Vatra Games design director Brian Gomez doesn't feel that his studio's upcoming survival-horror title, Silent Hill: Downpour, is being too adversely affected by the absence of longtime series composer Akira Yamaoka. "I was worried when we lost him, we lost him really early on in Downpour. But I was a big fan of Dexter already, so I'm happy we got Daniel Licht," Gomez told me this morning after a GDC Europe panel on the SH franchise. "It was the closest to Akira but also brought something new to it," he added.
Back in 2009, Downpour producer (at Konami) Tomm Hulett told us, "If Akira's music isn't there, it just doesn't sound quite right. And I'm sure that there are people out there who could emulate the sound and try to get it close, but there would be something missing." But time heals all wounds, and Gomez thinks the game will still fall in line with the franchise's established standard of audio. "As much as I would've loved the honor of working with Akira, I don't feel that we're missing out by not having him."
That said, it's clear that Gomez wants Yamaoka back at Konami, and back on the Silent Hill franchise. Speaking to the ongoing friction between Yamaoka and his formeremployer, Gomez added, "I think this whole feud between he and Konami is just fucking stupid. Everyone needs to calm down, and bring him back in, and do something."
Gomez had yet to play Yamaoka's latest work, the critically acclaimed (but commercially ignored) Shadows of the Damned from Grasshopper Manufacture and EA. "I've just been too busy with Downpour, unfortunately."
Reader Comments (26)
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 11:00AM ErikR said
There's a reason he left; your game sucks.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 11:01AM Jay Z said
The music is what freaked me the hell out in the original. Please bring this man back!!!!!
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 11:01AM CmdrShepard said
Oh yes it will.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 11:23AM Captain x Kirby said
Sofa King Stupid
Say it fast
Say it fast
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 11:26AM SpecBlank said
This is giving me an indication that something's not right. I want to franchise to live again! As much as I don't want it to change it's roots, look what resident evil 4 did for the series. Say what you want, but it resurrected it.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 11:45AM Chewy2nd said
What do people expect them to say? They can't spend a whole development cycle bemoaning the loss of Akira. The new composer guy is a good enough composer, Akira Yamaoka isn't the only person in the world who can compose music.
But predictably these comments will become populated with Japanophiles crying about the fact Yamaoka isnt there.
But predictably these comments will become populated with Japanophiles crying about the fact Yamaoka isnt there.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 12:23PM ironraiden said
@Chewy2nd " The new composer guy is a good enough composer"
HELLO? this is the guy that brought F*CKING KORN into silent hill... that decision alone invalidates his work... I really really want this game to be awesome, but, seriously... Korn...
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HELLO? this is the guy that brought F*CKING KORN into silent hill... that decision alone invalidates his work... I really really want this game to be awesome, but, seriously... Korn...
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 12:38PM gatotsu911 said
Well, I agree with his thoughts on the rift between Yamaoka and Konami, anyway.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 1:10PM Dick Socrates said
The new guy is Daniel Licht who does all the incidental music for the tv show Dexter. There isn't a whole lot of Silent Hill type music in it, but they do occasionally use a kind of siren that gets louder and louder before Dexter kills someone, and that would fit, or at least shows he's capable of intense forboding. I don't think he wrote the opening title music. I've heard him interviewed about SH and he says he's doing his best to emulate what Akira was doing. He is a professional orchestrator for TV and film, and to do that job you have to be very talented so there is a decent chance what he comes up with will be good.
I've listened to the SH music alot, from all the games and personally, I don't think Akira was doing more than treading water since SH3. 1 and 2 have absolutely phenomenal scores, both actually quite different from each other. 3 has some good tracks, but not many (I could never stand his plodding soft rock songs in any of the games.)
I think having someone new is actually a good move, Akira sounded very bored for a long time and I don't blame him. Ironically, this *may* be the first SH game since 3 actually worth taking notice of and it that may have inspired him to produce something better. Though on the other hand I can see this getting universal 7/10s and being forgotten within a week.
I've listened to the SH music alot, from all the games and personally, I don't think Akira was doing more than treading water since SH3. 1 and 2 have absolutely phenomenal scores, both actually quite different from each other. 3 has some good tracks, but not many (I could never stand his plodding soft rock songs in any of the games.)
I think having someone new is actually a good move, Akira sounded very bored for a long time and I don't blame him. Ironically, this *may* be the first SH game since 3 actually worth taking notice of and it that may have inspired him to produce something better. Though on the other hand I can see this getting universal 7/10s and being forgotten within a week.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 1:13PM Dick Socrates said
@Dick Socrates
Actually, go to Licht's website: http://www.danlicht.com/
He has samples of music from Dexter and I could picture it being in Silent Hill.
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Actually, go to Licht's website: http://www.danlicht.com/
He has samples of music from Dexter and I could picture it being in Silent Hill.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 2:11PM Arashikou said
@Dick Socrates
Wow, thanks for the link. I'm actually really impressed with the stuff on his site. You're right, I could totally see this guy working for SH. For the first time, I'm thinking SH:D might not be doomed. I'm more worried now that this guy will feel so overshadowed by his predecessor that SH:D's music becomes a shallow imitation of Yamaoka's style instead of him being able to do what he's good at.
