Topic: Poll Results --Moving Coxlevania forward.

[cecil-kain]

Well...  The Coxlevania Approval Rating has been up over a week now and a consensus has emerged.  75% of those polled are supportive of Coxlevania --though more than half of those supporters (about 59%) believe that there are issues that need to be "fixed".  The big question is "what needs to be fixed so badly, that it soured so many positive opinions?"  Cox and Kojima sold this as a reboot to attract new fans, but it's become obvious to me that all of us are playing a hardcore gamer's game.  Lords of Shadow will NOT attract any casual gamers --the gameplay is far too sophisticated and the default mode far too difficult, for anyone that didn't grow up playing this kind of thing.  And with its apparent flaws glaring amongst Castlevania's most loyal supporters, how can other hardcore gamers get excited about jumping in and drinking our Kool-Aid?  And suppose the sales ultimately disappoint --Konami may still pull the plug and call this a "failure"

There's been a great deal of talk about various pet peves across numerous threads, so let's bring it all together, but keep it short and simple.  We need to build a consensus on these "fixes" to move our discussion forward in any meaningful way.  Please post what "flaws" (as few words but specific as possible) you would include in the next poll, so we can take the survey and build the consensus around what needs to be fixed --and hopefully pass the information along...

[Ahasverus]

I think the most unanimous "needed fix" is camera. Music is also a common complaint, scripted/non physics based jumps, framerate slowdowns and Chupacabras are also common picks. But yes, we really need a serious "list" and it should NOT be a discussion forum, just a "post your fix" thread, without interaction between posters at ALL. Of course make it a sticky thread, so it could be read someday by Cox or the guys, we could send it through twitter. "Fixes" should be well detailed (both problem and solution) and posts redacted in a meaningful way.

Who's with me? O.o

[cecil-kain]

I think the most unanimous "needed fix" is camera. Music is also a common complaint, scripted/non physics based jumps, framerate slowdowns and Chupacabras are also common picks. But yes, we really need a serious "list" and it should NOT be a discussion forum, just a "post your fix" thread, without interaction between posters at ALL. Of course make it a sticky thread, so it could be read someday by Cox or the guys, we could send it through twitter. "Fixes" should be well detailed (both problem and solution) and posts redacted in a meaningful way.

Who's with me? O.o

That's the idea -sort of...  A poll helps show that there is a consensus --whereas the individual posts/voices come across more static.

[Ahasverus]

Is it possible to create a "multi-vote" poll?

[cecil-kain]

Is it possible to create a "multi-vote" poll?

Yes.  My last 2 polls allowed for multi-vote with a set limit.  Although I find quite a few of those polled choose not to vote for more than one item, even when I clearly indicate that they can vote for X number of options.

[Alutwon]

Yes.  My last 2 polls allowed for multi-vote with a set limit.  Although I find quite a few of those polled choose not to vote for more than one item, even when I clearly indicate that they can vote for X number of options.

If your really going to put it on twitter where it can be seen then i'm sure our fellow members will express their opinions through your poll.

@ Ahasverus: I agree with all you've said but we need to be more specific. The music for example, what has to be altered?

[Richter]

What needed fixing badly was Gabriel's personality. Seriously, shut up Patrick, how about some actual character development? And write a good plot next time, or at least have it as another simple death to Dracula quest.

[Ahasverus]

And write a good plot next time, or at least have it as another simple death to Dracula quest.

What is this? I don't even---

[crisis]

^ how do you think we feel when reading your posts? 


I didn't really have a problem with the plot (except the epilogue), & I'm sure Cox & his cronies have read through a lot of the topics in the past few weeks to get a general idea on the issues we have.

[Valtiel]

What needed fixing badly was Gabriel's personality. Seriously, shut up Patrick, how about some actual character development? And write a good plot next time, or at least have it as another simple death to Dracula quest.

The instance there was clearly budget. Animating cutscenes is expensive. Lip-synching is expensive. That's the kind of thing that weights on budget. Having Patrick Steward narrating the story with awesomevoice is as cheap as Steward accepts to be.

It's clearly NOT an ideal solution, but people needs to be aware that MS probably worked with a budget consistent with what IGA gets, once you factor 3D and all.
Hopefully for the next game they'll have a shot at showing more and narrating less. Hopefully.

[Munchy]

Listening to the music while playing again, I wouldn't say it's badly done, not by a long shot. Stylistically I wouldn't call it very Castlevania, but two things would make it great without totally compromising its uniqueness within the series-

1. Stage-specific themes. Basically, just more of it.
2. Focus more on being scary and less on being fantastic. (I guess I could say this about the game itself too.)

I guess what would really enthrall me is if the sequel had a lot more focus on its horror-driven roots. There were some twisted things like the headless burrowers and the scarecrows that made the 'Vania fan in me smile from ear to ear. Castlevania is an Action Horror game, after all.

Also, please no more QTEs. Of any kind. No more. These need to die already. Gameplay or cutscene - not both at the same time. If Gabe is doing something cool during a cutscene, I'd just like to enjoy watching without having to worry about pressing buttons. To me this is the thing that most brings God of War to mind; if there is something in battle that needs no more than a button press to execute, it should only last as long. I don't want a quick elaborate dismemberment cutscene; I want to smash the thing away and keep on fighting. The player should be in full control of the character, or none at all; if I have to press a button for an event to have it keep playing, wouldn't it be less work to just let the event... be a cutscene? Ninja Gaiden II did this kind of thing correctly, I think - flashy, but not so cumbersome as to interrupt the flow of battle, and WITHOUT A DIFFERENT BUTTON ICON ALL THE TIME. (Devil May Cry 4 is another example of some cool attacks without the use of QTEs.)

[Richter]

What is this? I don't even---

You enjoyed the clichéd lady saving plot with predictable 'twist' outcome? I did not. The game has many good qualities, the writing isn't one of them.

[Ahasverus]

I ws talking about your statement, you said you wanted better scripting OR a traditional CV tale. Both sentences don't fint in a sentence

[Richter]

I meant they should write a 100% quality story, or have it old style with barely any plot at all: not the in between half baked effort that we got.

[Alutwon]

I meant they should write a 100% quality story, or have it old style with barely any plot at all: not the in between half baked effort that we got.

ah you must mean the IGA games?

While it is true the story wasn't on the level of say MGS, I wouldn't go as far as calling it a "half baked" effort. It's the best CV story I think we've ever had