Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA['World 1-2' album brings chiptune artists and legendary composers together]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/world-1-2-album-brings-chiptune-artists-and-legendary-composer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/world-1-2-album-brings-chiptune-artists-and-legendary-composer/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/16/world-1-2-album-brings-chiptune-artists-and-legendary-composer/#comments 'World 12' album brings chiptune artists and legendary composers together World 1-2, a new album produced by Mohammed Taher for the record label GameChops, is a collection of new material by relatively new voices like Super Hexagon composer Chipzel, and established artists like Mega Man's Manami Matsumae (who Taher's Koopa Soundworks connected to Yacht Club Games for Shovel Knight). Other artists on the eclectic mix include Danimal Cannon, Austin Wintory, Tecmo's Keiji Yamagishi, halc, and Akira Yamaoka.

The album will be released on May 2 for $10. Five sample tracks can be streamed here, in case the collected talent on the album isn't convincing enough.

Joystiq'World 1-2' album brings chiptune artists and legendary composers together originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokachipzelgamechopsmusicworld-1-2Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Knight Sword review: All flash, no flesh]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/black-knight-sword-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/black-knight-sword-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/14/black-knight-sword-review/#comments Black Knight Sword review Style over substanceWhile fairy tales have evolved over centuries into the family friendly Disney/Dreamworks films our nieces are all so fond of, they originally began life as terrifying stories of murder and misfortune designed to keep children in line, lest they find themselves in the oven of an evil witch.

In that sense, Grasshopper Manufacture's Black Knight Sword takes an old school approach to the world of storybook fantasy, leaving warm fuzzies in a locked box beneath the stairs. Its dark tales of captured princesses, feuding sisters and the eternally damned are permeated by a sense of macabre wonderment that would make Guillermo del Toro proud.

Unfortunately, the game is also analogous to fables of olde in a different, more tragic sense: It serves as a perfect cautionary tale for other developers, lest their own games buckle under the weight of their own sense of style.

Gallery: Black Knight Sword (12/13/12)

Continue reading Black Knight Sword review: All flash, no flesh

JoystiqBlack Knight Sword review: All flash, no flesh originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akira-Yamaokablack-knight-sworddigital-realitygrasshopper-manufacturemicrosoftplaystationps3PSNsuda-51Suda51XBLAxboxFri, 14 Dec 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lollipop Chainsaw's Akira Yamaoka-laden licks now available]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/lollipop-chainsaws-akira-yamaoka-laden-licks-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/lollipop-chainsaws-akira-yamaoka-laden-licks-now-available/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/lollipop-chainsaws-akira-yamaoka-laden-licks-now-available/#comments Lollipop Chainsaw's Akira Yamaokaladen licks available todayLollipop Chainsaw is out right now, but it wouldn't be complete without some aural stimulation: The Lollipop Chainsaw soundtrack, featuring tunes from Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill), is available today as well. The soundtrack includes collaborations between Mindless Self Indulgence's Jimmy Urine and Yamaoka, and a few licensed tracks from Five Finger Death Punch, The Chordettes and others.

Check out the album's full track list, launched in North America by WaterTower Records, right here:

Continue reading Lollipop Chainsaw's Akira Yamaoka-laden licks now available

JoystiqLollipop Chainsaw's Akira Yamaoka-laden licks now available originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akira-Yamaokagrasshopper-manufacturelollipop-chainsawmicrosoftplaystationps3soundtrackWarner-BrosWarner-Bros-InteractivexboxTue, 12 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill: Revelation 3D in theaters October 26]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/silent-hill-revelation-3d-in-theaters-october-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/silent-hill-revelation-3d-in-theaters-october-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/18/silent-hill-revelation-3d-in-theaters-october-26/#comments ImageOpen Road Films has acquired the distribution rights to Silent Hill: Revelation 3D, the sequel to 2006's Pyramid Head fanservice vehicle film adaptation of the Silent Hill franchise. The movie will hit your local cineplex on October 26, and when we say "hit," we mean "climb through a moist, fleshy hole, screaming with the voice of an injured fawn trapped at the bottom of a well."

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D stars Sean Bean, Carrie-Anne Moss and loosely follows the plot of Silent Hill 3, in that one of the characters is named Heather Mason and there's a lot of gross stuff probably. Silent Hill films that aren't about James Sunderland still don't really sit well with us, but we'll see anything that reportedly has Akira Yamaoka's music in it.

Actually, we have to see anything with Akira Yamaoka's music in it. We attended a talk he gave during GDC once, and the music he played for his panel was actually a spiritually binding contract with dark, eldritch terrors. If we don't see this movie, bad things will happen to our organs.

Continue reading Silent Hill: Revelation 3D in theaters October 26

JoystiqSilent Hill: Revelation 3D in theaters October 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokakonamimovieopen-road-filmsrelease-datesilent-hillsilent-hill-moviesilent-hill-revelation-3dWed, 18 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Shadows of the Damned 2 being considered by Grasshopper]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/shadows-of-the-damned-2-being-considered-by-grasshopper/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/shadows-of-the-damned-2-being-considered-by-grasshopper/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/22/shadows-of-the-damned-2-being-considered-by-grasshopper/#comments Grasshopper Manufacture is considering a sequel to Shadows of the Damned, which is easily going to be this year's "damn the numbers!" moment if it becomes official. Eurogamer reports that Grasshopper chief creative officer Akira Yamaoka is thinking of a sequel, and believes EA -- which left the original IP to die at retail last time -- would "probably" be interested, before saying that "well, yes" it would.

