The most heartbreaking thing about this collection is...

[_Bleaux]

The series is absolutely in trouble, that's not an opinion it's a fact. Not because Team Silent isn't involved or any other of the crap that's been said for years by overly negative fans.


It's the pants-on-head retarded publisher that is Konami. Between This botched release, barely advertising Downpour at all, and Book of Memories being delayed a day before it was supposed to be released the series is falling into obscurity.


If Downpour sells well then there shouldn't be anything to worry about, but if it doesn't, there most certainly IS cause for concern.

Yeah, I'll admit Silent Hill isn't nearly as prominent as it used to be. Which sucks pretty hard, because so far I think Vatra might could turn the series around if Konami did their part to advertise it.

I actually really like Vatra getting there hand in on the series, because they actually seem quite interested in Silent Hill as a whole and in my opinion they've done -a lot- better of a job adapting the series to where people from this generation will actually find interesting to play then most other game series that have gotten an 'overhaul'. I think they've managed to modernize the series without sacrificing a lot of it's core values unlike several other games that have been 'overhauled' for this generation.

A good reference to that would be how Resident Evil lost practically all of it's core values with the last few installments. Sure it's popular, but the series doesn't quite 'feel' the same every since they've turned it largely into a 3rd Person Shooter.

[Perry Mason]

the HD age is the first age of TV where most of your old electronics from the past will not work properly on your TV

Do I have a special HDTV? Because my PS2 works flawlessly on it. So do all my old consoles. In fact, I have never had a component not work with it. Or, are you being melodramatic?

Actually I'm not being melodramatic, HDTV manufacturers are starting to drop component capabilities. You see everything on the market right now is primarily HDMI so there's no need for component in their eyes. The primary source for HD products for instance, Blu-ray technology, is now HDMI only as of the beginning of this year as any player that plays Blu-ray technology such as a PS3 or Blu-ray player can only have HDMI outputs due to a licensing agreement and it's expected that there will be updates that will disable your component capabilities if you bought a player before 2011 sooner or later. I've also noticed some satellite TV providers are now producing boxes without component as well, the real reason for the big change is because you can't record or copy anything using HDMI and they think it will prevent piracy because it's harder to hack the technology.

And since I opened the flood gates and derailed the thread, let me say that Steam could theoretically work in the long run if 1. Games that are available on Steam had some safeguards to prevent them from being taken down if the game company that publishes them goes belly up and can only be removed due to technical problems and 2. the U.S. catches up on it's internet capabilities which is pretty far behind, the same goes for Playstation Network and Xbox Live. The state of the internet right now is too unreliable to make the primary source of videogaming until having internet is something that is treated as seriously as other forms of communication, right now the internet is still seen as just a past-time by most including world governments.

But let's not forget the main problem, Konami just screwed up two of the biggest survival horror games for the new generation, this coupled with Downpour could have breathed some life into the sales and brought in some newcomers but due to the unfinished state of the collection and their failure to advertise Downpour they shot the series in the foot then had the nerve to step on it afterwards for good measure.

[Levito]

There's actually quite a bit of evidence proving that Steam will not only will work, but already has for some time now. However if we're going to continue this conversation how about we head over to the general gaming board, ok?


The fact of the matter is Konami has ruined 1 classics for a new generation of gamers.

[what]

Actually I'm not being melodramatic, HDTV manufacturers are starting to drop component capabilities. You see everything on the market right now is primarily HDMI so there's no need for component in their eyes. The primary source for HD products for instance, Blu-ray technology, is now HDMI only as of the beginning of this year as any player that plays Blu-ray technology such as a PS3 or Blu-ray player can only have HDMI outputs due to a licensing agreement and it's expected that there will be updates that will disable your component capabilities if you bought a player before 2011 sooner or later. I've also noticed some satellite TV providers are now producing boxes without component as well, the real reason for the big change is because you can't record or copy anything using HDMI and they think it will prevent piracy because it's harder to hack the technology.

