Soom Gem Order Chance: Special Order - Speculation & Discussion Thread Part II

I know plenty of people have asked for female ID's and centaurs. Some things are just too outside the realm of what they want to do, what sells well, and their ideals of what is beautiful. If they made a beautiful centaurette in bronze resin that's exactly what I want, I still wouldnt buy it, because it would cost waaaaaaay too much money :P but I can dream, right?

 

I think people have asked and Soom pretty much said no. As far as African aesthetic goes, you then have to ask yourself which one because Africa's a big place, and as with any large group of people the look is going to vary. That and Soom does stylized dolls, and has their own aesthetic, and to do any race with any precision would require more realism or a change in their aesthetic.

 

Exactly, their stylized ideal image of beauty doesnt leave room for a wide nose When they made Coquina people wrote the most rude things about her because she was outside the realm of their usual aesthetic. So they have all the proof of concept they need to continue doing just what they've been doing and change it up only enough to give a sculpt a different name.

 

Well not all black or African people have wide or broad noses. I know and have seen plenty of them who don't. In fact a good number of black people I know wouldn't fit what most would consider the "African aesthetic". Which usually seems to be something close to Ashanti.

 

Well, yeah! Obviously racial groups arent homogeneous. That shouldnt be news to anyone. I know I'm a black person with little resemblance to the "african aesthetic" but that aesthetic still exists, Soom has still never made a doll with that aesthetic, and Im pretty sure we're never going to see it. Im not saying that it's horrible of them to not use it, I just would love to see their stylized take on those particular racial features

 

I'm all for a female centaur, according to Wikipedia called Kentaurides. But apparently, ancient mythologically speaking, they are a very rare thing...! But still, this shouldn't stop Soom from doing it anyway

Anneke - I would love to see their stylized take on this also. I do take on board the variables that are possible as Cloudedmind said...though I do think if people were calling specifically for an African featured doll, they would be asking for the most obvious look. If they were going to bother making a doll of african origins, I would be wholly dissapointed to see a doll that could pass for multiple other ethnicities...I would be wanting the obvious and anything other would seem like a lack of creative effort. Look at Dollmore's 'Mellow Cole', she's not realistic like the IP girls, but still has an African aesthetic about her.

p.s. There's a thread in the pic request sub-forum, where the request is for asian featured girl dolls, now to my way of thinking there are obvious characteristics that can make a doll asian featured and without them...it's just another doll.

 

Yes, it does. I guess I'm just annoyed that whenever a representation of a "black" person is created, that's what they usually end up looking like, (some variant of Ashanti) and like you I look nothing like that. So it's nice to see black people being portrayed with other facial features. Or realizing that many of these dolls if you slap some darker color on them could be another take on a black person.

But anyway I've taken us OT, so as it is it is unlikely that Soom will make a doll in that representation, simple because it doesn't seem to fit the style they are going for.

 

I guess that then comes down to stereotypes...many people hate them (as I have done myself, but for other reasons than my Carribean origins), some fight against them, but sometimes I think they can be useful as giant, huge, general, markers of some sort.
Some complained about how stereotypical the IP dolls looked, and some complain that there aren't enough african origined dolls out there, so then the ones they do make, get slammed for being a stereotype... etc, etc and so it goes on.

But yes, your are right Cloudedmind, we're in danger of wandering OT here^^

 

Kentaurides? That's a mouthful, LOL! I like centaurette XD

It reminds me of World of Warcraft a bit-- in the mythology, only male night elves can be druids and only female night elves can be warriors. Blizzard realized that they didnt want to segregate their player base across gender lines so they tossed that line of canon and all classes can be played by all genders to equal effect. I think technically, a "centaur" literally is a male only species, but hopefully Soom will one day buck the trend and bring in a four-legged female ANYTHING. I would be very proud if they made a female spynx for example XD

As for the African features, it would be nice if they even had any other bronze female at all but it would be nice if they allowed more choice in their MD's across the board. Could you imagine a bronze or gray skin Nephelin? Or a pitch black Amphibel o_O guh, Id never be safe from Soom if we could actually choose what skintone we wanted.

Ultimately they will just find their happy medium between what sells the best and what they consider beautiful, and us fans will still be happy to throw buckets of cash at them

 

More bronze or even an ebony female would be awesome. Makes me wonder what the next female MD will look like. It seems as of late they've been keeping their female dolls and the way they are styled very "angelic" like.

 

Anneke - I agree, I think extending their range altogether is a definate must do for the future! More standard dolls, more resin choices for all doll issues (cos we know they can do it) and taking a chance more with the doll features, so that they don't all start looking same-y.

I have mentioned it before, but I was trying to leave the doll hobby altogether and have not had a doll for around six months now, but Soom sucked me right back in with Bazael and ws Chrom and if I had the spare cash, Galena would be coming home too! Their MD storyline is quite a lot to take in and they definately have some more exciting creatures lying in wait for us. Bring it on!

 

Yeh, even Galena, though a witch in this edition, was called sweet-witch! Galena, Evil Witch might not have gone down too well though...^^
A dark, blood-mage type like Morrigan from Dragon Age Origins, in gs would be really cool!

 

This is why I decided to get Zinc now...51cm does not appeal to me in the slightest.

 

If you actually go through a couple of their storylines, the current story is in like a 'darker' time, I guess.

Though you guys are right, the women are always good or 'light' right now. The only evil dolls in this year's storyline are Trachy, Lami, and Bazael--tinies or male.

 

I want to see more evil dollies!

 

I'm betting we'll be seeing a demoness sooner rather than later. Amphibel was the first in this 'Light and Darkness' story and she's the only SG girl so far. It's time for a demon girl.

 

Got my reply:

Good day !

About your question :

We are sorry, we do not know if we will sell Zinc as a human ID51 doll in the future.

But we have registered your request so we may think consider it.

If you have more questions, please feel free asking us at any time.^^

Have a nice day !

So I guess it is good news and bad news. If enough people ask, I'm sure they will make him as a human. But my bank account lives another day!

 

I...well, hope may not be the right word, but I'd like this to be true. However when I look at the faery line, all the girls have been the Seelie faeries and the one boy to date was the Unseelie, so who knows what Soom actually envisions or plans? We've been hoping for an Unseelie girl for almost a year now.

.hlp

 

Thank you for asking... I guess my wallet would be safe, too, this time! XD

 

Is it just me... or does Zinc's head seem to not quite fit on his neck? O.o

He's gorgeous though. I reeealy want him. *Stares at finances willing extra money to magically appear*