Topic: Konami: "Taking risks with CV prevented it from becoming another Megaman"

[A-Yty]

Can anyone name something in LoS that was actually original? I mean something Cox and gang themselves thought of?

I mean, he says they "made a change" when they pretty much copypasted things from younger game series.

[Odile Kuronuma]

Cox=Trollzama
Hazama troll laugh
Dunno he likes to troll us, and anger us, so for me he's just like Hazama

[VladCT]

LOL, Cox doesn't actively feed on our hate, he just...has a different perspective, so to speak.

[Ratty]

So really what the Cox is saying here is. "By making the games more generic for the dudebros and abandoning almost 25 years of canon and aesthetic/music design, we were able to squeeze a few more years of slight profitability from a brandname that used to signify the most venerated horror/action series in the medium. I am the greatest gift to gaming since Miyamoto."

[Odile Kuronuma]

LOL, Cox doesn't actively feed on our hate, he just...has a different perspective, so to speak.

Well maybe not literally but he's making himself look like the hero who saved the franchise.To me, he's kinda feeding on the decaying on the franchise...But he's a troll that's for sure(at least from my perspective).

[Chernabogue]

I prefer CV to change, either as LoS or soemthing else, and even a lot, rather than seeing it dying completely (as it was before LoS1).

[A-Yty]

I prefer CV to change, either as LoS or soemthing else, and even a lot, rather than seeing it dying completely (as it was before LoS1).

It's not that this hasn't been discussed numerous time before, but..why?

Even if not thinking CV was dead or dying before LoS or the LoS methods of change have been like throwing mutagen at something that might get better with pills , rest and a pep talk, the question remains. If certain core elements build something and those are altered radically or removed, you're loving the shell - the name, the brand. And then the makers are pretty much just taking a piggyback ride on the established reputation of the franchise. And in that case you've let the makers dictate your interests as a fan instead of your fandom supporting the makers.

[son_the_vampire]

So basically all i get from his interview is Resurrection was actually made

(click to show/hide)

not really but with Cox at the reigns***coughs....

. Apparently the series was dead and Lord Cox revived it. The Castle Gate was closed completely until he sacrificed fanfare and canon elements to receive the key to opening the it. Now that he is in full control of Castlevania, the horde of super barrels and titan men have take arms within its walls. It is inpenetrable, no mere mortal dare enter. Lord Cox destroyed the IGA clan and has taken over. Lord Cox's sheer originality has older fans running rampant and the cult of new followers will party on inside his Castle Keep.

Joking aside, i agree with the refreshment of the series however slight. But i agree with the fact that its definitely lacking in the originality department. No matter i will still continue to be a fan to the series! Who knows, since the man is all about the mula, there may be something as shocking as fighting Kratos (***** jumps of nearest cliff with jagged underpass)

[uzo]

I don't agree that Castlevania "survived". It died for the most part with the creation of Lords of Shadow. In order to 'save' the series they had to gut it completely. That is not saving, that is just offering something in replacement with the same name attached.

I stand by the notion that Castlevania's issues are not with it's core concepts and characters, but in production values, choice of platform, total lack of marketing, and pandering to a different audience than what they should.

I also have an issue with Cox really saying he took a "risk" with Lords of Shadow. Making a series look, sound, and play, more generic than it's predecessors to pander to a wider audience is not a risk. It is minimizing your risk.

The biggest risk was alienating the old fans by the changes, mainly in story. Apparently they were scared of that, since they had to make up false impressions and basically lie to us in the trailers to get us old fans to buy it.

Can anyone name something in LoS that was actually original? I mean something Cox and gang themselves thought of?

I mean, he says they "made a change" when they pretty much copypasted things from younger game series.

You can change something by injecting ideas from other things into it.

In fact an overwhelming majority of highly regarded classic games had lifted their mechanics almost completely wholesale from something else. I honestly do not understand the 'hate' for games that use similar mechanics to others.

In fact that's how we got Symphony of the Night, the most popular game in the entire franchise. Guess that was a terrible game cause it took some exploration mechanics from Metroid?

[A-Yty]

The comparison between SotN has been made lots of times, but I don't think it's comparable because it took one thing from one game. And it didn't splurge all changes in one single game.

Also, SQ was already a "proto Metroidvania" long before SotN.

I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't borrow ideas from others. That is inevitable in all forms of art and entertainment. But I think you should iron out the details and make it work for the established style instead of the other way around. And not just take things all around, knowing they're from games that have done commercially better than Castlevania.

[uzo]

Ah, I see what you mean now. You just don't want a game built from the ground up as an amalgamation of 'everything thats popular' then slap the Castlevania name on it. Fair enough.

[Flame]

seems more like picking and choosing.

granted los has more derrivation (not much) but sotns entire being was super metroid.

[A-Yty]

I pick and choose as much as anyone, whether he or she likes LoS or not.

SotN had separate areas instead of levels and certain areas were unlocked after finding certain items. SQ was similar, but not as much as SotN. Either way, CV already took a test drive with that idea before any "MetroidVanias".

[DragonSlayr81]

I also have an issue with Cox really saying he took a "risk" with Lords of Shadow. Making a series look, sound, and play, more generic than it's predecessors to pander to a wider audience is not a risk. It is minimizing your risk.

The biggest risk was alienating the old fans by the changes, mainly in story. Apparently they were scared of that, since they had to make up false impressions and basically lie to us in the trailers to get us old fans to buy it.

They basically went the "Popular Trend: The Game" route. It's kinda like in the 00s, the whole overuse of colored filters in movies, where everything looked overly yellow or sepia-toned, JUST BECAUSE everybody ELSE was doing it. Tapping into pop trend is hardly a risk. It might be more short lived if you aren't good at hopping with the trend when it shifts(because trends TEND to shift all the time), but it's like when Grunge was popular and every recording studio executive was stepping on each other to sign acts from Seattle. LOL, if you don't know by now, or previous posts in other threads, I have major contempt for souless trend hoppers. To fully embrace the trend flow, I believe you have to sell your identity for being "in the popular trend". You loose what you are for the sake of being accepted. And, if afterschool specials taught as anything(LOL  ), that's bad!!! 

Interestingly enough, I also believe that you DON'T have to alienate classic fans to bring in a new fanbase. I think a game LIKE LoS COULD'VE been made wit similar gameplay, or even similar story, that didn't turn off old school fans. Again, I don't think the idea behind the classic lore or characters was even an issue. Would LoS been less successful if it WAS a retelling of Simon's adventure from the first game? If it was basically taking a bulk of inspiration from the earlier games(monsters, atmosphere), but adding in LoS gameplay style, story progression and graphics? I really think the reason why game companies CHOOSE to alienate older fanbases at risk(even though it's a low risk) to gain new ones is that it takes less thinking to do so. It's the easy way out. You COULD probably make a game that appeals to BOTH scenes, and hell, a game that steps on LESS feet might just be more profitable BECAUSE of that, but it might take some crafty experimentation and writing.

[Dremn]

Whether we like it or not, LoS is the highest selling game in the series. It's no wonder Konami would put all of their cards on the table in MS's favor.

I don't think the series will go the Silent Hill route, unless Konami completely kills off 2D Castlevania. IGA will be back after LoS2 if Konami needs a new idea after the LoS series, because I am sure as shit not going to buy any LoS spinoffs after LoS2.

Once 2D Castlevania dies, I'm closing the book on this series, and I sincerely hope that does not happen because Castlevania is one of the greatest platforming franchises I have ever experienced.

ReBirth 2, where are you?