DmC “Is a reflection of our times”: Ninja Theory explains the game’s satire

I’ve played all the DMC games and Ninja Theory’s take on the series is the best one yet. Fuck the haters…

“Our games are being played by intelligent adults, so there is no reason why we can’t treat them as such.”

That explains the “low” sale numbers.

No official sale numbers have been publicized… http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/dmc-devil-may-cry-is-a-failure.-and-a-success.-just-look-at-the-sales

The general public (except those any way deprived and/or tasteless) of adults doesn’t take videogames seriously, for a good reason.

Surprising.

Spoiler. They rebel by putting squirrel semen into an aerosol can.

Jesus Christ, why are we still talking about this game? Posting 40 articles on the damn thing isn’t going to make it any less of a flop.

DmC bombed hard even in Europe

I wonder how DmC faired in sales, it hasn’t been that long I know, but sales would reflect on how people thought of the game, it looked cool but everywhere I look my friends are either not interested, or wanted to buy it and then didn’t get to.

Also with all due respect Dave, you are a great guy, but Brenna’s artcile was no joke at all, it was offensive, immature, and wasn’t worth it at all, I actually stopped -and won’t- comment on any article she writes.

1) The Devil May Cry series is not the place to do satire that is “a reflection of our times.” If satire about the modern day is the focus, then as I’ve been saying constantly, make a new IP for that purpose. Don’t force it onto an existing IP where it doesn’t belong.
2) Making satire about modern times in itself is a tricky proposition. If you do it the wrong way, it comes off as ignorant and contrived, like a senator trying to pass a bill on internet regulation by calling it a series of tubes.
3) When you tout your own work as for “intelligent adults” and not so subtly imply that anyone who doesn’t play it is not an “intelligent adult,” you reveal extreme narcissism and egotistical thought patterns. This is nothing more than an excuse to ignore legitimate criticism and make the people at Ninja Theory feel like they’re too “deep” and “cool” for the “average philistine” to understand.

Granted that my knowledge of the story is not as thorough as it could be as I refuse to play it or watch any videos. But judging by the information gathered from past articles about the game and what was said in this article, it sounds like to a large extent DmC is just Ninja Theory trying to copy the likes of 1984 and V For Vendetta (and of course as they noted, “They Live,” which was a terrific film) and force it onto Devil May Cry where it doesn’t belong.

If they want to make a game about humanity beholden by hidden but powerful manipulators and rebelling against authority, then they should have made it as a brand new IP. When you get down to it, that’s what this is: a blatantly obvious attempt to make an existing IP fit some “genius” idea they had based on other, far greater works of fiction (though to be fair, at present there are no new ideas in fiction, just new ways to present them).

And who knows, I might have bought this game if it was released as a brand new IP. I loved V For Vendetta (both Alan Moore’s graphic novel and the film) and “They Live,” and I’ve always felt that the video game medium could do with trying harder at being more artistic and intellectual. Unfortunately for Ninja Theory and Capcom, they decided that they did not want me to buy their product because it was oh so important to them to force their “genius” where it doesn’t belong rather than making the common sense and respectful decision to just make it the new IP they clearly wanted to create instead of something based on Devil May Cry. Ninja Theory may as well have made a Lord of the Rings game that introduces laser guns and space ships and changes the focus toward how super awesome heavy industry and rapid technological development is, nevermind that Tolkien clearly established a theme of nature as good and the mechanics of industry tearing away at nature as bad.

#6 clupula because of the strong feelings torwards this game, i think it reaches levels that surpass zelda wind waker, mario sunshine, resident evil 4, it is on another level, and because of this for better or worse, it will make a precedent on future games for longlasting series.

@9 – I have to admit, I’d be really interested in a Lord of the Rings game with laser guns and space ships.

@8 So you don’t think that not commenting on whatever article she writes after the fact is immature in any way?

Hokay then. Hot tip – You could also try holding your breath until she apologizes.

Lord of the Rings sucks, lasers and spaceships would definitely make it better.

#3Ristas
30/01/13, 2:41 pm
No official sale numbers have been publicized… http://penny-arcade.com/report/editorial-article/dmc-devil-may-cry-is-a-failure.-and-a-success.-just-look-at-the-sales

I am not sure about the sales and if it is a success or not but the game is worth it, especially at the prices offered… (http://www.kinguin.net/dmc-devil-may-cry/dmc-devil-may-cry-steam-key/dmc-devil-may-cry-steam-key-1215.html)

The plot in this game is totally retarded. I’m nost sure that it was a right choice to use it in devil May Cry universe. It was meh at best.