We adored Shadows of the Damned, which actually made the seventh spot on our top games of 2011, but critical acclaim isn't the same as sales. The game debuted at 31 on the UK charts and sold a measly 24,000 units in its first month in the States. We'll keep hope alive that Garcia Hotspur's Johnson will rise again.

[Pixinity via Shutterstock]

JoystiqShadows of the Damned 2 being considered by Grasshopper originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokaEAElectronic-Artsgrasshopper-manufacturemicrosoftplaystationps3shadows-of-the-damnedxboxThu, 22 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Damned collaboration: How Shadows of the Damned found its closing act]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/the-damned-collaboration-how-shadows-of-the-damned-found-its-cl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/the-damned-collaboration-how-shadows-of-the-damned-found-its-cl/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/the-damned-collaboration-how-shadows-of-the-damned-found-its-cl/#comments It takes a lot of people a lot of time to license a track for a video game. Among other things, that's what The Damned drummer Andrew "Pinch" Pinching learned in the fall of 2010 when he worked with Grasshopper Manufacture composer Akira Yamaoka on the title track from this year's grindhouse-inspired third-person shooter, Shadows of the Damned. According to Pinch, it took "about a hundred emails" before an agreement was even reached regarding the collaboration.

"I kid you not, they are VERY thorough," Pinch explained to me via email earlier this summer. He was speaking to the GhM side of the partnership, which he described as "treading a different path in the games industry" from other dev studios. "I did a bit of research and found out about Suda51 and No More Heroes," Pinch added. "[He] was regarded as a bit of an edgy rebel, which appealed to me immensely. It didn't hurt that his games looked great as well."

The end product of the collaboration was, as we now know, the excellent (and if I may say so myself, rockin') final track from Shadows of the Damned. But that wasn't always the plan, as Pinch told me. "Initially, they [GhM] wanted what everyone wants -- an old Damned track. In this instance, a track called 'Love Song,' which in hindsight would have fitted the theme of the game rather nicely." But "Love Song" wasn't meant to be, and The Damned pushed to create an original track for the game.

Continue reading The Damned collaboration: How Shadows of the Damned found its closing act

JoystiqThe Damned collaboration: How Shadows of the Damned found its closing act originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokaandrew-pinch-pinchingandrew-pinchingcaptain-sensibledave-vaniangrasshopper-manufacturemicrosoftmusicplaystationps3shadows-of-the-damnedsuda-51suda51the-damnedxboxMon, 05 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Lollipop Chainsaw preview: Suck on this]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/lollipop-chainsaw-preview-suck-on-this/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/lollipop-chainsaw-preview-suck-on-this/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/20/lollipop-chainsaw-preview-suck-on-this/#comments Buffy the No More Heroes Zombie Slayer. That's the best way to sum up Lollipop Chainsaw at first glance. Featuring a Lichtenstein-inspired pop art HUD and over-the-top humor drawn from the Suda 51 vein, the game revels in the expected brutality of a zombie outbreak, but adds a dash of the unexpected with rainbows and sparkles following finishing moves and combos.

Developed by Suda 51's Grasshopper Manufacture, the cult name-dropping doesn't stop there. Writer and director James Gunn (Dawn of the Dead, Tromeo and Juliet, Slither) created the script, while Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill, Shadows of the Damned) is handling music -- but none of his work is featured in the current demo.

Yamaoka said during our Gamescom presentation, "This game will be crazier than it is now." A terrifying thought, since the game already has the crazy dialed to 11.

Gallery: Lollipop Chainsaw (Gamescom 2011)

Continue reading Lollipop Chainsaw preview: Suck on this

JoystiqLollipop Chainsaw preview: Suck on this originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akira-Yamaokagrasshopper-manufactureJames-Gunnlollipop-chainsawmicrosoftplaystationps3Suda-51Warner-BrosWBIExboxSat, 20 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill: Downpour 'not missing out' without Yamaoka, says Vatra dev]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/silent-hill-downpour-not-missing-out-without-yamaoka-says-va/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/silent-hill-downpour-not-missing-out-without-yamaoka-says-va/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/15/silent-hill-downpour-not-missing-out-without-yamaoka-says-va/#comments 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."

JoystiqSilent Hill: Downpour 'not missing out' without Yamaoka, says Vatra dev originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokabrian-gomezdan-lichtdaniel-lichtgdcgdc-europe-2011gdce-2011grasshopper-manufacturkonamimicrosoftplaystationps3shadows-of-the-damnedsilent-hill-downpourvatravatra-gamesxboxMon, 15 Aug 2011 10:46:00 EST<![CDATA['Sdatcher' radio drama will be distributed for free, sold on CD later]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/sdatcher-radio-drama-will-be-distributed-for-free-sold-on-cd/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/sdatcher-radio-drama-will-be-distributed-for-free-sold-on-cd/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/08/sdatcher-radio-drama-will-be-distributed-for-free-sold-on-cd/#comments In a tweet, Hideo Kojima announced that the Snatcher-universe radio drama, "Suda 51's Sdatcher," will be released as a free download. A CD will be sold later to pay the voice actors, including many Metal Gear series cast members. There's still no official release date for the drama, but it was planned to be concurrent with Hideradio podcast number 300 -- they're on 298 right now. Kojima subsequently tweeted the character art of Jean Jack Gibson above.

