Child-like characters?

[Elgeron]

Lets get rid of the Whole "Money" thing here. The issue also boils down to that SE and YoshiP do not want to risk Young childlike characters being sexualized in their MMO. Which puts their company, and the Entire game at risk of being shutdown. You can argue that a game being suspended is a loss of money...yes. But money and Maximizing Profits isn't the drive here.

Actually I think Ftail may be partially right. I think you are perfectly right that SE wants to maintain a certain image, specially because they deal with a huge international market. But I think the inconsistencies of how minors are portrayed and the declarations of Yoshi-P may point out more to covering their asses while trying to make good PR for themselves. Mainly, the issues is the character of Ryne. While the game is not stranger to present minors in situations of violence or danger (from the Scions twins to the children victim of war in SB), most of this cases were a bit in the "grey area" because the twins are clearly late teens, so it is not so frowned upon to see them in combat (while I would say SE is being cautious of avoiding any kind of sexualization of said characters), and other minors are, at most, implied to had been victims of violence off-screen. So far, so good. But the introduction of Ryne breaks this, by being a 12-13 year old girl clearly engaging in combat on-screen. Even more poignant, being involved in actual gameplay. Unless there is a piece of lore that I may had miss and Ryne turns out to be older, it seems to go against what was declared by Yoshi, and that it may not be so big of an issue.

Of course, you are right that they want to avoid any scandal that may arise from players sexualizing child characters, but I think as big of a reason is that it would be a nightmare to introduce a child version of each race, even if they would limit them to be 16 or so. It has to be all or none, or you will end up with even a worse situation than Vieras and Hrotgarh's limitations. Add having to make all gear fix, animation look good on them, probably make some new ones, and if they have to adapt dialogue to avoid unfortunate situations (NPCs flirting or making remarks of a sexual nature to the WoL) etc, etc, even if there was no moral issue, it would be a nightmare and too big of an invest of resources for what would be a very superficial feature of the game (reason why I would be against it and against adding more races).

But money and Maximizing Profits isn't the drive here.

I'll say that the vast majority of times, profits is the main reason for almost any decision a company makes, specially a big one like SE. No matter how noble or right it may seem.

[Theodric]

In regards to Alisae, Alphinaud and Ryne...

The presence of younger characters as non-playable characters is very different to the presence of younger characters as playable characters. The development team control exactly what happens to non-playable characters. They cannot, however, control what people do with playable characters.

So it isn't really a double standard on Square Enix's part.

[Elgeron]

In regards to Alisae, Alphinaud and Ryne...

The presence of younger characters as non-playable characters is very different to the presence of younger characters as playable characters. The development team control exactly what happens to non-playable characters. They cannot, however, control what people do with playable characters.

So it isn't really a double standard on Square Enix's part.

This is an extract of the exact quote:

"With every passing year the debate surrounding moral and ethical issues in games grows more intense, and we do not want to present children in battle or in pain—and posing such characters sexually and taking screenshots and so forth would be expressly forbidden."

I say it is fair enough to say that at least Ryne example is a bit hypocritical. You are completely right regarding SE being unable to control players presenting their characters in a sexual manner, so it is more problem that it is worth.

[MOZZYSTAR]

At first, I was like "aww, baby miqo'tes would be so cute! I'd totally make my character's son!"
And then my friend pointed out some people would inevitably be gross and sexualise their child characters. 'Av already seen it a few times with lalas having disturbing names (that totally got reported because that crap's nasty).
So, child PCs would be opening a huge can of worms that just isn't worth the hassle. I 100% understood why it's a no-go. Because, as other people mentioned: the team can control child NPCs. They cannot control player characters. It's part of the reason why FFXIV's rating is what it is because of "online interaction."
While YOU might not do it, SOMEONE will inevitably do it and it would probably be many someones. It just isn't worth it.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

Actually I think Ftail may be partially right. I think you are perfectly right that SE wants to maintain a certain image, specially because they deal with a huge international market. But I think the inconsistencies of how minors are portrayed and the declarations of Yoshi-P may point out more to covering their asses while trying to make good PR for themselves. Mainly, the issues is the character of Ryne. While the game is not stranger to present minors in situations of violence or danger (from the Scions twins to the children victim of war in SB), most of this cases were a bit in the "grey area" because the twins are clearly late teens, so it is not so frowned upon to see them in combat (while I would say SE is being cautious of avoiding any kind of sexualization of said characters), and other minors are, at most, implied to had been victims of violence off-screen. So far, so good. But the introduction of Ryne breaks this, by being a 12-13 year old girl clearly engaging in combat on-screen. Even more poignant, being involved in actual gameplay. Unless there is a piece of lore that I may had miss and Ryne turns out to be older, it seems to go against what was declared by Yoshi, and that it may not be so big of an issue.