Relatively few components actually use component video. Most game consoles before this generation (as well as countless legacy components of all kinds) almost always utilized composite (RCA) video/audio connections, and those will almost certainly still be on TVs and media receivers for decades to come, as will RF inputs (to which composite can be easily and cheaply adapted). Your fears are unfounded.

[kyleb]

I suspect TVs will have be made with at least one component input for a long time, just like they're still made with at least one composite input now.

[NarooN]

Silent Hill isn't as prominent as it used to be? Hell, survival horror (and anything loosely connected to it) isn't as prominent as it used to be these days. I barely know anyone who played Amnesia besides hardcore horror fans.

The only reason RE is still talked about a lot is because it's so action-centric now (tons of fans came in with the release of RE4, and that trend continued with RE5, especially because of the co-op). RE6 will sell millions just because ZOMG ZOMBEHS, EXPLOHSHUNZ, 1337 CO-OP BRAH gameplay (even though admittedly the only reason I'm even buying it is to play it with friends).

The masses generally don't wanna sit down and play a game that is mentally provoking. They'd much rather just blast everything that pops up on screen, much like how no one really digs psychological thrillers anymore, people are fixated on generic Hollywood slasher films and such.

[Matt S]

Then again, it just also doesn't settle well with me the outlandish claims that the series has been killed by a few botched remakes.

You know what the expression is, 'you are only as popular as your last hit' or whatnot. Some will forgive the issues, and some will look to validate their thoughts that the 'series is crap'

In the long run, I think bad publicity is bad for future sales

[kyleb]

The masses generally don't wanna sit down and play a game that is mentally provoking.

That's always been the case, and people who enjoy psychological horror is only a small subset of the those who enjoy mentally provoking games in general. What changed here is that Konami started slopping out Silent Hill to developers who have no track record of making games anywhere near the quality of what the people at KCET established, which is why a much smaller fraction of the psychological horror subset of the mentally provoking games market is buying them.

[_Bleaux]

You know what the expression is, 'you are only as popular as your last hit' or whatnot. Some will forgive the issues, and some will look to validate their thoughts that the 'series is crap'

In the long run, I think bad publicity is bad for future sales

But I can't help but feel that Downpour has been completely subverted by everyone's attention on a few remakes of 10 year old games. Because from most of the feedback I've heard, Downpour has actually turned out rather well. It's just frustrating that a lot of the older fans are completely sweeping it under the rug in favor for problems with the Collection.

Because as I said before, I think Vatra is doing a pretty good job of trying to keep the series psychological while trying to modernize it so people will actually want to sit through a playthrough.

Although what Naroon said is right, most people don't want to spend money to sit down and be 'mentally engaged' anymore. Which is why not surprisingly, there -are- no more triple AAA devs out there who make horror games. Most Devs that do make horror games are smaller, lesser known organizations. That's just the nature of the beast.

I mean honestly, who would Konami hire out there to make the games in the series that's a big time developer. The large Genres now are either Shooters or RPGs, neither of which would fit well with the games.

[boo]

I would like to see Ninja Theory make a Silent Hill game. Ignoring what they're doing with DMC (personally, I can't wait for it) they have a great art style, know how to make an interesting story with well acted characters, their games have a great atmosphere, and since combat isn't that big of a deal in silent hill I can't see them having a problem with that.

[kyleb]

My interest in Downpour was subverted by how badly often I saw drop framerate and vsync in preview footage, and I've swept it under the rug due to reports from others that such technical issues are rampant throughout the game. I may dig it out from under that rug and rent it or buy it used for cheap some day, but I'm not going to put much money to what is so clearly a sloppy effort. That was my potion on Homecoming too, and this botched HDC does nothing to change it.

