Mai Shiranui

Mai Shiranui
Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters character

First game Fatal Fury 2 (1992)[1][2]
Designed by Art: Shinkiro, Falcoon and others in the various games
Animation: C.A.C Yamasaki (KOF '94- KOF 2003)[3]
Voiced by (English) Sarah Sawatsky (Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle)[4]
Lisa Ann Beley (Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture)[4]
Sheryl Stanley (KOF: Maximum Impact, Maximum Impact 2, KOF: Another Day)[4]
Voiced by (Japanese) Akoya Sogi (Fatal Fury Special - FF: Wild Ambition, The King of Fighters '94 - KOF XI, KOF: Another Day)[4]
Kotono Mitsuishi (Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle, Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture)[4]
Megumi Hayashibara (drama CDs)
Chiba Reiko (Non Stop! One Way Love)
Ami Koshimizu (Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting, Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos, KOF XIII)[4][5][6]
Portrayed by Tomomi Miyauchi (Fatal Fury 2 TV commercial)
Miki Hareyama (Fatal Fury Special TV commercial)
Maggie Q (film)
Fictional profile
Birthplace Japan
Fighting style Ninjutsu of the Shiranui style (不知火流忍術 Shiranui-ryū Ninjutsu)
Judo
Weapon "Fire Butterfly Fan" (花蝶扇 Kachōsen)

Mai Shiranui (Japanese: 不知火舞 Hepburn: Shiranui Mai) is a player character in the Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters series of fighting games by SNK. She has also appeared in other media of these franchises and in a number of other games since her debut in 1992's Fatal Fury 2 as the first female character in SNK fighting games.

In the games' lore, Mai is a modern-world young female ninja and the granddaughter of the ninjutsu master Hanzo Shiranui, with the ability to create and control fire. She is a founding member of the King of Fighters Tournament's Women Fighters Team and is madly in love with the American Andy Bogard who is ambiguous about their relationship. The character also appears in the games' various manga and anime adaptations, and plays a leading role in the live-action film.

Largely due to her sex appeal, Mai has become one of the most popular, recognizable and celebrated female characters of the fighting game genre and video gaming in general, often being compared to Capcom's characters Chun-Li and Maki Genryusai. She has also become SNK's primary sex symbol and mascot character featured in a many merchandise items and representing the company in several crossover and spin-off titles, as well as a trendy subject of cosplay and modeling.

Design

Animation of large-breasted cartoon figure, bending over

The character debuted as SNK's first female playable fighting game character.[8] Before Mai Shiranui's creation as one of the main characters[9] for Fatal Fury 2, the series was intended to feature a male ninja master with the same fighting style. The SNK staff also considered adding an idol character to the series, finally replacing them both with Mai, who was described in the original Japanese manual as "The Gorgeous Ninja" (in English) and as "Knock-out Ninja" in the official Neo Geo newsletter.[10][11] According to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), "the character wears a revealing outfit that accentuates her buttocks and displays large amounts of cleavage."[12][13] In her profile, Mai's measurements are 87 cm (34 in) – 55 cm (22 in) – 91 cm (36 in); she is 1.64 m (5.4 ft) tall and weighs 50 kg (110 lb).[14] Inspiration for Mai's appearance and attributes came from a number of sources. According to the Neo Geo publication Neo Geo Freak, her bust was modeled on Fumie Hosokawa and her buttocks on Ai Iijima—both well-known Japanese gravure idols when the Fatal Fury series began.[15][16] The animated "jiggle" of Mai's breasts was inspired by the tales of kunoichi (female ninja) using their bodies for seduction and distraction.[17] Mai's given name comes from the Japanese word for "dance". Her surname, "Shiranui" is the name of a Japanese optical phenomenon similar to will-o'-the-wisp which refers to the character's pyrokinetic abilities: she can create and control fire, even as she is not immune to her own flames.[18]

Mai's appearance changes only slightly through most of the Fatal Fury and King of Fighters games. She has long hair (usually brown or red, but sometimes black) tied in a ponytail hanging down her back and long bangs framing her face. Mai usually wears a sleeveless red outfit or tunic with a decorative waistband—sometimes with long, decorative tails, and a loincloth with a thong (shorts in the U.S. version) around her crotch. In Fatal Fury 2, Fatal Fury Special (1993) and The King of Fighters she wears a pair of soft-soled tabi. From Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory to Real Bout Fatal Fury (both in 1995) she wears instep guards, exposing her heels and toes. In Fatal Fury 3, she wears a red vest and eye shadow. Mai has been regionally censored;[7] the breast-bounce animation was removed in several releases, including the international home version of The King of Fighters '94,[19] in the European version of The King of Fighters '95 for the Sega Saturn,[20] and in the U.S. versions of Fatal Fury 2 and Fatal Fury Special.[8][note 1] Her usually very large breasts are smaller in some games, such as SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos,[24] and some other media (in particular the live-action film).

In The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact (2004), Mai has shorter hair and ninja clothing resembling that of Kasumi in the Dead or Alive series.[25] In KOF: Maximum Impact 2 (2006), one of her color schemes matches Andy Bogard's and she has blonde hair. Another outfit of Mai's with long green hair, tiger-print clothing and a hairpin with horns resembles that of Lum Invader from the manga and anime series Urusei Yatsura and is based on Cham Cham from SNK's Samurai Shodown series. The Maximum Impact series' producer, Falcoon, said that designing Mai's alternate look was "unforgivable" since he was uncertain of fan reaction to the change.[26] Hardcore Gamer applaued Falcoon's work on the game, noting how "Mai Shiranui's bouncy, laid-back personality shows in her stance."[27] Shinkiro, an illustrator who worked on The King of Fighters, said that Mai was the most difficult character to draw; he "thought she was going to burst out of her costume".[28] When asked which character from which game he was happiest with, King of Fighters logo designer and illustrator Nao Q answered: "You know full well it's Mai from Fatal Fury! As a fan of full-figured females, I can't do without her!"[29]

Ami Koshimizu (pictured in 2008) has been Mai's Japanese voice since 2010

In most of the games, Mai's Japanese voice actress has been Akoya Sogi (dubbed by Sheryl Stanley in the English versions of the Maximum Impact series), until she was replaced by Ami Koshimizu in 2010. Kotono Mitsuishi voiced Mai in the Fatal Fury anime films, with English dubbings provided by Sarah Sawatsky and Lisa Ann Beley.

