Today's news Statesman Nerfed to sidekick in Korea [Archive] - City of Heroes Forums

Libertyman

05-20-2005, 05:13 AM

I didn't see the video posted but I thought it was funny, To sum this video up they took Statesman's parts replaced it with Foreshadow (the asian kungfu dude.....Libertyman could take him)Like Foreshadow Fights Lord Reclouse. and poped statesman in a sidekick spot. Yes I know its because of Marketing but come on, least make a new clip and not take the Superman/Captain America hybrid of the regular game and replace him.

here is the movie for those who want to view it (link is safe of course)
http://vod.ncsoft.net/coh/2005/Coh-SuperpowerHero.wmv

Magna Harrier

05-20-2005, 06:14 AM

Wow... I guess Foreshadow is a bit more powerful than I had initially guessed! That is kinda random though.
As for that last segment.... am I just remembering wrong, or did they swap out the kids being saved from the rubble for Korean ones? Also, it kinda looks like they may have changed the heroes in the front line of the group listening to States/Foreshadowing talk at city hall in Atlas Park.
I really wish they'd let us visit a bit more with our international bretheren..... maybe give the Vanguard a building in Galaxy or PI..... they're run by the UN, so it might provide a chance to see our foriegn counterparts.

Xanatos

05-20-2005, 10:11 AM

Oh great captain "anime reject" is being forced into a superhero game. :mad:

inkblaster

05-20-2005, 10:23 AM

NCSoft is the largest producer of MMOs in the world, and it's not because of the America market. On a global economy scale, we're the sidekick, so, I can see them wanting to cater to their biggest check writers.

Cold Quake

05-20-2005, 10:27 AM

Woohoo! A hero I won't feel guilty going after in CoV! :D

suburbanhell

05-20-2005, 10:40 AM

Link broken....

Xanatos

05-20-2005, 10:41 AM

There's a hero with a trenchcoat in the end hero meeting. I guess when we get the trenches we've been waiting for, they'll be anime-inspired.

GGGGRAAAGH! I wouldn't mind if it was a Korean SUPERHERO but Foreshadow just looks like a kid from the street.

suburbanhell

05-20-2005, 10:42 AM

Yeah hero he definitely does not look -- I'm still a little embittered that he's going to take Synapse's place...

Xanatos

05-20-2005, 10:45 AM

Yeah hero he definitely does not look -- I'm still a little embittered that he's going to take Synapse's place...

He's not going to.

Krypto

05-20-2005, 10:53 AM

Yeah hero he definitely does not look -- I'm still a little embittered that he's going to take Synapse's place...

What in the world gave you that idea?

Astartus

05-20-2005, 11:03 AM

What in the world gave you that idea?

The rumor taht some guys spread at the official board that, since Synapse is unconsious (sp?) and being tossed around by both Lord Recluse and Black Scorpion imlies that he might not survive the battle, die and be replaced by this damn young kiddo.

Gladly a dev already stated that this won't be the case (can't find link now)

suburbanhell

05-20-2005, 11:05 AM

Gladly a dev already stated that this won't be the case (can't find link now)

Oh good! I was not too pleased when I read that the other day.

Xanatos

05-20-2005, 11:25 AM

Yeah Manticore said it wasn't going to happen.

Randomus

05-20-2005, 12:47 PM

I thought Foreshadow was MA/SR. That doesn't make any sense.

Why would they do that.

MikeKAY

05-20-2005, 01:14 PM

Errrm, I thought it was fairly obvious that Foreshadow was an Incarnate like States. Whether or not that was true a few days ago is a different story. ;)

Notice that he uses a ranged attack right after the big guy with the energy balls, sort of a glowing boomerang looking thing. Assuming that I'm right, he is pretty much exactly the build my character, Enlightened, was supposed to be.

EDIT: Woops, my mistake, that is a guy with a trench coat and a Katana. :singdance

Randomus

05-20-2005, 01:21 PM

EDIT: Woops, my mistake, that is a guy with a trench coat and a Katana. :singdance

TrenchKatana will live again!!1

Masked Revenger

05-20-2005, 01:32 PM

That's interesting, but it's also confusing... is he going to actually replace States in the Koren version of the game?

And, also, I thought he was an MA/SR Scrapper, from the CoV trailer... won't this just confuse their Koren audence?

Chris

Rottweiler

05-20-2005, 03:49 PM

States wasn't nerfed... he was EXEMPLARED! :grumble:

Sword

05-20-2005, 03:59 PM

What the **** kinda **** was that?!

