Post by leunas on Sept 26, 2006 15:06:37 GMT -5
Castlevania interview talks Wii, 360, 2D, the Castlevania movie, and more.
With work nearly finished on the latest Castlevania game, Portrait of Ruin for the DS, series director Koji Igarashi and composer Michiru Yamane took some time to sit down with 1UP to discuss a bunch of topics pertaining to the Castlevania universe. Read on to get their comments on 2D games, Symphony of the Night on Xbox Live Arcade, the Nintendo Wii, the Castlevania movie, and much more.
1UP: This is a big year for Castlevania -- the 20th anniversary, right?
Igarasahi: Yeah. Earlier on, I didn't even realize that this was the 20th anniversary. But I did recognize this recently, so I decided to go back into the original concept of the Castlevania series, which is the whip, and I decided to focus on that in Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin.
1UP: It's obviously a big milestone for Castlevania, so are you starting to think about what the big next step is for the series? Such as, how do you reach new gamers with Castlevania?
Igarasahi: We want to carry on with the portable platforms, and of course, we are also targeting the next-gen platforms, including Xbox 360 and Wii. But currently, the market is slightly complicated, so we have to watch it to eventually make the final decision of where we're going to place our focus -- but we already have so many ideas for the next-gen consoles.
1UP: So you said you're going to kind of watch to see where each platform goes. So provided each one takes off and each one has its audience, you could definitely foresee having new Castlevanias on all three?
Igarasahi: It may not be on all three platforms. I am the one and only producer and I have limited resources, so I think I should choose. So from now on, I feel like I need to take some time and make the best choice.
1UP: Now, I know you've been asked this several times in the past, and you're going to hear it again, but you've said in the past that you've always wanted to do a new 2D Castlevania on the next generation consoles but haven't been able to. Who do I have to convince to make that happen? You've always said in the past that you've wanted to do it but you've run into roadblocks -- who would I have to convince to let you do it?
Igarasahi: Personally, I love 2D, so of course I would love to make a new 2D game on the next-gen consoles. But in the meantime, we have to make money. So it might be difficult to create a new 2D game on next-gen. We will try to make it happen, though.
1UP: I see what you mean. But, you're Mr. Castlevania -- you're the producer. If you believe strongly in doing a 2D version, and you think that's going to sell -- and all the Castlevania fans all over the world are going to buy it -- is anyone saying to you, no you can't?
Igarasahi: While there are many fans of 2D Castelvanias, that is true, we're tasked with expanding our userbase so that we can make more money. The Castlevania fans want 2D, this is true. But we need to expand our series to new people.
1UP: So it really is that you're just being responsible for Castlevania. As much as you would like to do it -- as much as people like me would love to see it -- you can't allow that to happen because that's not going to increase its awareness amongst gamers. It's just going to reach the same base of gamers, and you want more than that, and Castlevania deserves more than that.
Igarasahi: Basically, I would like to shepard this series as long as possible -- I don't want to be known as the one who killed the series. I really am afraid the series would die in the case that a 2D castlevania would fail. If that happened, I wouldn't be allowed to create any more new Castlevania games, and I'm deathtly afraid of that. But I do have some ideas on how to make everyone happy, so I hope you look forward to what's coming in the future.
1UP: Is that maybe part of the reason that Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is going to be available on Xbox Live Arcade? Is that to appease fans or people who have been begging for a 2D Castlevania on next-gen?
Igarasahi: Yes, I am always looking at every opportunity for the next-gen consoles. I just hope that Castlevania SOTN will be a good start on the next gen consoles.
1UP: So let's say if that does well on Xbox Live. Would that prove to you that such a game -- 2D -- could do well on a next gen console?
Igarasahi: Yes, that would be encouraging. I hope more people will enjoy the 2D Castlevania experience as a result of it.
1UP: When it was first announced that Castlevania SOTN would be available on Xbox Live Arcade, Konami was quick to point out that this doesn't prevent it from being available for download on other next-gen platforms. Do you intend to also offer SOTN for download on Nintendo or Sony's services?
