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Does too much fanservice in games bother you?

Morrigan Stark

Arrogant Smirk
That being the case, I think it's fair to say that it is not the outfit which is inappropriate, but the reactions to that outfit. To believe otherwise is essentially no different than victim shaming -- it's the equivalent of saying, "Well, she asked for it because of the way she was dressed."
Oh my god are you fucking serious with this? No different than victim shaming?? She's not a real character with any agency. Good grief!

LOL I can't believe what I am reading
I have to say that I am quite... dazzled by some of the posts I'm reading here. xD

ehhh This goes back into the whole "artistic freedom" mess that I don't want to derail the thread into that again.
It's kind of funny to see artistic freedom being used as an argument about something called fanservice, which is literally throwing in stuff to please the fans (and make more money). Very artistic all right.
 

The Technomancer

card-carrying scientician
no one is saying otherwise?

The issue generally is what people expect that criticism to do...mainly get rid of the thing they are criticizing. That's where the push back comes from.

That's fine, but you shouldn't ask it to be changed or removed, as that's bullshit.

Then there's not actually a point to criticism. Expressing your opinion without any desire that it will be taken into account is just yelling into the void.
 
And people should be able to criticize those criticisms. That's called a discussion.

LOL I can't believe what I am reading
You may find it hard to believe that there are people that do genuinely enjoy these performances without any sense of sexual arousal or gratification. This really circles back to the whole problem with the user more so than the content. It might be you that has a problem if you're seeing it as something sexual.
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
It's kind of funny to see artistic freedom being used as an argument about something called fanservice, which is literally throwing in stuff to please the fans (and make more money). Very artistic all right.

Who are you to judge what is and isn't art? Takaki-san's work on the Senran Kagura games is centered around fanservice, but it is absolutely his artistic vision through and through. He has full control over that series, and actively CHOOSES to up the ante fanservice-wise with every release because he loves the female form so much. That is his art, and he revels in sharing it with the world. And I deeply respect him for it.

-Tom
 

Haunted

Member
Also, I don't mind the occasional fanservice from a game. Whatever. But stuff like this Tweet made me laugh during E3. Yeah, the costume is a bit weird. But it could have been a lot worse. https://twitter.com/femfreq/status/611229178596233218
EDIT: Now w/ pic
wNUKosC.png

I dunno. Costumes don't really bug me as much except for like Dead or Alive 5 where the game almost runs off of micro transactions for costumes. Then you got games like P4DAN where the fanservice (sort of) made sense due to her being an idol.
:lol

that's brilliant. Real life does write the best stories, you just can't make this stuff up.
 

Morrigan Stark

Arrogant Smirk
Then there's not actually a point to criticism. Expressing your opinion without any desire that it will be taken into account is just yelling into the void.
I'm seeing a misunderstanding here. I don't think they're talking about advocating for change in future products, they're saying "you shouldn't be asking to change existing products". Which is fair, but then again, no one is also saying anything about censoring existing products, so that's effectively a strawman.

Who are you to judge what is and isn't art?
Huh? I'll judge a product however I damn please, same as you. What the hell?
 

Cloyster

Banned
Oh my god are you fucking serious with this? No different than victim shaming?? She's not a real character with any agency. Good grief!


I have to say that I am quite... dazzled by some of the posts I'm reading here. xD


It's kind of funny to see artistic freedom being used as an argument about something called fanservice, which is literally throwing in stuff to please the fans (and make more money). Very artistic all right.

To be fair, you can't really step into the creator's mind to know what is fanservice, and what is just their desire.
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
Then there's not actually a point to criticism. Expressing your opinion without any desire that it will be taken into account is just yelling into the void.

I agree with this. When you express an opinion, you SHOULD desire that it will be taken into account... in future works from the same artist.

Once an artistic work has already been created, though, it's like a painting that's been signed. You should never express your opinions on art with the intent of changing what's already out there, but shaping things that are yet to come.

Huh? I'll judge a product however I damn please, same as you. What the hell?

My point is that NO ONE can judge what is and isn't art... because everything is art. Every single creative endeavor in the history of humanity is art, in one form or another.

You cannot judge something as being "not art" any more than I can. Because you and I alike would always be wrong in that judgment.

-Tom
 
no one is saying otherwise?

The issue generally is what people expect that criticism to do...mainly get rid of the thing they are criticizing. That's where the push back comes from.

Why can't I want to get rid of things I don't like?

Absolutely. But people should not judging those who think differently than them. I see a lot of judging with this topic.

Why not? If someone thinks KKK art is cool, why can't I judge them?

That's fine, but you shouldn't ask it to be changed or removed, as that's bullshit.