In a way I can understand it from a marketing standpoint, but couldn't they have made an interesting hero to replace States? That guy was by FAR the dullest hero in the whole video. He was like a clone of every "Ken from Street Fighter" ever made. Jeez, nothing that distinguished him in any way. Just a guy who threw together a half-harted asian hero in the creation program and logged in.

Magna Harrier

05-20-2005, 04:06 PM

Well, considering States does'nt exactly have the most origional design either, I can't ding Foreshadow on that one.
Seriously, though, are youy SO angry that the devs want to give the Koreans their own hero equal to States in their version of the game? I mean, it just seems like common sense, or maybe even politeness. They're not from the US, plus their concept of a superhero is different from ours slightly. Most Korean comic-style superheroes tend to be martial arts themed in some way. So, maybe they figure they'll respond better to a Korean martial artist than they would a guy decked out in the red,white, and blue. (I'm not adderessing anyone in the forum here... the official forums are alive with complaining on the subject.)

Masked Revenger

05-20-2005, 04:13 PM

Seriously, though, are youy SO angry that the devs want to give the Koreans their own hero equal to States in their version of the game? I mean, it just seems like common sense, or maybe even politeness. They're not from the US, plus their concept of a superhero is different from ours slightly. Most Korean comic-style superheroes tend to be martial arts themed in some way. So, maybe they figure they'll respond better to a Korean martial artist than they would a guy decked out in the red,white, and blue. (I'm not adderessing anyone in the forum here... the official forums are alive with complaining on the subject.)

This is why I said it was confusing. Won't it be confusing to the Kroens for their new martial arts hero to be flying and not using a single martial arts move through the whole video?

Chris

Sword

05-20-2005, 04:15 PM

Magna Harrier

05-20-2005, 04:21 PM

I do think it was a bit of a mistake showing him flying and doing a bit more of the high level stuff that States can do if he's just a martial artist UNLESS he really is another Incarnate like folks have suggested. Judging by his backstory, that just might be the case. We just don't know enough about Incarnates yet.

Rottweiler

05-20-2005, 04:23 PM

C'mon now - what's the deal with this 'Clone of ___' garbage? The fact of the matter is this comics thing has been going on for 40+ years and there's hardly such thing as a truly original idea, consequently. Instead of 'ripoff of..' and 'obvious clone of...,' can't we just call States what he is? He's a patriotic-themed masthead for the heroes of Paragon City (and possibly the nation).

GargoyleKDR

05-20-2005, 04:26 PM

I found it interesting that the end credits title says "City of Hero" not "City of Heroes".

MikeKAY

05-20-2005, 04:29 PM

I found it interesting that the end credits title says "City of Hero" not "City of Heroes".

I don't think the Korean language even has plurals at all, does it?

Magna Harrier

05-20-2005, 05:14 PM

If it does, they're very seldom... I think they're only used in pronouns, if I'm remembering correctly. But yeah, the "Hero" thing is due to their grammatical system, not any bizzare scheme where the game focuses on one person.

Jade Cheetah

05-20-2005, 05:28 PM

Anyone else notice at the city hall, there seemed to be a UN flag flying?

Sable Phoenix

05-20-2005, 06:11 PM

I found it interesting that the end credits title says "City of Hero" not "City of Heroes".

Once again, this is because the singular and plural of "hero" are the same word in that language. It's like the word "sheep" in English; depending on the context, you could be talking about one or more than one.

Jade_Dragon

05-20-2005, 06:21 PM

Yes, by all means, I get why they changed who the "main hero" is. I'm not a big fan of it, but I can totally understand why. But States is atleast semi-original. He's a superman clone, but an interesting one. Foreshadow lacks that. I don't have a rpoblem with him being asian, or using martial arts. Hell, I found him kinda cool but a bit dull-looking in the CoV E3 movie. But he does not at all have the looks to be the main eye-catcher for the series. I mean, asian heroes is at LEAST as crazy-looking as western heroes. This guy just looks like an 80's beat'em up reject when he could have been a really cool character.
States has the red/what/blue costume and the helmet.
Forshadow doesn't really have anything. Couldn't they have given him some crazy tatoos or something at least?

The thing is, this is a Korean hero, created for a Korean market. We're Americans, so of course he looks like "every Ryu clone ever made". To the Koreans, Statesman probably looks like a clone of Captain America. They probably think that he's dull-looking and unoriginal. Because they don't see the DIFFERENCES that are part of our culture.

Likewise, we think Foreshadow is lifeless and two-dimensional because we don't get most of the cultural references. To us he's just a Ryu clone.

Be honest, if CoH had been developed in Korea, if the spokesman character was Foreshadow, and the US division had developed Statesman to take his place for the American release, you wouldn't be complaining, would you?

