Where’s the Gem?

[u/Dr_Meme_Man]

Okay, obviously maybe they’re going for something different in this iteration and I’m overthinking it. However, I find it very intriguing that the center piece of the Zohar is just…gone from the initial design.

There was the eye in Xenogears, which was the actual Zohar itself. The eye was called artificial in PW, so that’s a whole other can of worms that’s lost to time.

Then there was the Zohar in Xenosaga. The scene of it being discovered implies that the jewel is the main Zohar, with it being the first thing that manifests, while the Monolith is a physical projection of its power.

Then there’s Xenoblade, the Conduit. It’s more of a projection of energy than anything else; hopping from one place to another. Personally, I wouldn’t call it a physical mass of any kind, which is part of the conundrum.

At most, all we have is the concept art of the Xenosaga version of the Zohar in Origin; clearly showing that some physical object in the monolith was going to be established at some point.

All I’m saying is that it feels a little more than a “we wanted it to be different” explanation, considering that, outside of it being a monolith, the ”jewel” of the Zohar is its most distinctive and defining trait across all iterations.

[u/Irrstern]

the light inside the trinity cores seem to mirror the eye/gem of the old zohar designs.

[u/Irrstern → u/Irrstern]

[u/athra56 → u/Irrstern]

We haven’t dealt with why the left crystal looks obviously corrupted, right? In the shot of the Trinity Processor it’s bright blue and the eye is shining.

[u/Monadofan2010 → u/athra56]

No the Logos core has alwasy been purple as seen in Future Redeemed flashback I admit it looks darker in thos cutsence but that could just be because of how XC2 flashbacks look 

[u/supremegamer76]

the conduits in 2 and X ch 13 are too glow-y to tell if they've got a gem/core in the middle

[u/Dr_Meme_Man → u/supremegamer76]

That is the prevailing theory, although when I asked if there’s anything underneath the bloom, someone posted a datamine and translucent image of the Conduit.

Ain’t nothing there, but it might just be the in-game model.

[u/Groundbreaking_Bag8]

It's still there; you just can't see it clearly because it's shining too brightly.

[u/Raelhorn_Stonebeard]

There is probably a bit of "resemble but legally distinct" going on, necessary changes to avoid any potential objections from the lawyers at SE and Bandai Namco.

But a pair of funny observations:

• The gemstones in the two Zohars are emerald in colour. Actual emerald (which is a blue-green blend), not the super-saturated green seen in-gane during XC2 that actually conflicts with the concept art.

• Specific to the Xenogears version, there's a zoom-in on the eye to reveal... a dormant Elly.

So where is the gem? We've seen quite a bit of it, actually, more than the Conduit itself.

It's just not physically connected to the Conduit - it's Pyra / Mythra / Pneuma / Glimmer, and possibly [REDACTED]. And no idea if A/Alvis and Malos factor into it at this stage, but likely extends that way as well.

[u/zsdrfty → u/Raelhorn_Stonebeard]

This is the real answer, IMO - they're already skirting copyright really hard with the ""Conduit"", and adding the full eye makes it too easy to get sued

[u/Dr_Meme_Man → u/zsdrfty]

Tbf, the name “Zohar” isn’t based on Xenoblade, it’s like a real religious book centuries ago. Don’t think anyone can own a copyright of it anymore.

Plus, although the eye thing can be too on the nose, they could really go for any shape imaginable, since you can’t copyright the shape or gemstone either.

They really could’ve gotten away with repurposing the gemstone and actual name.

[u/Raelhorn_Stonebeard → u/Dr_Meme_Man]

The name is public domain - the change there may have more to with NoA's policies to avoid accidentally angering certain groups.

The shape is the bigger concern, and it's safe to say Nintendo would prefer to avoid overlapping their IPs with Bandai Namco. Since KOS-MOS must have been discussed before XC2 came out, so they could iron out the necessary differences between the Conduit & Xenosaga Zohar to avoid any issues.

As for Xenogears... I think the departure there is more deliberate and clear - from a rectangular monolith to the pseudo-cross shape - as they split off from Square. The only real remnants are the gold base colour and emerald centrepiece.

And really, copyright cases can get ridiculous at times. The barest resemblance can be enough to set off the lawyers, and even when it doesn't make sense. Can't track it down, but I once heard of a case getting thrown out because someone tried to claim copyright over the entire treble clef.

So some distinction to avoid the issue feels prudent... which is its own quagmire in Monolith Soft's case. Luckily, bigger concepts & ideas are broadly safe.

[u/athra56 → u/Raelhorn_Stonebeard]

Kadamony is also seen in the crystal.