Appearances

In video games

According to SNK universe' early canon, Mai Shiranui was born on January 1, 1974 (later the year was omitted[14]). Usually relaxed and cheerful, Mai has a charismatic, enthusiastic, flamboyant and flirtatious personality, as well as exhibitionistic[30] tendencies. She is a practitioner of her family's Shiranui-ryū ninjutsu, the empty-handed art of koppo-ken, and has also been taught additional close-combat techniques by her grandfather's friend judo master Jubei Yamada.[18] She is madly in love with Andy Bogard, an American who studied the arts Shiranui ninjutsu with her grandfather Hanzo since their early teens. She is also a friend to Joe Higashi and to Andy's older brother Terry Bogard.[18]

Due to her pyrokinetic powers, Mai can cloak herself with flames, channel fire through her clothes, weapons and anything she touches, and cause explosions. She is able to change her clothes in an instant, as well as to temporarily stay airborne, float, glide and control her movements and change directions in mid-air. She is also a master of climbing and stealth. Mai's weapons are steel "Fire Butterfly Fans" that come in an unlimited supply and can be used in close quarters and as projectiles.[18][31] She can also perform highly acrobatic hand-to-hand combat special moves, such as a leap followed by a diving fall attack, called "Flying Squirrel Dance" (ムササビの舞), and a rushing carthweel kick followed by an elbow strike, called "Deadly Ninja Bees" (必殺忍蜂).[32][33][31]

Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters

Mai stars in Fatal Fury 2 to help Andy face the new host of The King of Fighters tournament, Wolfgang Krauser. She also plays a supporting role in Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory and Real Bout Fatal Fury, fighting Geese Howard—the criminal who killed Andy and Terry's father, Jeff Bogard. According to Sega Saturn Magazine, Mai "is one of the easiest characters to master" in Real Bout Fatal Fury "and also has a huge range of pyrotechnically astounding special moves."[34] The following games from the series, Real Bout Fatal Fury Special (1997) and Real Bout Fatal Fury 2: The Newcomers (1998), do not contain a storyline. Mai was also added to the roster of Fatal Fury: Wild Ambition (1999), a 3D remake of Fatal Fury: King of Fighters which originally did not feature Mai.

The King of Fighters series tournament also features Mai as a regular character participating in the annual tournaments in the Women Fighters Team (also known as the Woman Fighters Team,[35] the Fighting Gals Team,[36] and the Gorgeous Team[37]), which she founds in The King of Fighters '94 after Andy refuses to let her enter and form a team with her. Initially, the team is composed of Mai, King and Yuri Sakazaki from the Art of Fighting series, with Mai aiming to help encourage King and her fellow team members and to prove to Andy the error of his ways. In The King of Fighters '99, the teams were expanded to four members, and so Mai goes to the Fatal Fury Team composed of Terry, Andy and Joe, being finally able to join the tournament in the same team as Andy. In the following tournament in The King of Fighters 2000, however, Mai is asked to step out to allow Blue Mary investigate a case. Denied again, she is angered by the request and joins the Women Fighters Team again and has remained a reoccurring member ever since. In the various team endings, she is often celebrating the team's victory at King's bar or fantasizing about Andy.

Mai eventually leaves the KOF tournament competitions in The King of Fighters XI (2005) to search for Andy who was absent in The King of Fighters 2003; she appears in KOF XI only as an unlockable character in the PlayStation 2 version.[38] In The King of Fighters XII (2009), Mai is completely absent from the game itself (except a mention in Andy's profile) and appears only in the tie-in manga series, even as she has been was "teased" in a trailer and official website, and has been rumored to be added through DLC for the home version.[39][40] In The King of Fighters XIII (2010), Mai returns to the series when she feels that the KOF tournament is not complete without her and so decides to enter it along with the other two original members of KOF '94‍ '​s Women's Team.[41][42] She is not upset at Andy while making her choice, content to enter a tournament with both her and him in it once more.

Other games

An alternative version of Mai Shiranui from Days of Memories dating sim series

Mai is featured as a playable character in every game in the SNK vs. Capcom series crossover fighting games issued since 1999 (including as one of the four playable characters in the demo version of 2003's SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos[43]), as well as in Namco Bandai's tactical role-playing game Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos released for the PlayStation Portable in 2011, in which the "red ninja"[44][45] Mai is a rival to Street Fighter‍ '​s Chun-Li,[46] who has an alternative costume in Super Street Fighter IV that is a homage to Mai.[47] She is also a playable character in SNK titles such as the fighting games SNK Gals' Fighters (2000) and NeoGeo Battle Coliseum (2005),[48] the 2010 shooter games KOF Sky Stage[49][50] and Neo Geo Heroes: Ultimate Shooting,[51][52] the quiz game Quiz King of Fighters (1995), the 2006 handheld games SNK Beach Volley GAL'S ATTACK and Neo Geo Tennis Coliseum,[53][54] and Thailand-only[55] multiplayer online battle arena game The King of Fighters Online.[56][57] In the 2013 free-to-play 3D fighting game Lost Saga by Korean company I.O. Entertainment, Mai Shiranui is a premium character that was added for the Japanese edition in both female and male variations,[58] and for the Spanish-language version in 2015.[59] Mai also joined the character roster of another Korean video game, KaKaKa Together in 2013.[60]

Mai is featured as a character in many mobile games either developed or licensed by SNK Playmore, such as Fatal Fury Mobile,[61] The King of Fighters,[62] The King of Fighters Mahjong, The King of Fighters Volleyball, The King of Millionaire, KOF Gals Mahjong,[63] SNK Beach Volley Gal's Attack, SNK Dream Battle, SNK Gal's Open: Cutey Shot, SNK Gals Island Dokidoki Puzzle Shock! (and its sequel), The King of Fighters: Battle de Paradise, Garou Densetsu vs Fighter's History Dynamite, and The King of Fighters-i,[64] and KOFM for Kakao,[65] as well as in the beat 'em up crossover of Samurai Shodown and The King of Fighters.[66][67] In the role-playing video game The King of Fighters: Kyo, set between The King of Fighters '96 and The King of Fighters '97, Mai is an non-player character who provides the protagonist Kyo Kusanagi with information and help during his trials. Mai also makes cameo appearances on Hokutomaru's stage in the SNK fighting game Garou: Mark of the Wolves (with Andy) as well as in character endings in the fighting games Samurai Shodown[68][69][70] and Art of Fighting 2,[8] and in the Neo Geo CD version of the role-playing video game Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits Bushidō Retsuden. In the North American release of the original Art of Fighting it is implied that the ninja Eiji Kisaragi has feelings for her,[71] but this does not occur in the original Japanese version.

In the dating sim series Days of Memories, Mai Shiranui retains her name and general design but is an otherwise unrelated character with a different role in each game. Mai is a rich maiden and protagonist's neighbor in Boku to Kanojo no Atsui Natsu,[72] an office lady by day and a masked vigilante by night in Koi wa Good Job!,[73][74] a popular school beauty and the protagonist's classmate in Kaze Maou Miyako de Tsukamaete!,[75] and a school beauty with strange motives in Sekai de Ichiban Atsui Fuyu. Mai also features in the 1999-2006 card battle video game series SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash.[76] Mai's classic oufit makes homage appearances as a costume for ninja characters in the non-SNK fighting games Naruto SD Powerful Shippūden (for Sakura Haruno) and Skullgirls (an alternative color scheme for Valentine, who also uses a combat stance that is inspired by Mai's).