For several releases now, Yamaoka has been the only good thing about the SH games. That's why I came to see him as indispensable to the series' success. But as much as I'm really going to miss Yamaoka's hand in this game, I'm willing to accept that this Licht guy could be a good thing for SH, still delivering the sort of ambient touches and chills the series needs. Now we'll just have to see if the game's any good. :)
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Wow, thanks for the link. I'm actually really impressed with the stuff on his site. You're right, I could totally see this guy working for SH. For the first time, I'm thinking SH:D might not be doomed. I'm more worried now that this guy will feel so overshadowed by his predecessor that SH:D's music becomes a shallow imitation of Yamaoka's style instead of him being able to do what he's good at.
For several releases now, Yamaoka has been the only good thing about the SH games. That's why I came to see him as indispensable to the series' success. But as much as I'm really going to miss Yamaoka's hand in this game, I'm willing to accept that this Licht guy could be a good thing for SH, still delivering the sort of ambient touches and chills the series needs. Now we'll just have to see if the game's any good. :)
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 1:19PM DarkTetsuya said
Isn't this the game where KORN is doing the theme song?
I rest my case.
I rest my case.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 1:20PM DarkTetsuya said
Isn't this the game where KORN is doing the theme song?
I rest my case.
I rest my case.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 2:12PM Arashikou said
Does anyone else think that the acronym for this game looks like a smiley face with a funny hat?
SH:D
SH:D
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 2:29PM FinalFantasyXIIIsucks said
Yes, the game's missing out. Every Silent Hill game after 4 has blown some serious donkey balls. Yamaoka is just getting the hell out of dodge before his name is associated with yet another piece of crap. Just kill the series already.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 4:29PM Punisher M1911 said
@FinalFantasyXIIIsucks
Hmm how do you know? are you assuming? you know what they say about people who assume?
Reply
Hmm how do you know? are you assuming? you know what they say about people who assume?
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 4:40PM FinalFantasyXIIIsucks said
@Punisher M1911 Yes I do know because his name isn't associated with this piece of shit. He's worked on every single Silent Hill since the first, so him not wanting any part of this turd should tell you something. Plus, having his named billed next to the throwaway relic from the 90s band, Korn, would have really tarnished his reputation.
Like they say, rats know when to get off a sinking ship and this series is sinking faster than Chris Brown's career after his fist met Rihanna's face.
Reply
Like they say, rats know when to get off a sinking ship and this series is sinking faster than Chris Brown's career after his fist met Rihanna's face.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 8:35PM Arashikou said
@FinalFantasyXIIIsucks
I follow your logic, but didn't Yamaoka say he'd gladly do the music for SH:D if Konami would just ask him to? Yeah, it was in this interview:
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/interview-akira-yamaoka-explains-grasshopper-jump/
And again in this interview:
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/shadows-of-the-damned-composer-sounds-off/
Konami's refusal to ask is part of the feud Gomez refers to. I'm not sure we can say Yamaoka fled SH so much as he fled Konami in general.
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I follow your logic, but didn't Yamaoka say he'd gladly do the music for SH:D if Konami would just ask him to? Yeah, it was in this interview:
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/interview-akira-yamaoka-explains-grasshopper-jump/
And again in this interview:
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/shadows-of-the-damned-composer-sounds-off/
Konami's refusal to ask is part of the feud Gomez refers to. I'm not sure we can say Yamaoka fled SH so much as he fled Konami in general.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 3:06PM Icemael said
I believe him (I like Licth's music way more than Yamaoka's, both as part of and independently of the entertainment it was composed for). The problem with Downpour isn't its composer though, but that it looks to be neither scary nor fun to play.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 3:07PM nightripper said
I am gonna rent this game through gamefly and try it out and give it a chance Dan Licht did a great job on the music for dexter so I think he will do fine on silent hill.I have seen extended game play and it looks very good too me the atmosphere is much improved over Homecoming which wasn't that good.
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 4:57PM Seroth said
Didn't Yamaoka say he was perfectly willing to work on new Silent Hill games, it's just Konami wasn't asking?
I'm willing to give this game a chance, though. I really liked Shattered Memories (it seems most Silent Hill fans don't?).
I'm willing to give this game a chance, though. I really liked Shattered Memories (it seems most Silent Hill fans don't?).
Posted: Aug 15th 2011 10:55PM jrobington said
I love akiras music it honestly is the basis of my love for SH, I listen to it with other games it just works with everything. So yes I think they are taking a huge step backwards not using him.
That being said I love Dexter and while I've come to like the music it is nowhere near the brain melting caliber of Akira
That being said I love Dexter and while I've come to like the music it is nowhere near the brain melting caliber of Akira
Posted: Aug 16th 2011 4:41AM Sampo27 said
This story has got me craaaaaaawlin in my skiiiiiiiiiiiin.







