Publisher Konami just sent along several new screenshots from Double Helix's Silent Hill: Homecoming (PS3, 360), showcasing a disturbing amount of undead cleavage. Silent Hill: Homecoming is slated to debut this September. For more, check out our recent hands-on preview and interview.

Silent Hill: Homecoming lead designer Jason Allen had just finished talking about the virtues of Alien. Eloquent in his presentation at a recent Konami press event, he noted the strengths of Ridley Scott's classic horror film, pointing out that we only fully see the monster at the very end of the movie--a major influence on his approach to tension in Silent Hill.

Later on in the night, I pulled Allen aside for a brief chat. We went over the challenges he and his team have dealt with in facing this daunting project, with topics including combat changes, Eastern horror, composer Akira Yamaoka, and other filmic influences.

As humans, we categorize and we label, and that's how we store and understand what it is. We go, "Okay, I'm seeing the Gecko in Metal Gear. I can see how it walks, how it runs, and I can potentially see how it might have limitations, because I can view it and think that way analytically."

But if I don't see a creature, if I only see glimpses of it, I don't know what he can do. And my fear is maybe greater than its skills. Read more..

After a long presentation, a fair amount of hands-on time and a chat with lead designer Jason Allen, I still don't know what to make of Silent Hill 5--now known as Silent Hill Homecoming.

As the first American studio to handle a project in the long-running horror franchise, the team once called The Collective but now referred to as Double Helix seems to have done their homework.

There are zombie nurses, and foggy streets, and rusted walls. Doors are locked, and an unnecessary line of text tells us so in a way that only a Silent Hill game could. Hallways are dark, flashlights turned on. It all looks just as I would imagine a Silent Hill game to look on upgraded hardware.

But that's just it. It looks pretty much how I expected it would.

The developers are very honest about their approach: keep the horror... Read more

Following its press event last night, publisher Konami has unleashed a bonanza of new media, including screenshots of Hellboy: The Science of Evil (PS3, X360, PSP), Lost in Blue (Wii), and New International Track and Field (NDS).

Be sure to check out the full post for all the goods, as there are so many new assets that we couldn't possibly put them all on our front page.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3)
Metal Gear Online (PS3)
Kojima Productions / June 12

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (NDS)
Konami / Fall 2008

Silent Hill: Homecoming (PS3, X360)
Double Helix / September 2008

... Read more

Konami has released a new set of screenshots from Silent Hill: Homecoming, which in development for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 at The Collective. The game, previously known as Silent Hill 5, is expected some time in September.

Publisher Konami has announced that the next entry in its creepy Silent Hill franchise has been retitled Silent Hill: Homecoming, with a European release set for the end September.

Handled by Marc Ecko's Getting Up (PC, PS2, Xbox) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Xbox) developer The Collective, Silent Hill: Homecoming is slated to arrive on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game stars new protagonist Alex Shepherd, who struggles "with his own grip on reality" as he pursues his missing brother.

A release date for the North American edition has not yet been announced, though it is likely to arrive within the same general timeframe as the European version.

New Silent Hill 5 screenshots have surfaced, offering a glimpse at both the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 builds of the game. No release date has been announced for Konami's survival horror game sequel.

Confirming recent rumors, Konami today announced that a PlayStation 2 version of the former PSP-exclusive Silent Hill Origins is in development.

Released on PSP last fall, Silent Hill Origins details the exploits of hallucinating trucker Travis Gordy as he explores the creepy-as-hell town of Silent Hill. Konami mentioned that the game would sport updated controls, through no further details, such as a release date or developer, were provided. It is believed that Climax Studios, which handled the PSP edition, is behind the PS2 version.

"Console gamers can now expect the same chilling, suspenseful and fear-filled experience that handheld gamers encountered when we released Silent Hill Origins on the PSP system," said Konami marketing VP Anthony Crouts.

Silent Hill Origins marks the latest PSP title to be ported to the PS2, following in the footsteps of such former exclusives as Rockstar Leeds' Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories, Tecmo's Tokobot, Sony Bend's Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, and High Impact Games' Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters. A PS2 port of Ready at Dawn's upcoming God of War: Chains of Olympus (PSP) is heavily rumored as well.

Owing to retailer listings featuring release dates and box art, rumors are circulating that Climax Studios' Silent Hill: Origins (PSP) might be making an appearance on the PS2.

While both sites feature the same official-looking box art, they differ on release date. Amazon lists the PS2 version's release as March 4, 2008, whereas GameFly has it down for March 31.

Porting marquee PSP releases is a rising trend of late, with Sony Bend's Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, Rockstar Leeds' Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories having already made the jump to the PlayStation 2. Ports of High Impact Games' Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters and Ready at Dawn's upcoming God of War: Chains of Olympus have also been rumored.

Both Climax Studios and Konami were reached for comment on the rumor. A representative of Konami responded but was unable to issue an official statement, while Climax has yet to respond.

Screenwriter Roger Avary (Pulp Fiction, Silent Hill) was arrested Sunday on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter after a car crash left one man dead, according to an AP report.

The Oscar winner was driving after midnight in Ojai, California when he was involved in a single-car accident. The impact killed Andreas Zini, a friend of the writer. Avary's wife Gretchen was ejected from the car, and has been hospitalized in stable condition.

