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Foundation 9 melts together Collective and Shiny into Double Helix
Whatever last remnants of identity clung to by both Shiny and The Collective were lost today as the duo were merged together by owner Foundation 9, creating a new, wholly unfamiliar entity known as Double Helix. Studio head Michael Saxs Persson calls the new name and logo, which were chosen from a pool of employee submissions, a "perfect" match for the company, adding that "making games is in our DNA." The founding follows the initial merger, announced last October, and according to Foundation 9 creates a studio "that is now able to build upon its previous experience to gain new heights in quality and efficiency." And all it cost us was our fond memories of a simpler time spent playing the likes of MDK and Earthworm Jim. While the company remains coy regarding what it's up to currently, today's announcement notes that Double Helix is developing a trio of multi-platform licensed games, one of which we assume to be the already announced Silent Hill V.
New soul withering shots of Silent Hill V
After spotting some brand new Silent Hill V screenshots on the web today, we quickly set about acquiring them ourselves. After instating requesting the aid of an intrepid colleague at Joystiq, we thought we had acquired the images in questions. Alas, we were unable to get the lovely, watermark-free versions of the images, but we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the shots we had acquired seem to be brand new. So, as we endeavor to nab the images we originally sought, enjoy our three brand new images in the gallery below.%Gallery-17264%
Enter the door of flesh with new Silent Hill 5 screenshots
It's time to look at some high-res screenshots of Silent Hill V. Dim your lights, put on that Silent Hill 3 soundtrack that came with the game (you know you have it, avid SH fans!), and click on over to SilentHill5.net to check them out. You'll see some familiar monsters with new design twists, some areas we've not seen yet, and some enemies we are glad have finally been revealed. Don't worry kids, there's nothing too grotesque that would get you in trouble for looking at. That is, if parents are keeping tabs on that sort of thing. Enjoy![via SilentHill5.net]
Silent Hill 5 coming along nicely according to 1UP's preview
1UP has a pretty in-depth preview of Silent Hill 5 up which should dispel any misgivings you might have about the game's western development. Due for a fall '08 release the game seems to be coming along quite nicely and 1UP got a nice chunk of juicy details out of the developers. For starters, Silent Hill 5 will be a standalone adventure with a separate story and new characters. The game still promises to be a part of the Silent Hill canon, however, and not just in name. Some series mainstays are back, including the crawling fog, levels that transform from light and airy to grime covered and bloody and a permanent grain filter over the action. All of these things have been improved on for the next generation of consoles. New features will also be implemented into SH5, such as utilisation of the Havok physics engine to allow furniture to be accidentally knocked, alerting your enemy of where you are. The battle system will also have an overhaul, making combat a bigger part of the game than in previous iterations of the series. For the full lowdown on the game be sure to check out 1UP's preview for plenty more SH5 info.
Yamaoka: Japanese game development 'is in trouble'
The man who makes Silent Hill sound so creepy, Konami's Akira Yamaoka, has been working with an American team to bring you Silent Hill 5 and as a result, has a pretty unique perspective on how Japanese and U.S. teams compare. His conclusion? The future isn't particularly bright for Japanese houses. "[The U.S teams'] graphical and technical ability is amazing," he says. "There's a huge gap, actually. They're very advanced. I'm Japanese, and I think this is not just with Silent Hill but with the whole of the industry -- I look at what American developers are doing and I think wow ... Japan is in trouble."He elaborates on the problems, citing too much pressure on aging developers and the language barrier slowing some development. We would have guessed that the troubles would stem from trying to work under the constant threat of ninja attack, but it should be noted that we're not big readers.
Behold, a few minutes of Silent Hill 5
Well... if you can handle the guy talking in a foreign language in the background (we won't even guess which language to save face), you've got a couple minutes of Silent Hill V to watch. The atmosphere is as moody and daunting as ever and it seems to be a throwback to the original game's tone -- walking into some random house, that is. Maybe we'll get more random homes to walk into. And the "checkpoint" that comes up on screen? Kind of strange, but if it gets rid of save points, that could work out for the better. We'll keep you posted as more details emerge.
