Topic: Castlevania: Umbra of Sorrow (1999 Fan Project)

[GabrielCarati]

No problem, thanks for the reply! I'll be waiting for the opportunity if it comes up.

I hope Curtain of Delusion can be finished someday too! I'll be working on it and as soon as possible try to present it here on CV Dungeon, best of luck on the Umbra project, I'm looking foward to play it. 

Btw, I'm glad to know that my master Castlevania pack is spreading and people are enjoying it too! haha

[theplottwist]

So, in short, Grimoire of Souls could prove to be a challenge. As of now, nothing major interfered with Umbra, but if GoS reveals something TOO major once it comes out, it could mean that entire chunks of Umbra's plotline (and possibly gameplay aspects that are interwined with the plotline) must get rewritten to suit what GoS says. Anything official Konami puts out > Umbra of Sorrow.

I'm back to say a little on this. This is not an update, but more an "I didn't forget. Also, we still alive somehow", to those who care.

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GoS brought plot information that needs consideration if I'm to keep the intention of respecting what Umbra understands as "canon" as intact as possible. Most of it is dealt with relative ease since they fit a kind of plan-B I had stitched for this situation. But some core bits are not so easy - An example:

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For any one caring about this project, Charlotte and Jonathan are said to play a role. However, the presence of Charlotte and Jonathan during the war does not quite jive with Alucard's lack of knowledge of them, depicted in GoS. So, the immediate conclusion is that he simply never met them (less likely), or they were dead (more likely). Does this mean no Jonathan or Charlotte anymore, though? You'll have to wait and see.

On the other hand, GoS said a few things I suspected and wrote into Umbra's story in one way or the other, either requiring no adjustment at all, or a very minor adjustment. You lose some, you win some. I can't reveal these, not that it would make a huge difference since people aren't exactly here for "story" in Castlevania, but I'm glad it happened nonetheless.

So, currently I have only a vague idea about how these things can work out and am really not too concerned with it. I'll just rewrite to connect with GoS wherever needed to the best of my ability, some changes on the few things you already know will take place, and that will be it

To close: GoS is the last CV media that Umbra is conforming to as "canon". By the time a new "canon thing" comes out (if any), Umbra won't bother to reconform from effort reasons to creativity reasons. This is fanfiction, there is no gun pointed at our heads forcing us to conform and, as said on the first page, its only goal is "telling an entertaining story" and now maybe "playing and looking good".

[Shiroi Koumori]

Welcome back plot!
Thanks for the update.

I'd like to say, if some of your suspected things got added into GOS, then you're on the right track.
And your decision to make GoS the last canon thing you add is great. Rewriting everytime there's a new canon out will never make a project get done.

[Gardraphius]

Thanks for updating us.

Making a fan game isn't easy as the only incentive for doing so is community support and shear passion for the work you wish to pay tribute to. So I'm sure we're all fully aware that for any number of reasons, long hiatuses and lack of updating are to be expected. With that in mind, I do have a question.

You don't have to answer it if you don't want to, but does the development of Wallachia: Reign of Dracula and Castlevania: Rhapsody of Darkness have something to do with the lack of updating? Namely the creative talents of Junki Sakuraba and others in the community focusing on their own projects? This would make sense as this community is very collaborative and like working with each other as opposed to lone-wolfing projects.

If this is the case, which makes complete sense, will more frequent development updating occur once these projects are completed and everyone focuses their attention back to Umbra of Sorrow? If the community knew that Castlevania: Umbra of Sorrow was shelved, we would understand, especially if the reason for this is the aforementioned case.

Thanks,

[theplottwist]

Hello, Gardraphius! Thank you for the support, first of all.

The spoiler contains a longer response but the TL;DR is: PlotTwist can't draw fast enough. Other projects have some or no bearing on development speed. Situation is not changing soon.

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I'm responsible for the slow progress. Reasons for this are many, but one I can clarify is- I can't dedicate time to produce high quality pixel art fast enough, and I won't reduce my quality standards to speed it up.

A good measure to accelerate this is planned, but can't be taken before a tangible first "product" is completed and made available. The programmer needs sprites to code, the musicians need scenarios to envision, etc etc it all boils down to how fast I can draw. If you need a solid reason to cling to, it's this one.

Wallachia is part of my job. Real life comes first, and Wallachia is just one element of it I let the public know about. Weren't it Wallachia, it'd be something else. While we're on the subject: Please look forward to Wallachia. Everyone involved gave their best to produce some amazing work.

Rhapsody of Darkness has no bearing on when Umbra does anything. Junki takes time to produce assets for us as he has his own life to lead, but that has also in no way slowed Umbra anymore than it already is, and nobody in this team is under deadlines. He has produced Umbra content that has never been shown because it's not yet appropriate to (idem for music, code and pixel art too).

When enough content that can be displayed is created, we may release updates, but we're not interested in promising anything. Also, if Umbra gets shelved, there will be no secret of it at all. We'll just make a statement and move on.

[X]

It takes time to create a work of art. It's definitely not something to be rushed (as we see in a lot of triple A companies as of late  ) Umbra will be done when it's done, that's all anyone can hope for.

[Gardraphius]

The creative process can't exactly be sped up, and I understand that real life can get in the way. If it's any solace to you, don't beat yourself up for it, especially as you have an entire community at your back who are very considerate and patient, and we're very grateful that someone with as much talent and passion as you can dedicate your time to Umbra of Sorrow. Just remember that while we're definitely rooting for you, we'd never ask you to rush things or pressure you into working harder. Though I have little experience of my own, I can understand just how much close attention to detail and care must go into creating art for a Castlevania fan game.

Thanks for your explanation which in itself is an update, and remember that you're not alone. For whatever reason, anyone may not be able to dedicate their full time and attention to projects, and that it's still very important to have time for yourself.

Very much looking forward to Wallachia too, it is an extremely high quality product, no doubt thanks to you as well.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

I know I'm necromancing this thread, but I wonder if this project has had any updates now that we are kind of stuck at home...


Edit: stupid phone...

[theplottwist]

I know I'm necromancing this thread, but I wonder if this project has had any updates now that we are kind of stuck at home...
Edit: stupid phone...

Well that's where everything Umbra will go so a bit of necromancing could be fine I guess

There is an update planned for Soon™. Should've gone up before, but I couldn't make it in time. It'll show some new stuff in some different fronts, including the promised retooling of Julius Belmont. Don't be overly hyped tho, we're working with fickle things here.

[BLOOD MONKEY]

I can't wait to see Julius's new tool.

[Shiroi Koumori]

Oooh! I'm excited.

[SecretWeapon]

Truth to be said, i'd prefer if you guys released "Umbra of Sorrow: the novel/script/text" and then, whenever it's ready. It's like, knowing the book doesn't make the movie version any less enjoyable, imo.

[Dracula9]

there really is enough to fill a book actually lol

[SecretWeapon]

More to my point. Again, text and a game are clearly different experiences. And while the former can be edited more easily than the later in case developement causes changes that would affect the former...

[Foffy]

When does the book become a voiced radio drama though? :p

But really, always happy to hear this is still kickin'. All of the projects I seem to be excited for lately are fan efforts, and this is probably the one I'm most giddy about.