Kojima also said that he's heard the music Akira Yamaoka is making for the drama, which was to be '70s progressive rock and '80s electro pop. Per Andriasang's translation, Kojima likes it but questioned its reception by the masses. And when you bring in Suda 51 to make a podcast radio drama based on an adventure game from 1988, you don't want anything to get in the way of that built-in mass appeal.

Joystiq'Sdatcher' radio drama will be distributed for free, sold on CD later originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokahideo-kojimajapankonamiradio-dramasdatchersnatchersuda-51suda51Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Grasshopper Manufacturing 'Lollipop Chainsaw' for PS3 and 360 [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/rumor-grasshopper-manufacturing-lollipop-chainsaw-for-ps3-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/rumor-grasshopper-manufacturing-lollipop-chainsaw-for-ps3-and/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/20/rumor-grasshopper-manufacturing-lollipop-chainsaw-for-ps3-and/#comments Being a secondhand report of data out of an early leak of Japanese mag Famitsu, it's only right to approach the news of Grasshopper Manufacture's Lollipop Chainsaw for PS3 and Xbox 360 with skepticism.

The reports also describe it as a game about a cheerleader raised by zombie hunters, who uses her acrobatic training and a chainsaw to destroy zombies ... which certainly sounds like a Suda game. Additionally, the zombies will spray pink blood on the screen when destroyed, something that Siliconera says is meant to convey a "pop" feel.

According to Andriasang, Suda 51 is serving as creative director, with the very busy Akira Yamaoka working on sound. It's reportedly 70% complete, and will be published by Kadokawa Games.

Update: Famitsu has posted the first artwork and screenshots of the game, including the above screen.

JoystiqGrasshopper Manufacturing 'Lollipop Chainsaw' for PS3 and 360 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokafamitsugrasshopper-manufacturejapankadokawa-gameslollipop-chainsawmicrosoftplaystationps3suda-51xboxWed, 20 Jul 2011 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Akira Yamaoka 'tag-teaming with Suda 51' on game development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/akira-yamaoka-tag-teaming-with-suda-51-on-game-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/akira-yamaoka-tag-teaming-with-suda-51-on-game-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/akira-yamaoka-tag-teaming-with-suda-51-on-game-development/#comments Akira Yamaoka's business card may identify him as Grasshopper Manufacture's "Chief Sound Officer," but the leather-bound composer's new job embodies more than just audio. During an interview at the 8-4 Play podcast, Yamaoka detailed his role.

"At Grasshopper, I'm creating sound, but not only sound," he said. "I'm the leader of the development team, so I'm tag-teaming with Suda 51, and I'm actually involved with game creation as well as sound." He then went on to tease "a few titles we're going to announce soon, so stay tuned."

Listen to the whole podcast to learn more about Yamaoka and his career -- including why he planned to quit Konami after his first week.

JoystiqAkira Yamaoka 'tag-teaming with Suda 51' on game development originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8-4-playakira-yamaokamicrosoftplaystationps3shadows-of-the-damnedxboxTue, 19 Jul 2011 16:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Play For Japan: The Album helps rebuild Japan, available now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/09/play-for-japan-the-album-helps-rebuild-japan-available-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/09/play-for-japan-the-album-helps-rebuild-japan-available-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/09/play-for-japan-the-album-helps-rebuild-japan-available-now/#comments Announced last May and originally slated for a June release, Play For Japan: The Album is finally available for your listening pleasure. The album features original tracks by 18 of gaming history's greatest composers, including Silent Hill's Akira Yamaoka, Metal Gear Solid 4's Nobuko Toda, and if you buy the album from iTunes, Super Mario Bros.'s Koji Kondo.

The album is already available via iTunes in the US, Canada, and UK, and will be available everywhere else (from iTunes and Amazon) starting July 15. It costs $9.99 USD, one hundred percent of which benefits the Japanese Red Cross' efforts in rebuilding Japan's infrastructure. It also benefits your eardrums. The full track listing is after the jump.

Continue reading Play For Japan: The Album helps rebuild Japan, available now

JoystiqPlay For Japan: The Album helps rebuild Japan, available now originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokaamazoncharitydisaster-reliefitunesjapan-earthquakeKoji-Kondometal-gear-solid-4musicNobuko-Todaplay-for-japanplay-for-japan-the-albumreliefsilent-hillSuper-Mario-BrosSat, 09 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kojima announces Snatcher-inspired radio drama, for real this time]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/kojima-announces-snatcher-inspired-radio-drama-for-real-this-ti/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/kojima-announces-snatcher-inspired-radio-drama-for-real-this-ti/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/kojima-announces-snatcher-inspired-radio-drama-for-real-this-ti/#comments This week, Hideo Kojima teased a surprise announcement coming on the latest edition of his Hideradio podcast. The real surprise is that it's something he already announced in 2007: a radio drama inspired by his 1988 cyberpunk adventure game Snatcher, scripted by Suda 51. It's called "Sdatcher" as a pun on Suda's name. This is the long-awaited Kojima/Suda "Project S."

