Author Topic: According to IGA, the true Castlevania fanbase is on the PSP (Read 14560 times)

nitsu niflheim · « **Reply #25 on:** June 07, 2007, 02:44:37 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Spak-Spang
When will developers stop being prejudice and downright STUPID towards Nintendo. It is like developers, media, and gamers don't want to give Nintendo a break and are pushing this younger demographic upon them like a plague...when in reality that is only one part of Nintendo's audience and market strategy...and the truth is you are beginning to see both Microsoft and Sony wishing they can get an opening into that market share as well.

When the PS3 fails completely and the Xbox 360 continues to languish they will be forced to look towards Nintendo for salvation. Right now the world is focused on Wii and DS. Continue to ignore that and they will suffer. You think the game of catch up developers are going through after Wii proved to be a force of nature is hard on them, just image what will happen when developers are forced to accept Nintendo or fade away completely.

PS3 and Xbox 360 have not expanded the consumer base, hell the Xbox 360 hasn't expanded on the original Xbox. The PSP has failed to prove it is relevant in a Nintendo DS world.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #26 on:** June 07, 2007, 04:23:09 AM »

I think it's already apparent that the anime designs are cheaper, PoR had several portraits for each character and used them to express a character's feelings while e.g. Aria of Sorrow had only one portrait for each character (if you count Dracula separately) that had the same generic expression whether the character was happy, dead or about to turn into a huge monster. While Kojima has her own style her individual characters lack distinction, you can barely tell e.g. Juste Belmont and Alucard apart from each other. Or the PS2 covers. Those characters have more in common than they differ in, even down to the same apathic expression on their faces. I'm not sure anime is the way to go but I'm sure I'd rather have someone who has more than a personal style to offer in charge of those portraits.

nitsu niflheim · « **Reply #27 on:** June 07, 2007, 04:32:08 AM »

I personally prefer the anime design of the two DS games because Konami says I shouldn't. I like them in spite of them, and find the the other artwork soulless and trite. =D

Adrock · « **Reply #28 on:** June 07, 2007, 07:57:21 AM »

Although DS is currently raping PSP, I can see how one would think that PSP has a larger audience of older gamers. Numbers and percentages yield different results. Younger gamers and non-gamers make up a good chunk of the DS user base, skewing the percentage. At originally $250, I imagine many parents said "F*ck that" to PSP. In terms of numbers, I wouldn't be surprised if DS and PSP had about the same number of older gamers (though I'm inclined to give DS the edge). So while I don't agree that PSP has more older gamers than DS, I can see how Konami could come to that conclusion.

In any case... Damn, you Nintendo fans are hard to please!

As a Castlevania fan and a DS owner, I wish this was on DS too. However, between GBA and DS, Konami released, count it, FOUR original Castlevania games. I wouldn't be surprised if Konami announced something new at E3 in July. PSP, on the other hand, is getting a remake of a 14 year old game. The ports of the original Rondo of Blood and (a newly translated and voiced) Symphony of the Night are quite attractive, but they're bonuses. It's a great bonus though the same package wouldn't fit onto a DS card.

PSP has carved a decent portion of the market. Sony has done fairly well considering how drastically every other company has failed against Nintendo. I think people take too much credit away from these companies. PSP may not be as huge as DS, but I think there's still an audience for these games or these publishers wouldn't bother. And really, DS is still getting major support from all sides.

On a semi-related note, I think another DS Castlevania is inevitable and a Wii game will likely be made too.

vudu · « **Reply #29 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:07:11 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Adrock
However, between GBA and DS, Konami released, count it, FOUR original Castlevania games.

Actually, it was five.

Circle of the Moon (2001)
Harmony of Dissonance (2002)
Aria of Sorrow (2003)
Dawn of Sorrow (2005)
Portrait of Ruin (2006)

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #30 on:** June 07, 2007, 08:29:21 AM »

