Kitsoru

http://i.imgur.com/RQpD773.jpg Something like this, but with the habit? (and you know actually Bridget)

Yeah, that's about B which speaking as someone of May's size is still not the big ol' balconet-filling boobs she has going on in the other one which is somewhere around D maybe. I'm very curious to see what happens with Bridget... I'd honestly kinda like to see him sort of transitioning to his goal of manliness with a more boyish look that still retains features of his original outfit. (But then, there's all the jokes about him hitting puberty and coming out Armstrong-ified, so whichever way you wanna go on that one...) ...Give me a day or two and I'll see what I can do..

http://24.media.tumblr.com/b4c2583b42077b13c6afd52901d10d1e/tumblr_mn4l8fs7RP1rvzf83o1_1280.jpg except still flat

It's already been explained- his sword isn't shorter, his left (canonwise..) arm is just extended further than his old sprite. Go look at the sprite comparisons and you'll see, the only differences in Ky's proportion are that and larger/broader shoulderpads.

I'm not surprised he mentioned it, after all it still existed despite how some people like to act like it's an elephant in the room, and at least art direction-wise the game was IMO a really good experiment towards where Xrd seems to be going. Even if the actual in-game models were somewhat meh. I was looking over the stage concepts last night in the materials book, they're quite lovely. I'm hoping for Valenjustice, though I kinda doubt we'll get it. I found it interesting how very hush-hush they were about giving away any info on that form, even in the artbook it gets only a very tiny, barely-visible blurb of the character model with no concept drawings.

Absolutely, there's no way by Overture Ky didn't know. And the fact that Dr Paradigm was openly talking about him being Frederick and a Gear, etc, it's clear he knew. Sol's Overture story still (still) isn't translated but it may be mentioned there as well.. But hell, you could argue Ky knew (intuitively) by the end of AC+, just by his storymode dialogue (the way he makes the connection from the conversation about Gears w/ Dizzy --> going to fight Sol a final time to settle his feelings on the matter). At this point, Ky fighting Sol is merely symbolic lol. He knows he won't win, but it's the principal of the matter rather (as seen in his dialogue).

Original source since it's on hand easier and I was the one who found 'em anyway lol.

If those images posted earlier in the thread are indeed leaked concepts, it might actually be a more progressed (or regressed, unconfirmed after all) form. I personally like this one better, but I guess we'll see... Maybe it'll be an EX thing again like in Overture. Possible now with the models.

Considering they've already hinted at that form in the trailer, I think it's very possible.

Maybe not tiered necessarily, I just figured it was a "signature move" kind of thing. Then again DI is more signature for Sol than TR, but DI is never actually used, so... RTL is definitely signature for Ky though.

Hmm. As far as HUD and graphical changes, I'm not sure I like for example the 'launch' cut scenes we saw in the trailer for dusts or Overdrives (the TR and RTL ones), as some mentioned it would affect the pace of the game during play and GG's pace is a really important part of its feel I think. I would absolutely love for there to be animated intros/outros and story segments, however, and this is something I'm extremely excited about. I also think that the possibility in adapting the animations for things like bursts, clashes, and barriers to be 3D will be really cool. And yeah, Rising Force and Napalm Death are both extremely outdated (and their GG1 IK's were so much better...) so looking forward to some new 3D material there.

My guess is it'll be an opening song (like Feedback/Launchout) a la Blazblue's vocal OP's, and fighting themes will continue to be (mostly) lyric-less. ...That's my hope anyway, because I don't really like vocal themes while playing.

