Castlevania Dungeon Forums
The Castlevania Dungeon Forums => General Castlevania Discussion => Topic started by: Ahasverus on January 20, 2013, 10:09:29 PM
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To put it simple. Castlevania is not the most commercial name out there.
I was watching that new (pretty good) fan made live action web series these days and wondered why it didin't have many views while at the same time being a quality product. The same case applies to some games of the series too, good, even great ones, not played by enough people. It's not about the theme, I think, vampires/werewolves/zombies are VERY popular right now. It's not about the gameplay, because it's solid. It might be about marketing, sure, but then, it got me, the name... Castlevania.
Not only it sounds kind of dorky, it limits the appeal to Castle, and Vania, two cliches associated to old Dracula old movies done and redone many times, what in the name incites to novelty and experimentation? To mistery and fun?
And as many of you know Castlevania was called Demon Castle Dracula in japan, so it's not that of a sacred name to Konami.
Personally I'd try with a more global name, a la "Legacy of Kain" which in three words sounds open ended, intriguing and makes a case of a prominent figure within the series. Or A new sub series, an "Spiritual successor" not limited to Dracula and Castle exploring new mythologies while having the series recurring themes, taking place in the same world following the "Chaos" and "Dark Lords" plotline.
So, what if Konami decided to change the name of the series to make it more appealing? do you agree with the idea, or are you against? it? what suggestions do you have for it? Voice your opinion here!
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DarkBoner: What A Bloody Mess Chronicles
Alternatively, VAMPIRE KILLER
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I like the name 'Castlevania' as it sums up exactly what the series is about. It may be cheesy but that's part of the charm about it. And since it's been called Castlevania for over 25 years, a name change will probably be a disaster in my mind. To simply change an infamous title to something else is not easy. In fact I'd say it's impossible to do so without ticking off the fans.
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Another option would be relegating Castlevania to the pre-title, I mean, kinda like what it is now, for example, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, but less emphasis on Castlevania and more in Lords of Shadow, like -Castlevania series - Lords of Shadow .. I dunno. But yeah I'd miss it. It's not that I wantit to be changed, it's thought that came through my mind. Konami seems pretty agressive in the "reimagining" stuff, I mean, they created a NEW series of Metal Gears (Metal gear RISING) after, what, 15 years of Metal Gear Solid?
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What with all of the changes that the franchise has seen over the years in order to appeal to the current generation, I'd rather not abandon one of the few things that still bear that "classic" vampire/horror atmosphere.
Even something as simple as namesake can uphold it, and the title "Castlevania" certainly is reminiscent of such things. (Maybe it's selfish.)
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The answer X gave is how I see it. Castlevania just has a certain charm to its name. I mean maybe if it was earlier in the life of CV I could maybe see a name change but not after 25 years.
Someone brought up Metal Gear Solid and it makes me think why the name "Solid"? Did they make the game saying this game is pretty cool and suddenly the surfer employee comes out of nowhere and says "Solid"? Next think you know everyone loves it.
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The answer X gave is how I see it. Castlevania just has a certain charm to its name. I mean maybe if it was earlier in the life of CV I could maybe see a name change but not after 25 years.
Someone brought up Metal Gear Solid and it makes me think why the name "Solid"? Did they make the game saying this game is pretty cool and suddenly the surfer employee comes out of nowhere and says "Solid"? Next think you know everyone loves it.
They called it Metal Gear Solid for the reason that it was the series' entry into the third dimension, as well as the fact it was the first ACTUAL Metal Gear in America (not the shitty NES port or the even shittier "sequel" Snake's Revenge), and it "solidified" the direction of the series.
Or something like that.
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Vampire Killer works. having "Killer" in the title is a total buzzword. So's Vampire for that matter.
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"Castlevania" has that charm that appeals to those who played the game from 1986.
Changing the name makes it lose that legacy of being a long running series.
