SXSW & Iga's Birthday Post-Action Report
Mar 19, 2018 18:00:33 GMT -6
cecil-kain, EliteLonewolf76, and 25 more like this
Post by Angel-Corlux on Mar 19, 2018 18:00:33 GMT -6
Hello everyone!
What an intense weekend this was haha. Iga, Mana and myself traveled to Austin, Texas for SXSW where we attended a feature panel in the main hall on the busiest day of the event, all about Bloodstained! On Iga's birthday no less!
I am going to be uploading the "clean" video of the panel, with HD presentation assets (videos etc.) to our Youtube very shortly, probably Wednesday, but in the meantime you can rewatch the live stream of the panel here on Twitch.
This panel alone had 4 or more times the amount of content that a normal Kickstarter update has. We showed off:
- An example of progress made from old WIP assets to new "final" state with Vepar before and after
- An example of lighting and feedback integration with showing off the updated sample of the Japanese stage
- Confirming cooking is in the game and showing off how it works, what effects it has on the game, leveling, etc.
- Revealing that the menu background will have an animated Miriam that reflects what she does / equips in game, not merely a static image
- Revealing a brand new familiar, and showing it in action
- Announcing we will be revealing the Alpha Backer Demo release date in the March Kickstarter udpate! (Will also start talking about general release date)
Below are the still shots comparing the before and after for Vepar, the ship, etc.
Now regardless of what your reaction may be to the changes, I want to absolutely 100% guarantee you one thing: Whether discussing the Vepar change, or any other design/art choice in the game, now and in the future, there is only one thing driving Iga. And that is his artistic vision for the game. So if anyone thinks that any changes get made to be more PC (politically correct) or appease any group of people with any sort of agenda, I can tell you with absolute certainty, that is definitely wrong.
Usually it's the publisher coming in to tell a dev how to make a game to appease / conform to some agenda or PR image or whatever, but I'm telling Iga "full steam ahead with your vision". And to be quite honest, in the case of Vepar, I personally think that before with her bright colors and exaggerated body proportions, she came across as out of place with our dark fantasy gothic Igavania. Now not only does she totally fit that theme more, but she also actually looks much more seductive I feel. That's just my opinion though.
Now on to some pictures and recaps!
Before and after the panel Iga had plenty of interviews with big shot media folks (as always). Here he is with Mana, ready for his closeup!
Even the press pros couldn't resist taking pics with Iga-sama
They even had their own birthday gift for him, some high quality Metallica prints!
After the panel I set aside some time for fans to meet Iga, take a picture, grab a signed copy of the NYCC art print Mana made, and get a Bloodstained lanyard! We took pictures with a bunch of fans from our Discord server!
Speaking of Discord, there was a very special surprise exclusively for Discord fans who attended the event...a post-event cocktail hour with Iga himself! We got a few drinks, some food and had a general blast. This invite was open to every fan who was on the Discord server and attending, so don't miss out! If you're not on Discord already, join us here!
XombieMike , purifyweirdshard and others presented Iga with a special birthday gift; a beautiful hardcover book replete with lore and arcane knowledge of the Ars Goetia and The Lesser Key of Solomon, some of the inspirational sources that Iga is using for many of the demons in the game.
And the card that came with the book:
He freaking loved this gift, he kept looking through it throughout the night when he had a free moment of two. Through Mana he told me jokingly that the book might end up teaching him English since he wants to read it haha.
After a long, long day, Sam and Adam Deats, the director and assistant director for the Castlevania anime, joined XombieMike and us for a very special birthday dinner! (Sorry if Mike looks like he's not having fun, he's the sad looking fellow on the far right)
And although everyone got their own dessert, I made sure Iga got a special birthday treat: a Baked Alaskan! It was lit. Literally. On fire.
At dinner we presented him with a birthday gift from Mig Perez and belmontoya , (respectively the creator and composer to the amazing 'Castlevania: Lecarde Chronicles 2') an ultra rare physical copy of CV: Lecarde Chronicles 2, with personal messages from them both. (Mana translated it for him and he was very happy)
Last, but not least, Mana and I wanted to get Iga something special for his birthday, so knowing that Iga is a connoisseur of fine liquors, especially scotch, we got him one of the best Scotch Whiskeys in the world, straight from Scotland; a 16 year old double matured Oban Scotch. Just like all of his gifts, he loved this one too, and was so happy he told us (through Mana again) that he is going to save it for celebratory drinks for when the game launches.
Finally, here are some cool wrap up pics:
Iga with Sam and Adam
And with Mike and Mana!
And finally Mike with Sam and Adam, givin me the "aww yeah boiii" look haha
...
