Topic: Harmony of Despair (The next Castlevania game?)

[crisis]

And we can′t have two same abbreviations for different games.

Why not? I don't think anyone here will care, and only noobs will get confused (or, more likely, they won't even notice anyway)

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

For simplicity's sake.
I go more for HoDsp.

[affinity]

For simplicity's sake.
I go more for HoDsp.

What does sp stand for?

Well I have been seeing people call it Castlevania HD and CV:HD and it does sound more accurate to the game.  And if it always remains exclusive on Xbox we can then call it CV360.   

[shelverton.]

What does sp stand for?

Well I have been seeing people call it Castlevania HD and CV:HD and it does sound more accurate to the game.  And if it always remains exclusive on Xbox we can then call it CV360.   

Dsp = Despair

Anyway, I'll call it HD for now, even though I don't like calling it that. Damn Konami for calling this game Harmony of Despair. It's a crap name to being with, but it's even worse because Harmony of Dissonance already exists (which was a fine name back in the day).

They could've called it something like Castlevania Online and just skip the subtitle. It's a boring name too, but still better than what we got.

[affinity]

Dsp = Despair

Anyway, I'll call it HD for now, even though I don't like calling it that. Damn Konami for calling this game Harmony of Despair. It's a crap name to being with, but it's even worse because Harmony of Dissonance already exists (which was a fine name back in the day).

They could've called it something like Castlevania Online and just skip the subtitle. It's a boring name too, but still better than what we got.

I would have preferred it named Castlevania Online, but marketing wise, that would cause many to think it's has no single player.  

That's the same reason why Resident Evil Online was renamed Resident Evil Outbreak.

Harmony of Dissonance in Japan is called Byakuya no Concerto
(Concerto of the Midnight Sun).    There are often differences between Japanese and English subtitles.
So it's really not KOJ or the developers fault.

Konami of America must of wanted to make a subtitle that fits the multiple characters and cooperative multiplayer aspects of the game (as well as the competitive aspects) which Harmony of Despair really fits.   And of course the "High Definition" idea must have also played a part in determining the english version subtitle and it's abbreviation.  

So CV:HD really isn't confusing at all.   "HD" must be the abbreviation KOA expected consumers to use.

[shelverton.]

Well, as far as I understand, Harmony of Despair is pretty much geared towards western gamers being a 360 exclusive and all. I mean, is there even a japanese name for this game? I haven't even heard anything about there being a "Akumajo Dracula" title. Konami should've take a long hard look at what their previous western games are actually called, and then realised that "Harmony" of anything "D" is already taken. Imagine if the next Castlevania game is called "Aria of Sadness". That would be really, really horrible.

Also, Harmony of Despair doesn't seem like a story driven game, so the subtitle could've been pretty much Anything of Anything.

But yes, I realise they wanted to incorporate "High Definition" in the title. Much like Dawn of Sorrow was for DS.

[affinity]

But yes, I realise they wanted to incorporate "High Definition" in the title. Much like Dawn of Sorrow was for DS.

yes that is true.   I haven't heard anything about the Japanese version, but I would think that will happen
at some point, it's unknown if KOJ would change the subtitle or keep it the same.   Also since Microsoft Game Studios is publishing this, they too might of had some input on the subtitle and it would also explain why it looks like the west is getting it first.  So far it appears it's a US only exclusive title for 360, at least for a month or so, then Konami might have plans for a Japanese release and a PSN release if they so choose.  

Even if that is the case, I would guess they might not shift focus to PSN until they release all of the DLC they have planned for this game on Xbox360.  Not sure if they will multitask and release the PSN version while they are still developing DLC for the Xbox360, and how long before PSN begins receiving the DLC the 360 version has been getting.    

But like IGA said, the PSN version may be determined by the success of the 360 version.  (and games released for summer of arcade only need to remain exclusive for about 4-6 weeks.)

Looking at the Summer of Arcade, CV:HD really has no big competition in the marketplace. And parties online are always desperate for more co-op games.  It's success is almost ensured.    

Perhaps one can say that it's only a matter of time before PSN gets CV:HD as well.

[shelverton.]

Though, like you said, Microsoft is the publisher so I wonder if they paid Konami to keep this an exclusive, if not forever, then for a very long time. Maybe Konami has something else planned for PSN in the future. I also think it's about time there was a new Nintendo exclusive Castlevania, but I'm guessing we'll have to wait for the 3DS...