As for Vampire Killer as the new title, I think it doesn't do the series justice. You don't kill vampires all throughout the castle right? There are other enemies to destroy. Vampire Killer gives out the impression that the only thing you kill are vampires.
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The answer X gave is how I see it. Castlevania just has a certain charm to its name. I mean maybe if it was earlier in the life of CV I could maybe see a name change but not after 25 years.
Someone brought up Metal Gear Solid and it makes me think why the name "Solid"? Did they make the game saying this game is pretty cool and suddenly the surfer employee comes out of nowhere and says "Solid"? Next think you know everyone loves it.
Well it's in reference to the main character "Solid Snake" who as Yahtzee once pointed out might as well be named "Erect Cock". So it's a Metal Gear... that's Solid. The "Solid" was I believe added to the name to distinguish it from the original Metal Gear series which appeared on the MSX. Funnily enough, a "metal gear" that's "rising" still sounds extremely phallic.
As for the topic at hand well, I've contemplated this before myself and it makes you wonder how far the series can stretch and still be true to what we love about it.
Some of the best (or at least most interesting) games in the series have allowed for exploration beyond the walls of Dracula's castle. But when you get down to it the castle, Dracula/other trademark monsters (Medusa heads/flea men etc.) and the old European setting are the 3 big constants that have always defined Castlevania. Without those three elements the Metroidvanias might as well be a different series from the Classicvanias, and vice versa. The name embodies all that is goofy and wonderful about the monster movie mentality of the original games, and the setting and theme of the later titles. Changing this name would suggest changing all of those things to suit modern tastes in vampires as well.
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Castlevania is fine, but if I would have to change it into something different, I would choose for "Akumajo Densetsu", and then localize it as "Legend of the Demon Castle" or something. It would still evoke the same amount of campiness, and it's arguably a more encompassing way to describe the series then "Akumajo Dracula".
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I don't think it's the name...I think it's just plain old marketing failure.
If the name Castlevania sounds dorky and uninteresting to the general public, Konami should be responsible for showing them what the series is all about through advertising. I honestly think that this is mostly why the series doesn't have much popularity today.
I'd hate to see a name change. It would be more fuss than it's worth, I think.
In the event of a name change, though, I'd prefer Demon Castle Dracula over anything else.
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If they changed the name of the series it wouldn't be Castlevania it would be Some Other Name: Harmony of Mists or whatever. Would it sell? Probably if it was a good game but it wouldn't be Castlevania so what would be the point?
The series is Castlevania so the name should stay the same.
I remember when Lords of Shadows' first trailer came out and everyone said nearly the same thing, that it looked like a Castlevania title. Had no CV on it at the time but people did not consider it a CV and thought ok will check it out, but the talk still centered around the current titles and the rumored IGA one. Then a few months later it was a CV title the fandom really sat up and started to research it ect. Prior to that it was an interesting game, reminded people of CV, some will buy it ect.
The point I am trying to make until Lords of Shadow was changed and made a CV title there was interest in the game due to the content/style but it was not a 'Castlevania' title. If it had been released as it was and been a huge, huge hit it would not have been counted as a CV title. It would have been Lords of Shadow the newest hit title, with vampires in it.
Am I making sense?
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If they changed the name of the series it wouldn't be Castlevania it would be Some Other Name: Harmony of Mists or whatever. Would it sell? Probably if it was a good game but it wouldn't be Castlevania so what would be the point?
The series is Castlevania so the name should stay the same.
I remember when Lords of Shadows' first trailer came out and everyone said nearly the same thing, that it looked like a Castlevania title. Had no CV on it at the time but people did not consider it a CV and thought ok will check it out, but the talk still centered around the current titles and the rumored IGA one. Then a few months later it was a CV title the fandom really sat up and started to research it ect. Prior to that it was an interesting game, reminded people of CV, some will buy it ect.
