Costume Customization: Could it be the answer?
Mortal Kombat (2011)
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Costume Customization: Could it be the answer?
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posted07/01/2010 09:43 PM (UTC)byMick-LuciferAbout Me
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When it came to the subject of alternate costumes in Street Fighter IV; Yoshinori Ono said he wanted to remain true to the classic iconic designs that have been a staple since Street Fighter II. With particular reference to the popular trend of item buying and character customization in other 3D fighters, he described not wanting instantly recognisable classics to be obscured by silly hats and things of that sort.
It's a good philosophy to keep design aspects true to the character, but as we've all seen over the past month, being true to a Mortal Kombat design is open to twenty years worth of interpretation and aesthetic. Creating a single definitive design for all time seems almost antithetical to the MK philosophy, at this point, but maybe that's a good thing.
For me, Reptile was never looking better than in MK4 with his face almost completely revealed. I liked Raiden's flowing fabrics and upgraded hat in MKDA; I appreciated Scorpion looking more like a practical ninja in MKD; and I thought it was a shame that Sub-Zero hid under a cowl again in later games, even though the cryomancer armor was a fun deviation.
In Armageddon; MK proved it was at least capable of putting design control into the hands of players with it's Kreate-A-Kharacter mode. There, we were free to put cybernetic Lin Kuei helmets and ninja suits on just about anyone we wanted! What if the same idea was applied to the MK cast, with the team developing a strong basic model (like the ones we've seen of MK2011), with the possibility to tweak them to our preference. Maybe I'd get rid of Reptile's cowl, change Raiden's hat, put Kung Lao's hat on his back, give Nightwolf a mohawk, put Johnny Cage in a sensible shirt.
I haven't seen it discussed, so I thought I'd throw it open to the MKO userbase to see what you all think: Could MK benefit from customizable characters? What are some of the customizations you might like to see?
It's a good philosophy to keep design aspects true to the character, but as we've all seen over the past month, being true to a Mortal Kombat design is open to twenty years worth of interpretation and aesthetic. Creating a single definitive design for all time seems almost antithetical to the MK philosophy, at this point, but maybe that's a good thing.
For me, Reptile was never looking better than in MK4 with his face almost completely revealed. I liked Raiden's flowing fabrics and upgraded hat in MKDA; I appreciated Scorpion looking more like a practical ninja in MKD; and I thought it was a shame that Sub-Zero hid under a cowl again in later games, even though the cryomancer armor was a fun deviation.
In Armageddon; MK proved it was at least capable of putting design control into the hands of players with it's Kreate-A-Kharacter mode. There, we were free to put cybernetic Lin Kuei helmets and ninja suits on just about anyone we wanted! What if the same idea was applied to the MK cast, with the team developing a strong basic model (like the ones we've seen of MK2011), with the possibility to tweak them to our preference. Maybe I'd get rid of Reptile's cowl, change Raiden's hat, put Kung Lao's hat on his back, give Nightwolf a mohawk, put Johnny Cage in a sensible shirt.
I haven't seen it discussed, so I thought I'd throw it open to the MKO userbase to see what you all think: Could MK benefit from customizable characters? What are some of the customizations you might like to see?
MortalSidd •06/30/2010 08:51 AM (UTC) •
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I like the idea. I think there should be character specific items to keep it from getting ridiculous as well as items for classic costumes.
Mick-Lucifer
What do you like? Hit the Toasty thumbs up on articles and forum posts for a quick response! •06/30/2010 09:06 AM (UTC) •
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MortalSidd Wrote:
I like the idea. I think there should be character specific items to keep it from getting ridiculous as well as items for classic costumes.
I like the idea. I think there should be character specific items to keep it from getting ridiculous as well as items for classic costumes.
Definitely! I don't know that it should necessarily be an excuse to offer up every single ninja style for all those characters, either. Modern equivalents derived from each character and new ideas would be the goal. Definitely no wacky hats... unless it really works...
~Crow~ Wrote:
I don't see how this sort of thing can hurt. If you don't want to use the feature, simply don't use it and go with the original design.
This would be the sort of thing that would make everyone happy.