.....
.............
Oh and also:
"TEXAS"
Stay tuned for more awesomeness coming soon!
What an intense weekend this was haha. Iga, Mana and myself traveled to Austin, Texas for SXSW where we attended a feature panel in the main hall on the busiest day of the event, all about Bloodstained! On Iga's birthday no less!
I am going to be uploading the "clean" video of the panel, with HD presentation assets (videos etc.) to our Youtube very shortly, probably Wednesday, but in the meantime you can rewatch the live stream of the panel here on Twitch.
This panel alone had 4 or more times the amount of content that a normal Kickstarter update has. We showed off:
- An example of progress made from old WIP assets to new "final" state with Vepar before and after
- An example of lighting and feedback integration with showing off the updated sample of the Japanese stage
- Confirming cooking is in the game and showing off how it works, what effects it has on the game, leveling, etc.
- Revealing that the menu background will have an animated Miriam that reflects what she does / equips in game, not merely a static image
- Revealing a brand new familiar, and showing it in action
- Announcing we will be revealing the Alpha Backer Demo release date in the March Kickstarter udpate! (Will also start talking about general release date)
Below are the still shots comparing the before and after for Vepar, the ship, etc.
Now regardless of what your reaction may be to the changes, I want to absolutely 100% guarantee you one thing: Whether discussing the Vepar change, or any other design/art choice in the game, now and in the future, there is only one thing driving Iga. And that is his artistic vision for the game. So if anyone thinks that any changes get made to be more PC (politically correct) or appease any group of people with any sort of agenda, I can tell you with absolute certainty, that is definitely wrong.
Usually it's the publisher coming in to tell a dev how to make a game to appease / conform to some agenda or PR image or whatever, but I'm telling Iga "full steam ahead with your vision". And to be quite honest, in the case of Vepar, I personally think that before with her bright colors and exaggerated body proportions, she came across as out of place with our dark fantasy gothic Igavania. Now not only does she totally fit that theme more, but she also actually looks much more seductive I feel. That's just my opinion though.
Now on to some pictures and recaps!
Before and after the panel Iga had plenty of interviews with big shot media folks (as always). Here he is with Mana, ready for his closeup!
Even the press pros couldn't resist taking pics with Iga-sama
They even had their own birthday gift for him, some high quality Metallica prints!
After the panel I set aside some time for fans to meet Iga, take a picture, grab a signed copy of the NYCC art print Mana made, and get a Bloodstained lanyard! We took pictures with a bunch of fans from our Discord server!
Speaking of Discord, there was a very special surprise exclusively for Discord fans who attended the event...a post-event cocktail hour with Iga himself! We got a few drinks, some food and had a general blast. This invite was open to every fan who was on the Discord server and attending, so don't miss out! If you're not on Discord already, join us here!
XombieMike , purifyweirdshard and others presented Iga with a special birthday gift; a beautiful hardcover book replete with lore and arcane knowledge of the Ars Goetia and The Lesser Key of Solomon, some of the inspirational sources that Iga is using for many of the demons in the game.
And the card that came with the book:
He freaking loved this gift, he kept looking through it throughout the night when he had a free moment of two. Through Mana he told me jokingly that the book might end up teaching him English since he wants to read it haha.
After a long, long day, Sam and Adam Deats, the director and assistant director for the Castlevania anime, joined XombieMike and us for a very special birthday dinner! (Sorry if Mike looks like he's not having fun, he's the sad looking fellow on the far right)
And although everyone got their own dessert, I made sure Iga got a special birthday treat: a Baked Alaskan! It was lit. Literally. On fire.
At dinner we presented him with a birthday gift from Mig Perez and belmontoya , (respectively the creator and composer to the amazing 'Castlevania: Lecarde Chronicles 2') an ultra rare physical copy of CV: Lecarde Chronicles 2, with personal messages from them both. (Mana translated it for him and he was very happy)
Last, but not least, Mana and I wanted to get Iga something special for his birthday, so knowing that Iga is a connoisseur of fine liquors, especially scotch, we got him one of the best Scotch Whiskeys in the world, straight from Scotland; a 16 year old double matured Oban Scotch. Just like all of his gifts, he loved this one too, and was so happy he told us (through Mana again) that he is going to save it for celebratory drinks for when the game launches.
Finally, here are some cool wrap up pics:
Iga with Sam and Adam
And with Mike and Mana!
And finally Mike with Sam and Adam, givin me the "aww yeah boiii" look haha
...
.....
.............
Oh and also:
"TEXAS"
Stay tuned for more awesomeness coming soon!
quack
