Do I have all the info right on this situation?

[TheBlueSnivyian]

Didn't wanna really jump into whole thing but I felt I needed to write something for people not in the know, if I missed anything, or something is misinformation please tell me.

What I currently have written:

So for those that don't know about the current SkullGirls situation, here is a quick rundown of what I personally know.

1. Dev Situation: The current devs are made up of previous members of LabZero as well as some other randos.
MikeZ was ousted with sexual harassment charges by members of LabZero which, if you do research most claims were baseless and didn't actually stand at all.
Turns out there are CHAT LOGS indicating the current devs had conspired against MikeZ, using things such as his autism against him, MikeZ Eventually did a counter lawsuit that is still happening, and has high likely hood of winning, if he wins he will likely get the IP back.

2. Censorship: The current update has been boasted as "removing things that don't fit our current company values" by Future Club.
Things removed Include:

Fillia Panty shots,
Comb in afro during fillia burst, (♥♥♥♥♥'s remains however)
Removal of Egret armbands,
Big Band intro being altered, (reason cited as being racially motivated despite not being a racial thing at all)
Other story aspects and art, such as Eliza story cerebella battle damage art.
Removal of Fanart in Art Book as well as Altering Concept Art,
Soviet Announcer Pack Removed,

As you probably know the voice pack (and I think art book?) Was crowdfunding goals, which makes this even more scummy then it already is, whats more is I'm pretty sure it's illegal? As the game is no longer the product the consumer has payed for.

3. Backlash: After the update many, MANY fans expressed outrage at the changes, recent reviews (as of this post) have tanked to Overwhelmingly Negative with 19% positive reviews.

Despite fan outrage, the devs have currently just met most with memes or just outright ignored them, making fans even angrier.

There are some people trying to defend the update, but most can't come up with solid arguments and just dissolve to saying "this guy like CP because he doesn't like the update" ignoring everything else.

(As a side note most people on BOTH sides haven't actually played the game, but that's just every controversial game change)

4. Actual Reasoning?: The actual reasoning behind these changes is unknown as "not aligning with company values" isn't really an answer, everyone has their own theory, which I'll let y'all look and decide what you wanna believe.

Me personally? I feel this is just one final attack on MikeZ and his work before the devs lose everything, it just feels too perfect with how MikeZ is possibly beating them in court and winning the IP, and company back.

[ComradePB]

Everyone keep bumping this.

[Axelhander]

That's about right.

[Kyrion]

Da bumb Tss

... what? I feel melodic

[FireQuiz]

To Mike and his hopeful win, also hope he claws back attorney's fees if the suit is this bogus as I hear.

[ComradePB]

Bump.

[Kyrion]

Out of all the helpful information threads: this is probably best one.

Though I must admit that even on change defenders side some are at least well mannered and civilised: Black Cookie for example.

Then we also have ze flamers.
Thankfully those are akin to a blimp in scope of things as Steam Mods are rather quick.

It is always good to see discussion being done in vein of civilised public discourse

[ComradePB]

Bump.

[Zereul]

always remember to have physical copies of games

[Axelhander]

Originally posted by Zereul- swamp.sv:

always remember to have physical copies of games

Even those degrade. Game preservation needs electronic archival copies.

[Zereul]

Originally posted by Axelhander:

Originally posted by Zereul- swamp.sv:

always remember to have physical copies of games

Even those degrade. Game preservation needs electronic archival copies.

True dumping them can also work for archiving, which you can do with the ps vita and switch versions of the game, maybe even the ps4 version which there are some physical copies of that version.

[Delta Centauri]

Originally posted by Kyrion:

Out of all the helpful information threads: this is probably best one.

Though I must admit that even on change defenders side some are at least well mannered and civilised: Black Cookie for example.

Then we also have ze flamers.
Thankfully those are akin to a blimp in scope of things as Steam Mods are rather quick.

It is always good to see discussion being done in vein of civilised public discourse:winter2019happyyul:

I agree.

[Shylaar]

Originally posted by TheBlueSnivyian:

1. Dev Situation: The current devs are made up of previous members of LabZero as well as some other randos.
MikeZ was ousted with sexual harassment charges by members of LabZero which, if you do research most claims were baseless and didn't actually stand at all.
Turns out there are CHAT LOGS indicating the current devs had conspired against MikeZ, using things such as his autism against him, MikeZ Eventually did a counter lawsuit that is still happening, and has high likely hood of winning, if he wins he will likely get the IP back.

You left out the important point that Mike was the technical director and didn't have much to do with the art style; hell he was in favour of toning down sexualisation based on past comments. The original creative director was Alex Ahad who had worked on Skullgirls as a concept for years before it became a game, he did all the character designs and developed the world, the whole look of the game is his work. He was ousted from the company before the stuff with Mike went down, sued them for it, and was awarded "a sizeable settlement".
The point here is that people attributing the changes being changes to Mike's work that's being changed after his removal is wrong, it's really Alex's work that's being sanitised here, with him having no say in the matter. And yet they continue to profit off of Alex's work, as the DLC characters released after he left are based on his designs.

[Invader TAK]

I'm surprised they changed the Big Band thing because it's anti-police, which they'd want that to pander to the "defund the police" crowd. Then again, what changes made to this game have ANY reason. Besides the red crosses, I mean. That was for legal reasons.

[Shylaar]

Originally posted by Invader TAK:

I'm surprised they changed the Big Band thing because it's anti-police, which they'd want that to pander to the "defund the police" crowd. Then again, what changes made to this game have ANY reason. Besides the red crosses, I mean. That was for legal reasons.

Yeah, it's really worth drawing attention to that, because there's this whole crowd of censorship defenders that likes to cry "you just think any change is censorship!", and yet absolutely no one was making an uproar about the crosses being changed... because that wasn't censorship; it was an unfortunate but understandable change, and everyone knows it.

[Min Nohara]

It's stupid you can't put red crosses in your videogames. It means nothing unless you put a name under it. Heck, choose another red shade. Sue me. I'll win because that red shade is 100, 000, 000 and not 180, 000, 000 (RGB). (garbage arguement to bump the thread)

The suuuuuuudden changes though, the "denormalizing", 'censoring' or "put everything on company values" is just woke excuse to denaturalize the game from what it actually used to be (besides of last minute, SJW edits in case Mike wins).

A sexy fighter with sexy girls (and sexy men for the female crowds) under violent situations trying to restore peace to their world.

People failing to differentiate a fantasy world over real world really shows how their perceptions are completely warped.

I can't see why it makes a difference in EVO a toned down 2D fighter that used to be wicked when it brings 3D fighters showing panties, feet fetishes and ready-to-stab-you schizofrenic characters all around.

It's because kids participate in it? Well, then why do you effing bring kids to a Fight Club???