In other media

Mai has made her first anime appearance in Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle (1993), where she follows Andy on his search for Krauser in Germany. She is approached and later attacked by Laurence Blood; whom Andy defeats and rescues Mai.[77] In Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture (1994), Mai is present with Terry, Andy and Joe when Sulia gives them the quest to find the Armor of Mars and stop Sulia's brother Laocorn Gaudeamus. Mai tags along mostly to spend time with Andy. After Hauer fails to seduce Mai, he takes her hostage after a fight, but she is saved by Andy and herself defeats the henchwoman Panni. Mai then articipates in the final battle against Laocorn, which ends with Laocorn dying to save her from the god of war, Mars.[78] Mai also has a minor role in the 2005 original net animation The King of Fighters: Another Day, voiced by Akoya Sogi and Sheryl Stanley.[79]

Mai also appears in the Dengeki G's Magazine CD drama Fatal Fury (voiced by the 1990s anime seiyū superstar Megumi Hayashibara), and in the licensed manga and yonkoma released for Fatal Fury 2,[80] Fatal Fury Special,[81] The King of Fighters '94[82] and The King of Fighters '95.[83] She has also appeared in several other manga series, including Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000,[84] King of Fighters Maximum Impact: Maniax,[85] SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos,[86] The King of Fighters '97,[87] The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle,[88] The King of Fighters 2000,[89] and The King of Fighters Zillion.[90] Chiba Reiko's single Non Stop! One Way Love includes the vocal track Kachou Fuugetsu Otome Mai which is also featured on Garou Densetsu SPECIAL Image Album Part 1 and NEO-GEO Gals Vocal Collection,[91] released by Pony Canyon. The character was also featured in several unofficial erotic and pornographic film productions.[92]

Mai is the main character in one of the Queen's Gate erotic gamebooks published by Hobby Japan in 2008 as part of its Queen's Blade series, wherein she hopes she will be finally able to conquer Andy's heart if she proves herself to be the number one female fighter of all time.[93][94][95] She also appears as a roulette character in several pachinko game machines (including "Garou Densetsu The Legend of Wild Wolf", "Garou Densetsu Special", "The King of Fighters", "The King of Fighters 2" and "Maximum Impact"). GungHo Games offered their users a Mai themed avatar skin.[96]

Maggie Q in 2009

In the 2009 live-action film The King of Fighters—loosely inspired by the game series—Mai is a major protagonist played by Maggie Q.[97] This version bears little resemblance to the video game character.[98] As with the other KOF characters in the film, her appearance, biography, and personality were completely redesigned. The movie's version of Mai becomes a girlfriend of Iori Yagami, who mocked her in the games.[99] Maggie Q's promotional photoshoot showed a look different from that which appeared in the film.[100]

In promotion and merchandise

Four models dressed as Mai at SNK Playmore's TGS 2007 booth

Mai was used extensively by SNK and then SNK Playmore for their games' promotion. Five promotional models who dressed as Mai at the 2008 Tokyo Game Show (TGS) were the fifth most popular "booth babes" among visitors to the event in a survey by Famitsu.[101][102] Multiple Mai models were also present at other TGS events.[103] Korean idol Kyungri from the girl band Nine Muses dressed up as Mai for a promotional campaign in 2014.[104] One of SNK's attractions at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) was the signing of limited edition posters of Mai Shiranui by Falcoon.[105] In 2009, Capcom also teased UDON's new SF20 art book with Akiman's image of Chun-Li and Mai Shiranui "almost kissing and almost punching each other".[106] Mai featured heavily in promotional materials for KOFXIII,[107] including an appearance of pin-up model Sayuki Matsumoto dressed as Mai for its public announcement[108][109] and an exclusive Mai Shiranui T-shirt given to all registered participants in the KOFXIII championship at the fighting game event EVO 2012.[110]

According to Kotaku, "there are literally a gazillion Mai Shiranui figures"[111] and "when you think of SNK figures, you think of curvy Mai Shiranui figures."[112] Scores of figures, statuettes and dolls were made in her image,[113] including those by A-Label,[111] Aizu Project,[114] Alphamax,[115] Daiki,[116][117] Max Factory,[118] Volks,[119] and SNK themselves.[120] Some of them can be stripped topless[121] and an exclusive Volks figure was sold in an auction for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2009.[122] Two action figures of Mai were made in the Cy Girls series[123][124] and Mai figurines were included in the Pinky:St series.[125] Other licensed merchandise item include several official T-shirts[113] and a Neo Geo joystick controller for PlayStation consoles decorated with Mai-related imagery,[126] and a number of cards in the Universal Fighting System collectible card game[127] which also features her heavily for promotional purposes.[128][129][130][131]

Reception and cultural impact

The over-endowed, perpetually jiggling Mai has become not only a mascot for SNK's King of Fighters series, but also for the whole company. Mai is an unapologetic sex symbol, with her low-cut blouse and loincloth barely covering her assets as she whips ass on whoever stands in her way. While some decry Mai's ubiquitousness as pandering fan service, we're more than happy to pick up the yearly iterations of the King of Fighters franchise just to get fresh hands on this fetching fighter.[132]

Mai's sex appeal quickly made her a famous and popular character, and a female icon of SNK and later SNK Playmore.[8] According to Brian Ashcraft of Kotaku writing in 2010, "Mai is one of the most popular and recognisable fighting game characters. Her image has been recreated in countless figurines and endless fan art."[133] Japanese arcade gaming magazine Gamest named her as one of the best characters in arcade gaming for five consecutive years in its annual awards, placing her second in 1994, tenth in 1995, 21st in 1996, 28th in 1997, and 25th in 1998.[134][135][136][137][138] Destructoid editor-in-chief Dale North named "Terry and Andy Bogard, and the ever-bouncy Mai Shiranui" as the most popular of all characters from the Fatal Fury series.[139] Chile's CerUno ranked Mai as the sixth most memorable heroine in a 2008 top list[140] and Luke Plunkett of Kotaku included her among the possible candidates for the title of the greatest video game character of all time in 2010.[141] Similarly, Spain's Games Tribune in 2013 described her as not only one of the most admired characters of SNK but also of the entire history of video games.[142] Mai and other KOF characters have became especially popular among the young people in Hong Kong during the late 1990s, when their character design impacted on local youth culture, including the so-called 'MK look' that "has penetrated Hong Kong street fashion, action figures and martial arts comics."[143]

Mai has been often compared to the genre's other game female icon, Chun-Li from Capcom's Street Fighter franchise, with whom she shared the "Top Girls" entry in the 1993 ranking of fighting games in Hobby Consolas.[144] UGO editors declared Mai the "Chun-Li of the SNK universe", stating the authors' preference for her,[145] and Ed Laurence of Sinclair User wrote in 1993 she did "out Chun Li Chun Li."[146] Previewing Capcom vs. SNK 2, GameSpot's Justin Speer wrote about its "beautiful and powerful females such as Chun-Li and Mai,"[147] and Rich Knight of Complex pitted the characters against each other in his 2011 "battle of the beauties" feature, stating: "Breasts or legs? Personally, we'll take 'em both."[148] In ScrewAttack's "Death Battle!" series the same year, Mai, dubbed "the queen of fighters", defeated Chun-Li due to her greater nimbleness and superior ranged attack abilities.[18] Joystiq's Richard Mitchell wrote in 2006 that "there's one thing Street Fighter will never have, and that's Mai."[149] GameSpy's Hardcore Gaming 101 called the Street Fighter‍ '​s Maki Genryusai a "sexy Mai Shiranui ripoff" (Maki was actually introduced in Final Fight 2 in 1993, around the same time as Mai was).[150] Comparisons between Mai and Maki have been made by other sources, including GameSpot,[147] CNET[151] and IGN,[152] and Iroha from SNK's own Samurai Shodown VI was described as this game's "equivalent of Mai Shiranui" by Siliconera.[153] She was also compared to other game characters, such as Lara Croft and Ivy Valentine.[154]