Why is it bullshit? If I don't like it why should I be censured?

And people should be able to criticize those criticisms. That's called a discussion.

Yep.
 
It's about becoming more sensitive to the subject because it gets so close to home. I'm not a parent myself, but I have three nieces and now I can no longer see pedophilia as a distant, theoretical evil. Obviously I've never liked pedophiles, but now they make me think of my nieces and that makes me feel physically ill.

People have different levels of comfort and it's affected by life situations and histories. It's not a question of being 'right or wrong'.

I have a niece and I can't say it ever made me physically ill. I'm more worried about the way people drive or drugs. I just don't know, I never really got the hysteria over those child beauty pageants either, it's weird sure but I just don't think it has a correlation to anyone who is grabbing 6 year olds off the street, or abusing them in family.

Cant say i have read any post in this thread like that. Especifically the otakus and basement dwellers part. Except for you of course that keeps posting this shit to antagonize both sides.

Just some quick searches. Please take note that I think calling it porn implies the only point is masturbating to it. Also I think it's fair to say 'masturbates to anime' implies otaku/basement dweller for this crowd.

For those who want "fanservice" in all their games, why does titillation have to be everywhere in the media you consume? There's a plethora of porn online that you can just go masturbate to, why does it has to be everywhere?

I am of course assuming people are serious and I am taking their word at face value.

I'm an adult, if I want porn I'll find it.

Polluting the media and art I consume with it is not desirable.

I am very quickly annoyed by fanservice pushed into my face, at most I am accepting it. I can't name a single game where I thought "yep, that was a good use of fan service". I understand that it makes sense in locations like strip clubs or red light districts, but even then it often feels like the locations are just there for that purpose. People should just watch more porn and throw the whole half-assed erotica out of games unless it is relevant.

Yep. Bugs me in anime, too. If I want porn I'll go watch porn.

(Note: Fanservice does not equal sexiness. Characters being sexy is fine. I think for me it's largely a question of how the camera treats it.)

---------

Why can't I want to get rid of things I don't like?
Well want it all you like, as long as you're not firing up a bulldozer to run over Steam Keys of Neptunia actually you know what ... do that. I don't get it personally, but whatever good luck and god bless you on your journey to reform the Japanese gaming industry.

Why not? If someone thinks KKK art is cool, why can't I judge them?
eT3KD7o.png
 
You may find it hard to believe that there are people that do genuinely enjoy these performances without any sense of sexual arousal or gratification. This really circles back to the whole problem with the user more so than the content. It might be you that has a problem if you're seeing it as something sexual.

Just like the people who want to compare fan service to porn. They are seeing something to get you off instead of something that may just be pleasing to look at.

I'm am glad that most posts have either been "yeah I like it" or "its not for me."
 

Mesoian

Member
Why can't I want to get rid of things I don't like?



Why not? If someone thinks KKK art is cool, why can't I judge them?



Why is it bullshit? If I don't like it why should I be censured?



Yep.

https://youtu.be/SLsm_Wl1-uk?t=2m14s

I'm actually pretty amazed at the fairly constant tone in this thread that reads "If they are making something that I don't like, I'd rather them not make anything at all than take the effort to step around the the thing I don't like".
 

Puruzi

Banned
Then there's not actually a point to criticism. Expressing your opinion without any desire that it will be taken into account is just yelling into the void.

But then that's not fair to the people that enjoy it. Why is one side more important than the other?

People that like fanservice don't complain if a game doesn't have fanservice to begin with, but there are people who don't like it, and they complain when a game does, even if that game was clearly going to have it.

I don't care if non fanservice games get changed, but when people want things like Senran Kagura and the like to be removed, then it becomes nonsense, because it's not for those people, and they would never play it to begin with.

Edit: Well I do care, but not enough to get really upset about it.
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
Why can't I want to get rid of things I don't like?

Because you do not represent all people. And some people DO like those things. And those people have as much right to like and enjoy them as you do to dislike and not enjoy them. And to deprive those who like these things of them simply because you do NOT like them is rude, selfish and completely unethical.

-Tom
 
It's kind of funny to see artistic freedom being used as an argument about something called fanservice, which is literally throwing in stuff to please the fans (and make more money). Very artistic all right.

A lot of fanservice is just as much about author appeal as it is about pleasing the fans. The guy that does Senran Kagura is putting in all that T&A purely for himself. The only reason the guy likes the fanbase is they share his tastes.

Then there's not actually a point to criticism. Expressing your opinion without any desire that it will be taken into account is just yelling into the void.

Hoping for something that has always been about fanservice to change is kind of selfish to both the fanbase and the creators.