@10 – It’s just I see so many blatant attempts to excuse the title and to try to convince people to give it a chance, even after the people have spoken. So many articles saying insulting anyone who doesn’t want to play it. Just overkill after overkill about a title that doesn’t warrant one fourth the attention it is receiving.

If the game had been a monster hit, like so many thought it would have been, I can understand talking about it over and over again. Discussing what went right, how it can be made even better next time, talking about Ninja Theory taking a gamble that paid off or whatever.

But when a game flops, fails to attract new customers like they wanted to, and has had a majority of the franchise’s fanbase against it from the very beginning, we know exactly what went wrong. It wasn’t the DMC that people wanted. End of story. They know what we want. Capcom have four options now.

1) Give people a DMC5. This would SEEM to be the most logical step, but this is Capcom we’re talking about

2) Go with a sequel and hope that people give that one a chance. That’d be pretty stupid to do, since the actions of the public show that we don’t care about DINO. We don’t like the gameplay. Putting it on Unreal was a giant mistake, but Ninja Theory don’t appear to know how to use another engine. More of the same will result in even less of the same sales.

3) Reboot it again. While this has a better chance than option 2, since there is a possibility that the fanbase might accept a reboot that is closer to the original, but still different, they could end up alienating even more people.

4) Kill the series. Wouldn’t be the first time Capcom have done that. *cough* Breath of Fire *cough*

What actually wouldn’t surprise me, knowing it’s Capcom would be for them to try to do options 1 & 2 at the same time, in the form of some sort of crossover game, in an attempt to have two separate DMC franchises going on at once. Plus, it’d give them the opportunity to stick online multiplayer into a Devil May Cry game and that does seem to be the thing. If Lost Planet and Resident Evil are anything to go by, Capcom do certainly love their co-op.

But beyond what Capcom are going to do in the future, I don’t see much to discuss anymore about the title. Those who want it, have it. Those who don’t, don’t. What’s to discuss about that?

@8 that wasn’t a reference to Brenna’s article specifically. Just the comment thread that followed it. I’m not saying people’s opinions are wrong. That’d be very wrong of me, just highlighting that many people really dislike this game

@12: what is immature about that ?!, I don’t respect her opinion or her views, she lost the respect part, hence I am ignoring her.

I am not waiting for an apology, it isn’t like I know her or something, screw that, it’s not like I am the biggest DMC fan out there either, but I would rather ignore her after seeing how bad she can be.

I just find it comical that they poked fun at the world being controlled by a far right media when it’s clearly being controlled by the far left (at least in the west). I guess when you are far left in your views anything not far left will appear as far right. I liked the game but I would of preferred they kept their liberal agenda out of it.

@Clupula, Million times YES. I agree with everything you said right now.

Personally I want that “1)” option with old developers. After playing new DMC I don’t want a sequel. It’s just not really good at all. Too much stupid cut scenes and minimum gameplay with horrible dialogs and story, characters. I just don’t want it anymore.

#16 clupula you got valid points, and i agree, but my point is, and i cannot speak for everybody or the intentions of journalists and reviewers, etc, but i think one of the reasons for this is wanting that people will give the game a fair chance without any preconceptions, because right now, and that is my personal view, we are seeing more and more sequels, sequels that do the same thing over and over again, and seeing this example or how this turned out, probably they will be doing the same thing over and over again, without any intention to change anything because thats the way we dictate the tempo as consumers. This will may or may not affect the normal evolution of games, i dont known, but is a possibility, and in the end we are indicating to developers that we are afraid of changes in or beloved series.

Therefore i rather want to think that some people in this industry is really concern about this, rather than they are force to do it for multiple reasons that are not worthy mentioned here, i think if people will give a chance to this game, with a clear mind free of preconceptions, will make more good than harm, thats all.

@18 5 year old gets mad. 5 year old ignores mommy and daddy.

Think about it.

A hysterical woman writing a histrionic piece full of misguided bile aimed at a certain group really shouldn’t trigger that sort of reaction from a confident, mature person. Especially if you had no part of that group.

If she was being that irrational, surely it would be water off your back?