The drama will include music by Akira Yamaoka, and will be released to coincide with the 300th episode of Hideradio -- this one is #296, and they are released biweekly, on Fridays. So ... two months or so? Of course, we'll then have to wait for some kind of translation, official or otherwise.

We take back what we said earlier. The real real surprise with this announcement is that Kojima actually announced something that isn't Metal Gear.

JoystiqKojima announces Snatcher-inspired radio drama, for real this time originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokahideo-kojimaradio-dramasdatchersnatchersuda-51Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Yamaoka scoring Grasshopper-developed Evangelion rhythm game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/yamaoka-scoring-grasshopper-developed-evangelion-rhythm-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/yamaoka-scoring-grasshopper-developed-evangelion-rhythm-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/yamaoka-scoring-grasshopper-developed-evangelion-rhythm-game/#comments It's not often we'd rush to post about a Japan-only licensed anime game for PSP ... but the latest Evangelion game revealed by Famitsu is a little unusual. Rebuild of Evangelion Sound Impact, is, as the title suggests, a rhythm game based on the Evangelion anime series. It's also being developed by Grasshopper Manufacture, led by Doshin the Giant creator Kazutoshi Iida. It also has over 30 tracks of music from the series, arranged by Akira Yamaoka.

If you were, separately, a fan of Grasshopper Manufacture, Yamaoka, and Evangelion, well, now those fandoms are connected, and you're freaking the hell out. We're, um, guessing. Rebuild of Evangelion Sound Impact is due for release in Japan September 29, with two separate special editions containing either a soundtrack, or a soundtrack plus a t-shirt and headphones. Good thing the PSP is region free!

JoystiqYamaoka scoring Grasshopper-developed Evangelion rhythm game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokaevangeliongrasshopper-manufacturejapannamco-bandaiplaystationpspq3-2011rebuild-of-evangelion-sound-impactrelease-datesonyWed, 15 Jun 2011 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Game music superstars contribute new music to 'Play for Japan' album]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/game-music-superstars-contribute-new-music-to-play-for-japan-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/game-music-superstars-contribute-new-music-to-play-for-japan-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/23/game-music-superstars-contribute-new-music-to-play-for-japan-a/#comments The name of the "Play for Japan" charity initiative typically refers to playing games, but a group of well-known video game composers, led by Silent Hill's Akira Yamaoka, has decided to play some music to raise money for earthquake relief.

The album features new songs by composers such as Bear McCreary, Nobuo Uematsu, Tommy Tallarico, Super Mario Bros. musician Koji Kondo, and Creatures Inc. president Hip Tanaka, who has branched out in recent years from his work as a Nintendo composer (Metroid, Dr. Mario) into the role of a chiptunes DJ.

The album will be released in early June on iTunes, with all proceeds going to the Japanese Red Cross. Check out the unexpectedly creepy cover art by Yoshitaka Amano above, and a significantly less creepy statement from Yamaoka after the break.

Continue reading Game music superstars contribute new music to 'Play for Japan' album

JoystiqGame music superstars contribute new music to 'Play for Japan' album originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 May 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokacharityearthquakejapanmusicplay-for-japanMon, 23 May 2011 11:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill composer's guitar auctioned for Japan relief]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/silent-hill-composers-guitar-auctioned-for-japan-relief/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/silent-hill-composers-guitar-auctioned-for-japan-relief/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/30/silent-hill-composers-guitar-auctioned-for-japan-relief/#comments What's scarier, being absolutely broke or regretting never taking a chance to have a piece of video game history? An auction for Akira Yamaoka's guitar and FX amps, which were used to create the audio atmosphere for a little franchise called Silent Hill, is currently underway on eBay (and will last for five days).

The auction is part of Play for Japan, a coordinated effort to present consumers and gamers with means to help the relief effort in Japan. If you partake, you'll not only feel good about donating money to Japan, but you'll possibly give this guitar a new home and outlook on life, one filled with joy, sunshine and family -- not giant death bunnies and other unspeakable horrors.

JoystiqSilent Hill composer's guitar auctioned for Japan relief originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokaauctioncharityjapanmicrosoftnintendoplay-for-japanplaystationps3pspsilent-hillSilent-Hill-Shattered-MemoriessonywiixboxWed, 30 Mar 2011 09:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Grasshopper releases free songs in memory of Japan's quake victims]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/grasshopper-releases-free-songs-in-memory-of-japans-quake-victi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/grasshopper-releases-free-songs-in-memory-of-japans-quake-victi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/15/grasshopper-releases-free-songs-in-memory-of-japans-quake-victi/#comments Grasshopper Manufacture has released a trio of songs produced by its audio team in remembrance of those affected by its native Japan's devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Two of the songs, "Otomodachi, as you wake" and "Otomodachi, before you sleep," were created by Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka. A third, "Otomodachi, in the afternoon," is by his GhM co-worker Tak Hiraoka.

The tracks are available for free via the dev's Facebook page. Although they don't cost a cent, consider contributing to the relief efforts of the Red Cross (redcross.org) if you like them -- or even if you don't. It's nice to be, well ... nice.

