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

[VladCT]

...since HoD and AoS are called Castlevania even in Japan.

I think LoI was also simply called "Castlevania" with no fancy "X of Y" subtitles in Japan. My memory's kinda blurry at the moment though, so I might be mistaken.

[Lelygax]

I think LoI was also simply called "Castlevania" with no fancy "X of Y" subtitles in Japan. My memory's kinda blurry at the moment though, so I might be mistaken.

...released as Castlevania (キャッスルヴァニア Kyassuruvania?) in Japan, Europe, and Australia...

Yes, you are right.

[TheouAegis]

Which brings us to the next topic:

Which was your favorite "Castlevania" font?

[Lelygax]

I like more the classic, but I like the "PS2" ones too, in 3rd the LoS ones and in 4th the HoD and AoS ones.

[Nagumo]

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.

I don't know about that. Putting Cornell in Judgment was a pretty decent sign that they didn't forget about his game. IGA says he has respect for what the developers from KCEK did during their brief reign over the series. A lot of KCEK staff still work on the series as well. I'm not saying that means it's guaranteed that they will make sequels or prequels to those games but it isn't totally out of the question either. I also disagree that setting up a new continuity would be easier. It's more like the other way around since it would mean less effort on the developer's part.     

   
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.

I expect them to fill up a few holes in the timeline (SotN sequel that explains why the Morris family got the whip, Quincy Morris game, and the 1999 game), then make a few filler games in the period between Lament and CV3 for a while, and then either move the story forward in a post-Aria/Dawn era or go to a completely different continuity, new or otherwise. And inbetween we'll probably see a lot of gaiden games, either one-shots or more elaborate like Lords.         

   
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.

Honestly, I think the "ambitious" storytelling of MercurySteam will be abandoned after they are done with the series. The developers can easily return to the more modest storytelling from before. And because of that, they could easily return to the old continuity and finish it.

Also, I'm not saying they should stick to the old timeline forever. If the times comes that they wish to retcon stuff they will just put all their games in a new major chronology. But I don't think that time has arrived yet, since the main storyline hasn't actually been prone to any retcons over the years. At most you could count the whole "Who defeated Dracula first?" business, but that happend over 20 years ago, when CVA and CV3 were released.         

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.
Why? We have a civil discussion.

IGA has been keeping track of storyline just fine. A lot of people act like the old timeline is a mess, but it's not. Most of the confusion is due to faulty translations anyway.

Why? We have a civil discussion.

It hadn't anything to do with our discussion. But never mind.

[Sumac]

I don't know about that. Putting Cornell in Judgment was a pretty decent sign that they didn't forget about his game. IGA says he has respect for what the developers from KCEK did during their brief reign over the series. A lot of KCEK staff still work on the series as well. I'm not saying that means it's guaranteed that they will make sequels or prequels to those games but it isn't totally out of the question either. I also disagree that setting up a new continuity would be easier. It's more like the other way around since it would mean less effort on the developer's part.

That's what I meant - developers want more money with less efforts. It's natural, though I am not fan of this.
As for Cornell in Judgement - I think its more like one time event. Besides, Judgement is very non-conventional game, when it comes to pretty much everything (designs, genre, music), so some random ideas were expected. And story itself allowed inclusion of characters from other worlds.

I expect them to fill up a few holes in the timeline (SotN sequel that explains why the Morris family got the whip, Quincy Morris game, and the 1999 game), then make a few filler games in the period between Lament and CV3 for a while, and then either move the story forward in a post-Aria/Dawn era or go to a completely different continuity, new or otherwise. And inbetween we'll probably see a lot of gaiden games, either one-shots or more elaborate like Lords.

 
I am afraid it will never happen. That's too grandiose. I think it could have been possible, if series have one writer atached to it (and even that's doubtable), but right now series will most likely go Silent Hill route and will change developers for each installment. So, continous storyline in this case is pretty much out of question.       

  Honestly, I think the "ambitious" storytelling of MercurySteam will be abandoned after they are done with the series. The developers can easily return to the more modest storytelling from before. And because of that, they could easily return to the old continuity and finish it.

Also, I'm not saying they should stick to the old timeline forever. If the times comes that they wish to retcon stuff they will just put all their games in a new major chronology. But I don't think that time has arrived yet, since the main storyline hasn't actually been prone to any retcons over the years. At most you could count the whole "Who defeated Dracula first?" business, but that happend over 20 years ago, when CVA and CV3 were released.

         
I believe, that after LOS's grand storytelling other developers could think that grand storytelling is neccessary component of success, since LOS was the best-selling Castlevania ever, at least if we believe Konami. And I don't think Konami will opt for anything less, than LOS-like profit.