I will say, having watched the cutscenes on Youtube, that the story is nowhere near the deep, intelligent tale that its creators would have you believe. For a nihilist, living off sex, drinking, and probably drugs, Dante sure is willing to have his dark soul filled with light by Kat and Vergil. He’s all, “I don’t care. Fuck everything,” until he finds out who he is and then is all, “I’m going to be everyone’s protector. How can we take the demons down? I care about Kat.”

It’s such a simplistic origin story. The whole time, I just kept thinking, “Why did this need to be told in this manner? Why did you need to reboot the series just to tell this second grade bullshit?” It would have actually made more sense to just shoehorn this story into the regular Devil May Cry continuity and skip the whole amnesia/origin plot, and instead tell the tale of pre-DMC3 teenaged Dante fighting demons in control of the media.

Also, Vergil wears a stupid, stupid hat.

@17: well I visited and found 300 or something reply which was way too much , and I agree that people dislike the game, but what I want to say is we need to be mature and respect each other, some people are bad and generalize stuff, YES, but that doesn’t mean we should step low like them and generalize and insult everyone who disliked the game.

to me you Dave are a good example, I saw you defend the game many times cause you played the game and knew what you were talking about, but your discussion was respectful and mature, that is what we need.

Not all who disliked the game are bad people, some didn’t like it, and just ignored the title, discussed it yes, but remained respectful in the process, no one should lump these people with the bad ones like Brenna did, just my 2 cents.

Jesus just get over it, it’s only a fucking game.

@22: you got a point there, but personally speaking you don’t engage with people who lost credibility, especially as she is a journalist whose opinion should shed light on games and help people to determine alot of things, credibility is an important fact, lose that, then why I am going to respond with you -not you of course-.

It was water of my back, I only posted 2 comments or 3 on that article, and that’s it, I was surprised today to find the comments are 300 or something, but that doesn’t change that to me, posting or commenting on her opinion is not worth it, again personally she lost credibility.

#26 It is 630+ comments and going up

#27: I have a feeling it is way off topic by now LOL

@25: But the game was the one to fill their dark souls with LIGHTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!

It’ll never be off-topic with YoungZer0 around to defend the game over and over again.

Well I’m well aware its unpopular and I’m likely to get lambasted, but (and I’m aware this is an unusual concept) I actually ‘had fun’ with this game. Now I looked up ‘Game’ on google, and after all the usual definitions I found: an amusement or pastime; diversion
So that’s it covered. It said fuck all about anyone else’s opinion though I must say.

@23: Why, you make it sound like you watched the cutscenes for the first time now. That’s weird, considering for how long you’ve been hating the games story.

You’re just another Erthazus, aren’t you?

@32 – In all seriousness, I haven’t been here that long and I know you’ve been here before me, so…what did you do around here before this game was announced? Like now, you probably could consider defending DmC to be a part time job, but before the game, what did you do? Was it just an endless stream of “I hate MGS4″ posts or did you just go with the flow and just stick to whatever the subject at hand was?

@33: Funny, you’ve been here for a short time and all you have to show for are negative comments towards the new DmC. That’s probably the reason why you registered in the first place. LAWL.

@3: That’s interesting. Now i have a link to show for everytime someone uses the “sales” argument.

@34 – Yes, you’re totally right, I’ve never commented on any other subject ever. Not the Dualshock, not JRPG’s, not how much I love the MGR demo. It’s been all DmC, all the time.

@34 – Oooh, did you just squirt a little from happiness? You found a link, so you can continue to discuss this game! Man, I’m imagining you have a room in your house/flat/whatever somewhere, like John Doe’s in Se7en, only, instead of Bible pages, you have articles and printouts of Dmc stuff everywhere.

“Can people please stop talking about this game?! It makes me so mad that this game exists! I don’t want to lose old Dante! It makes me even madder to know that there are people out there defending a game I never played!”

@3: Perfect! It fits right in with the polarized hysteria.

@25: Right you are. Not gonna happen.

@24 thank you

Totally imagining YoungZer0 looking like Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs, having his sacred DMC room, and dancing around to “Goodbye Horses” with a Tameem mask on, looking in the mirror repeating, “I’d fuck me! I’d fuck me!”

And then he goes out, looks for men with white hair, and reboots them in his cellar! “It puts the Virility on it’s skin or it gets the hose! Trust me! You’ll be better this way! No one liked the old you! It was tired and in need of fixing!”