Igarasahi: Currently, my team doesn't have any extra bandwidth for other projects, therefore the Live Arcade version is being handled by Konami U.S. We have not heard anything from them about targeting the Nintendo Wii or Sony PS3, though, so we shall see.
1UP: Well, it's just that they were quick to tell us that this doesn't limit it from appearing on the other platforms, so I'm assuming -- or at least hoping -- that it'll show up on the other ones as well.
Igarasahi: I am very happy with the download services from the next-gen platforms, so I would also like to provide other previous Castlevania games on these services.
1UP: Just out of curiousity, are you tired of hearing the whole 2D question?
Igarasahi: [laughs] I'm not tired -- I always welcome any opinion.
1UP: OK, well, I'm done asking. I think you know my opinion now.
Igarasahi: [laughs]
1UP: One thing I'm wondering about is, the Castlevania movie is being worked on by Paul Anderson. Has he been talking to you or working with you on it at all?
Igarasahi: There is no official Konami comment on this yet so I can't really say whether I've met with him yet or not. But I can say that the movie is coming along.
1UP: OK, but given the history of the terrible, terrible videogame movies -- I mean, Castlevania is your baby -- are you worried about seeing it just butchered on the big screen?
Igarasahi: The videogame is one thing and the movie is another. I can think of them seperately. I'm looking forward to seeing how the world of Castlevania will look on film -- and I am looking forward to seeing it from the fan's perspective.
1UP: Well, I've read one or two interviews that Paul Anderson has done and it seems like he has a deep appreciation for the Castlevania history and themes and what not. But one thing he's mentioned is that he really likes the Castlevania music, so I was wondering if he's approached you, Ms. Yamane, about doing the music in the movie.
Igarasahi: No, not yet. I haven't been approached by him, but of course I would love to do the music if I can.
1UP: I hope so. You know, one thing that's interesting to me, having checked out the new Metal Gear PSP game earlier today, is how that franchise seems to always appear on the PSP, whereas the Castlevania series seems to always stick to the Nintendo handhelds, the GBA and DS. So I'm wondering, do you see yourself doing any PSP Castlevanias in the future? I mean, Konami seems to support the system pretty well -- so I'm wondering if you're personally interested in doing a PSP game. And in the very least, would you want to bring Symphony of the Night to the PSP, given that Sony is eager to start offering PS1 games for download?
Igarasahi: I think the PSP is an interesting platform with a big and beautiful screen, so I would like to put my hands on a PSP version. As for offering SOTN, yes, I would love to provide it as a download if the users would want that.
1UP: How do you plan to find out whether the users would want that? I mean, I would want that, but maybe that's just me. How would you find out if the rest of the users would want the game on PSP?
Igarasahi: I often get a lot of mail from people asking if Symphony of the Night could be put on one of the current gen consoles, and I have many other channels of information, so I will be able to hear what the users are saying, trust me.
1UP: Can you just clarify your comments about developing for the PSP?
Igarasahi: Basically, I would like to move to a multiplatform basis, so PSP is included as one of my targeted platforms.
1UP: You know, another platform that people are wondering about is the Wii. When you think about it, there are a couple games that seem like they would make a lot of sense on that system. You know, such as Tennis -- there are a couple of games that just feel like they're perfect on the Wii. And I have to say, Castlevania seems like it would right up there -- what other game do you swing a whip around? I know you mentioned around E3 time that you weren't really sure about the Wii -- at the time you hadn't really checked it out. Now that you've seen a lot more of it and you've seen the buzz surrounding it, are you planning something for the Wii? Whether or not you actually release something for the system, are you at least thinking about concepts for it?
Igarasahi: 80 percent of the press ask me that question. [laughs]
1UP: So what do you tell them?
Igarasahi: Everyone can think about Castlevania on the Wii, and I of course have thought about it as well. But here's the thing. Users can swing the controller around for 5 minutes or so and have some fun, but I would rather people be deeply immersed in a Castlevania game and play for at least an hour at a time. So I wouldn't want to have people using the controller to swing the whip -- I would only want to use the swinging for special occasions in the game.
1UP: So no Castlevania WarioWare style mini-game collection for the Wii, huh?