JoystiqGrasshopper releases free songs in memory of Japan's quake victims originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akira-Yamaokacharitydisaster-relief-japanfacebookfreegrasshopper-manufactureNo-More-Heroes-2No-More-Heroes-2-Desperate-Struggleno-more-heroes-heroes-paradisered-crosssuda-51tak-hiraokaTue, 15 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill soundtrack collection is frighteningly huge]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/silent-hill-soundtrack-collection-is-frighteningly-huge/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/silent-hill-soundtrack-collection-is-frighteningly-huge/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/23/silent-hill-soundtrack-collection-is-frighteningly-huge/#comments For the next entry in its outlandishly enormous CD box set series, Konami is releasing a collection of music from the Silent Hill series. The Silent Hill Sounds Box, despite its name, isn't just nine discs full of radio static; it's actually eight discs of game soundtracks, from the original through Silent Hill: The Arcade, with a ninth disc full of trailers.

The ¥13,230 ($160) set also includes a booklet full of concept art. It'll be released in Japan on March 16, but is unlikely to make it into even the least haunted towns in America.

JoystiqSilent Hill soundtrack collection is frighteningly huge originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokajapankonamimicrosoftmusicnintendoplaystationps3pspsilent-hillsilent-hill-sounds-boxsonysoundtrackwiixboxWed, 23 Feb 2011 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Shadows of the Damned composer sounds off]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/shadows-of-the-damned-composer-sounds-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/shadows-of-the-damned-composer-sounds-off/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/15/shadows-of-the-damned-composer-sounds-off/#commentsEA revealed Grasshopper Manufacture's Shadows of the Damned at its pre-TGS event earlier today -- and it was about Damned time. We cornered one of the "Video Game Band" members, composer Akira Yamaoka, to discuss his role creating music and sound for the "psychological action thriller." We also discuss his old gig at Konami and how he feels about passing the Silent Hill torch (at least for now).

Joystiq: Were you excited to have your new music premiere in the trailer this evening?

Akira Yamaoka: Very exciting, yes.

Were you also nervous about showing your first project outside of Konami?

Not nervous. I was more excited about the project.

Gallery: Shadows of the Damned

Continue reading Shadows of the Damned composer sounds off

JoystiqShadows of the Damned composer sounds off originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akira-YamaokaEAea-partnersElectronic-Artsgrasshopper-manufacturemicrosoftmusicplaystationps3shadows-of-the-damnedsilent-hill-8soundsoundtrackxboxWed, 15 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill vocalist working with Yamaoka on Suda/Mikami game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/silent-hill-vocalist-working-with-yamaoka-on-suda-mikami-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/silent-hill-vocalist-working-with-yamaoka-on-suda-mikami-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/silent-hill-vocalist-working-with-yamaoka-on-suda-mikami-game/#commentsFiled under: , ,

On her Facebook page, frequent Silent Hill vocalist Mary Elizabeth McGlynn announced that she was working on something new with Akira Yamaoka -- and that she wouldn't be in Silent Hill 8. Apparently, Yamaoka got her in the "divorce." We contacted Yamaoka's new home, Grasshopper Manufacture, to find out if it was the enigmatic Suda/Shinji Mikami project for EA Partners on which the "You're Not Here" singer was collaborating.

According to a Grasshopper rep, it was. " Yamaoka-san worked on two new songs for our EAP game while in LA," he told Joystiq. "Both will be used during some of the most climactic moments of the game. I've heard bits of the unfinished versions, and all I can say is that Akira and Mary Elizabeth are an amazing combination. I'm sure fans are going to enjoy it."

The biggest implication from this announcement is that we now have proof that work has been done on this game! Also, we now know it's going to have cool music.

JoystiqSilent Hill vocalist working with Yamaoka on Suda/Mikami game originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akira-Yamaokagrasshopper-manufactureMary-Elizabeth-McGlynnmicrosoftMusicnintendoplaystationps3Silent-Hill-8wiixboxThu, 01 Jul 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill 8 (working title) coming in 2011 from Vatra Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/new-silent-hill-game-coming-in-2011-from-vatra-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/new-silent-hill-game-coming-in-2011-from-vatra-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/16/new-silent-hill-game-coming-in-2011-from-vatra-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Konami has just shared details on the brand new, Vatra Games-developed Silent Hill game for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 coming next year in 2011. Apparently it will have an escaped prisoner finding the town of Silent Hill, which is a little surprising. Haven't they closed the doors and locked the locks on that place yet? Every other year, it's somebody wandering in there to be chased down by evil nurses or pyramid heads, or whatever else they've come up with.

The game will have a brand new composer, Dan Licht, known for his work on the television show Dexter. He's replacing Akira Yamaoka, longtime composer and sound designer, who recently left for Grasshopper Manufacture. We'll look for the game in 2011, and in the meantime, please, everybody. If the sign says Silent Hill, just turn around and head back to the interstate.

Update: Press release get! The release from Konami says the game is called Silent Hill 8, but that's just a working title so far. The escaped prisoner's name is Murphy Pendleton, and he'll be part of "an all-new storyline and unique evolutions in gameplay." Sounds fun!

