Topic: One word to describe the state of the franchise.

[Lumi Kløvstad]

@Successor the Red

I agree. If the game was selling as well as I've heard Cox and Lords fans keep insisting, I'd expect to see some evidence, some hype, to accompany a well selling game, as you usually don't have a well selling game that isn't hyped due to it's sales figures.

As it was under IGA, Castlevania isn't getting much press, and remains a rather "underground" series.

Which would be fine with me, truly, except Konami keeps spending money trying to make it mainstream, and spending that money in vain. For all of Lords' big budget, the only ads I've ever seen for it were online, and even those were entirely confined to backwater Youtube accounts. No magazine pages, no TV presence, no posters in game stores. Nothing. That's a good way to waste money. Konami and Mercurysteam funneled all that money into a bottomless drainpit.

If you're going to make Castlevania mainstream, you can't pull any punches. Konami needs to market the franchise as aggressively as they've marketed Metal Gear Solid, or how Infinity Ward pushed their Call of Duty franchise, or how Microsoft implanted their Halo series into the minds of every gamer since 2002. You have got to be aggressive with your advertising. If you have a good product, mercilessly beat it into the skulls of anyone who will stand still long enough to be a target.

They attached Hideo Kojima basically to hype Lords. And then they did nothing with that. They hired A-list actors to voice the characters. And they failed to advertise that as well. They produced the first 3D Castlevania that plays as well as it looks. And they did nothing to promote that.

Konami treats Castlevania like a special needs child that has enormous potential and whose parents want it to succeed more than anything, but are afraid to advocate for them due to fears that any failure would make things more calamitously horrible than things already are.

With an attitude like that, Castlevania is doomed to die the slow, poisoned death it has been suffering for years.

Konami needs to man up and get their Belmont determination on, or they'll be bleeding dollars, euros, and yen through a Castlevania-shaped wound for years to come.

[A-Yty]

They attached Hideo Kojima basically to hype Lords. And then they did nothing with that. They hired A-list actors to voice the characters. And they failed to advertise that as well. They produced the first 3D Castlevania that plays as well as it looks. And they did nothing to promote that.

Well, it was made clear pretty fast that Kojima was involved (even though his direct involvement was almost nonexistent). Patrick Stewart and Robert Carlyle's distinct voices were heard since the early trailers. Stewart especially was mentioned all the time due to being kind of an iconic badass and nerd hero, undoubtedly because he's captain Picard. I think their fame did their job when it comes to advertising the game (and probably did help the sales). But even a big name producer and star voice actors can't help the fact that the game has flaws and the story  dialogue mostly creates an overwhelming urge to facepalm.

The game is what failed, not its marketing. But overall, I do agree that if Konami is aiming to make the series a casual gamer success, they're not doing their darndest to achieve that. I guess they're failing on both ends; making Castlevania compelling to the original fanbase and/or making it a mainstream big name 

[JR]

Which would be fine with me, truly, except Konami keeps spending money trying to make it mainstream, and spending that money in vain. For all of Lords' big budget, the only ads I've ever seen for it were online, and even those were entirely confined to backwater Youtube accounts. No magazine pages, no TV presence, no posters in game stores. Nothing. That's a good way to waste money. Konami and Mercurysteam funneled all that money into a bottomless drainpit.

If you're going to make Castlevania mainstream, you can't pull any punches. Konami needs to market the franchise as aggressively as they've marketed Metal Gear Solid, or how Infinity Ward pushed their Call of Duty franchise, or how Microsoft implanted their Halo series into the minds of every gamer since 2002. You have got to be aggressive with your advertising. If you have a good product, mercilessly beat it into the skulls of anyone who will stand still long enough to be a target.

They attached Hideo Kojima basically to hype Lords. And then they did nothing with that. They hired A-list actors to voice the characters. And they failed to advertise that as well. They produced the first 3D Castlevania that plays as well as it looks. And they did nothing to promote that.

Konami treats Castlevania like a special needs child that has enormous potential and whose parents want it to succeed more than anything, but are afraid to advocate for them due to fears that any failure would make things more calamitously horrible than things already are.

With an attitude like that, Castlevania is doomed to die the slow, poisoned death it has been suffering for years.

Konami needs to man up and get their Belmont determination on, or they'll be bleeding dollars, euros, and yen through a Castlevania-shaped wound for years to come.

I didn't like the lack of promotion, either. I never even saw a 10-second TV ad, and that's the least they could've done from what they didn't do, IMO. Kind of baffling to see a game not get advertised, when the game itself looked like it had some time and money invested into it.