Igarasahi: [laughs] OK, maybe I would do that.
www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3153842
With work nearly finished on the latest Castlevania game, Portrait of Ruin for the DS, series director Koji Igarashi and composer Michiru Yamane took some time to sit down with 1UP to discuss a bunch of topics pertaining to the Castlevania universe. Read on to get their comments on 2D games, Symphony of the Night on Xbox Live Arcade, the Nintendo Wii, the Castlevania movie, and much more.
1UP: This is a big year for Castlevania -- the 20th anniversary, right?
Igarasahi: Yeah. Earlier on, I didn't even realize that this was the 20th anniversary. But I did recognize this recently, so I decided to go back into the original concept of the Castlevania series, which is the whip, and I decided to focus on that in Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin.
1UP: It's obviously a big milestone for Castlevania, so are you starting to think about what the big next step is for the series? Such as, how do you reach new gamers with Castlevania?
Igarasahi: We want to carry on with the portable platforms, and of course, we are also targeting the next-gen platforms, including Xbox 360 and Wii. But currently, the market is slightly complicated, so we have to watch it to eventually make the final decision of where we're going to place our focus -- but we already have so many ideas for the next-gen consoles.
1UP: So you said you're going to kind of watch to see where each platform goes. So provided each one takes off and each one has its audience, you could definitely foresee having new Castlevanias on all three?
Igarasahi: It may not be on all three platforms. I am the one and only producer and I have limited resources, so I think I should choose. So from now on, I feel like I need to take some time and make the best choice.
1UP: Now, I know you've been asked this several times in the past, and you're going to hear it again, but you've said in the past that you've always wanted to do a new 2D Castlevania on the next generation consoles but haven't been able to. Who do I have to convince to make that happen? You've always said in the past that you've wanted to do it but you've run into roadblocks -- who would I have to convince to let you do it?
Igarasahi: Personally, I love 2D, so of course I would love to make a new 2D game on the next-gen consoles. But in the meantime, we have to make money. So it might be difficult to create a new 2D game on next-gen. We will try to make it happen, though.
1UP: I see what you mean. But, you're Mr. Castlevania -- you're the producer. If you believe strongly in doing a 2D version, and you think that's going to sell -- and all the Castlevania fans all over the world are going to buy it -- is anyone saying to you, no you can't?
Igarasahi: While there are many fans of 2D Castelvanias, that is true, we're tasked with expanding our userbase so that we can make more money. The Castlevania fans want 2D, this is true. But we need to expand our series to new people.
1UP: So it really is that you're just being responsible for Castlevania. As much as you would like to do it -- as much as people like me would love to see it -- you can't allow that to happen because that's not going to increase its awareness amongst gamers. It's just going to reach the same base of gamers, and you want more than that, and Castlevania deserves more than that.
Igarasahi: Basically, I would like to shepard this series as long as possible -- I don't want to be known as the one who killed the series. I really am afraid the series would die in the case that a 2D castlevania would fail. If that happened, I wouldn't be allowed to create any more new Castlevania games, and I'm deathtly afraid of that. But I do have some ideas on how to make everyone happy, so I hope you look forward to what's coming in the future.
1UP: Is that maybe part of the reason that Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is going to be available on Xbox Live Arcade? Is that to appease fans or people who have been begging for a 2D Castlevania on next-gen?
Igarasahi: Yes, I am always looking at every opportunity for the next-gen consoles. I just hope that Castlevania SOTN will be a good start on the next gen consoles.
1UP: So let's say if that does well on Xbox Live. Would that prove to you that such a game -- 2D -- could do well on a next gen console?
Igarasahi: Yes, that would be encouraging. I hope more people will enjoy the 2D Castlevania experience as a result of it.
1UP: When it was first announced that Castlevania SOTN would be available on Xbox Live Arcade, Konami was quick to point out that this doesn't prevent it from being available for download on other next-gen platforms. Do you intend to also offer SOTN for download on Nintendo or Sony's services?
Igarasahi: Currently, my team doesn't have any extra bandwidth for other projects, therefore the Live Arcade version is being handled by Konami U.S. We have not heard anything from them about targeting the Nintendo Wii or Sony PS3, though, so we shall see.