To my knowledge there are a lot of "shady" moments in the old contunuty, that wasn't retcons per se, but was quite close to it (Belmonts origin, chaos deal, Reaper's allegiance, sudden Dracula reincarnation).

IGA has been keeping track of storyline just fine. A lot of people act like the old timeline is a mess, but it's not. Most of the confusion is due to faulty translations anyway.

 
I am very vehemently disagree with. IGA tried to systemize timeline, but made much more mess, than he had fixed, leaving a lot of things undisclosed without any good reason and making some really random additions, that were never called for. And faulty translation has nothing to do with it, IMO.

[TheouAegis]

Well faulty translations DID make Dracula out to be something he never was in the western games. And IGA did what he thought best at the time to merge Drac's origins with Castlevania 3. And props to IGA for yanking CV3 away from the Stoker/Coppola Dracula. That was a tad creative. No longer did Vlad Tepes become Dracula, but Dracula became Vlad Tepes. This also retroactively gives Grant more backstory without specifying -- the Danesti clan, the legitimate ruling family of Wallachia, was trying to take their country back from the clutches of Dracula.

What IGA didn't specify actually gave the series more color.

[TheCruelAngel]

The original font done up like in CV64 was cash, imo. My next favorites were the PS2 fonts, I liked the subtlety of the crescent moon styled 'c' enveloping the rest of the text. It's simple but elegant as well.

[Sumac]

Well faulty translations DID make Dracula out to be something he never was in the western games. And IGA did what he thought best at the time to merge Drac's origins with Castlevania 3. And props to IGA for yanking CV3 away from the Stoker/Coppola Dracula.

On contrary - his origin in LOI is retelling of Coppola's movie plot in broad strokes with added details.

What IGA didn't specify actually gave the series more color.

Its just gave it even more unneccessary holes, than before, making overall timeline shaky.

[Nagumo]

That's what I meant - developers want more money with less efforts. It's natural, though I am not fan of this.

I think returning to the old continuity is the most obvious choice as far as effort is concerned.   

As for Cornell in Judgement - I think its more like one time event. Besides, Judgement is very non-conventional game, when it comes to pretty much everything (designs, genre, music), so some random ideas were expected. And story itself allowed inclusion of characters from other worlds.

Perhaps, but who knows? I don't think the unusual choices regarding design, music etc. are relevant. I still stand by my point that it's a possibility we'll revisit the storylines of those games.

 
I am afraid it will never happen. That's too grandiose. I think it could have been possible, if series have one writer atached to it (and even that's doubtable), but right now series will most likely go Silent Hill route and will change developers for each installment. So, continous storyline in this case is pretty much out of question.       

I believe, that after LOS's grand storytelling other developers could think that grand storytelling is neccessary component of success, since LOS was the best-selling Castlevania ever, at least if we believe Konami. And I don't think Konami will opt for anything less, than LOS-like profit.

I think we have to agree to disagree on these points. We'll see what will happen eventually.

   
To my knowledge there are a lot of "shady" moments in the old contunuty, that wasn't retcons per se, but was quite close to it (Belmonts origin, chaos deal, Reaper's allegiance, sudden Dracula reincarnation).

I am very vehemently disagree with. IGA tried to systemize timeline, but made much more mess, than he had fixed, leaving a lot of things undisclosed without any good reason and making some really random additions, that were never called for. And faulty translation has nothing to do with it, IMO.

Well, I'm not seeing these shady moments you're talking about, so I can't really comment on them. As for the timeline being a mess, I was just talking about hard continuity. If you think the timeline sucks because there are a few mysteries that have yet to resolved then I wouldn't try to change your mind about that. Honestly speaking, I don't think many people think it's a issue. Most fans are at the very least just indifferent about the old timeline.     

[CastleV]

I wish this Castlevania comeback after LOS  .Castlevania NEXT GEN - Teaser (XBOX 360, PS3) .They need finish it

[Pumpkin Glow]

I wish this Castlevania comeback after LOS  .Castlevania NEXT GEN - Teaser (XBOX 360, PS3) .They need finish it

If it insured that next gen Japanese game would be made, I would give up my ass virginity.

[Kingshango]

Unless Konami has a history of uncancelling projects before even going into full production, that game will continue to be non existent unfortunately.

[crisis]

If it insured that next gen Japanese game would be made, I would give up my ass virginity.

lol what

[Lelygax]

oh my god, now everytime that I want a japanese Castlevania I will remember that someone will be in pain if that becomes true, my eyes!