Its fine and all if people got into DOA just for the gameplay not for the bouncing breast or revealing outfits, but part of what Mike said in his article makes Me want to question him or I think hes plain hypocrite.
For someone who has never let breast physics or says its his favorite fighting game, it makes him sounds like he is not that passionate enough to love games for what it is especially if you felt uncomfortable about your choices of fighting games during when DOA went Xbox Exclusive (while Itagaki was involved with the franchise) by letting terrible made commercial (these guys feel like their embarrassed by their moms or wives discovering their porn magazines got discovered) & let a waitress who gave you a thumbs up and say something right off that same commercial.
Not only you've started to feel uncomfortable with part of DOA's breast & revealing outfits, but you bought The Really Naughty Limited Edition of Record of Agarest War (which I own) which part of its art isn't any better compare to what DOA does (for the ones who somewhat has a problem with it) along with owning a Transformers figurine which it has a little girl bathing? (which the majority of people would want to question you) Is there something wrong with you or are you just not yourself along with not making up your mine on interest?
About the whole ray of hope for DOA fans tired of the series over-sexualized image, Mike knows very little about fans since every fan is very different and Mike is another example where fans are divided. It almost sounds like if you prefer if part of DOA's nature should be toned down completely. (Granted part of DOA's breast physics for DOAD & DOA5 not counting the options from DOA5+/DOA5U has improved from DOAX2/Paradise which is nice improvement) Everyone has very mixed opinions on what they prefer for DOA.
Seriously, part of DOA's realistic body illusion were shattered because of DLC and missed the sexy highway off-ramp? Dead or Alive was always like this from the beginning from the revealing outfits (especially unlockables, with few exceptions) & about bouncing breast features, besides part of the gameplay which is a fighter that I enjoy the most. He should've never played DOA if he can't get pass part of the breast physics along with Itagaki's choice when he was the leader of Team Ninja at the time. (there is at least options to choose from if he prefers natural movement, off, similar to previous DOA, or the hidden OMG) I'd like to know how many has he unlocked or even saw from DOA1? (not counting DOA2 Dreamcast or DOA3 Xbox, since they don't have many unlockables compare to DOA1 or DOA2U)
Not only people wouldn't take DOA serious because of revealing outfits & breast (which is now becoming not a valid complaint), but also when DOA1-DOAD used underage female characters which they would want to question developers or the country itself, even question Marie Rose & Honoka when it comes to age not accepting them as 18. (since Age of Consent is very different for each country) Which these people will likely beat the franchise to the ground with pointless comments, until DOA & part of fan service is wipe from existence and they will find something else to beat it to the ground. Part of your idea letting it age into the mature fighting game that you know feels nothing more than just pure naïve or delusional mind, doesn't understand more including part fan service what it was meant to be.
How is covering fighting games complicated when it comes to balance, timing, & competitive scene? Dead or Alive shouldn't be that easy especially since it is a fighting game, there are many stuff that involves balance, combos, timing inputs, & competitive scene DOA has. It does sound like you don't care that much about the FGC or part of the DOA community.
His ideal of changes, on the whole "Show, don't tell" isn't such a bad idea since we already have the options. "Take body physics to next level" body reacting to motions isn't such a bad idea either, but I think this could be too much to ask for due console limitation (avoiding slowdowns & hurting the games frame) or how much Koei is willing to give Team Ninja that much time. "Grow a pair" That would be something that every developer, however I would prefer if they put their focus on fans who have been with the franchise since Itagaki's position all the way to what DOA is of today (still accept DOA for what it is, such as Myself for example), which the fan service should remain. Telling the ones who want bigger breast to screw them (plus giving them a different game to get their fix) is insulting & what people like him should not handle the ones who prefer bigger breast (they are part what kept the franchise alive compare to ones that completely stopped at the Xbox era) which they can get over with changes (especially ones that originally had bigger breast).
Part of this article I would also won't take that much seriously, and I think he won't do DOA any justice besides cause problems or completely change DOA's creation to what it should be (even certain members involved with DLC has made bad decisions, which can easily improve). I think DOA can still be looked as a serious fighter, and still keep part of its fan service with the help of the most dedicated members and ones who support the franchise for what it is.