owned so bad.

~~~~~

PSP game sales are having difficulty supporting the idea that the older gamers are buying games and/or gaming at all.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #31 on:** June 07, 2007, 09:36:38 AM »

I don't think most of the Nintendo fans are upset with a Castlevania game going to PSP. I know I am not upset with the game.

I think the game looks really cool, and I know a friend who is really going to enjoy the experience.

What we are frustrated with is Iga's comments about the DS user base and Castlevania fans. It shows ignorance and is absolutely unacceptable and unprofessional. Iga is a royal dick who has constantly put his foot in his mouth and has bad mouthed Nintendo every chance he gets.

What is worse is that he has no proof of the claims he makes. He is just assuming that because of the cost, types of games on the PSP, and the audience Sony advertises for that the PSP has an older market demographic and will reach more potential buyers.

I think this is bullcrap. I think the PSP may have a higher percentage of older gamers within their user base...But it is not 70%+ older gamers. The PSP still appeals to all ages and even demographics that don't play games period, and just using it as a mass media device.

The point is. Even if the DS's userbase is only 50% older gamers (which I think is low) it would still have a higher potential user base for Castlevania than the PSP because of the number of units sold.

Another fact Iga ignores is kids from 10+ love to be scared and play/read scary entertainment and monsters. So Castlevania may have a much broader market than he realizes.

But again, all this contraverse would have been avoided if we would have just made a better public statement. Something like:

"I am pleased to introduce Castlevania on a new portable device and opening up the franchise to a new gamers that may not have experienced it on the DS."

Adrock · « **Reply #32 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:06:27 AM »

Quote
vudu wrote:
Actually, it was five.

Circle of the Moon isn't canon. In any case, I meant IGA's team. Please accept my sincerest apologies........

Quote
Spak-Spang wrote:
What we are frustrated with is Iga's comments about the DS user base and Castlevania fans. It shows ignorance and is absolutely unacceptable and unprofessional. Iga is a royal dick who has constantly put his foot in his mouth and has bad mouthed Nintendo every chance he gets.

I think the real problem here is that when someone says something even mildly anti-Nintendo, every Nintendo fan flies off the handle. Despite what IGA says, Nintendo still got quality original titles. But that's not good enough, is it? He has to stroke some Nintendo cock too. You're getting frustrated over PR. Do you really take developer interviews to heart? If so, shouldn't you be super-pissed at Miyamoto because you're not playing Super Mario Galaxy right now? He f*cking lied to us, the slippery bastard.

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #33 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:09:23 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Adrock
Quote
vudu wrote:
Actually, it was five.

Circle of the Moon isn't canon. In any case, I meant IGA's team. Please accept my sincerest apologies........

Quote
Spak-Spang wrote:
What we are frustrated with is Iga's comments about the DS user base and Castlevania fans. It shows ignorance and is absolutely unacceptable and unprofessional. Iga is a royal dick who has constantly put his foot in his mouth and has bad mouthed Nintendo every chance he gets.

I think the real problem here is that when someone says something even mildly anti-Nintendo, every Nintendo fan flies off the handle. Despite what IGA says, Nintendo still got quality original titles. But that's not good enough, is it? He has to stroke some Nintendo cock too. You're getting frustrated over PR. Do you really take developer interviews to heart? If so, shouldn't you be super-pissed at Miyamoto because you're not playing Super Mario Galaxy right now? He f*cking lied to us, the slippery bastard.

I think Adrock is trying to be cool by being a so called "anti-fanboi" machine but in turn becomes a fanboi of the opposite side.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #34 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:29:13 AM »

He's finding his niche.

[REGGIE] "I guess when you’re not doing well you have to grasp at something."

Kairon · « **Reply #35 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:33:53 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix
I think Adrock is trying to be cool by being a so called "anti-fanboi" machine but in turn becomes a fanboi of the opposite side.

HEY!!! THAT'S MY JOB!!!!

HALO IS INNOVATIVE
GEARS OF WAR IS VERY COOL
GTA WAS GROUNDBREAKING

*huff...puff*

DON'T BUY NINTENDO FIRST PARTY TITLES UNTIL A YEAR AFTER RELEASE!!!

Adrock · « **Reply #36 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:39:04 AM »

Yes, I'm trying to be cool... on an internet Nintendo message board. Are you kidding me?

I'm all for fairness. I'm simply saying that Nintendo should be held up to the same standards as everyone else. And the truth is, despite all this complaining, Konami released some great, original Castlevania titles on Nintendo hardware. Everyone forgets that and focuses on PR from an interview. That's ridiculous. If GBA/DS received no Castlevania titles and IGA said all that, I would see a reason for all this. But that's not the case at all.

Kairon · « **Reply #37 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:42:34 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Adrock
Yes, I'm trying to be cool... on an internet Nintendo message board. Are you kidding me?