Of course, you are right that they want to avoid any scandal that may arise from players sexualizing child characters, but I think as big of a reason is that it would be a nightmare to introduce a child version of each race, even if they would limit them to be 16 or so. It has to be all or none, or you will end up with even a worse situation than Vieras and Hrotgarh's limitations. Add having to make all gear fix, animation look good on them, probably make some new ones, and if they have to adapt dialogue to avoid unfortunate situations (NPCs flirting or making remarks of a sexual nature to the WoL) etc, etc, even if there was no moral issue, it would be a nightmare and too big of an invest of resources for what would be a very superficial feature of the game (reason why I would be against it and against adding more races).



I'll say that the vast majority of times, profits is the main reason for almost any decision a company makes, specially a big one like SE. No matter how noble or right it may seem.

I love how even if a good and sensible statement is made, people wanna say its because Money. *groan* just, that makes my head spin.
I get your argument, but c'mon, I think its deeper then just money. They even pointed out the problems it would cause.

[Elgeron]

I love how even if a good and sensible statement is made, people wanna say its because Money. *groan* just, that makes my head spin.
I get your argument, but c'mon, I think its deeper then just money. They even pointed out the problems it would cause.

The thing is that both of us can speculate as much as we want, but it is really impossible to really determine the real reasons behind the decision. Could you, 100% assure me, that if SE could make more money by introducing children without any kind of negative repercussion, regardless if it was moral or not to do so, they wouldn't do it? I would say is impossible for you to do so, just as much as I can't prove that they would introduce them under such (impossible) circustamces. The problems it would cause ultimately lead to them risking the game, which is one of the main sources of income of SE, together with mobile games, and one of their few recent successful IPs, both economically and critically. Look, I do not doubt that developers like Yoshi or his team had strong moral sense and they do feel very personal about the issue, but I think it is important to consider that Yoshi hands are "tied up" to a certain degree about what he can or cannot say or do by SE. I do not even disagree with the decision, it is the most sensible and reasonable one, even if I feel sorry for those that wanted to play as young characters, but I think is naive to think that a company as big as SE, which has quite a questionable history when it comes to some of their decisions, hundreds of people with different believes working together, a company focused on creating products and entertainment, would mainly concern itself with ethical issues when making decisions.

[Zanarkand-Ronso]

The thing is that both of us can speculate as much as we want, but it is really impossible to really determine the real reasons behind the decision. Could you, 100% assure me, that if SE could make more money by introducing children without any kind of negative repercussion, regardless if it was moral or not to do so, they wouldn't do it? I would say is impossible for you to do so, just as much as I can't prove that they would introduce them under such (impossible) circustamces. The problems it would cause ultimately lead to them risking the game, which is one of the main sources of income of SE, together with mobile games, and one of their few recent successful IPs, both economically and critically. Look, I do not doubt that developers like Yoshi or his team had strong moral sense and they do feel very personal about the issue, but I think it is important to consider that Yoshi hands are "tied up" to a certain degree about what he can or cannot say or do by SE. I do not even disagree with the decision, it is the most sensible and reasonable one, even if I feel sorry for those that wanted to play as young characters, but I think is naive to think that a company as big as SE, which has quite a questionable history when it comes to some of their decisions, hundreds of people with different believes working together, a company focused on creating products and entertainment, would mainly concern itself with ethical issues when making decisions.

Yes, I could. Especially if they want to have a Western Audience, because of how our culture works over here.
But now that I say that, I can think of how the West is trying to Maintain a Chinese Audience, so they change things that align with their culture. So screw it...in the end it is all about money. Ill concede, I fold. Morals dont matter, the money does.

[Elgeron]

Yes, I could. Especially if they want to have a Western Audience, because of how our culture works over here.
But now that I say that, I can think of how the West is trying to Maintain a Chinese Audience, so they change things that align with their culture. So screw it...in the end it is all about money. Ill concede, I fold. Morals dont matter, the money does.

Don't be so negative, morals do matter. Even if it is done because of money, it just shows that doing the right thing may lead to profit, at least in the long run. Not always, the world isn't perfect, but the fact that this game has being doing well thanks to Yoshi keeping more or less a ethical conduct when it comes to this game, with some mistakes here and there, is proof that it can count for something. I'll say that even if its done because of selfish reasons, doing the right things is still commendable.

Another issue is the question about what is moral or not. As you said, it is moral for Western Audience, but no Chinese, but does that means it is amoral, that it is wrong? The game is after all Japanese, and I think, do not quote me on that, the game is most popular in Japan, and the Japanese player-base had been the main influence for a lot of the development decisions. I think it is a little more complicated that just saying that they are doing the right or wrong thing here.

[Kacho_Nacho]

Me at your name and this topic together.

Whatever you do, don't ask where her pants are!

Ohh, please, you wanted to hear/read that answer

/laugh

Loli, quit teasing the roe.

[Eloah]

What the hell is this thread. Someone please delete it.