So Ben Judd is privately discussing the forums with Xombie

I assume they will create their own forums, and this one will redirect?

None of the above assumptions or statements can be confirmed. I would flat out deny some of them, but the more you tell people what it's not, the more you reveal about what it could be. I really would just like to put everything out there, but I don't think that is the proper way to deal with this. Everyone will find out soon. I did receive some communication that let me know that our conversation was indeed not forgotten.

Many are speculating that this in some way involves some sort of official forums. Ben Judd's comment in the kickstarter can be read Here and it says, "Heya backers. Just letting you know we are still working on the website and an update. A lot of the beginning of a development process is building out tools, pipelines, and planning some of the finer systems so it will be a good few months to see something extremely juicy. But bottom line you have a better place to chat on when we get everything up and running. Thanks for your patience as always."

If you look back in Ben's comments to where he was trying to contact SML and I you will see he always says he wants to contact us privately. This would set the tone of keeping you in the dark regarding our conversation, and I can appreciate why. Even if it reveals a little about an upcoming update, we wouldn't want to cheapen the impact of that news when it is actually ready to be announced. Who knows what could change between today and tomorrow? They have good reasons.

Now, just for the fun of fueling up the hype train, let me join you in your speculation. So you think this place could even be considered for becoming an official forum? If you think so, please understand that this forum is nothing without it's members, and you would be responsible for such a compliment of it even being considered for official forums. This is a free proboards forum. It's limited in technical capability and more importantly in that if we want to get rid of ads we have to pay per page view. Shaun Edwards has kind enough to run the abused little girl away from our sight, and although I'm glad we are now aware of her, I am more happy about not being forced to see her poor little face. Anyways, Proboards is limited, and those limitations might not be something IGA's team would want to deal with. Also, what is stopping me from getting hit by a milk truck and you never hearing from me again? Or, what if for some crazy reason that would never happen, I decide to delete the boards and leave you all high and dry? These are things that IGA's team would have to consider. If this place were to become official, I doubt I would be allowed to contribute in the ways I have before, even though I would badly want to. There are only two reasons I could dream up for IGA wanting to use this place as the official forums. One is that most of the fans who are still engaged and most passionate about the game are right here already. It would be convenient for everyone to be able to use what is already in place, your membership here. The second reason is that IGA is in touch with his community, and would rather lift up something we have made together (like fan art, and music) rather than do something else just because it could be done better. Are those two reasons really enough? Who knows? You can't.

Another avenue on that line of speculation would be that IGA's website that Ben is talking about would have it's own forums, and if so why would he contact us at all? So that we would point our members over that way? You know you would all find yourselves there anyway, and of course I would too! Maybe they just want moderators. Enforcing rules and babysitting everyone's emotions are not my favorite hobby. Connecting fans and collecting game info are my thing. I'm sure the other staff here also want as little moderation duty as required, and all their time spent developing the community. So if this line of speculation is the route to go, where would that leave us? Maybe they just wanted to give us a heads up so there are no hard feelings. Maybe they want to sue us. Who knows? You can't.

It could be something else entirely, but I think those are the routes most people's minds are straying down. If either of those are real possibilities, I personally feel that our early bird group is even more important. If it goes one way, we can say we were here before this place was official. If it goes the other way, we can claim that group identity together in the official forums. Now I don't care how you all do it, please decide on a name for it. I see it's tied 15 to 15. Someone put up a new poll, or figure it out in that thread or something, because I really want a clear decision ASAP.

There are other routes of speculation I could mention. I'm very tempted to. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. We fans will be there for IGA and for each other no matter what. Let's trust that the development team will make decisions that will be best for the fans. I believe they truly appreciate the opportunity we have given them through Kickstarter. We are the Army of the Night, and we will give this game our money, hopes and dreams and be thankful for whatever comes out. Why? Because we love Castlevania, IGA, and being part of a great fan base.

I really haven't connected to an online community like this in a long time. You all make me feel great. Thank you.

Wow, I'm not even sure I followed all of that, but let me try to paraphrase...

We are awesome, shut up and be patient, pick a damn name already, I love you guys, HYPE!, and Half Life 3 confirmed... Did I get that right?

Sounds like a "man up" speech to me! Army of the Night pull your weight.

Well, I've certainly grown fond of this place, and whatever happens in the future, whatever might have been planned, or whatever gets agreed on, I'm glad I arrived here

Lol. You're welcome Mike, and thank you.

And GET HYPE!

Patience is a virtue.

Bacon is a sin.

I think it will all balance out in the end.

Haha, I joined pretty recently too, so we're in the same boat

Roses are red
Poems are hard
I like bacon
Bacon.