I'm all for fairness. I'm simply saying that Nintendo should be held up to the same standards as everyone else. And the truth is, despite all this complaining, Konami released some great, original Castlevania titles on Nintendo hardware. Everyone forgets that and focuses on PR from an interview. That's ridiculous. If GBA/DS received no Castlevania titles and IGA said all that, I would see a reason for all this. But that's not the case at all.

Hmmm... guys, the man's got a point. Why are we complaining about these statements when they're not yet backed up by actions?

... oh wait, I think a lot of people are extrapolating this to meaning that Konami doesn't believe that Castlevania should be on the Wii. Now THAT is a thing for a Nintendo fan to complain about though, isn't it?

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #38 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:45:19 AM »

Personally I don't care about the CV series, it can be trashed and I would not care. In regards to holding Nintendo to the standard of other companies, there are few companies that actually compare to Nintendo in quality and innovation, so you can't really hold them to the same standard when it comes to gaming. Comparing SMG to Halo 3 is perhaps the lamest comparison around when you are dealing with freshness.

UltimatePartyBear · « **Reply #39 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:53:54 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Adrock
Yes, I'm trying to be cool... on an internet Nintendo message board. Are you kidding me?

I'm all for fairness. I'm simply saying that Nintendo should be held up to the same standards as everyone else. And the truth is, despite all this complaining, Konami released some great, original Castlevania titles on Nintendo hardware. Everyone forgets that and focuses on PR from an interview. That's ridiculous. If GBA/DS received no Castlevania titles and IGA said all that, I would see a reason for all this. But that's not the case at all.

That's not even remotely what people are upset about. He's implying that we might not get any more Castlevania games. We're not the right audience for them, after all.

Besides that, his statements are demonstrably boneheaded, and there's nothing wrong with pointing that out and laughing at him.

Adrock · « **Reply #40 on:** June 07, 2007, 10:58:22 AM »

IGA said he wasn't sure about Castlevania on Wii because people might get tired. I'll buy that for now though there are a number of things I don't agree with. For example, the game doesn't have to use the Wii remote (and even if it does, there's Twilight Princess), nor does it even need to be 3D. I would prefer a 2D Castlevania that put Symphony of the Night to shame.

If Nintendo continues its dominance with Wii and Konami/IGA announces Castlevania on PS3/360, I'd light the torches with the rest of you guys. At that point, I would concede that something was amiss. Nintendo has come a long way in terms of 3rd party relations (thanks in large part to Satoru Iwata) and Wii is great hardware.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #41 on:** June 07, 2007, 11:02:02 AM »

Wow. I am not a fanboy.

As I said, I am really excited about Castlevania on the PSP. I am quite jealous of the Xbox 360 with several of its games...and I am sure eventually I will be jealous about the PS3.

Believe it or not, this isn't about saying negative things about Nintendo or not. I have said several negative things about Nintendo, and I am frustrated by them at times.

What this IS about is a game designer that people actually do respect and listen to his opinion spill out false garbage about not just the DS but Nintendo in general...and is continuing a propaganda that has hurt Nintendo's sales and image in the industry and has kept developers from putting more mature titles on Nintendo systems.

You know I would have been fine if Iga said that he had a specific vision for the lastest Castlevania that could only be achieved with the power of PSP. Or if he noted that he felt the PSP audience would appreciate a Castlevania game.

There are several ways hyping the game and saying the something similar without being a jerk.

And he doesn't get a pass on this because its his first time. He has numerously shown negative opinions of Nintendo and the Wii.

His most obnoxious comment was that he could see how a Castlevania game would work on the Wii...that his games are too epic and the system wouldn't work would make gamers tired.

After he made that statement we all debated and discussed controls for a Castlevania game...and we all had great ideas. We are amateur fans and we could come up with the game design neccessary and he failed to have the imagination to create.

And I stand by that those comments are unprofessional. It is unprofessional to hype your game by neglecting or tearing down another audience...that just happens to also support your games. It is unprofessional to favor one artist over all your others, belittle the work of your peers making games for you. It is unprofessional to assume that your games only sold to a younger market because it was on a DS...when there is no statistical data you could have to back up those claims.

*sigh* But you are right...I am just an upset Nintendo Fanboy...that would defend his arguments if it was against the PSP. (No wait, I have written defensively about the PS3 and the Xbox 360 on these boards.)

Adrock · « **Reply #42 on:** June 07, 2007, 11:21:04 AM »

To be completely fair, I didn't call you a fanboy. And I wasn't pointing the finger squarely on you.

I get what you're saying. It's just that if IGA was so anti-Nintendo, I don't think either DS Castlevania titles would even be on DS. I also don't think this interview or any other jeopardizes the series on Nintendo hardware. These game designers say sh*t all the time. I brought up Miyamoto earlier. I'm not bitter that I'm not playing Galaxy 6 months after launch. I don't think these interviews should be taken so seriously. The only thing they're careful about is not talking about what they're told not to talk about. Everything else is like 50/50 in truthiness.

