Splatoon Player Invests in Nintendo to Express Frustration
A Splatoon player took an extreme approach to attend the Nintendo Direct, going so far as to buy a Switch OLED on credit and selling it to afford Nintendo stock. The player, who prefers playing as boys in the Ink-based shooter, believes Splatoon 3 severely lacks representation for male characters. Rather than merely attending a conference, he seized the opportunity to address Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, criticizing the company's treatment of boys in Splatoon 3.
Extreme Measures to Voice Concerns
In a lighthearted video starring YouTuber Drift0r, we learn about the extreme lengths one Splatoon player would go to participate in a Nintendo conference. Rather than simply attending in person, the fan – who prefers playing as boys in Splatoon – chose to address Nintendo regarding Splatoon 3's lack of male representation in the game.
After explaining how he 'can't make the meeting cause [he's] in jail right now,' the fan says, 'I learned my lesson, okay. Never sell your Switch on credit again.' He continues, 'I sold my Switch OLED and got a Switch Lite on credit. Bought some Nintendo stock and flew to Japan. Now I'm gonna ask them [Nintendo] why Splatoon 3 is sexist.'
No, I'm serious. Check it out. pic.twitter.com/i1fVu765aE
— Drift0r (@Drift0r) May 16, 2022Addressing Gender Bias in Splatoon 3
The fan attends the conference, seizing the opportunity to address Furukawa about Splatoon 3's perceived gender bias against male players. Expressing a sense of sadness over the perception that playing as a boy in Splatoon 3 is not as 'enjoyable' as playing as a girl, he points out the expansion in customization options. However, he cites the clear bias towards favoring female characters through a limited number of diverse hairstyles, limited profile icons, and emotes that are tailored for girls.
The fan also reveals his initial 'concerns' that Splatoon 3 would exclude male characters entirely, causing anxiety among male players who preferred playing as boys. This anxiety, according to the fan, was unfounded, as Splatoon 3 allows for players to make an endless number of textile and visual settings changes, thus opening an opportunity for personal expression within the game.
A Lesson Learned
Despite Furukawa's attempt to interrupt the lengthy question with an apology, noting that it is not his area of expertise, the fan plows on, expressing his desire to be heard. In the end, Furukawa thanks him for sharing his opinion, but he stops short of providing a direct response. It seems that extremely personal investment did not yield the desired outcome, leaving the fan with a lesson learned.
The article highlights the irony of the situation wherein the fan could have simply shared his frustrations on Twitter, like many other players. Nevertheless, tanking your credit score in order to express dissatisfaction, however extreme, is perhaps not the wisest choice. The amusing commentary implies exactly this, noting the unfortunate lack of male representation in Splatoon 3.
The piece concludes by mentioning that the story is currently trending, highlighting its relevance to players, and perhaps influencers, regardless of gender. Check out the video below for details, and for a chance to hear one man's frustrations.
