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I wanted to stay out of this because Paper Mario discourse is always tiring. But still want to comment on the "We can't modify Mario-characters anymore" thing.
This actually reminded me of the first Sonic & SEGA Racing game and how since then, we seen less new Sonic characters
This actually reminded me of the first Sonic & SEGA Racing game and how since then, we seen less new Sonic characters
SUMO Digital accidentally used Sonic Fanart on an officially SEGA product, because they didn't knew better. If you're not up-to-date with the franchise's history, licensing sheets etc. can only do little finding out what can be used, what not and what is a high quality Fanart.
But what has this to do with Paper Mario?
I think Nintendo found themselves in a similar situation, where license partners where confused about what they can use for their Mario licensed product.
(I remember how after TTYD and SPM, articles, posters and whatnot used PM artwork)
I think Nintendo found themselves in a similar situation, where license partners where confused about what they can use for their Mario licensed product.
(I remember how after TTYD and SPM, articles, posters and whatnot used PM artwork)
This also leads to the "problem" with the partner characters. When by adding clothes, accessories or skin color and declairing them as whole new characters (similar to Sonic fan-characters), your product already encourages more artists making more fan-characters.
Which leads "again" to the problem if you're going to work with that IP. Can you give a Goomba a hat? Does it accidentally create a different character? And when your IP's history is so difficult to understand and work with, you're discouraging future partners to work with you.
But wattabout Peach, Dr. Peach, Fire-Peach, Rosegold Peach, Cat Peach, Baby Peach and Soft Peach?
They're indeed modifications of that characters. But in their core, they're still the same one character. They're all Peach.
Can you say that the same to a Goomba with an hat?
They're indeed modifications of that characters. But in their core, they're still the same one character. They're all Peach.
Can you say that the same to a Goomba with an hat?
And that's why I think with Nintendo taking licensing Mario out to more partners more serious in recent years, it's out of Intelligent System's power to create more memorable characters based on already established Mario-Races.
tl:dr: It just makes licensing more easy
tl:dr: It just makes licensing more easy
I know this is a very unsatisfying answer from this long thread. And most of you probably already knew this, who are angered by this desicion. I don't want to make excuses, the reason why I have so much fun with Mario RPGs is because of the exploration OUTSIDE the Mario-standart
And I do think it's fair to criticise Nintendo for compromising their creative output in favor for more streamlined licensing. I don't like it either.
But I think it's incredibly unfair to let out your frustration on developers, who don't have any say to such creative desicions.
But I think it's incredibly unfair to let out your frustration on developers, who don't have any say to such creative desicions.
Quick clarification: I have nothing to back up my claims, all this is more my speculation. Unless we get official word, none of this should be treated as fact.
... But considering how licensing is a sensible corporate topic, that may reveal to much of own corporate practices and secrets, we'll VERY likely rather get excuses then transparent explainations.
Not many multibillion company likes to to let the public look into their cards.
Not many multibillion company likes to to let the public look into their cards.