JoystiqSilent Hill 8 (working title) coming in 2011 from Vatra Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokadan-lichtdextere3-2010konamimicrosoftplaystationprisonerps3silent-hillsilent-hill-2011silent-hill-downpourvatra-gamesxboxWed, 16 Jun 2010 17:32:00 EST<![CDATA[New Grasshopper Manufacture project not called 'Closer']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/new-grasshopper-manufacture-project-not-called-closer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/new-grasshopper-manufacture-project-not-called-closer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/16/new-grasshopper-manufacture-project-not-called-closer/#comments After cyber spy Superannuation shed light on a U.S. copyright document, filed by Grasshopper Manufacture in August 2008, internet speculation concluded that the idiosyncratic developer's next game would be called "Closer." However, Grasshopper's international representative has told Joystiq that the name is no longer being used for any projects currently in development.

"As for 'Closer,' we currently don't have any projects under that name in development. Closer was one of the names considered for a project, but that name has since been abandoned." Grasshopper's most mysterious project -- announced in August 2008 -- is an action horror game empowered by the mind-boggling collaboration of Suda 51, Shinji Mikami, Akira Yamaoka and EA Partners. And Unreal Engine 3.

Sadly, the quelling of this rumor also brings the demise of hopes that "Closer" was to be the name of Suda 51's edgy re-imagining of Kyra Sedgwick's television drama, "The Closer." It would have all of the show's intense confrontation, but Kyra's face would be an 8-bit parody of commercialism and she'd save the game by clipping her nails over an empty wastebasket. Oh well.

JoystiqNew Grasshopper Manufacture project not called 'Closer' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokacloserea-partnersgrasshopper-manufacturehorrorshinji-mikamisuda-51Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Akira Yamaoka explains Grasshopper jump]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/interview-akira-yamaoka-explains-grasshopper-jump/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/interview-akira-yamaoka-explains-grasshopper-jump/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/02/interview-akira-yamaoka-explains-grasshopper-jump/#comments Having composed Silent Hill's unmistakable audio ever since the series began, Akira Yamaoka is best known for unsettling even the soundest of minds with an unpredictable mixture of industrial noise, haunting melodies and straight-up rock. He left his position as producer and fan-made custodian of the survival-horror franchise earlier this year to join Grasshopper Manufacture and Goichi "Suda 51" Suda's "video game band."

Although Grasshopper isn't ready to talk specifically about its upcoming collaboration with EA, we did get an opportunity at GDC to ask Akira Yamaoka a few general questions about his move and his relationship with Silent Hill.

Joystiq: What have you seen at GDC this year that interested you?

Akira Yamaoka: [laughs] I'm actually really busy with having interviews and I did a session, so I was busy with preparation for that. So, I didn't have much chance to look at a lot of sessions yet because of that, but the image around GDC has been changing. It seems like a lot of seminars are more like -- they don't really talk about new technology but they talk more about concepts and stuff like that. That's what I feel about GDC now.

Continue reading Interview: Akira Yamaoka explains Grasshopper jump

JoystiqInterview: Akira Yamaoka explains Grasshopper jump originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokaaudiogdc-2010grasshopper-manufactureinterviewkonamisilent-hillsuda-51Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:36:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC: Akira Yamaoka on the disturbing power of audio]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/akira-yamaoka-on-the-disturbing-power-of-audio/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/akira-yamaoka-on-the-disturbing-power-of-audio/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/12/akira-yamaoka-on-the-disturbing-power-of-audio/#comments The title of Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka's GDC panel was "As long as the audio is fun, the game will be too." Kind of a perplexing title, especially if you've enjoyed Yamaoka's work in the horror genre. Don't get us wrong, it's good, we're just not sure fun is the word for it. Yamaoka used the panel to explain precisely why his music and sound effects are so disturbing, and it's more technical than you might think.

"Sound is very close to stimulating emotions in your brain," said Yamaoka via an interpreter. "What do humans fear?" He asked. In the case of audio, he noted that gaps between visual cues and accompanying audio. Specifically, if a sound precedes a visual cue, it can cause anxiety, while a sound that arrives too late is comforting. As an example, he noted the sounds of footsteps being made slightly before the onscreen action in a game. He noted that this effect can be felt even if the sync between sound and visual is off by a few frames of animation. Yamaoka said later in the panel that he used this technique in Silent Hill 3.

Another technique mentioned was the use of silence."When there's no sound, the brain fills in the gap," said Yamaoka. He then played a special version of Beethoven's "Für Elise" which had been injected with tiny, periodic gaps of silence. He then played the same piece, only this time injecting harsh noise instead of silence. Even packed in a fully lit lecture hall with hundreds of GDC attendees, it was unsettling. Unfortunately, Yamaoka wasn't able to give us the sound samples used during the panel, so we've done our best to recreate them:


Thankfully, Yamaoka closed the session with a soothing guitar performance, which we were able to capture for your enjoyment. Listen to it below and stay tuned for an interview with Mr. Yamoaka on Joystiq in the near future.

JoystiqGDC: Akira Yamaoka on the disturbing power of audio originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akira-Yamaokaaudiogdcgdc-2010grasshopper-manufacturermusicsilent-hillFri, 12 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More GDC talks: Yamaoka, Deus Ex 3, Arkham Asylum]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/more-gdc-talks-yamaoka-deus-ex-3-arkham-asylum/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/more-gdc-talks-yamaoka-deus-ex-3-arkham-asylum/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/12/more-gdc-talks-yamaoka-deus-ex-3-arkham-asylum/#commentsThe GDC organizers have just announced a few more of the Game Developers who will be Conferring at next month's event. Eidos Montreal art director Jonathan Jacques-Belletete will offer some rare info about the upcoming Deus Ex 3 in his talk, "The Successes and Failures of Creating a Near-Future Cyberpunk Setting with a Renaissance Twist in Deus Ex 3", while new Grasshopper Manufacture hire (and former Silent Hill producer and composer) Akira Yamaoka will present a retrospective of his career at Konami.

