New Podcast - F.U.D.cast episode 1: Six Pack of Orange Soda (Silent Hill 2)

[Mot Wakorb]

For a while now, violent has been talking about creating a podcast about a discussion of games, particularly the aspects of games that really made a game or broke a game for us. Well, we've finally gotten together and created that, and out of this became the F.U.D.cast.

Our first episode focuses on Konami's classic survival horror, Silent Hill 2. This week's discussion panel includes myself, violent, UWCrash, HereticMachine, and gasherman as we discuss the downright screwed up (light bulbs in a can) through the joys of shotgun use. A live player should be available at www.gameradio.us or you can download at the link below.

Please, listen and leave your comments for us - we know we're raw and we want to become better at what we do. Thanks for listening!

Want to be a part of the show? We're doing our next call to arms for our show 3 weeks from now: Chrono Trigger. Have what it takes to discuss with us? Click here for more information on joining us as a guest! (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=2506)

Now added: Silent Hill 2 Giveaway! (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=2515)

Download Episode 1 Now! (http://www.gameradio.us/components/com_podcast/media/Episode_1_Final.mp3)

Subscribe in iTunes (itpc://www.gameradio.us/index.php?option=com_podcast&view=feed&format=raw)

Subscribe in Zune (zune://subscribe/?F.U.D.cast=http://www.gameradio.us/index.php?option=com_podcast&view=feed&format=raw)

[violent]

What we're really looking for at this point is your feedback. Most of us on this podcast are simply gamers talking about games and we'd certainly like to refine our communication tactics, so you as the listener would be best for that. Give it a listen and let us know.

[MagGnome]

I downloaded it, and I'll give it a listen at work tomorrow.

[Norse]

I've only listened to the first 10min so far, but it sounds promising. Good sound quality and a well spoken cast. It's nice to hear the sexy voices of some of the CoG members :p

Will it be available through iTunes?

[Mot Wakorb]

I've only listened to the first 10min so far, but it sounds promising. Good sound quality and a well spoken cast. It's nice to hear the sexy voices of some of the CoG members :p

Will it be available through iTunes?

Thank you - we appreciate the compliments.

As for iTunes, it has been submitted to both iTunes and Zune Marketplace, both are going through the review process. I have edited the original post to add a "subscribe to iTunes" link.

[violent]

I've only listened to the first 10min so far, but it sounds promising. Good sound quality and a well spoken cast. It's nice to hear the sexy voices of some of the CoG members :p

Will it be available through iTunes?

Thanks. It's certainly a learning process. It's surprisingly difficult to be completely uninhibited in terms of communication when you can't see those you're communicating with. Something that I feel was greatly improved upon during this first show. It's certainly fun and we seem to be evolving during every meeting, something I'm extremely grateful for. If you guys enjoy it then this will truly be a good idea. Any feedback to help improve our show would be even better.

[Mr. Murphy]

Listening now, I'll pop in with comments when it's done.

Loved Silent Hill 2, interesting choice for the first game. Nice that you guys aren't limiting yourself to new games.

[violent]

Listening now, I'll pop in with comments when it's done.

Loved Silent Hill 2, interesting choice for the first game. Nice that you guys aren't limiting yourself to new games.

The support is much appreciated.

[Mr. Murphy]

Well, I'm something of a Silent Hill scholar, and my only problem with the podcast is my intense desire to explain what was going on. You guys got most of it right, and it was interesting listening to you all come to conclusions about what was going, but it was hard to listen to the conversation and not be able to offer any input!

I will probably enjoy the next one more if it is a game I have never played, or a game that doesn't have as much speculation about the story.

Also Violent, my girlfriend likes your accent.

[Widgetcraft]

It's worth noting that this is a bi-weekly podcast (because of the time it takes to go through a game in it's entirety).

[violent]

Well, I'm something of a Silent Hill scholar, and my only problem with the podcast is my intense desire to explain what was going on. You guys got most of it right, and it was interesting listening to you all come to conclusions about what was going, but it was hard to listen to the conversation and not be able to offer any input!

I will probably enjoy the next one more if it is a game I have never played, or a game that doesn't have as much speculation about the story.

Also Violent, my girlfriend likes your accent.

Tell her I say thanks. Funny that my accent has been the subject of discussion lately. I think it's everyone else that has them.

