Topic: when will the next Japanese castlevania be released??

[Lelygax]

 Thanks, the link doesnt work but now that I know the name of the book I can search for it.

Google have a backup of it, so Im posting the original content from the page here:

Intron Depot 2 : Blades by Masamune Shirow
Dark Horse | 1998-12-23 | ISBN: 1569713820 | 170 pages | PDF | 90,74 MB

Intron Depot 2: Blades is the newest full-color book from creator Masamune Shirow (Appleseed and Ghost in the Shell). It collects 209 fantasy-themed illustrations, paintings, and computer graphics created by Shirow between 1992 and May 1998, none of which have been published in the U.S. before. It also contains detailed commentary (in both Japanese and English) on each work, and an info-box that explains the techniques used to produce each piece.


Download

Depositfiles
http://depositfiles.com/files/w5q5wb0t2



More Masamune Shirow Artbooks

Intron Depot 1 by Masamune Shirow
http://depositfiles.com/files/5fy3eldf8
Masamune Shirow Poster Book
http://depositfiles.com/files/qcrkt2erh

[Flame]

Looks like someone -1 you and me, the thing that Im really curious is if this person will appear and say why, since if we dont know why we cant correct or errors

On-topic: Lets not forget too that a Castlevania game need to have Castlevania/Akumajou (the castle)  if no Belmont nor Dracula appear in the game.

LoS had the castle. It just wasn't DRACULA's castle yet. But it still belonged to another Vampire.

also, DAT MASAMUNE SHIROW ART :B

seriously though, I completely disagree. the Combat Cross looks NOTHING like the morningstar in that image, besides having vaguely cross shaped hilts, and even then, the COmbat Cross is more deliberately given a retracting chain to make it's fully retracted form into a crucifix. They really look nothing alike. By that logic, the original leather whip is a rip off of Indiana Jones.

[Lelygax]

By that logic, the original leather whip is a rip off of Indiana Jones.

a rip off of Indiana Jones.

Indiana Jones.

Jones.

Thanks! Now I finally understand the truth after all these year!
Indiana Jones is Graham Jones father! He must have appeared to help seal Dracula's Castle in 1999., thats why no Belmont can use the Vampire Killer Whip, because Indiana is using it in their movies, but then in 1999 he appeared, give Julius the whip, they sealed Castlevania, Indiano took the whip back and in 2035 he gave it to Julius again. (we are in 2012 thats why they still do Indiana movies, but in 2035 they will stop because Indiana didnt have the whip )

[TheouAegis]

Oh snap! Lelygax just out-witted you there!

By the way, if you like some of the Masamune girls, I think they're part of his Galgrease series (hot, sexy, greasy girls). But yeah, I like his full-color girls.

I can't tell if Flame was trolling or serious. Of course Simon's whip was a knock-off of Indie's whip. Everyone knows that!

[crisis]

Lets not forget that Cox made the clear distinction between Akumajo Dracula and Castlevania. . . 

[Sumac]

1st - I never said that I want IGA back, I said that I want a game that doesnt is LoS and is like any of the games prior to LoS, so why you are focusing in IGA when I never mentioned him? To me didnt matter if its IGA, if it is Cox or if it is Santa Claus, I only want to see the result.

The result, the final version of the game, depends on its creator influence. If you want games, that similar in-spirit to what they were pre-LOS - you need its creators to be involved. But since this chance is very small, then, no matter what Castlevania games will be released after LOS, they would be different to what Castlevania was before LOS anyway.

2nd - If "past is dead", they are fools, no one discard the past, if they forgot it they will be losing the good things that they learned too, they only need to filter it and remove the things that they have sure that is bad. If they discard it totally they will repeat the same errors.

"Past is dead" in a sense that standards for the games have changed and many conventions that were common in the 16-bit era are not actual nowadays, hence there is very little chance that Konami will create (big) games that similar to the SNES / PS1 / GBA games. I didn't mean that they should discard all ideas from the past games (though in order to create something new they should partially do that from time to time).

I don't understand why LoS being heavily advertised as a separate story makes any difference. Comic books have several continuities running along side each other all the time and sometimes they use the concept of a story being outside mainstream continuity as a major selling point, just like Lords. If comics can do that so can video game series. It's a non-issue.

Also, be careful not to slip back into your old persona. Be strong.