Other new lectures include Rocksteady's David Hego on the art direction of Batman: Arkham Asylum and ngmoco's Neil Young on "Things to Unlearn Moving From Traditional Development to the New Digital World". GDC will take place in San Francisco from March 9-13.

JoystiqMore GDC talks: Yamaoka, Deus Ex 3, Arkham Asylum originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokabatman-arkham-asylumdeus-ex-3eidosgdcgdc-2010rocksteadyrocksteady-studiosFri, 12 Feb 2010 06:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill composer Yamaoka joins Suda 51's 'video game band']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/silent-hill-composer-yamaoka-joins-suda-51s-video-game-band/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/silent-hill-composer-yamaoka-joins-suda-51s-video-game-band/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/silent-hill-composer-yamaoka-joins-suda-51s-video-game-band/#commentsAkira Yamaoka, composer of every Silent Hill score except one, and producer on every title in the series since 3, has joined Suda 51's studio, Grasshopper Manufacture, following his departure from Konami last month. Yamaoka has already contributed tracks to this month's No More Heroes 2 and is working on music for EA's mysterious Suda/Shinji Mikami action horror game. Though we were once concerned about the long wait time for the collaborative project (or any information about it), now that the wait has resulted in the addition of Yamaoka to its development team, we don't mind. At all.

"Ever since I saw a video of Silent Hill 2 at the Tokyo Game Show nine years ago, I've always dreamed of working alongside him," Suda told Famitsu, as translated by 1UP. "That's why I thought I'd invite him over when I started hearing rumors that he left [Konami]."

"It was a case of really good timing," Yamaoka said. "I knew about Suda long before I met him; I saw Grasshopper as one of those few Japanese outfits whose games can appeal to an overseas audience. I had a chance to meet him in Los Angeles and we talked about this and that, and once we started discussing how we wanted to do something creative for a world audience, I was hooked on the company."

Also new to Grasshopper: Kazutoshi Iida, creator of Aquanaut's Holiday, Tail of the Sun, Doshin the Giant, and Discipline, who will certainly make the already idiosyncratic works of Grasshopper Manufacture even stranger.

[Via GameSetWatch]

JoystiqSilent Hill composer Yamaoka joins Suda 51's 'video game band' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokagrasshopper-manufactureno-more-heroesshinji-mikamisilent-hillsuda-51suda51Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Silent Hill's Akira Yamaoka officially leaves Konami]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/silent-hills-akira-yamaoka-officially-leaves-konami/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/silent-hills-akira-yamaoka-officially-leaves-konami/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/02/silent-hills-akira-yamaoka-officially-leaves-konami/#commentsThat eerie, oppressive sound you hear is that of a million Silent Hill soundtracks being played in memoriam of Akira Yamaoka. Original Sound Version has confirmed Yamaoka's departure from Konami, a rumor that began circulating yesterday. Yamaoka is known primarily for his work on the characteristic soundscapes of Konami's Silent Hill series, including the upcoming Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. In fact, the man has composed the soundtrack for every game in the series (with the exception of the GBA spinoff, Silent Hill Play Novel). He has also served as a producer on the series since Silent Hill 3.

Exactly where the composer plans to go from here is unknown, though OSV claims to be preparing an interview with Yamaoka in "the coming days." In the meantime, we plan to let his music lull us into a nervous, nightmare-ridden sleep.

[Via Hell Descent]

JoystiqSilent Hill's Akira Yamaoka officially leaves Konami originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokakonamipeace-outsilent-hillsoundtrackWed, 02 Dec 2009 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka leaves Konami]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/rumor-silent-hill-composer-akira-yamaoka-leaves-konami/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/rumor-silent-hill-composer-akira-yamaoka-leaves-konami/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/01/rumor-silent-hill-composer-akira-yamaoka-leaves-konami/#comments Aeropause claims that Akira Yamaoka, the man responsible for Silent Hill's evocative sound, has apparently left Konami after 16 years and is currently vacationing in Europe. Fans of the survival-horror series would rightfully claim that Yamaoka, whose work has been a constant in the entire series, is inextricably linked to Silent Hill.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories producer Tomm Hulett told Joystiq in an interview back in June that Yamaoka's music "adds a special element, it's kind of the atmosphere of the town." He continued, "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." We've followed up with the publisher for confirmation and comment.

JoystiqRumor: Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka leaves Konami originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokakonamimusicrumorsilent-hillsilent-hill-homecomingsilent-hill-originssilent-hill-shattered-memoriesTue, 01 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories producer Tomm Hulett]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/interview-silent-hill-shattered-memories-producer-tomm-hulett/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/interview-silent-hill-shattered-memories-producer-tomm-hulett/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/interview-silent-hill-shattered-memories-producer-tomm-hulett/#comments
When it was first revealed, we gave Silent Hill: Shattered Memories a bit of a cold shoulder. Gone was the established story that had first introduced us to the world's creepiest town, reinterpreted with altered characters and a new otherworld that ditched darkness and rust in favor of jutting glaciers and vaguely menacing snowflakes. Thankfully, our experience with the game at E3 revived our expectations, even if it was at the expense of whole memories.