The point I am trying to make until Lords of Shadow was changed and made a CV title there was interest in the game due to the content/style but it was not a 'Castlevania' title. If it had been released as it was and been a huge, huge hit it would not have been counted as a CV title. It would have been Lords of Shadow the newest hit title, with vampires in it.
Am I making sense?
Yes you are. At least to me.
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Konami has dropped the ball on marketing countless times, whether it's Castlevania, Silent Hill, or Suikoden. Most of us feel like they should just change their company name to The Metal Gear Developer at this point, since that's the only series they seem to care about these days, but I think they should leave the Castlevania title alone. Yes, it's Castlevania in the West and Akumajo Dracula in Japan, but considering the series sells several times more copies in the West than back home, the Castlevania monicker is far more recognizable.
Even though there has been some deviation over the years, many of the greatest Castlevania games still follow the same naming conventions:
[Castlevania or Akumajo Dracula]: [Orchestral Terminology] [preposition, usually "of"] [Noun w/ Depressing Connotation]
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I don't think it's the name...I think it's just plain old marketing failure.
Yep. Konami marketing their work is like trusting an ADD kid to do homework in a room full of pinwheels and flashing lights.
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I loved the commercial they made for LoI
'CASTLEVANIA: LAMENT of INNOCENCE'- 2003 Television Commercial #1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBpON5Mv87o#)
It's odd that for the supposed "best-selling" game in the series, they only released an extremely odd Japanese-only commercial
Castlevania Lords of Shadow commercial PS3 sony playstation3 JP jpn japanese japan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u6fsFnS6sM#ws)
which do you think is better?
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The ads for Lament were so good, I loved the SoTN one too. The Lament one, live action Leon even if it was just a model from the back in a Halloween cape. I want a live action LoI movie. I really need to win the lottery so I can fund movies I want to see.
@GuyStarwind Glad to hear I got my point across :)
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Instead of changing the name, Konami could declare Castlevania "dead" and then later announce a brand new IP with vampires. The new games would essentially be Castlevania to all of us, Konami included, but the new players would think it was something cool and new (and not overwhelming them with 25 years of history.)
I think Vampire Killer is an excellent name. Though it sounds very Suda51 to me. And I'd really miss the Castlevania name...
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Even though there has been some deviation over the years, many of the greatest Castlevania games still follow the same naming conventions:
[Castlevania or Akumajo Dracula]: [Orchestral Terminology] [preposition, usually "of"] [Noun w/ Depressing Connotation]
That is the due to the IGA until he ran out of musical terms.
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Instead of changing the name, Konami could declare Castlevania "dead" and then later announce a brand new IP with vampires. The new games would essentially be Castlevania to all of us, Konami included, but the new players would think it was something cool and new (and not overwhelming them with 25 years of history.)
I think Vampire Killer is an excellent name. Though it sounds very Suda51 to me. And I'd really miss the Castlevania name...
This is a good idea.. but sad. :(
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...I've contemplated this before myself and it makes you wonder how far the series can stretch and still be true to what we love about it.
Some of the best (or at least most interesting) games in the series have allowed for exploration beyond the walls of Dracula's castle. But when you get down to it the castle, Dracula/other trademark monsters (Medusa heads/flea men etc.) and the old European setting are the 3 big constants that have always defined Castlevania. Without those three elements the Metroidvanias might as well be a different series from the Classicvanias, and vice versa. The name embodies all that is goofy and wonderful about the monster movie mentality of the original games, and the setting and theme of the later titles. Changing this name would suggest changing all of those things to suit modern tastes in vampires as well.
I agree wholeheartedly with these statements!
In fact I now shudder at the idea of a Drac who uses copious amounts of hair product, is overly-sensitive and sparkles in sunlight.
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The word "Castlevania" is a play on words with "Transylvania," which many people across the globe automatically associate with vampires/evil spirits, and even more associate with Dracula.
For this reason alone the name is absolutely perfect and should never change.
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In fact I now shudder at the idea of a Drac who uses copious amounts of hair product, is overly-sensitive and sparkles in sunlight.