Sword

05-20-2005, 06:50 PM

Magna Harrier

05-20-2005, 07:54 PM

Well, I think one of the big mistakes people are going to make with Foreshadow is automatically linking him to anime because he's Korean. Koreans have their own set of action hero comic stars from manhwa (Korean equivalent of our comics or Japanese manga) that often have their own, Korean identity, seperate from ony impression the Japanese left during the occupation.
As for Foreshadow being a "Ryu clone", I'm not seeing it at all, excpet that both are asian and have martial arts. While Ryu might seems dull and flat to us because our comic heroes wear VERY distinctive costumes, many Korean heroes and game characters dress a lot like Foreshadow... sort of a modern variation on the punk scene. This is proably more because the street punk style can be thought of as the modern version of martial arts fashion, and a lot of Asian heroes are still martial arts based. If you look at some of the Korean stuff that's made it over here recently, or check out Korean games like Magna Carta, you'll notice the fashion trend.
It is interesting to think on this, though.... if Foreshadow IS an Incarnate like States, the reason his powers are'nt the same is most likely due to the fact that he was a scrapper before becoming incarnate, like States was supposedly a tank. So that would explain the simmilarites and differences. But the whole Incarnate thing is speculation at this point anyways.

Jade_Dragon

05-20-2005, 07:54 PM

Nope, I wouldn't. Allthough I would probably make some sinde remark about how superman-ish he is. But he's still a pretty good hero concept. Foreshadow just irks me. I've heard the backstory stuff and like it, and have nothing against introducing an asian hero. It's just that the character himself is just plain-looking to the extreme. I mean, if he'd been a "normal" anime hero he would atleast have wild blue or green hair! This guy is just grey and allmost fades into the background when made into the centerpiece of the movie.

Well, I can understand that. Personally, though, I suspect that we're not even going to see Foreshadow. He may make a few appearances in the background, but I think he was introduced in the first place, just for the Korean market.

Charon

05-20-2005, 08:09 PM

...sort of a glowing boomerang looking thing.

Sorry, but one comment I have to make.

Sonic BOOM! :D

Libertyman

05-20-2005, 08:34 PM

As I said earlier I don't Mind Korea/whole Asian Market having their own Statesman thats cool but dont take year+ old footage and splice him in the big hero spot Make a new movie Yes that may be a bit of work but it would be worth it to both the american market and the asian market

Moon Jump

05-20-2005, 10:13 PM

I think it's alright. Since they are going for the Korean market, why not make there main hero a Korean person?

I still think he looks like Kyo though.

http://gioco.net/lof/Kyo2.jpg

Magna Harrier

05-21-2005, 01:05 AM

Buuuuurn hyaku! :p

Plasma Wisp

05-21-2005, 01:19 AM

Anyone else see the Trenchcoat wearing guy in 2:57-2:59?

The fact is, that is their hero. It is also cheaper, but it's to be released in their market.

Solario

05-21-2005, 10:37 AM

I honestly can't see what's the big problem with his outfit. It's not exactly what we would describe as heroic and inspirational, but isn't exactly bad nor is it a Ryu/Ken ripoff. (He does however hold some resemblance to the character posted as a picture here earlier. And I would have liked him to be just a bit more colorful, so he doesn't just fade out.)

What I don't understand is, is this suppose to be a american city or a more nondescript general one, and if so, what is a US patriot styled hero doing there, seeing as it seems to be his permanent base?

Astartus

05-21-2005, 11:02 AM

Ok, I was finally able to see this video,and I have to say:

I have never ever laughed so hard in the last few days. They not only have copied this korean guy into Statesman's and other famous heroes place (and in some scenes it really looks totally fake and you think you can see that he doesn't belong there).

No, they also have taken the 2 different cgi-videos and merged it into one which looks totally dumb.

Sure, the korean guys (Forehadow and the paste-into-movie trenchcoat wearing guy, oh and the children that statesman normally rescues) look really cool. But sorry, they totally don't fit in there.

suburbanhell

05-21-2005, 12:42 PM

That really just doesn't seem right...

Lawmaker

05-21-2005, 02:40 PM

My personal opinion of the entire Korean CoH thing...

BFD... Big <ahem> Fat deal... Let the Korean heroes have someone to look up to, as we have ours. It affects us in no way, and changes nothing about American Servers and American CoH lore. B... F... D...

Now stop all the xenophobia, conspiracy theories, and crazy talk, and let's play the game.