New Silent Hill V details finally surface
It's been a while since Konami first announced Silent Hill V, and details revealed since have been few and far between. A new issue of Official Playstation Magazine, however, has revealed some new tidbits of information about the latest in the survival horror series.The radio and the flashlight -- which were abandoned in the previous Silent Hill game -- return in the fifth console installment of the series. Unlike previous games, the camera will feature full 3D movement, and the article hints at some possible Sixaxis functionality in the PS3 version. The rest of the article features some new, "exclusive" images and character renderings, and recaps story and gameplay elements that were already known, but it could be a nice refresher for anyone who's forgotten exactly what to look forward to.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
PLAY magazine scares up new Silent Hill V info
The fine folks over at SilentHill5.net have uncovered new Silent Hill V details by way of PLAY magazine. We have learned that the flashlight and static emitting radio will make a return after they went inexplicably missing in Silent Hill 4. Also, monsters will react to your flashlight (or any light source), particularly the series' trademark nurses -- this becomes especially apparent (and frightening) when you have to use an X-ray viewer to solve a puzzle. Thankfully, Silent Hill V abandons cinematic camera angles in favor of a player-controlled camera, so hopefully you won't get jumped while solving said puzzle. Speaking of puzzles, the game incorporates button matching segments similar to those found in God of War and Shenmue for certain segments -- like loosening the straps on your gurney, for example. Why are you in a gurney? Don't ask. Finally, the game incorporates a new system in which players must tend their wounds. Untended wounds will affect gameplay. In a nice twist, wounds affect enemies too. Somehow, we doubt that fact will be of any comfort as scads of demented nurses use your body for surgical practice.[Via PS3F]
Silent Hill V sees the return of radio, flashlight ... sixaxis?
We've been wondering what's in store for us in Silent Hill V ever since we first caught sight of it a long time back. Would the American company, The Collective, simply mash together existing elements in the franchise to give us a ho-hum formulaic view of the mist-ridden town as a different character, or offer something new to bring some life back into arguably the most horrifying series of games known to man? Well, we still don't know, but some of the latest scans from PLAY magazine give us some idea of what to expect, including a little bit about the characters you'll encounter.Better combat seems like a promise, since the protagonist Alex was taught to be a hunter at an early age, with proficiencies in grappling, using weapons, and evading attacks. The radio, which emits static when enemies are nearby, and the flashlight were dropped in Silent Hill 4: The Room because ... well ... for some reason, but they're returning in this title. The camera will feature full 360-degree motion, which is a nice touch, and the PlayStation 3 version is noted to have some possible Sixaxis functionality.An interesting tidbit paying homage to Metal Gear Solid 3 is the active wound system. No more health drinks to heal up those scratches! You've got to take care of those wounds the old fashioned way, though there's no detail to go off of yet. It probably won't be as in-depth as MGS3, but it should give you an added sense of fear as you try to get to a safe zone while your arm dribbles a path of blood for critters to follow. We'll keep you updated as we find out more on the game!
Silent Hill 5 screenshots have nurses, boys, and knives!
It's about that time for Konami to shove out some screenshots for the upcoming multiplatform Silent Hill 5. With the first and third games only available on Sony systems as well as the upcoming PSP Origins title, we're pretty confident this game will make a comfortable splash back into the pool of fans that made it a hit in the first place. What can we say about the new screenshots? Well, they're creepy. The lighting seems to have come a long way, which really is key to the horror element of the games. If light didn't glisten against the fresh blood on the legs of a creepy-ass mannequin, we probably wouldn't be scared at all (sarcasm, friends, sarcasm). No matter how you feel, we know there are plenty of people out there who would really love to see this running on the PS3, but for that, we'll have to wait a bit.
New Silent Hill 5 scans to drool over
Every time I see new screens, scans or videos of Silent Hill 5, I fall in love all over again. This game just looks so damn good, and if you want more proof, take a look at these new scans from Playzone magazine. While Playzone doesn't give us any real new information about Konami's popular survival horror title, I'm sure some of you will be pleased just to see more scantily clad nurses.When you're finished drooling over these new screens, be sure to cast your vote for Silent Hill 5 in this week's Poll Police!