You are not the only one!
o(><*)oダメッ!!o(*><*)oダメッ!!o(*><)oダメッー!!
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That Lament of Innocence commercial is ten times better than anything we'd get from Hollywood.
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I think that Konami has already change the name... Since the anouncement of Lords of Shadow (without the Castlevania subtitle, or title).
Having played LoS, I don´t consider it as bad game, in fact, I love the hack n´slash genre, and the QTE´s games :P. But, if is not for the Castlevania title (or subtitle), and the characters name references, I wouldn not think that is a Castlevania game. I would prefer that LoS were a new IP, or a spiritual successor for our beloved saga. Something like Maximo was for Ghost n´ Goblins. It was not necessary, in my opinion, the incursion of the Belmont surname with Gabriel, and all the names references (from characters or places). And thinking that I will going to play with Dracula in LoS 2? I see too much references with Legacy of Kain franchise, principally Defiance (another franchise that I love :)).
I hope, that with Mirror of Fate, Mercury steam finally give us (or just me) a real Castlevania experience, without the God of War (or any other similar hack n´slash game, since Rygar), Prince of Persia, or Shadow of the Colossus mechanics...
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Name change = fail
When i hear castlevania my first thoughts are a huge castle Royal Rumble with one guy vs 1,000,000 monsters.
Death to the ruler of the castle is the only end to the Vania.
Lets not consider a change...
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So, what if Konami decided to change the name of the series to make it more appealing? do you agree with the idea, or are you against? it? what suggestions do you have for it? Voice your opinion here!
No. You wouldn't do it to Metroid. You wouldn't do it to Contra. You wouldn't do it to Legend of Zelda. Why should Castlevania be treated any differently? It's a legacy title. People associate the name after over 25 years. That's something incredibly hard to argue against, regardless of sales. They knew that when they created a game called Lords of Shadow, and turned it into a Castlevania game by slapping the title on there. They know there's power in the title.
Also? Do you really want Castlevania to go the way of Devil May Cry ---> DMC? Honestly?
And as many of you know Castlevania was called Demon Castle Dracula in japan, so it's not that of a sacred name to Konami.
And then they changed it so that Japanese titles were also called Castlevania. It must have some marketability if they do that.
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Also? Do you really want Castlevania to go the way of Devil May Cry ---> DMC? Honestly?
Was it a tittle change? I thought that DmC was the game moniker and Devil may Cry still the official name?
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I said this a while back,
Castlevania itself as a series is one messed up title that magically has survied... I don't know how? The series to me has such a strange convoluted identity and developers just can't do much to change that because even if they do, now you have an army of irrational uptight fans. 'CASTLE-Vania" as a title is so strange. I mean if there is a gamer who gets off his cliche CoD and decides, "Hey, you know what? I will try something new today." And goes to Gamestop or EB games and walks upon a title called "Castlevania". Well, are castles really your favourite type of architecture and feel that you want to buy this game which you have probably have never heard of before and since there are castles in the background on the front cover, they believe that the entire game takes place in the Castle. So, do they want to buy this game?... Probably not. What do they know about the huge history of games since the NES days? All they see is that they've never heard of this game before, therefore it must not be popular and just because of that, this game must be shit. PASS. "Castlevania" has a nice feel to it's name and sounds very nice indeed, but it can also give off meanings that may turn people off. The title itself gives off it's limits that the entire game will take place in one boring Castle with around 10-20 enemies to kill with probably around 2-3 hours of gameplay. Sometimes I feel that they should change the title of the series... (DID HE JUST SAY THAT???)
