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Assets from The Collective's 'The Executives' emerge [update]

by Ben Gilbert { Feb 28th 2009 at 1:57PM }

Last summer, just weeks after E3 2008 ended, Midway fired a bunch of folks from their Austin studio. Layoffs happen all the time (especially during economic recessions) but this one brought with it the death of an "unannounced title." Midway president Matt Booty, at the time, said, "Midway Games Inc. today announced that it has canceled an as-yet-unannounced project in production in its Austin, TX, facility, and as a result Midway will have a reduction in force of a portion of the affected development team."

Today, we have assets from an unannounced title credited to The Collective (said to have been working on a canned title for Midway) known as both "The Executives" and "Career Criminal." Found on 3D artist Kye-Wan Sung's personal website, he's got art assets from what seems to be a variety of different console iterations of the game. Keep in mind these are all renderings for a game that was canceled and not final art or even in-game art. We know we're nearly a year late but ... someone tell that lady her pants are falling off!

Update: What lady, you ask? You'll have to dig through the source link to find out, as we have removed the post image at the request of the copyright holder, Kye-wan Sung. Sung tells us that this particular project was "canceled 6 years ago," which seems to suggest that the would-be game is not one and the same as Midway's canned title. Just a coincidence. Move along, people.

[Via superannuation]

Silent Hill: Homecoming classified by Australia's OFLC

by Richard Mitchell { Jan 7th 2009 at 11:45AM }

After being refused classification by the OFLC -- Australia's ratings board -- Silent Hill: Homecoming is finally coming home Down Under with an MA15+ rating. The game had earlier failed to net an MA15+ rating in September of 2008, effectively banning it from sale. It wasn't alone, as several other titles, including F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin and Fallout 3, ran into the same situation (both of which were later classified). According to Gamespot, Silent Hill: Homecoming was apparently resubmitted to the OFLC and has now been classified MA15+, though it's unclear what changes were made to the game, if any.

Hopefully, the pervading creepiness is still intact, because that's all that matters.

[Via Joystiq]

Joystiq E3 hands-on: Silent Hill: Homecoming

by Richard Mitchell { Jul 17th 2008 at 5:30PM }

A few things. First, I love the Silent Hill series. Second, E3 really isn't the venue for demoing a Silent Hill game. Even in Konami's relatively quiet meeting room, it was impossible to hear any dialogue or music in Silent Hill: Homecoming -- headphones were available, but they were broken ... grrr. Considering that the soundscape of any given Silent Hill game is responsible for half of the atmosphere (arguably more), it makes it hard to judge how the game feels. So, you'll just have to settle for a look at how the game plays.

Gallery: Silent Hill: Homecoming (5-21-08)

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New Silent Hill: Homecoming screens damage psyche

by Richard Mitchell { May 22nd 2008 at 11:00AM }

It's a strange kind of excitement when a new batch of Silent Hill: Homecoming screenshots is released. There is happiness at the prospect of any news regarding Silent Hill and there is also the lurking fear that accompanies it. The latest screens keep most of the fear in check, thankfully, as creepiness is kept to a minimum. Sure, we do get some new shots of the nurses (as well as a new monster apparently obsessed with yoga), but we've learned to deal with them. Psychologically, at least, we can (mostly) handle the nurses. Check out the new screens and hope that Homecoming lives up to its predecessors.

Gallery: Silent Hill: Homecoming (5/21/08)

Funny endings return for Silent Hill: Homecoming

by Richard Mitchell { May 19th 2008 at 5:00PM }

Speaking to GameTrailers, Silent Hill: Homecoming producer and composer Akira Yamaoka has revealed that funny endings will be returning in upcoming Double Helix (formerly The Collective) take on the series. When asked about what elements from previous games would be returning in Homecoming, Yamaoka said (through a translator), "I think humor is important. A lot of Silent Hill fans enjoy different endings, like the UFO ending, the dog ending, right? Those funny endings are an important part of Silent Hill."

We'd be hard-pressed to disagree, as the humorous endings (spoilers ... sort of) serve as a much needed counterbalance to the disturbing, soul-shattering imagery that the series is known for. Oh, and Yamaoka's favorite entry in the series? Silent Hill 2 (ahem ... duh). Check out the full interview after the break.

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Silent Hill: Homecoming brings home several videos

by Nick Doerr { May 17th 2008 at 9:00AM }

We've got one video above and several more videos after the cut detailing different areas of Silent Hill: Homecoming. While some may decry the game as an abandoned franchise by Team Silent, or a Me-Too title done by outsourced developers, you have to admit they've nailed the atmosphere pretty well. This is a Silent Hill game, but we can't really judge this type of game until it's been played through from beginning to bloody end. Then thought about on a deep psychological level for several hours. Anyway, enjoy these videos, featuring lots of nurses and lots of dogs, then let us know what you think.

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New grisly video and images of Silent Hill: Homecoming

by Richard Mitchell { May 16th 2008 at 5:30PM }

click to enlarge

Okay, with this fresh media form The Collective's take on Silent Hill (subtitled Homecoming), our fears are somewhat allayed. Given that the new Silent Hill is being developed by an American team outside of Konami, we were initially skeptical. The new images and (finally!) video have made us feel just a little bit better. First of all, the new score by longtime series composer Akira Yamaoka is in full effect and sets the mood nicely. Second, the game actually looks pretty good with combat in particular looking to be improved over previous iterations. But enough blather, check it out for yourself. Find three new videos embedded after the break.