As for what developers Konami should have entrusted Silent Hill with, anybody with a notable track record of making solid games of any genre for leading consoles or PC would be better than The Collective or Vatra. Off the top of my head I would have courted Starbreeze Studios, but there are more than developers that do contract work for publishers to choose from, Ninja Theory is another respectable suggestion. However if Konami couldn't find one worthy of handling Silent Hill and open to taking the job, then Silent Hill projects could have been put on hold until either such a developer could be found, or one could be nurtured on other projects until they prove worthy of taking on Silent Hill.

[Yuki]

My interest in Downpour was subverted by how badly often I saw drop framerate and vsync in preview footage, and I've swept it under the rug due to reports from others that such technical issues are rampant throughout the game. I may dig it out from under that rug and rent it or buy it used for cheap some day, but I'm not going to put much money to what is so clearly a sloppy effort. That was my potion on Homecoming too, and this botched HDC does nothing to change it.

As for what developers Konami should have entrusted Silent Hill with, anybody with a notable track record of making solid games of any genre for leading consoles or PC would be better than The Collective or Vatra. Off the top of my head I would have courted Starbreeze Studios, but there are more than developers that do contract work for publishers to choose from, Ninja Theory is another respectable suggestion. However if Konami couldn't find one worthy of handling Silent Hill and open to taking the job, then Silent Hill projects could have been put on hold until either such a developer could be found, or one could be nurtured on other projects until they prove worthy of taking on Silent Hill.

It's clearly a sloppy effort when the story and atmosphere are still solid?

[Levito]

I would say the atmosphere in Downpour was one of the negatives of the game, it's practically non existent. It also doesn't help that the technical problems hamper the experience for a lot of people(myself included).


Story is good though, but not without it's faults either.


It's funny that I enjoyed Downpour quite a bit despite the technical flaws. Can't get past the technical problems in the HD Collection though, and they're largely the same problems. (framerate, hitching, etc..)

[kyleb]

It's clearly a sloppy effort when the story and atmosphere are still solid?

Yes, much like it would have been if the game had been solid from a technical perspective yet severely lacking in story and/or atmosphere.

[NarooN]

The masses generally don't wanna sit down and play a game that is mentally provoking.

That's always been the case, and people who enjoy psychological horror is only a small subset of the those who enjoy mentally provoking games in general. What changed here is that Konami started slopping out Silent Hill to developers who have no track record of making games anywhere near the quality of what the people at KCET established, which is why a much smaller fraction of the psychological horror subset of the mentally provoking games market is buying them.

Even if KCET kept making the games, SH would've still fallen off the map around the same time every other horror series did.

[kyleb]

That must be a fancy crystal ball you've got there. Pics?

[NarooN]

They would've unless they pulled a RE and added MB explosions and online co-op.

[kyleb]

Seems to me they missed an opertunity to win over all the old school RE fans who don't care about explosions and online co-op, and a lot of Fatal Frame fans too considering how Nintendo handled that.

[Floodclaw]

I know I'm angry mad upset over Fatal Frame IV not coming to America, although that will be forever forgiven if the Fatal Frame II remake comes over. Which it better, or I'm gonna have to write a very sternly-worded letter to someone.

But, on-topic, they certainly did miss an opportunity to win back fans here. They probably lost a fair few.

[Noname6]

Of course, it is a matter of opinion, but I think that the decline of the series has more to do with the fact that every game since The Room has been painfully mediocre and almost completely unnecessary. I'm not saying that the shifting environment of contemporary gaming with its singleminded focus on action orientated games has not had a negative effect on the series, but these weak entries are just not captivating people like the older ones did. I'm not trying to turn this into a "Silent Hill has sucked since Team Silent..." I am just saying that the series has been struggling to truly reinvent itself and it is coasting on its name alone. I really think that the only reason why the series is still around is because of its hardcore and dedicated fanbase established during the years when Team Silent reigned. The movie from 2006 probably did far more to bring in newer fans than any of the later games. 

I mean, just look at how completely forgotten Homecoming is while people still talk about Silent Hill 2 10+ years later. It's the disposable quality of these recent games that bothers me the most.