Chun-Li was slutted out of town by Cammy, but none could hold a candle to Mai, who may very well be the first case of bouncy animated boobs. Gaming magazines were abuzz with commentary on what Mai's bobbing bosom meant for the industry - it was like witnessing (half-naked) women entering the workplace for the first time.[155][note 2]

—Brett Elston, GamesRadar

Mai was called a "buxom fan-favorite" by Daniel Feit of Wired.com[107] and the KOF "series' bosomy fan (service) favorite" by Michael McWhertor of Kotaku.[158] In addition to her popularity with male fans, Mai is a personal choice for some female gamers, such as Dawn Hughes of The Lakeland Mirror, who favorited Mai due to her costumes and being "fast, agile, and sexy,"[159] and Seraphina Brennan of Joystiq wrote in 2009 that "throughout all of the countless MMOs that we've played, we've always asked ourselves one important question: Where is Mai Shiranui and why can't I be her?"[160] SNK Playmore's controversial decision to feature her in-game only in a small cameo in 2009's The King of Fighters XII has disappointed and even upset many fans of the series,[40][161][162][163][164][165][166][167] sparking a meme phrase "no Mai, no buy".[168] Asked about it by Kotaku, Shane Bettenhausen, director of business development of the game's publisher UTV Ignition Entertainment, "likened it to Capcom leaving their most popular female fighter, Chun-Li, out of the original release of Street Fighter III;"[161] Destructoid's Jim Sterling compared it to "releasing Street Fighter without Ryu."[162] GameSpot's Andrew Park also noted "the conspicuous absence of SNK's iconic female ninja/geisha girl"[169] and Siliconera stated about the absence of the "fan favorite, fan carrying ninja" Mai that "SNK isn’t going to make that mistake again."[170]

Mai has appeared on several lists of top ninja characters in video games, including being ranked seventh by CrunchGear in 2008[171] and ninth by Wild Gunmen in 2010.[172] GamePro ranked Mai as the sixth top video game ninja in 2010, comparing her to Taki from Namco's Soulcalibur series as "a gravity-defying marvel of science and physicality."[173] In 2011, UGO listed her among the "hot ninja girls" in all entertainment.[16] In 2012, Gelo Gonzales of FHM included Mai among the nine "sexiest ninja babes in games", comparing her to Daiana Menezes,[174] while Complex placed her at number one in its list of "hot female killers" in video games.[175] Jon Ledford of Sushi Arcade included her among the ten best video game "ninjas" in a 2013 list.[176] Márcio Pacheco Alexsandro of Brazil's GameHall placed Mai at number one spot in his 2014 list of top female ninja characters in games, comparing her to Mortal Kombat's Kitana in regards of their shared use of fans as a weapon and noting her as an equal of Chun-Li within the fighting genre.[177]

GamesRadar's Henry Gilbert opined that the Fatal Fury anime director Masami Ōbari "found a fitting muse" in Mai, writing that Ōbari appeared to be "never missing a chance to fill the screen with her heaving chest" and actually giving more attention to her shower scene than he did to the film's fight scenes.[178] In The Complete Anime Guide, Trish Ledoux wrote that "the animation of modern-day ninja girl Mai Shiranui gave an all-new meaning to *bouncy* anime girls."[179] In 2012, Peter Rubin of Complex ranked Mai from the live-action film The King of Fighters as second best among the "hottest women in video game movies" despite "a couple of very... prominent differences;"[180] John Funk of The Escapist opined the film's outfit for Mai Shiranui was "not nearly as cleavage-tacular as it needs to be."[181]

Cosplay and modeling

A cosplayer of Mai Shiranui at Anime Friends 2008 convention in Brazil

The character became very popular in the cosplay community;[182][183] in 2010, GamePro noted Mai as being "also notable for being the favoured costume choice for cosplay attention-floozies."[173] During the 1990s, Japanese adult model and actor Ran Asakawa appeared in a pornographic cosplay session;[184] another pornographic actress, Misa Nishida, appeared in a homage video Queen of Fighters 2005.[185] There were Mai cosplay performances by Chinese and Taiwanese models such as Yoyo,[186] Wu Xi Er,[187] Shan Shan Maity (Li Mengtian),[188] Isabella Yang (Yang Qi Han),[189] Mia (Lan Fenghuang),[190][191] and YUKO (Yourong Ma);[192] Mai was also subject of work by Yuuri Morishita, a Japanese booth companion turned a gravure idol.[193] According to Kotaku's Brian Ashcraft in 2012, "In Asia—especially China and Taiwan—models keep popping [up] in non-gaming related events." Ashcraft said that rather than showing a following for the King of Fighters games, the character was popular because "the outfit is skimpy and revealing and has become a uniform of sorts."[190]

Sex symbol

Sex sells, and everyone knows it. Mai Shiranui from Fatal Fury first stumbled into this magical power when she captivated thousands of Ah Bengs the world over with the heaving bosoms during her matches.[194]

—GameAxis Unwired

Mai Shiranui was awarded the title of "Hottest Game Babe of 1994" by the staff of Electronic Gaming Monthly.[195] Since her introduction, Mai has been featured in numerous lists of the sexiest female video game characters. For example, she was ranked the fourth top "babe in games" by Bryan Johnson of GameSpy in 2003, who wrote that she "probably went a little over the top,"[196] while Johnny Firecloud of CraveOnline also listed her fourth in his "hottest video game girl of all time" list in 2010.[197] In 2008, UGO Team placed Mai seventh on their list of top "girls of gaming",[132] and GameDaily ranked her as the sixth "hottest game babe".[198] In 2009, MSN declared Mai the fifth "hottest babe" in video games,[199] and the staff of Complex included her in their list of the top ten "hottest video game girls".[200] In 2011, UGO listed her among the 25 finest female characters from fighting games,[182] and ranked her as the sixth "hottest videogame hottie".[145] The same year, Mai was ranked as the 18th "hottest" video game character by Larry Hester of Complex,[201] and placed seventh in a similar list by Kristie Bertucci of Gadget Review.[202] She was also spotlighted in the 2012 listings of ten "sexiest girls of games" by Onet.pl,[203] twenty "hottest women in video game history" by MSN Malaysia,[204] and ten sexiest game characters by TecMundo, who also noted her as one of the most "sympathetic" characters in fighting games.[205] In 2013, João Vitor de Oliveira of Brazilian edition of Official Xbox Magazine ranked Mai as the sexiest woman in fighting games and expressed satisfaction that she was created instead of a male character as it had been originally planned for her fighting style.[206] Mai placed second in the 2013 ranking of "most sexually charged" female characters in gaming history by Stuart W. Bedford of WhatCulture,[207] and was given a honorable mention and the first place in the 2014 lists of sexiest female video game characters as compiled by WatchMojo.com and GameHall's Portal PlayGame, respectively.[208][209]

