Topic: The Success of Metal Gear Rising and the Future of Castlevania

[Harrycombs]

I've been thinking about the release of Platinum's latest game, Metal Gear Rising. So far sales appear to be phenomenal, selling over 300,000 copies in Japan alone. The game also is the first time Platinum has developed a game for Konami, although this was a very unique scenario. I know Platinum is extremely popular around here and fans have speculated on this for a while, but this may be the first real sign that perhaps Platinum could be used to develop a future Castlevania title.

Platinum's experience with action games makes it seem like a perfect developer to try to bring Castlevania into 3D successfully. Hideki Kamiya, one of the designers at Platinum and creator of Devil May Cry, has said that the original Castlevania was the best action game. You can really see the influence in the original Devil May Cry. The campy monsters that are used completely seriously, the atmosphere, pacing, and progression through the castle, all felt reminiscent of Castlevania.

With the partnership between Konami and Platinum, as well as the financial success of Metal Gear Rising, perhaps the possibility of a Platinum developed game is now more likely. Also, with Platinum's success and the lukewarm reception of western developed action games such as DmC and Lords of Shadow (both companies expected them to be blockbusters, which they were not, I am not commenting on the quality of the games themselves), it seems that Japanese companies have underestimated what Japanese studios are capable of. With all of the difficult these games have faced, I wonder if companies like Capcom and Konami will be less willing to outsource the development of their primary franchises to Western companies, especially in Konami's case as the Silent Hill series has plummeted from grace. I think that this might push Konami to try to continue working with Platinum, which has produced for them their first critical and financial hit that wasn't developed by Kojima in a while.

This is of course all speculation, but I think its definitely a possibility. Probably not for a long while though as Platinum is finishing up The Wonderful 101 and Bayonetta 2. I personally would welcome an attempt by them seeing their success in the genre.

I'm sure we'll get a clearer vision of the future of the series once the Lords of Shadow games are tied up soon. The series definitely needs new life after years of stagnation and a reboot that surely cost a lot to develop but still failed to capture the masses. Hopefully Konami won't give up on the series as a lost cause at this point, or relegate it to only getting low budget hand held releases. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried rebooting the series again with a new studio and a new direction, and I think using Platinum to breathe new life into our ailing franchise would be a safe choice.

[X]

If Platinum is as good as you believe then I think I would like to see them do a 3D CV game. But only so long as they don't go the LoS route. However I also know how great WayForward is too, so they shouldn't be left out unless they prove themselves otherwise.

[Koutei]

Hideki Kamiya said that there was no intention of being engaged in Akumajo Dracula.
https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/297697108138536960

@jack_XB: Please, Akumajo (make)..

@PG_kamiya: Since there are already many Dracula, I am not going to work...

[darkwzrd4]

I wouldn't mind seeing another company making an attempt at a 3D CV when the LoS trilogy is done. Though in all fairness, if such a thing happens, it will likely be another reboot and we all know what that means: both the fans of the original timeline as well as the fans of the LoS trilogy will start complaining because it doesn't fit what they see as CV. It happened when LoS1 came out in 2010 despite the fact that it isn't a bad game (it just isn't CV enough). Oh and let's not forget the uproar that came with the Devil May Cry reboot earlier this year.
Let's face it, when ever there is a "reboot", the fans of the "pre-reboot" games through a fit regardless of how good the new games are. They act like any reboot of a series they like is blasphemy. Seriously, you idiots need to grow up.

[Heuss]

The Castlevania franchise isn't a lot of sales as Devil May Cry

[Munchy]

Aw man, reading the thread title is torture. Much as I would love Platinum to take a spin, Konami isn't going to spend that amount of money on something that isn't Metal Gear related.

Unless Hideo Kojima tells them to, because they have no minds without him.

[DragonSlayr81]

Hideki Kamiya said that there was no intention of being engaged in Akumajo Dracula.
https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/297697108138536960

@jack_XB: Please, Akumajo (make)..

@PG_kamiya: Since there are already many Dracula, I am not going to work...

No one says Kamiya has to be the one to do it. MGRR isn't done by Kamiya's team.

I wouldn't mind the MGRR's team did a new CV game. Fast pace stylish action and enemies that go down fast.... that's more my style than LoS's "heavy combo/enemies and barrels that just don't DIE" style. Toss in some more classic CV tunes(perhaps some metal remixes akin to Perfect Selection: Dracula Battle), and you got me, hook, line and sinker!

