ADDENDUM:
A few days have passed, and I've been made to realize that perhaps I made this post more about costumes than I had originally intended, and thus obscured the main concern that I currently have. I think that the costumes are just a symptom of the problem perhaps.
I think that the way that the game is marketed currently is flawed. I'm not saying that any and all sex appeal should be stamped out. But, I think that a combination of things like gravure movies, how the photos and videos are set up on the main website, and the dearth of originality in any costumes that do come out are serving to sap any possible personality from the characters in the game in my opinion. The idea of these being iconic characters is weakening. To be blunt, I don't think you're giving the public enough to hold onto in terms of characterization that some random dating game can't provide. You should not have to clarify on a -tournament- flier that your game is not a dating simulator, joke as it was. This added to how the interview went and the pushing of the "soft engine", while I'm sure is useful tech in the long run, it makes it seem like you, Team Ninja, don't have the confidence in any other aspects of the game besides boobs. I could be completely wrong, but I think that the game has more to offer than just that.
For instance, people hardly have the opportunity to purchase anything that's not a boob mousepad, or a fetish costume, or a bikini wall scroll, when it comes to DOA5. You shouldn't be closing off merchandising to just fans of certain characters or the people that like bikinis. I think there is also money to be made elsewhere. I've seen talk (although mostly jokingly) of characters just being outright removed in the future because they are never acknowledged or promoted. DLC kind of ties directly into that, since new releases always have to be marketed. All that people are -allowed- to see is "sexy" and "naughty" things about the female characters. Are you content with that? Is nothing else about the game marketable? Is nothing else about your -characters- marketable? This goes for both your male and female characters.
In a slightly different vein, I feel like asking consumers to pay upwards of $350 (American, perhaps even worse for other territories) for all of the bells and whistles in the game, plus the cost of the actual game and any updates you release, is a little too much to ask. Games nowadays have an issue where your initial purchase never feels complete. Gamers are feeling somewhat cheated. I don't think that road ends well in the long run, though it may seem financially lucrative for the moment. Many games eventually do release a "complete edition" after some time. But, it seems we're not done yet with DOA5. And the value of the purchase seems to be getting lesser and lesser as time goes on.
I think that these are ways in which people are being alienated. But, I don't think it has to be this way while still maintaining mostly everything about the core of the games. The internet is a big place, and there's no guarantee that anyone will read this. But, I want to keep enjoying DOA5. It's just that certain grievances have built up over time and are keeping me from doing so. I'm not liking the way you're doing business, Team Ninja. I will take my business elsewhere if it -must- come down to that. I am insignificant, I know. But, I don't think that I am alone. So, I ask of you to please take what I've said into consideration (if someone reads it at all...).
I just don't give two shits if people denigrate the game over that without trying the game.
