180°

Why Nintendo Needs More Female Protagonists

Nintendo Insider writes:

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was met with a warm reception when it was announced at E3, but not every fan was happy with the choice of protagonist. For a while, rumours had been circulating that the next Legend of Zelda could have a female lead. Sadly, the mumblings weren’t true and producer Eiji Aonuma explained that giving Zelda the lead would have meant poor Link would be left at home, twiddling his thumbs.

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nintendo-insider.com
Hoffmann2861d ago

They don't need more female protagonists, they need more NEW protagonists and more completely new series that don't stay one game experiences and can develop into a big series.

Blu3_Berry2861d ago

Agreed. Instead of mixing their mascots into different genres they are not used to, just make an entirely new world. It will go a long ways if done right but they seem iffy on taking big risks for creating new protagonists. Both Sony and Microsoft are doing it, so why not Nintendo?

Step your game up Nintendo!!

_-EDMIX-_2861d ago

Agreed Nintendo is already taking some risk with the new Zelda game and I love it !!

I want them to continue that path and continue to progress as a company as opposed to saying static

_-EDMIX-_2861d ago

I believe they need new protagonist of many demographics regardless as there's so much unique stories that could be told.

I feel Zelda also being Sheik has so many amazing opportunities that they could run with. I think the biggest problem with specific Publishers is there so scared to change specific things in gaming they lock the creativity moving forward because they keep holding on to Old dated ideas.

Kojima did not get to where he was by continuing the same type of storylines or characters he wasn't afraid to completely get rid of main characters in favor of new he wasn't afraid to even age is character or even completely have you play someone else in his next games because he's confident in the world and character he's building in the perspectives you're now saying you're excited to play something a little bit different from a different point of view.

The most strange and amazing thing about this E3 has to be Resident Evil 7 Zelda and God of War having a radically different concepts! One could call it the E3 of radical creative Direction lol

What are the most interesting things I read about God of War was that director stated nothing was "sacred" and they were not going to keep something just because ,they were going to radically change what they wanted to and that type of bold confidence is why God of War was one of the craziest reveals of E3.

I feel Nintendo is on the right path and they need to trust their developers and creators and let them focus on actually creating unique experiences who knows where this company could have been if they always kept seeking a progressive attitude as opposed to static in always trying to desperately keep things the same.

I was shocked and flabbergasted that cutting grass didn't give you money in Zelda as this is something I've been asking for, well over 15 plus years!!😂

But it's good to see that Nintendo is finally after all these damn years trying to be Progressive this is what the fans want they need to compete openly and they need to stop feeling like they need to cater to Nostalgia or hold things sacred because it's literally destroying this company by continuing to try to cater to such an idea. I'm not saying the game needs to be a completely different genre I'm merely saying that the team creatively progressed and if the character could be a girl and they could have a unique story behind it so be it because I do not believe every Zelda game needs to be about link, I mean for god sakes the namesake of the series needs to have their own unique game. Lol

They need to stop being afraid of change and stop being afraid of new things nothing should be so damn sacred that a confined to series to this one stagnant boring Direction.

The mass excitement from Zelda this year should show them that fans indeed welcome this change and have been asking for it for a long time this is the first Zelda I'll be purchasing since Twilight Princess that's a very long time to not play a series!

I want them to progressively make new characters and have games focused on different perspectives.

wonderfulmonkeyman2861d ago

For once I agree with you.

If they could hire more young talents to create more genre-twisting games like Splatoon, Nintendo would be in very fine straights indeed.
Then again, Mario Maker is selling like hot cakes and the attach rate for many of their exclusives, both first and third party, are insane, sooooo....

Hoffmann2861d ago

Huh? I could swear you started a few more replies to me already with "for once I agree to you" ;-)

Seriously, I have nothing against Nintendo, I want them to become more successful.

Zeldafan642861d ago

I'm pretty sure Splatoon is going to be just that. If Nintendo can make one more new ip of the same caliber as Splatoon they should not be criticized anymore for not making new ips.

Hoffmann2861d ago

Splatoon is a right step into the right direction for sure.

_-EDMIX-_2861d ago

? No. No when publishers like Sony are releasing new IPs as entire series every gen like clock work. They can do more.

If Sony can, Nintendo can. Nintendo use to be the one that created those new concepts, now its as if they are just gun shy about making anything that is different, hopefully we see more like Splatoon or even the new Zelda from their other teams.

"they should not be criticized anymore for not making new ips" Not when we are saying Splatoon plus one more.

That is like Saying Sony released Knack and Until Dawn and "they should not be criticized anymore for not making new ips" and um "can make one more new ip" lol

Yet...Days Gone, Horizon Zero Dawn, Driveclub, Dreams, Wild, Detroit etc.

