Silent Hill should have an END

[gustavopi]

I was looking at "Team Silent Question" and analyzing this franchise by other side: the product. It's a basic marketing rule that you should not betray the expectations of the consumer, and I have seen this happens with these games. It's usual fans didn't like new titles after a huge success, people say that RE4 is not Resident Evil - and we know that RE4 is a good game. But these companies use the name to sell another products at all, and they think people will like it anyway because in still a good game - this formula will not last. We may experience new SH games with a very poor quality as RE Operation Raccoon City in next years.

I don't believe in "Team", I think a good game is a result of a creative idea, a professional team and a leadership. The idea already exists, Konami got the guys, what is missing is a work on the product - what is Silent Hill anyway? Where it start, where is the end, what is made of...

As you know, I like "spin-off" or whatever variations of a game, if I'm warned.

[Mothersdecent]

I just think of it this way: the creators of the series are gone, so should have the series.
New devs? No problem Konami, start a new IP.
It wouldn't have made a difference to those who liked the new games anyways.

[nur_ein_tier]

They will continue making games until they decide there is no money in it. That's a basic marketing rule, too.

If you don't like the series, no one is forcing you to play the games or even acknowledge their existence.

Alles hat end Ende; nur die Wurst hat zwei.

[devil hunter]

They will continue making games until they decide there is no money in it. That's a basic marketing rule, too.

If you don't like the series, no one is forcing you to play the games or even acknowledge their existence.

Alles hat end Ende; nur die Wurst hat zwei.

This basically.

I don't understand the "fans" who want the series to end or die.

[nur_ein_tier]

I understand they think some titles lack artistic integrity; however, producing video games is a business, and it's not ones geared toward them personally. It is geared toward the video-game-buying consumers. If consumers still like the games, and still buy them, they will continue to be produced.

And that's why I suggest, if you don't like newer titles, maybe you shouldn't be wasting your time talking about Silent Hill on the internet or feeling personally offended because some games didn't live up to your personal standards.

It is only those who feel newer games don't live up to their PERSONAL standards who are calling for an end to the series. I'd like to remind them these games were not made for them PERSONALLY. They were made to appeal to people who might buy a silent hill game, whether new fans or old fans. And I disagree that SH betrays the expectations of the consumers. I think you're confusing this idea with the idea that some consumers simply don't like certain titles, which is not the same thing.

It has obviously continued to be successful and to make sales, and that's why they have made more games. That's how the video game industry works.

I don't like Homecoming, and that's why I don't play it and I don't even discuss it here. That way, games I don't like much don't have to bother me: I just ignore their existence.

[PureBlackAura]

I understand they think some titles lack artistic integrity; however, producing video games is a business, and it's not ones geared toward them personally. It is geared toward the video-game-buying consumers. If consumers still like the games, and still buy them, they will continue to be produced.

And that's why I suggest, if you don't like newer titles, maybe you shouldn't be wasting your time talking about Silent Hill on the internet or feeling personally offended because some games didn't live up to your personal standards.

It is only those who feel newer games don't live up to their PERSONAL standards who are calling for an end to the series. I'd like to remind them these games were not made for them PERSONALLY. They were made to appeal to people who might buy a silent hill game, whether new fans or old fans. And I disagree that SH betrays the expectations of the consumers. I think you're confusing this idea with the idea that some consumers simply don't like certain titles, which is not the same thing.

It has obviously continued to be successful and to make sales, and that's why they have made more games. That's how the video game industry works.

I don't like Homecoming, and that's why I don't play it and I don't even discuss it here. That way, games I don't like much don't have to bother me: I just ignore their existence.

I completely agree with you and I laughed really hard at the Homecoming comment. The only reason I have Homecoming is because it was the only Silent hill game for the Xbox 360 before the latest releases and because the noclip glitch is fun to do from time to time.

[gustavopi]

I agree too, I'm just analyzing - playing marketing consultant. I came to the conclusion that the product should be better defined to have a longer life in the market.

Of course that I do care about and I wish to see new good titles in the future, because I like to play it! Also I don't like the trick that using the same "brand" to a different content, but this is usual to consumers.

