Konami

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii | 5 Comments

A new interview from USgamer has extensive comments from Koji Igarashi about Bloodstained and the game’s recent Kickstarter. You can find that here.

In one section of the interview, Igarashi reflected on some of his previous titles. What he said about Castlevania Judgement seemed particularly interesting. Here’s what was shared about making the nontraditional Castlevania title for Wii:

So there are games, and then there’s succeeding and/or not succeeding. Video games are a tough business, and a lot of games don’t succeed. The smart man will try to learn from his mistakes.

When it comes to Castlevania Judgment, the one thing I learned was from the production side – how to make the best game I possibly can with a variety of different limitations: budgetary, time, etc., thrown on you. Obviously, that wasn’t the best game ever, but it was the best game that I think anyone could have made within those limitations. And the game did get out the door.

Source

More: Castlevania Judgment, interview, Koji Igarashi, Konami

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in DS, News | 1 Comment

Renegade Kid is known in the horror genre for Dementium: The Ward. Interestingly enough, that game was originally pitched as a potential Silent Hill title for DS.
On Twitter earlier today, Renegade Kid co-founder Jools Watsham said:

Our goal was always to release The Ward as an original game, but we were also open to the idea of turning it into a licensed horror game and approached Konami to see if they wanted to work together to mold it into a Silent Hill game for the Nintendo DS.
They were kind enough to meet with us, but the meeting only lasted a few minutes and ended with their [representative] saying they wouldn’t let a team like us handle the Silent Hill license.

That was Renegade Kid’s first pitch in 2007. The studio reached out to Konami again a few years later, with a new pitch based on the Dementium II engine. Sadly, Konami still wasn’t open to the idea.
“Konami’s response that time wasn’t dismissive like the first time,” Watsham mentioned to IGN. “They simply didn’t want to venture into the DS space with a horror title at that time.”
Source

More: indie, Konami, Renegade Kid, top

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments

It was recently revealed that Akari Uchida and Mino Taro have left Konami. Both staffers played a significant role in the creation of the LovePlus and Tokimeki Memorial titles.

Konami followed up with an official notice today, and said that the LovePlus series will continue despite the departure of Uchida and Taro. The full message reads:

Thank you for your continued interest in our product line.

Given the resignations of Akari Uchida and Mino Taro as staff members who were formerly in charge of production on the Love Plus and Tokimeki Memorial franchises, we are aware of everyone’s concerns about the future of both franchises.

Love Plus and Tokimeki Memorial are both series of games that are deeply important to us and have earned your love and adoration for many years and as such, production of them will continue unabated and it is our sincere hope that you will likewise maintain your enduring support moving forward.

If there are still any remaining points that you wish to see clarified, you may reach us at our customer service line.

Via

More: Konami, loveplus

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments

Two primary staffers from the LovePlus series have announced their resignation from the company. Senior producer Akari Uchida as well as character designer Mino Taro have moved on.

Uchida said of his departure:

“I still don’t know yet, but I’d like to keep up the pace and continue doing what I can do. …it was when a fan told me ‘thank you!’ while clenching my hand in tears. In the end, it was the my best decision after thinking about what I can do for such fans from this point on.”

“Now that I have all the time to think about the unlimited things I can do, [the thoughts] of hopes and uncertainty has me jumping up and down like a child. I’d like to have an opportunity to be able to make something together with you all, so when that time comes, please lend me your strength. Let’s cause a commotion together, again!”

Mino Taro also said:

“I have nothing but the deepest feelings for the titles I’ve worked on. In the midst of working in rough conditions as a video game creator, there was a lot I thought about, but I’ve come to my decision after thinking about the last opportunity of being able to do things I wasn’t able to with Konami.”

Since “Mino Taro” was part of Konami, he intends to work under the new freelancer pen name “Minoboshi Taro” to signify the new start.

Source

More: Akari Uchida, Konami, loveplus, Mino Taro

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U eShop | 0 comments

More: Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Europe, Konami, Virtual Console

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U eShop | 3 Comments

More: Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Konami, Virtual Console

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U eShop | 0 comments

More: Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Konami, Virtual Console

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii | 3 Comments

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories was originally a very different game. Konami was initially pitched “Silent Hill: Cold Heart” by developer Climax Studios.

Cold Heart did retain some elements from Shattered Memories such as themes of ice and cold. However, mostly everything else was changed. Combat, for instance – something absent from Shattered Memories – was planned for Cold Heart. The game also wasn’t originally intended to be a reimagining of the first Silent Hill.

Check out the gallery below for a look at Climax’s 14-page pitch to Konami.

Source, Via

More: Climax Studios, Konami, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 0 comments

Konami producer Tak Fujii has left Konami. In terms of his work on Nintendo titles, he most recently helped develop Frogger 3D.

Fujii announced his departure on Twitter, writing:

Fujii may best be remembered for his presentation at Konami’s E3 2010 conference. You can catch that below if you never saw it. It’s definitely worth a watch!

More: Konami, Tak Fujii

Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Wii U eShop | 0 comments

The Virtual Console ratings just keep on rolling in. First up is Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX, which has been rated in Australia and should be coming to Wii U as a Virtual Console download. Donkey Kong Land has also been rated by the ESRB in North America – look out for that one on 3DS soon.

Source 1, Source 2

More: Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX, Konami, Virtual Console