I want to see that level from Nintendo. Why not seek more? Less is better? Its not as if Sony had 3 people per team making those games or something lol.

I think Nintendo is trying to do better, but its very, very clear they can do better then this, Sony and even MS says hi to that bs.

Nintendo selling less handhelds and consoles this gen compared to last should be very much leading the charge on new concepts and IPs if you ask me.

Not saying they need to have a line up like Sony's exactly, merely that they need to be in the same damn boat of new ips!!!

Coniser this, you don't hear PS4 gamers saying "Until Dawn is a start, we just need 1 more new IP and we are good" or "Bloodboren is a start, 1 more new IP Sony and we are fine" lol

Those are just merely SOME new IPs ,Sony still has a few teams that are still making new content too.THAT is the level of excitement that gains a long term consumers.

Splatoon plus 1 isn't driving anyone nuts bud....pretty sure you'd be happy as hell if Nintendo was making more new IP NEAR the level of Sony or even MS.

To MS its not merely JUST ReCore and 1 more lol Scalebound, Quantum Break, Sea Of Thieves etc.

As a gamer, pretty sure we would want more variety and effort from Nintendo. If Splatoon plus 1 more new IP fixes Nintendo's issues regarding new IP for you, thank god you don't own Nintendo.

What is that saying for Sony and MS? So Nintendo is losing but just needs 1 more new IP and they are good?

Soooooo disregard why PS4 and XONE are selling better?

Metallox2861d ago

But bruh, WHAT ABOUT MAH FEELINGS!?

2861d ago
Geekman2861d ago

You.. you literally turned one thing into something else.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2861d ago
DiscoKid2861d ago

Having more female protagonists just for the sake of having them is stupid. If the director wants a female lead, then they should, regardless of anyone's feminism.

_-EDMIX-_2861d ago (Edited 2861d ago )

Who sang that's the case though? This is merely saying if somebody had a great idea for a Zelda game that was about a female lead make that happen!

I don't believe anyone is saying make it happen just for the sake of equality and nothing more as opposed to Let's actually try to have a different character perspective

Have you not wondered why the name of the game itself being Zelda has not had the person even it's named after as a main character?

The 10th Rider2861d ago

Then it wouldn't be a Legend of Zelda game, it'd be a spin-off title . . .

_-EDMIX-_2861d ago

Why would it have to be a "spin-off title"?

Was MGS2 a "spin-off title"?

How about MGSV or MGS3 those too "spin-off title"?

Just saying, you don't play Snake for MOST of MGS2, you don't play Snake at all in MGS3 or MGS5, just saying, you can still have a main Legend Of Zelda game without Link considering all the titles don't even use the same Link in the first place.

TwoForce2861d ago (Edited 2861d ago )

It's Nintendo choice. If they want to make a female or male lead, it will depend on them. Don't force them to do. Just let Nintendo decide.

_-EDMIX-_2861d ago

I don't think they should be forced but I believe they should allow their team to entertain the idea of having a female protagonist or they need to at least have a concept for playing Zelda as one of the games because for god sakes the namesake of the series is a person you've yet to have an entire main game about.

It becomes so stagnant and boring in regards to lure in story because you're basically the same one-dimensional person all the time something scary when Kratos from God of War has more layers to his character than link.....

I want a story about her life as a royal princess I want to have missions when you're escaping the castle to sneak out and have Adventures , I want storylines talking about gender, there's so much that could be done that could make a very unique and long-lasting experience if they just attempted to be bold and confident in their work.

You have too many times companies so scared, set in their ways and stagnant in their direction that they missed so many opportunities to create meaningful experiences.

People need to understand we could have not gotten Heavenly sword or Horizon zero Dawn or The Walking Dead series or Mirrors Edge or so many other great games with female protagonists. Having a different, race ,demographic culture whatever adds a completely different Dynamic to the game and lends to adding to a more unique story that could be proposed as opposed to the same crap we've been getting for Generations.

a company like Nintendo could have been the forbearers of such a revolution yet they've now become the shining example of being stagnant ,set in their ways and basically the old school mentality of creating and storytelling .there's a reason why people absolutely loved the last of us or why titles like The Walking Dead sold so much and got so many awards people want to see different points of views for characters . these companies need to stop being so damn scared of putting a female lead behind the game it's a very ,very obvious some of them are literally scared to change what they've been set in their ways of creating in fear of this massive rejection when the reality is it's just the opposite many of the installed base craves for such a unique twist and change and want to see the different perspective.

Mind you that doesn't go for just females I would like to even see a Zelda where you played in elderly link! Lol people might question if it could work or not and that's okay but Kojima made it work with Metal Gear Solid 4 . I do not believe it's impossible I think people need to think creatively and allow for these teams open their minds to what could be done with such Concepts as opposed ignorantly wanting the same crop regurgitated a billion times.

