Dark Souls demo unlikely, title worked through several naming issues
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Dark Souls (the closest thing to Demon's Souls 2) isn't scheduled to have a demo when it launches this year on consoles. That little nugget is just one of many found in an extensive interview 4Gamer (translated by Andriasang) had with From Software's Hidetaka Miyazaki, who is charged with directing what will likely be another impressive, masochistic gaming experience.
Miyazaki noted the game is expected to last about 60 hours and will have about 100 enemy types. In contrast, he estimated Demon's Souls took about 30-40 hours and had about 30 enemies.
He also mentioned that two potential names for the game were scrapped due to international concerns. The title of Dark Ring was flushed because of an association with dirty slang in England (remember Elebits?). The original title was going to be Dark Race, but that ran the risk of being interpreted as racist -- the working title was changed to Project Dark two days before the Tokyo Game Show reveal.
Miyazaki noted the game is expected to last about 60 hours and will have about 100 enemy types. In contrast, he estimated Demon's Souls took about 30-40 hours and had about 30 enemies.
He also mentioned that two potential names for the game were scrapped due to international concerns. The title of Dark Ring was flushed because of an association with dirty slang in England (remember Elebits?). The original title was going to be Dark Race, but that ran the risk of being interpreted as racist -- the working title was changed to Project Dark two days before the Tokyo Game Show reveal.
Reader Comments (37)
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 1:06AM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said
No worries.
This is a day one purchase, regardless.
This is a day one purchase, regardless.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 5:34AM RagingStormX said
@Ezio Auditore da Firenze
^QFT.....what he said.
Reply
^QFT.....what he said.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 1:13AM UsernameOfTheDead said
If there was a demo they should make it so hard that no one could actually get to the end of it.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 1:40AM ironneko said
@UsernameOfTheDead
A demo could possibly ruin the experience. I remember the first time I played Demon's Souls.
"Wow, look at that boss! Now I'm going to jum-"
YOU ARE DEAD.
"..."
I enjoyed making all my friends go through that and seeing the look on their faces.
Reply
A demo could possibly ruin the experience. I remember the first time I played Demon's Souls.
"Wow, look at that boss! Now I'm going to jum-"
YOU ARE DEAD.
"..."
I enjoyed making all my friends go through that and seeing the look on their faces.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 2:14AM General Bison said
@ironneko
"Ah, a bridge, I must be headed in the right direc-"
YOU ARE DEAD
Reply
"Ah, a bridge, I must be headed in the right direc-"
YOU ARE DEAD
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 1:20AM BaedNobleman said
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 1:21AM General Bison said
Four years later and I still don't get the Elebits thing, and by the look of the comments nobody else does either.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 1:51AM C1ph3rDivyne said
@General Bison
True. But you're also not British so you likely wouldn't get it anyway. I'm American myself and think it's kind of dumb. I mean calling a woman a 'bit' is different from 'Elebit.' Whatever. Anything to keep potential problems at bay.
Anyway, I think the developer's strength is definitely in creating captivating gameplay. I mean, "Dark Race" and "Dark Ring"? Really??? o_O I like "Dark Souls" A LOT better! Here's to the game's release!
Reply
True. But you're also not British so you likely wouldn't get it anyway. I'm American myself and think it's kind of dumb. I mean calling a woman a 'bit' is different from 'Elebit.' Whatever. Anything to keep potential problems at bay.
Anyway, I think the developer's strength is definitely in creating captivating gameplay. I mean, "Dark Race" and "Dark Ring"? Really??? o_O I like "Dark Souls" A LOT better! Here's to the game's release!
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 2:05AM General Bison said
@C1ph3rDivyne Ummm, I am British. Well, last time I checked.
Reply
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 2:26AM King Johngie the Fourth said
@General Bison
Check again. You know, just to be safe.
Reply
Check again. You know, just to be safe.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 2:30AM General Bison said
@King Johngie the Fourth Dude I'm as sure as I know the color of my own skin...
DAMNIT!
Reply
DAMNIT!
Posted: Feb 18th 2011 6:47AM ForcedKin said
@General Bison I know. I'm British too and didn't get it until I looked at that link above. But a "bit of skirt" or "bit of that" is NOT the same as just saying a bit! and when it's elebitis or whatever tf it is, that means nothing to me at all..
Anyway, I think Dark Souls sounds a lot better than the other names, but think this causes confusion for some people and makes them think it's a direct sequel to Demon's Souls.
As this will take twice as long as Demon's Souls to complete it should take me 2 months. Then factor in the extra difficulty and hopefully it's 3 :D Just wish it would come out sooner!
Reply
Anyway, I think Dark Souls sounds a lot better than the other names, but think this causes confusion for some people and makes them think it's a direct sequel to Demon's Souls.
As this will take twice as long as Demon's Souls to complete it should take me 2 months. Then factor in the extra difficulty and hopefully it's 3 :D Just wish it would come out sooner!
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 1:29AM hxczuner said
@Noksukow http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5432466115_dcce4f109c_m.jpg
Not my best, but it'll do
Not my best, but it'll do
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 1:49AM Nytemare457 said
Dark Souls is significantly easier to pronounce than Demon's Souls 2.