Someone posted a comparison earlier, but basically there's no change really other than a slight change in actual body positioning- his sword, etc. are the same length, it's just that his non-sword-arm is now extended toward the tip of the blade, rather than pulled in as it used to be. His shoulderpads are also way bigger now, giving the effect that his top half is larger, but it's just clothes really. ...I guess when you look that pretty and sport a ponytail, you need some kind of manly-man presence I honestly don't think the look has much to do with keeping players out; if anything that's what draws a lot of casuals in. It's the learning curve to get to high level play. Guilty Gear is easy enough to pick up, but it's a very hard learning curve to get to the point of competitive play. Especially when you don't have available people of varying levels of experience to play against. I actually think the online play system tutorial Suzaku suggested is a really good idea, but it might be too complex to make work in reality.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=outrage+band

That was my assumption on the name too. And oh man I miss Gregory Payne, the Accent Core announcer is awful :|

This is an important point, and basically what I was trying to say here. GG has always been really good about drawing in a crowd on its presentation alone, and obviously, on the fandom side (which seems to be a dirty word sometimes but look, it exists) this is the core focus of that crowd. Being a dirty casual for many, many years, I can speak for myself at least that it's what drew me and it's what kept me long enough to actually stay on and learn the game itself. They don't need to dumb down the game to draw the casuals; but keeping them is another thing. And that's really what the argument is about, keeping the casuals on, not attracting them. That's how the community actually grows.

I think I would pee myself with joy

This completely, Guilty Gear was basically the pioneer of FG appealing to casuals through art direction rather than play when you think about it. Blazblue didn't kill it and casuals won't.

It grew on me too once someone pointed out that it had a sort of ronin/Kenshin look to it.

Because I have little better to do tonight- some more character design notes. Suzaku already mentioned the writing "Tirana Fa?t/l" on his beltend. So apart from that: there's also something written on the teeny, tiny circular symbols that are repeated a few times on his buttcape, shoecovers, and gloves, but I can't make out what it says at all. It's something short so it could say HOPE but I really can't read it. Possible wondering if it's a tiny-sized version of his position crest from Overture? His pendant is also more easily visible in the closeups, it looks like a butterfly topped with a cross. It's visible for several frames at various points. Last thing I noticed is that when Ky sheathes his sword in his winpose, the barbs on the end of his new sword flop over, as if they're deactivated- something the barbs on Fuuraiken had never been shown to do. I guess no one can figure out what's the writing on Sol yet. The characters written on Sol's lapel SORTA look like 'O R N+'? But not really. The belts on his arms and vest have red X's in the buckle now. That's about it of interest with his clothes. Oh, and I whipped this up- the crest on Sol's chest in his Gear form from Overture glows during his Xrd Dragon Install: It's in multiple frames, so it's not just a well-placed lick of flame effect. Just a few things I've noted character design-wise so far that I didn't see mentioned.

Only GG2 and Accent core onward, actually. XX storymode was Hanada.

I'm tearing up ;_; Weren't Daisuke and Shiozawa friends and that was why he killed off Zato and changed him to Eddie for a new voice, out of respect?

Overture wasn't a bad idea (I've even written before about why it isn't that bad..) but the fact that so few people actually did play it in versus sort of tells you how few people found the gameplay to be rewarding enough to continue learning and playing... Personally speaking it just felt sorta un-ironed out. But I'm not generally a fan or player of RTS stuff. We know Daisuke likes western style games and likes incorporating elements into them so I agree, I wouldn't be surprised to see more elements pop up. I noticed the tumble animation too; I think that's pretty cool. I was mentioning to some people last night that I also wonder if there might now be some sort of recovery from groundslide in there.

Yeah, I feel that roster issues that arise could be solved with DLC- including maybe some new characters. Arc's already done it with Blazblue, so I don't see why not.

/dusts off account I also agree with White Man RE: new game, new kind of experience building on the previous ones. Even though Overture sucked balls it was still a try at something new which I can appreciate, so I'm hoping this will be something of a new experience as well. Definitely rooting for new characters (Sin/Izuna/Raven plz). Fanny would be interesting, hadn't thought of her in a while. ^ OT but I actually wonder if they recast Sol as George Nakata instead of Hikaru Hanada (who had been doing it since I think GGX+(?) story, including all drama CD's through Side Red/Black) because Nakata is a better known/famous voice actor... That sort of makes me sad since I honestly think Hanada's performance was better for Sol. Meh. Anyway I'm still trying to process what we can see so far from the trailer and if we can't discuss gameplay then how about art direction. I agree with comments that Sol's proportions look a bit off (I'm fine with beefy but he looks squat? think it's those calves) and; wondering what's that necklace around Ky's neck? It's not his usual crucifix.