Because its expected from the modern comic books. Unlike them, Castlevania was in the last years famous for having one big continuous storyline with few gaidens, that even now have questionable status. That's why, I believe, LOS being reboot was rather big deal. At least bigger than usual. And that's why I am sure that it will leave certain impact on the developers. What it would be? It's hard to say by now.

And besides, there is really very little chance that somebody will ever create a sequel to the COTM or CV64 timelines. One in a thousand, I dare say.

And my old persona never got anywhere. I am still the same. 

By the same token that a game without Dracula isn't Castlevania, it could be said a game with whip swinging isn't Castlevania, but Bionic Commando or Rygar universe instead. I don't think of that dangling whip feat nor swinging as traits of a Castlevania game. Castlevania is a guy with a whip fighting Medusa Heads, skeletons, zombies, and a vampire. It doesn't have to be Dracula as far as I'm concerned. IGA did a lot for the series by opening it to the option of multiple vampires (aside from Carmilla). Oh, and Death. Has to have Death to be Castlevania. The final boss could be any kind of vampire. Even CV3 specifically stated that the Belmonts didn't fight just Dracula. By your argument that Dracula=Castlevania, or even Belmont+Dracula=Castlevania, then LoS is unarguably Castlevania, but clearly that's not the case as the argument still exists over whether LoS constitutes a real Castlevania game.

Please, re-read carefully what I have wrought.
I never said, that for myself Castlevania always should have Dracula.I could accept any Castlevania as long as it's a good game and doesn't make random plots like AOS / DOS. I said, that for many people (general audience) Castlevania is about vamipre killers fighting Dracula and since series will most likely cater to the general audience, Dracula will be included in the series just for them. 
And IGA did very little for opening Castlevania for the other vampires. Dracula was always present in his games in some fashion, even, when his presence was really tacked upon, like in POR for example.
LOS is a real and official Castlevania game because Konami said so. Fans opinions in that matter doesn't count, since they are not the ones who own the series and not the ones who decide what games belong to the franchise.

Was probably Sumac downvoting. Gettin' old and crotchety.

It wasn't me.

[TheouAegis]

I upvoted Sumac out of pity. I'm so charitable when my back goes out.


I will hold off my strongest opinions about MS's CV games until the I play the 3DS one. I will buy it as soon as it comes out. Unfortunately, I already ahve qualms with the story. It just sounds so cheesy and stupid. But like I said, I have every intention of buying it the opening week.

When's it due out?

[TheCruelAngel]

I kind of have to agree with Sumac's last statement there, LoS is Castlevania because Konami said so. If we were in charge of the IP (intellectual property) we could delegate what is and isn't a Castlevania title.

Hell if it we wanted to go wild we could retcon Bloodlines and PoR and call them Bram Stoker's Dracula: Revenge of Quincy and Bram Stoker's Dracula: Generations Defiant or something. Does it really make sense? Not really, they sure do play like Castlevania games and their settings are similar. But the do lack playable Belmonts from the get go and their plot seems to play off of Stoker's original novel more than established Castlevania plots of the time.

Oh! And we could make that Van Helsing movie an official CV movie if we were in control of the IP since it has a Castle, Dracula and hordes of baddies to defeat! We could say in some manual off to the side that the Helsing clan are like 3rd cousins to the Belmont and that's good enough, right? I mean, they're even referenced in the game, so there is precedence to tag a CV title to the beginning of it!

Damn it all I say, Konami has the final say on what constitutes as a CV title, much like how Paramount dictates what is a Star Trek title and Lucas for a Star Wars title. Do we necessarily like it? No, but we do accept it since it's their IP. I just don't get why LoS is constantly regarded as not a Castlevania title by some members of the community. Is it because we're racists and think only the Japanese master race could do it any justice (thanks for the compliments but we aren't that great)? Was it because it was linear like a traditional CV title? Was it because it had too much emphasis on combos like LoI? Was it because there were outdoor areas like in CVIII? Had a different soundtrack that introduced unique tracks while remixing familiar tracks like SotN (bad example I know, SotN OST > LoS OST erryday!)? Is it because the Combat Cross uses a chain whip like Richter's in RoB? Weird monsters? Questionable plot twist like in AoS where the main protag is really...?

I mean, I am absolutely dumbfounded by this. I mean, I enjoyed LoS, I feel it's a CV title, but I also don't think it's the best CV title. How hard is it to admit that it's a CV title? If Konami slapped Castlevania over a MGS like game where you have to sneak into an old castle as a single spec op operative and shoot silver/holy rounds into monsters and stuff, I'd buy it and accept it. It would be a little weird, but it is Konami's IP and I just don't see where we get the audacity to decry something as not Castlevania when it's clearly stated otherwise.

