Topic: The story behind the story?

[GuyStarwind]

I really never thought about who made Castlevania but it sure makes me wonder now. Btw when did those Iga questions come out?

[JR]

It wasn't common practice back then, was it?

I don't know about at that time, but developers not being credited became a point of contention during the early Atari days, and helped lead to the creation of Activision.

[Koutei]

Can I ask from what magazine/book is that a scan of?

Dawn of Sorrow DoubleJump Books guide.
http://www.vgmuseum.com/mrp/cv-dos/dos-guidebook2.htm

[Sumac]

Actually both Castlevania 2 and Castlevania 3 had credits.
Castlevania 2 had credits in japanese version and in Castlevania 3 names of some developers appear after you finish "second quest" (complete the game for the second time).

Credits for CV2.

(click to show/hide)

Programmed with the following characteristics:
Invincibility: Akamatsu
Permanance: Iwasa
Philosophy: Togakushi
Masterpiece: Kawanishi
Sensitivity: Hatano
Excellence: Terashima
Ambivalence: Kuwahara
Flourish: Higasa
Admiration: Ohyama
Warm-Heart: Matsuoka
Superiority: Murata
Synchronism: Matsubara
Circumstance: Konami

Source

Credits for Castlevania 3 (in the end of the video)

As far as I know, the only early Castlevania games that didn't had credits are Castlevania (NES) and Haunted Castle.

[thernz]

CV2 credits are the most beautiful thing.

[Puwexil]

I'm with Kuwahara.

[LionelMandrake]

Invincibility: Akamatsu

H. Akamatsu seems to be quoted as the designer of Simon's Quest. Does anybody no more about him? Or Kuwahara? Googleing these Japanese names gives suprisingly little information.

[Mooning Freddy]

Sounds like the production was quite the mystery. Maybe one day they'll make a movie about the making of Castlevania in the style of "Shadow of the Vampire" 

I can already hear the trailer:

"AN ELITE CREW... DRAWN TOGETHER FOR THE GREATEST VIDEO GAME EVER MADE... UNITED BY A DARK SECRET... BUT SECRETS CAN NEVER REMAIN HIDDEN... NOW REAL DARKNESS IS UNLEASHED... CAN THEY MAKE IT IN TIME?"

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

I just read that in Don LaFontaine's Voice!

Don LaFontaine: The Voice

[Charlotte-nyo:3]

Since the details of its creation are such a closely guarded secret at Konami, I'm naturally going to assume the original Castlevania was not so much "made" as it was "generated" by demonic powers which Konami higher ups made a bargain with to show a blueprint for a long running series; something they needed at the time.

[TheouAegis]

Well, IGA said the guy that created Castlevania doesn't work at Konami anymore at the time of that interview.

So.

You have a base to start searching from. Go get'em, tiger!

I liked how in CV3 the special names were developer names.

[LionelMandrake]

I'll ask Ms. Yamashita to see if I can learn anything else.

Did this pan out?

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

Sorry I haven't come up across any other info.  I only know that she also did the MSX music.  I also asked her why the team decided to go with anonymous-ish names, etc.
"I’m not really sure why they did that honestly.
And yes, I made the data for the music on the MSX version of Castlevania."

I did a follow up but it takes a while to get responses.

[LionelMandrake]

Thank you very much for trying! I've been sending inquiries too, with no luck. Got a few responses of "I don't actually know, good question" but that's it.

[Jorge D. Fuentes]

I got "Sorry, I do not know who the game creative director was, nor anyone else".
So that's that, unless you can convince Koji Igarashi to break Japanese Tradition and actually tell you even though that person no longer works for Konami.