sirnerdbird

[sirnerdbird]

Just a reminder - Big Betrayal was NOT staged

I've seen people spread this idea a lot since the song originally came out, and I want to provide some evidence that I hope puts this idea to bed.

On the face of it, it makes much more sense to think that Deep Cut staged the whole thing. Given that Big Man is the one who writes Deep Cut's music, the idea that he would

Get attacked by Shiver and Frye

Record the fight

Turn the recording of the fight into a song

and then the three members release the song together, seems completely incomprehensible. It makes sense that people would come to the conclusion that all of this is staged, and is actually Deep Cut trying to stoke drama for fan engagement.

But this brings us to something that has been true of Splatoon since the beginning, but isn't talked about very often.

The Idols in Splatoon do NOT have a difference between their stage persona and their actual, genuine selves.

Irl, idols and performers often project a front and create a "character" of sorts that serves as a marketable public face. The idea that this is the "real" face of the performer is often a main aim of the act to make them seem more personable, but it doesn't make that true. irl Japanese Idol groups (which are the main inspiration for Callie and Marie) are particularly well-known for cultivating parasocial relationships between the group and their followers. As another extreme example, consider vtubers that are part of corporate groups. They are effectively actors playing a character, even if these people do share real stories from their lives with their viewers in the guise of their character. If the idol groups from Splatoon were real people, then all of this would be true for them too.

However, in Splatoon itself, there's never been an example of characters acting differently between their work hosting the news or during splatfests when compared to how they act in the story modes. Even while trying to actively hide their identities in Splatoon 1, Callie and Marie's personalities don't change while acting as Agents 1 and 2. Callie is still a bit of a goofball and Marie is still sarcastic, in exactly the same way that they are when they're presenting the news or performing for crowds. We don't see any indication at all that this very marketable self is a fake projection like it would be for an irl performer. Instead we get the opposite, the idea that they are just like that all the time. Even though they are secret agents that are part of a clandestine vigilante organisation, and they'd quite like for people to not know that they're agents 1 and 2, there's no actual gulf in personality between "The Squid Sisters" and "Callie and Marie".

Additionally, although we know Callie and Marie have agents and people who help them manage their work, we've never seen any evidence of any kind of "stage persona" or deviation between how they feel and act as people, and how they present themselves when they're working. From the Squid Sister Stories, we know that the idols genuinely do believe that the splatfest choices they represent are the correct answer to the prompts, rather than them just being assigned a side regardless of their real opinion. We've also never seen any indication of the idols or people who work with them trying to cultivate the same kind of parasocial link to their fanbase that their real-world equivalents might.

This idea that the characters are always being "genuine" is one of the aspects of Splatoon that requires suspension of disbelief because of how it deviates from the real world. But this is what the evidence we have supports. With this all being established, how does it tie back into Big Betrayal?

Big Betrayal was the start of Deep Cut's vague character arc during the update cycle of Splatoon 3 regarding their willingness to work with people from Inkopolis. However, in a manner of speaking, it actually happens twice, for two different reasons. Both are important for the events of Splatoon 3.

The initial reason for the song was when Shiver and Frye confronted Big Man about working with the Squid Sisters to produce Liquid Sunshine as Ian BMG. He isn't able to explain himself as Shiver and Frye accuse him of ditching them for money and fame given by people in Inkopolis. This is the version of the song that plays in-game, and was released during the Deep Cut splatfest around the game's first anniversary. Although we don't get any translated lyrics or indication of what it's about, Daybreaker Anthem (which was released after the splatfest concluded) could be interpreted as a end to the immediate conflict between the three idols due to its tone, and is likely related to Big Betrayal because of it.

During the events of the live concert at Nintendo Live 2024 Big Man was attacked by Shiver and Frye for being unable to stop Pearl and Marina from coming onto the stage and doing a set while Shiver and Frye were having a break. The lyrics in this live version song are different to the translated lyrics in the original song and Frye can be seen to physically attack him. This is important as it sets the stage for Shiver and Frye doing a stage invasion at a later Off the Hook concert, leading to the events of Suffer No Fools and the eventual formation of the Now Or Never Seven, a collection of all 3 groups.

Given that we have never seen any evidence of the idols having any deviation between their show persona and their real selves (and I really do want to repeat that we have never seen any evidence, despite stories from different idols' perspectives and their genuine opinions through the various relationship charts), it doesn't make any sense for all 3 idol groups to actually have been orchestrating the drama between them that unfolds because of the latter version of Big Betrayal.

I hope this explains why we can actually fairly reliably say that the events of both Big Betrayal(s) aren't staged, and are actually based on recording of Shiver and Frye genuinely attacking Big Man.

[sirnerdbird]

How do Inklings and Octolings bathe?

some headcanons+doodles about how i think inklings and octolings (inkfish) bathe, taking the water weakness into account. I think it's boring to ignore the water weakness and it is undeniably canon, see this post for more info!