[Kingshango]

If they came come up with a boss like the last boss of MGR, then I'll welcome Platinumvanias with open arms.

[uzo]

I would have no gripes if Platinum took over Castlevania for a bit. They know how to make great action games.

[Harrycombs]

Hideki Kamiya said that there was no intention of being engaged in Akumajo Dracula.
https://twitter.com/PG_kamiya/status/297697108138536960

@jack_XB: Please, Akumajo (make)..

@PG_kamiya: Since there are already many Dracula, I am not going to work...

Saito directed Metal Gear Rising, and Bayonetta 2 is being directed by Yusuke Hashimoto. They have plenty of talent thats not Hideki Kamiya.

[Bergaron]

Konami isn't going to spend that amount of money on something that isn't Metal Gear related.

That's the point!, Konami has not spent much money on CV, has gone very cheap this trilogy. Do not understand how to bet instead of trying seriously by one of its top franchises, leaves the series with little expense and relegated to only the most followers (though with not managed to attract the megafans)

If there is something that has become clear is that to make a simple 2D game with little money, they will sell the same or more than trying to make a game technically sophisticated.
MS and Konami have provided some 400,000 copies of MoF to believe that it was worth (it is more or less what they were selling DS titles). If they sell that and not 2 million (for example) the message is clear .... do business as usual, which is 10 times cheaper and faster.

That's what I think will make Konami?, for exactly that, return to the traditional 2D games. Company?? no idea. To really make that kind of games can do it any company.
Regarding MS, I think if survive financially to LOS2, will not do a Contra or another saga .. make your own IP in order to be free and no one will be accused of anything.

Surely LOS ends with LOS2. I do not think Konami become a CV in a FF with constant reboots.... So opt for what they know, classic games for 3DS and Vita and ported to Xbox Live and PSN ..

[Ahasverus]

To be honest, probablty the reason why LoS is being made in Spain is because it's much much cheaper paying salaries there than Japan/America/UK. I think the LoS series make great profit for Konami too, remember Cox said LoS exceeded their expectations and it sold 2 milllions which is not too much by today's standards, I somehow have the feeling that MoF, for example, didin't cost as much to make as Order of Ecclesia.

[Bergaron]

To be honest, probablty the reason why LoS is being made in Spain is because it's much much cheaper paying salaries there than Japan/America/UK. I think the LoS series make great profit for Konami too, remember Cox said LoS exceeded their expectations and it sold 2 milllions which is not too much by today's standards, I somehow have the feeling that MoF, for example, didin't cost as much to make as Order of Ecclesia.

Let me tell you something, a friend went to a job interview last month, offered 750 euros / month and had to work many Saturdays (and with the option to a Sunday) because they were saturated. It is cheaper to do an A+ in Spain with 30 people than a classic 2D with 10 people in Japan. Sad but so is my country now ..

P.D. They mentioned something about knowledge of RPGs, it may be an attempt to new IP for PS4. Or to CV RPG XDDDDD

[KaZudra]

If they do, please, no more Preboots (psuedo Prequels made reboots)
Lords of Shadow did it right, but it was the ONLY one who did it right.
DmC is Just bad
Tomb Raider doesn't even desirve the name since it has 0% to do with the source material, its just Uncharted with a girl, a stupid pretty little white girl that is virtually useless.

[Ahasverus]

If they do, please, no more Preboots (psuedo Prequels made reboots)
Lords of Shadow did it right, but it was the ONLY one who did it right.
DmC is Just bad
Tomb Raider doesn't even desirve the name since it has 0% to do with the source material, its just Uncharted with a girl, a stupid pretty little white girl that is virtually useless.

Not starting an argument here, but I've played DmC and just started Tomb Raider, and they both are great games, they may feel simple bu tthat's because they lay the foundations. at the end of DmC you could feel the next game will be DMC3 caliber. Tomb Raiders begins badly but as you progress the game turns into something great, to be honest it's like the spiritual successor of Arkham Asylum we didin't get in Arkham City, and just as DmC, it seems it lays the foundation for a rebirth of what was before (I imagine Lara becomes Miss Kickass at the end, she's starting to change into that).
But yeah, the general consensus is that LoS is one of the few reboots done right.