Konami ATEi 2008 Impressions

(More photos after the break) 

Last of the big names is Konami. I have to say thier stand was a bit on the sparse side. Guitar Freaks  & Drum Mania V4 where present and attracting a lot of attention from players. Wacky Races also made an appearance on the stand, although, as I have said already this was on various stands around the show. Finally Silent Hill rounded off the rest of the big games on the Konami stand.

As you may remember I’m already familiar with two of these game from the location tests I checked out last year. For those of you who missed these posts, which included photos, videos and my impressions, why not check them out;

[Silent Hill Arcade Photos & Impressions]

[Silent Hill Arcade Videos]

[Wacky Races Photos]

[Wacky Races Impressions & Videos]

[Discuss on the Forum]

Konami’s ATEI 2008 line-up

Konami has issued a press release regarding it’s presence at ATEI this year and while the line-up isn’t large in terms of how many games they will be showing off, they are still aiming to impress.

One of their highlights is Silent Hill: The Arcade game that despite taking a verbal beating from fans (most of whom have never played it) stated “the game has predominantly been the highest income shooting game in test locations around Europe” thus showing that the game is doing well beyond what some thought it would do.

Also at the show they will be demonstrating Guitar Freaks V4 Rock x Rock and Drum Mania V4 Rock x Rock, two of Konami’s latest Bemani titles which take advantage of Konami’s online e-AMUSEMENT system and may also be connecting to each other so playerscan either jam out together as a band or play head-to-head.

Also Konami plans on demonstrating one of it’s new redemption titles ‘Eledees’, based on the popular family brand. Players attempt to capture colorful characters for a higher score and more tickets.

Konami will be at stand 2240 – be sure to check Arcade Heroes around ATEI time for a look at what they’ll have! Hit the post break to read the full press release! [Discuss on the Forum]

Konami's ATEI 2008 line-up

Konami has issued a press release regarding it’s presence at ATEI this year and while the line-up isn’t large in terms of how many games they will be showing off, they are still aiming to impress.

One of their highlights is Silent Hill: The Arcade game that despite taking a verbal beating from fans (most of whom have never played it) stated “the game has predominantly been the highest income shooting game in test locations around Europe” thus showing that the game is doing well beyond what some thought it would do.

Also at the show they will be demonstrating Guitar Freaks V4 Rock x Rock and Drum Mania V4 Rock x Rock, two of Konami’s latest Bemani titles which take advantage of Konami’s online e-AMUSEMENT system and may also be connecting to each other so playerscan either jam out together as a band or play head-to-head.

Also Konami plans on demonstrating one of it’s new redemption titles ‘Eledees’, based on the popular family brand. Players attempt to capture colorful characters for a higher score and more tickets.

Konami will be at stand 2240 – be sure to check Arcade Heroes around ATEI time for a look at what they’ll have! Hit the post break to read the full press release! [Discuss on the Forum]

AMOA 2007 Reports from Barcade

Finally, a detailed report of what when on at AMOA 2007. Next year I plan on going there myself, but wasn’t able to this year.

The reviews come from Barcade.com and focus on a couple of games. At the moment they have posted reviews for two games – Initial D4 by Sega and Silent Hill: The Arcade by Konami. If they post any extra reviews, I’ll update this post.

Both games got good reviews from the site, moreso ID4.  The game really sounds impressive, with enhanced racing controls to mimick the real thing, and the driver’s license card save feature sounds very cool.

The reviewer didn’t play much of Silent Hill as it freaked her out a bit – which certainly is the aim of the SH series. A lot of fans (including those who have played it) have ripped this game to shreds although it might please those who aren’t hardcore fans of the game with a nice scare.

Hit the links below to read the full reviews:

[Barcade – ID4 AMOA review] [Barcade – Silent Hill Arcade AMOA review] [Discuss on the Forum]

Silent Hill The Arcade Screenshot blowout, website update

[Via Kevin Williams of the Stinger Report]

Silent Hill The Arcade has officially launched in Japan and with it a batch of nice images at Game Watch. Konami has also updated it’s page for the game which includes a wealth of information(in Japanese) These screenshots are considerably nicer than the few stills that Konami released months ago – very clear and detailed but it’s doubtful that it will sway the hardened Silent Hill fans that have already declared that the game is outside of normal SH canon and that it sucks (despite the fact that they have not played the game). Here are the screenshots for your viewing pleasure.

[Official Silent Hill The Arcade Website]

[Silent Hill The Arcade @ Game Watch] [Discuss on the Forum]

Silent Hill The Arcade Website Update

[Via ArcadeRenaissance.com]

Konami has updated the official site for Silent Hill:The Arcade. It looks like it’s going to hold a nice wealth of information in a few days but for the moment it reveals two things: one a release date (in Japan) of 7/25/2007 and the flash video on the site reveals something rather disturbing that wasn’t in our location test preview: a bunny with a chainsaw. It also shows some other images of the game, including another one with happier bunnies with no chainsaws and the undead nurses. I wonder how much they have changed/added to the game since location testing but at least we won’t have to wait long to find out.

[Silent Hill The Arcade Official Website] [Discuss on the Forum]

Silent Hill: The Arcade – UK Location Test Videos

Part 1 

Part 2

As promised, sorry for the delay. Enjoy!

[Discuss on the Forum]

Silent Hill: The Arcade – Found & Played

So I made the 2 hour journey across London today to check out Silent Hill: The Arcade, and you maybe wondering was it worth it?

The answer to that would be a definite yes. There isn’t much not to like about this game, cool looking cabinet, the guns had a good feel to them, and the atmosphere the game creates is as tense as an arcade game can get. Although that would have been a lot better if they had put a roof over the cabinet, which I presume is included, but just wasn’t fitted in this instance.

Gameplay wise it’s pretty damn good. The best way to describe it would be to take HOTD, slow it down a bit, suck the colour out of it, in a good way, and throw in some even creepier enemies to blast down. Highlights would include the satisfying sound you get when you make a head shot, which is highly recommended, the second chapter where all the walls look like they are bleeding/on fire, and the boss battle I had with a rather scary fellow who has a big triangle metal head (Sorry I haven’t played the console version much, feel free to let me know his name).

Check out the pictures and put a note in your diaries to come back tomorrow for the video I took!

[Discuss on the Forum]

Silent Hill Arcade Japanese release date and price

A price and release date for the Japanese version of  Silent Hill Arcade in Japan has been unveiled: August 2007 for a price of ¥1,780,000 (roughly 14,675 USD). No new information on a release outside of Japan is currently available, so it looks like we’ll all be waiting quite a while before we can try this out. Just the price alone will delay this from showing up in arcade near you, unless of course it’s a big one with lots of money to burn.

[Discuss on the Forum]

Silent Hill Arcade Location Testing in Japan

We are a day or two late on catching this, but Konami is currently testing their latest incarnation of Silent Hill (simply called Silent Hill Arcade) in Japan as of May 1st and the 2nd. Each test will run for about 10 days, one at the Tokyo amusement park Pallet town store and the other at Komaki Metropolis Store.

If a game does well on a location test then it isn’t long before it will see a general release. The question still remains though on whether or not this game will make it to the States. Stay tuned to Arcade Heroes for future coverage on Silent Hill Arcade.

[Translated Source]

[Discuss on the Forum]