I know what you mean about Silent Hill 2. When I selected it, I felt as if it were going to be highly interpretive but then I realized how linear it truly was. Luckily there were plenty of factors we were able to discuss such as sound design and actual game mechanics. I would like to push for more story driven material in the upcoming shows and that's why our game selection process is becoming more rigorous.

It's also why our next show will be our Fallout 3 show. ;)

Thanks for the input. This is precisely the kind of feedback that will allow us to provide a better all-around experience.

[Mr. Murphy]

Well, it just ended (it was playing in the background while I play WoW) but I would say I'm sold on it. I like talking about video games and I like listening to other people talk about it, and the sound quality is actually pretty great, so I'll be there for the next one. As far as input, it's good to keep an eye on the 'filler phrases' like 'um' and 'you know', since they are more noticeable on a recording than it is in everyday conversation.

I like to hear about peoples' 'unique moments' in the games they play, as well. I'm interested which parts were scariest to you guys, which parts were the big moments to you and why - you touched on it a little bit, like when you talked about Mary's Letter and how it changes near the end, but Silent Hill 2 is awfully linear and doesn't give you much of a chance to have unique moments. It seems like Fallout 3 will be a great opportunity for each of you to really talk about individual game experiences that the other players didn't have.
A few little things:

James did kill himself in the In Water ending. After the peel-out, you hear his car splash into the lake. I don't know how you guys missed it?

The 'table-creatures' are supposed to represent a figure lying in a bed, because Angela's father molested her (which is why she killed him).

I think you guys are right about James being a little crazy even before Mary died. His military jacket and flashlight are exactly the same as the mentally eff-ed up protagonist of Jacob's Ladder, the movie that inspired Silent Hill. Jacob was a war vet, and it's possible that James was also a war vet with some issues.

[violent]

Glad to hear you're on board Murphy. You speak a lot of truth in your criticisms and we certainly see that. I have a question though, what's your take on the invisible monster in the prison cell? Was it just me that misinterpreted that scene or is there really something in there?

Also, thanks for clarifying on the "In Water" ending. I thought that was indeed what happened but seeing that I got a different ending, I didn't feel I had sufficient evidence to say otherwise.

And yeah, James is loony.

[Mr. Murphy]

Glad to hear you're on board Murphy. You speak a lot of truth in your criticisms and we certainly see that. I have a question though, what's your take on the invisible monster in the prison cell? Was it just me that misinterpreted that scene or is there really something in there?

Also, thanks for clarifying on the "In Water" ending. I thought that was indeed what happened but seeing that I got a different ending, I didn't feel I had sufficient evidence to say otherwise.

And yeah, James is loony.

He was right, it's not invisible, it's in the cell above that cell. If you go back and look, there's a second row of cells above those ones, and if you auto-aim at the sound, James points upwards at it.

Edit: In fact, you can even kill it. Just auto aim and shoot at it enough, and it dies and stops making sounds. You never see it tho.

The programmers say that it is a reprogrammed hanger, the guys that hung beneath the chain link and bit at your feet. The noise he makes is a word, reversed and pitch-shifted. I forget what word.

Who was it who discussed the sound designer? His name is Akira Yamaoka, and he is, indeed, the best part of all the games. He's essentially the only staff member who was a part of every single one. I'm a big fan.

I was impressed with some of you guys' observations - like the Pyramid Head painting in the Historical Society inspiring James about Pyramid Head. The painting was actually a painting of the executioners at the old Civil War prison that was below the society, and which the town of Silent Hill now uses as its personal judge and executioner. This is why Pyramid Head appears again in the same role in Silent Hill 5 - the monsters in Silent Hill are modified by the psyche of the person experiencing them, but they are all based on things that happened or existed in the town at some point. The nurses, for example, are in every game because Alessa, the little girl who re-awakened the evil power of the town in the first game, spent her time in horribly painful un-life in the bowels of a hospital. Her twisted perception of nurses and doctors still spreads throughout the town.

[violent]

Who was it who discussed the sound designer? His name is Akira Yamaoka, and he is, indeed, the best part of all the games. He's essentially the only staff member who was a part of every single one. I'm a big fan.

That was me. I'm a huge Yamaoka fan. Own all the soundtracks and like I mentioned on the show, it's the one thing that has been perfect throughout the series.

