I think you have another question to add to the poll. Although I sense there may be a backlash if you bring up the possibility of a sequel game at this point. But, if getting properly funded via publisher requires the team to repackage the game with new bells and whistles, canon story mode and an extended roster (whichever way you do it), then maybe it would be best. Night Walkers: Skullgirls' Revenge, baby.
All these fan alts inspired me to make one for Braindrain. I wanted to add more detail, but felt that it would look to busy compared to its inspiration.
I like more characters at once(something like six). Helps push more game sales at the launch. Really important for the versus crowd you are trying to pull in. Four characters and DLC looks more like AE to people than Ultimate. People are going to be very apprehensive about DLC after the first game's challenges too.
Also, it's not so hot if story or canon pushes too strong for the ladies again and the guys end up being DLC. We already sorta got that with this game and only because of the funding. The best time to sell people on any IP is during the pre order period and launch which gives characters the most exposure. A larger, more varied roster is going to interest far more people than a small AE type of expansion.
An extra two characters and 6-7 months can't kill a publisher.
I think you have another question to add to the poll. Although I sense there may be a backlash if you bring up the possibility of a sequel game at this point. But, if getting properly funded via publisher requires the team to repackage the game with new bells and whistles, canon story mode and an extended roster (whichever way you do it), then maybe it would be best. Night Walkers: Skullgirls' Revenge, baby.
No one is going to care so long as we get the five DLC characters. It takes a while to make these hypothetical sequel characters too. Think 2015 for a Skullgirls 2.
I like more characters at once(something like six). Helps push more game sales at the launch. Really important for the versus crowd you are trying to pull in. Four characters and DLC looks more like AE to people than Ultimate. People are going to be very apprehensive about DLC after the first game's challenges too.
Also, it's not so hot if story or canon pushes too strong for the ladies again and the guys end up being DLC. We already sorta got that with this game and only because of the funding. The best time to sell people on any IP is during the pre order period and launch which gives characters the most exposure. A larger, more varied roster is going to interest far more people than a small AE type of expansion.
An extra two characters and 6-7 months can't kill a publisher.
No one is going to care so long as we get the five DLC characters. It takes a while to make these hypothetical sequel characters too. Think 2015 for a Skullgirls 2.
I think there would be backlash for calling a revised version of the game Skull Girls 2 (especially if it only increased the playable character count and provided balance changes). Numbered sequels in fighting games generally mean an entirely fresh start or overhaul in CORE system mechanics. Revising fighting games generally means just adding a new subtitle like Super Skull Girls or something.
As long as the new default characters allow for a complete canon story mode and the DLC ones are icing on the cake, I'm all for it.
SG1, if I understood correctly, had nothing but alternate story modes, none canon, and from what I understood from previus posts, getting the full canon view of it all would require playable Umbrella (expanding on that issue in Parasoul's story mode, I guess), Black Dahlia (her knowledge of Lab 8's Dr. Avian's past?) and Marie (the Medici stuff that got her an Patricia/Peacock to their current situations, intricacies of accepting the Skullhear and dealing with Double?).
That leaves leeway for at least another character to cover a few aditional events that were slightly out of focus (like whatever Isaac and Scythana are up to that made him think it was a good idea to let her rot in jail - vote for her instead!), and DLC characters could expand on the current cast's deeds slightly (ex: Cirque des Cartes folks shouldn't add much to the Cerebella stuff, Canopy kingdom military probably wouldn't add much to Parasoul's, Lab 8 wouldn't add much to Peacock's, fish people NPCs wouldn't add much to Nadia's, etc...).
Ideally then, it would be possible to view a complete canon story all in a row after it had been played through in a gallery screen or something of the sort in chronological order, and DLC characters could even get bits added to that if they'd fit in the timeline after their individual story mode were played though - it could be worth looking into how games like Dissidia (add invidual stories to a complete canon timeline as you play through them), KoF XIII (a more traditional viewer, but I like the way it organized its gallery and expanded the story from the arcade version into a console-only story mode) and DoA5 (the timeline is "sliced" by playable characters, but the sequence of events is completely clear, so it's plausible to add to that if you add characters) did it.
If you do offer DLC characters then they should be free for just a limited time, Peter. Maybe each is free for the first two months and then you can charge $3 per character or something. Completely free is a little much if you ask me.
Then you can pack them together down the road at a discounted price for sales.
Edit: A game with a good lobby and spectator system stays alive well enough on it's own. A couple of fairly priced DLC characters helps too.
I think there would be backlash for calling a revised version of the game Skull Girls 2 (especially if it only increased the playable character count and provided balance changes). Numbered sequels in fighting games generally mean an entirely fresh start or overhaul in CORE system mechanics. Revising fighting games generally means just adding a new subtitle like Super Skull Girls or something.