GameDaily featured Mai in several "babe-of-the-week" galleries, including "Outrageous Boobs",[210] "Asian Beauties",[211] and the special "Mai Shiranui".[212] They also discussed her in their 2007 article "Boobs Through the Years", stating that "when it comes to 2-D breasts, no character tops Mai Shiranui."[213] In 2011, Ross Lincoln of GameFront ranked her bust as the fifth best in gaming history,[214] and Rich Shivener of Joystick Division ranked her first in his list of "incredible chests" in video games.[215] In 2012, Mai's breasts were placed second-best in a similar list by Drea Avellan of Complex;[216] the magazine also ranked her as the 23rd most dominant fighting game character, who it said is "mostly known for having the most ridiculous pair of baby feeders in gaming history. She still moves faster than the wind and puts up a good fight with those things."[217] The same year, Zachary Miller of Nintendo World Report ranked Mai as his third favourite "chesty heroine" on Nintendo systems, calling her "arguably the queen of gaming cleavage."[218] French Retropolis placed Mai and her "heavy artillery" third in a 2013 ranking of sexiest girls in fighting games where their busts were primary rating criteria.[219] According to Sherilynn Macale of The Feed, "if there's one female fighter who really is just the Queen of the Bosom, it's Mai Shiranui from King of Fighters. She is boobs."[220] A female writer for ScrewAttack Magazine used Mai as an example of well-animated fan service breasts that move around realistically as she moves in games, unlike in some other cases such as Kasumi from Dead or Alive.[221]

Heavy.com described Mai as "notable for having one of the sluttiest costumes in video game history."[222] In 2010, Mai topped machinima.com's list of "gaming's top cleavagey characters"[223] and PLAY placed her third in its list of top "side-boobs" in games.[224] Mai's classic costume was ranked as the second most sexy outfit in games by ScrewAttack in 2011, who noted it for its broad appeal,[225] and placed third in a similar list by ZoominGames in 2012.[226] Role-playing video game designer Brian Mitsoda imagined "Continue?, a little joint on the Sunset Strip where the game development crowd goes to get away from the public" with "ninja bartenders passing along a mix of vodka and spree to the waitress in the Mai Shiranui outfit."[227] Some commentators wrote negatively about the sexualization of the character.[228] According to the 2009 MSN article, "there is no denying the fact that most gamers know of Mai Shiranui ... The developers may have created a character that will upset every feminist out there, but the guys ain't complaining."[199] In 2011, Winda Benedetti of NBC News included Mai's classic costume in her list of the "top 5 most preposterous getups in games", and wrote, "Oh Mai! When you arrived on the scene in the early '90s, you set womankind back decades."[229] Comic book artist Adam Warren drew a picture of his own character Emp cosplaying as Mai Shiranui; the drawing shows the character saying, "This goofy costume would be even more potentially mortifying that my own stupid supersuit!" and declaring her "sincerest sympathies" for Mai.[230]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Mai's breast motion as well as blood effects in some games (including KOF'94[21][22] and KOF '95[23]) could be restored through the use of special cheat codes.
  2. ↑ An example of this could be the review of Fatal Fury 2 by VG&CE, stating that "if Street Fighter‍ '​s Chun Li turns you on, you're bound to be tittulated by the sight of Mai Shiranui, who jiggles through the battle wearing next-to-nothing from the waist down."[156] In an otherwise negative review of Fatal Fury 2, a staff member of SNES Force commented: "There's a pair of bouncing tits in this! And I'm not talking about another one of my lucid dreams! You know the story with Nintendo and blood, but when it comes to girls showing their wares and wobbling here and there they turn a blind eye. Unfortunately, (and this is where I'm going to sound sexist) Mai Shiranui's boobs are the only interest in the game. And it's not just me, everyone who had a go retorted what 'a crap game... nice pair though.'"[157]

