Topic: Will the old timeline be used again ?

[Ratty]

I mean, if you go with the idea that any sufficiently advanced form of technology looks like magic, then technically a lot of the magic could theoretically exist.

Time travel, on the other hand, straight up couldn't.

I also want to make it known that I think time travel is a stupid plot device myself.

According to our current understanding of the universe, but this might change at some point. It wouldn't be the first time something that had seemed scientifically impossible turned out to be doable. Personally I think time travel can be a good plot device in the right hands, but most of the time you see it it's being abused by lazy writers. Besides, we've already seen time travel in the series via the castle's anachronistic tendencies as a "creature of chaos".

You must lead a sheltered and dull life. 

I have never in my life heard anyone say "Well, I know it's magic, but how does it technically work in the scientific sense?" 

And if they did say that, I would tel them "It works by being magic.  Abracadabra, presto-change-o, and Bibbidy bobbedy boo, it works."

I believe the vernacular expression is "It's magic, I ain't gotta explain shit."

[Lelygax]

@e105beta: Yeah, I totally missed your point, now I understand what you meant. But even so, its exactly because its not explained that it is magic.

The principle of magic is: I did it, I doesnt need to explain how, its magic. You dont believe it? So try to deny it if you can.

Since normal logic doesnt apply for Castlevania and magic exist in this world, you cant deny it. They can even make transform the moon into a giant coconut if they want.

[Flame]

But here's my point: a game, by definition, needs a plot to drive it forward

Pacman was renown for it's deep intricate plot.

also, GAME

Dunno man, I'm not seeing "plot" anywhere in the definition of "Game".

You are thinking "Movie" or "Novel". "Game" can and often does, work independently of plot.

[Belmontoya]

I still hate time travel... 

[NocturnalMango]

 I think that we're going to be stuck with reboots and new timelines. I'm doubtful that Konami will want to return to the "Real" timeline after Lord of Shadows 2. I don't think that Konami wants to be bogged down by continuity. Game companies care more about money then about their fans.

[DarkPrinceAlucard]

first time I have seen someone try to apply some scientific reasoning to magic of all things........


Anyway regarding the topic at hand, I think there is a chance that they will go back to the old canon, but only briefly to let IGA finish it out with the 1999 game.

[Belmontoya]

I think that we're going to be stuck with reboots and new timelines. I'm doubtful that Konami will want to return to the "Real" timeline after Lord of Shadows 2. I don't think that Konami wants to be bogged down by continuity. Game companies care more about money then about their fans.

"Real" timeline? I think you mean IGA's timeline.

[e105beta]

You must lead a sheltered and dull life. 

You're right. I live in Stepford and have never set foot into the real world.

According to our current understanding of the universe, but this might change at some point. It wouldn't be the first time something that had seemed scientifically impossible turned out to be doable. Personally I think time travel can be a good plot device in the right hands, but most of the time you see it it's being abused by lazy writers. Besides, we've already seen time travel in the series via the castle's anachronistic tendencies as a "creature of chaos".

It maybe might change someday, but due to the 1st law of thermodynamics and the cause-and-effect paradox, I would bet all the money I'll ever make that reverse time travel will never happen. The only way you could theoretically do it is to go "outside" time which would require leaving the universe which clearly has it's own issues. But I'm not really here to discuss the possibility of time travel...

The only example I've really ever seen of time travel done well is Back to the Future, mostly because...well...no, it had its issues, it's just the movie was well written regardless. In most shows that have time-travel, the time-traveling tends to be the "jump the shark" moment.

I feel like any type of time travel in Castlevania would ultimately end up being used to explain alternate timelines, or artificially extend the timeline, which IMO, is a textbook example of bad time travel. Just use the multiverse if you're going to do that.

@e105beta: Yeah, I totally missed your point, now I understand what you meant. But even so, its exactly because its not explained that it is magic.

The principle of magic is: I did it, I doesnt need to explain how, its magic. You dont believe it? So try to deny it if you can.

Since normal logic doesnt apply for Castlevania and magic exist in this world, you cant deny it. They can even make transform the moon into a giant coconut if they want.

I find that attitude tends to lead to huge plot holes. Sure, you don't have to explain it, but acting like readers/gamers/moviegoers just accept how things are because "hey magic" definitely isn't the case.

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But on topic, I hope they make a 1999 game, and I'm sure if they do IGA will be heading it, but I don't think the old timeline is going to go back to being the "main" timeline of the series.

I'd be up for Castlevania to become a series of stints, where different developers come in and make trilogies and short series of games, but I'm not sure if I'd like for Castlevania to go the Final Fantasy route, where every game is a completely unique universe.

[Lelygax]

@nagumo

I would be very surprised if Konami brought IGA back after how much better sales of the current Castlevania games have been in contrast to IGA's latest efforts.

They are in the business to make money.

I think a new developer is almost a sure thing. We've already heard rumors about this. I also think a new timeline is likely. Or perhaps a game that isn't as focused on that, like Cv4.

Well, its only natural. Cox is a talented guy, but its not only his talent that brought all this attention to LoS. We must remember that if you involve Hideo Kojima in something a great amount of people will buy it, also they have a much higher budget than IGA to spend in their projects.