It's different when we're talking about something that might be fanservice. Both author intent and death of the author become a big part of the discussion, which admittedly can help in the future if the artist learned how to portray said aspects better. I still disagree with calls to excise it completely as opposed to the author making their intent clear.
 
You may find it hard to believe that there are people that do genuinely enjoy these performances without any sense of sexual arousal or gratification. This really circles back to the whole problem with the user more so than the content. It might be you that has a problem if you're seeing it as something sexual.

Of course you can view sexy costumes without any sexual arousal, but to deny that is what they exist for is a level of mental acrobatics that completely baffles me.
 

The Technomancer

card-carrying scientician
Hoping for something that has always been about fanservice to change is kind of selfish to both the fanbase and the creators.

It's different when we're talking about something that might be fanservice. Both author intent and death of the author become a big part of the discussion, which admittedly can help in the future if the artist learned how to portray said aspects better. I still disagree with calls to excise it completely as opposed to the author making their intent clear.

What about the inverse? Is it selfish to hope that the Fire Emblem series continues down its current trajectory when it alienates historical fans?
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
Of course you can view sexy costumes without any sexual arousal, but to deny that is what they exist for is a level of mental acrobatics that completely baffles me.

It's not why they exist, though. Like, objectively not. That would fly in the face of the entire idol industry if it were. Pop idols in Japan, and even worldwide, are very specifically meant to be chaste and innocent. As mentioned earlier, if there's the slightest hint of sexuality, it can be very damaging to a pop idol's career -- and that goes for men and women alike.

-Tom
 
Of course you can view sexy costumes without any sexual arousal, but to deny that is what they exist for is a level of mental acrobatics that completely baffles me.
I don't see how it is? Tom said it himself it's seen more as cute than sexual if anything. And he explained himself that there's really a whole different perception on this with the East and West, hence the standards and reactions to Idol Culture here and elsewhere.
 

The Technomancer

card-carrying scientician
It's not why they exist, though. Like, objectively not. That would fly in the face of the entire idol industry if it were. Pop idols in Japan, and even worldwide, are very specifically meant to be chaste and innocent.

-Tom

Chaste innocence can (and often is) absolutely be part of a sexually charged fantasy. If not sexually explicit than certainly sexually posessive.
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
Chaste innocence can (and often is) absolutely be part of a sexually charged fantasy. If not sexually explicit than certainly sexually posessive.

All I can say is, I strongly disagree. That is not how true "moe" works. I would suggest reading up on this.

-Tom
 

Mik317

Member
Why can't I want to get rid of things I don't like?



Why not? If someone thinks KKK art is cool, why can't I judge them?



Why is it bullshit? If I don't like it why should I be censured?



Yep.

You not liking it isn't a good enough reason for it to not exist. Thats a rather selfish way of existing really. I don't like a lot of shit...I just tend to focus on things I do and leave those things alone.

As for the KKK example (that I knew would pop up sooner or later), the main difference is that KKK stands for legit bad shit. The KKK killed Black people because of the color of their skin. That is a hell of a lot different from something like Senran Kagura. If you can't see the difference there than that says a lot about you.
 
Of course you can view sexy costumes without any sexual arousal, but to deny that is what they exist for is a level of mental acrobatics that completely baffles me.

Can we get some more data here? The Rise costume from the badge seems pretty normal to me but I'm a subhuman anime fan to me it's a high school uniform with exposed stomach. Is your problem the midriff or what exactly?

Not sexy right?

Sexy? Too sexy?

This example is Korean, but pretty much proves what I am trying to say
https://youtu.be/ejY-SSI_1-0?t=7m35s
This is really not Japanese idol dancing at all though.

edit: Also I'm not totally disagreeing with you the whole focus on chasteness with a lot of idol groups obviously fuels into a sort of fantasy, but to bemoan these groups being too sexual while linking to Korean performances and being upset about an exposed midriff just seems ridiculous.
 

Li Kao

Member
I'm a bit lenient on fanservice to an extent.

I'd give a more long-form post provided the thread is still open after work though.

That's the one hundred dollars question. I mean a topic like this does not last usually here, but then again this one manages to survive and regularly brings with it some interesting input.
 

The Technomancer

card-carrying scientician
All I can say is, I strongly disagree. That is not how true "moe" works. I would suggest reading up on this.

-Tom

What is true "moe" though? Whenever I dip into conversations or poke my head into communities based around what we think of as moe there's basically always some sexual appreciation going on, sometimes in the posessive way, sometimes in a more explicitly suggestive way. If the argument is that the vast majority of moe appreciation isn't sexual in any capacity, I'm not seeing it
 
What about the inverse? Is it selfish to hope that the Fire Emblem series continues down its current trajectory when it alienates historical fans?