I've heard ideas like ink-based piping or attachments that change water as it comes out into ink, but imo the former sounds expensive to install everywhere, most species aren't ink based and like water, and even inklings and octolings still use water. The latter seems too... magical?

I also wanted to keep it simple. high pressure mist showers or bath bombs are modern inventions, but sitting at the edge of a hot spring and wiping ones body down with a damp sea sponge is something i can imagine an inkling doing 1000 years ago if they had that bathing culture.

These are just a few ideas. The way we humans bathe differs depending on culture and time, and even the individual, and I'm sure there would be truth to that for inkfish too.

(final note, suction cup teeth on inklings aren't canon LOL but since its a trait some species of real squids have, i think there would be inklings that have it too.) anyway if you want to adopt these headcanons, then please do<3

[sirnerdbird]

silly warmup

[sirnerdbird]

I uploaded a new video!

It’s about a theory I had on what O.R.C.A.’s true intentions might be… It always irked me how there’s seemingly no reason for O.R.C.A. to conduct these tests in Alterna, but I think I have an idea that should be somewhat realistic

[sirnerdbird]

[sirnerdbird]

The splatfest experience

[sirnerdbird]

[sirnerdbird]

[sirnerdbird]

How many Splatoon fans are aware of the canon Toni Kensa underwear line

[sirnerdbird]

I uploaded a new short video!

It’s an edit of #14 crush that I used in my Dedf1sh mix I uploaded years ago. Since then a bunch of people asked if I could upload the full thing separately, so here it is! In this edit I was able to separate some instruments for an interesting sound.

In reality though it is a pretty simple effect you can use yourself in Audacity for example, so throughout the video I also did some animations explaining how the effect works

[sirnerdbird]

Grizzco Wants YOU!

I quickly threw this together for the Big Run announcement.

[sirnerdbird]

I finished my latest main video. I made a narration of the Alterna Logs!

[sirnerdbird]

Made this for a joke on a server but am slightly too proud of it

[sirnerdbird]

Ain’t nobody gonna see this but I have theory of the Calamari Inkantation. Splatoon 3 Spoilers.

Okay so I was listening to Wave Goodbye, the Splatoon 3 Credits Song, over and over like a normal person, when at some point I realized when they get to the portion that starts the Calamari Inkantation lyrics, there are non-filtered voices singing. Humans Voices. (Pictured is around the point where that section starts)

Then I thought to myself: What if the Calamari Inkantation originated as a song humans made on Alterna? A song to help them continue despite their world falling around them. Then I started looking into the logs and reflecting on past events with the song and..

Let’s just say Sunken Scroll #23 from Splatoon 1 saying: “Nowadays, this song and dance may as well be carved into the very DNA of all Inklings.” ..might be a tiny bit more literal than expected. Let’s take a look at what we know.

The Calamari Inkantation is a literal incantation. Series of words, or a song in this case, that causes magical effects. It has, in many cases, been known to give strength, physical or otherwise, to those who have been in audible range of it. Ex. Giving Cuttlefish the strength to break out of his restraints and Smallfry to temporarily evolve(?) into Hugefry.

With that said, I believe the “Calamari” part could be from the place it was “founded” in and taken on as a traditional song for. Calamari Country. Which is where Callie and Marie come from. Perhaps the Inklings of the area long ago found the sheet music.

Moving on, the part of this that helps this theory’s case is Alterna Log005: Fresh Intelligence Awakens.

After the liquid crystals that retained decades of humanity’s wishes was absorbed by the squids, octopuses, and other sea creatures that inhabited Alterna’s waters.. it imbued them with fresh impulses that “bore a striking resembling to humanity’s passive desire to return to the Earth’s surface”.

Interesting. The desire to return to the surface was slowly fused into their DNA. You may be thinking “But what does this have to do with the Inkantation?” And that’s exactly where I’m going with this.

So if we are to think.. the Calamari Inkantation was made by the humans on Alterna, perhaps filled lyrically with their wishes.. and the sea creatures absorbed the desire and wishes of humanity to return to the surface through the liquid crystals.. and the Calamari Inkantation gives sea creatures the literal strength to move forward..

And the INKADIA-BORN OCTOLINGS, who were SUFFERING in poor conditions UNDERGROUND in DOMES heard the CALAMARI INKANTATION and suddenly their “SOULS WERE FREED” and THE DESIRE TO RETURN TO THE SURFACE AND THRIVE WAS EVOKED INTO THEM AGAIN?

AFTER YEARS OF LIVING A HARD MILITARISTIC-STYLE LIFE WITH BEING INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AT A YOUNG AGE, THEY FOUND THE STRENGTH TO LEAVE THEIR ENTIRE OLD LIFE BEHIND? TO RISK IT ALL. EVEN THEIR OWN LIFE. TO JOIN WHAT THEY WERE PRESUMED TO BE THEIR WORST ENEMIES ON THE SURFACE IN HARMONY?