Regarding the "invisible monster", I feel kinda silly now being so creeped out by something that was more real in my head than the actual game.

[Mr. Murphy]

That was me. I'm a huge Yamaoka fan. Own all the soundtracks and like I mentioned on the show, it's the one thing that has been perfect throughout the series.



I have all the soundtracks too. The first games is my favorite. Did you know he plays in a rock band, as well?

Regarding the "invisible monster", I feel kinda silly now being so creeped out by something that was more real in my head than the actual game.

Well, it was always one of my favorite little moments in the game too. It's actually quite chilling because it's unique and inexplicable.

Scariest part of the game, for me, was the run to the elevator in the hospital when Pyramid Head is chasing you. When you round that one corner and it doubles back, and you see that he's behind Maria... damn.

[Suave Peanut]

Aha, I was wondering when this was going to pop up! I remember when violent first brought this up in IRC many weeks ago. I am downloading now and will certainly give it a listen, although I am saddened by the lack of my own voice on this show! :p

[violent]

There will always be a place for you here Peanut. Check out the link in the OP if you want in on our Chrono Trigger show.

[MagGnome]

You guys have made me want to go back and play Silent Hill 2 again. That is such a great game.

[Food Nipple]

I don't understand the name of the podcast.

[violent]

I don't understand the name of the podcast.

That's probably because you're thinking about it too much.

[Suave Peanut]

Just finished listening. Nice.

My only criticism to offer is that the volume needs a little balance. Some panelists are quite noticeably louder than others. No complaints about the content, however!

[violent]

Just finished listening. Nice.

My only criticism to offer is that the volume needs a little balance. Some panelists are quite noticeably louder than others. No complaints about the content, however!

Thanks. It's really our first attempt and I have to admit I'm content it wasn't disastrous. We'll double check the levels and we're working on other ways to improve any kind of audio issue that may arise.

[Abyssion]

I just finished listening and I must say I do enjoy it. I think I'm gonna find a copy of Silent Hill 2 to see what I've been missing...

Can't wait for the next episode!

[Mot Wakorb]

I just finished listening and I must say I do enjoy it. I think I'm gonna find a copy of Silent Hill 2 to see what I've been missing...

Can't wait for the next episode!

We appreciate the compliments - we're having a great time making the podcast so far, and can't wait to make our next one.

[UWCrash]

Thanks for the comments guys. We really do need them to help the show evolve, as there was a lot to be learned just from doing this first show. I honestly haven't listened to the final product myself (that whole "I can't stand the sound of my voice" thing), but we all felt that it got better as we were recording. Loosening up and having a more natural conversation.

I also learned not to rely on backwards compatibility in doing this. I tried not to bring this up in the podcast, but after getting two hours into the game (the first pyramid head fight) my XBox copy decided it never wanted to run on my 360 again. I tried switching to the PC version available on GameTap, but the download would only ever progress a few percent before dying. Took a full day to get the game, and I had to delete/redownload it after getting to the hospital (it claimed files were missing from the installation). So while Mot is doing a giveaway for his PS2 copy, I can't do the same for my XBox copy as I can't verify that the disc is still in working order.

[Gerbs]

Listened to this at work today and enjoyed it. Obviously I don't really know anyone's voices or personalities yet but I'll try to pick that up as I go along. I will definitely check out episode 2 whenever it goes up.

Silent Hill 2 was a great game back in it's time, and I played through it a few times back when it came out. Someone on the panel said they wanted no combat and just the puzzles and story but what makes the game so terrifying is the fact that at any time some brokeback monstrosity can jump out and try to club you to death. I think if the entire combat aspect was taken away, unless it was replaced with something that could end the player's life it would lose some of it's edge.

Also Silent Hill 3 was the best in the series, in my opinion. Plot spoilers to follow:

I loved how the way I interpreted the game was that Heather was fighting "monsters" the entire game, but at the end of the day she was beating cultists to death, which she perceived as twisted monsters due to Silent Hill. Again, one of the panel members touched on this point in this episode of the F.U.D.cast (did I spell that right?) my favorite line is "Oh... they look like monsters to you??"

[violent]

It's funny. Whenever someone says they don't like the fighting scheme of Silent Hill 1, 2 or 3, I think to myself "well, I'm sure you're gonna love The Room".