The identity of Castlevania is a huge mess, not to mention the essence of it. So they made a game that starred a Barbarian looking character that fights classic horror monsters and bosses with their leader Dracula on top... with a whip (The whip is the reason there wont be a Castlevania movie... HOW CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?). That alone sounds to me like a huge WTF. Original kick ass game Idea, Oh yes. But to use this concept as a series... Not too much. The villain is based off another villain in a horror novel and then adding originality to the character by adding alternate retelling, various designs for him, giving him an origin story and turning him from a small time serial killer to a global terrorist. Konami probably never intended Castlevania to become a chronological series. And they later on tried to make Castlevania as original as possible. Iga did this by not making Dracula being Vlad III Tepes but an original character named Mathias Cronqvist, which now makes the Dracula of Castlevania a bit more original, but he still was Vlad III Tepes at one point and he was still Count Dracula in the Bram Stoker novel but in the end, he was once an original character. Which is what LoS is trying to do. They want Castlevania to be something very original. The villain is based of an original character by Mercurysteam and has no relation with Bram Stoker in it's character's design as well. They even call him Dracul now and that's just for the sake of fans. Castlevania has a huge variation in different styles of Art, Music and Gameplay that gives it that convoluted Identity. Most games keep their games with one perticular style throughout the series, but Castlevania always seems to be in this "experimental" stage trying to find one perticular style that would give them great success as well as keeping the fans happy. I don't know if that day will ever come though. I think Castlevania has so much potential and I don't want it to be a niche franchise forever... I want castlevania to be a blockbuster someday.
This all is in the hands of LoS trilogy. If they end up making good comeback, then the series itself is back into the mainstream. Because of the success of LoS, the franchise 'Castlevania' was breathing the same air with other franchises like Uncharted, Halo, Assassin's Creed and many others during the VGA's. This is pretty huge and to be honest, I don't know if the VG community/consumers are simply ignorant about the side-scrolling RPGs or if Castlevania really needed to have a radical change which would end up in mixed reception by it's hardcore fanbase, but... I'm just glad that if LoS trilogy blasts with positive reception eventually making the future of Castlevania in high anticipation for the future audiences. I'll be happy to say, "I was playing Castlevania before it went mainstream" 8)
In that case, a name change wouldn't be necessary. I can understand why the "CASTLE-vania' would be questioned by a curious gamer. Nowadays, games are not limited to few locales, most games take place in open world environments rather than one area. Even LoS implied this heavily in the game. There wasn't alot of Castle in LoS. They really wanted to explore more themes that could get the series greater audiences. They made a 3D game, the game has similar play style with you know... and they didn't really use the Gothic atmosphere as it's main choice but they based it around "medival" theme in which Gothic Atmosphere in the game is a sub-theme in the game and it had ruined cities, lush green forests... with RAINBOWS! They didn't only limit themselves with classic horror monsters but with folkish monsters as well. And so we wonder why some of the fans say, "This is not Castlevania" or "Good game, but it should be it's own IP"
LoS was begging for a change in the game because the Nighttime, Demonic, Horror was not reaching the wider audiences, yet it still was named Castlevania because it had the classic essence we see in the series but the atmosphere was completely different. Of course, that does not mean the name should have changed because Dave Cox/MercurySteam were planning a Castlevania Reboot. Now, I don't know anything about the DmC series but... from what I do know, the gameplay is still the same. The story has been changed but still familiar and this helps alot more if they are using the same Characters. And of course, the Character designs were changed but they had somewhat similar personalities. Dante is still an ill-mannered bastard, lol. But if that's what one calls a reboot, then fine... But LoS was like REEBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT! And that's the kind of Reboot one game needs to resurrect if a name change is necessary. But just simply "LoS" would not appeal a CV fan and "Vampire Killer" doesn't really fit the game or the character since the game's Antagonists are destributed between Lycanthropes, Vampires and Necromancers with the influence of the ultimate bad dude himself... and the main character ends up in an ironical fate which would be spat on by the fans if the game was called Vampire killer.
So far, there is no research done by Konami and there is no proof if it's the gameplay that's not appealing, the theme isn't appealing or if it's the name that turns of a curious gamer. I doubt Konami wants to change their IP just like that since the series is far from it's lowpoint since LoS, but if a name change occurs, they better back that shit up with the game properly, or else... FANS will pick up torches.