I don't see how this sort of thing can hurt. If you don't want to use the feature, simply don't use it and go with the original design.
This would be the sort of thing that would make everyone happy.
In an example like Tekken, they've still been able to have "official" alternate costumes as well (with customizable elements), too. So, presumably, MK fans could still be treated to that approach if they didn't want to fiddle around with different cowls and/or wanted different foundations to build on.
After focusing so much on what look was best and what needs changing, it occurs that this really could be the kind of 'please everyone' solution that would end some of these debates. Sort of the ultimate embracing of the MK new costume every game philosophy.
ErmacOwnedYou •06/30/2010 09:07 AM (UTC) •
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if they did they would have to have certin things for characters cuz ppl wud be maken scorpion look like ermac or something like that. but it wud be cool in a way like kabal u can choose mask or no mask...johnny cage no glasses or glasses stuff like that wud be ok.
RazorsEdge701 •06/30/2010 09:53 AM (UTC) •
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I'd be up for MK adapting the customization that Tekken uses. Sure, it's usually just stuff like a flower in Christie's hair, a pair of nunchucks around Marshall's neck, a hat here, a necklace there, etc...but as an artist/costume designer myself, I find that the little details like that do make a difference.
I just wonder if pieces of clothing and accessories that can be added and removed would even be viable on characters whose clothes and skin take damage. If the items weren't designed to take damage too, would they get in the way or look like they don't belong anymore? I can imagine it being complicated to program, perhaps more trouble than it's worth in the designers' eyes when there's a deadline on the horizon.
I just wonder if pieces of clothing and accessories that can be added and removed would even be viable on characters whose clothes and skin take damage. If the items weren't designed to take damage too, would they get in the way or look like they don't belong anymore? I can imagine it being complicated to program, perhaps more trouble than it's worth in the designers' eyes when there's a deadline on the horizon.
Turok5000 •06/30/2010 06:38 PM (UTC) •
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I really like this idea and I think that it should be in! Unfortunately I doubt the MK Team will do this as their deadline is 9 months away. What a shame!
JohnBoyAdvance •06/30/2010 06:43 PM (UTC) •
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I would kill for customisable characters.
Or at the very least some minor changes you can make on each character when you press a different button. (hair styles, masks etc.)
Or at the very least some minor changes you can make on each character when you press a different button. (hair styles, masks etc.)
Mick-Lucifer
What do you like? Hit the Toasty thumbs up on articles and forum posts for a quick response! •07/01/2010 12:12 AM (UTC) •
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It would definitely make the transition from look to look a bit smoother, I think. I imagine it would take some patience but wouldn't be impossible to create destructable levels for each clothing item, and that it might not even be completely different to what they're doing/have done (ie; breaking moulded masks in MKvsDC). Probably an either/or situation, but when I weigh up the significance of tattered shirts and the chance to make my own aesthetic decisions... one certainly feels weightier than the other.
I definitely think any supplemental material should adhere to the same basic logic they've been employing over the past few games. It should be character relevant and contemporary. I definitely don't think there'd be anything to gain from giving every character a cybernetic helmet swap, or the various old ninja suits. Some sort of compromise would be much more palatable, even if the last thing I'd be looking to do personally is make characters look alike.
I like the thought of some of the simpler Tekken-style options, like being able to choose between having Kung Lao's hat on his head, or his back (ala; MKDA). Little character details that, as already pointed out, can make a bigger difference than you'd think.
ErmacOwnedYou Wrote:
if they did they would have to have certin things for characters cuz ppl wud be maken scorpion look like ermac or something like that. but it wud be cool in a way like kabal u can choose mask or no mask...johnny cage no glasses or glasses stuff like that wud be ok.
if they did they would have to have certin things for characters cuz ppl wud be maken scorpion look like ermac or something like that. but it wud be cool in a way like kabal u can choose mask or no mask...johnny cage no glasses or glasses stuff like that wud be ok.
I definitely think any supplemental material should adhere to the same basic logic they've been employing over the past few games. It should be character relevant and contemporary. I definitely don't think there'd be anything to gain from giving every character a cybernetic helmet swap, or the various old ninja suits. Some sort of compromise would be much more palatable, even if the last thing I'd be looking to do personally is make characters look alike.