Keep in mind that we are talking about an IP that will most likely feature an evolved story mode much closer to BB than anything else. Shoot, the first game may eventually see a story mode update to make the whole thing canon before we even see a glimpse of Skullgirls 2. The uniqueness of each character also rivals BlazBlue since everyone is an original design. I don't think I need to go into the details of Cerebella, Parasoul or Peacock. Getting six new unqiue Skullgirls characters with their own story modes for $15 is an absolute steal. I really can't emphasize that more. By the time we get Skullgirls 2 the original SG have like ten voice packs, 20 palettes per character and maybe fifteen or so stages(assuming Umbrella and Dahlia get theirs).
It's definitely a sequel and a massive amount of content. BlazBlue has made far smaller additions to the character roster and coasted by perfectly fine. Maybe these don't count to you, I guess.
The prices for the DLC characters were nuts at $7+. I honestly felt like I should have just skipped on them entirely until Extend. Not touching ASW DLC for a while after that. Capcom and LZG are really the best when it comes to fair pricing for DLC characters in 2D fighters if you ask me.
Personally, I'm gonna go against the grain and say I'm okay with the current plan for Skullgirls, with more and more DLC over time and then a Super Skullgirls release at some point with all the DLC included, or something like that.
But this is mostly because I want to see your brawler with Mike Z's engine sooner rather than later! Especially if you can do it on PS4/Durango and don't have to concern yourself with memory limitations anymore. Imagine all the sprites!
EDIT: yeah, the backlash thing is also a serious concern. Skullgirls 2 would need to be a very new game with a mechanical overhaul rather than just an iteration with more characters, or you'll risk a public verbal lashing. I don't think making a "Skullgirls 2" this soon would actually have much of a positive effect on sales or public perception of the IP anyway.
I think there would be backlash for calling a revised version of the game Skull Girls 2 (especially if it only increased the playable character count and provided balance changes). Numbered sequels in fighting games generally mean an entirely fresh start or overhaul in CORE system mechanics. Revising fighting games generally means just adding a new subtitle like Super Skull Girls or something.
Not to mention a lot of people are already lethargic of how much fighting game sequels are often only slightly different.
There's common jokes about how many iterations of the Street Fighter franchise there are. Even the "Super" label raises a few eyebrows. Though real fighting game fans know these revised versions are worth it. It seems the general gaming population see that sort of thing as a kind of franchise milking.
But yes, the labeling a revised version "2" would definitely cause a backlash.
The time between the games doesn't matter. As long as the game people have to play now is good, it's alright for there to be time until the next one. Generally, it's better for there to be time between the games so people can actually play the one they've got for awhile.
Having DLC characters for free is a good idea because it'll keep interest in the game from waning after release. The majority of the people that get the game at launch aren't going to be playing regularly for more than a month, but with DLC being released frequently you'll keep more interested in sticking around longer.
An SG2 also needs to be more than just more characters. The game needs more single player content for it to be viable as a sequel that will interest people. Like with all fighting games, the casual crowd and their interest in the characters and story are going to be what makes the game, so having an increased focus on them needs to be a major focus. A canon story mode, better arcade mode, survival, challenge, and mission modes are all things to shoot for. I know Mike hates things that aren't competitive versus mode, but having Boss/Skullgirl versions of characters needs to be considered.
The actual mechanics need to be reworked a bit, too. Some things to shake up the way the game is played, like new moves, EX moves, THCs, aerial assists (as in assists that perform aerial attacks), super assists (as in assists that perform super moves), and RCs all need to be considered. And of course I want to be able to pick the same character multiple times on one team!
But apparently that's just me. ._.
What changes or is added doesn't really matter, as long as something changes and/or is added.
. . . so yea, don't plan on calling it a sequel unless there's lots of new stuff, and preferably a bit of time since the previous update.
I could see that being a problem for people who are interested, but not very informed about the game. Though, if it's like 20 bucks for the PS4 or something and has a bunch of new features, I could see people going for it, assuming that you can't play games bought on the ps3 on the ps4.
Since a lot of people are listing these lists, both long and short, of who all they are supporting and ranking them. While I just mentioned Annie, Umbrella, and Marie. I thought I might go ahead and make a ranking of who I am supporting in the voting. From first place to possibly last place.
This is kind of an estimate since I don't know exactly how much I like certain characters but this is as close as I can get right now. Do realize there is a margin of error. As if anyone cares.
1. Annie
2. Umbrella
3. Marie
4. Aeon
5. Feng
6. Juju
7. Minette
8. Talesin
9. Ileum
10. Leduc
11. Hive
12. Scythana
13. Beatrix
14. Roxie
15. Regina
16. Eliza
17. Molly
18. Mrs. Victoria
19. Ottomo
20. Andy
21. Stanley
22. B. Dahlia
23. Venus
24. D.Violet
25. Brain Drain
26. Yu-Wan
27. Adam
28. Hubrecht
29. Beowulf
30. Isaac
31. Samson
32. Panzerfaust
Since a lot of people are listing these lists, both long and short, of who all they are supporting and ranking them. While I just mentioned Annie, Umbrella, and Marie. I thought I might go ahead and make a ranking of who I am supporting in the voting. From first place to possibly last place.
This is kind of an estimate since I don't know exactly how much I like certain characters but this is as close as I can get right now. Do realize there is a margin of error. As if anyone cares.