This kind of product, like books, got specificities like the artistic property. Is not Coke - if u dont likeit dont drinkit... It's more complex, create communities...

[Mothersdecent]

This kind of product, like books, got specificities like the artistic property. Is not Coke - if u dont likeit dont drinkit... It's more complex, create communities...

I agree with this if i read it correctly.

To me, news devs have no idea what they're doing, they're basically making games and saying "this is what Silent Hill should be" but that can't be done because Silent Hill already was.
And maybe Konami shouldn't kill the series, maybe they should just put them on hold until they can get the originators back, and if repetitiveness is a issue, expand that team Konami, bring news staff and ideas into the series, that way the creators and the new comers can smash up ideas and make a really great Silent Hill game that plays really different from any other title while still retaining that same signature originality and atmosphere.
New developers won't work, and the series will ultimately lose the bit of respect they have left in the general gaming community and media.
Silent Hill was regarded as the king of survival horror, not anymore.

[what]

I don't like Pepsi. Does this mean:

a) Pepsi is a bad product which should cease to be made forever and I should complain about it to everybody, or
b) I should just not drink it.

Take some time and think about it, though there's nothing more complex about liking a video game than liking a beverage. It is a matter of taste. Yours happens to be more limited than mine. Your loss.

[Yuki]

This kind of product, like books, got specificities like the artistic property. Is not Coke - if u dont likeit dont drinkit... It's more complex, create communities...

I agree with this if i read it correctly.

To me, news devs have no idea what they're doing, they're basically making games and saying "this is what Silent Hill should be" but that can't be done because Silent Hill already was.
And maybe Konami shouldn't kill the series, maybe they should just put them on hold until they can get the originators back, and if repetitiveness is a issue, expand that team Konami, bring news staff and ideas into the series, that way the creators and the new comers can smash up ideas and make a really great Silent Hill game that plays really different from any other title while still retaining that same signature originality and atmosphere.
New developers won't work, and the series will ultimately lose the bit of respect they have left in the general gaming community and media.
Silent Hill was regarded as the king of survival horror, not anymore.

The old developers have been documented as wanting to leave the series in the first place. I highly, highly doubt they'd ever get them back.



To me, Silent Hill is all about psychological mindfuckery. I'm alright if the game isn't outright terrifying--Shattered Memories, for example--provided the plot is solid, there are layers to it, and it messes with your mind a bit.

[jam6i]

Why a Silent Hill fan would want the series to end is beyond me. Sure, every tale needs a good conclusion, but ya have to remember that Silent Hill is the horror equivalent of Final Fantasy: each game exists in the same universe, but the events and stories are pretty much their own thing. As long as developers and writers have compelling stories to tell, Silent Hill won't die.

I fully expect Silent Hill to have at least as many individual stories as Final Fantasy has, around 13 or 14.

Seriously, i don't get the "bring back team silent",mantra. It's been years...it's not happening. Embrace the change, and enjoy the games they gave us and the games we will continue to get.

[gustavopi]

Ending the series, like Harry Potter, is only one way to make an end. Personally, I wouldn't like this one for Silent Hill, and I don't think it's the best way for SH. The end is the limits for the team, designing and scripting is all about limits, since is not an artistic masterpiece, but basically a product for sale.

I think that a better concept of what is SH and where is the end will allow the team to produce a game that will have a better reception in the market. Maybe Final Fantasy is a good example. And I don't think they need the old team again for that, but can't be a Mario Bross team either...

[gustavopi]

I don't like Pepsi. Does this mean:

a) Pepsi is a bad product which should cease to be made forever and I should complain about it to everybody, or
b) I should just not drink it.

Take some time and think about it, though there's nothing more complex about liking a video game than liking a beverage. It is a matter of taste. Yours happens to be more limited than mine. Your loss.

You don't like Pepsi, uhn, I'm very disappointed with you...

These product are basically a concept, the difference of taste between Pepsi and Coke (since Pepsi change it's formula) is thin - hard to say what is with eyes closed. You like the Pepsi because what means liking a Pepsi (basically).

