HD Collection PS3 Exclusive (Hah! 360 too) /New VAs

[Smiley]

Wow Guy is really looking to sway the minds at Konami to reconsider adding the original voices back in. He's even asking which convention he should attend so he can set up a booth for Silent Hill fans. Someone already offered to make a petition which Guy supports, but wants fans to remain civil about the whole thing.

Here's some updated comments from Guy:

"Konami will need to hear from more than one thousand fans before they reconsider and do the right thing. It will cost them nothing to restore the original voices to future releases so fans can hear it both ways. Everybody wins, including Konami. Everyone needs to remain civil but be persistent. Fans have more power than they know."

"The decision maker is here in Tokyo. I'm trying to reach out to him..."

"Like I said, be civil and persistent. Nobody likes being backed into a corner. I'm trying to get to a win-win-win for everyone."

"If I were to attend only one convention and throw a party for SH2 fans, which con should it be?"

"No, I mean a real existing con, preferably one where Konami has a booth. I'll set up my own Forever Silent booth, and I will definitely throw a big private party for all the fans who show up."

"I looked at the E3 booth requirements and sponsor affiliates. I don't see anything but $$$ standing between me and a booth at the 2012 E3 show. I wrote to them for a price list."

"And it's close to Monica's house. She'll like that. (Shhh... it's a secret!)"

[Canas Renvall]

Guy is by far one of the coolest guys ever now. Seriously, he has so much of my respect for this. Thank you Guy.

[Smiley]

We get to hear Monica's side of the story in this interview.

It's confirmed now. Guy was the outspoken one, but he certainly wasn't the only actor Konami had problems with.

Silent Haven: I want to ask you your thoughts on this whole Guy Cihi situation. Is he alone in this whole not wanting to sign over mocap and voice rights or were you and David and Donna not willing to sign any documents either? Also what is this business about no contracts?

Monica Taylor Horgan: Well… yes they contacted me within the last year asking for a waiver release for any and all future releases of the game. No there were no contracts at the time. I don’t think anyone realized what was going to come of the game…the genre was relatively new (horror) and Japan does things differently than the US with on camera and voice talent. Konami was *very* shady about the work we did. It was ONLY to be released in the US and ONLY for one game… it has gone on to be released in a dozen countries, and several re-release versions including one that contains a “making of” which actually contains our likenesses… This is a BIG no-no… We have little or no recourse since the game was created in Japan…out of jurisdiction here…which is why they wanted releases from us—because the new HD version is from Konami USA. MUCH stricter laws protecting talent of course here. So they just recast it…I don’t think they realized what a hailstorm they were creating. It’s a shame really—because it’s the fans who miss out most. I never did sign the waiver and I think it’s great that Guy is standing up and shouting. I hope he (and fans) are successful protecting the original at least. And if Konami can clean up their act in the process and treat those who make them their fortunes better, then it’s a great thing.

[Beanovsky Durst]

Greedy Konami fucks. The profit they will make if they do keep the original voiceovers or not it's enough to pay these guys what they deserve.

[rehunk88]

ok i heard the new voices and .... okay they have now ruined silent hill 2....

[REmaster]

Wow.

That letter was one of the most touching things I have ever read. Someone who is that intimate with their fans and the series they worked on is a class-A hero in my book.

[Dracarys]

Seems that neither side is really doing wrong, stuff is done differently in japan yet the VA wanting to be treated like it was done in the US. Don't work in japan if don't like it, or else deal with it?

[Smiley]

To those wondering the MGS theme remains untouched for MGS2 and 3.

[Rombie]

^ Glad to hear. Now if they can put the cutscene back into MGS2 that was removed, I'll be over the moon.

Konami's in a compromised position on this VA thing. SH2 was the best seller in the series, and the franchise has dwindled in sales since. They will probably end up delaying it to try and work on the best result because I think the SH2 fanbase is too large and too vocal for Konami to be ignoring this.

[aris13]

^ Glad to hear. Now if they can put the cutscene back into MGS2 that was removed, I'll be over the moon.

You mean the one where Arsenal Gear invades Manhattan?

[Smiley]

Not exactly the best time to bring that up considering what day today is..... Hence the reason why it was removed. ;>_>

[Rombie]

^ Silly point. If that was not an issue then I don't understand why people are posting up videos on YouTube of montages of the Twin Towers in movies, some of which even released in 2002 afterwards (because they had been shot prior to Sept 2001). Just as one example. To not reflect the fact they did exist at some stage now is silly, hell even the memorial today opened the reflecting pools in the spaces where the two towers once sat.

I'm not going to open a further can of worms in regards to the impact, loss of life, etc. but I'd much like to see the game as it was originally intended because as it stands the horrible jump in cutscenes in the game sticks out like a sore thumb and can easily be further understood.

[Smiley]

There were a lot of things altered before its final release. The scene itself wasn't even finished and only traces of it could be located in the disc of the original MGS2 copy. If we had the games as Kojima originally made them then there would be more members of Dead Cell, Vamp would be a woman, The Boss would have her tit hang out during the final boss fight and.... Don't give me that look. We really don't need these things added to the HD version.

[Rombie]

^ Again, you're being silly. The remainder of what you mentioned (with the exception of your Boss comment, obviously dropped idea from MGS3) was in the original script but dropped far earlier in production. The AG scene was completed and removed because the game was originally due for first master just 2 days after the attacks.* The reason it's unfinished on the disc is purely that is all that they left in.

Konami/Kojima put out a press release a week later explaining that due to content they would possibly have to delay the release somewhat for changes. Thats why the scene jumps, it was supposed to be in there. The rest of your examples were ideas dropped well earlier into production, not like this scene.

*

Word came back from Konami US that another week would be added to the development timetable–the first submission of Metal Gear Solid 2 was now scheduled for Friday, September 14, 2001. While the extra week in development gave the team some breathing room, there was no question that the first few weeks of September would involve countless hours of testing and tweaking. Kojima would have to put his entire life on hold–there would be no more movies with Muraoka and certainly no karaoke for the time being. As Earth, Wind & Fire put it, there would be no dancing in September…at least not yet.

As September 14 approached, the team worked tirelessly to complete the game. “Things were really coming together, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, we thought we were finally right on schedule,” says Matsuhana. Unfortunately, the most unthinkable of unforeseen events would strike the United States on September 11. When news reached Japan of the terror attack, it was already September 12–only two days before the first submission was due.

This is in Geoff Keighley's Final Hours of MGS2 coverage, transcribed here - http://www.kojimaproductions.net/fea...-gear-solid-2/

[Smiley]

I'm being silly, but I'm going to save you the trouble of hoping it could be in there and tell you it won't be added in.