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Adding my voice to the disappointment in the new hairstyle. I know polycount isn't the problem. The artist had so lovingly detailed the sections of the hair and what that might look like under a hat, on top of showing off what it might look like on a character's model. SE's version of the new hairstyle looks so different as to be mistaken as something else completely, and to my eye it looks bedraggled and wet, nothing like the original artist's vision.
I have not ordered Dawntrail out of apprehension for SE's handling of cultures outside their wheelhouse. This act has confirmed to me that the FFXIV dev team does not stand by its values of inclusion and allowing people to feel represented; values that the game's director has directly mentioned in interviews, whether that is in sentimental anecdotes, or statements of affirmation towards inclusivity and diversity. It is clear that the dev team is lacking in structural commitment to those values.
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Chiming in with all the other voices on this topic. Even setting aside for a moment the obvious issue of the cultural inclusion aspect, the style just fails to capture the spirit of the original design at all. The volume of the hair was a crucial part of what differentiated the contest winner from other hairstyles in the game, and I find it concerning that they’re so willing to make changes to a style after it’s already won. The point of the contest is for the winners to be included in the game; what’s the point if executive whim might be allowed to do this at any time?
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Yeah this is honestly horrendous. It looks so wet and soggy rather than volumous and bouncy. If Guild Wars 2 could do fairly decent curly hair years ago, CBU3 has basically no excuse to not do better than this with our current engine. They really need to give this another pass.
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Adding my voice in support.
Square’s track record with characters of color, specifically black-coded ones, is questionable at best and abysmal at worst. Not only does the artist deserve to have their vision and effort honored, the players deserve to have accurate and respectfully rendered afro-textured hair options.
I say ‘options’ plural because there are myriad textures that the overarching phrase ‘Afro-textured’ describes. Rectifying the game rendition of this contest entry is only one of them.
A cursory internet search (I used the phrase ‘types of Afro-textured hair’) turns up all sorts of resources. I chose the link below as an example of one that is by a black creator. Paying attention to how black folks talk about, wear, and perhaps even care for their hair would be a step in the right direction in providing players with multiple respectfully-executed Afro-textured hair options in game.
https://youtu.be/gkWhewD0AWc?si=GwU9apGb1jNRop-6
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Square needs to fix this. They already dont have great POC hair, but this feels like a huge slap in the face. Square needs to do better, if modders can make something good, square can too.
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https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...960&height=514
My biggest complaint with this hair is the texture is something else entirely.
The artist drew something around 3A to 3B
The hair we got is 2A, barely 2B
I know this game has it's 3D limitations but it's genuinely believe the FFXIV visual team can do a better, more accurate job.
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About the hair...
As a person whose curl pattern is almost exactly like the original design, this one that's being implemented in 7.1 is just... I understand that the devs are overworked and stressed and tired, but when it comes to things like this where minorities are being advocated for and represented, there can be little room for lack of care - and do not get me wrong, that is not at ALL what I'm saying is happening here.
This hair requires more care and attention that most other hairstyles in the game, and with the graphical update, more can be done to hairstyles to make them appear fuller, etc. As was the case with several creatures (the alpacas have fluffy fur, etc.) Now granted, I don't know how hair works in this game, but the only two other textured hairstyles we have are both from ARR, and neither of them hold up well at all.
I am asking as a minority and as someone who was excited to use this hair upon its implementation for a revision of this hair and an update to it if at all possible, and if it's not, then I ask that future hairstyles be treated with far more care. It's only right.
Thank you.
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That hairstyle looks bad and SE should feel bad.
I agree that the new style has nothing to do with the concept.
Edit: A friend just mentioned the new hairstyle looks like Emet-Selch just got out of the shower and now I can't unsee it. xD
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I'm also disappointed if the new hairstyle is supposed to be based off of the Natural Curls entry. I remember the creator on social media being excited to add a curly option to the game if they won. This does not match that intent.