[From GameFaqs] Why Serious topic: Why aren't there any 'thick' Final Fantasy females..?

[Dark and Divine]

Edea seems rather voluptuous.

 

[Restless]

I wish there were more "thick" characters and characters of other races in FF, too...It's fairly annoying, even with the knowledge of popular aesthetics. And it's not like we even get females who are thin with larger bone structures. I guess Tifa could count, but overall it's just a bunch of twiggy women (...and men). I mean, they're pretty and all, but a game with a fair amount of different body-types would be a lot better and more appealing to different groups. And wouldn't it add to the realism of the character's appearance, as well as give them a sense of individuality stylistically?

There were other races in CC. I noticed almost all of them were secretaries and such working for Shinra, though And I always imagined at least for of the "important-ish" SOLDIERs (Esshai, Sebastian, Luxiere, Kunsel) being black underneath their helmet.

 

[Alessa Gillespie]

Would Telma from Legend of Zelda count as a 'thick' woman?

Spoiler

Well, anyways, there really isn't a lot of variety in FF girls. Maybe you get a green-haired one, but she sure as hell is going to be twiggy.

 

[looneymoon]

I wanted to add I always thought Amarant was "coded" with ethnic looking features, despite his actual skin colour being blue. Don't forget Lani also.

Considering there's a decent variety of male body types in the games I don't see why there shouldn't be with the females I think up until recently Square has been hyper-focussed on their Japanese demographic (considering that THIS is the type of stuff that's popular in Japan.... er, yeah). Perhaps their more recent acknoledgements to the Western fanbase will start reflecting in their character marketing, to appeal the foreign market. Somehow, I doubt this.

 

[Vendel]

I have a suggestion for the next FF game.


Study this SE.

Study it and take notes.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

I think up until recently Square has been hyper-focussed on their Japanese demographic (considering that THIS is the type of stuff that's popular in Japan.... er, yeah). Perhaps their more recent acknoledgements to the Western fanbase will start reflecting in their character marketing, to appeal the foreign market. Somehow, I doubt this.

They seriously need to start acknowledging their Western audiences, since more people play their games than just Japanese people. More than one article, (some even written by Japanese developers) have pointed out that the traditional "NOBODY EXCEPT OTHER JAPANESE PEOPLE EXIST" attitude is dangerous and is starting to lose them some players.

 

[Ghost X]

Its a bit of a ridiculous thing to ask the Japanese though, isn't it? It would be like asking the US audience to please the Indian or Chinese demographic. I wouldn't be that surprised if Japan was some what ignorant of what the rest of the world likes, just like any other society.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

Its a bit of a ridiculous thing to ask the Japanese though, isn't it? It would be like asking the US audience to please the Indian or Chinese demographic. I wouldn't be that surprised if Japan was some what ignorant of what the rest of the world likes, just like any other society.

It's well noted by most in the worldwide community that Japanese culture is a lot more insular and less culturally aware than the rest of the world. This has been discussed in more important formats than video games (ex. worldwide politicians in diplomatic meetings with Japan trying to get them more involved in world affairs). This is evident in their popular culture and the general attitude of the people there as well.

 

[Dashell]

Its a bit of a ridiculous thing to ask the Japanese though, isn't it? It would be like asking the US audience to please the Indian or Chinese demographic. I wouldn't be that surprised if Japan was some what ignorant of what the rest of the world likes, just like any other society.

Yeah I kind of agree with this...it's like my English teacher who was ranting about how in the movie Independence Day they had to have the AMERICANS figure out how to save the day. Yeah how dare the Americans save the day in an American movie

It'd be hard to please all audiences, so they try to please themselves I guess.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

refer to mah post above

 

[Ghost X]

So having said that, I guess, the only way the japanese game developers will learn JRPGs suck is when the money stops coming in. Unless they are satisfied with the money they get from within Japan alone. Hopefully though, they'll investigate why people are starting to get sick of their games.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

So having said that, I guess, the only way the japanese game developers will learn JRPGs suck is when the money stops coming in. Unless they are satisfied with the money they get from within Japan alone. Hopefully though, they'll investigate why people are starting to get sick of their games.

I'm not saying JRPGs suck (I will say they aren't as good as they were, though), but I will say that in my subjective opinion, they would be a lot better if they (went back to their roots in a few ways, not all, some of the stuff I see now is truly progressive, and good), and stop being so afraid of foreign influence.