Konami still uncertain of Silent Hill 5 platform
Some people really enjoy the comfortable zombie-slaying action of the Resident Evil series. Others, however, prefer the mind-rending psychological nightmare that is Silent Hill. A proper entry in the series hasn't been seen since 2004's Silent Hill 4: The Room, which departed heavily from the typical Silent Hill formula. Ever since, fans have been wondering about the inevitable new-gen sequel without much help from the series' publisher, Konami. In fact, Konami has yet to officially announce the existence of Silent Hill 5 at all. In a recent interview with Dengeki PlayStation (unearthed by SilentHill5.net) Silent Hill 5's chief designer, Masahashi Tsuboyama, is nearly as vague as the series itself. When asked about the platforms on which the game might appear, Tsuboyama states that a console has not been chosen. He also says that multi-platform status is not out of the question either. He further adds that the 360 is "definitely a candidate," he likes Blu-Ray, and he believes Silent Hill probably isn't a good fit for the Wii.So, no definite confirmation then. Fear not Silent Hill aficionados, for there is a ray of hope. Konami's E3 press conference is slated for July 11th. Let's hope we get a real glimpse of Silent Hill 5 by then.
Silent Hill 5 interview ... if PS3 sells, it could be exclusive
Finally, it looks like Silent Hill 5 is bursting forth from the loins of Konami and scaring the bejeezus out of people. No, we don't have any screenshots and yes, we made all of that up, but we do have an interview with one of the creative minds behind the game. Masashi Tsuboyama, chief director, answers some questions in the latest Electric Shock magazine. Here are the points of interest: Konami and the team behind Silent Hill have looked at the current consoles and concluded they all have limitations that hamper their ideas for the game and delay progress. Except the PlayStation 3. No multiplatform plans as of yet. But the sales of PS3 are slow so they may have to reconsider later on down the road if things appear dismal. Which of course means delayed progress and not taking advantage of the PS3's power. Tsuboyama claims Blu-ray will be a very necessary asset in their development of the game. The PS3, he says, is tough to work with, but when they get used to it, the processing power will be far beyond the other consoles. Keep an eye out at E3, as Tsuboyama seemed to clam up about the game when asked if anything would be shown. Perhaps he's being a tease, but we'd like to believe that the rumors regarding the game's progress are true. The game isn't a system seller, so we expect either a timed exclusive or simultaneous multiplatform release with the 360 -- with the game smartly built originally on the PS3. Keep your fingers crossed, and keep those mannequins out of dimly lit apartment buildings![via PS3 Forums]
Rumor: Silent Hill 5 due out by the end of this year?
When a similar headline caught our eyes, we jumped for joy and read on. Hopefully you will do the same! The rumor is this: a completely below-the-radar simultaneous PS3 and Xbox 360 release of Silent Hill 5 is due before the end of this year. Yeah, there's a lot of time left in this year, but we've heard next to nothing about this game. It's a big deal, so we're pretty surprised.The rumor stems from the latest issue of US magazine EGM -- but the anticipated release isn't the only thing speculated. The game, said by Akira Yamaoka to resemble the play found in Silent Hill 2, is rumored to be under the care of Konami U.S. instead of their Japanese studio. We don't mind if a different studio is in charge of the game -- so long as we get a quality freak-out fest, we're satisfied to see Silent Hill on the next generation of consoles. In fact, we demand it now. We'll keep our eyes peeled for confirmation of this rumor.
Silent Hill 5 to use broad daylight as scare tactic?
Not sure how well this one will pan out, but let's go ahead and give Konami the benefit of the doubt. We've talked before about how Silent Hill 5 is going to return to the psychological fear produced by the second game in the series, but this whole "unique idea for fear in daylight" is a bit tough to picture. Who worries about monsters under the bed when the lights are on? As far as any other production news, the soundtrack is going to be the same creepy minimalist stuff with lots of white noise... and machine noise. Noise, creepy noise.Well, what do you guys think? Is Silent Hill 5 going to break new grounds, as far as the placement of fear goes? Or will they end up making one of those "it's a horror movie but everyone's laughing" games? It is hard to imagine a true "horror" game where there isn't an aggravatingly thick fog or a flashlight... or night. It's not impossible, though. We'll just wait and see what comes of this game, but we at least know it'll probably come to the PS3 and possibly the 360.Oh, and just so you know, the symbolism in this mannequin from Silent Hill 2 is part of the psychological aspect I, personally, would love to see again. The twin-legged mannequin represents the main character's lust -- he doesn't see anyone's face, just... well, you get the idea. Where did I read that analysis? Whatever. It was awesome.