IGA is known for trying to do things in his projects as cheap as possible, but I imagine that if Konami have tried to spend more money in Castlevania games at this time he could have archieved best results. To me he acted like these poor people that tries to survive as they can, creating new techniques that no one ever thought about because they never needed.

Wants a example? When I was a kid and my dad lost his job, we needed to do some "tricks". Since I was a kid I didnt understand our situation very well, but I remember that I wanted to drink Chocolate Milk, my mother went to prepare it as usual only to discover that we didnt had chocolate powder and didnt had money to spend in a market until some days after.

Now what to do in this situation? Let your son notice your actual situation? No! She found some chocolate bars, grated it and so we had chocolate powder again. This can sound simplistic and stupid for some of you, but if someday you need to do that, you will know how it feels.

[Belmontoya]

You know that there might be a reason that his games were never given a higher budget.

[Lelygax]

You know that there might be a reason that his games were never given a higher budget.

Example please?

[Flame]

Perhaps they just weren't selling as well, so they kept giving him smaller budgets. I mean, his first actually new game after the CV1 remake Chronicles, what did he do? Copypaste wholesale from SoTN. SoTN can get away with using Rondo assets. It's a direct sequel to Rondo. every game after though? Eh. HoD had strange choices and results, which probably did not act favorably as far as impressions go.

That includes Juste's design.

[Shiroi Koumori]

Sales are all that matters.
I think HoD resulted the way it is due to the complaints of bad backlighting of the GBA. But with the improved versions of the GBA, the uber colorful aspects of HoD is exposed.

I am one of the few who likes Juste's design.

Anyway, back on topic, the 1999 game can also explain why it is only then that the whip is back in the hands of the Belmonts. If they are after a 2 in one story that more or less answers our 2 big questions: what happened in 1999 and why the Belmonts can't use the whip before.

[Bergaron]

Well, its only natural. Cox is a talented guy, but its not only his talent that brought all this attention to LoS. We must remember that if you involve Hideo Kojima in something a great amount of people will buy it, also they have a much higher budget than IGA to spend in their projects.

IGA is known for trying to do things in his projects as cheap as possible, but I imagine that if Konami have tried to spend more money in Castlevania games at this time he could have archieved best results. To me he acted like these poor people that tries to survive as they can, creating new techniques that no one ever thought about because they never needed.

Wants a example? When I was a kid and my dad lost his job, we needed to do some "tricks". Since I was a kid I didnt understand our situation very well, but I remember that I wanted to drink Chocolate Milk, my mother went to prepare it as usual only to discover that we didnt had chocolate powder and didnt had money to spend in a market until some days after.

Now what to do in this situation? Let your son notice your actual situation? No! She found some chocolate bars, grated it and so we had chocolate powder again. This can sound simplistic and stupid for some of you, but if someday you need to do that, you will know how it feels.

You approach a lot, following your example, now have much chocolate (sorry for PES is not working as wanted) but the rest are doing very well. The future of the old castlevania is guaranteed because of the portable consoles and mobiles (another thing is the history that use it). But the final decision in the games A+++ depends on who will be the replacement for Dave Cox.

Years ago Konami would put aside the Dave Cox for the poor performance of the franchise, decided to go to desperate for something different, they looked to Western audiences (the generic) to increase sales, regardless of anything else.

Cox saved the situation but now he wants to leave for pride, although there is nothing that more power and more money to fix. If Cox leaves the franchise eventually will have to choose a new producer, there's the future of the series. If the new producer is Japanese or Western. If a Japanese is likely to return IGA, LOS in Japan is not well understood (not surprisingly), if is a Westerner producer no will be surprises, continue with actual work, anyone who is new to his position don´t risk.

The only thing certain is that Konami now has money and wants to invest in the franchise. but want to return to risk?

Off-Topic:
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Playing now Torchlight 2, fuck, I'd like these improvements in future 2D Castlevania:

- Many more items and Statistics (more RPG feeling like SOTN)
- But that maps the castle etc. .. are generated randomly (as in the Action-RPG). All the map and enemies are rebuilt to return to the game but are kept saved points.
- Include dropping random items (minus the essential elements to continue the story)
- Find deputy groups around the map with superior dropero random skills.
- Include items of raw materials (such as leather, metal, jewelry) to have a crafting and improve your equipacion.
- Ability to hire or having peers with different abilities.

If you add all that style of play, music and castlevia 2D graphics have a great game (many items are already included in SOTN slightly).

Writing these lines I remembered a game from my childhood. "Magic Sword" 1990 Capcom - SNES.

http://capcom.wikia.com/wiki/Magic_Sword

Classic Game Room - MAGIC SWORD review

[The Silverlord]

Writing these lines I remembered a game from my childhood. "Magic Sword" 1990 Capcom - SNES.

Magic Sword was (and still is) magnificent.  Truly a game that every Castlevania fan should try and play if they haven't already.  Collision detection is harsh at times, but replay value is immense due to a lot of the random drops, variety, and shortness of each level.  I never did play 2-player co-op mode . . . SNES version didn't have it