Pandering to the Base: Difference between revisions

** The fact the UC and Alternate Timeline's appeal to different tastes with the same success isn't helping.

* One of the more plausible reasons why [[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED|Kira Yamato]] was thrust back into the spotlight (from episode 39 onwards) of ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny]]'' (taking the spotlight from Shinn Asuka, the ''de facto'' main character of ''Destiny''), was because, in Japan, Kira was, and still is, one of the most popular characters in the ''SEED'' universe, and perhaps, the Gundam franchise.

* The staff behind ''[[Code Geass]]'' has intimated that fan response incited them into expanding the role of one character as the series progressed.

** [http://i34.tinypic.com/rj45et.jpg This] is a stellar example of non-sexual fanservice. Most fans have been wanting to do this to Suzaku for quite a while now.

* Like ''[[Shonen Jump]]'', [[Light Novels]] and other manga publishers suffer from a similar issue. Whereas [[Shonen Jump]] was pandering more and more to fujoshi. The other side went the opposite approach and aimed for ''[[Fan Service]]'' and ''[[Moe]]'' as more [[Bleached Underpants|Hentai Artists]] do artwork for the authors who did the storywriting, they had to accomodate to their style which have difficulty in drawing men and instead aim for visual novel style approaches to their storylines (read: Lots and lots of cute girls and a token guy). [http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2010/09/27/jump-new-mangaka-dont-put-any-effort-into-drawing-men/ A chief Shounen Editor expresses his mind]

{{quote|'"We’ve got a lot of followers who are looking to become mangaka, and there’s something I noticed about their works – I’d like to write a bit about what we’ve noticed. It’s about art – there seem to be few people who can draw cool looking men. Especially their faces. People who can draw a man who looks cool to other men, with a sense of sex appeal. Are there no rookies about who can do that…Looking at recent contributions, everyone can draw cute girls. But however you look at it they put no effort into men. I suspect those who can draw cool men will command the next era in manga (though this is an exaggeration). Keep trying!'" }}

* The live-action ''[[Death Note]]'' movies, wherein {{spoiler|L defeats Kira}}.

* In the ''[[Gundam Wing]]'' novel sequel ''Frozen Teardrop'', the [[Identical Grandson|Identical Students]] of Trowa and Quatre spend a lot of time together. This could possibly be the author (also the head writer of the anime) granting a concession to the [[Yaoi Fangirls]], since Trowa/Quatre was one of if not ''the'' most popular yaoi pairing amongst that fandom.

 

== Radio ==

 

 

** Recently, players have been complaining that in trying to avoid Pandering to the Base they've gone too far in the other direction: all but ignoring their existing player base while trying to draw in new players. Like every game, there's an [[Unpleasable Fanbase]] problem to deal with.

* Similarly, Upper Deck Entertainment and [[Konami]] have been doing this with the ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' card game, specifically demanding that older and more rabid fans not bash on the younger demographic or the anime-based cards that they make for them. In an ironic twist, one thorn in the older fans' side ''is'' the lack of anime-based cards...at least, those from the original series, most of which have never been made. Most of the anime-based cards released now are from ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]'', with an almost monopolizing focus on series protagonist Judai, which further adds fuel to the fire (as most "veteran" players feel that such cards are ultimately inferior to the unique ones or those of the original series).

* [[White Wolf]]'s ''[[Old World of Darkness]]'' setting had a specific form of this - every 'splatbook' (or expansion pack) they released inevitably raised the power level, awareness or general coolness of the group being discussed- they'd be depicted as being better than (or at least putting one over on) every other faction. Until the next one, where the next group would top ''that''. Some fans said they felt sorry for the one that had to go first, since the second was better, etc putting the first faction at the bottom of the heap. It was a form of serial base-pandering, with different bases inside the White Wolf fandom.

** This is averted with the ''[[New World of Darkness]]'', where each 'splatbook' simply fleshes out and expands on the splat, as well as having discussions on both its strength and merits ''and'' its flaws and weaknesses. No splat is ever portrayed as inherently "superior" to any other.

== [[Video Games]] ==

* As noted in the quote at the top, this trope something [[Nintendo]] is trying to avoid with its DS and Wii platforms, focusing on innovative, intuitive gaming that can convert non-gamers instead of trying to impress the hardcore with marginally newer and flashier doodads. This is a case of learning from experience: The [[Nintendo 64]] and [[Game Cube]] platforms infamously developed a reputation as being only for little kids and hardcore Nintendo fanboys. The end result was that teenagers, adults, and third-party developers bailed for the [[PlayStation]]. With the Wii, Nintendo seems to have finally learned and is back on track at last. However, a good number of third party developers, mostly in western nations, have either failed or rejected to follow Nintendo's direction, with most of their top tier titles still on [[Sony]] and [[Microsoft]]'s platforms.

** E3 2010 provided an interesting reversal: Microsoft and Sony both seemed to be making overtures at casual gamers, with ''both'' of them showcasing Wii remote ''and'' ''[[Wii Sports]]'' [[Follow the Leader|clones]], while Nintendo unabashedly went after core gamers with their announcements of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword]]'', ''[[Kirby's Epic Yarn]]'', ''[[Donkey Kong Country Returns]]'', remakes of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[Star Fox (series)|Star Fox 64]]'', ''[[GoldenEye 007 (2010 video game)|GoldenEye Wii]]'', and even a new ''[[Kid Icarus]]'' game, after a two ''[[Sequel Gap|decade]]''-long dry spell. Most critics and reporters had Nintendo winning the conference in a walk, and even many gamers are, if not fully won over, at least cautiously optimistic.

** Nintendo is starting to lean back towards this trope with the [[Wii U]], specifically stating that while the new console will still have features and games geared towards casuals, it will also have games and features catered towards the more dedicated fan, pointing out that the "U" in Wii U means the console is made for you.

** There was also an in-universe play near the show's end parodying the show itself.

** ''[[The Legend of Korra]]'' has an automobile company that was founded by [[Fruit Cart|the fan-favorite Cabbage Merchant]] from the earlier series. As the owner is arrested and dragged away in one episode, he even yells "No! Not my Cabbage Corp!" much like his predecessor's "My cabbages!" whenever his cart was destroyed. They're even voiced by the same actor.

* ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic|My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic]]:

** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDfmRqK92jQ "Equestria Girls"]. Not so much pandering to the base as the [[Periphery Demographic]], but they would be far more receptive to something like this than the franchise's traditional base anyway, who would just see it as a fun commercial.<ref>[[Word of God]] is that the show is designed to appeal to parents as well, and just happened to appeal to bronies, which Hasbro has ''no'' problem with.</ref>

 

== Other ==

** On the other hand, LJ has instituted many changes in its commenting system and design that are meant to appeal to those outside its fanbase (or at least the English-speaking ones).

* [[Jeff Dunham]] has been becoming this in recent years, as his shows have become more rooted in shock humor and stereotypes (with increased emphasis on [[Breakout Character]] Achmed) in order to appeal more to the conservative Southern crowd (Dunham is a Texas native).

[[Category:Creativity Leash]]

[[Category:Sequel]]