Does Downpour revitalise the survival horror genre?

[Q. Valintyne]

Wait, how can anyone call no marketing, bad marketing? Seriously, the only thing I can say I've seen Konami do, marketing-wise, was a couple posts on their Facebook page.

It's bad marketing specifically because they didn't DO anything that we know of. A bad job of it.

Exactly. They didn't do ANYTHING. Thus, this is BAD.

There were no commercials, no print ads, nothing. Zip. I saw some banner ads on IGN, but... ha... that was IGN.

[Pyramid_Heart]

It SHOULD have. The game was definitely capable.

But honestly, when a hype machine like Alan Wake fails to really change anything, Downpour probably wouldn't have done much better with ad spending.

[Avianna]

Wait, how can anyone call no marketing, bad marketing? Seriously, the only thing I can say I've seen Konami do, marketing-wise, was a couple posts on their Facebook page.

It's bad marketing specifically because they didn't DO anything that we know of. A bad job of it.

Exactly. They didn't do ANYTHING. Thus, this is BAD.

There were no commercials, no print ads, nothing. Zip. I saw some banner ads on IGN, but... ha... that was IGN.

A friend of mine that works at Gamestop said they didn't get any trailers for Downpour until the week before it was released. A WEEK. They said that isn't even enough time to get people hyped compared to other games. Hell they could have made a trailer without a release date if they were worried about that. Anything is better than nothing.

Not only that, I bet I can count on one had the amount of ads I saw... and most of them were ones that were scanned online from other countries.

Not to mention all the other stuff mentioned in the "Konami is Crazy" video that was posted a while back.

As a PR person, I'm just depressed. They have so much potential to do wonderful & cheap marketing in this day and age and they don't use any of it. :'(

[Q. Valintyne]

As a PR person, I'm just depressed. They have so much potential to do wonderful & cheap marketing in this day and age and they don't use any of it. :'(

The sad thing is they had several trailers on Youtube. Why couldn't they have sent the same videos over to Gamestop a couple of months before?

I mean, dang...

Ubisoft does a damn good job at marketing the Assassin's Creed series. The countdown reveal of the box art, the countdown reveal of the trailer, the sporadic release or screenshots and story anecdotes, etc.

They definitely know how to use social media to their advantage.

I've worked in marketing for local plays and films (and I've taken a few classes in it). It's very easy to do with social media tools. Billboards and print ads can be expensive (and print ads could be nearly ineffective if the magazine doesn't have a good, established reader base). If Downpour would've gotten a cover story in Game Informer, printed a couple of ads in subsequent issues, done a few TV spots, and some clever, viral marketing to top it all off, we would've had a better selling game.

The cons of both Downpour and the HD Collection have been publicized more than the games ever were.

[captain crowbar]

It certainly doesn't hurt it. But I doubt we'll ever go back to the core Survival Horror feel of the RE 1 and SH2 genre.

It's evolved into a different thing altogether, with some respectful connections to the classic feel.

[Yuki]

Whoa, it actually got a GameStop spot? That's more than I thought it got.

[Mr_Dante]

Hey, I'm a newbie to this forum but a SH fan from the beginning.
I'm trying not to spend much money and I've been waiting for all the feedback for Downpour before I make my purchase. I only played Homecoming once as it was disappointing but it seems like Downpour has been a little of a revival of the series. Reading through the posts on this thread almost convinces me to make the purchase.

I'm currently on a repeat play through on SH 3 (on the PS2 not the HD version, which I've heard very bad things about) and I forgot how good it was!
I think it's all about the controls and the camera perspective. The good old tank control limited the character's ability to move as quickly, thus making it more intense as you knew you can't just run in any direction you want, like you could with SH 4.

The over-the-shoulder camera perspective used in Homecoming put me off the game, it makes the game less cinematic. From the videos I've seen of Downpour, the same camera angle is used again. It's similar to what's used in RE 4 & 5 and in Dead Space.

Does the camera stay the same throughout Downpour?

[devil hunter]

Not really, there are moments where there are fixed camera angles.

