Support NeoGAF

[Nirolak]

Polygon put up an interview with Iga about his future plans.

There's more at the link about his forays into social game development and the shift within Japanese publishers toward social-mobile and the genesis of his decision to leave.

Here are some highlights.

Igarashi's plans for the future are still unclear. After all, he pointed out, he just left Konami a few days ago. At GDC this week, Igarashi says he's talking to video game publishers and potential partners about a new game concept to see if they "feel it's a good fit."

He hasn't come to a conclusion about financing his next move via crowdfunding, he said. He's better at making games than making money. He wants to find the easiest solution that will enable him to make games again.

When asked to expand on his future game plans, Igarashi said, "If you just look at my strengths, most likely it will be an action game. Of course, fans would like a 2D exploration sort of game, a Metroidvania-type game. That's definitely something i'm interested in to make them happy.

"But, probably much to fans' chagrin, I'm frustrated that I have been unable to make a really good 3D game as well. That's something I want to eventually truly conquer, because it has continually defeated me."

"[Castlevania artist] Kojima-san and [Castlevania composer] Michiru-san are both amazing creators and it's fantastic to work with them," he said. "I'd love to work with them all the time, if I could. That's definitely something I am thinking about, but naturally there's lots of talent I've worked with in the past and I'm planning to see if we could collaborate in the future."

He'll likely focus on console games at his new studio, as that's where much of his fan base resides. But he doesn't want to exclude other platforms, like PC, mobile or handhelds, and if fans demand it, he'll consider all hardware options. "I don't want to close any doors," he said.

"I'm a simple man with simple needs," Iga said. "The process of making something, releasing it, having fans be happy with what you've created, [that's what I want]. The last two years, I haven't been able to finish that process for a variety of reasons. If I can do that, that would make me very happy. That is what I want to do with my studio: release games that make people happy."

Source: http://www.polygon.com/2014/3/19/55...view-castlevania-konami-and-going-independent

 

[Dennis]

Let the man make games....

 

[Nirolak]

Let the man make games....

He decided to try social gaming at Konami since both the publisher and the Japanese industry are heavily shifting that way, but his games kept getting canned for being too hardcore, so eventually he decided to up and leave due to being frustrated with that.

Apparently some of his coworkers were also asking him to take them with him. :lol

 

[clay_ghost]

Give me a good 2D and I will give your 3D game a chance.

 

[DidntKnowJack]

Love that guy.

Release a game Iga, and I'll be there day 1.

 

[emb]

Really good quotes. Hope things go well for him, and I'm looking forward to hopefully playing whatever results.

 

[Mistouze]

Apparently some of his coworkers were also asking him to take them with him. :lol

Meanwhile, Hideo Kojima is still trapped in the MGS sweatshop.

 

[thekonamicode]

I will be there day one for anything akin to Mighty Castle No 9.

 

[_hekk05]

He decided to try social gaming at Konami since both the publisher and the Japanese industry are heavily shifting that way, but his games kept getting canned for being too hardcore, so eventually he decided to up and leave due to being frustrated with that.

Apparently some of his coworkers were also asking him to take them with him. :lol

lol too hardcore for mobile games

hopefully he can realise his artistic talents on a platform suitable to him

 

[monome]

He should collaborate with PG* on a 3D game.

Vanquish was awesome. I wish for another collab effort at PG*.

 

[Chindogg]

Hey Iga, there's a platform that desperately needs the games you create that'll give you free unity licenses and much more help if you want.

Spoiler

Please make Wii U games #BibleThump

 

[Kurt]

I would buy his new game if the Michiru-san composer is involved.

 

[Poetic.Injustice]

He should get some other ex-Konami staff and start a Kickstarter.

 

[Earthpainting]

I think the more pressing question is if he had to leave his hat at Konami.

 

[silenttwn]

I like Iga's 3D games. The man has the potential to make a really great 3D title. He's still reaching, and I dig that.

 

[Steve Youngblood]

I will be there day one for anything akin to Mighty Castle No 9.

Heh. Not that all I want to see him do is make more of what he already did numerous times at Konami (though I personally would be all for another Igavania game), it is funny to me to think that there's not really much stopping him from basically making that same game. Obviously, the Belmont stuff is all Konami's, but Dracula and his rag-tag band of mythological underlings are up for grabs.

