Character Design
Ongoing coverage on Character Design.
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Slay the Spire 2's creator reveals the inspiration for its most controversial foe: "I was playing too much Deadlock."
Mega Crit Co-Founder Casey Yano revealed inspirations behind Slay the Spire 2's characters, including the controversial Doormaker boss, which was influenced by playing Valve's Deadlock. Yano also explained that the fairy Ancient Nonupeipe's name is an easter egg referencing a placeholder icon, and that the Ceremonial Beast boss was inspired by Princess Mononoke's Forest Spirit and shares similarities with Valheim's Eikthyr.
To make Pragmata's Diana feel naturally childlike, a small group of women dubbed the "Diana Police" was set up to keep things in check
Capcom discussed the development of the character Diana in the upcoming game Pragmata during a recent livestream. A special group, dubbed the 'Diana Police,' comprised mostly of women, was formed to ensure Diana's portrayal felt naturally childlike and not contrived, influencing voice acting and motion capture.
Darth Maul voice actor "wasn't into" the character's design and says seeing The Phantom Menace "was the biggest disappointment" of his life
Peter Serafinowicz, the original voice actor for Darth Maul in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, expressed significant disappointment with the film and the character's design upon its release. Despite his initial dissatisfaction, Darth Maul has since become an iconic character, appearing in other Star Wars media like The Clone Wars and his own series, Maul – Shadow Lord.
Pragmata had a team of "Diana Police" overseeing Capcom's development of the now-iconic android girl to ensure she wasn't "too cute," and I don't think they succeeded
Capcom implemented a special team nicknamed the "Diana Police," comprised of women, to oversee the development of the android character Diana in the game Pragmata. This team aimed to ensure Diana had a natural, childlike innocence without being "annoying" or "too cute," though the article suggests they may have ultimately succeeded in making her very endearing. The development process involved specific direction for voice acting and motion capture to achieve a realistic portrayal.
Pragmata's development team included a group of women known as the "Diana Police" to convincingly capture her child-like innocence
Capcom's space game Pragmata achieved significant success, selling 2 million copies by May. The development team, including a group of women nicknamed the "Diana Police," focused on capturing the child-like innocence of the android companion Diana. Director Cho Yonghee suggested women are better at detecting subtle "cunning" cuteness in female characters. A free "Scribble Suit" update for Hugh is now available, and the director has expressed interest in a sequel.
Warframe Creative Director Says New Characters Were Inspired by Super Smash Bros.
Warframe Creative Director Rebecca Ford revealed that the new 2-in-1 characters in the upcoming Jade Shadows update were inspired by Super Smash Bros. The article also provided an exclusive look at Ryuko's Railjack.
Overwatch’s New Hero Is Hot For A Reason, Not To Be Gooner Bait, Devs Say
Blizzard Entertainment developers Kenny Hudson and Mirana Moyer discussed the new Overwatch hero, Shion, clarifying that her design is integral to the 'Reign of Talon' narrative and not merely 'gooner bait.' Shion's character, inspired by figures like O-Ren Ishii from Kill Bill, explores themes of identity and overcoming past trauma within the game's story.
Lara Croft actress says the Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis version of the character is 'completely self-possessed as a woman without being overtly sexualized,' which is something that she and the team 'talked about at length'
Alix Wilton Regan, the new voice actress for Lara Croft in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, stated that her portrayal of the character is modernized and "completely self-possessed as a woman without being overtly sexualized." She explained that this approach focuses on Lara's inherent attractiveness rather than relying on a male gaze. The game is set to launch on February 27, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
The internet thinks Cloud Strife looks like Eminem, and unfortunately, they may be right
The internet has drawn comparisons between the character Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII and the rapper Eminem, with many agreeing the resemblance is uncanny. This observation highlights discussions around character design and visual similarities in media.
Shion’s swift, stylish ability kit in Overwatch was born from John Wick, Akira, and Kill Bill inspirations
The new villain in Overwatch, Shion, features a stylish ability kit inspired by films like John Wick, Akira, and Kill Bill. This design approach emphasizes the character's flair and swagger.
Yes, there are lore reasons behind Shion’s feminine, humanoid appearance in Overwatch
This article discusses the lore reasons behind the feminine, humanoid appearance of the Omnic character Shion in Overwatch. It highlights that Shion's design is unique compared to other Omnics seen in the game.
Blizzard almost put Devil May Cry's style rank into Overwatch for its newest combo-heavy hero Shion
Blizzard Entertainment considered implementing a Devil May Cry-style combat ranking system for Overwatch's new hero, Shion. Lead hero producer Kenny Hudson revealed that the team experimented with a style meter that would increase with successful ability combos, but ultimately decided against it due to complexity and potential balance issues. Shion's kit, inspired by character action games, focuses on combo-heavy gameplay with her signature motorcycle.
5 Zelda Characters I’m Excited To See In The Ocarina Of Time Remake (And 5 That Need To Stay Away)
This article discusses characters from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that the author is excited to see reimagined in a potential remake, and those they hope will be excluded. It touches on the game's dark themes and memorable characters, comparing some to figures from '80s and '90s fantasy media and modern pop culture.
[S2 Preview #7] Myth of Empires: Throne Introduces Legendary Warriors Ma Teng and Xun Yu, Plus New Cosmetic Previews
Myth of Empires: Throne's S2 Preview series introduces two new Legendary Warriors, Ma Teng and Xun Yu, who offer distinct combat, administration, and production roles. The update also previews new cosmetic appearances for armor and weapons, including the heavily armored Frostmoon set and the Oathbound Lance weapon skin.
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain CEO addresses concerns over Evie’s youthful design, but ends up causing even more of them
Shift Up CEO Kim Hyung-tae addressed player concerns regarding the youthful design of the character Evie in Stellar Blade. His comments, however, have reportedly amplified existing concerns among the player base.
Tomb Raider Devs Aren’t Trying To Appeal To “Either Side” Of Culture War Surrounding Lara’s Design
Crystal Dynamics developers Raul Siqueira and Jeff Adams stated that the design of Lara Croft for the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis was not an attempt to cater to any specific side of the culture war. They focused on creating the most complete version of the iconic character, emphasizing her personality and confidence. The new game is set to release in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Another potential Marvel toy leak gives us a closer look at Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday
A potential LEGO toy leak has offered a glimpse of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday, showcasing his silver and green suit. While unofficial, a Hasbro toy leak also revealed the Doom suit and potential red energy accessories. The film is set to release on December 18.
The New Lara Croft Looks Hot, And That’s Okay
The article discusses the player reception to Lara Croft's appearance in the upcoming remake, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. It argues that the criticism of her being 'too feminine' or 'yassified' misses the point of her character, who has historically weaponized her allure. The author defends Lara's traditionally attractive design in the remake, contrasting it with more masculine interpretations and emphasizing that embracing femininity does not detract from her capability.
Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN dev explains why protagonist looks so young
Stellar Blade: BLOOD RAIN introduces a new protagonist, Evie, designed to contrast with the original game's Eve. Director Hyung-tae Kim explains that Evie is younger and smaller but possesses a stronger personality and a brutal close-range fighting style. The game will explore themes of humanity and artificial intelligence within a cyberpunk setting inspired by East Asian cities.
Link redesign in Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is 10/10 perfect or "the worst case scenario" depending on who…
Nintendo has confirmed a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo Switch 2, set for a 2026 release. The reveal trailer featured a redesigned Link, sparking polarized reactions from fans ranging from praise to strong criticism regarding his appearance. The article urges fans to reserve judgment until more footage is available.
