As a treat for fans who could not make it to E3 The Official Silent Hill Facebook page uploaded a roughly 8 minute 30 second walkthrough of select scenes from their Downpour with commentary from game producer, Devin Shatsky, and Senior Associate Producer, Tomm Hulett.

This video is really the first real taste of gameplay footage we’ve seen since the first trailer debuted at E3 2010. For me it was really nice see some of the scenes only mentioned in various game blogs/magazines in the flesh and it really highlights Downpour’s new and interesting gameplay and the imense details Vatra has put into making the various the settings unique.

I’m really liking the somewhat realistic approach this game is taking with the whole surving the horror. Murphy can only use what he’s carrying and boy does he make use of what he’s got. Rusty locked gate? Hey no problem he can just smash it open with a crowbar (or a rock apparently according to some other demo reports). This may seem like something small but it always bugged me somewhat that the Silent Hill protagonists wouldn’t always let you use handy weapons to progress through so called block paths due to level/gameplay limitations…I’m looking at you James “I can’t step over caution tape or use a long rusty pipe to knock a key out of reach closer” Sunderland.

Seriously, I think it’s just so cool that we can use weapons/items we find in ways we would use them in real life. Another cool little bit shows how Murphy can interact with things not necessarily needed to advance the plot and are “optional” events in the game. In the walkthrough we see Murphy steals change from a cash register in a diner and uses it to play a song on the jukebox…which is the opening theme from the original Silent Hill. Stuff like this will really extend the gameplay in my opinion. I know I will end up trying to interact with everything I see hoping for other cool Silent Hill Easter eggs.

The walkthrough also showcased one of the game’s Otherworld transitions. Murphy attempts to turn off a pipe leaking gas but unfortunately causes a spark and sets the place on fire. With quick thinking Murphy sets off the fire alarm to activate the sprinkler system but as the water snuffs out the fire it also acts a trigger for a trip into the Otherworld. As the water pures from the ceiling the walls and floors around Murphy disintegrates and the sounds from the real world are muffled if encased by water. It’s a nice change from the peeling transition used in the first movie and in Homecoming.

Tomm also memtions how the Otherworld trigger aren’t easy to spot and you will never truely know when you are “safe.” This was a major gripe with fans with the nightmare sequences in Shattered Memories and it’s nice to know that they are listening to what sort of scare fator we like in \Silent Hill.

Speaking of Shattered Memories we also see that like Harry there’s times when he can only run and has chase sequences are very similar (knocking things over and looking behind). So it looks like fans of no combat and high combat will both get a bit of what they liked in Downpour.

At the end of the video we see Murphy in a fight with a Screamer. Unlike previous games Murphy does not have an unlimited inventory so you won’t have gobs of weapons to choose from for fight to fight. Instead, Murphy can pick up items around him to hurt and hinder creatures. I really like the bit of him throwing large rocks at the Screamer’s head! I also can’t wait to go WWE and break chairs on some monsters 😀

So I saw a lot of good here in the walkthrough but there are still some things I’m iffy about. One is the on screen prompts, Devin mentioned how important imersion was in the game and I’m wondering if these prompts with fade away as you progress. I know they are useful to new players but really if players can’t remember how to open a door after an hour of gameplay they are doing something wrong. Also I’m not a fan of the screen going red when attacked but really I’m nitpicking at this point.

So what did you guys think?

Source (Silent Hill Facebook)

At the special VIP even Konami revealed that the upcoming Silent Hill: Book of Memories for Sony’s upcoming Vita will be the series’ multiplayer debut. Brandon Cox actually hinted this to me on Thursday at the pre E3 event (but I couldn’t post about it until this morning 🙂 ) and I think it is pretty awesome I’m excited to see how this series will translate into a multiplayer experience.

Additionally, as I mentioned last night we have confirmation from Rely of Horror that Silent Hill HD Collection will also have new voice overs. Very exciting!!!

Source (Rely on Horror)

UPDATE! I just received word from a silent hill producer Tomm Hulett that Mary will be directing the new Voiceovers for the HD collection!

What a way to start the morning 🙂 Konami has uploaded their Downpour Assets from E3 which includes 10 new screenshots and a handy game information sheet with some interesting tidbits:

Theme song by Korn? Well that’s unexpected… I’m interested to hear what they come up with! But, I think the biggest news here however is that not only will the game have an October release (yay!) is that the game will be in 3D! (Hey, just like the movie…) Makes me wish I had a 3D television but even still it’s cool that Silent Hill will be one of the first games to attempt to use this new technology.

We sit down and discuss the cornucopia of Silent Hill goodness revealed in Konami’s 1st Annual E3 Preshow! Exciting time to be a Silent Hill fan!

Listen over on Silent Hill Experienced

Hi Guys! I hope you all were able to tune in for the Konami’s First Annual Pre e3 Event this evening (if not you can watch it here!). I was able to attend their San Francisco event over at the Temple Nightclub and I have to say Konami really knows how to throw a viewing party! Not only was there free food, and demos of their upcoming DLC games (Skullgirls FTW) but it also had an open bar which is always a nice bonus!

Unfortunately no one from the Downpour Development staff was at my event and neither was a Downpour demo but I still had a blast and and SUPER EXCITED about the loads of Silent Hill related tidbits that were revealed.

Silent Hill HD Collection

First, can I get a HELL YEAH for the Silent Hill HD Collection? This PS3 exclusive release will definitely push me to purchase a PS3 to play these HD upgrades this fall. The upgrades are being done by Hijinx Studios, an independent developer, based in Orange County, California. It’s a shame it’s only Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3 at the moment though. I asked Brandon Cox, Konami’s Senior PR who attended the SF event, why Silent Hill 4/1/Origins weren’t included and he said it’s because Silent Hill 2 and 3 were their biggest sellers. That’s not to say the others won’t happen in the future but for right now it’s just those two. So if you would like to see the others be sure to let Konami know there’s a huge interest!

