Let's analyze what Sakurai said about the roster.

"(1)The reality of the situation unfortunately is that there are certain limitations on the 3DS. (2)So we're forced into the situation where we may need to reduce some characters to a certain degree, (3)but we're really working hard in order to include as many characters as possible."

1)There isn't much confusion regarding the first part, but it could be referring to different limitations:
a) RAM and processing power
b) Space and size
c) both

2)Now, the second part could mean different things:
a) we may need to reduce the abilities or function of specific characters to a certain degree

b) we may need to reduce some characters(as in the roster) to a certain degree

The first scenario(a) is likely. And grammatically makes more sense and coincides with the first part of the quote about the limitations of the 3DS regarding RAM.

The second scenario(b) is also possible regarding the space being a limitation. This scenario, however, is less likely because space hasn't been a problem with games as of late.

3)Now, the third part is where it gets even more confusing and somewhat indirectly contradicts the likely scenario regarding the RAM issue.
Grammatically, there's nothing confusing about this, but rather, the context of it and how it can be viewed differently in conjunction to the two other parts of the quote:

aa) since some characters are going to be gimped, we're looking to try and add as many characters as we can without having to cut anybody due to limitations
ab) since some characters are going to be gimped, we're looking to try and add as many characters as possible(as some form of compensation or just in general)

b) we're being held back due to space limitations, but we're going to try and cram in as many characters as we can

My opinion and conclusion on the subject:
- Worst possible scenario is that we get cuts and gimps and don't get an abundance of characters that we could've gotten.
- Second worst scenario is that we get cuts, little to no gimps, and don't get an abundance of characters we could've gotten.
- The third worst scenario, not far behind the last scenario is that we get no cuts, we get gimps, and don't get an abundance of characters we could've gotten.
- Fourth worst scenario is that we get cuts, little to no gimps, but a lot of characters to make up for the cuts.
- Second best scenario is that we get no cuts, get gimps, but with a lot of characters to make up for the gimps.
- Best scenario is that all the issues are solved with little to no gimps and get a lot of characters.

My take on the quote is that RAM and processing is the issue and Sakurai and team are trying hard to not cut any characters that are causing issues(obviously Ice Climbers being one of them) and don't believe that the quote had anything to do with the roster size directly as many people seem to be perceiving.
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Getting cuts isn't bad. Not getting newcomers is.

He's already "reduced" the characters to a degree by making them less graphically impressive, which helps with both limitations of the 3DS. I hope spacing isn't an issue though -- Brawl's memory was taken up mostly by SSE. I would hate to see the game mechanics/roster of SSB4 crumpled due to an adventure mode.

damn u sakurai and your translators(joking)

Thanks for posting this, people really need to see this so they can stop assuming that they're going to have to cut everybody and their mom.

I love your sig.
MINE IZ FROM METAL GEARZ.
Anyyyyyways.
Considering the 3DS is powerful enough to play games such as street fighter 3D, kingdom hearts 3D, and MH3U in glorious 60 FPS, I have no doubt in my mind the handheld can hold the same amount of characters. There is no question about it. Anyone who says otherwise either don't have a 3DS or not many games for it.
Now the real problem is DETAIL. This is why having the ice climbers plus three other characters and a constantly moving background might be problematic for the 3DS version. It might lag and thus cause problems for gameplay, or there might be graphical hiccups due to detail.

Long story short, the problem isn't the adding of characters, its just how much detail they could put on stage.
Maybe that's why they are having different stages for both versions? If that's the case, why is Sakurai being negative so far? Reducing hype? Truth?

Space will not be an issue at all, so while it may prevent certain characters to be in the game, it most likely won't affect the number of characters that will be included. It sounds like he's talking about the character functions that may be cut back for certain characters, with Ice Climbers being the example he brought up.

PaperDolphin posted...

Getting cuts isn't bad. Not getting newcomers is.

I fail to see how getting cuts are bad. Why trash an existing, full-fledged character? It's not only wasteful, but you're stripping away part of the series's past and experience of people who enjoyed would-be cut characters.
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