After thinking about all this and rewatching the Octo Expansion Surface Cutscene (from that last GIF), I nearly wanted to CRY. They had never seen the real sky before, the real SUN before. They made it. Not only the Octolings but humanity’s final wishes made it too.

That’s my theory. Perhaps I’m wrong but either way I would love to see what people think. Thanks for reading.

Oh and also, since it named the “Inkantation” that means someone knew of its power... This just in, did the Inklings cheat in the Great Turf War?

But that’s for another day lol

[sirnerdbird]

im surprised the word "inkfish" never really caught on in the english-speaking splatoon community as a shorthand for "inklings and octarians," akin to "イカタコ" (ikatako) in JP. usually i see "cephalings" or "cephalopods"

"inkfish" even gets used in game by flow.

plus the mouthful of a word, "cephalopods", still doesnt accurately encompass our turf-warring inklings and octolings alone, there are other kinds of cephalopods that dont use ink in the splatoon world. so. can we make "inkfish" more of a thing

edit: yes it is a real word that predates splatoon

[sirnerdbird]

A post to illustrate just how insane the Golden Grizzco Point badge is

One of the major additions to Splatoon 3 was the Splashtag system, which brings with it a lot of extra customisation for the player. Maybe the most interesting part of this new system is the fact that you can attach up to 3 badges (splatoon's new form of achievements) to your Splashtag to demonstrate your prowess in different aspects of the game (pictured here is my splashtag with my badges for "10 tricolour defender wins", "rank 50 in tableturf" and "S+ in anarchy battles").

A lot of these badges come with different tiers of completion (like the "turf war wins" badge which gives you a normal, silver and gold variant as you get to 50, 250 and 1200 wins respectively) and one of these sets of badges is tied to accumulating Grizzco Points across your Salmon Run matches.

Grizzco Points are a form of progression tied to your performance in Salmon Run and are what's used to determine your progression through the Bonus Meter for that rotation (the thing that gives you the different coloured capsules, the points are referred to here as "p").

These points are calculated using for following equation (where X is taken from whether you completed every round [X=1], completed every round and defeated a King Salmonid [X=2], or lost a round [X=0]):

(Golden Eggs + Power Eggs / 200)(Pay Grade / 100) + 50 * X = Grizzco Points

There are three badges tied to accumulating Grizzco Points over time; a bronze badge for 10,000 points, a silver badge for 100,000 points and a gold badge for collecting a grand total of 9,999,999 points.

The purpose of this post is to illustrate the extent to which this last requirements is (genuinely) unlikely to be reached by anyone legitimately before Splatoon 4 is released.

To understand why, let's take a look at just how many points you can get per match, then craft a best-case scenario to demonstrate how long it would take in hours of playtime.

The highest recorded number of eggs in a S3 Salmon Run game so far that I could find was this run posted by Brian with 241, however in the video it's mentioned that 250 is possible (and/or the current record? couldn't quite make out what was said exactly). Lets also take their number of Power Eggs collected in that run as well and generously round it up to 8000 to represent what you might get with a WR 250 egg run.

Using this and the 235% Paygrade you get for playing at Eggsecutive VP 50 and above, we can find out the number of points that you could get for an "optimum" run (if a King Salmonid does not appear)

(250 + 8000 / 200)(235 / 100) + 50 = 731.5 (lets call it 732, idk how Splatoon treats decimals so I'm just going to round it to the nearest whole number).

(Given that my average game as a pretty mediocre Eggsecutive VP player gets me about 270-330 points per win, I hope you can see the extent to which 732 is a pretty unsustainable "optimum" value, but let's carry on)

Salmon Run is made up of 3 rounds that are 100 seconds long ("0" is counted as a whole second iirc, so even though the timer shows 99 seconds you have 100), with about 10-15 seconds between waves. If you want to play multiple games one after another there's also about 1-2 minutes of waiting for a lobby + the opening helicopter cutscene + the end screen. As a rough estimate, lets say it takes an average of 7 minutes between joining the freelance queue and starting the queue for your next match afterwards.

9,999,999 / 732 = 13661.20082 (so 13662 games in total)

13662 x 7 = 95634 minutes = 1593.9 hours = 66.4125 days of solid playtime

Cutting our points per game to a more sustainable 360 points per game at Eggsecutive VP level, then adding a 75% win rate to the equation gets us to 4050 (.925...) hours of solid playtime for this one golden badge.

To put this into perspective, in an equivalent timeframe you could watch Shrek 2700 times and be just over half way through the 2701st viewing when the timer ran out.

Very illuminating example aside, I hope I've demonstrated why this badge is effectively unobtainable for those of us not in possession of a hacked switch. I would honestly almost bet a sizable amount of money that nobody is going to get this badge by the end of the decade (and/or when Silksong is relea.... wait that's coming in 2023 isn't it nvm)

(if I've got any of the maths wrong feel free to bully me in the tags)

[sirnerdbird]