silenthill5
Latest
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 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]
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!
Turn out the lights: first videos of Silent Hill V
Survival horror fans rejoice, for the first footage of Silent Hill V has emerged on GameVideos. Don't rejoice too much though, because the three videos available are very short, clocking in at just under thirty seconds each. But you can rejoice a little bit again, because GameVideos has also posted a seven minute video featuring interviews with The Collective, the developers that have taken over the series. Judging by what the folks at 1UP have to say, it looks like the game is in good hands. If you don't believe us, check out the three videos embedded in this post. The first video features the new real time transition between the real world and the dark world. We were skeptics before, but the fluidity of the effect really is a sight to behold. Check out the other two (somewhat less exciting) videos after the break, and hit the "read" link for the much longer video feature.
Silent Hill 5 gameplay video extravaganza
It's been a long time coming, folks, but change your pants and cover your mouth, because you might just get a little too excited at seeing the first in what we assume will be many tidbits of gameplay from Konami's upcoming Silent Hill 5. While it's being handled by an American development team instead of the usual Team Silent, these guys seem to have caught the mood pretty well. Despite that, the transition from the real world to the ... um ... really weird and twisted world looks a little bit too similar to the film adaptation. It's a great way to do it, sure, but can you guys think of anything else that may be even cooler? Two more videos await you after the jump, so get watchin'!
Silent Hill V breaks down before your eyes
The latest issue of EGM contains quite a spread on Silent Hill V, and the contents have begun popping up on the internet courtesy of SilentHill5.net. First and foremost, we know a little more about the game's story. The story centers around one Alex Shepard, a 22 year-old war vet. The game begins as Alex wakes up in a VA hospital where he was undergoing treatment for a near fatal wound (Jacob's Ladder, anyone?). In the hospital, Alex has a premonition that his younger brother is in danger. Like any good brother, Alex rushes home to Shepards Glen, only to find that his mother is catatonic, his father and brother are gone, and that the New England town is covered in fog. As Silent Hill fans could probably guess, things are about to get weird.
Silent Hill 5 featuring real-time world deterioration
The latest issue of EGM details the return of this fan-favorite horror title. Since Silent Hill 5 involves a military veteran recovering from his wounds at a hospital, it's clear this game shares a lot more with the franchise's inspiration film, Jacob's Ladder. The grain filter will make its return in this entry to the series, which a lot of fans are very happy about. However, that's not the interesting part.The Havok engine is being used for real-time physics within most environments. Bumping into chairs, desks, weak floor boards, with produce noises that alert enemies to your presence. We're sure domino effects are likely too: knocking a chair into a table could knock a lamp down and break it (where there is, of course, a hidden key). Much like the film, Silent Hill 5 is going to employ real-time world deterioration. The transition between the normal world and the world of ... well, the messed-up world, will be visible in real-time and you can move the camera to check it out in great detail. That's some exciting stuff.A final note is on the revival of boss battles. Bosses have been fairly tame in the Silent Hill games outside of the first and third, which featured large, monstrous bosses. The Collective, the game's developers, want to bring epic boss battles back into the game, relating the experiences to Zelda-like encounters. We're interested to see how that works. We'll keep you up to date as more info gets released.
Konami announces Silent Hill V for 360, PS3
Konami puzzled us earlier today by sending out a cryptic poem hinting that a major unexpected announcement would be coming from its press conference. Knowing that Pac-Man CE had already been announced, we were perplexed as to what Konami's announcement could possibly be. Well, ladies and gentlemen, we're sitting at said press conferencce right now, and the announcement is ... Silent Hill V (at least that's what we think it is). The game features a soldier home from a war who is searching for his missing son. As often seems to be the case, this missing person decides to the best place to run to is Silent Hill. Akira Yamaoka will return to provide a brand new mind-bending soundtrack. Konami promises more news to come.
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.