I would like to repeat the point of Japanese resistance to foreign influence is a big issue not limited to video games, and is a big deal in other issues, such as the very real threat of the Japanese people dying out (not kidding look it up)

 

[Dashell]

Hmm, I think I misunderstood, are you saying they're not aware of their own culture or other cultures?

 

[Cat Rage Room]

Hmm, I think I misunderstood, are you saying they're not aware of their own culture or other cultures?

Japanese culture has traditionally has been very resistant to foreign influence of any kind. Obviously, this attitude can be either good or bad.

 

[Dashell]

Well.. .then that just explains why they're not using thick women... they didn't before so why would they start now

I'm not saying it's right or a good idea to follow that logic, but maybe they're just sticking with what they know.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

Well.. .then that just explains why they're not using thick women... they didn't before so why would they start now

I'm not saying it's right or a good idea to follow that logic, but maybe they're just sticking with what they know.

Well, yeah, I know that already

I know WHY they do it, but it's about time that we (and whoever else feels the same way) call issue to it and go "Alright Japan it's about time you get on the train along with everyone else and start representing more people in your games".

I mean this kinda sounds pompous for me to say, but Japan has had almost three decades to cram near xenophobia into the aesthetics of their games. It's time to wake the hell up and join the rest of the world community, at least in how you make your games.

Keep in mind that this complaint doesn't extend to ALL Japanese games. Xenogears and Chrono Cross has an impressive amount of ethic diversity, in their characters and in the world setting of both games.

 

[Dashell]

Yeah they should branch out... they could probably start slowly to see if it works. I have a feeling it would though as long as it's not overpowering.

 

[Ghost X]

I think Metal Gear Solid is okay as far as diversity is concerned as well. You say the Japanese people are going to die out? How so? Through lack of genetic diversity? If the entire human population came from about 10,000 humans migrating out of Kenya (or whatever), I think Japan is pretty safe.

 

[Raquelborn]

Keep in mind that this complaint doesn't extend to ALL Japanese games. Xenogears and Chrono Cross has an impressive amount of ethic diversity, in their characters and in the world setting of both games.

Doesn't that just show that it can't be down to Japan's culture then? If it hasn't restricted these other Square Enix RPGs then it shouldn't be affecting Final Fantasy either.

I think it may be that SE thinks this is what we, the Westerners want.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

Doesn't that show that it can't be down to Japans culture then? If it hasn't restricted these other Square Enix RPGs then it shouldn't be affecting Final Fantasy either.

I think it just shows that games like Xenogears/Chrono Cross/whatever other examples you guys can think of are just exceptions to the rule, and not proof that Japan doesn't have issues accepting foreign influence in their own culture (which it does have issues in doing)

 

[Cat Rage Room]

I think Metal Gear Solid is okay as far as diversity is concerned as well. You say the Japanese people are going to die out? How so? Through lack of genetic diversity? If the entire human population came from about 10,000 humans migrating out of Kenya (or whatever), I think Japan is pretty safe.

Japan's population is going down every year by a pretty high amount (about a percent every year, and not because anyone's leaving Japan. It's because they're dying faster than babies are born), and the government is adamant about not opening up their borders to make citizenship easier for non Japanese. That's just one of the reasons for that problem, though.

 

[Alessa Gillespie]

I think Metal Gear Solid is okay as far as diversity is concerned as well. You say the Japanese people are going to die out? How so? Through lack of genetic diversity? If the entire human population came from about 10,000 humans migrating out of Kenya (or whatever), I think Japan is pretty safe.

Lack of babies kinda sorta puts a damper on the Japanese population. Just a weentsy bit.

 

[Ghost X]

Ah, negative population growth. Cool. The world could do with some of that, globally. What better way to save the environment, get rid of the carbon footprint etc? I think if this trend was actually an imminent threat to Japan, they'd do something about it.

 

[Cat Rage Room]

I think if this trend was actually an imminent threat to Japan, they'd do something about it.

It is an imminent threat and the government is desperately trying to do something about it.

 

[Ghost X]

Ah, yes, aging population. Well, its the consequence of a growing population, especially if we want to cut down the population. You are going to eventually get in a position where there is a large minority of old age pensioners, which the rest of society must support. But anyway, straying from topic here... Ummm... there should be more old age pensioners as main characters in FF. I bet you that won't happen either .