But Konami has seemed really cheap lately, with their HD collections (which seem incomplete), their avoidance of the 25th anniversary, and of course Harmony of Despair (whether it was enjoyable or not, it's easy to see it was made on the cheap). Would almost makes me wonder if they're struggling financially (but they aren't, according to what I've heard).

[crisis]

this is the best they could do in advertising

Castlevania Lords of Shadow commercial PS3 sony playstation3 JP jpn japanese japan


LOL

[Flame]

The issue with LoS is that while games like Metroid Prime were met with universal acclaim, LoS is divisive at it's worst. Some fans hate it because its not a Classicvania or IGA/Metroidvania, and just not what they know and love.

Others have absolutely no problem with it.

That means that it might have sold well, Since we all know just about every Castlevania fan bought it to see what this new Castlevania was like, but the reception is totally mixed. Love, Hate, and those who could go either way. There is very little gray area. This isnt like Metroid Other M, where despite what Fans may think about the story and narrative, most agreed that the gameplay was still pretty good. CV fans are divided over the Story AND Gameplay.

So since the reception is so mixed, (and only among the fans mind you, almost all the critics liked the game, but they dont count) It makes it a bit harder to immediately tell how well it sold.

It might have sold well simply on account that most Castlevania fans bought it because it was another Castlevania game, one hyped to be a massive big budget gig. (and the Trailers misleadingly teased at a Dracula "Die Belmont" quote, and just all around teased he would be the final boss.)

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Jason Isaacs could have been SUCH a Dracula... Real missed opportunity there, Mercurysteam!

[Chernabogue]

this is the best they could do in advertising

Castlevania Lords of Shadow commercial PS3 sony playstation3 JP jpn japanese japan


LOL

The dude drinking his coffee at the end made my day. Thanks for sharing.

[Green Stranger]

Lackluster.


So much for the one word thread:/

[Dark Nemesis]

Lackluster.


So much for the one word thread:/

What did you expect? This is Castlevania Dungeon Forum!!!! It was always like this and it will coninue to be like this

[Sumac]

I like how some people think that, if game wasn't tailored to their taste, than its immediate failure with everyone.
Illogical and funny, but oh well... 

[Las]

Irregardless, the fact that the castlevania franchise is still around speaks volume with the video game industry. It is not only a great concept but many of the storylines are very well thought out and inovative. Games like the Castlevania's, Metal Gear's,Contra's, Gradius's, even the tmnt series were great. The fact of the matter is like great video game companies their thrive in the face of adversity when many things in the gaming world change around them. As popular as Call of duty is and some of those big name gunner games. It is questionable if they will have the same popularity twenty years from now. They are popular now but the nature of games like call of duty and some of those online games are you can never beat them. It is competitive play usually, however it also keeps people from socially getting together. People become withdrawn from society and introverted around one or two(never ending online games). The great things about Castlevania's, Zelda's, Mario's and the like is that you play them to have fun, find the secrets, solze the puzzles and complete the game if you are good enough at it. Not to drain your life away online. Kudos to the Castlevania and Metal Gear games. They hold true to what games should be. Great storylines, great playable charcters, great fun! Exactly what gaming was always about. Not to say things in the gaming world don't change. People must adapt to change. It's understandable. But the big picture is how much? Games are meant to have fun with not run your life like i see so many people doing with some of these online never ending games. I will always stand by the companies that made gaming real too me. THe konami's, the nintendo's, the acclaim's, You people know what i'm talking about! Right? Enough said. there is a BIG reason these guys are still doing well. Kudos to  Konami!

[meanguyjones]

From what I can tell, it's pretty universally believed (at least everywhere I look in the Castlevania fanbase) that the series is currently terrible. Perhaps even as bad as it's ever been. I think it would really be folly for Konami to continue the course that they are on. If they don't, they will survive solely on casuals who could not give a crap about Castlevania. These people buy a new game just because they buy new games, discuss them at Gamefaqs/Gamespot for about a month or less, and then once they're done with them, put them away forever or sell them and repeat the process. It's true that one guy's money is as good as the next, but it's saddening what it going on. As I've stressed before, they're generally not bringing in new fans with this stuff.

I'm really not convinced of Lords of Shadow's stellar sales because, from my personal experience, I'm seeing no evidence of them. I didn't have to go out of my way to know that San Andreas, Metroid Prime, Star Wars: Battlefront, Halo and Assasin's Creed were really big games. I've generally been around the gaming community enough to be able to tell what is a big deal and what is not, and Lords of Shadow ain't seeming like much of a big deal. When people talk about great 3D action games, it does not come up.

