it's more good timing and luck than anything. Nier had been picking up a renewed interest a bit before Automata was known to be in development, and was reaching a higher cult status. Platinum also had something of a cult following thanks to Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising, along with critical recognition of its less successful outings. Throw in good graphics (which, let's face it, the first game didn't really have) an undeniably beautiful artstyle, and good advertising, and you've got potential for a success.
2B's ass was just a bonus.

[PlebeGamer]

Kaine was a hermaphrodite, which is too weird for the majority of people, and she's a side character. 2B was front and center in the public eye from the start. She has the forbidden fruit thing going on too, with the skirt that's supposed to hide stuff but doesn't at all. Her design is just all around better as a hook, and once she gets you, then you see how awesome the game is and stick around. Nier Gestalt just sucked to play.

Also, it's a product of the times. As sad as it may sound, it's now considered "shocking" to be unabashedly interested in women. Seriously, look at the PC responses to Taro's "I really like girls" interview, something that wouldn't have gotten nearly as much circulation in the community in say 2010.

[joethetimelord]

She was a hermaphrodite, sure, but that was learned much later on. To most people, including those who had only beaten the game once, she was just a girl in a very sexy outfit.

[opinionated]

It was the demo. That's why I bought it personally, it wasn't even on my radar before that. I thought the transitions from 3D to 2D were well crafted and it was fun.

[joethetimelord]

Now this makes sense. A good demo can make a world of difference. Still convinced Prey's lackluster demo is what ultimately hurt its sales.

[ShadowWolf712]

One might even say they're Masters of baiting.

...I'll see myself out.

[opinionated]

Bateing* fandoms

[Cmoney007]

Developers should always make the game that they want, and they should never be pressured by the PC culture.

[Lord_Sloth]

Nosferatu Zodd Bless Japan!