Topic: Shin Megami Tensei V (multiplatform?) and another SMT project

[affinity]

well they didn't confirm the full title, but it could be SMTV, especially with how the anniversary logo is designed

http://shin-megamitensei.jp/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut9ekAp2drs

https://twitter.com/megaten_atlus/

https://twitter.com/AtlusUSA

Whether it's exclusive to Switch, or eventually ported to PS4, either way, they have to make the game great, and surpass its predecessors.

And I feel something SMT team has been neglecting, dodging and ignoring for too long, is establishing main character sex options as standard feature. 

Shin Megami Tensei is still behind modern Fire Emblem and especially Pokemon on that front.  Those series started out with only male protagonist, but when they started providing female protagonist option, that was a game changer that made the games more popular for girls and anyone that prefer female protagonist.

 Those franchises became more popular, successful and important to wider demographics,allowing players to choose the protagonist's sex (besides the extra appearance customization the protagonist has in those games). 
More girls play Pokemon and Fire Emblem because of it, and gamers in general that prefer female protagonist are more inclined to play games that give that that option and enjoy the gameplay and story more.


SMT has a silent protagonist formula for its RPG, so like The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, KOTOR, Fallout 3, Xenoblade X, etc.  the protagonist should be customizable at least at the sex choice level.

SMT generally allows players to choose between good and evil, chaos and law (and neutral),
 it's very nature makes it fully capable of providing the freedom for players to choose between male and female.

and Shin Megami Tensei already has examples of SMT games that include that feature:

Shin Megami Tensei if...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_Megami_Tensei_If...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dqEHLBa92M

Shin Megami Tensei Persona 3 Portable
http://megamitensei.wikia.com/wiki/Persona_3_Portable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cTS7iSNvUg

Shin Megami Tensei Nine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_Megami_Tensei:_Nine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYyVA8j7jXI

Shin Megami Tensei Imagine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_Megami_Tensei:_Imagine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FfEkfPb86Q



and unlike Persona, Shin Megami Tensei isn't neck deep with relationship trees, so it doesn't have to put as much effort to make each gender have its differences in how they are spoken to and treated (and even without relationship depth, P3P did fine adding unique differences to the female MC experiences, and Fire Emblem has extensive bond systems, marriage, children AND still provides unprecented protagonist customization options, both in sex, appearance and color options too.)


At least the bare minimum that P3P provided for MC gender options should become standard for Shin Megami Tensei from now on (2 main character presets to choose from: one male, and one female) . 


all it takes is a model swap, 2D art swap, voice swap, and edits to the script for some words.  Fire Emblem Fates provided all that as well as expanded customization features, including face, hairstyle and colors that influence both the 3D model and 2D portrait.  and the game story becomes are more personal, emotional, and something greater because players have a protagonist that's more to their liking. Protagonist customization is priceless, and biological sex choice is the most basic option all games should have, as well as good appearance options.  Both males and females play RPGs and other games, even mainstream shooters like Call of Duty and Star Wars Battlefront are providing female player options. 


they should adapt what they did with SMT Nine and SMT Imagine's protagonist creation and improve it.  it doesn't take a mmorpg to have those features.

A large part of the SMT fanbase would appreciate the feature if they included it, and for those that like both genders, that could mean extra incentive to play through the game more than once.

So any Shin Megami Tensei / Pokemon / Fire Emblem fans that agree, could request the feature from Atlus on their twitter, as well as try to get Atlus Japan to be more aware of the demand for female protagonist option alongside male option.   P3P's female main character really became popular, regardless what timeline/reality the series argues is canon, Shin Megami Tensei in general is made up of infinite realities, so female MC still counts. 


both male and female options would make Shin Megami Tensei games more appealing and make the games more for everyone instead of catering to mostly just one demographic.

everything else about the series formula is pretty solid,
but the lack of lead protagonist sex option in the main games really limits its potential and demographics until they make main protagonist sex options a standard feature, which make the game worth a lot more and get more interested

both main protagonist sex options do matter,. especially if the MC represents the player, all the more reason to let the player decide and have the freedom to choose their sex, as well as appearance. 
Pokemon, Fire Emblem and other successful franchises prove it, prospering with those options
without leaving neither sex out of the selection and player choice.   

it's win/win for all and even lower budget games like Fire Emblem Fates and not so graphically intense games like Pokemon can achieve and provide those customization features, so should Shin Megami Tensei, which encompasses all dualities and opposites.

tradition is really no excuse since SMT already has a history of bending and breaking its own rules

both new SMT projects and any new SMT and Persona projects they make should include lead protagonist sex options,
it would make the game better and more would be interested in playing the games if they can choose what they prefer

the series is still popular with male protagonist, but female protagonist makes everything greater.  anyone that prefers female protagonst would agree
so it's important to have both options and leave it to the player's choice