Libertyman

05-21-2005, 04:11 PM

Let the Korean heroes have someone to look up to, as we have ours.
I don't think anyone is saying they are against giving the koreans someone to look foward too. Why not give Forshadw his own movie instead of copy & pasting him in Statesman's spot? I Think its cool that they get their own person to look up too and im 100% for that. I'm just saying give the new guy some more respect then just poping him in a old role give him his own trailer, if anything it should be a insult to the people who they are trying to appeal too I can see it now.

Korean dude1: Hey man whats with this, they wont give us our own trailer so they slap our hero in a premade trailer?
Korean Dude2: Yea Shows how much extra effort they go through for us.

Magna Harrier

05-21-2005, 04:13 PM

Hey, it's more effort than they made for the European launch at any rate. Who was their big rep again?

Stalking Shadow

05-21-2005, 04:43 PM

.... Europe...man?

Overbite

05-21-2005, 04:52 PM

Although I don't like it or agree with it I guess they felt the need to do it. I won't be playing in any Korean servers so...whatever. :grr:

Poison

05-21-2005, 04:56 PM

Nobody, no change for Europe.
And though I understand the reasons to change it, I think it's ridiculous. And if it was really necessary, they could have at least made a COOL hero, not some dude in a jacket. But maybe they wanted to bring out how the player will be a hero, regular guy, yadda yadda.

What surprised me were the other changes in the movie, like the statue or heroes in the crowd. Why would they add in heroes with costume options that don't exist (yet)? Attached pics from the original vid. Notice the now Asian kids that were caucassian before.

Krypto

05-21-2005, 05:02 PM

What surprised me were the other changes in the movie, like the statue or heroes in the crowd. Why would they add in heroes with costume options that don't exist

Well, those have been in since the original video. Those are the heroes on the splash screen, and on the manual. I'm sure they're some of the game developers, programmers or something that get their special heroes.

inde

05-21-2005, 05:07 PM

Once again, this is because the singular and plural of "hero" are the same word in that language. It's like the word "sheep" in English; depending on the context, you could be talking about one or more than one.

So my use of sheepies is incorrect?

doh!

Poison

05-21-2005, 05:12 PM

Well, those have been in since the original video. Those are the heroes on the splash screen, and on the manual. I'm sure they're some of the game developers, programmers or something that get their special heroes. I wasn't talking about the girl with the heart-shaped cleavage and the guy with the bullet belts over his chest. I'm talkibg about the Asian guy in a brown trenchcoat with a weird armor beneath and a blonde chick with a white/blue costume in the "enhanced version". And so far the devs always made sure that heroes appearing in the videos looks exactly like the characters in the game. Why do it differently now for those 2?

Plasma Wisp

05-21-2005, 05:36 PM

I like the black and white uniform. The South Korean flag is white with black line symbols with a red/blue yin/yang icon in the middle. His costume is their flagman to our Statesman.

Yin

05-21-2005, 06:21 PM

Time constraints. Animating a short film of that degree doesn't come overnight. But I do agree. It's a cheap flick. If that's the case, then they should create a hero for every international website they make. I've yet to see a European representative.

Astartus

05-21-2005, 06:29 PM

Yeah, why change the appearance of the statue? Why has Statesman to do all the dirty work (as in throwing the pieces of stone onto the waiting truck, while Back Alley Brawler, who normally does this, is standing next to him)?

And why the heck do the new guy and the other guy in the trenchcoat look like they jumped out of a "Final Fantasy" game and not like superheroes? :P

Edit: Whoaa they even changed the flag on top of Atlas Plaza City Hall. :eyebrow:

Magna Harrier

05-21-2005, 06:31 PM

I'm sure their animation team was busy enough with their CoV trailer as is (Anti-blaster propaganda, I tell you!)... animating a seperate movie for Foreshadow must not have fallen within time constraints.
That being said, it really does stink that the Korean audience could'nt get their own seperate video with Foreshadow doing new stuff. It's probably the best they could do in order to get a movie out before the Korean launch, with CoV being such a time eater, but the Korean MMORPG community is huge, what with thier consel market being so stifled until recently. I hope they get a little bit more in the future.

Sword

05-21-2005, 08:13 PM

I like the black and white uniform. The South Korean flag is white with black line symbols with a red/blue yin/yang icon in the middle. His costume is their flagman to our Statesman.

Now why couldn't they have incorperated the red/blue yib/yang then? I mean, States costume includes the stars. Not to mention the helmet to set him apart from "generic american patriotic hero".
If States had been made in the same "style" as foreshadow, he would look like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v323/Berzerkir/Utennavn.jpg

Foreshadow just lacks anything that distinguishes him in anyway. He's mega-generic. States has the helmet, but all Foreshadow has is "grey jacket". What the hell kinda icon is that?