I think people are focusing a bit much on the strictly character side of things and ignoring what other content a sequel could bring to the table. If you guys pack a Skullgirls 2 with canon (voiced) story mode, replays, a more substantial online feature set (online training mode), and a significant revision to the basic in game mechanics then I absolutely think it'd sell alongside a promise of continued DLC expansions that were free for a window of time.
Whether or not you guys want to coin the game as "Skullgirls 2" is up to your marketing department.
Last I heard from Mike Z, quite recently, they are not planning on giving players a color edit mode in the near future because most player color edits are poorly done. This to say, I wouldn't hold my breath on one ever being released.
Now, I really don't like Mike Z, but I actually don't inherently disagree with him here.
Last I heard from Mike Z, quite recently, they are not planning on giving players a color edit mode in the near future because most player color edits are poorly done. This to say, I wouldn't hold my breath on one ever being released.
Last I heard from Mike Z, quite recently, they are not planning on giving players a color edit mode in the near future because most player color edits are poorly done. This to say, I wouldn't hold my breath on one ever being released.
Now, I really don't like Mike Z, but I actually don't inherently disagree with him here.
It makes sense in a game like SCV because character creation itself goes beyond just the color of the characters clothes and they can monetize the creation mode itself by selling more parts to people.
If Skullgirls offered Color Edit mode then they'd be losing out on money that they'd otherwise be making while selling alternate palette swaps for each of their characters. There's no financial incentive there unless they decided to sell individual colors which ... I don't think would work out.
The only way I can see a color edit mode ever coming in is if the color DLC they plan to offer for Skullgirls just bombs ... but given how awesome some of the color palettes they plan to sell are I don't see that as likely.
I don't know about this. The bottom is certainly right since I don't really care about most of them down there. But Feng and Scythana in my top 4? Feng is really cute, and Scythana is a classic hot large girl, but I don't know that I would want them in over others like Ottomo or Brain Drain who have more than sexy going on for them. I was mostly choosing based on designs and the major thing the characters are known for, like Ottomo dancing, Brain Drain sounding evil, Minette being cute, and Marie being canon. And Panzerfaust is definitely more interesting as a fighter than Stanley. I should probably just do it again.
1 Annie
1 Feng
1 Scythana
1 Isaac
5 Marie
5 Andy
5 Ottomo
8 Umbrella
8 Brain Drain
8 Minette
11 Stanley
12 Panzerfaust
13 Aeon
14 Eliza
15 Beowulf
16 Beatrix
16 Venus
18 Roxie
19 Black Dahlia
20 Taliesin
21 Ileum
22 Hive
23 Yu-Wan
23 Samson
25 Mrs. Victoria
25 D. Violet
25 Leduc
25 Regina
25 Molly
30 Hubrecht
30 Adam
Uhhhhg this is hard. I'm waffling hardcore with the 4th vote; my results were pretty different just a few days ago. Marie is really only there because the game could use more zoners (Black Dahlia might be more interesting though). Not sure why I like Adam so much right now. I may also go with Eliza or Venus, primarily for gameplay reasons. At Least I think I have the top 3 in lock. My primary reasoning for said characters as of now is simply that I would really love to play as them; I could see them being main material.
Last I heard from Mike Z, quite recently, they are not planning on giving players a color edit mode in the near future because most player color edits are poorly done. This to say, I wouldn't hold my breath on one ever being released.
Now, I really don't like Mike Z, but I actually don't inherently disagree with him here.
Fairly accurate. While I think Eliza should've been up there, that made things a bit easier. And I guess Samson will just have to join her for the next character.
Has there been any character concept videos beside Isaac's and Feng's?
Great timing. Gameplay concepts for Eliza, Scythana, and Molly. Mike's also going to upload a vid showing off the prototypes without him talking and sort of focused entirely on the mechanics themselves.
Edit From Sorting Site :
1 Eliza
2 Venus
2 Aeon
4 Annie
5 Taliesin
6 Minette
7 Molly
7 Isaac
9 Panzerfaust
9 Adam
11 Regina
This is actually reasonably accurate. Not sure I'd put Panzerfaust that high, or at least not so above Venus and Aeon, but everything else is reasonably close to how I'd like to see things.
List warz? Better that waifu warz. Votin' Tier
1) Issac
1) Aeon (#TeamHAX)
3) Panzerfaust
3) Molly (#TeamMech)
Reserves Tier
5) Annie (Sol Badguy & Guts? You have my interest)
5) Stanley (f yeah sharks)
7) Andy (f yeah anvils)
7) Feng (I like the acrobatics mechanics)
7) Adam (#CorpseParty)
7) Venus (All consuming eldritch monstrosity? Sure!)
Fine With This Tier
11) Umbrella
11) Marie
11) Hive
11) Taliesin
11) Regina
16) Beowulf
16) Scythana
16) Roxie
16) Minette
I Don't Care About This Tier
20) Beatrix
20) Ottomo
20) Eliza
23) Black Dahlia
23) Mrs. Victoria
23) D. Violet
23) Leduc
23) Ileum
23) Yu-Wan
23) Samson
