Topic: Confirmed: IGA not involved with Castlevania anymore. Europe helms the series.

[Nagumo]

Regarding Konami Europe taking over the series in the future, I don't think that quote suggests anything of the sort. So, the topic title is jumping to conclusions a bit. 

I was half expecting IGA was working on a killer game these last three years, but I guess he doesn't want to come back. I actually don't mind, as long as they stay away from the lame and generic Lords of Shadow aesthetics and terrible writing, to put it bluntly. Anyway, I definitely would like to see alternate takes on the series with different storylines and world views. 

[Laina]

To me the Japanese re-interpretation of classic (and cliche) western horror tropes is half the point, but that's me.

Exactly. Thank you.

[Dark Nemesis]

Well, i believe IGA must got tired of getting accused all the time for his Castlevania games, so i can't blame him for not wanted to come back. I don't have problem with Castlevania getting to a European terrain, as long as the team that is going to get the lead, doesn't follow the LoS route. I'm all open for new things, but for me the LoS direction, doesn't feel right for what a Castlevania game is.

[Shiroi Koumori]

Wow, the first headline I see in CV Dungeon is this.

Well, I couldn't blame IGA for being happy (if I presume) being relegated to a window/desk job while keeping his salary, he has to have a stable job without risks, since he has kids to raise.

I just don't know now if I should raise my hopes or lower it further....
Dracula originated in Europe so they should know best, right? Or would it be like a generic western horror movie?
I am certain that I would miss the Japanese interpretation of the series, especially the inclusion of asian elements and shinto stuff.

[Gunlord]

*mourns Castlevania*

I will forever miss u...;_;

[The Silverlord]

Mr. Shiro has posted some other interesting tidbits, and would appear to be a Konami employee in a Marketing/Promotion position, likely in America.

Most of what I know comes secondhand from my coworkers who have met with him at Japan HQ.

Jotamide: The DS Castlevanias (bombed). Which led to IGA being pushed to the side by Konami.

ToraShiro: Actually not the reason. The DS ones sold OK, it was Judgement and Harmony of Despair that pushed him aside. The budgeting and scheduling for those games did not help, though.

FYI he had 6 months to develop the game for Wii. Set up to fail.

[Super Waffle]

Konami should just hire me as head CV writer guy.

[Nagumo]

I can understand Judgment bombing, but not Harmony of Despair. It was in the top 5 of best selling PSN games. IGA received an award for it. Or did the game still not generate enough sales despite that?

[Kingshango]

Probably didn't make enough money to satisfy Konami's bloodthirsty wallets. They probably expected it to do Lords of Shadow numbers.

[Dremn]

Castlevania not under the creative direction of a Japanese studio is worrying. It really does seem like the series will become the next Silent Hill.

Absolutely terrible, at least we've got a lifetime's worth of amazing games to go back and replay over and over. Despite how promising LoS2 looks, I just have no reason to be optimistic about the franchise future right now.

[Asgardwolf]

Just give Castlevania to Kojima Productions instead...

[Flame]

Konami should just hire me as head CV writer guy.

I support this.

[Intersection]

This thread title sound like a war headline. "Confirmed: the country is no longer sovereign. Europe helms the government". 

I think we're exaggerating a bit here. Why should we be "mourning" IGA? He isn't dead, is he? If anything, it's good news -- we now know that IGA hasn't entirely disappeared; better yet, he's still working for Konami.
And as for his "not being involved in CV right now", well, what did you expect? Did you seriously believe that he was still somehow involved by the time Lords of Shadow came out? That game is entirely MS's brainchild; to me, at least, it seemed rather obvious that IGA had been absent from its development...
At the moment, nothing fully discounts the possibility of an eventual IGA return. Of course, it's far from likely, but it isn't any less probable now than it was before your interview was released. If the ball is ever knocked back to Japan's camp, a revival could certainly occur.

If there's anyone we will soon be mourning, it's Cox. He's promised to leave as soon as LoS2 is completed. I'm sure we all agree that he game something interesting to the series; and many of us truly appreciate his work (myself amongst them). So it'd only be a common courtesy to be there for his departure. We should all be present to see him out with a smile, wishing him luck on his next project -- and making sure he closes the door after him. After all, we wouldn't like to see him have any... second thoughts.

[DragonSlayr81]

I just don't know now if I should raise my hopes or lower it further....
Dracula originated in Europe so they should know best, right? Or would it be like a generic western horror movie?
I am certain that I would miss the Japanese interpretation of the series, especially the inclusion of asian elements and shinto stuff.

I don't buy the "They are European, and Dracula originated in Europe, so they know best.". That's bullshit. I'm sure creative minds with great ideas should not be quarted via continental pride. If we want to get particular, maybe we should let an all Romanian studio make the game, or an all Irish studio(because of Stoker). I'm also pretty sure that makes me more credable, by default, to make a game about cowboys, even if there might be a scholar in South Korean particularly well versed in South-Western history of the United States, because I'm American, I know best. Inspiration and information are things that transcends cultures and nationlities. I don't think European game makers are the BEST qualified to make CV games by default. Anybody with the drive and knowledge can deliver something good.

For me, I don't care WHO makes the game as long as it gives me that essence of horror that I know and love about the series.

[Lelygax]

*Reads title*
*Reads "news"*

Guys, have you really stopped thinking so easily? He onlyu stated the obvious thing that everyone already knew. He said that actually Europe is in charge of CV games, everyone knows about that since LoS1, we also know that IGA isnt working in any CV game for now.

So in reality these "news" are only a statement about something that we already know, it says the actual situation, nothing about what will happen after LoS2.