Topic: Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

[broodwars]

I listened to it over and over last night.  I think the song is catchy, and I like the context.

Yeah, I really wasn't expecting to actually have a song called "Shattered Memories" that actually has something to do with the game.  Neither "The Room" nor "Homecoming" featured a primary vocal song that focused on the title.  Anyone really get Silent Hill 2 vibes out of that trailer, particularly the guitar playing and the sequence where Harry looks at himself in a mirror?

[Peachylala]

Here's hoping we start seeing online reviews popping up on the main gaming sites sometime between now and the 8th, or else we have problems.  It's not like the Wii section of IGN or Gamespot has anything new Nintendo-related to keep them occupied, so if we don't see an early review that means it didn't get a high enough score to get past the embargo.

Nintendo Power gave the game an 8 in their review. IGN/Gamespot might score the game lower, but by how much?
 
-0.5?

[broodwars]

Here's hoping we start seeing online reviews popping up on the main gaming sites sometime between now and the 8th, or else we have problems.  It's not like the Wii section of IGN or Gamespot has anything new Nintendo-related to keep them occupied, so if we don't see an early review that means it didn't get a high enough score to get past the embargo.

Nintendo Power gave the game an 8 in their review. IGN/Gamespot might score the game lower, but by how much?
 
-0.5?

I know it's now the same incredibly biased magazine it used to be, but I'm taking Nintendo Power's review with a pinch of salt.  My guess is that if we don't see a review by release date, we'll see a 7/10 from IGN (maybe lower) and a 6/10 from Gamespot.  Add 1.5 to IGN and 2.0 to Gamespot's if we see their reviews by release day.

[NWR_Neal]

Hopefully you guys have more enthusiasm with this game then when I tried to do this with Again on DS.

We've got an opportunity for a Q&A with someone who worked on the game. You guys got any questions?

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

5.5/10

"IGN WANTS TRADITIONAL CONTROLLERS AND SHOOTING STUFF"

[broodwars]

Hopefully you guys have more enthusiasm with this game then when I tried to do this with Again on DS.

We've got an opportunity for a Q&A with someone who worked on the game. You guys got any questions?

Hard to say.  Many of the questions I would ask would either be answered simply by playing the game less than a week from now or have already been answered.  Others, like "this game has been delayed multiple times now, so what did you use those extra months of development for" probably can't be answered.  I'll give it some thought.

So what happened with "Again" on the DS with you?  I don't know about the rest of the guys here, but I'm still relatively enthusiastic for Shattered Memories.  That enthusiasm's just been tempered by the supreme lack of marketing from Konami on this game and the history of crappy 3rd party games on Wii.  This just feels like a game that Konami doesn't have a lot of faith in, so I kind of wonder why I should.  Wow, that's another question I'd like to ask the guys at Climax that I get a feeling they can't answer (probably because they're thinking the same thing).

[broodwars]

5.5/10

"IGN WANTS TRADITIONAL CONTROLLERS AND SHOOTING STUFF"

I doubt that, somewhat, Pro.  IGN's been in love with games that use the Wiimote as a flashlight for years, ever since Fatal Frame 4 was announced.  What I think they'll go after is the same thing that Play and Nintendo Power went after: "It's not scary" (Silent Hill games never are) and "Your inability to fight enemies just make the "Ice" sections of the game tedious."

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

I think the foot chases are exciting.  Somehow, press don't like merely running away/dodging/defense, they're biased towards offense.  I do find entertainment value in being "untouchable" in well-executed play.

[NWR_Neal]

So what happened with "Again" on the DS with you?

Nothing major. I just did a call for questions and everyone was hoping it was Hotel Dusk 2, which was coincidentally announced around the same time.

Mainly a general lack of enthusiasm for the game, which I can relate with.

However, I think this game is shaping up to be good, and I'm excited to see what people say about it.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I have some questions.

How are the marketing efforts for this game? Was there enough money set aside in the budget to market the game aggressively?

The game has been delayed several(?) times, can you elaborate on what the extra time was used for?

After having spent lots of time with the Wii while developing this game, do you feel you pushed the system to its capacity?

Is there more you would like to include but didn't have time to implement? Is it possible that those features/elements will make it's way into the sequel?

Now that you are done working on this game, what is next on the agenda? Will your next project also see a release on the Wii?

Are there any secrets(alternate paths, hidden items or characters) to be found in the game? Anything that would call for a second play through to find?

[broodwars]

I have some questions.