1UP: Well, it's just that they were quick to tell us that this doesn't limit it from appearing on the other platforms, so I'm assuming -- or at least hoping -- that it'll show up on the other ones as well.
Igarasahi: I am very happy with the download services from the next-gen platforms, so I would also like to provide other previous Castlevania games on these services.
1UP: Just out of curiousity, are you tired of hearing the whole 2D question?
Igarasahi: [laughs] I'm not tired -- I always welcome any opinion.
1UP: OK, well, I'm done asking. I think you know my opinion now.
Igarasahi: [laughs]
1UP: One thing I'm wondering about is, the Castlevania movie is being worked on by Paul Anderson. Has he been talking to you or working with you on it at all?
Igarasahi: There is no official Konami comment on this yet so I can't really say whether I've met with him yet or not. But I can say that the movie is coming along.
1UP: OK, but given the history of the terrible, terrible videogame movies -- I mean, Castlevania is your baby -- are you worried about seeing it just butchered on the big screen?
Igarasahi: The videogame is one thing and the movie is another. I can think of them seperately. I'm looking forward to seeing how the world of Castlevania will look on film -- and I am looking forward to seeing it from the fan's perspective.
1UP: Well, I've read one or two interviews that Paul Anderson has done and it seems like he has a deep appreciation for the Castlevania history and themes and what not. But one thing he's mentioned is that he really likes the Castlevania music, so I was wondering if he's approached you, Ms. Yamane, about doing the music in the movie.
Igarasahi: No, not yet. I haven't been approached by him, but of course I would love to do the music if I can.
1UP: I hope so. You know, one thing that's interesting to me, having checked out the new Metal Gear PSP game earlier today, is how that franchise seems to always appear on the PSP, whereas the Castlevania series seems to always stick to the Nintendo handhelds, the GBA and DS. So I'm wondering, do you see yourself doing any PSP Castlevanias in the future? I mean, Konami seems to support the system pretty well -- so I'm wondering if you're personally interested in doing a PSP game. And in the very least, would you want to bring Symphony of the Night to the PSP, given that Sony is eager to start offering PS1 games for download?
Igarasahi: I think the PSP is an interesting platform with a big and beautiful screen, so I would like to put my hands on a PSP version. As for offering SOTN, yes, I would love to provide it as a download if the users would want that.
1UP: How do you plan to find out whether the users would want that? I mean, I would want that, but maybe that's just me. How would you find out if the rest of the users would want the game on PSP?
Igarasahi: I often get a lot of mail from people asking if Symphony of the Night could be put on one of the current gen consoles, and I have many other channels of information, so I will be able to hear what the users are saying, trust me.
1UP: Can you just clarify your comments about developing for the PSP?
Igarasahi: Basically, I would like to move to a multiplatform basis, so PSP is included as one of my targeted platforms.
1UP: You know, another platform that people are wondering about is the Wii. When you think about it, there are a couple games that seem like they would make a lot of sense on that system. You know, such as Tennis -- there are a couple of games that just feel like they're perfect on the Wii. And I have to say, Castlevania seems like it would right up there -- what other game do you swing a whip around? I know you mentioned around E3 time that you weren't really sure about the Wii -- at the time you hadn't really checked it out. Now that you've seen a lot more of it and you've seen the buzz surrounding it, are you planning something for the Wii? Whether or not you actually release something for the system, are you at least thinking about concepts for it?
Igarasahi: 80 percent of the press ask me that question. [laughs]
1UP: So what do you tell them?
Igarasahi: Everyone can think about Castlevania on the Wii, and I of course have thought about it as well. But here's the thing. Users can swing the controller around for 5 minutes or so and have some fun, but I would rather people be deeply immersed in a Castlevania game and play for at least an hour at a time. So I wouldn't want to have people using the controller to swing the whip -- I would only want to use the swinging for special occasions in the game.
1UP: So no Castlevania WarioWare style mini-game collection for the Wii, huh?
Igarasahi: [laughs] OK, maybe I would do that.
www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3153842