/soapbox

TLDR; Why some think LoS is not a CV game? Konami own CV and say what CV is and isn't, QED.

Back on topic: seriously why do some people think a Japanese made CV would be inherently superior to a western developed CV? I could make a CV game, use my Japanese passport street cred and I'm sure it would be worse than if I challenged oh...let's say Visceral to make a CV title to compare against.

/soapboxingagain
Seriously, why this dicotomy of games being Western/Japanese (Korea wants love too!)? Why can't they just be games that were good or bad like when we were kids playing our NES/SNES/Genesis or what have you? Did we care if Sonic was Japanese and Lemmings was British? I didn't! Did I care Street Fighter was Japanese and Mortal Kombat was American? Nope! I liked them both for what they offered. They were just good games. With this age of globalization I don't see why we make these barriers and sections of this/that based on origin. Yeah the flavors are a little different but it's all consumed the same way and we either enjoy them or don't.

Maybe I'm looking too far into it, but whenever I see/hear that any Japanese dev would do CV better than a Western dev all I hear is this:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/j-pop-talk-show/1362560

  Sorry for the long winded post, just something that's been bugging me since my return to the dungeon. *prepares for -1 onslaught*

When's it due out?

According to Amazon March 1st, 2013.

[X]

Seriously, why this dicotomy of games being Western/Japanese (Korea wants love too!)? Why can't they just be games that were good or bad like when we were kids playing our NES/SNES/Genesis or what have you? Did we care if Sonic was Japanese and Lemmings was British? I didn't! Did I care Street Fighter was Japanese and Mortal Kombat was American? Nope! I liked them both for what they offered. They were just good games. With this age of globalization I don't see why we make these barriers and sections of this/that based on origin. Yeah the flavors are a little different but it's all consumed the same way and we either enjoy them or don't.

This is a very good point you have made. For me it doesn't matter what race of the planet makes what game. It's whether or not they succeed at it. And I personally feel that MS did not succeed at making Castlevania. When I was playing it there was the odd moment or two that it felt CV-ish (environmental-wise such as the castle chapters). But on the whole the core of what made CV, CV just wasn't there for me. I could not feel it. and I did give this game a chance to prove itself to me. Even when I took that 6 month hiatus from it and played it again, I was still let down. When the next two LoS sequel play through vids are up I'll check them out.

[Nagumo]

@Sumac
 
So what exactly is stopping them from just returning to the old storyline after Lords? Cox said himself his storyline doesn't replace or overwrite the old one, so what's the problem? Also, a lot Castlevania games take place outside the main chronology. Making gaiden games was common practice in the last few years (and arguably before then as well). Castlevania is already used to having several continuities so, just like with comic books, it can very much be expected that they would do this.             

And my old persona never got anywhere. I am still the same. 

Then I shall weep for you.

[Sumac]

I kind of have to agree with Sumac's last statement there, LoS is Castlevania because Konami said so. If we were in charge of the IP (intellectual property) we could delegate what is and isn't a Castlevania title.

I am completely agree with your statement.
For me it doesn't matter who was behind the game as long as it is a good game. If, dunno, developers from Madagaskar will be able to deliver a good Castlevania game, will I hate their game for being non-japanese? No. It will not even bug me for a second. Because it is a good Castlevania game and that's what ultimately matters.

I think, some people just like to put much emphasis on who developed the game, because CV never left hands of japanese developers, before, save for Ressurection that was never even released (and that is a shame on its own). And that lead to certain...pessimism regarding western developers ability to create a "good Castlevania game" whatever it is. Though, for these people I want to say only one word: "Judgement" as a prove, that not even all japanese devlopers could understand what Castlevania is. 

So what exactly is stopping them from just returning to the old storyline after Lords? Cox said himself his storyline doesn't replace or overwrite the old one, so what's the problem? Also, a lot Castlevania games take place outside the main chronology. Making gaiden games was common practice in the last few years (and arguably before then as well). Castlevania is already used to having several continuities so, just like with comic books, it can very much be expected that they would do this.