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An unjustified name change would not just let fans pick up torches. They're gonna ba throwing everything!
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The whole argument "if they change the name the current fan base would be upset" is moot. You don't change a product name to please the fan base, you change it to improve marketing and acquire new fans. And they already had a Vampire Killer, so calling it Vampire Killer would be the same as keeping it Castlevania. Calling it Demon Castle would be the same as keeping it Castlevania. But calling it some other name would be the same as calling Twinkies Spongebob Creamies and marketing them to kids -- it's still a fucking Twinkie and the people that love Twinkies will still buy and eat it along with the thousands of screaming kids that want to gobble Spongebob Creamies.
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When talking about Konami's marketing while that Lament trailer is great I'm surprised no one has mentioned the north american commercial for the first N64 game, it was spot on 90s cool.
Castlevania (Nintendo 64 / N64) - Retro Video Game Commercial / Ad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovdyjpvteEs#)
Everything you need to know about the game in 16 seconds. Plus a sexy vampire hunter.
The SOTN trailer was even better since it had Don "movie trailer guy" LaFontaine voicing it to add gravity. Other touches added greatly to the cinematic mystique like the melting film strip. The falling sword references the opening shot of Francis Ford Coppola's then-recent Dracula film, just replacing a cross with the less controversial blade.
Castlevania Symphony of the Night (Playstation 1) - Retro Video Game Commercial / Ad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t3_ig1xVkY#)
Under 20 seconds and you knew you were in for an epic, gothic adventure.
Whoever Konami contracted with for advertising then, they should call them back. Their advertising track record of late has been abysmal, and Konami seems to be aware of fans concern over this but not enough to do anything. In fact gaming journalist Jim Sterling has effectively been blackballed from reviewing their games for pointing this out on multiple occasions, or so he claims.
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Castle of Moonlight, or some variation thereupon, would be my choice.
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Belmont Creamies
Will attract more girls to the series wanting some Belmont Creamies.
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Oh god what a terrible idea. As if the LoS tag wasn't bad enough.
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There's nothing else that's appropriate besides Castlevania. Game takes place in a Castle, and the Castle is a plot-device as well. -Vania as in Transylvania, which alludes to Vlad III Tepés who is romanticized as a Master Vampire in fiction and is the Antagonist of the series.
Name change in some series are tied to the game itself and therefore are much harder to change. It's not like 'Half-Life' has anything to do with Radioactive decay, so name change there can be plausible if you can cast aside fans, marketing, etc.
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But then the series was actually called "Demon Castle" in its country of origin. And some of the games were never called Castlevania OR Demon Castle: Haunted Castle and Vampire Killer. And some of the games don't have anything to do with Dracula or Transylvania. And sylania just means forest or some shit. Castle Forest. That's not a catchy title... And in some of the games the fighting takes place outside forests or the castle, such as in towns or ruins or wide-open countryside or abandoned mines, or even on a boat. And if you're gender-confused, you think Sypha was pretending to be a guy (even though her profile icon in CV3 is obviously feminine -- yes, that icon in the top-right corner that tells you she's Trevor's partner... IT'S A GIRL'S FACE!) because the same people that led you to believe the series is called Castlevania led you to believe Trevor was a homo. But whatever.
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The idea is baaaaddd!!! Castlevania is like THE PERFECT title ... just turn on your DS put Castlevania Order of Ecclesia and if you have finished the game go to the SOUND mode and swap between the english and japanese language. When you hear Shanoa say "Castlevania" you will know that the name is IMPOSSIBLE to be changed :D :D :D
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Actually now that I think about it, the original series never even took place in Transylvania, so the title is purely a misnomer and thus the argument that you could change Half-Life's name because it has nothing to do with radioactive decay (actually it did originally -- the title is based on the intro sequence), then the same can be said for Castlevania.
