As reported by GameWatch, Konami recently held a lecture titled “The Art of Producing Silent Hill” at Japan’s CEDEC 2026, where series producer Motoi Okamoto and other key development team members shared insights about the making of Silent Hill 2’s remake and the latest Silent Hill f.
Of note, Okamoto expressed the opinion that when it comes to games where narrative plays a crucial role, it’s essential for the producer to read books. Even more so, he considers it imperative for a producer to have read the majority of a writer’s body of work if commissioning them for the game’s scenario. This is, according to Okamoto, not only a matter of “basic respect,” but also necessary for understanding the writer’s style and various quirks, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Since every writer is capable of producing both hits and misses, he considers it the responsibility of the project’s decision-maker to fully understand the writer’s characteristics and actively engage with them.
For Silent Hill f, Konami brought Ryukishi07, famous for his work on the When They Cry visual novel series, on board to pen the scenario. Okamoto explains that there were several reasons behind this decision – Ryukishi07 had extensive experience writing horror; his past work suggested a strong affinity with the Silent Hill series; and lastly, Okamoto himself was personally a fan of his.
Citing the importance of “input” for creating games, Okamoto mentions that, “within the team, we put pressure on each other, especially among the scenario writers, to read at least 100 to 200 books a year” (referring specifically to novels).
Considering this level of dedication, it’s going to be exciting to see whom Konami reaches out to for future Silent Hill entries, especially given Okamoto’s vow to keep experimenting with both story and gameplay with each new game in the series.
Lets not forget the Japanese consider Manga as books. They are not out here reading 100-200 novels a year lol that would be a book a day for 200 days….when would they actually get time to work lol
And they ask why orignal silent hill fans hate the new games. This! For a deeply profound set of producers In that studio you managed to not have one single thread connect to actual silent hill it’s actually impressive. I didn’t know it took 200 books for you to put silent hill title on random horror games that must’ve been a stroke of genius
Whenever I see comments like this, I know for a fact you were someone who claimed SH2 was your favorite game, and you were so excited to play it for the first time when the remake came out.
That is to say: you don’t understand the stories at all, you just pretend and then get outraged when games come out that you don’t understand. It had a lot of tie ins to SH1 and SH3
First of all my fav is silent hill the room. Another game that was meant to be its own thing. But unlike f. It adapted to the lore and methology and gave a great story. Why do sh f simps love to say “you don’t understand” like that’s why it sucks we understand and it still has nothing to do with silent hill. Fog and trauma dumps aren’t what the franchise is about. Even if this game has a complet thème and message. It’s still not sh
Uh, original fans?? You mean larpers?? Lmao. Yeah, I know some of the fanbase don’t like SH f due to radical changes in combat, characters, settings, etc. from previous games. But, calling it a random horror game titled “Silent Hill” is a stretch. There are bunch of elements in the game that are still uniquely Silent Hill like the mist, otherworld, the way the MC handling her own trauma, the symbolism potrait in the monsters, etc. True SH fans (again, not larpers) know these things.
Also, you clearly haven’t played the game yet confidently claim it “not have one single thread connect to actual silent hill” lmao. Let me tell u that the game actually HAS a connection to other SH games (it’s obscure and thin tho), but I don’t want to spoil u. Just play the game if has a chance to do so, don’t be a larper.
Additionally,even if you insist SH f isn’t SH, the game still has really good stories. You have to play and read documents carefully several times to figure out the whole picture bcs it’s a Ryukishi07 writing style that has multiple loops like Higurashi. It doesn’t fit for gamers whom everything needs to be spoonfed to them
Youre the larp. Fog plus monsters plus Trauma doesnt mean sh. It was just in 2. The exception. And don’t start with obscure thin wide oversized connection. It has none. It’s pure asthetic and title robbery. And Istg. If you say Claudia flowers. They’re flowers. You throw away everything about the cult and town history for some darn Flowers?? Whats next. Claudia’s waste drifted to Japan to spread evil energy.
Its not a phenomenon! Its a cult and rituals.
Just bc you like this game doesnt change the fact it has nothing to do with the original four games (the only valid ones story wise)
And who cares if it’s a good story. That’s not what am mad about is it? Just because some known writer was in it? He didn’t give a speck of effort to adapt his idea to the franchise lore. Nah he doubled down now it’s fox demon gods k drama.
And you over here calling me a larper.
You’re the reason Konami still milks sh because people like you will defend every new installment with their soul like it’s a masterpiece
Well,I said what I said.If you insist the other way,then that’s on you. Agree to disagree. No need to discuss it further.
“You’re the reason Konami still milks sh because people like you will defend every new installment with their soul like it’s a masterpiece”
There was no new Silent Hill game for 10+ years btw.So, ofc I’m very happy to have more brand new game of the franchise, even if that isn’t considered “real” SH according to your standard. Just wanna say, if you dislike this game,then you’d have hated even more to Hideo Kojima’s P.T. had he actually realized his own Silent Hill at that time. Bye.
Youre the larp. Fog plus monsters plus Trauma doesnt mean sh. It was just in 2. The exception. And don’t start with obscure thin wide oversized connection. It has none. It’s pure asthetic and title robbery. And Istg. If you say Claudia flowers. They’re flowers. You throw away everything about the cult and town history for some darn Flowers?? Whats next. Claudia’s waste drifted to Japan to spread evil energy.
Its not a phenomenon! Its a cult and rituals.
Just bc you like this game doesnt change the fact it has nothing to do with the original four games (the only valid ones story wise)
And who cares if it’s a good story. That’s not what am mad about is it? Just because some known writer was in it? He didn’t give a speck of effort to adapt his idea to the franchise lore. Nah he doubled down now it’s fox demon gods k drama.
And you over here calling me a larper.
You’re the reason Konami still milks sh because people like you will defend every new installment with their soul like it’s a masterpiece
this site sucks it resent my previous reply for some reason.
Also. No. It’s not an agree or disagree topic. You can hide back in your she’ll bc you have no real argument to disapprove that this game has nothing to do with the original trilogy.
How scum of you to make it up to be a subjective matter. I gave blatant facts to why this isn’t a silent hill in every aspect.
And who cares if it’s been 10 years or 67 years. What’s the point of coming back to it if you’re not realizing something remotely related to silent hill. Just let it rest in it’s grave with dignity. But no they milk it for money you support it to sound smart.
It’s not about standards or this writer. I do believe people defend this game for its themes and bc they like the writer only. Even if they’re straight up wrong and in denial.
Not that it’s bad. It is a dark souls horror. You can enjoy it and invest in it’s story.
But have a back bone and admit it being named silent hill. Is another greedy money grab.
And advice for debating. Either admit you’re wrong. Or keep going. “No need to discuss it further” is just being a coward and wrong
Granted I was using browser translate, I didn’t see this in the interview?
We will be hitting up Dr. Seuss
When do they have the time? That’s insane to read even 100-200 short stories even you’re working 40+ hours a week and have a social life or family in the States- I can’t imagine how under pressure that kind of ask make you feel in a Japanese work environment.
Read 100 books a year on a game that was written by a guy with a mentality of a 15 year old, that is the definition of irony… Unless you only read teen books.