Topic: Akumajo Dracula will also become Castlevania in Japan.

[Nagumo]

Something trivial but that I thought was interesting. A Japanese video game chainstore called Wondergoo had a talk with Konami and they asked if Castlevania will become known as Akumajo Dracula again in Japan (LoS was called Castlevania there too) and they said that wouldn't be the case.

https://twitter.com/wondergoo_game/status/278804345783480320

They already switched briefly from Akumajo Dracula to Castlevania before from 2002 to 2003, but apperently that didn't really catch on.

Anyway, thoughts/speculations? 

[Chernabogue]

I wonder where you got the info 

Well, I think they're trying to keep only one name for the series worldwide. Maybe to avoid confusion?

[Maedhros]

Castlevania/Akumajo Dracula isn't really that strong in Japan anyways. But the decision of changing the name can bite them in the ass later...

[Nagumo]

I wonder where you got the info 

I have my contacts...

[Ahasverus]

Akumajo Dracula officially dead? 

[TheCruelAngel]

Hmmm...an interesting bit of info. With everything becoming more globalized, I can understand a unified language for the brand, but I can't help but feel a little sadness with the passing of the Akumajo name.

Well, here's to hoping Konami knows what it's doing!

[Flame]

Akumajo Dracula officially dead? 

No, Castlevania is very well alive, and will continue to be so even after the LoS trilogy.

Because it's the same damn thing and I refuse to subscribe to this notion that having a different name suddenly changes it into a different franchise.

[DraculaFan1981]

Something trivial but that I thought was interesting. A Japanese video game chainstore called Wondergoo had a talk with Konami and they asked if Castlevania will become known as Akumajo Dracula again in Japan (LoS was called Castlevania there too) and they said that wouldn't be the case.

https://twitter.com/wondergoo_game/status/278804345783480320

They already switched briefly from Akumajo Dracula to Castlevania before from 2002 to 2003, but apperently that didn't really catch on.

Anyway, thoughts/speculations?

I wouldn't worry about it, Aria of Sorrow and Lament of Innocence were both called Castlevania instead of Akumajo Dracula, so it's just a name thing, no deeper meaning, and to announce this so near the release of Lords of Shadow 2 & Mirror of Fate means we have more to look forward to in the franchise, both iterations of the franchise eastern and western, bring great things to the table, I look forward to seeing what Konami will do with what they've learned from developing a western Castlevania and applying it to their future games.

[e105beta]

No, Castlevania is very well alive, and will continue to be so even after the LoS trilogy.

Because it's the same damn thing and I refuse to subscribe to this notion that having a different name suddenly changes it into a different franchise.

It's those Operation Akumajo people that started it. Before that whole group popped up, nobody really gave a rat's ass whether it was called Akumajo Dracula or Castlevania in Japan.

[Nagumo]

^Actually, Cox started it too. But I agree that it doesn't matter and I don't worry about it for that reason.

I actually wouldn't mind if they would switch permanently to Castlevania because although I really like "Akumajo Dracula", it really limits what the developers can do in the story department.     

[Chernabogue]

In my opinion, I just think "Akumajo Dracula" is the Japanese name of "Castlevania". Nothing more.

[e105beta]

^Actually, Cox started it too. But I agree that it doesn't matter and I don't worry about it for that reason.

I actually wouldn't mind if they would switch permanently to Castlevania because although I really like "Akumajo Dracula", it really limits what the developers can do in the story department.     

How so?

[Nagumo]

You can't really do anything without having to involve Dracula somehow.   

[Ahasverus]

You can't really do anything without having to involve Dracula somehow.

I'm actually open to a new villain you know...

[Flame]

Yes, but if it's perpetually called "Demon Castle Dracula", then it becomes awkward when you want to make a story without Dracula. Castlevania, while maybe a bit confusing to Japan back in the day if they did not know English and therefore didnt get the play on words, works out better because while it describes the same place, that is Dracula's world and his Castle, it does not tie him to the title.