@26 Ah, but you don’t get to claim that you don’t care, when you obviously care enough to blacklist the woman from whatever list you may in your head.

You can’t have it both ways. If you don’t care, you should be indifferent. If you care enough to ignore someone, and enough to demonstrably state that fact in a comment, then obviously you do care.

Opinions aren’t news. They’re not truth or fact. They’re not falsifiable or verifiable, they’re just expression.

An opinion shouldn’t be a threat to anyone, especially if it’s outrageous and obscene. If anything, the hysterical response to that piece serves to underline a number of the points she’s making.

#16 makes me happy that there are true “DMC” fans out there that don’t buy this spoon fed garbage every other website is trying to feed us.
” It’s just I see so many blatant attempts to excuse the title and to try to convince people to give it a chance, even after the people have spoken. So many articles saying insulting anyone who doesn’t want to play it. Just overkill after overkill about a title that doesn’t warrant one fourth the attention it is receiving.”
SO WELL SAID!
#8 ” Brenna’s article was no joke at all, it was offensive, immature, and wasn’t worth it at all” – I completely agree.
I wish they would STOP trying to sell us the game and give us an honest opinion…
kotaku actually wrote a pretty decent article. I thought they were fair.
I didn’t walk away after reading it, like I’ve been “pitched” too…
Don’t sell me the game…

@42 Lord forbid those people just happen to like it.

I know, crazy idea right?

#42 nothing wrong with people liking the game. Its wrong though when people get insulted for saying they don’t like it… just saying…

But it’s cool to say that you don’t like it based on YouTube videos, however? I mean without ever playing the game?

Just making sure we have this bullshit ruleset down.

@45 How do you know I’ve never played the game? I have. This is the purpose of a demo. Based on a “DEMONSTRATION” I am able, if in my eyes to formulate a valid opinion on the game. If 20 minutes can’t convince me the game is good, then ten hours isn’t going to do it either.
I was set on buying Dead Space 3, but after playing the “DEMO” I have since decided against it.
I played the “DEMO” for METAL GEAR RISING, and I liked what I played. I LIKED THE DEMONSTRATION I was given, and know what I’m getting into when I give up my HARD EARNED cash to buy it.
What part of that don’t you get?

@46 I don’t recall ever mentioning you in that comment, but it does seem to have cleared a few things up even so.

I can only speak for myself, but I prefer to listen to people who actually played the game, and know what they’re talking about.

I feel that it does take giving up your hard earned cash, and wasting your undoubtedly valuable time, to earn the right to be taken seriously in anything you might have to say about it.

Watching 15 minutes of a movie and then slamming it. Does that really make sense to you? Listening to one track off an album and doing the same? Really guy?

#47 Sorry, I make youtube vids, and the comment was posted right after mine… so I thought…
either way, I’ve read enough reviews, seen countless youtube vids on the game, and played the Demo on the 360 and the ps3… nothing there that made me want to buy it. Also I’m not going to waste my money on it. I think I’ve given the game its fair share of time.
I like Ninja Theory for sure, but lets be honest here “combat” has never been one of their strong points.
(I do own Heavenly Sword, and Enslaved, so yeah I do like Ninja Theory, just not their version of DMC.)
I really was on the fence about this one too…

@48 Nyeah… But what you’re really saying is that you’re actually fine just repeating what everybody else is saying, because it corresponds to your own preconcieved notion of the game.

Actually coming up with your own opinion based on having played the game is for dummies, right?

It begs the question why it is so wrong for someone who has actually played the game to recommend it, when you haven’t even played it yourself, and don’t actually have any sound basis for knowing whether it is indeed commendable or not, other than what randomguy57 says on his YouTube channel?

Doesn’t he have a slightly stronger case for his recommendation, in having played the game from start to finish?

Surely you can see that you’re a bit fucked here.

@49 But you don’t buy every game that there is in order to have an opinion on them, surely there are things out there that you have an strong opinion on them and haven’t bought or played from start to finish. Sometimes what you see and hear bout something is more than enough to help you have an opinion of your own. I have played the game and even though I’m not that far in it, I already hate it. The story is poor, the dialogues are just horrible and gameplay is too damn easy. Seriously getting passed some trash mobs was difficult at times in DMC 3 and 4 for me, here, no sweat, easy as pie, S rank just when you switch a weapon.