GoldenPhoenix · « **Reply #43 on:** June 07, 2007, 01:02:22 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Adrock
To be completely fair, I didn't call you a fanboy. And I wasn't pointing the finger squarely on you.

I get what you're saying. It's just that if IGA was so anti-Nintendo, I don't think either DS Castlevania titles would even be on DS. I also don't think this interview or any other jeopardizes the series on Nintendo hardware. These game designers say sh*t all the time. I brought up Miyamoto earlier. I'm not bitter that I'm not playing Galaxy 6 months after launch. I don't think these interviews should be taken so seriously. The only thing they're careful about is not talking about what they're told not to talk about. Everything else is like 50/50 in truthiness.

I do agree with you in regards to this comment, it could easily be PR speak. Konami is obviously trying to put make money off the PSP which is struggling, so it could easily be a PR move to try and stir up the "Hardcore" who own PSP or are thinking of getting on.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #44 on:** June 07, 2007, 03:24:41 PM »

Adrock: I guess since you were quoting me alot I decided to make it directed at me.

I do understand not taking things so seriously, and usually that is my motto, and I hate complainers (and I know I am complaining so I must hate myself.)

I am just tired of the years and years of Nintendo isn't mature talk. It is tiring and despite whatever Nintendo does to change that image nothing works.

Adrock · « **Reply #45 on:** June 07, 2007, 06:41:16 PM »

In the console space, Nintendo hasn't done too much to change its image until recently. Manhunt 2 is an (extreme) example of Nintendo actively pursuing 3rd parties who create other kinds of games. This is Nintendo really, really trying to be the "and" company they strive for. They've always said it, but never really made an effort in the past. They kind of just half-assed it before. It didn't work and I kind of feel like 3rd parties are still used to the Nintendo that sat back and expected publishers to come to them or settled for just Resident Evil. It'll take a while for the stigma to go away, but Nintendo has to just keep working at it. I feel like Nintendo is taking this task seriously and from what I've seen, at least, it's beginning to pay off.

In the handheld space, I don't think Nintendo has really tried to alter its image too much. The Lite design is a nice middle ground. It's simplicity alienates no one whereas the original purple GBA did. I think handheld gaming is very much tied to playground culture. Their handhelds will have an older audience, but it'll focus primarily younger gamers, percentage wise. And I think that's still ok. If the ratio of games for certain audiences matches the user base, I think that's something everyone can live with.

TrueNerd · « **Reply #46 on:** June 07, 2007, 06:42:20 PM »

While these comments irritate me, they will do little to prevent me from purchasing the game the day it comes out.

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #47 on:** June 08, 2007, 02:38:37 AM »

I dunno the Gamecube had:

Resident Evil Series (With two new games, and one awesome remake.)
Metal Gear Solid: Twin Snakes
Eternal Darkness
Killer 7
Mortal Kombat Series
Prince of Persia Series
Geist

Then not Mature games but still games geared toward older gamers:

EA Sports games
Racing games

I know it did not have the same amount of game content as the other systems, but I believe part of that is 3rd party self fullfilled problems. Once 3rd parties decided to not to attempt to create a mature game on the Gamecube and definitely when they decided not to advertise it of course sales were bad. Then they just stopped trying. I want to avoid that happening again.

couchmonkey · « **Reply #48 on:** June 08, 2007, 06:11:23 AM »

I don't think Iga has a problem with Nintendo, I think he just honestly buys into the idea that Nintendo is for kids. I have no idea why, but I'm not worried because I think the sales for the PSP Castlevania will prove his intuition wrong.

Galford · « **Reply #49 on:** June 08, 2007, 07:35:46 AM »

I really hate to defend IGA, but I think there's some "Lost in Translation" in that interview.

I assume many people here know that Castlevania in Japan is basically tanking.
From just about every Castlevania(CV) since Circle of the Moon, the CV series has sold about
5x better in the west then compared to Japan.

When IGA took the series over he made a switch to an anime art style to help boost it's appeal to younger gamers in Japan.
Remember he didn't take over the series until Harmony of Dissonance. I guess the GBA in Japan was still considered a toy skewed at younger kids.
It wasn't until the DS that Nintendo started the "blue-ocean"/casual gamer strategy.
When Harmony through Portrait failed to gain much traction in Japan IGA switched gears.

If you look at Rondo screenshots it has a more of western art stytle with a very old-school CV appeal to it.
In the west if SOTN was your first CV, you most likely never heard of Rondo unless you were a older hardcore gamer.
I guess Kojima is doing the artwork for Rondo, but it looks much different then her GBA/DS work.

Granted these facts don't let IGA off the hook for his comments about Nintendo.
He kinda reminds me a of milder David Jaffe.

I need take a shower in bleach. Defending IGA is dirty business...

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Author Topic: According to IGA, the true Castlevania fanbase is on the PSP (Read 14560 times)