Silent Hill composer departs Konami - Report

So that's it for Silent Hill? *Sigh* First Resident Evil lost it's survival horror and turned to action (I still like the games, they're fun, and the storylines are awesome, but why would they change it from a genre that it practically created?) and now Silent Hill's lost it's composer. Farewell, Silent Hill. We've had some great times together, you fabulous, freaky series. I'll be sad to see it go. I loved Yamaoka's music, it really defined the games. But hopefully both Konami and Yamaoka will go on to make more games and I wish them both luck. I agree, @Christoph410

He left Konami and Silent Hill to work with EA in another survival-horror game? Yamaoka, you're a traitor!

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its not silent hill anymore

Damn twisted environment sounds just came to my mind...Original Silent Hill is a master piece. I have not played yet the remake but really my favorite one Silent Hill 1999. God but the Silent Hill 3 has some weird stuff too... peace

this is for the best since Climax has not made one good silent hill game, why they Konami pays them to make silent hill games is beyond me.

Well, maybe this is for the best. Climax seriously messed up with Origins with the music being one of the few positive aspects (as was the case with Homecoming as well). Maybe Yamaoka will go off and create his own studio like Kojima did so he can create more psychological games without worrying about constraints.

as lons as he continues to write an d work togetjer with mary elizabeth im allright bu still konami just lost a magnificent atmospheric composers of all time whether someone likes that or not its the truth i hardly hear music as Yamaoka did for SH games and are the soudntracks that i like the most anyways good lluck to your new projects Akira san ganbate ganbate atarashi de puroyekuto!!! Akira san ichiban itsumo!!!!!!

@December_Man - The only reason I dont understand people saying that is why they would be saying that "now".. the true series ended after 4.

As much as I love his work, no one is irreplaceable. There are a lot of talented musicians in the world waiting for their chance. I don't understand people saying "OMG IT IS TEH END OF SILENT HILL!!!11!".

What?!!!! Konami just lost Akira? I can't believe they were that stupid! ha ha. Could it be another PR campaign? I'd rather believe that. Just before Shattered Memories coming out that news would be a great marketing move. Now everyone will buy "the last Silent Hill with Akira". So naive. Hats off for Yamaoka! He's a great composer and a creative producer and Konami is one of the kind, that rarely failed me. Everybody, Akira will be back and it's not the death of a franchise! :) trust me on that

Shame. Silent Hill 2's soundtrack was superb.

In Our Loving Memories Of "Silent Hill" (1999-2009) May You Rest in Peace and God Be with You

this is sad news. without yamaoka the silent hill franchise is basically dead...

I guess we can all kiss goodbye to any hopes of the silent hill series ever being a must have game again. This truly is some sad news. We have to hope he will go onto greater things.

Laides and gentelmen... At December 2, 2009 11:59 am, s.s.Silent Hill sank at the north atlantic waters... its pressumed there are on survivors -_-...

R.I.P silent hill

I see a coffin in the making for this series.

Now that is the worst news for Silent Hill. Akira’s music gave the perfect feel to the games, it was haunting and so beautiful at the same time, if they do any more in the series they are gonna be very hard pressed to find someone that can do that for them.

ladys and gentlemen Akira has left the building.

Nobody likes to see the death of a good franchise or series...but honestly the last few games were such a departure from..well..."Silent Hill"...so different from the actual FULL Silent Hill Team game (the 1st one)...and of course very different from its attempted followup to keep things different (the 2nd was always my favourite!)...since then its never been the same (though the 3rd game was quite good for visual effects!). If anything has been consistent, its this man's music....he kept it "Silent HIll" when whoever was taking over in the Dev team was deviating it wildly from its roots....however it doesn't mean its the end of good ol' original horror ideas and I really wish the guy all the best in creating and being part of something completely fresh, new...and most importantly...disturbingly horrific!!! :) He'll always be remembered for his service to such a great game series no matter what he makes next.

This sucks. It's definitely the end of Silent Hill. Akira Yamaoka's music was one of the main things I kept looking forward to playing the Silent Hill games, and now that's gone. The only thing I actually liked about SH:Homecoming was the soundtrack. Well, I at least hope that he'll do some similar projects and what not. Good luck to Akira Yamaoka!

Maybe this will move him onto better projects... anything by a solo Team Silent would be so much better than what Konami will make of this series. Akira, think "independent project"

oh no...dam...silent hill composer gone....now silent hill franchise is spiritless...Americans already ruined it in homecoming and now Japanese also made a blunder...its just like if final fantasy's composer is gone then final fantasy be like a dead corpse....like wise now silent hill is....

