SILENT HILL GAZETTE

June 1, 2006 - First Edition

KONAMI CONFIRMS RELEASE OF SILENT HILL 5

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Konami's veteran game designer, Masashi Tsuboyama confirmed on August 13, 2004 that Silent Hill 5 was in development at the Japanese publisher, but is actually being created with the next-generation of consoles in mind, despite the firm not having chosen which formats to support at this stage.

 With XBox 360 and PS3 competing to launch alongside the newest and most impressive games, Konami hopes to release Silent Hill 5 with the most impressive of the two.

"SILENT HILL: ORIGINS" HITS PSP THIS WINTER

The latest installment of the Silent Hill series is being released ONLY for PSP this winter. We've been chomping at the bit for long enough in anticipation for Silent Hill 5, so why the limited release? Indeed, the Silent Hill designers are masters of torturous circumstances, even beyond the game.

Little is known about "Origins," other that its main character is a truck driver who ends up shrouded in the town's fog and learns more than he bargained for.

In the meantime, for those of us without a PSP, we hope that Silent Hill: Origins will be released on other platforms at a later date. (Unless, of course, I win the lottery and then I will have ever Silent Hill no matter what language or console, bwahaha) 

WATCH THE TRAILER AT IGN.COM

PYRAMID HEAD SIGHTED IN ECUADOR; NARROWLY ESCAPES FLAMING DEATH

Arguably the most unforgettable and popular foe in the Silent Hill series, Pyramid Head has been recreated by fans all over the world in the way of drawings, costumes, action figures (see the Homemade Horror section) and more. One Hill Head took his fascination to the extreme and recreated the grim executioner with one dark purpose...to destroy him. 

Tito B. Bubano explains: 

"Here in my country, Ecuador, we have a tradition, every New Year's Eve, exactly at midnight, we burn a mannequin of whoever we want, to symbolize the year that is ending. But this dummy (I am gonna call it like that from now on) does not represent something bad. Sometimes it someone we respect, care or admire; other times it is someone who we hate or despise. It would sound weird but it is an important event here, and I don't mean that PH is someone who I hate...I really admire the background story of this character so that's why I choose him. Also because it's going to scare the hell out of my friends when they see "him". I know, every foreigner who sees this says: "why doing a dummy so perfect and beautiful so you are going to burn it anyway?". Well, neither we as Ecuadorians understand that but it is a tradition, and a really funny one."

Tito gave The Alluring Nightmare exclusive news coverage of Pyramid Head's scheduled demise and sent pictures frequently. However, days before New Year's Eve, we received the following message:

"I have terrible news for you," Tito's e-mail read solemnly, "I left the dummy in the backyard so the paint could dried up...lousy mistake. It RAINED so the entire thing ...well...melted." 

Tito spent two sleepless nights repairing the damage, but still incomplete, Pyramid Head survived the New Year celebration. He hopes to complete the life-size mannequin and finish the job, but will Pyramid Head foil him again??

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS AND CONCEPT SKETCHES BY TITO

If you would like to contact Tito, especially with ideas or reference pictures, you can e-mail him at:

tburbano2501@hotmail.com

Pyamid Head, as seen in the motion picture.

SILENT HILL MOVIE PREMIERES WITH MIXED FAN RESPONSE

Davis Films, the small French studio that brought Resident Evil to the big screen, reportedly approached Konami with the project in 2004, although Director Christoph Gans claims to have been planning the project since first playing the original Silent Hill in 2001.

Konami has been leery about adapting Silent Hill into a movie, and were concerned about preserving the game's trademark ambience and mystery. After some negotiation, Konami finally agreed and the movie rights were purchased with the condition that Konami be closely involved in the film's production and development.

Akira Yamaoka also pushed for the right to compose the movie's soundtrack. The brilliant composer has been quoted as saying that only he could create the sound and music for the series, and we whole-heartedly agree. Apparently, Sony/Tristar Pictures agreed, as well and they approved the project in association with Davis Films, Yamaoka as a producer.

Director Christoph Gans is a fan of Silent Hill and screenwriter, Roger Avary stated that he played the games repeatedly during the writing process for inspiration. Hill Heads the world over were overjoyed. But as clues about the plot began to surface around the internet, fans began to have second thoughts. More and more the story seemed like the original Silent Hill game. This, in itself, would be great except that they changed Harry into Rose, Cheryl into Sharon, but Dahlia and Alessa make crutial appearances, as does Cybil Bennett.

On a side note, I just about crapped myself when Pyramid Head stepped onto the scene.

For the most part, fans all across the world have sung the film's praises; a start contrast to Resident Evil fans when their movie premiered. Of course, there are those who accompanied fans like myself to the theatre and just didn't get it, therefore hating it.

I loved it. I had been dreaming (literally) of this movie for years and years and I must say that I was not disappointed. As a filmmaker, there were a few things I might have done differently, but just the same, the Alluring Nightmare gives HUGE shout out to Gans, Avery and the rest of the creative team for a job well done.