I like the thought of some of the simpler Tekken-style options, like being able to choose between having Kung Lao's hat on his head, or his back (ala; MKDA). Little character details that, as already pointed out, can make a bigger difference than you'd think.
DrKorn •07/01/2010 12:14 AM (UTC) •
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Customization would be awesome, especially when fighting online. It would also add a smidge of replay value and who doesn't need that?
Mick-Lucifer
What do you like? Hit the Toasty thumbs up on articles and forum posts for a quick response! •07/01/2010 12:23 AM (UTC) •
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(Erik) Wrote:
I love this idea. Soulcalibur IV executes it phenomenally.
I love this idea. Soulcalibur IV executes it phenomenally.
They had some level of damage to their custom characters, too, right?
MyQueenSindel •07/01/2010 12:25 AM (UTC) •
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No way. I hate costume customization, because I hate versing people who intentionally put the character in ridiculous looking costume. It's really hard to take the game seriously when versing characters in goof ass looking costumes.
What I'd much rather see is multiple costumes for each character, like in Dead or Alive, except instead of focusing on quantity, they should focus on quality.
What I'd much rather see is multiple costumes for each character, like in Dead or Alive, except instead of focusing on quantity, they should focus on quality.
Mick-Lucifer
What do you like? Hit the Toasty thumbs up on articles and forum posts for a quick response! •07/01/2010 12:31 AM (UTC) •
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MyQueenSindel Wrote:
No way. I hate costume customization, because I hate versing people...
No way. I hate costume customization, because I hate versing people...
They probably don't like having poetry recited during fights, either!
MyQueenSindel Wrote:
... people who intentionally put the character in ridiculous looking costume. It's really hard to take the game seriously when versing characters in goof ass looking costumes.
What I'd much rather see is multiple costumes for each character, like in Dead or Alive, except instead of focusing on quantity, they should focus on quality.
... people who intentionally put the character in ridiculous looking costume. It's really hard to take the game seriously when versing characters in goof ass looking costumes.
What I'd much rather see is multiple costumes for each character, like in Dead or Alive, except instead of focusing on quantity, they should focus on quality.
It's been laboured on from the first post, to subsequent replies, that it shouldn't be a system of silly hats and other arbitrary tack-ons. There's been eighteen years of designs that seem to change every game. Plenty of material to draw upon for customization that's relevant to the characters themselves. There's no reason to think a customization system has to have moose hats, clown pants, or umbrellas.
Those extra costumes you're referring to could easily be broken up into their components and offered as customizable elements.
Mick-Lucifer Wrote:
They had some level of damage to their custom characters, too, right?
(Erik) Wrote:
I love this idea. Soulcalibur IV executes it phenomenally.
I love this idea. Soulcalibur IV executes it phenomenally.
They had some level of damage to their custom characters, too, right?
You know how in MK, clothes tear, blood spills, faces break? Well, in Soulcalibur, pieces of clothing kind of just broke off, entirely.
However, I thought the customization options were incredible. And I never even thought to dress up my characters as silly and stupid. I usually chose the 'random customized character' generator if I wanted to play as someone silly.
UltimateDeadpool •07/01/2010 02:03 AM (UTC) •
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I'd love being able to customize the characters' appearances, as long as there's enough variety.
SmokeNc-017 art by fear-sAs •07/01/2010 02:12 AM (UTC) •
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I think it'd be cool, but I like Virtua Fighter's way of getting items more than Tekken. Virtua Fighter had prestige items that people could only get y going far enough in the game's quest mode where the items gained came from opponents that were much harder to beat. It'd be better to see people on line with those kinds of items which could show off how good of a player they are instead of seeing something like Kung Lao sporting a fuman chu and sunglass because some jackass decided he thought he was being original. But on the other hand, MK has always been a bit silly. Even in this new game they can still laugh. Look at Johnny Cage's chest tattoo. You can have your cool items and you can have your silly items, but the best stuff should be earned through Quest mode or whatever they're planning for the single player portion of the game.
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