TwoForce2861d ago

I understand that Nintendo need a new ip and new mascot. But it up to them.

_-EDMIX-_2861d ago (Edited 2861d ago )

@two- lol who saying that it isn't? I'm merely giving a suggestion.

I never once stated that I would be forcing this change upon the company.

Lol consider you could say that about all criticisms or any suggestion ever about anything.

I know it is up to the company we are talking about do they not own the intellectual property and their company?

So let's never theorize or speculate about this or have any suggestions?

JOWAPPO2861d ago (Edited 2861d ago )

Edmix, proofreading, it's a very important thing.

But more to the actual point: I wouldn't want a female-lead Zelda game if they were just going to treat the character as a platform for a discussion of gender politics instead of creating a great individual character that strives on her own merits. That just replaces one shallow character with another.

Then again, there's a reason why Link is shallow, it's because he's more of a role than a character. Does he have to be male? No, he just has to be the hero of time. I think he's just too iconic for his own good, but I wouldn't be all that interested in the same tired female hero story of "none of those ulgy douchey men take her seriously, but this young girl is going to sneak off and save the world ANYWAY! TAKE THAT, PATRIARCHY!1!"

You want to talk about stagnant and boring? That log line pretty much applies to the majority of female-hero animated movies (except Mulan, she's unique because she rose to the challenge of a male soldier standard despite her disadvantages, and she's awesome for it).

Anyway, games like Walking dead weren't super successful simply because the main character was black or a woman, they were successful because they were unique gaming experience in a sea of generic ones (that's why Walking Dead got game of the year). It wasn't just point of view/representation, it was the gameplay and design elements that made it stand out (although for Last of Us it was more the story and graphics, and I don't really care about either, those two things by themselves shouldn't make a GAME).

Also, what's this about getting the same crap for "generations"? It isn't culture or gender alone that automatically creates a unique perspective or experience in interactive entertainment, it's the gameplay and how you design it. Games can do more with unique perspectives than just:

"Oh I'm black, that alone somehow makes my game unique, just talk about my race a bit and watch the awards come flowing in".

I'd love to see more diverse characters, but not if that means replacing what we already have or not having to create a good game/character. You need to create NEW games, GOOD GAMES; games like Last of Us (...eh) and Walking Dead. Encourage developers who want to make that kind of game, don't shame and mandate devs who don't.

Nintendo are finally going back to the original spirit of Zelda and are giving us what looks to be the Zelda of a generation. ...but do these people care? No, that doesn't matter unless Link has a vagina. Apparently young girls don't care either, because the way the character looks is that much of a barrier to their ability to enjoy the game. This article talks about representation like female gamers in general can't enjoy games without it. It's shallow at best and agenda-driven at the very worst.

There's a reason why characters like Samus and Chun-li are beloved characters who are cosplayed to death and put on wall murals: they're wonderfully designed and belong to great games. That's what people want, great games. All the political correctness and progressiveness in the world won't save you from mediocrity.

But in the current climate of entertainment, the opposite is apparently true, you can actually save your crappy movie or game with gender/race politics.

Just ask Sony.

Segata2861d ago

The same year Ubisoft said it was hard to make female characters in games Nintendo released Hyrule Warriors which at launch was made up of mostly female playable characters.

opinionated2861d ago

The site is blocked at my work. Can someone summarize why they need more female protagonist? Is there actually any reasoning behind it or is it just the same old typical quota bullshit.

Movefasta19932861d ago (Edited 2861d ago )

'It all comes back to this: women and girls need to be represented in video games, especially if Nintendo is to attract a young audience. Girls under the age of 12 are going to want to play as girls – a few pink background characters isn’t going to be enough.'

'Another problem is the lack of non-white Nintendo characters. Almost everyone in the Nintendo universe is either European or Asian. The lack of diversity really is shocking and if the company continues down this road, it will end up distancing a large percentage of its potential audience.'

'While it’s good to see a female protagonist was considered for Breath of the Wild, the reason why it was discounted has left many female gamers feeling cold. Nintendo needs to consider its audience and continue asking the question: what if this character was female? Recycling old IPs and characters will only get the company so far – let’s hope the NX introduces us to some new, modern and exciting Nintendo characters. In the meantime, Princess Zelda is going to be the one twiddling her thumbs.'

opinionated2861d ago (Edited 2861d ago )

So the affirmative action mentality basically. It doesn't work. They have tried this shit for years, there are actual statistics and results. Are good intentions still good when you know they are going to fail because of incompetence and forced subject material?

The US fought for years to end segregation and now people are fighting to get it back through multiculturalism, identity and speech politics, affirmative action, etc. There is no reason (result oriented) why any of it should be taken seriously yet it has reigned as the standard in human decency and equality. It's quite ironic.