[crisis]

I also think it's about time there was a new Nintendo exclusive Castlevania, but I'm guessing we'll have to wait for the 3DS...

Adventure ReBirth isn't a Nintendo exclusive??

[affinity]

Though, like you said, Microsoft is the publisher so I wonder if they paid Konami to keep this an exclusive, if not forever, then for a very long time. Maybe Konami has something else planned for PSN in the future. I also think it's about time there was a new Nintendo exclusive Castlevania, but I'm guessing we'll have to wait for the 3DS...

Technically, Circle of the Moon, Aria of Sorrow, Dawn of Sorrrow, Portrait of Ruin and Order of Ecclesia were and still are exclusive to Nintendo platforms (including Adventure Rebirth).  

Considering Sony platform only received SOTN and CVChronicles with Simon, (and DXC on PSP) I think it would be unfair for Nintendo to get any more exclusives.  Maybe 1 more for 3DS, but PS3 and Xbox360 need some more 2-D Castlevanias.  

But at least with Harmony of Despair and its potential expansions through DLC, that is the biggest step Konami has ever taken for a 2-D Castlevania on console since the original SOTN.  It's selfish to maintain exclusives though.  CV:HD really should at least be ported to PSN as soon as possible.  



But yes you're right it's possible Harmony of Despair could be 360 exclusive for a very long time, but that depends on the agreement they made for Konami,  but all contracts have an expiration date,  I think MS only invested enough money to keep it exclusive for a month or two or perhaps the remainder of this year.    I don't think even they would want to invest too much on this game's exclusivity as if it were the next multi-million dollar exclusive on their console.   And IGA interview does kind of confirm it's entirely up to Konami porting it to PSN after their deal with MS expires.


I haven't been following Castle Crashers but isn't that coming to PS3?  or maybe it was another game.  But there have been at least one case out there where a game that started out exclusive and published by MSGS were brought to PSN. Well time will tell.

[Hydrostorm]

The point of maintaining an exclusive is to get people to buy the console. "Selfishness" has nothing to do with it, gaming is a business. Last I recall, game companies generally DO get paid, quite a bit, to remain exclusive on a system. Who cares if its "fair"?  Also, the Castlevania games for DS were made for the DS because the DS has a bigger market so bigger $$$.

By all means, though, I'd love for the PS3 to get it, only because I want to get my freak on with Abnormal, though.

[crisis]

DoS isn't exclusive, it was ported to European(?) cellphones a couple years ago. And I think AoS was, too.

[affinity]

DoS isn't exclusive, it was ported to European(?) cellphones a couple years ago. And I think AoS was, too.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! You can't seriously accept cellphones as a respectable platform for quality Castlevania gaming, do you?     Well I understand your point they aren't exclusive
but cellphones doesn't even register as a worthwhile gaming platform to most Castlevania fans.  
Might as well play with paper dolls and colorforms.  

But remember exclusivity can change with time.  Rondo of Blood was exclusive to PC Engine until it was
ported to PSP and I think WiiStore.

Based on the interviews, from both 1up and a video at E3,  it doesn't sound like CV:HD will be a permanent exclusive to 360.  

Remember RE4 was exclusive to Gamecube for a time, but it eventually made it's way to PS2.  
A game only feels exclusive the first weeks/months it's released.   After that, exclusivity can no longer mean anything or hold a game from being ported.  

Exclusivity is just used to promote and sell a game more on their console.  But that strategy only lasts for so long before sales come to a halt eventually.   A console company could care less if a game is ported to another console after they already made a lot of money the first months of its release.

Yes it's true the classic TMNT arcade game was and still is exclusive on X360, but that was a special case.
It doesn't remain exclusive because MS is still paying Ubisoft/Konami/Digital Eclipse, it remains exclusive because Konami and/or Ubisoft or Digital Eclipse decided to not port it to PSN (which is a surprise because I think it sold very well over a long time. Maybe Digital Eclipse wasn't interested in learning to develop games for PS3. But Konami is a different story, they did bring SOTN and Castlevania Chronicles to PSN, even though those were straight emulation, while 360's SOTN had some minor tweaks like new game launch interface and screen options added.)

[Hydrostorm]

Jesus Christ,
It's like a wall of redundancy.

Btw, in regard to the Platformance game its pretty fun. There are some collision problems, but still its acceptable. No ghouls to slay though.

[shelverton.]

Adventure ReBirth isn't a Nintendo exclusive??

Oh, completely forgot about that one.