Topic: How do we show Konami there's still a market for Castlevania?

[Lumi Kløvstad]

I was just remembering Operation Akumajo (and how it fizzled out without ever achieving anything of note). I think their goals were noble, but in the end Konami just wrote them off as angry fanbois trying to take control of a franchise.

Honestly? They kind of were.

But, that doesn't change the fact that Castlevania is dying, and at risk of just becoming a bunch of PachiSlut machines.

We need to convince Konami there's still a market for quality games.

Hence this thread.

Let's start putting out heads together, and figure out how to show Konami (at a dark time when they are more stubborn and antagonistic than ever before) that there's still money to be made at this.

I don't want to see Castlevania clock out for good with the last game having been Lawds 2.

That'd just be embarrassing guys.

[Super Waffle]

Show them some fanfics.

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Show them some fanfics.

Yours?

[Super Waffle]

Sure. Why not?

[Jazz Paladin Productions]

Well, for me personally, I'm making a 30th Anniversary Castlevania CD this year...I figure if fans can't get the games they want, they at least deserve the music...

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Well, for me personally, I'm making a 30th Anniversary Castlevania CD this year...I figure if fans can't get the games they want, they at least deserve the music...

That actually sounds real good.

I was also thinking that petitions are kind of pointless, but what about an open letter? Get it signed by as many people as we can, and fire it off direct to Konami's leadership.

[theplottwist]

We do something better than them. Then this something gets incredibly popular, and they try to jump on the bandwagon.

That's what IGA's doing with his Bloodstained. He pretty much stole Castlevania's fanbase in one fell swoop, and I'm almost 100% sure his game will be a total success. And I'm almost 100% sure that, if Bloodstained is a success, he'll be allowed a license to do a Castlevania if he asks for it.

The truth is that Konami doesn't seem to care anymore.

I just wish they'd lend the Dungeon a license to create a fangame (like Capcom did with the Street Fighter VS Megaman). If they're not doing it, at fucking least let us do it then.

[Lumi Kløvstad]

We do something better than them. Then this something gets incredibly popular, and they try to jump on the bandwagon.

That's what IGA's doing with his Bloodstained. He pretty much stole Castlevania's fanbase in one fell swoop, and I'm almost 100% sure his game will be a total success. And I'm almost 100% sure that, if Bloodstained is a success, he'll be allowed a license to do a Castlevania if he asks for it.

I've seen fans try to do that before, and Konami's response ended up being essentially "well, since you're so much better, obviously we don't have to do anything because you've clearly got it covered already."

Nothing about that company makes any logical sense, so whatever we come up with will have to take that into account.

[Jazz Paladin Productions]

I was also thinking that petitions are kind of pointless, but what about an open letter? Get it signed by as many people as we can, and fire it off direct to Konami's leadership.

Operation Akumajo tried that route...any guess as to what Konami' s (lack of) response was?

As self-defeating as it sounds, I think it is wasted energy to complain to Konami at this point in time. After all, if they didn't even care to hear out Hideo Kojima, why would they care about us little peons?  Quite frankly, that's what I feel we are to Konami at this junction.

[Lumi Kløvstad]

Operation Akumajo tried that route...any guess as to what Konami' s (lack of) response was?

They eventually DID respond, but I imagine if someone as irritating as Operation Akumajo (who successfully alienated the majority of the Castlevania fanbase as I recall) sent you an open letter, you'd ignore that shit too.

[Jazz Paladin Productions]

The biggest reality check for Konami has already been delivered through the IGA Kickstarter. If that doesn't deliver the message, nothing will.

[Jazz Paladin Productions]

Operation Akumajo...who successfully alienated the majority of the Castlevania fanbase as I recall

I think that Konami did just fine on their own alienating their fanbase, they really didn't need a lot of help.

This sort of thing is going on all over the place, though. I feel that Square Enix, Capcom, and quite a few others haven't really done a good job of listening, or recognizing what made their companies successful in the first place. Square Enix may be trying to save face with a supposed FF7 remake, for example, but the fact that the traditional JRPG battle system is being completely remade to something more "modern" seems to be directly analogous to Konami's abandonment of the 2D genre.

Maybe money has something to do with it. Maybe the financial reality truly IS that people won't buy the "old" stuff  enough to make it viable for a company (I doubt this is the case being that I bought a PS TV just for the Dracula X Chronicles and FF IV Complete),  but I also think poor marketing plays a hand for Konami. I mean, I loved Hard Corps: Uprising, but come on! Why were too dumb to include "Contra" in the title of the game? Sales might have been remarkably better had they done so and people were AWARE of it, enough that I think they could have concluded that the genre and style is NOT dead..

[zangetsu468]

Seriously I've contacted Konami on a couple of occasions receiving bull shit generic responses.
They used to make a point to state they don't take game design advice from fans.

Once I'd even contacted them to help their asses out because someone had infringed on one of their copyrights (Castlevania music being used where it shouldn't have been). They acknowledged this email properly, after about 10 days without even so much as a follow up email/ thank you.

They can seriously eat a

(click to show/hide)

fat, erect penis

for breakfast.
Obvious fuckwits are obvious. The fans are doing it much better. But seriously if you're going to starve your child at least give it to someone who cares, like Igasan.

[zangetsu468]

i think if Bloodstained is a big success that will be the best shot at showing Konami people want a new CV

Bloodstained is already financially a large success being one of the most highly funded KS ever. The fact this happened has shown everyone in this world, especially konami that oldschool Castlevania fans remain bloodthirsty for a new entry to the series - and willing to pay money for it.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is successful, Konami then turns around and tries to sue IGA for intellectual property.

[Lumi Kløvstad]

I wouldn't be surprised if it is successful, Konami then turns around and tries to sue IGA for intellectual property.

I'd almost be insulted if they didn't. They have an image as an oppressive North Korea-like state to maintain, after all.

Like I said, nothing they do makes any logical sense. The inmates are clearly running the asylum over there.

One thing I did do was buy the complete LOS saga over again during the Steam Winter Sale, firstly because I wanted to toy around with the PC versions but secondly to silently send a message that the Castlevania name still has some purchasing power with fans, even if they aren't my favorite games.

I mean, no company would do a damned thing without sales, so I gave them some.