Jesus Christ, what another shit week to enjoy video games, eh?
I couldn’t decide on which potent video game current affair to talk about today, so I’ve decided to cover them over a few days. Between the Star Wars: Battlefront reboot being a seemingly empty shell of it’s PS2 predecessors and the debacle over Valve and Bethesda's paid mod system, it’s becoming increasingly hard to support the AAA gaming market this week.
I couldn’t decide on which potent video game current affair to talk about today, so I’ve decided to cover them over a few days. Between the Star Wars: Battlefront reboot being a seemingly empty shell of it’s PS2 predecessors and the debacle over Valve and Bethesda's paid mod system, it’s becoming increasingly hard to support the AAA gaming market this week.
But today we’re asking a different question; Can Konami’s cancellation of Silent Hills lead not to the Death of Video games, but to the death of video game horror?
Before we get started, if you haven't experienced P.T. before, or just want to have it before it's impossible to get, then visit this link or go to the PlayStation Store from your PS4 BEFORE TOMORROW (29/4/15). You will not be able to download P.T. after this. You have been warned.
Any video game enthusiast out there will probably already know of the sad saga that was Silent Hills. Due to be created in part by Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro, this innovative new entry-come-reboot in the survival horror franchise was set to star Norman Reedus as our playable protagonist. It was revealed in one of the best way I've ever seen: Through a mysterious, otherwise dissociated, scary as fuck demo called P.T., which sadly, if you haven’t downloaded by tomorrow, you will never get another chance to experience.
Any video game enthusiast out there will probably already know of the sad saga that was Silent Hills. Due to be created in part by Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro, this innovative new entry-come-reboot in the survival horror franchise was set to star Norman Reedus as our playable protagonist. It was revealed in one of the best way I've ever seen: Through a mysterious, otherwise dissociated, scary as fuck demo called P.T., which sadly, if you haven’t downloaded by tomorrow, you will never get another chance to experience.
Image Credit: ign.com
Konami, in its infinite wisdom, have not only shitcanned the entire project, but has also elected to remove P.T. from the PlayStation store as of tomorrow. This is what can only be described as a tragedy, for many reasons. From what we can tell, all of this is coming about because of Hideo Kojima’s ongoing feud with Konami over the Metal Gear Solid franchise. In short, Kojima is parting ways with Konami after the completion of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, and Konami have reacted by throwing their toys out of the pram by striking his name off the promotional material for the game and cancelling Silent Hills. I mean, check out Konami’s statement regarding the cancellation:
Konami is committed to new Silent Hill titles, however the embryonic ‘Silent Hills’ project developed with Guillermo del Toro and featuring the likeness of Norman Reedus will not be continued.
Kojima is slowly being forcibly removed from Konami’s memory it seems. But why? You see, Kojima has expressed the opinion that the MGS series should just end. And in a way, I respect this decision. It seems no matter what Kojima actually wants to do, like working on the long awaited Zone Of The Enders 3, he is seemingly bullied by Konami into making more Metal Gear. I mean, look at the last two Metal Gear games to come out: One of them was a full price demo for a game coming out this year and the other was as far removed from Metal Gear as you could hope to be. The passion is gone, guys, just let it die. I’m not commenting on the actual quality of the MGS games here, seeing as MGS isn’t our focus here, but also because a vast majority of these games are wonderful. And I have no doubt that Kojima and his team put their utmost effort into the projects, but goddamn Konami are stifling what could be the next big progression for horror games.
P.T. was every which way the most perfect demo I have ever played. I played most of it from a comfortable position behind the settee gently sobbing in fear, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t effective. Visually stunning, showing off what the PS4 is capable of, and dripping in atmosphere so thick you’d think the game was made on Titan. Fuck you, it was a good joke.
P.T. was every which way the most perfect demo I have ever played. I played most of it from a comfortable position behind the settee gently sobbing in fear, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t effective. Visually stunning, showing off what the PS4 is capable of, and dripping in atmosphere so thick you’d think the game was made on Titan. Fuck you, it was a good joke.
Image Credit: pushsquare.com
Imagine, if you will, Kojima pitching this demo to Konami. “Right, so for the next Silent Hill game, I've teamed up with visionary director Guillermo Del Toro and acclaimed actor Norman Reedus to make a game where you walk down a hallway five times, look at a clock until a baby laughs and could randomly get killed by a demon girl with stink-eye in a nightie. Any questions?” You can see why Konami could probably think he was off his tits, but all this crated one of the most memorable horror experiences I have ever shat myself through.
Think of a horror game. Now think of how many defining moments it had. P.T. was one of those games where every step felt more ground-breaking than most full length titles in the horror genre to date. And the gaming community, once it had latched onto this mysterious game that just came out of nowhere, were adamant on unlocking it’s secrets. It took one lucky gamer five hours to crack the final puzzle of P.T. and a further nine days of intense gaming to offer a solid solution, presumably after infinity changes of underwear, and for those five days, it was the most engaging horror experience we’d had in years. Then once we knew what it was and who was behind it, I’d be inclined to say that it quickly became one of the most anticipated titles for the PS4, rivalling even Bloodbourne.