Transfarring

Another big announcement was the Transfarring technology that allows you transfer save files between your PS3 and PSP which will allow you to play your console games on the go. With Silent Hill 2 and 3 getting the HD upgrades it makes me wonder if they will also be available to use with this new tech in the future.

Silent Hill Book of Memories

Another bombshell was the announcement of another Silent Hill game: Book of Memories for the next gen PSP. Not much more was revealed but the title alone makes me wonder if it will tie into the Book of Lost Memories first seen in Silent Hill 2 some how. I thought maybe the game would be the “Lost Memories” book in interactive form but Cox later confirmed for me that it is a game with a brand new storyline and soundtrack that’s narrative is focused around the “Book of Memories”. As for any connections to previous Silent Hill titles…well Cox was coy with that information, we will just have to wait to hear more!

When I wrote this last night I had switched the game Hijinx was working on. I fixed the error this morning but I want to make sure you guys know that no developer has been named for BOM just yet and Hijinx is working on the HD collection!

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories…with Playstation Move?

Well Cox put this budding rumor to rest, there are no plans to put it on Playstation Move and as of right now Konami’s focus is just on Downpour, Book of Memories and the HD collection.

Silent Hill: The Arcade

Even though this really isn’t a fan favorite game I was curious whether or not we would ever see this sucker in the States either in an arcade or a port of some kind. Unfortunately according to Cox it’s not something on the horizon…darn!

Silent Hill Downpour Trailer and Developer Interview

Tomm Hulett presented an intro blurb about Silent Hill and introduced the new Downpour trailer and upcoming Silent Hill Projects. Even Silent Hill Revelation director Michael J Bassett and star Adelaide Clemens gave their thoughts on the movie and games, it was a nice little treat!

But the main star was the new Downpour trailer and man does this game look nice! This latest trailer was leagues better than the one shown e3 2010 trailer in the looks department. I’m definitely looking forward to a HD version to pick apart and take screens but here are choice bits that stood out for me while watching.

-Hey we now know how Murphy’s Prison transfer bus crashed the driver wasn’t paying attention didn’t see the large ravine in the road!

-Check out more of the monsters! the gremlin like ones are pretty creepy I wonder if it’s the “ape-like” one I remember from the e3 2010 trailer? Also, what’s up with the guy with the big hammer, is he a common enemy or something more like Pyramid Head?

-Creepy kid and a flash of a downed bike is never good. Some sort of accident in Murphy’s past? Is the kid Murphy? Did Murphy kill kids? Lots of questions here!

Red jacket guy is creepy too… seriously who jumps off a porch after going on about murder being a sin…did Murphy commit a murder in his past? Also, flash of new character who’s a nun…here’s hoping she’s not corrupt.

Okay a more detailed review of the trailer coming soon…right now I need to get some sleep! I want to thank Konami for putting on the event, it’s definitely wet my appetite for more e3 2011 info!

Voting for the Ultimate Konami fan is over and DDR fan Eddie was declared the winner of the trip to E3! I want to give a big thanks to everyone who voted for me, it was a thrill just to be a semi finalist (never been one in a contest before!). Be sure to head over to the Konami facebook to see the Eddie’s winning entry! It’s amazing 🙂

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150202902981121&set=a.186987436120.130761.33404976120&type=1&theater

Congrats to Garrett Samson who has won, in my opinion, the best title ever! Konami has named him the Ultimate Silent Hill fan and will reward him with the console bundle of his choice based on his kick ass reason why he loves Silent Hill:

Now that’s something to be proud of 🙂

Source (Silent Hill Facebook Fanpage)

Konami is starting E3 2011 off with a bang June 2 with their first-annual global Pre-E3 Show that will showcase company announcements, exclusive interviews with developers, and never-before-seen game trailers. Konami President, Shinji Hirano says that they hope this preshow will “build buzz ahead of E3.” Live viewing events have been scheduled in several cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, São Paulo and Mexico City a with simulcasts planned on several major online sites and gaming broadcast outlets around the world. Konami will also stream footage from the all the live festivities on KONAMI.com.

Each venue was chosen for its own chic style and are considered ideal spots for guests to kick-back and enjoy the show. The brand new Commissary at Sony Pictures Studio will be the site for the Los Angeles viewing event while I will attend the the Zen-like space of the Shrine Room at Temple Nightclub in San Francisco. Registration for the Los Angeles event is unfortunately sold out but it looks like it’s still possible to register to attend the San Francisco Event!

As celebration for hitting 500,000 fans on their Official Facebook Page Konami has release a very tiny teaser for their e3 2011 Silent Hill Downpour trailer. The posted video is a full minute but most of it features Devin Shatsky talking and thanking the fans (looks like he got himself one of those Boogeyman statues too!). From what we see of the game we can see Murphy fighting some wicked looking ladies with a chair WWF..err WWE style and taking a ride down what looks like a water slide from hell. Head over to the Silent Hill Facebook to check it out.

Source (Silent Hill Facebook)

Hey guys! It’s been a couple months but I’m finally back to working on my Silent Hill 2 LP. I’m currently uploading two parts that encompasses my journey through the dark Silent Hill streets to reach the Silent Hill Historical Society. During the journey I discuss combat difficultly, Downpour, upcoming E3 events and more. In the next day or so I will record my journey through the prison and labyrinth and get that up on youtube next!