So, what I'm saying is...

No new fans + disillusioned and disheartened old fans = why should you continue this?

But, I dunno'. Maybe it's a game that sold a lot that nobody cares about... kinda' like a Nickelback CD or something.

You're not convinced of its sales because it doesn't match up after a year in discussion to

1) Metroid Prime, which was not only the first 3D Metroid, but also a first person Metroid
2) Assassins Creed, where as soon as a new game is released another sequel is immediately announced. There is always something new with this franchise to keep the fans talking.
3) San Andreas, which was a sequel to one of the most successful and controversial games in history
4) Halo, which Microsoft threw so much money and advertisement behind to start with its unreal

Theres no discussion right now because there is nothing to discuss other than how people like it or hate it. Theres not much more you can talk about the game. Everyone knows Zobeks a dick and Gabriels mad, its been done to death. If people blow off the sequel and not bother with it, then you'll have a point, or not really. The game still sold exceptionally well for a Castlevania game.

[crisis]

Castlevania has identity crisis like my name get it lol am so witty 


New word to describe current state: butt

[Lumi Kløvstad]

The game still sold exceptionally well for a Castlevania game.

You keep saying that, but you never submit proof to back up your claims.

Where's the PR announcements? The sales stats? A Konami exec going "Well shit, this game sold pretty damn well for a Castlevania!"?

Where's the DISCUSSION when not on a site like this?

All of those are lacking. I don't doubt that Lords sold moderately well; they thought it was worth investing in two DLC packs for it, after all. But DLC is cheap to make and cheap to sell. That's no actual proof the game did as well as you're implying.

And a simple search on Twitter (usually a good gauge of public opinion) is loaded with copypasta Amazon ads pushing the game at a $17.95 price point, and people who say they got fed up and quit with it.

[Neobelmont]

[/spoiler]

When it comes to Japan it is always one week and that is it hell even Zelda skyward sword is not selling that much over there the only game series I have found to do well in Japan are Final Fantasy,Dragon Warrior,Mario, and hell even to a point Devil May Cry (which is funny I do not see how the hell Devil may cry is more popular than castlevania it's like DMC is like Castlevania's hyperactive off spring that every one just loves while CV is just that once well respected adult that just got put into a retirement home to be put into a corner playing bingo and tapioca pudding), and to a point the tales of series, Xilla did really and I mean really well. At least from my understanding Lords has reached over 1million copies now I believe the ps3 sold 0.64m and 360 0.37m which is better than it's competition vanquish and enslaved. Vanquish did well in japan,but due to Japan's sale's tendency to drop like a ton of bricks it just crashed in the end sort of.
Enslaved on the other hand just crashed and burned all the way to the deepest part of hell.

Here are the sales from top best to worst bottom.

PS3

http://gamrreview.vgchartz.com/sales-data/35059/castlevania-lords-of-shadow/

http://gamrreview.vgchartz.com/sales-data/42969/vanquish/

http://gamrreview.vgchartz.com/sales-data/44878/enslaved-odyssey-to-the-west/

360

http://gamrreview.vgchartz.com/sales-data/44879/enslaved-odyssey-to-the-west/

http://gamrreview.vgchartz.com/sales-data/35060/castlevania-lords-of-shadow/

http://gamrreview.vgchartz.com/sales-data/42970/vanquish/

Now let's take Los success into some kind of consideration it did well it has reached the one 1 million mark, heck it did better than Other M 0.93M  http://gamrreview.vgchartz.com/sales-data/35086/metroid-other-m/

Los combined 0.64M + 0.37M = 1.01M and remember Los did not have commercials of any sort it for the most part except in Japan compared to others from my understanding.



Enslaved: Odyssey To The West TV Spot



Vanquish - Spot TV



Vanquish - Launch Trailer (made by Maverick)



Metroid Other M Live Action Commercial [HD]


[Minna no NC] Metroid: Other M - Commercial 1


Vanquish 1st commercial sony ps3 xbox x360 xbox360 JP jpn japanese japan


Castlevania Lords of Shadow commercial PS3 sony playstation3 JP jpn japanese japan



 Look at this 


Castlevania-Lords of Shadow-　SPECIAL STAGE（2010年9月19日）


Some kind of attempt has been made, but one way I think for castlevania to gain the heart of japan again is to beat other action games to me it has to be dmc.

It was odd advertising but something was done but for a fact it would have done better if there were universal commercials but it did well compared to others.