Games need a different approach, there is a lot of content that they use to sell by multimedia, agenda-setting, etc. and you will not see a hot lady holding the box, but videos of the real game, interviews with producers, is a different approach than a beverage.

Of course that you can just dislike it and it doesn't means is a bad game, they will never please every one. So they should make the best efforts to please most of who they already got in hand: the fans - it's a good start.

[Mothersdecent]

This kind of product, like books, got specificities like the artistic property. Is not Coke - if u dont likeit dont drinkit... It's more complex, create communities...

I agree with this if i read it correctly.

To me, news devs have no idea what they're doing, they're basically making games and saying "this is what Silent Hill should be" but that can't be done because Silent Hill already was.
And maybe Konami shouldn't kill the series, maybe they should just put them on hold until they can get the originators back, and if repetitiveness is a issue, expand that team Konami, bring news staff and ideas into the series, that way the creators and the new comers can smash up ideas and make a really great Silent Hill game that plays really different from any other title while still retaining that same signature originality and atmosphere.
New developers won't work, and the series will ultimately lose the bit of respect they have left in the general gaming community and media.
Silent Hill was regarded as the king of survival horror, not anymore.

The old developers have been documented as wanting to leave the series in the first place. I highly, highly doubt they'd ever get them back.

Not all of them.
And i'm not saying its gonna happen, just that it should for the series' benefit.

[what]

You seem to confuse your preferences with objective reality, a lot.

[NarooN]

How would it be to the series' benefit? If they don't even *wanna* work on SH, what makes you think they'll do a masterpiece? That's why Akira Yamaoka left, he was tired of doing SH soundtracks, obviously. Doing them for basically a decade would wear anyone out. Most of them wouldn't come back, and the few who would probably don't even work at Konami anymore.

If KCET had made the newer games, people would still be bitching and worshiping the older games. It'd be no different, so I dunno why people think that if they get some of the original guys back, something instantly magical will happen.

[nur_ein_tier]

And maybe Konami shouldn't kill the series, maybe they should just put them on hold until they can get the originators back,

I've said it before, and I've even emailed Sato and Ito on the matter, and "Team Silent" will not be coming back. Many of them don't want to, and since Konami is hiring other devs, the others are also not working on it. So, the team doesn't want to come back, and Konami doesn't want to hire them back. At the very least, Sato, Yamaoka and Toyama left of their own free will and didn't want to continue working on it.

As I also said before, there are many people who DO like the new games, and would completely disagree that newer games are failures and they need to fire everyone and find "Team Silent" again. While I do like the old games better, I think I'm a bit more realistic about it and see the good and bad in newer titles. And even if I didn't see any good in newer titles, I wouldn't whine about it because they are absolutely never going to get back the original team members, so whining is completely futile.

You have to realize that not liking the newer games is your own subjective opinion, not shared by everyone. I've been a fan of the series since 1999, and I see some good in newer titles. And even if I didn't, I can understand that other people obviously do like them, since they continue to buy them and play them.

But overall, what it really comes down to is business decisions, not opinions of some fans on the series' artistic integrity.

So they should make the best efforts to please most of who they already got in hand: the fans - it's a good start.

Is this opinion based on fact (i.e., sales figures) or your subjective interpretation of a small percentage of fans bitching on internet forums? When I read the sentence above, I can't help but interpret it you saying they should want to please YOU personally.

[Mothersdecent]

So tired of seeing some of you whine about my "whining".
If you really think i'm whining, stop repeatedly quoting me to tell me the same shit, just ignore my posts.

[NarooN]

The point of posting on a message board is so other people can see your messages. So if people are complaining about your habits, that's indicative of a problem on your end, not everyone else's.

Besides, you should stop thinking you're so special. What was said in previous posts applies to everyone in the fanbase, not just you.

[nur_ein_tier]

What was said in previous posts applies to everyone in the fanbase

This. I know I've been saying it for years, mainly because there seems to be a belief that "Team Silent" wants to come back and make everything better in Silent Hill and base their entire careers on this series, but the evil Konami company won't allow them to.