Avary was released on $50,000 bail after being detained by police.

Known for his work on Pulp Fiction with writer Quentin Tarantino, Avary was most recently developing an adaptation of id Software's Wolfenstein property, before the Writers Guild of America strike halted production.

Update: "We were saddened by the news of the terrible accident," id Software CEO Todd Hollenshead told Shacknews when asked about the possible ramifications this news may have on the Wolfenstein movie.

"Our concern is for the family of the deceased and with the recovery of Roger's wife," continued Hollenshead. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to them in this difficult time."

Known for his memorable scores to Konami's flagship horror series Silent Hill, Akira Yamaoka is now heading up production of an unnamed Konami project, according to a Gamasutra article.

"I can't say much about it yet, but it should be announced soon, probably," said Yamaoka, who will be serving as both producer and composer on the venture.

While Yamaoka has gained recognition as a composer, he initially entered the industry with hopes of serving as a designer. Although he was credited with a producing title on the past three Silent Hill games--including the upcoming Silent Hill V--this new project will mark the first time he has served in a major directorial capacity.

Climax Studios' PSP Silent Hill prequel has undergone a lot of changes over the past year. Once a departure for the series in many ways--featuring over-the-shoulder shooting a la Resident Evil 4--it now instead plays a lot like a direct sequel to Silent Hill.

You are cast in the role of Travis Grady, a trucker with an appropriately dissheveled appearance. As I moved Travis throughout the town of Silent Hill, I couldn't help but feel like I was playing one of the earlier titles in the series, only on a smaller screen. Behind the curtain of the grain filters, the graphics appeared to be somewhere in the Silent Hill 1.5 domain. This game could have easily passed as Silent Hill 2, had that brilliant title never been released. In all, it's a satisfying level of detail. But with the town already feeling familiar from the get-go, my only question going into the demonstration was whether or not that was a good thing.

Wandering about the misty streets from the familiar fixed-camera perspective, I ran into a few annoying quirks early on. Moving from one screen... Read more

Konami confirmed previous reports of a fifth main entry in its avant-garde horror Silent Hill series at the company's E3 press conference in Santa Monica. The title will be available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

"Working on these systems allows us to push the envelope of technology and bring the town to life like never before," said William Oertel, producer at Konami Digital Entertainment. "You will take on the role of Alex Shepherd, a soldier returning from a tour of duty overseas." As Alex, you'll arrive in the town of Silent Hill to look for your missing younger brother. Konami said Alex will make use of his military training to fend off the grotesques of the ill-fated town.

Famed series composer Akira Yamaoka will be returning to create an all-new soundtrack for the game.

Konami announced another game in the series, Silent Hill Origins, last year for the PlayStation Portable.

Eurogamer's been updated with a Silent Hill Origins preview, taking a three page look at the PSP survival horror game.

During's Konami's pre-E3 conference this year, the company announced a prequel to its popular Silent Hill horror franchise, Silent Hill Origins for PSP. The company has released a trailer and some concept artwork, but has yet to show the game in playable form or release very much information. I recently had the chance to chat with Konami producer William Oertel about the Climax-developed title, to find out a bit about how the game ties into the Silent Hill world, how it will play compared to other series entries, and the challenges of making the game for the PSP platform.

Shack: So while this leads up to Silent Hill 1, fans who played all four games going to get more out of it than those who are coming in fresh.

William Oertel: Whenever we get a chance, we always try to infuse some level of paying homage to the past games, or trying to connect some dots. Origins doesn't go through and explain everything in Silent Hill, but we at least try to make connections where we can, or at least suggest. Fans have played prior games can look at it and say, "I wonder if that's what it is, if that's what they intend." Maybe we're a little too subtle sometimes in making those connections, but I'd rather err on the side of subtlety and have people that have people that really know the franchise look at it and say, after they've played through it a couple times, "Oh wait, I didn't notice that the first time around, maybe that's this, or maybe that's from 3, or 2," or whatever. So that's always overall in all our thoughts.

Konami has released a playable demo of Silent Hill 3, allowing you to try out the PC version of the game which will be in stores next month. The download (at 468mb almost as terrifying as the game itself) features English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Asian language support but it's unclear what part of the game is included. Thanks Blues News.

GameSpot is offering a preview of Silent Hill 3, taking a look at the survival horror game sequel which will be released on the PC soon. The article offers an overview of the game itself and the specific PC features, and also has a whole bunch of screenshots.

Konami sends along confirmation that the PC version of Silent Hill 3 is indeed in development and on track for an October released. You'll need a DVD-ROM though, as that's the format the game will be released on. According to Konami "Series producer Akira Yamaoka worked closely to ensure that the PC game is optimized for the improved capabilities offered by current PC hardware. This includes an aesthetic overhaul, with the PC version of Silent Hill® 3 enjoying higher resolution graphics than the PlayStation® 2 version of the game. In addition, a key feature of the PC game is that players will be able to save the game at any point during play, as opposed to using the red save points found in the console version."

German GBASE is reporting that Konami will released a PC version of the upcoming Silent Hill 3 in October. The original team will do the port, and supposedly it will feature an improved graphics engine.

There is a preview of Silent Hill 2 on GameSpot, taking a look at the PC port of Konami's survival horror game. Might be worth checking out if you're not too familiar with the console version.