Was Chai inspired by Gollum?

[GSM]

I know this game since it came out and I just noticed that. What are your thoughts?

[Pesebrero]

It's only possible the other way around, Gollum inspired by Chai. Of course this is based on the Gollum we saw in the 2001 LOTR movie (prior Gollums does not resemble Chai IMHO),

[antraxx_argadi]

I don’t really see the resemblance (Chai much bigger and paler, and Gollum has some hair), but the line delivery is similar. So yes I think they had Gollum (from the novels) in mind when writing and acting out the dialogue. Or they just wanted to make a weird, creepy skinhead, and so they chose a fitting performance.

[Kakhi]

Maybe... or may have been related to some kind of Yokai ?
( Some of them can be very Gollum-ish, too, in a way. )

http://www.yokai.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2013/06/003-hyousube.jpg

[antraxx_argadi]

Good call!

“Che-heeeee! Lan Di sama will be proud!”

[Shenmue est vie]

Gollum was inspired by Chai.

[Prettz]

as already noted Chai was a good 3 years befor we saw movie Gollum. (we really did not see proper Gollum till the 2nd movie.)

[Blueshoes]

the voice was probably inspired by Chai but the movement and listening in on characters is straight out of the books. A bit of both I recon.