He is shocked because Nintendo doesn't meet that golden standard. The theory that making a protagonist a different gender or ethnicity will somehow sell more games is a wild assumption. Saying that Nintendo must conform or lose audiences and fade away is complete bs. That's backed up by nothing but propaganda.

If a gamer wants a colored or genderless character that resembles them then that's fine. Many good games give the option already and I have nothing against that whatsoever. It's far down on the priority list for an individual. Far Behind story, writing, framerate, gameplay, graphics, resolution and even fanboyism. These people are the scummy "appropriators of culture" who believe that if it's good then it's good. It is what it is.

Identity politics are a top priority for the American collectivist. Women have one voice, blacks have one voice, the gays and such are smashed together in one abbreviation. They fight like hell for whatever it is they want and follow the leader organization on the oppression quest. None of these people have any less rights than a white straight male. People couldn't name one, it's just divisive rhetoric.

The problem with the American collectivist is claiming harassment when people don't kiss their rings. For example, it's a disgusting display of capitalism and a violation of the equality standard that a woman isn't on their board of directors. Or the lack of diversity in game characters from a toxic Japanese corporation (of all places) leading to their demise. It's such an awkward point of view to me.

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80°

Behind The Dangerous Stunts Of Nintendo’s Iconic Mario Commercials

Two married costume designers share stories from a decade of traveling the globe with Nintendo.

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gameinformer.com
268d ago
110°

Bowser Is Canonically 34 Years Old

In a YouTube video showing Nintendo Switch owners how to create a Nintendo Account, Nintendo of America revealed that Bowser is canonically 34 years old.

jznrpg330d ago

I saw Bowser when I was a kid and now I’m older than him , sigh.

Brazz329d ago

Wow, i'm as old as Bowser!!

Stanjara329d ago (Edited 329d ago )

He looks 55 to me.

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100°

Nintendo Is A Bad Company, But We Can't Help Loving Them Anyway

TG: “Most of us also grew up with Nintendo, likely forming a nostalgic connection with games that have long been crowned as our personal favourites. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker was an experience that shaped my view on open world fantasy, and Super Mario 64 changed my life like it did for millions of others. These titles have earned their place in history, and remain loved to this day for so many worthwhile reasons. We replay them and beg for remasters all while delving into their worlds time and time again because they mean that much to us. It’s a shame then that the company behind them often kicks its own sweet darlings to the curb.”

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thegamer.com
Magog339d ago

I never got the love for Nintendo games personally. The annoying vocalizations and ugly character designs do nothing for me.

Kosic337d ago

Don't forget the constant hand holding with tutorials. Learn this new ability by pressing Y, now prove that you can press Y 8 times before you can move on....

Tapani338d ago (Edited 338d ago )

Another very weird article.

Nintendo is a great company by almost all possible normal measures. The biggest one being: their own staff is happy, and they seem to be very happy, well compensated and retain rate is solid. They are also financially very stable, profitable, and cash rich, so shareholders love them.

Overall it is an extremely creative group of people, and their mission statement is fantastic as well "to put smiles on the faces of everyone we touch. We do so by creating new surprises for people across the world to enjoy together." The social impact is also massive, not to speak culturally. Additionally, they have a really strong core business, high customer retention rate and loyalty. Nintendo's reputation is extremely good, I think in the US alone they are 9th most reputable company, their customer service is better than the average company. Plus, the press gives them a pass, because they are Nintendo. But there's a reason why they do that, it's not "because they are Nintendo", there are more layers to the argument.

Then, then there's the random negative gamers online...and their "reputation" which is inside their heads. And their western ideas of how a Japanese company should behave or what they should do. But they have no right to ask a company to do anything for them, because they can vote with their wallets.

There's a small vocal community online who dislikes Nintendo for what they are, but then again, there's always a small vocal community that dislikes something.

Nintendo also disagrees with the Western world about IP, but most people call Westerners "hidoi!" when they emulate Tears of the Kingdom and do not experience it the way Nintendo wanted them (even if it is not the best visual way), because it is a matter of principle to them (Japanese are very much against anything close to plagiarism, and there are laws that are tight about creative works copying etc.)

The Western Braveheart "freedoom!" shouters need to understand that it is not an American company, nor they need to behave like one. They can have their own fights based on their principles (against emulation). And they very well may lose the battle with that and change, or find a new audience.

In the end, it is so very simple. Don't buy the products if you don't like a company, but there's no need to paint a picture that is unrealistic about Nintendo either.

MadLad338d ago

I hate virtually everything about their business practices, actually. Suing everybody for virtually anything, shooting down fan projects, games they never let devalue, their online infrastructure and how they handle BC.

They're lucky they make great games, because that's the only thing I feel they do right.

gold_drake338d ago

my issue with them, is the complete refusal to have decent tech for us.

and their odd censorship and lawsuits for modders.