Gallery: Silent Hill: Homecoming (Xbox 360)

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Silent Hill - Homecoming: 11 haunting new screens

by Xav de Matos { Apr 25th 2008 at 4:00PM }

Coming soon from The Collective is the fifth game in Konami's Silent Hill series, recently renamed Silent Hill: Homecoming. From the 11 new screenshots we've snagged it appears that the California-based developer has captured the creepy atmosphere of the original Silent Hill games. Since it was announced that The Collective would be developing the latest entry of the series, and not the original Konami team, fans have been somewhat reluctant to get on board with the game. While it isn't set to release until the fall, the game at least appears to be a step in the right direction.

Gallery: Silent Hill: Homecoming

Vampires rejoice, Harker on "indefinite hold"

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 22nd 2008 at 4:30PM }

After a brief burst of early hype, The Collective's Harker -- a vampire slaying action game -- completely disappeared. Of course, that makes sense when you factor in the fact that The Collective (who have now been combined with Shiny to form the new Double Helix studio) was later handed the reins to the latest entry in the Silent Hill series. If Konami decided to let us make the next Silent Hill (note to Konami: not a good idea), we'd drop whatever we were doing too. Unfortunately, it looks like Harker might be buried in an early grave, as Double Helix's parent company Foundation 9 has announced that the project is on "indefinite hold." Frankly, we were looking forward to killing vampires using the game's environmental hazards and brutal combat engine.

Here's hoping Harker gets another chance to prove his undead-slaying worth.

[Via Joystiq]

Harker put on 'indefinite hold'

by Christopher Grant { Apr 22nd 2008 at 11:29AM }

Now that we think about it, we haven't heard a peep about The Collective's next-gen vampire-hunting sim Harker (as in Jonathan Harker, protagonist of Bram Stoker's Dracula, the book based on the movie based on the Sega CD game of the same name) in quite a while. We'd assumed things had been put on the backburner since the dev – recently merged with Shiny and rebranded Double Helix – is busy working on Silent Hill Homecoming for Konami, but parent-company Foundation 9 tells Eurogamer the title "has been put on indefinite hold."

While that's certainly good news for virtual 19th century fin de siècle vampires galavanting about eastern Europe, it's bad news for those of us with fond memories of The Collective's earlier 21st century vampire-killing sim, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's also the second time in as many years that a project on the developer's plate has been pulled. Remember the Dirty Harry game? Well, do ya?

Silent Hill V dated for September, renamed 'Homecoming'

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 21st 2008 at 2:45PM }

We're going to join Joystiq in a little speculation here. Okay, first, the details. One, Silent Hill V has been renamed Silent Hill: Homecoming. Joystiq speculates that this name change has been made to distinguish the latest entry from the series proper because it's being developed by The Collective rather than Konami. We would add that it's also possible that Konami wants to distinguish Silent Hill V from the two other survival horror games that happen to be the fifth installments in their respective series.

Two, Silent Hill: Homecoming is set to arrive in September ... in Europe. We're going to side with Joystiq on this one and assume that it should arrive in North America at around the same time. Dare we allow ourselves to get excited?

[Via Joystiq]

Foundation 9 melts together Collective and Shiny into Double Helix

by Jason Dobson { Mar 27th 2008 at 9:00PM }

Whatever last remnants of identity clung to by both Shiny and The Collective were lost today as the duo were merged together by owner Foundation 9, creating a new, wholly unfamiliar entity known as Double Helix. Studio head Michael Saxs Persson calls the new name and logo, which were chosen from a pool of employee submissions, a "perfect" match for the company, adding that "making games is in our DNA."

The founding follows the initial merger, announced last October, and according to Foundation 9 creates a studio "that is now able to build upon its previous experience to gain new heights in quality and efficiency." And all it cost us was our fond memories of a simpler time spent playing the likes of MDK and Earthworm Jim. While the company remains coy regarding what it's up to currently, today's announcement notes that Double Helix is developing a trio of multi-platform licensed games, one of which we assume to be the already announced Silent Hill V.

New soul withering shots of Silent Hill V

by Richard Mitchell { Feb 29th 2008 at 6:15PM }

After spotting some brand new Silent Hill V screenshots on the web today, we quickly set about acquiring them ourselves. After instating requesting the aid of an intrepid colleague at Joystiq, we thought we had acquired the images in questions. Alas, we were unable to get the lovely, watermark-free versions of the images, but we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the shots we had acquired seem to be brand new. So, as we endeavor to nab the images we originally sought, enjoy our three brand new images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Silent Hill: Homecoming

Enter the door of flesh with new Silent Hill 5 screenshots

by Nick Doerr { Feb 18th 2008 at 1:00AM }

It's time to look at some high-res screenshots of Silent Hill V. Dim your lights, put on that Silent Hill 3 soundtrack that came with the game (you know you have it, avid SH fans!), and click on over to SilentHill5.net to check them out. You'll see some familiar monsters with new design twists, some areas we've not seen yet, and some enemies we are glad have finally been revealed. Don't worry kids, there's nothing too grotesque that would get you in trouble for looking at. That is, if parents are keeping tabs on that sort of thing. Enjoy!

[via SilentHill5.net]

Behold, a few minutes of Silent Hill 5

by Nick Doerr { Dec 10th 2007 at 2:30PM }

Well... if you can handle the guy talking in a foreign language in the background (we won't even guess which language to save face), you've got a couple minutes of Silent Hill V to watch. The atmosphere is as moody and daunting as ever and it seems to be a throwback to the original game's tone -- walking into some random house, that is. Maybe we'll get more random homes to walk into. And the "checkpoint" that comes up on screen? Kind of strange, but if it gets rid of save points, that could work out for the better. We'll keep you posted as more details emerge.