References

  1. ↑ "Mai Shiranui - IGN". Uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  2. ↑ "Code Vault (2001-12) (IDG Communications)". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  3. ↑ "Interview with C.A.C Yamasaki". King of Fighters 10th anniversary. Archived from the original on 2008-04-18.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Characters - Voice Of Mai Shiranui". Behind The Voice Actors. 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  5. ↑ "Mai Shiranui's Profile from the official Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos website" (in Japanese). Namco Bandai Games.
  6. ↑ "『KOF スカイステージ』不知火舞役の小清水亜美インタビュー (Interview with Ami Koshimizu)". Famitsu (in Japanese). Retrieved 2009-11-08.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 チーム紹介 女性格闘家チーム (in Japanese). SNK Playmore. June 18, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Retro Gamer 54, page 81.
  9. ↑ "PCMania 35". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  10. ↑ "Fatal Fury 2 (1994) (SNK) (Garou Densetsu 2 - Aratanaru Tatakai)". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  11. ↑ "Official Neo-Geo Newsletter, The - Issue 4 (1993-05) (DGM Ltd)". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  12. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, SNK Shooter, Character In ‘Revealing Outfit’ Coming To North America, August 31, 2010.
  13. ↑ Michael McWhertor (13 May 2009). "The King of Fighters XII ESRB Rating All But Rules Out Mai Shiranui". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Kof Successive Characters : The King Of Fighters Official Web Site" (in Japanese). Kofaniv.snkplaymore.co.jp. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  15. ↑ KOFキャラクターズ―KOF’94~’97 全45キャラ設定資料完全収録 (in Japanese). Neo Geo Freak. 1998. ISBN 978-4-87465-406-4.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 UGO Team, Ninja Chicks are So Freakin' Hot, UGO.com, January 5, 2011.
  17. ↑ SNK Playmore (2000). ALL ABOUT SNK対戦格闘ゲーム〈1991‐2000〉 (in Japanese). SNK Playmore. ISBN 978-4-88554-677-8.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 DEATH BATTLE! : Chun-Li VS Mai Shiranui, ScrewAttack, 29 August 2011.
  19. ↑ "Successive characters: Mai". King of Fighters 10th anniversary. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  20. ↑ Computer & Video Games 188 (July 1997), p. 76.
  21. ↑ "Mega Fun Magazine (April 1995)". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  22. ↑ "Computer and Video Games - Issue 168 (1995-11) (EMAP Images)". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  23. ↑ "Gamers - Ano II No. 9 (199x) (Editora Escala)" (in Portuguese). Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  24. ↑ AZNO 1, page 13.
  25. ↑ David Martínez (July 26, 2013). "Top chicas Dead or Alive" (in Spanish). Hobbyconsolas.com. Retrieved 2014-06-30.
  26. ↑ アナザーコスチュームのこと・・・（一回目） (in Japanese). Falcoon's official blog. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
  27. ↑ "Hardcore Gamer Magazine Volume 1 Issue 2". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  28. ↑ "Interview with Shinkiro". King of Fighters 10th anniversary. Archived from the original on 2008-04-18.
  29. ↑ "Interview with Nao Q". King of Fighters 10th anniversary. Archived from the original on 2008-04-18.
  30. ↑ The King of Fighters Universe: Revista Official 1, page 12.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Fatal Fury Special (1994) (SNK) (Garou Densetsu Special)" (in Japanese). Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  32. ↑ "Sega Visions Issue 22". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  33. ↑ "Gamers - Ano II No. 9 (199x) (Editora Escala)" (in Portuguese). Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  34. ↑ Official Sega Saturn Magazine 13 (page 19).
  35. ↑ "Arcade Game Manual: The King of Fighters Neowave by SNK and Sammy". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  36. ↑ "Tips & Tricks - Volume III Issue 12 (1996-12) (LFP)". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  37. ↑ Andres Rojas (July 20, 2001). "King of Fighters EX: Neoblood Preview - Preview". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  38. ↑ Kalata, Kurt (2006-07-17). "The King of Fighters XI". Siliconera. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  39. ↑ Des, Nick (2008-03-15). "King of Fighters XII Home Characters Revealed: News from". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Brian Ashcraft, Mai Tease In The King Of Fighters XII Legacy Trailer, Kotaku, July 16, 2009.
  41. ↑ "アッシュ編がついに完結！ 舞にユリ、キングも参戦する『KOF XIII』は夏稼働 - 電撃オンライン" (in Japanese). Dengki Online. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  42. ↑ Michael Grimm, King of Fighters XIII coming to consoles, and don't worry, Mai Shiranui is back, GamesRadar, July 6, 2011.
  43. ↑ ": Official XBOX Magazine - Issue 040 (2005-03) (Future Publishing)". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  44. ↑ "『クイーンズゲイト スパイラルカオス』PSPで新たな闘いが始まる". Famitsu.com. 2010-12-17. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  45. ↑ "Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos Recruits Mai Shiranui For PSP Gals Strategy RPG". Siliconera. 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  46. ↑ "Official website for Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos" (in Japanese). Bandai Namco Games. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  47. ↑ Anderson, Lark (2009-01-26). "Street Fighter IV: Alternate Costume Showcase". GameSpot. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  48. ↑ Famitsu. ネオジオキャラが大暴れ!　『ネオジオ テニス コロシアム』. Famitsu (in Japanese). Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  49. ↑ "Mai Shiranui Returns In King Of Fighters Sky Stage". Siliconera. 2009-11-02. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  50. ↑ Ciolek, Todd (November 4, 2009). "The X Button Strange Days". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 4, 2009.
  51. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Mai Shiranui Playable In SNK Shooting Game, Kotaku, Nov 2, 2009.
  52. ↑ Heidi Kemps, NeoGeo Heroes Ultimate Shooting review, GamesRadar, December 23, 2010.
  53. ↑ SNK Playmore. "スポーツ：SNK WORLD-i". SNK Playmore (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 28, 2007. Retrieved February 27, 2008.
  54. ↑ SNK Playmore. "NEOGEO TENNIS COLISEUM". SNK Playmore (in Japanese). Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  55. ↑ Mallory, Jordan (2013-09-13). "King of Fighters 13 Steam Edition out for PC". Joystiq. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  56. ↑ Mike Fahey, The King of Fighters Online Flouts Its Mai, Kotaku, June 15, 2009.
  57. ↑ Gg Goodgame. "The King of Fighters Online". Kof.gg.in.th. Retrieved 2014-05-25.
  58. ↑ "King of Fighter's Mai Shiranui reimagined as a guy in MMORPG Lost Saga". N4G. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  59. ↑ "Mai Shiranui ingresa a Lost Saga de Softnyx". Ar.globedia.com. 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
  60. ↑ "Mai Shiranui Joins Korean Running Title with Sexy Cosplay". News.mmosite.com. 2013-07-18. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  61. ↑ "Hardcore Gamer Magazine Volume 2 Issue 5". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  62. ↑ "Mobiles Magazine". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  63. ↑ "KOF Gals Mahjong - Wireless". GameSpy. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  64. ↑ "The King of Fighters-i Takes on the iPhone". Kotaku.com. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  65. ↑ "더 킹오브파이터즈 M, 진짜 '시라누이 마이도' 울고 갈 코스프레 컷 공개". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  66. ↑ "Absolute Values - The X Button - Anime News Network". Anime News Network. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  67. ↑ "하라네닷컴 :: 다 같이 칼칼칼 경리 시라누이 마이 코스프레". 하라네닷컴. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  68. ↑ Jonathan Oyama (2011-02-21). "Gamers' History: Fighting game story evolution | GamesBeat | Games". Venturebeat.com. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  69. ↑ "Ending for ''Samurai Shodown''-Haohmaru(Neo Geo)". Vgmuseum.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  70. ↑ "Ending for ''Samurai Shodown''-Gen An(Neo Geo)". Vgmuseum.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  71. ↑ "Ending for ''Art of Fighting 2''-Eiji Kisaragi(Neo Geo)". Vgmuseum.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  72. ↑ "Days of Memories". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  73. ↑ Osamu Takizawa, SNKヒロインたちが登場する恋愛SLG第2弾SNKプレイモア、DS「Days of Memories 2」, GAME Watch, April 17, 2008.