1. Castlevania didn't always take place inside a castle and in some cases in the original series only half or less than that even took place inside a castle.
2. Castlevania rarely took place inside a forest, so -vania shouldn't even be included in the title.
3. Castlevania never took place in Transylvania, Pennsylvania, or any other -vania for that matter, so it's purely a misnomer. The closest game to the title is Lament Of Innocence because the castle was inside a mystical forest.
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I suppose in the end, it just depends on how well the brand name is known. I mean, even calling it by another country's known name won't be good if people don't know what it's suppose to be. Though I suppose having a known face associated with the brand would help. Say like with Spongebob or Mario: they're faces are so well known, that even if you call the brand 'Milky Puffs', they'd know it had something to do with either Mario or SBSP. But with a series with ever changing protagonist, it might not be as simple. (And more so, when the series is known to have/change art styles that can dictate how even well known characters look.)
I think Castlevania, while not as mainstream anymore, does at least have a well known brand name and even gameplay style, that most people know about. (Kinda like Reebok shoes.). I think most people would see the game, a different title, and (if they didn't know better) just think it were a ripoff of, erm, Castlevania.
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Actually now that I think about it, the original series never even took place in Transylvania, so the title is purely a misnomer and thus the argument that you could change Half-Life's name because it has nothing to do with radioactive decay (actually it did originally -- the title is based on the intro sequence), then the same can be said for Castlevania.
1. Castlevania didn't always take place inside a castle and in some cases in the original series only half or less than that even took place inside a castle.
2. Castlevania rarely took place inside a forest, so -vania shouldn't even be included in the title.
3. Castlevania never took place in Transylvania, Pennsylvania, or any other -vania for that matter, so it's purely a misnomer. The closest game to the title is Lament Of Innocence because the castle was inside a mystical forest.
(http://ih0.redbubble.net/image.11122985.0077/sticker,375x360.png)
The suffix "Vania" means "woods, Where, "Transylvania" means "Other side of the woods".
As you can see in the Castlevania intro, and in many of its games, Dracula's Castle is always on a cliff sounded by a deep forest (whether there's a lake around the cliff varies). So "Castlevania" just means "Castle - woods". It's still not far off.
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I suppose in the end, it just depends on how well the brand name is known. I mean, even calling it by another country's known name won't be good if people don't know what it's suppose to be. Though I suppose having a known face associated with the brand would help. Say like with Spongebob or Mario: they're faces are so well known, that even if you call the brand 'Milky Puffs', they'd know it had something to do with either Mario or SBSP. But with a series with ever changing protagonist, it might not be as simple. (And more so, when the series is known to have/change art styles that can dictate how even well known characters look.)
I think Castlevania, while not as mainstream anymore, does at least have a well known brand name and even gameplay style, that most people know about. (Kinda like Reebok shoes.). I think most people would see the game, a different title, and (if they didn't know better) just think it were a ripoff of, erm, Castlevania.
Right in the head
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Well it's a variant of sylvan which is forest. Trans+sylvan-ia.
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This thread has turned into an etymology class.
Back to my stand, don't change. People know what to expect when they hear Castlevania.
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I don't expect a Metroidvania when I hear "Castlevania". I expect to fall to my death into a bottomless pit after being bit in the foot by a Medusa Head.
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I don't expect a Metroidvania when I hear "Castlevania".
Well, I expect both types. And we know it is still Castlevania.
Either you go exploring or you tear your hair out in frustration.
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I expect a romp through a castle, with perhaps its outskirts. The castle is evil and is trying to kill me either with bottomless pits or with confusing corridors full of enemies and traps.
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No, the confusing corridors makes you kill yourself. The castle is just a castle with dully designed denizens.
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i expect the floor to be covered in candle wax due to the copious amounts of candles burning in the castle. (http://legacy-cdn.smosh.com/smosh-pit/122010/batman-mario.gif)