2P Skin Color

[Lauront]

Imagine trying to argue that a character is 'tan' as opposed to brown, as if tanned people don't appear as a shade of brown.

The difference is one is temporary and induced by the sun, the other is not. When some people try to insinuate it is about race, the distinction also becomes more relevant to point out, since obviously getting a tan (or removing it) does not change that. Then, there is the fact that this is an android.

I'm going to throw it out there, but fair skin for centuries in Japan has been considered a sign of beauty, I think we are talking as far back at 10th century AD. If I were to hazard a guess, if it was an artist deliberately doing it, I don't think the intention is racially motivated or an attempt to white wash a character. Japanese characters are so often depicted by the Japanese as having fairer skin than Japanese people tend to in the real world. It could well be because of this cultural difference.

Exactly.

*snip*

Spot on.

[Saefinn]

I suppose on the tan comments. In parts of the west, having darker or tan skin is a sign of beauty, hence so many get tans for vanity reasons. So I guess not so crazy for the Japanese to have the reverse. And it's not just the Japanese, I believe its the same in South Korea and China. Fairer skin free of blemishes.

I get that white washing is a thing, before anything thinks I'm defending whitewashing. But I also am aware there's also a cultural difference here that could be a plausible explanation.

[DevilsDontFly]

That's just SE being truthful to their "Character Creator vs Ingame" potato lighting.

Jokes aside we gotta remember that regardless of how the community feels about it, any changes have to go through Yoko Taro's eyes first and get his approval. If 2P ends up lighter than what people are used to, it's more than likely intentional on his part and the way he wants her to be canon in the universe.

If she was already an estabilished character beforehand, then yeah, I'd be iffy about the sudden change. But wasn't she just a fanmade character because of Soul Calibur?

Not only that but that render is clearly tonemaped and with a lot of HDR. Her hair is almost blue.

[Saefinn]

I'm going to throw it out there, but fair skin for centuries in Japan has been considered a sign of beauty, I think we are talking as far back at 10th century AD. If I were to hazard a guess, if it was an artist deliberately doing it, I don't think the intention is racially motivated or an attempt to white wash a character. Japanese characters are so often depicted by the Japanese as having fairer skin than Japanese people tend to in the real world. It could well be because of this cultural difference.

[MikkoAkure]

I'm going to throw it out there, but fair skin for centuries in Japan has been considered a sign of beauty, I think we are talking as far back at 10th century AD. If I were to hazard a guess, if it was an artist deliberately doing it, I don't think the intention is racially motivated or an attempt to white wash a character. Japanese characters are so often depicted by the Japanese as having fairer skin than Japanese people tend to in the real world. It could well be because of this cultural difference.

I’m sure that’s what it is. It’s not a race thing but a skin tone thing. And that would be “fine” if this was a Japan-only game. But when you’re selling to the west, I would think that they would want to be more careful, especially when this has unfortunate implications no matter the reason behind it.

I don’t think any of this is malicious, it’s just disappointing.

[Anselmet]

I would think that they would want to be more careful, especially when this has unfortunate implications no matter the reason behind it.

So let me get this straight, Japan has to bow down to western culture because some people cannot comprehend that another culture has different social constructs and ideas on race and skin tone and because they might offend someone? Oof that is a bad look. Western culture is VERY dominant globally and making every culture toe the line is insulting. I hate to say this word, but people who are offended over the Japanese concept of race and skin tone need to educate themselves. Not everything needs to be catered to x audience no matter global a franchise is. It is made by Japanese people. Deal with it. Move on.

I know you didn't bring up colonialism but it has been brought up as an argument as to why we need to be conscious of whitewashing. Wanna know one of the policies that was used? Enforcing European culture and ideas was one of the many ways that they erased identities in their colonies.

[Saefinn]

I’m sure that’s what it is. It’s not a race thing but a skin tone thing. And that would be “fine” if this was a Japan-only game. But when you’re selling to the west, I would think that they would want to be more careful, especially when this has unfortunate implications no matter the reason behind it.

I don’t think any of this is malicious, it’s just disappointing.

I guess an oversight? I dunno, they sell all over the world, it may not necessarily be the case they're aware of all social and cultural quirks outside of Japan or outside or their neighbouring countries, its a huge world with much diversity and is not centred on the certain parts of the West like the US or UK, as not everywhere in the West picks up on it either. "Woke" culture is still a relatively new thing too, which is where the biggest voice is on these kind of things.

I can agree that more POC representation in video games is a good thing, especially as there is a lack of it and this will have been a good opportunity for it. I just don't think everything is racially motivated or has a racial significance. I'm also for understanding how cultures vary and differ from our own.

[Hugowulf]

I dunno, I was just looking forward to playing the raid. I don’t think I look twice at most npcs to really care about their skin tone.

[GrumbleBeard]

I heard from a reliable source that this is only the start. Soon they will remove anything short of "Irish" from the character creator and retroactively correct all player characters to be pristine creme gods. The Japanese have always been known to be the staunchest of white nationalists.

But really, who cares? You can see from the cutscenes that it's just different render.

[Kobalos]

Well this topic went downhill fast...2Ps skin colour does look lighter then normal and I can see why folks would feel like its a sleight after all representaion is important. But I am going to hold any judgment untill the raid is released. It could just be lighting and she's her useral skin tone in most of the cutscenes.