To be fair, Fire Emblem is at the peak of its popularity, possibly because of that. It may also line up with authorial intent, but I'm not positive about that.

That being said, from a purely artistic standpoint, no that isn't selfish. It is of course well within the power of IS to continue down that path, just like it's well within the power of any other company to go in the opposite direction in largely fanservice-oriented series.

But still, I think Fire Emblem is a different beast altogether. Adding in a face-rubbing mini-game that can easily be ignored doesn't change it from being an incredibly very well-designed SRPG with mass appeal. I don't think we should be comparing something less than %1 of a game to a series like Senran Kagura where the fanservice is front and center.
 

sensui-tomo

Member
https://youtu.be/SLsm_Wl1-uk?t=2m14s

I'm actually pretty amazed at the fairly constant tone in this thread that reads "If they are making something that I don't like, I'd rather them not make anything at all than take the effort to step around the the thing I don't like".

Thats been the way the FF15 (in the past), Xenoblade X and FE Fate threads have been. Its basically saying " Fuck this game, its not what i like, I'd rather nobody be able to enjoy it whatsoever if it doesnt please me" which comes off as basically... dickish for a lack of better terms.
 
Honestly, kinda weird. She looks like a 20 year old trying to dress like a 9 year old.

So Koharu was born in 1992 and I think that's a Kirarin Revolution promo picture which ran as an anime from 2006 to 2009, so yeah I don't think she was twenty there but I could be wrong.

EDIT: so the ED they recorded was the sixth so the picture is probably from around 2008 I think.

http://i.imgur.com/k8yd3P3.gif

Pghivdc.png


I mean why is a Korean group a fill in when you're arguing about Japanese culture? Especially Moe Idol culture, which is really exclusively Japanese. I dunno if you don't see a functional difference between the peoples or you're just throwing shit to see whatever sticks.
 

wyrdwad

XSEED Localization Specialist
What is true "moe" though? Whenever I dip into conversations or poke my head into communities based around what we think of as moe there's basically always some sexual appreciation going on, sometimes in the posessive way, sometimes in a more explicitly suggestive way. If the argument is that the vast majority of moe appreciation isn't sexual in any capacity, I'm not seeing it

That's why I qualified my statement with the word "true." Moe has become sexualized in modern pop culture (specifically anime and games), which is a real shame, as it never USED to be -- but fortunately, there are still some bastions of nonsexual moe to be found here and there, with the (Japanese) pop idol industry remaining overall nonsexual.

True moe is designed to appeal to the viewer/reader's maternal or paternal instinct. You're not supposed to sexually desire the character, but rather regard him/her as you would your own son or daughter (or brother/sister, if you'd prefer), and seek to protect him/her from the evils of the world and preserve his/her innocence for as long as possible.

True moe plays upon another Japanese literary concept, "mono no aware," which states that a thing of beauty is more beautiful when it lacks permanence -- so another part of moe is knowledge that the world is inherently evil and will eventually corrupt this innocent soul, making it important to revel in his/her innocence while you can.

Basically, you know how parents will see their kids being all sweet and innocent and say, "I hope he/she never grows up"? True moe is the embodiment of that feeling.

It is not meant to be sexual in any way whatsoever, though it is sometimes sexualized -- especially in the modern era.

I am personally of the opinion, however, that when it is sexualized, it is no longer true moe.

-Tom
 
Korean girl groups are not the same thing as Japanese idol groups.

The point I am trying to make (and am clearly failing at) is that there is no "East vs West" mentality here. Everyone knows what a "sexual" costume looks like. Everyone knows what a sexy dance looks like.
 
Because... it doesn't imply sexuality in any way? They're perfectly valid clothing choices that are only sexual when contextualized as sexual.

In this case, it's very clear that the outfit is worn to make the character look "cute" as opposed to "sexy," which is a very Japanese concept -- especially for an idol singer. The goal is not to entice the lustful gazes of men, but to dazzle the senses during a dance performance.

Maybe it's just a Japanese thing, I dunno, but that outfit is honestly MODEST for an idol singer. I've seen servers at family restaurants wearing sexier things than that.

-Tom
I don't think it's very clear that the character is supposed to look cute instead of sexy. She looks like this:

13993734609_a795fb2caf.jpg
 
I think having to tiptoe around grody shit in a game sounds like it would make for a worse experience. So I approve of the removal of shit like Fire Emblem's face touching. If that means that some people who won't buy a Fire Emblem without it aren't being serviced, uh, well, that sounds like a net gain to me.
 
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