Why'd they bring back the fourth finger in NNT?

[scorptatious]

I mean, I don't mind it myself, it's just that it did spark some controversy that caused future Oddworld games to only give the mudokuns three fingers.

I'm just curious.

[Holy Sock]

It was only an issue with Japan at the time. And I don't think it's really much of a social issue these days.

[HOMINIX]

Abe is Lorne and Sherry's child. He initially had four fingers, and from interviews, Lorne seems to have never liked the switch to three-fingered Mudokons. This self financed Abe game gave them a chance to set the record straight about his four fingers.

I personally prefer the look of the four-fingered paw. Not to mention, I imagine having 2 fingers and a thumb would make simple tasks -- let alone manual labor -- a bit more difficult.

[Nate]

I personally preferred the three-fingered paw. Four just looks creepy to me. Which is maybe the point.

In addition to what Holy Sock said, when they don't have a Japan-based publisher, there's no-one to be sued:

When you’re on digital distribution, it’s a whole other story. Because what are they going to do? Forbid you from downloading from Amazon? It’s not like they can go after the publisher, there’s no retail shelf for them to say “We’re going to fine your store”. It’s different, it’s digital.

(Source)

[Holy Sock]

The fourth finger always creeped me out because it looks like this singular piece of bone that protrudes from his hand. I just imagine him banging it off things all the time.

[Bullet Magnet]

That fourth finger is the only one Abe has that's small enough to scratch the inside of his ears. Leave it be.

[Job McYossie]

the third finger in AE always looked too small as well, effectively giving muds one finger and thumb.

[Slog Bait]

I always thought the 3 fingered hand was the most disgusting looking thing in the games. I mean just look at it. Massive, giant finger huge black fingernail that just looked like plastic may as well just be a big toe huge big nope

Also, it never looked like they could move the hand as naturally as 4 fingers. It'd be one thing if they just cut off the pinky and had typical alien hand but what is thaaaat

God forbid they tried to sculpt with 3 finger hand. There wouldn't be nearly enough control there.

[STM]

Basically this was Abe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZDjWLwqAPY#t=52

[abe is now!]

Why the hell did OWI accept to cut one finger just because of japanese moods?

[Varrok]

Lorne thought it was a good idea

[abe is now!]

You're lying!

[Wil]

Why the hell did OWI accept to cut one finger just because of japanese moods?

So they could release the game there and make money as a company.

[abe is now!]

So they could release the game there and make money as a company.

Why doesn't japanese society like four-fingered videogames' monsters?

[Alcar]

Essentially, class-ism. The absence of a finger could mean anything from crime-leanings to horribly lower-class occupations.

Alcar...

[Holy Sock]

It was that whole Japanese "subclass" of meat workers, who lost fingers due to their profession, that was looked down upon. So four fingers was considered a rather insulting.

It may have had some reference to the Yakuza as well.

Presumably they changed it for everyone in Exoddus because they didn't have time to render both cutscenes.

EDIT: Alcar beat me to it rather succinctly.

[abe is now!]

Ok but why Abe A GoGo then? ... I know I'm off-topic but I'd like to know.

[Varrok]

You mean, why did they name it that way?

[STM]

Because Japan.

[Holy Sock]

I would guess that "Oddysee" wouldn't really work with Japanese audiences.

[kjjcarpenter]

It was that whole Japanese "subclass" of meat workers, who lost fingers due to their profession, that was looked down upon. So four fingers was considered a rather insulting.

That's the "official" version of the story, but really it's just extortion. Consider it this way:

You cannot publish your game in our country! Your character has four-fingers! It's insulting! However, if you pay us $5,000,000 per annum, we'll ignore the fact your character has four-fingers and everyone is happy. Especially us, because we have $5,000,000!

[Holy Sock]

I actually think Lorne confirmed this in an interview this year.

[kjjcarpenter]

I actually think Lorne confirmed this in an interview this year.

He did indeed. I couldn't remember what one it was though, and wasn't in the mood to peruse.