             
Castlevania is very faraway from comic books, when it comes to different timelines. Right now there are only two major timelines - old ones and LOS. Everything else is a one-off deal, that never was considered to become a real "alternate continuty".
I am not thinking that developers will not develop other timelines in the Castlevania, but I believe, that they will not revisit CV64 and COTM gaiden realms. What for? After all of this years it would be easier to pick LOS-route and create a completely new disconnected interpretation of the series, rather then create sequel to gaiden game in the oficial timeline.

As for revisiting old canon...I think it could be possible, but I believe it will be something rather minor (DL game) or "retconish" in nature, that will make fans upset, that developers even thought about this idea, in the first place.

My logic here is simple: for a big title set in the old canon you need a BIG story. Especially if you want your Castlevania game not to be worse than LOS in that regard (in terms of amount of content). So, what could be a BIG story for the major 3D game set in the old canon? Something involving Dracula, of course - it will uphold main tradition of the series and will be easy to market (like "Return ot the true old Castlevania. And we even have TRUE Dracula, of course!!). Aside from DCW, with such crowded timeline it means that developers will be forced to create a remake or a new game that will inevitably "retcon" something in the timeline.

Such approach would have worked if Castlevania series (old canon) had a permanent talented writer(s) and editor(s) attached to it, but right now developers could run unchecked in the old canon and do whatever their want to do, because there is no-one who can stop them and there is really no reason to limit themselves, when it comes to story. And "respect for the old fans" is not a top priority of the modern game developers.

Then I shall weep for you.

Why? We have a civil discussion.

[DragonSlayr81]

I'd welcome just a return to the classic trope and bypass the baggage and bullshit of "trying to make the series more deeper than it has to be". Return to the simple roots and build up from there. Call it a reboot or return to form. Base the game on "Belmont hero ventures off to Dracula's castle", add a thin story to keep players interested, but don't get too philosophical or preachy with it. Just say Dracula sent his minions to wipe out the village where the Belmonts live, and while the hero was away(out attending to something in the forest) he returns to find all the men of the village slaughtered(go crazy, they could all be impaled along the outskirts of town) and all the women and children taken to Dracula's castle. He takes the family heirloom(Vampire Killer whip) and heads off to rescue the captives and destroy Dracula. Simple as that. We can find out bits about our hero, Dracula and the captives throughout the game, but keep the majority of it simple and to the point. No overly tragic origin of Dracula. Hell, not origin. Make him what it was originally, Vlad the Impaler. No Mathias, no Gabriel, make him the REAL Vlad III. No BS origin story, not tragic past drenched in pain to give him some humane reason to why he becomes evil. Just make him a sciopathic bastard and make him do something like off the hero's mother infront of him.

So basically, stick to the simple formula, add some story(but not too much), steer clear from overly brooding, pretentious character backstories, and basically, do a modern take on what the originals were all about, "Badass hero storming a castle of monsters and going Monster Mash on their asses". Bring all the classics back(Frankenstein's Monster, the Mummies, Death, Medusa, maybe even Phantom Bat) and add new monsters to the mix.

[DarkPrinceAlucard]

Out of CV64 and CVCOTM I could actually see COTM getting a sequel.

The reason why is that one thing Konami sees and remembers is money.

Fact is that Circle of the Moon was indeed the highest selling Castlevania game to date until Lords of Shadow came out.

That in itself will keep Circle of the Moon in the thoughts (and wallets) of Konami and I could totally see them outsourcing a sequel to it (hopefully to wayforward) just in the hopes of it capturing those sells again.

Also it would be a good way to give back to the older fans while still dumping cash into their pockets.

Win=Win situation really.

[Phoenix7786]

Thanks! Now I finally understand the truth after all these year!
Indiana Jones is Graham Jones father! He must have appeared to help seal Dracula's Castle in 1999., thats why no Belmont can use the Vampire Killer Whip, because Indiana is using it in their movies, but then in 1999 he appeared, give Julius the whip, they sealed Castlevania, Indiano took the whip back and in 2035 he gave it to Julius again. (we are in 2012 thats why they still do Indiana movies, but in 2035 they will stop because Indiana didnt have the whip )

Scanners (1981) Head Explosion Shot

[Lelygax]

Scanners (1981) Head Explosion Shot

Hahaha sorry about that, I'll send you a new head okay? lol

Lets not forget that Cox made the clear distinction between Akumajo Dracula and Castlevania. . . 

Thanks for remembering about that, it only shows how he is ignorant, since HoD and AoS are called Castlevania even in Japan. I know that its only he wanting to protect himself from some fans bashing him, but he could think before making these types of mistakes.