This is the end of Silent Hill.

Noooooo, the one thing giving the new silent hill games anything that relates to the old games :( its game over for Silent Hill now...

Thats a massive shame. One of the best in the Biz imo. Although I can't wait to see what he goes onto work on now.

Game sounds fun

Music composed by Yamaoka is just amazing and i feel bad knowing this fact, i'm a big fan of silent hill soundtrack and Yamaoka and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn too, i will miss Yamaoka, i just hope next composer for silent hill series be at least a little good as him

im sooo getting this, but homecomming was just plain crap

Man, I was wondering the other day if he was doing the music for this new one. This series has been on life support for a while, but without him it's completely dead.

I hope for a collection released with all Silent Hill, something like a saga, so I may have it all.

the worst thing for konami is to give silent hill to American developments (not Japanese). American developments can't make a good games (instead of similar shooters like Modern Warfare ). Why KONAMI ??? Without Akira Yamaoka it's dead end for Silent Hill.

i hope that shattered memories is great. it would be a tragedy if his last SH game sucked. i can't wait for this game

You know, well he was great while he lasted. I think he to tired of the series, and could'nt work to his full potential. So as hard to say this, as it is, It's for the best, for both the series, and Mr.Yamaoka himself. I really hope the next composer is at least decent, and that Mary Elizabeth Mcglynn is still with us.

from one musician to another, Akira Yamaoka has been one hell of a steady influence. His melancholy soundtracks to the SH series were one of the only reasons I kept going back to play them (even if "Homecomming's AWFUL game HAS now pretty-much put-me-off EVER buying another SH game again). Silent Hill 2 (and it's soundtrack especially!!! .... "Promise", "Theme for Laura", BOTH tracks are iPod regulars for me!!!), one of the best moments in gaming ever Good luck Akira

lol@ monson21502. The kid just doesn't have a clue. But what do you expect from a boy who doesn't know about capital letters, comma's and full stops.

do you blame him? if i had to make all my games for last gen consoles like the wii and psp,ps2 and the gameboy advance sp *** oops i ment ds** i would leave too

so the guy who made silent hills sounds the best part of it is gone eh? Heres my thoughts on this... A: ONE of silent hills standout features from the beginning has always been the sound. ALONG WITH gameplay, story, art, etc.. B: Silent hills WEAKEST feature, has always been combat and rough edges in the gameplay. I love the series to bits, but there's easier to play games out there. C: As the series progressed (and apparently as this guy took the helm as producer), the games got worse, lets just admit it. So. Sounds like someone thought that silent hill was all sound effects, and that gameplay would just come second? Honestly, I love the series, but the gameplay just DID NOT change or improve much. Even when they made #4, the game looked different, but still kind of felt the same. I see this as a chance to start anew.

Man That Sucks. To me the whole Silent Hill series was about the music and now that he is gone i don't see what lies for the series. Let's see what will be the next Silent Hill will be like.

man this is so sad( for at least) first resident evil goes downhill and totally ignoring its survival horror and scary instead of it being action like RE5, and now silent hill, one of my fav series since ps1, its sad to see good games like this just sinkin, i hope it doesnt interfere with the series THAT much, i mean silent hill homecoming was good, not great but i enjoyed it. i really hope series like this dont go down even though they look like they are. and horror gamer, gamer082009 i agree with both of u

This doesn't help at all if Silent Hill is to make a comeback :(

I have never completed ANY silent hill games.. they are too strategic I like going in and just going and playing a game without having to use strategy... but I loved the movie of silent hill

Hmm, maybe Capcom could use him..you know if they ever return the Resident Evil franchise back to its scary roots.

never was able to play the o1st Silent Hill that came on the PSOne.Played Silent Hill:The Room on PS2.Liked it.Apart from that i didnt find any other Silent Hill that appealing.

Silent Hill is having a bit of an identity crisis as is. As talented as Yamaoka is, and as inextricable from the series up to this point, perhaps this is a good thing, giving Konami a completely blank slate to redeem themselves after Homecoming.

What is Silent Hill, Silent Hill is = Akira Yamaoka. For real. Not even Resident Evil Series have music like the quality and the message from the music of Akira (it's a FACT).

Damn that's some soul crushing news right there. I can't imagine Silent Hill without him. He will be missed.

First was Team Silent and Now Yamaoka... I dont see a bright future for SH after all this... :cry:

wow...it sure was a fun ride during all those years. but anyways...they might as well end the series anyway...because since sh4 the series has gone downhill. but i'm going to miss him. wish only the best for him in his future projects.