We later had the opportunity to speak to producer Tomm Hulett, who elaborated on why we should call Shattered Memories a re-imagining -- and not a remake:

You're making Silent Hill: Shattered Memories and you're tying it to the first game. Harry Mason is back, but you're calling it a re-imagining, you're not saying "remake." Is that a bad word?

Right, that's a curse word. [laughs] By re-imagining, like you said, we've got the premise of the first game: you're Harry Mason, you're looking for your daughter Cheryl. Beyond that we've changed and updated it, so it's an entirely new experience. If you've played the PlayStation game to death, you still have no idea what to expect for Shattered Memories.

We did that because, on the Wii, maybe there's a lot of people who haven't played any Silent Hill games, so it wasn't really fair to say, "Here's the sequel to Homecoming, enjoy yourself." But then, returning fans, they've played the first game, they've played Origins, they've seen the movie, and they've played Silent Hill 3 and it all kind of revolves around the events of the first game. So they wouldn't really want to play a remake and so, by re-imagining it, there's new content -- if you've never played it before, of course, it's new to you -- but then, there's also this extra layer of new content if you're returning, because you get to experience all these things that are different from what you're expecting. And that really fits the theme of Silent Hill, which is this place where your reality is subjective and you don't know what to expect. We've built that into the game if you're a returning fan.

Continue reading Interview: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories producer Tomm Hulett

JoystiqInterview: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories producer Tomm Hulett originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akira-Yamaokae3-2009interviewKonamiNintendoSilent-HillSilent-Hill-Shattered-Memoriessurvival-horrorTomm-HulettWiiWed, 24 Jun 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Akira Yamaoka admits David Lynch as Silent Hill influence]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/akira-yamaoka-admits-david-lynch-as-silent-hill-influence/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/akira-yamaoka-admits-david-lynch-as-silent-hill-influence/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/akira-yamaoka-admits-david-lynch-as-silent-hill-influence/#commentsFiled under:

The new Silent Hill game isn't completely abandoned by the original Japanese devs: long-time composer for the series, Akira Yamaoka, is still on board and singing praises to the new staff and the new game. Yamaoka sat down with Gamasutra at a recent Konami event and spoke a bit about the game. Let's listen in.

Yamaoka thinks it's a natural step for the game to move on to Western developers -- it had originally been a game whose horror is derived from American cinema. Plus the franchise is more popular in the US, he says. Yamaoka is also trying to move away from the horror genre, saying he "worked on some other titles that are not horror titles. But also I have something, another project in mind, that I'm trying to develop." If you're looking for what influences the Silent Hill team, he says it's probably David Lynch (The Elephant Man, specifically). So there you go. At least we can expect his white-noise style of music to scare us silly in Silent Hill: Homecoming, right?

JoystiqAkira Yamaoka admits David Lynch as Silent Hill influence originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokakonamisilent-hillsilent-hill-5silent-hill-homecomingsilent-hill-vWed, 11 Jun 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Yamaoka: Japanese game development 'is in trouble']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/yamaoka-japanese-game-development-is-in-trouble/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/yamaoka-japanese-game-development-is-in-trouble/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/26/yamaoka-japanese-game-development-is-in-trouble/#commentsFiled under:

The man who makes Silent Hill sound so creepy, Konami's Akira Yamaoka, has been working with an American team to bring you Silent Hill 5 and as a result, has a pretty unique perspective on how Japanese and U.S. teams compare. His conclusion? The future isn't particularly bright for Japanese houses. "[The U.S teams'] graphical and technical ability is amazing," he says. "There's a huge gap, actually. They're very advanced. I'm Japanese, and I think this is not just with Silent Hill but with the whole of the industry -- I look at what American developers are doing and I think wow ... Japan is in trouble."

He elaborates on the problems, citing too much pressure on aging developers and the language barrier slowing some development. We would have guessed that the troubles would stem from trying to work under the constant threat of ninja attack, but it should be noted that we're not big readers.

JoystiqYamaoka: Japanese game development 'is in trouble' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akira-yamaokajapankonamisilent-hillsilent-hill-5Wed, 26 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq interview: Silent Hill: Origin's Akira Yamaoka]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/joystiq-interview-silent-hill-origins-akira-yamaoka/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/joystiq-interview-silent-hill-origins-akira-yamaoka/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/23/joystiq-interview-silent-hill-origins-akira-yamaoka/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Not quite as terrifying as the titles he's been working on, Akira Yamaoka sat down with us during E For All to give us a teensy bit of information about the upcoming Silent Hill: Origins, and what it took to bring the game to the PlayStation Portable. While he didn't tell us the secret to being scary on a much smaller screen, we imagine it'll mean a lot of OMG IN YOUR FACE moments and spooky noises. Perhaps they'll even tell people this is a game better enjoyed with headphones.

Check out the brief interview after the break.

Gallery: E for All 2007

Continue reading Joystiq interview: Silent Hill: Origin's Akira Yamaoka

JoystiqJoystiq interview: Silent Hill: Origin's Akira Yamaoka originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akira-YamaokaAkiraYamaokaKonamiOriginsPSPSilent-HillSilentHillTue, 23 Oct 2007 21:31:00 EST