character customization is really disappointing

[dezxalo]

In 2025, if you're going to add character customization options, they NEED to be less exclusionary. Or just get rid of it all together and give the main character a name.

There are only 4 skin tones, all of the hair is straight long or straight short, and you get either a super deep voice or a super high pitched voice. That's it.

My hair isn't straight. My skin tone isn't anywhere near close to the four that are offered, and voices are whatever. That immediately made the rest of the demo (what I played at least) so boring and disconnected.

I really hope you'll add more options in the full release, because right now, I don't feel like I can make a character who looks/feels like me to enjoy the game and story.

[Jadenfire]

Oh the more I see the more I get disappointed ...thank you for putting this here character customization in a farm where me the character is doing something especially life / farm sims I want a good variety to choose from ...

[Sereous313]

Originally posted by dezxalo:

In 2025, if you're going to add character customization options, they NEED to less exclusionary. Or just get rid of it all together and give the main character a name.

There are only 4 skin tones, all of the hair is straight long or straight short, and you get either a super deep voice or a super high pitched voice. That's it.

My hair isn't straight. My skin tone isn't anywhere near close to the four that are offered, and voices are whatever. That immediately made the rest of the demo (what I played at least) so boring and disconnected.

I really hope you'll add more options in the full release, because right now, I don't feel like I can make a character who looks/feels like me to enjoy the game and story.

Let's not forget the lack of body types everyones the same genderless blob. Just another area the game severely lacks.

[dezxalo]

Originally posted by Sereous313:

Originally posted by dezxalo:

In 2025, if you're going to add character customization options, they NEED to less exclusionary. Or just get rid of it all together and give the main character a name.

There are only 4 skin tones, all of the hair is straight long or straight short, and you get either a super deep voice or a super high pitched voice. That's it.

My hair isn't straight. My skin tone isn't anywhere near close to the four that are offered, and voices are whatever. That immediately made the rest of the demo (what I played at least) so boring and disconnected.

I really hope you'll add more options in the full release, because right now, I don't feel like I can make a character who looks/feels like me to enjoy the game and story.

Let's not forget the lack of body types everyones the same genderless blob. Just another area the game severely lacks.

yup...it's annoying. i myself AM a genderless blob, but like my partner isn't and can't add any fem features :| like. come onnnn

[dezxalo]

Originally posted by Jadenfire:

Oh the more I see the more I get disappointed ...thank you for putting this here character customization in a farm where me the character is doing something especially life / farm sims I want a good variety to choose from ...

and i feel like it's the bare minimum! people should be able to make a character that looks like them. sigh

[trekkie200]

Originally posted by Sereous313:

Let's not forget the lack of body types everyones the same genderless blob. Just another area the game severely lacks.

And beyond the genderless blob it also just looks weird. The feet are way to small and the hips and legs align weirdly.
The character customisation is kinda emblematic of a lot of issues I see in the game. There are some features, but its not much beyond the bare bones and much of it in kinda janky.

[RainbowDragonz]

Agreed! I also had a minor complaint that styles called plait weren't plaits. They were pig tails and a low pony. All the outfits on the blob felt really weird as well like they just didn't fit right.

[tezz.hart]

What a big belly the character has!

[tezz.hart]

So few colors to choose from.

[Listoric]

Character creation, as it's currently in the game, allows for a variety of cute characters to create, but we do know it's limited in scope. Me personally, I actually agree 100% and would have loved to see more options right out of the gate, but truth is, the team behind Sugardew Island is really small, so we have to choose our features and priorities accordingly.

We see the feedback, thank you for that, and we will look into adding and expanding features of the game as well.

[dezxalo]

Originally posted by Listoric:

Character creation, as it's currently in the game, allows for a variety of cute characters to create, but we do know it's limited in scope. Me personally, I actually agree 100% and would have loved to see more options right out of the gate, but truth is, the team behind Sugardew Island is really small, so we have to choose our features and priorities accordingly.

We see the feedback, thank you for that, and we will look into adding and expanding features of the game as well.

Thank you for replying! Totally understand having a small team. Hopefully the character creation can be improved in the future.

[Jadenfire]

When more stuff is added, more features, more customization for player & shop, I'll come back & re look into getting.
Atm in the state it's in & for myself & my budget just can't see getting this game.
Here's hoping in the future it's bigger love the idea of the game.
Happy to see the dev active here.

[Joakin]

I think the same, there is no difference between boy and girl

[ori Rx]

I guess the ability to enjoy a game where the character does not resemble yourself is a lost art form. To me, this game is taking inspiration from the art style of harvest moon where there is little distinction between the male and female models. In fact I would argue that applies to most farming games, especially indie ones. I love character customization as much as the next person, but you all look a little silly prioritizing specific personal character appearances over quality, mechanics, and optimization of the game.
I have not played the demo but am interested in trying the game if the game play is fun and it runs decently.

[☥ Docdra ☥]

Originally posted by ori Rx:

I guess the ability to enjoy a game where the character does not resemble yourself is a lost art form. To me, this game is taking inspiration from the art style of harvest moon where there is little distinction between the male and female models. In fact I would argue that applies to most farming games, especially indie ones. I love character customization as much as the next person, but you all look a little silly prioritizing specific personal character appearances over quality, mechanics, and optimization of the game.
I have not played the demo but am interested in trying the game if the game play is fun and it runs decently.

I think PART of the issue is that Harvest Moon came out in 1996, and since then, most Indie games in this genre have character customization of varying degrees in their games. We can argue over how much customization is available, but for the most part they usually have...more than what's on offer here. I'm not sure how hard it is to add more skin tones, but sure, I could see an argument for hairstyles - art assets are different. I could also see to a lesser extent an issue with voices if you were doing more than pitch shifts.

I'm with OP on this, as I don't view this as even the bare minimum. Either scrap customization entirely, until you can offer more, or add more options now.

[dezxalo]

Originally posted by ori Rx:

I guess the ability to enjoy a game where the character does not resemble yourself is a lost art form. To me, this game is taking inspiration from the art style of harvest moon where there is little distinction between the male and female models. In fact I would argue that applies to most farming games, especially indie ones. I love character customization as much as the next person, but you all look a little silly prioritizing specific personal character appearances over quality, mechanics, and optimization of the game.
I have not played the demo but am interested in trying the game if the game play is fun and it runs decently.

That ability isn’t gone. I do so all the time. In games that don’t have human based character customization. The entire POINT of character customization in cozy games is to create a character that looks like you or has your vibe or something. I understand limitations, but with the customization like this, it’s literally pointless, and I would have rather just picked 4 premade options like in most modern Pokémon games or had no choice at all.

If you don’t have an issue with it, good for you, here’s a cookie. But a lot of others do have a problem with it and it does make the game unenjoyable just as bad mechanics would.