Flowers bloom. Beaches fill with people. Leaves fall from trees. Suddenly, it is Christmas time and another year has passed—another year of me not making Dark Cloud 3.
"Why would you ever even make Dark Cloud 3?" you might ask me, referring to a possible sequel to a terrific PlayStation 2 role-playing game from the Professor Layton people at Level 5.
"I have no plans to make Dark Cloud 3," I'd respond, chortling, since, hey, isn't that what game companies always say when they just don't want to give a straight answer?
Look, I don't make video games. I report about them. But ever since I interviewed the folks at Level 5 in October of 2009, I get e-mails from people who hope I will do it. I think they're getting their wires crossed.
Back then, I asked the Level 5 folks if they were interested in making a sequel, and one of their producers said: "There are many staff members, including myself at Level 5, who have worked on the Dark Cloud series... There are some who decided to join Level 5 because they love the Dark Cloud series. So, if requests from users should increase in the future, we would seriously consider making it."
Somehow that turned into people e-mailing me about making one, which is a tactic that's about as effective as asking Hideo Kojima to stop making Metal Gears.
In March 2010, I highlighted several of the requests I had received to make the game. I headlined the piece; "Nine People Want Me To Make Dark Cloud 3".
Naturally, I got a bunch of joke requests after that. Things settled down in 2011.
In April of this year, I got this e-mail:
So there won't be a sequel to Dark Cloud 2? I'm confused.. :(
...followed that same day with:
Could you at least make a PSN version of the prequel games with trophies? I'm sure a lot of people would buy it.. :'(((
In May, from someone else...
I also think you should make a dark cloud 3.
Also in May:
Make it. Surpass Diablo 3. Make Dark Cloud 4.
And then, in September:
Subject line: PLEASE MAKE DARK CLOUD 3!!!!
I never got into the game as a kid because I was like 7, but my mom, cousin, and brother beat both 1 and 2 and even then I loved watching them play, as of now I am 13 and I bought them both at a yard sale and I beat them both, "twice" and I would love a sequel, I honestly never thought there ever would be one so I decided to search up "darkcloud3" I saw the page and it said you weren't making one because only 9 people asked you to do it, not many people heard about it, my brother is a huge fan and he never heard even 1 rumor on this! people may of not heard about this and only 9 people messaged you, but as soon as it gets big on commercials, trailers, and big websites such as gamespot and IGN I know all of the old Dark cloud fans will literally shit themselves in excitement, And even some newer generation kids might be interested, if you do make it here's all I ask for better sells, I like both 1 and 2, but I disliked the amount of characters on 2, make at least 6 characters! and the music always had such good tune, but I recommend a much better plot, one you can really connect with and have time to bond with characters, then BLAMMO! awesome guy dies everyone crys! that's a good game, Me and my brother cried when ratchet died on crack in time, and I absolutely loved that, when you watch a movie you only hope you can bond with the characters, right?? also the game needs a MUCH darker theme, and it needs to put people on the edge of excitement, but along with all that you of course need to keep the classic dungeon to dungeon fighting monsters! if not the game wont feel the same! (optional) you could also maybe make character gender optional, I'm not sure if that would matter or not, but it would be different! not sure if you are familiar with a facebook fan page wanting a new dark cloud sequel but it has much more then 9 likes, Also I would love to play 1 and 2 on HQ so I suggest you make a collection pack, aaaaand make the weapons much more creative and have funner upgrades, make level ups and "possibly a online mode???" < I don't know?? and please make the cover art lovely looking...
That's a moving request. Really, the problem is I just don't know how to code. So it ain't happening. Sorry.