How are the marketing efforts for this game? Was there enough money set aside in the budget to market the game aggressively?

The game has been delayed several(?) times, can you elaborate on what the extra time was used for?

After having spent lots of time with the Wii while developing this game, do you feel you pushed the system to its capacity?

Is there more you would like to include but didn't have time to implement? Is it possible that those features/elements will make it's way into the sequel?

Now that you are done working on this game, what is next on the agenda? Will your next project also see a release on the Wii?

Are there any secrets(alternate paths, hidden items or characters) to be found in the game? Anything that would call for a second play through to find?

Sounds good to me, though I think several of those are going to get the standard PR type of responses (if I had a dollar for every time a dev team said they had "pushed a system to its limits"...).  I'd like a greater elaboration on any features that got cut as well, while you're on the subject.

[Stratos]

I'd like to ask them about what they learned from Overlord on Wii and how they applied those lessons to Shattered Memories. Also asking them anything about their post Overlord thoughts would be nice, though not directly about Shattered Memories.

Then I'd like to hear what they have learned from making this game and how they hope to apply that in the future.

[broodwars]

According to IGN's rarely updated (compared to their other podcasts, which almost always come out every week) Nintendo Voice Chat podcast, the Shattered Memories review is going up today, 12/4/2009.  That's a fair distance before the release date, so I have a feeling my 8.5 prediction is going to be more or less accurate.  From the sounds of it, the main complaint will be its short length (nothing new for a Silent Hill game, there) and limited replay value, which makes me wonder if this game has multiple endings ala most Silent Hill games or if they threw that out in favor of this psychological profile system tailoring the game as you play.  There also seem to be very mixed reactions on whether the game can frighten or not.

[Peachylala]

Aside from a few moments that made me jump, the original PSX SH game wasn't all that scary.

[vudu]

If this game does well are we going to get another Silent Hill game (either a remake of SH2 or a completely original title)?

[Mop it up]

We've got an opportunity for a Q&A with someone who worked on the game. You guys got any questions?

Would this be a good game for people who have never played a Silent Hill game?
Would it be a good game for people who have never played a survival horror game at all?

[vudu]

Do you really expect them to answer 'no' to either of those questions? 

[Mop it up]

Of course not, but if they are answered, I would expect them to give a reason instead of simply saying "yes".

[vudu]

Here, I'll answer for them.

Would this be a good game for people who have never played a Silent Hill game?

Yes, because this is a complete re-imagining of the first game new gamers will be introduced to the world of Silent Hill in an exciting and tense ride.  At the same time, Silent Hill veterans will love this game because of the new surprises and twists we added.  Characters and plot points won't always show up where you expect them which will keep players on their toes.

Would it be a good game for people who have never played a survival horror game at all?

Shattered Memories is unlike any survival horror game ever created.  Because of this, experience with prior survival horror games isn't required.  Players will need to be able to think on their feet to solve puzzles and escape enemies.

Blah blah blah

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

If this game does well are we going to get another Silent Hill game (either a remake of SH2 or a completely original title)?

completely original rail shooter

[ShyGuy]

Ask the developer in the Q&A if they had any challenges doing the lighting effects on the Wii (which look fantastic)

[broodwars]

If this game does well are we going to get another Silent Hill game (either a remake of SH2 or a completely original title)?

completely original rail shooter

There's actually a new Silent Hill rail shooter in arcades in Japan that's reportedly pretty terrible that we could get, but I doubt it.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Q: Are there any graphical or programming tricks that you discovered during development that you would like to see other developers implement in their own games.

Q: What do you think of the state of 3rd party affairs on the Wii? Which 3rd party games would you yourself like to see developed on the Wii? What other games are you working on that you think would be a good fit for Wii?

Q: What are your expectations for sales of this game? How much needs to be soldfor you to consider this game a success?

[broodwars]

Hey, just a heads up, guys: according to various posters on GameFAQs (yes, there, so definitely take this with a grain of salt) several Gamestops have been selling this game early.  Some will, some won't because the street date only pops up when they ring the title up.  I have to be out and about tomorrow anyway and I'm friends with the manager of my local GS, so I'm going to stop by and see if I can get my copy early.  There's a high probability that I won't walk out with a copy, but it's worth a shot I suppose.  Hey, I got Muramasa something like 5 days early from that GS so what the hell.  You might want to consider looking into it as well.

[KDR_11k]

GoNintendo reports the same thing. Apparently the shipment wasn't labeled with a street date so there's no legal reason not to sell it.