Wonder what they'll name the third one...
Wonder what they'll name the third one...
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 2:07AM Cavall said
I just hope it has the same MOOD as the first one. You know? That oppressive evil that sinks into everything.
God, I just loved it. The way the people even LOOKED bleak about their own lives, knowing what they have seen. Its so perfect. Give me that again.
Thats what made it such a great game. Knowing you are SUPPOSED to fail, and reading it on the faces of those you meet, having seen so many fail before you.
God, I just loved it. The way the people even LOOKED bleak about their own lives, knowing what they have seen. Its so perfect. Give me that again.
Thats what made it such a great game. Knowing you are SUPPOSED to fail, and reading it on the faces of those you meet, having seen so many fail before you.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 2:21AM Hivetyrant said
Can it please be released in Aus?
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 2:23AM BananaBoat said
I've circled the dark ring of the dark race, and it left all involved with dark souls.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 2:26AM PS3fan707 said
30-40 hours for Demon's Souls? I am near 40 hours and I have only fully completed one area, I would estimate I am a little over half way through. They must be talking about 30-40 hours of productive game play where the player isn't dieing and losing all of their soul points over and over...
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 3:05AM GuardianLegend said
I can't friggin' believe they are leaving out voice chat and the ability to play with friends.. AGAIN (source: gamespot preview). WTF. What are they smoking? They put those features in and their sales will double at the least.
Why is it such a crime to voice chat and play with people you know? Why?
Why is it such a crime to voice chat and play with people you know? Why?
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 10:33AM MakeThemListen said
@GuardianLegend
I hear ya, but I think for me personally it would completely ruin the mood. Like trying to play Dead Space while holding a conversation. Just doesn't work, for me at least.
Reply
I hear ya, but I think for me personally it would completely ruin the mood. Like trying to play Dead Space while holding a conversation. Just doesn't work, for me at least.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 3:08AM DokiDokiBawanga said
Yeh coz it will be so hard, playing it will be like trying to eat a tank with a tea spoon.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 4:22AM Farseye said
@ironneko
Yeah I remember playing the beginning of Demons Souls and having that first little boss destroy what little bit of hope I had... then later on when I beat the game I went back and beat him. However, I was reminding that I was SUPPOSE to die and what do I get as a reward for beating that opening tutorial? They take me STRAIGHT to the DRAGON GOD. So here I am:
*Dragon God ahead* I take two ste-
YOU ARE DEAD
....
Yeah I remember playing the beginning of Demons Souls and having that first little boss destroy what little bit of hope I had... then later on when I beat the game I went back and beat him. However, I was reminding that I was SUPPOSE to die and what do I get as a reward for beating that opening tutorial? They take me STRAIGHT to the DRAGON GOD. So here I am:
*Dragon God ahead* I take two ste-
YOU ARE DEAD
....
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 6:45AM BananaBoat said
@Farseye - Is this...is this a real thing? Can you win the tutorial level?
Just googled. Apparently you can. I thought there weren't any secrets to Demon's Souls that I didn't know, and apparently I was wrong. Granted, there is no real reward for beating him (other than a view of a slightly modified Dragon God area, and a small cutscene) but it still would be cool to do myself.
I hope Dark Souls has little secrets like this.
Reply
Just googled. Apparently you can. I thought there weren't any secrets to Demon's Souls that I didn't know, and apparently I was wrong. Granted, there is no real reward for beating him (other than a view of a slightly modified Dragon God area, and a small cutscene) but it still would be cool to do myself.
I hope Dark Souls has little secrets like this.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 10:47AM wcarnation said
Help! I'm in trouble -- please recommend this message!
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 10:52AM Keadin said
It makes sense, considering the previous game it's not likely a title that lends itself well to demoing. Games with such a hard road to success don't usually make for satisfying or rewarding experiences in the short span a demo provides.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 1:00PM superfrog1993 said
Dark ring would've been a fantastic name.
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 1:25PM kentuckyfried said
@hxczuner
Needs to be bigger jpg son...
Needs to be bigger jpg son...
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 3:30PM jrobington said
Dark souls, demons souls 2, demon's dump I don't care call it anything but Justin bieber's happy land and I'll buy it
Posted: Feb 11th 2011 8:02AM pigon toucher said
@jrobington
how about Justin Bieber's Happy Place?
Reply
how about Justin Bieber's Happy Place?
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 3:46PM The Spy said
@Noksukow http://imm.io/media/3F/3FoX.jpg
Posted: Feb 10th 2011 9:32PM favian said
40 hours for demon's souls? Yeah right, it took my friend 4 days to get to the mid boss of the first level (Phalanx).. and he loved every minute of it. I am finally jumping into this game after waiting over a year to play it.. i bought it but was incredibly scared about what people said about its difficulty.
And yeah, It's true.. It is a brutal game.
Brutally hard. And It's addictive as hell. If you can find a sealed copy for $20 grab it. I am loving it
And yeah, It's true.. It is a brutal game.
Brutally hard. And It's addictive as hell. If you can find a sealed copy for $20 grab it. I am loving it
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