  74. ↑ "Days of Memories". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  75. ↑ "Days of Memories". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  76. ↑ "GameAxis Unwired". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  77. ↑ Fatal Fury 2: The New Battle. Viz Video. 1999.
  78. ↑ Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture. Viz Video. 1999.
  79. ↑ SNK Playmore (2006-04-27). "KOF Maximum Impact 2". PlayStation 2. SNK Playmore. Level/area: The King of Fighters: Another Day.
  80. ↑ "Garou Densetsu 2". Arcade Gear. 1992-12-10. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  81. ↑ "Garou Densetsu Special". Arcade Gear. 1993-09-16. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  82. ↑ "The King of Fighters '94". Arcade Gear. 1994-08-25. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  83. ↑ "www.jap-sai.com - The King of Fighters '95". Arcade-gear.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  84. ↑ "Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 #8". Comicvine.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  85. ↑ "King of Fighters Maximum Impact - Maniax - #1 - Battle 1". Comicvine.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  86. ↑ "SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos #13". Comicvine.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  87. ↑ "The King of Fighters '97 #8". Comicvine.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  88. ↑ "The King of Fighters '99: Millennium Battle #7". Comicvine.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  89. ↑ "The King of Fighters 2000 #32". Comicvine.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  90. ↑ "The King of Fighters Zillion #21". Comicvine.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  91. ↑ "Hobby Consolas 065" (in Spanish). Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  92. ↑ Brian Ashcraft (4 July 2012). "When Video Games and Dirty Movies Clash". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  93. ↑ クイーンズゲイト公式ホームページ (in Japanese). Queensblade.net. Retrieved 2013-10-09.
  94. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Mai Shiranui Ravaged, Kotaku, October 31, 2008.
  95. ↑ "From Fantasy And Magic To Bosoms And Giant Axes: The Story Of Queen's Blade". Siliconera. 2009-12-13. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  96. ↑ "「餓狼伝説」アバターアイテム提供中！｜ガンホーゲームズ". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  97. ↑ Serkan Toto (2009-11-27). "They made a King of Fighters live-action movie and the trailer looks terrible". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  98. ↑ "SMEH - Casting Maggie Q as Mai Shiranui". Revo-Emag. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  99. ↑ "Las 10 peores películas de videojuegos". Hobby Consolas. 11 October 2014.
  100. ↑ Ashcraft, Brian (July 11, 2009). "King of Fighters Movie Promotional Images". Kotaku. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
  101. ↑ Michael McWhertor, Lets TGS! Oh, Mai, Mai, Mai, Mai, Mai, Kotaku, October 11, 2008.
  102. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Famitsu: The Best TGS 2008 Booth Babes Were…, Kotaku, November 7, 2008.
  103. ↑ "TGS 2007: Destructoid's booth babe review". Destructoid. September 25, 2007. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  104. ↑ "겜툰-카툰으로 보는 재미있는 게임이야기". Gamtoon.com. 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
  105. ↑ E3 Gets Heavy Dose of Arcade Classics, ClassicGaming, 7 May 2005.
  106. ↑ JC Fletcher, Udon releasing Street Fighter art book this September, Joystiq, July 22nd 2009.
  107. ↑ 107.0 107.1 Daniel Feit (2010-06-28). "King of Fighters XIII Lands in Japan’s Arcades July 14 | Game|Life". WIRED. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  108. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (2010-03-25). "King of Fighters XIII Formally Announced - IGN". Uk.ign.com. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  109. ↑ "The Secret of Mai Shiranui's Revealing Outfit?". Kotaku.com. 29 March 2010. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  110. ↑ Kyle MacGregor, KOF XIII debuts at EVO, Atlus bringing Persona 4 Arena, Destructoid, 07.05.2012.
  111. ↑ 111.0 111.1 Brian Ashcraft, Oh Mai, This Figure Could Be Better, Kotaku, December 11, 2009.
  112. ↑ Brian Ashcraft (28 August 2009). "King of Fighters XII Figures Fight Fight Fight". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  113. ↑ 113.0 113.1 "Mai Shiranui" search results at MyFigureCollection.net.
  114. ↑ Michael McWhertor, More Mai Shiranui = More T&A, Kotaku, April 16, 2007.
  115. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Mai Shiranui, All Cheeky, Kotaku, May 28, 2010.
  116. ↑ Michael McWhertor, Daiki's Spin on Mai Shiranui's T & A, Kotaku, November 28, 2007.
  117. ↑ "Oh Mai God!". Andriasang.com. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  118. ↑ King of Fighters Figure Does T&A Right, Kotaku, April 9, 2007.
  119. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, You Cannot Stop Mai Shiranui Figurines, Kotaku, May 25, 2009.
  120. ↑ "More Mai Shiranui T&A Figures For The Pile". Kotaku.com. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  121. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Mai Shiranui Toy Stripped Topless, Kotaku, February 4, 2008.
  122. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Nothing Says Charity Auction Like Mai Shiranui, Kotaku, May 4, 2009.
  123. ↑ "Mai Shiranui ( 7" )". Bbicollectible.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  124. ↑ "Mai Shiranui ( 12" )". Bbicollectible.com. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  125. ↑ "Video game figurines take a walk on Pinky Street". Siliconera. 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  126. ↑ "NEOGEO STICK 3 -扇-version". Exar.jp. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  127. ↑ "Universal Fighting System: SNK Playmore". Boardgamegeek.com. 2010-05-26. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  128. ↑ "UFS: The Universal Fighting System's Photos - UFS: The Universal Fighting System - Facebook".
  129. ↑ "UFS: The Universal Fighting System's Photos - UFS: The Universal Fighting System - Facebook".
  130. ↑ "UFS: The Universal Fighting System's Photos - UFS: The Universal Fighting System - Facebook".
  131. ↑ "UFS: The Universal Fighting System's Photos - UFS: The Universal Fighting System - Facebook".
  132. ↑ 132.0 132.1 UGO Team, Top 11 Girls of Gaming, UGO.com, January 15, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-12-28.
  133. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Mai Shiranui Confirmed For King Of Fighters XIII, Kotaku, March 25, 2010.
  134. ↑ Staff (February 1994). ベストキャラクター賞 [Best Character Award]. Gamest (in Japanese) (Shinseisha) (107): 32.
  135. ↑ Staff (30 January 1995). ベストキャラクター賞 [Best Character Award]. Gamest (in Japanese) (Shinseisha) (136): 50.
  136. ↑ Staff (30 January 1996). ベストキャラクター賞 [Best Character Award]. Gamest (in Japanese) (Shinseisha) (162): 48.
  137. ↑ Staff (30 January 1997). ベストキャラクター賞 [Best Character Award]. Gamest (in Japanese) (Shinseisha) (188): 54.
  138. ↑ Staff (30 January 1998). ベストキャラクター賞 [Best Character Award]. Gamest (in Japanese) (Shinseisha) (212): 102.
  139. ↑ "Review: Fatal Fury: Battle Archives Volume 2". Destructoid. April 8, 2008. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  140. ↑ "Top 10 de heroínas: Liberación Femenina". CerUno 6, page 9.
  141. ↑ Luke Plunkett (1 June 2010). "Who Is The Greatest Video Game Character Of All Time?". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  142. ↑ Games Tribune special edition 1/2013 (Retro Madrid 2013), page 60.
  143. ↑ Larissa Hjorth, Dean Chan, Gaming Cultures and Place in Asia-Pacific, page 87.
  144. ↑ "Hobby Consolas 022" (in Spanish). Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  145. ↑ 145.0 145.1 UGO Team, Video Game Hotties: Who's The Hottest?, UGO.com, October 27, 2011. Retrieved on 2008-12-14.
  146. ↑ "Fatal Fury 2 arcade game review". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  147. ↑ 147.0 147.1 Speer, Justin (2001-06-12). "Capcom vs. SNK 2 Preview". GameSpot. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  148. ↑ Rich Knight, Battle of the Beauties: Gaming's Hottest Female Characters Face Off, Complex.com, November 9, 2011.
  149. ↑ Richard Mitchell, SFII is lame, Fatal Fury hits Live Arcade, Joystiq, August 25th 2006.
  150. ↑ Katala, Kurt. Hardcore Gaming 101: Final Fight. GameSpy. Retrieved on 2008-07-01
  151. ↑ "Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO Review - Xbox Games - CNET". Reviews.cnet.com. 2003-02-14. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  152. ↑ Smith, David. (2001-11-02). Capcom vs. SNK: Mark of the Millennium 2001 Preview. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-07-02.