 

[Kacho]

All I want is a spiritual successor to Symphony of the Night. After that you can make all the 3D games you want, Iga.

Also, put whatever you make on the PC and we cool.

 

[sixteen-bit]

After shit like Nanobreaker I think he needs to cool off 3D titles.

 

[silenttwn]

All I want is a spiritual successor to Symphony of the Night.

Guess it's your lucky day then. There are already five of them.

 

[rjc571]

He needs to do exactly what Inafune is doing with Azure Striker - 3DS exclusive (or at least lead platform), 2D pixel art, spiritual successor to his GBA/DS titles. I'm actually a lot more interested in Azure Striker than I am in Mighty #9 (and I pledged $250 for Mighty).

 

[Steve Youngblood]

Guess it's your lucky day then. There are already five of them.

Haha. That was kind of my initial reaction too. However, my assumption would be that he's referring to something with better-than-handheld production values?

 

[Kacho]

Guess it's your lucky day then. There are already five of them.

The handheld sequels never did much for me. The GBA ones look and sound terrible and DS ones weren't quite at the level of the PSX game IMO.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

3D games? Stay in your lane, Iga.

 

[rjc571]

The handheld sequels never did much for me. The GBA ones look and sound terrible and DS ones weren't quite at the level of the PSX game IMO.

Then I doubt you'll be satisfied with anything that he can realistically put out. There's a reason that the GBA and DS Castlevania games are held in such high regard.

 

[Mr-Joker]

I wonder if the Mighty No9 kickstarter success is what convince him to leave Konami? Either way I can't wait to see what he does and should do a kickstarter I will gladly fund it.

Apparently some of his coworkers were also asking him to take them with him. :lol

Ha ha, I can't blame them for wanting to leave Konami.

 

[matmanx1]

I'd love to see the guy make a comeback with some kind of fantastic action game. Obviously he's proven with the 2D stuff but if he can pull off a good 3D game I would certainly applaud that effort and be there on day 1.

 

[Doctor Ninja]

3D games? Stay in your lane, Iga.

Why not let him broaden his horizon and try new things ?

 

[Tizoc]

Just gimme your ish on PC Iga, I'll grab them day 1...if I like them.

 

[Dark Octave]

No doubt in my mind he will crowd fund.

 

[massoluk]

I like his comment about 3D game. I admired people that realized their weakness.

 

[TreIII]

Apparently some of his coworkers were also asking him to take them with him. :lol

I'd believe it. The former Kobe guys were willing to take the risk following Shigeharu Umezaki and Etsunobu Ebisu to their new upstart at Good-Feel, so I can only imagine a good number of IGA's fellows would be willing to get out of dodge if the opportunity presented itself.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

The handheld sequels never did much for me. The GBA ones look and sound terrible and DS ones weren't quite at the level of the PSX game IMO.

You preferred Symphony to Ecclesia?

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Meanwhile, Hideo Kojima is still trapped in the MGS sweatshop.

Man, Kojima could walk away from MGS whenever he wants to.

He just wouldn't have access to all the money Konami gives him to play with and thus wouldn't be able to get Hollywood actors to work for him.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

i hope he gets a publisher quick, because , even though i would prefer a kickstarter, a publisher stepping in is the faster way to get him going

 

[injurai]

One of the things, that made me happy is [that] a lot of people said, 'Hey, I want you to hire me, take me with you.' So that felt good."

This makes me really happy as well.

 

[Dr Funfrock]

Yeah it bodes well for the quality of his next game

 

[Kacho]

You preferred Symphony to Ecclesia?

Yes.

Order of Ecclesia was alright. I didn't like how everything was broken up into stages on a world map and I found the glyph stuff uninteresting. It's been a while since I played that so I can't remember too many specifics. All I know is it never really grabbed me, much like Portrait of Ruin. They just felt so gimmicky.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Why not let him broaden his horizon and try new things ?

Because he tried...and failed...miserably.

Besides if he is thinking of going the KS/Crowdfunding route there is no way he can do a 3D game. Nobody is funding that.