You really should play the game, check it out for yourself. A lot of people like it.

[The Gentleman]

I agree, reception to Downpour has in general been quite warm. Even Yahtzee, who liked Shattered Memories said it was the best western developed Silent Hill game.

[Meltdown]

Haven't played yet, but I will say based on reviews and such, it does sound competent. Adequate at the very least. Which is good for the Silent Hill franchise.

It will be a sad day when there is no more SH titles to look forward to.

[Q. Valintyne]

It will be a sad day when there is no more SH titles to look forward to.

True story, bro.

SH titles will continue to divide fans. Every series has titles like that: Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, even Guitar Hero had a title or two that divided the fanbase.

The only instance in which I'll be disappointed is if they stop making new games. 'Nuff said.

[Mr_Dante]

Much appreciated
Now, the only issue I have once I buy the game is that it's my younger brother's PS3 and he's on it every day! And I think he's recently ordered Max Payne 3...
He doesn't go anywhere, stays in pretty much 95% of a month.

He needs friends, a job or a girlfriend. All 3 would be good

[The Gentleman]

Much appreciated
Now, the only issue I have once I buy the game is that it's my younger brother's PS3 and he's on it every day! And I think he's recently ordered Max Payne 3...
He doesn't go anywhere, stays in pretty much 95% of a month.

He needs friends, a job or a girlfriend. All 3 would be good

Who are you and how have you been following me?

[Mr_Dante]

Much appreciated
Now, the only issue I have once I buy the game is that it's my younger brother's PS3 and he's on it every day! And I think he's recently ordered Max Payne 3...
He doesn't go anywhere, stays in pretty much 95% of a month.

He needs friends, a job or a girlfriend. All 3 would be good

Who are you and how have you been following me?

Haha

I still don't know whether to buy it... I would consider buying my own PS3 if I wasn't going to Hong Kong in July.

[кирилл]

Мне очень понравился Downpour, и мне кажется ему действительно под силу оживить без того застоявшийся жанр horror, в которм за последнее время, не было кардинально ничего нового. Может и с кой какими грешками, но
Downpour сделал небольшой шажок вперед. Вам так не кажется?

[Q. Valintyne]

^ I think Downpour is a small step forward. I just hope Vatra is allowed to make another Silent Hill after getting all of this feedback that people have on the game. I think what they did was solid... it just needed a little work.

[кирилл]

^ it just needed a little work.

Полностью согласен, начало положено весьма хорошее, В Vatra работают более ответственные люди нежили в Дабл Хеликс, они принесли какую то свою восточно европейскую атмосферу в игру, они добавили новые элементы и при этом сохранили дух старых частей. Downpour вышел куда удачнее унылого Homecoming

[Q. Valintyne]

I definitely see that. Homecoming had some strong combat, but it really tried too hard to be like the movie. I had fun playing it, but I feel like Downpour really captured the feel of the older games while still bringing some new elements to the series. I just hope Vatra gets a chance to produce another Silent Hill!

[Wooden Plank]

Every game is Survival in some way.

But in any case, DP is a great Horror game. It's open world. You don't see much of those in Horror games.

[murphdaycake]

I'm actually surprised more people didn't find Downpour scary!! I thought it was the scariest SH since 3 and Origins (which I consider to be the two scariest. Some people say 4 is, but that's the only one I haven't beaten, so I don't know). The scares in it were different from classic SH scares, but they still felt like they belonged. For example, I love love LOVED the train ride in the mines. Super creepy. And the times when the loading screens would break the fourth wall? Sent shivers down my spine.

Anyway, I don't think Downpour is going to be the game to put survival horror back on the map, but it had superb ideas in my opinion, it was well executed, and fun to play while still keeping that "Silent Hill atmosphere" intact. If any series is going to revitalize survival horror, it will be probably Resident Evil, only because it is more popular, though the recent entires haven't been scary at all. I enjoy SH better than RE overall though (but they are both amazing). Now I'm just ranting. Bleeeh. I love Downpour. :3