Think of a horror game. Now think of how many defining moments it had. P.T. was one of those games where every step felt more ground-breaking than most full length titles in the horror genre to date. And the gaming community, once it had latched onto this mysterious game that just came out of nowhere, were adamant on unlocking it’s secrets. It took one lucky gamer five hours to crack the final puzzle of P.T. and a further nine days of intense gaming to offer a solid solution, presumably after infinity changes of underwear, and for those five days, it was the most engaging horror experience we’d had in years. Then once we knew what it was and who was behind it, I’d be inclined to say that it quickly became one of the most anticipated titles for the PS4, rivalling even Bloodbourne.
Image Credit: shortandsweetreviews.co
And now, sadly, if you don't download or play it today, you will never get the chance to.
Silent Hills’s shitcanning is further proof that Konami has no idea what it’s doing anymore. Between the mistreatment of Kojima Productions, the cancellation of Silent Hills and whatever the fuck they're doing to the Castlevania series, it’s quite easy to predict the slow decline of Konami. They even de-listed themselves from the New York Stock Exchange over the whole debacle. Whilst I could go into why this an issue of internal restructure or a projected refocus on gambling machines, all you need to know is that video games that aren't called Metal Gear are now no longer a priority for Konami. Sure, they’ll probably continue to make Metal Gear games without Kojima, but half of the reason why people play them is to watch Kojima’s undoubted brilliance unfold in these games. Take that away, and you run the risk of staining the franchise in a direction-less sequel for sequels sake.
Silent Hills’s shitcanning is further proof that Konami has no idea what it’s doing anymore. Between the mistreatment of Kojima Productions, the cancellation of Silent Hills and whatever the fuck they're doing to the Castlevania series, it’s quite easy to predict the slow decline of Konami. They even de-listed themselves from the New York Stock Exchange over the whole debacle. Whilst I could go into why this an issue of internal restructure or a projected refocus on gambling machines, all you need to know is that video games that aren't called Metal Gear are now no longer a priority for Konami. Sure, they’ll probably continue to make Metal Gear games without Kojima, but half of the reason why people play them is to watch Kojima’s undoubted brilliance unfold in these games. Take that away, and you run the risk of staining the franchise in a direction-less sequel for sequels sake.
Image Credit: ps4daily.com
But should we have seen this coming? A quick look over the list of intellectual properties that Konami still have rights to yields a long list of games that haven't been relevant or successful for many years. Games like Contra, Gradius, Dance Dance Revolution and Suikoden were once titans of the gaming world, but have since faded to obscurity with inferior newer projects being developed on shoestring budgets for mobile devices or focusing solely on arcade machines. In terms of mainstream console gaming, the only titles under their belts that anyone cares about are the Metal Gear and Silent Hill series, which makes it even more baffling to shoot Silent Hills in the head just because the Metal Gear gravy train is slowing down.
And we all know what happened last time Konami tried to make itself a main player in the current video game market. I'll be honest, I was waiting for Konami to do something relevant so I could dig up this gem. For those who haven't witnessed this joyful trainwreck, I present to you the 2010 Konami E3 Press Conference
And we all know what happened last time Konami tried to make itself a main player in the current video game market. I'll be honest, I was waiting for Konami to do something relevant so I could dig up this gem. For those who haven't witnessed this joyful trainwreck, I present to you the 2010 Konami E3 Press Conference
For more of that insanity, click here or here. It's one of the reasons that Tak Fuji is one of the greatest accidental memes ever. His Twitter backs that up.
Anyway, regardless of this insanity, P.T. will now exist in the annuls of gaming history as another game with serious potential that was cut down in it’s prime, like Star Wars 1313, Prey 2 and Gotham By Gaslight. For what it’s worth, you have less than 24 hours to grab P.T. and never let it go. You can do so from this link here or via the PlayStation Store on your PS4.
Check back in the next few days for an article about Valve and the failed paid mods of Steam Workshop.
Anyway, regardless of this insanity, P.T. will now exist in the annuls of gaming history as another game with serious potential that was cut down in it’s prime, like Star Wars 1313, Prey 2 and Gotham By Gaslight. For what it’s worth, you have less than 24 hours to grab P.T. and never let it go. You can do so from this link here or via the PlayStation Store on your PS4.
Check back in the next few days for an article about Valve and the failed paid mods of Steam Workshop.
By Mike Owen
@ThatMikeOwen
The Editor in Chief of Foul Entertainment, Mike edits most of what you see on the site. He runs the production of our podcasts, and currently pens Pop Culture Club and The Death of Video Games.
@ThatMikeOwen
The Editor in Chief of Foul Entertainment, Mike edits most of what you see on the site. He runs the production of our podcasts, and currently pens Pop Culture Club and The Death of Video Games.