Capcom enlisted a specialized group of women, humorously dubbed the "Diana Police," to meticulously craft the childlike innocence of the character Diana in the upcoming game Pragmata. The initiative aimed to ensure Diana felt genuinely natural and not contrived or irritating, influencing both voice acting direction and motion capture performance.
During a recent livestream celebrating Pragmata and Father's Day, producer Naoto Oyama discussed the challenges in portraying Diana's cuteness. He explained that the "Diana Police" were instrumental in this effort. Game director Cho Yonghee further elaborated on the composition of this group in a subsequent interview, noting that most members were women. "It’s easier for women to detect the 'cunning' kind of cuteness in female characters, whereas men would probably go What’s the difference? (laughs) So I’m pretty sure all of the Diana Police members were women," Yonghee stated, highlighting the nuanced approach taken to the character's development.
While Pragmata is described as a "dad game," a genre sometimes criticized for its depiction of parent-child dynamics, the game's developers aimed for a sensitive portrayal. The consensus from early impressions suggests that the protagonist, space man Hugh, is presented as a kind figure, and his relationship with Diana is intended to be sweet and touching. The careful attention paid to Diana's characterization, particularly through the efforts of the "Diana Police," is a testament to the developers' commitment to getting this relationship right. The livestream also revealed a new suit for Hugh, adorned with scribbles, suggesting that even robotic characters can exhibit mischievous traits, a subtle nod to the childlike nature of the game's narrative.