I figure I may as well post this. This is very interesting information: someone by the name of SamuraiPanda who hails from Smash Boards has translated the part of Sakurai's website that deals with him responding to emails from people suggesting characters, stages, and music (it was a Japan-only thing). You can find the one on GameFAQs here:
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=928518&topic=28629014For convenience, I'll post the most relevant stuff that was said, as far as gameplay and who can get into the game and so on.
1. "Non-Nintendo characters added into the game MUST have appeared on a Nintendo platform. They cannot be from a manga/anime." (This most likely means things like Western films and cartoons as well. Basically, the character has to have started as a video game character. ~Keptan) "The tentative number of non-Nintendo characters to be added after Snake is 1-2, but this can still change."
In most discussions that I have been in, the only other 3rd party character mentioned as often as Sonic is Megaman, which is quite understandable. If it turns out that only one more 3rd party character comes besides Snake, Megaman is the one who will give Sonic a run for his money; Megaman's star power is undeniable and his Nintendo affiliation is arguably higher than Sonic's... then again, Snake is more often associated with the Sony brand nowadays, so that likely doesn't matter as much, but it's something to keep in mind.
2. "The speed of the game will be "moderated." Unclear whether this means slower or faster, but slower is more likely."
Apparently some folks complained about the pacing of the fights in Melee. *shrug* But this something Sakurai wanted to do himself. How different this will make the game isn't really clear. I highly doubt it has anything to do with framerate, however.
3. "Every character's ability is being refined from the very beginning in order to allow "more freedom" in aerial combat."
Sakurai wants to expand the air game this time around. No real clue how he will pull that off. Some have guessed that he will allow you to jump three times with the standard jump instead of two, and of course character's aerial moves will be changed. People have already noticed that Link's Dair has been changed just from watching the trailer.
4. "Not all characters will return."
Most people think the "clone" characters are the ones that have the greatest chances of being removed, Pichu in particular. Strange/decidedly less popular characters like Mr. Game and Watch and the Ice Climbers will probably stay, because they're unique and/or have a specific place in Nintendo history. I personally think we won't be seeing Dr. Mario and Pichu, and perhaps Young Link will be changed to his Wind Waker counterpart. The rest of the clones will probably get their own movesets this time.
5. "Now that Smash is world-renowned, they don't want to include characters only popular in Japan. However, due to the success of the Fire Emblem characters, they still may."
I've actually seen people try to argue against Sonic by saying he's not popular anywhere anymore. :p These people, more often than not, are stuck in the early nineties and hate Sonic blindly, so whatever.
6. "Sakurai will eventually reveal all the secret characters (unknown if this is before or after the game’s release), and he will make Snake (and all other guest characters) into an unlockable character."
So if Sonic gets in, he shan't be playable from the start. But I don't care, as long as I can play as him eventually!
biggrin And there's more at that link if you're interested. I just posted what I thought would be the most interesting.
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