  153. ↑ "Samurai Shodown VI to make it's US console debut on Samurai Shodown Anthology". Siliconera. 2008-02-24. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  154. ↑ PSX Extreme 151 (2010-03), page 85.
  155. ↑ Brett Elston, Game babes: A history (The era: Early '90s), GamesRadar, December 14, 2007.
  156. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, March 1993 (page 39).
  157. ↑ "SNES N-Force Magazine Issue 09". Archive.org. Retrieved 2014-05-04.
  158. ↑ "The First King of Fighters XIII Screen Shots Bust Out". Kotaku.com. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  159. ↑ The Lakeland Mirror 3/2007, page 11.
  160. ↑ Seraphina Brennan, King of Fighters Online proves you can kick butt in short skirts, literally, Joystiq, June 18th 2009.
  161. ↑ 161.0 161.1 Stephen Totilo, Fan-Favorite Mai Definitely Not In Next King of Fighters, Kotaku, 17 June 2009.
  162. ↑ 162.0 162.1 Jim Sterling, King of Fighters XIII bringing back Mai's breasts, Destructoid, March 25, 2010.
  163. ↑ Michael McWhertor (10 April 2009). "Are These Your New King Of Fighters XII Fighters?". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  164. ↑ Adam Biessener, King of Fighters XIII Stays Classy With Naughty Ninja Mai, Game Informer, March 25, 2010.
  165. ↑ JC Fletcher, King of Fighters XIII brings Mai back this summer, Joystiq, March 25th 2010.
  166. ↑ Eric L. Patterson, EGM Feature: 5 Ways Japanese Gaming Still Rules: Dragon’s Crown, EGMNOW, December 29, 2011.
  167. ↑ Gelo Gonzales, Games Review: King of Fighters XIII, FHM.com.ph, November 24, 2011.
  168. ↑ "Review: The King of Fighters XII". Destructoid. December 16, 2011. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  169. ↑ Park, Andrew (2009-07-31). "The King of Fighters XII Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  170. ↑ "Mai Shiranui Makes Triumphant Return In The King Of Fighters XIII". Siliconera. 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  171. ↑ Devin Coldewey, CrunchArcade: Top Ten Video Game Ninjas, CrunchArcade, March 31, 2008.
  172. ↑ The Top 10 Ninjas In Video Games, Wild Gunmen, September 15, 2010.
  173. ↑ 173.0 173.1 GamePro, Top Ten video game ninjas, PCWorld, August 6, 2010.
  174. ↑ Gelo Gonzales, 9 Sexiest Ninja Babes in Games, FHM, March 29, 2012.
  175. ↑ "10 Hot Female Killers From Video Games". Complex. 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  176. ↑ Jon Ledford (2013-06-15). "10 Best Video Game Ninjas". Arcadesushi.com. Retrieved 2013-12-21.
  177. ↑ "Top 10 – Kunoichis (Ninjas Femininas) dos Games « GameHall Network" (in Portuguese). Gamehall.uol.com.br. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  178. ↑ Henry Gilbert (2013-01-25). "9 far-flung game-to-anime adaptations". GamesRadar. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  179. ↑ Trish Ledoux, The Complete Anime Guide: Japanese Animation Film Directory and Resource Guide, page 100.
  180. ↑ Peter Rubin, The 15 Hottest Women In Video Game Movies, Complex.com, February 16, 2012.
  181. ↑ John Funk (9 October 2009). "The King of Fighters Movie Trailer Is Confusing | The Escapist". Escapistmagazine.com. Retrieved 2014-06-19.
  182. ↑ 182.0 182.1 Sitterson, Aubrey (2011-01-14). "Fighting Games' Hottest Women - Mai Shiranui". UGO.com. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  183. ↑ "Top chicas" (in Spanish). Hobbyconsolas.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  184. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Thank this Japanese Porn Star for Edgy Cosplay, Kotaku, January 17, 2012.
  185. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, The Queen of Fighters, Kotaku, December 4, 2007.
  186. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Mai Shiranui, Brought to Life, Kotaku, February 24, 2012.
  187. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Mai Shiranui Can Sure Sell Cars, Kotaku, July 16, 2012.
  188. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Another Real-Life Mai Shiranui Has Appeared!, Kotaku, April 25, 2012.
  189. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, Behind this Mai Shiranui, There’s Tragedy, Kotaku, May 9, 2012.
  190. ↑ 190.0 190.1 Brian Ashcraft, Models Sure Love Wearing Mai Shiranui’s Clothes, Kotaku, September 6, 2012.
  191. ↑ "Taiwanese model bounces into spotlight with game character cosplay | Welcome to Lollipop - Your front-seat to showbiz". Lollipop.sg. 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  192. ↑ "Her Mai Cosplay Has Made Otaku Crazy". Photo.mmosite.com. Retrieved 2014-03-19.
  193. ↑ Brian Ashcraft, From Booth Babe To X-Rays, Kotaku, April 11, 2011.
  194. ↑ "GameAxis Unwired". Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  195. ↑ "Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide". 1995.
  196. ↑ Johnson, Bryan (May 4, 2003). "Top Ten Babes in Games". GameSpy. Archived from the original on March 2, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  197. ↑ Johnny Firecloud, The Hottest Girls in Gaming, CraveOnline, November 16, 2010.
  198. ↑ "Top 50 Hottest Game Babes on Trial". GameDaily. Archived from the original on June 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  199. ↑ 199.0 199.1 Gaming's Hottest Babes: Mai Shiranui, MSN, September 7, 2009.
  200. ↑ The 10 Hottest Video Game Girls, Complex, March 2, 2012.
  201. ↑ Larry Hester, The 50 Hottest Video Game Characters, Complex.com, June 27, 2012.
  202. ↑ Kristie Bertucci, 20 hottest female video game characters (list), Gadget Review, 5 July 2012.
  203. ↑ "10 najseksowniejszych dziewczyn z gier" (in Polish). Gry. 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  204. ↑ xinmsn (2012-09-21). "Gaming's leading ladies - The hottest women in video game history - Malaysia Tech Photos". Tech.malaysia.msn.com. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  205. ↑ "As 10 personagens mais sexy dos video games" (in Portuguese). Tecmundo.com.br. December 7, 2012. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  206. ↑ João Vitor de Oliveira, "Ranking: As lutadoras mais gatas". Revista Oficial No Xbox 12/2013, page 88.
  207. ↑ "10 Most Sexually Charged Women in Gaming History » Page 10 of 11". Whatculture.com. 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2014-01-16.
  208. ↑ "Top 10 Sexiest Female Video Game Characters". WatchMojo.com via YouTube. July 14, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  209. ↑ "Portalplaygame.com". Portalplaygame.com. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
  210. ↑ "Babe of the Week: Outrageous Boobs". GameDaily. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  211. ↑ Workman, Robert (2009-02-06). Babe of the Week: Asian Beauties. GameDaily. Retrieved on 2009-02-09.
  212. ↑ "Babe of the Week: Mai Shiranui". GameDaily. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  213. ↑ "Boobs Through the Years". GameDaily. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  214. ↑ Ross Lincoln (May 5, 2011). "The Greatest Boobs In Video Game History (Gallery)". GameFront.
  215. ↑ Rich Shivener, 10 Incredible Chests in Video Games, Joystick Division, August 1, 2011.
  216. ↑ Drea Avellan, The 20 Best Pairs Of Boobies In Video Games, Complex, June 20, 2012.
  217. ↑ Elton Jones, The 50 Most Dominant Fighting Game Characters, Complex.com, May 17, 2012.
  218. ↑ Zachary Miller, Fave Five... Chesty Heroines on Nintendo Systems, Nintendo World Report, February 24, 2012.
  219. ↑ Retropolis 27, page 45.
  220. ↑ "Boobs In Video Games: The Well-Rounded Gamer". G4tv.com. 2011-03-25. Retrieved 2014-06-29.
  221. ↑ ScrewAttack Magazine 14 (March 2012), page 85.
  222. ↑ "The 20 Hottest Cosplay Girls". HEAVY. April 15, 2010. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  223. ↑ Top 10 Cleavagey Characters, machinima, May 29, 2010.
  224. ↑ "Top 10 side-boobs in games | PLAY Magazine". Play-mag.co.uk. 2010-11-22. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  225. ↑ "Top 10 Sexiest Outfits". ScrewAttack.com. August 15, 2011. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
  226. ↑ Top 5 - Sexiest game outfits, Zoomin.TV, October 19, 2012.
  227. ↑ Developer Diaries - TORN: Volume #5, GameSpy, June 1, 2004.
  228. ↑ An Observation of the Sexualization of Females in Fighters, Shoryuken, November 24th, 2011.
  229. ↑ Winda Benedetti, Top 5 most preposterous getups in games, msnbc.com, August 29, 2011.
  230. ↑ Adam Warren, EMPOWERED cosplaying as MAI SHIRANUI, deviantART, June 29, 2012.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mai Shiranui.