On Silent Hill on the DS and Silent Hill Origins’ “changes”

Speaking to Kikizo, William Oertel, producer of Silent Hill Origins on the PSP, noted that Konami‘s Silent Hill franchise might be headed to the DS if there’s a “really compelling” concept behind it. It was noted that the concept should be there in order for the developers to maintain consistency with the main series. Silent Hill on the DS? “I don’t think anything is impossible,” says the producer.

As for the PSP game, Oertel noted that while there’s a lot of pressure for them to get this project right, they’re really doing their best not to disappoint. He says that “A lot of people are working really hard to make sure we’re setting a bar for survival horror on the PSP.”

It was noted that since the PlayStation Portable is a different platform than the PS2, this meant that the developers needed to do different things to increase the intensity and the feeling of horror in the game. It was noted that one of the ways they accomplished this increase in intensity was adopting the over-the-shoulder camera when in combat. They say that this helps increase the action without turning the game into a shooter or an action game.

It was also noted that story-wise, Konami will try to answer some questions, but due to the nature of the game, and the setting it’s required that they try to keep the players in the dark about some aspects. Oertel expounds:

We want to take advantage of that opportunity to explain some things – not everything. …You’re going to a town that has multiple shifts in reality with people that have their own kind of dementia. How do you put a realistic spin on that? By it’s nature it needs to be somewhat vague.

Kikizo notes that multiple endings may help in that “keeping in the dark” part.

The gradual attempt at making Silent Hill a global franchise, and making the game more “western friendly” was also discussed. Oertel notes some of that shift in the previous installments of the game where some concepts were intended to be a bit more action oriented. Why this slow global shift? It was noted that Konami is thinking long term, and that this is “just the first step in many other things.” What other ways will Silent Hill grow and expand? Time will tell.

Speaking to Kikizo, William Oertel, producer of Silent Hill Origins on the PSP, noted that Konami‘s Silent Hill franchise might be headed to the DS if there’s a “really compelling” concept behind it. It was noted that the concept should be there in order for the developers to maintain consistency with the main series. Silent Hill on the DS? “I don’t think anything is impossible,” says the producer.

As for the PSP game, Oertel noted that while there’s a lot of pressure for them to get this project right, they’re really doing their best not to disappoint. He says that “A lot of people are working really hard to make sure we’re setting a bar for survival horror on the PSP.”

It was noted that since the PlayStation Portable is a different platform than the PS2, this meant that the developers needed to do different things to increase the intensity and the feeling of horror in the game. It was noted that one of the ways they accomplished this increase in intensity was adopting the over-the-shoulder camera when in combat. They say that this helps increase the action without turning the game into a shooter or an action game.

It was also noted that story-wise, Konami will try to answer some questions, but due to the nature of the game, and the setting it’s required that they try to keep the players in the dark about some aspects. Oertel expounds:

We want to take advantage of that opportunity to explain some things – not everything. …You’re going to a town that has multiple shifts in reality with people that have their own kind of dementia. How do you put a realistic spin on that? By it’s nature it needs to be somewhat vague.

Kikizo notes that multiple endings may help in that “keeping in the dark” part.

The gradual attempt at making Silent Hill a global franchise, and making the game more “western friendly” was also discussed. Oertel notes some of that shift in the previous installments of the game where some concepts were intended to be a bit more action oriented. Why this slow global shift? It was noted that Konami is thinking long term, and that this is “just the first step in many other things.” What other ways will Silent Hill grow and expand? Time will tell.