But I LOVE anthropomorphic characters

[Adrian-kun]

I was going over Jessica 'the boxhead' Chavez's blog on Solatorobo: Red the Hunter (http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=9088029) and all she did was defend anthropomorphism like it was some sort of plague. I know that shooters where you kill virtual people are all the rage right now, but if you like Japan, Pokemon, Xseed and anime and video games in general then you're likely going to buy Solatorobo simply because of the characters. Why is Xseed making such a big deal out of it? Why are you guys trying to promote the 'crushing metal on metal action' instead of the fun platforming and cute characters?!?!?
I know you want to sell big, but this is ridiculous. You want the people who like to 'murder' each other online buy your game and all of this effort feels like Cirque du So Lame just arrived in town.

[Wyrdwad]

I take it you aren't familiar with the "furry" phenomenon, are you?

In a nutshell, there are a large number of people who have come to idealize and relate with cartoon animals. These people are collectively known as "furries," and have numerous websites and yearly conventions devoted to exploring their interests. These interests typically include watching cartoons, drawing fan-art and even constructing elaborate costumes that rival even professional animal suits you'd see at Disneyland or Disneyworld in quality.

A subset of furries, however, have taken the hobby to the next level, sexualizing anthropomorphic characters through fan-art, fan-fiction, "fursuit sex," etc. While these particular people do not represent ALL furries, they've somehow become a stereotype for the whole furry movement -- much as a lot of non-anime fans seem to think of all anime as tentacle porn or borderline illegal lolita-complex works, non-furries seem to think of all furries as sex-craved perverts who dress up like cartoon characters in order to attract other furries for one-night stands.

Because of this, it's become all too common for jaded web-surfers to dismiss anthropomorphic characters as "furry fodder" -- especially when said anthropomorphic characters come from Japan, which those same people often regard as the land of tentacle rape and other perverse material.

So the reason Jessica's blog took the tone it did is because, sadly, a lot of potential fans are likely to pass this game by SOLELY due to its heavy use of anthropomorphic characters, and the stigma such character designs call to mind for them.

(For the record, I have a sizable number of furry friends, so personally, I have nothing at all against furries -- even the ones who sexualize anthropomorphs. It's a fetish, just like any other -- and I find it hypocritical that internet denizens would condemn them for that fetish while undoubtedly harboring equally "deviant" fetishes of their own. So if anyone wants to play Solatorobo for its furry factor, I say, more power to you! But if anyone is turned off by that same furry factor, I urge you not to worry: remember, the game got rated E10+ by the ESRB, which means it's appropriate for anyone ages 10 and up. So no, there is nothing sexual within the game, and the fact that the characters are portrayed as anthropomorphs is both a fully explained and well-conceived plot point. In short, this game should appeal to furries and non-furries alike, and if any of you are closet furries, feel free to come out here -- we'll gladly welcome you aboard, just as we do for all the rest of our loyal fans!)

-Tom

[Adrian-kun]

Why would these cute and innocent looking girls be stigmatized? It's a shame we live in such a terrible world.

[Peytral]

My neighbor for half my life, friend, and arguably the dude who got me into the video games I play now is a self-proclaimed furry. So I'm fine with the concept and fandom, even the part of the fandom that are furry fetishists(which I believe said friend is also).

Though, on the other hand, I prefer stuff with human characters over anthromorphic characters. Not enough for me to pass up on stuff just because the characters are anthromorphic, though.

[Chaosblade]

I don't "get" furries or care for anthropomorphic characters in games, but I don't go around hating them or anything (seriously at least). Will always prefer human characters as well, but that's not a factor that will prevent me from buying a game.

Frog from Chrono Trigger is the exception though, he's a badass!

[Ryusui]

Furry fandom can be...pretty creepy. Unfortunately, it's the lunatics that the Internet is most familiar with.

On the one hand, I'd like to point out that these people have apparently forgotten the '80s and '90s, when you couldn't swing a catgirl around without hitting some show full of fuzzy characters. On the other, I'm grimly aware that Gadget Hackwrench and Callie Briggs are apparently furry sex symbols (emphasis on sex).

Apologies in advance for ruining your childhood with three words in parentheses.

So. The Internet will probably pile an unreasonable amount of hate on this game for being tangentially related to a subculture that, bafflingly, is even more vilified than pedophilia, but I see this as quite possibly the DS's Last Great Game. It doesn't hurt matters that CC2 has been teasing a Tail Concerto sequel off and on for ten-odd years, and I am sooooo freaking happy I don't have to fan translate it.

[Ryos]

I take it you aren't familiar with the "furry" phenomenon, are you?

I found out after moving where I live now that the biggest furry convention in the country takes place near my hometown. Speaking of which...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_furry_conventions o_O Furries scare me. Anthropomorphic characters are fine though. But then I liked Hyper Police and Our Home's Fox Deity and my opinion on this subject is now suspect.

[Wyrdwad]

But then I liked Hyper Police and Our Home's Fox Deity and my opinion on this subject is now suspect.

I'm impressed you're AWARE of Hyper Police! (: Kickin' it old-school there! Great show, though. I need to watch more of it sometime, as I've only ever seen the first four episodes.

Me, my guilty pleasure in terms of shows full of anthropomorphs is Sonic the Hedgehog (the Saturday morning version, not the weekday version). Which I guess makes me even MORE suspect, since Princess Sally Acorn is right up there with Gadget and Callie as a major furry sex symbol -- but I don't care, that show was just plain awesome! Wish there would've been a third season.

-Tom

[Ryusui]

I'll just leave this here.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL29C5D82C69A31692

(Gotta get this thing subbed sometime...)

[Sgt Phantomizer]

I don't have any real preference one way or the other, if it's fun and it's my kind of gameplay/story/etc, i'll play it.

But reading this thread made me lol.