Team Silent
Encyclopedia
Team Silent was a development group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (KCET), responsible for the first four games in the Silent Hill
franchise by Konami
released from 1999 to 2004, with later titles developed by external Western companies such as Climax Studios
and Double Helix Games
. According to composer Akira Yamaoka
, Team Silent consisted of staff members that had failed at other projects and originally intended to leave the company before the first Silent Hill game turned out to be a success. However, according to Silent Hill Homecoming game artist Kenzie LaMar, Team Silent was ultimately disbanded by Konami itself, because Konami wanted other developers to make the games. KCET was merged into the parent company Konami in April 2005.
Key members of Team Silent include:
Akira Yamaoka played a major role in the Silent Hill film adaptation
by overseeing and approving specific aspects of the movie throughout its production. Team Silent members are now working on separate projects. Some of the original members (as led by Toyama, director of the first Silent Hill
game) went on to create the Siren
series, which has a similar atmosphere to the Silent Hill
franchise.
Silent Hill
is a survival horror video game series consisting of seven installments published by Konami and its subsidiary Konami Digital Entertainment. The first four games in the series, Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2, 3 and 4, have been developed by an internal factor, Team Silent...
franchise by Konami
Konami
is a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
released from 1999 to 2004, with later titles developed by external Western companies such as Climax Studios
Climax Group
Climax Group is a British independent video game development company. It was founded by Karl Jeffery in 1988 and is based in Portsmouth, Hampshire....
and Double Helix Games
Double Helix Games
Double Helix Games is an American video game developer based in Irvine, California, founded in 2007 through two mergers of Foundation 9 studios, The Collective and Shiny Entertainment...
. According to composer Akira Yamaoka
Akira Yamaoka
is a video game composer, sound designer, sound director, and video game producer who worked for Konami since 1993 until his resignation in 2009. He is best known for creating the music in the Silent Hill series; he also worked as a sound director and producer on the series as well as serving as a...
, Team Silent consisted of staff members that had failed at other projects and originally intended to leave the company before the first Silent Hill game turned out to be a success. However, according to Silent Hill Homecoming game artist Kenzie LaMar, Team Silent was ultimately disbanded by Konami itself, because Konami wanted other developers to make the games. KCET was merged into the parent company Konami in April 2005.
Key members of Team Silent include:
- Keiichiro ToyamaKeiichiro Toyamais a video game designer, best known as the creator of the hit survival horror video game Silent Hill . He directed the game, as well as worked in the animation department as background designer....
: Director of Silent HillSilent Hill (video game)Silent Hill is a survival horror video game for the PlayStation and the first installment in the Silent Hill series. Published by Konami and developed by Team Silent, a Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo group, the game was released in North America in January 1999, and in Japan and Europe later...
. Left to join SCE Japan StudioSCE Japan StudioSCE Japan Studio is the Japanese production and development arm of the parent company Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc , most noted for the Ape Escape and Loco Roco series. SCE Japan Studio operates as part of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios...
and create the SirenSiren (video game), known as Forbidden Siren in Europe and Australasia, is a survival horror video game developed by SCE Japan Studio for the PlayStation 2 in 2003.-Plot:...
series of games. - Masashi Tsuboyama: Director of Silent Hill 2Silent Hill 2Silent Hill 2 is a survival horror video game published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo...
, art director of Silent Hill 4 - Kazuhide Nakazawa: Director of Silent Hill 3Silent Hill 3Silent Hill 3 is a survival horror video game published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 and developed by Team Silent, a production group within Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo. It is the third installment in the Silent Hill series and a direct sequel to the first Silent Hill game...
. He later joined Kojima ProductionsKojima Productionsis a Japanese video game development studio under the guidance of game designer Hideo Kojima. The company is a subsidiary of Konami, and is located in Roppongi Hills in Roppongi, Tokyo. The studio had just under 100 employees in 2005 but has since grown to over 200 people for the development of...
. - Suguru Murakoshi: Drama director of Silent Hill 2, director and scenario writer of Silent Hill 4. He later joined Kojima ProductionsKojima Productionsis a Japanese video game development studio under the guidance of game designer Hideo Kojima. The company is a subsidiary of Konami, and is located in Roppongi Hills in Roppongi, Tokyo. The studio had just under 100 employees in 2005 but has since grown to over 200 people for the development of...
. - Hiroyuki OwakuHiroyuki Owakuis a Japanese video game writer best known for his work with Team Silent in the Silent Hill franchise.-Career:Ōwaku first worked in the survival horror video game Silent Hill as event programmer and enemy programmer. Following the game's success, Team Silent worked on various sequels, direct or...
: Scenario writer of Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3, co-writer for Silent Hill - Masahiro ItoMasahiro Itois a Japanese video game artist best known for his work with Team Silent in the Silent Hill franchise.-Career:Itō joined Team Silent following the release and success of the survival horror video game Silent Hill in 1999...
: Art director of Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3 - Akira Yamaoka: series sound director; producer of Silent Hill 3 and Silent Hill 4. Left KonamiKonamiis a Japanese leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling toys, trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, slot machines, arcade cabinets and video games...
to join Grasshopper ManufactureGrasshopper ManufactureGrasshopper Manufacture, Inc. is a Japanese video game development house founded on March 30, 1998 in Suginami, Japan. Grasshopper gained mainstream attention in 2005 for the Nintendo GameCube and PlayStation 2 game Killer7... - Gozo Kitao: Executive producer of Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill 3
- Akihiro Imamura: Producer of Silent Hill 2, sub-producer of Silent Hill 4
- Takayoshi Sato: CGIComputer-generated imageryComputer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
Creator of Silent Hill and Silent Hill 2. Left to join Virtual Heroes, Inc.Virtual Heroes, Inc.Virtual Heroes, Inc. is a serious game developer in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. It was founded in 2004 by veteran developers with an average of about ten years in either the entertainment gaming or simulation & training industries.-Organization:...
.
Akira Yamaoka played a major role in the Silent Hill film adaptation
Silent Hill (film)
Silent Hill is a 2006 horror film directed by Christophe Gans and written by Roger Avary. The story is an adaptation of the Silent Hill series of survival horror video games created by Konami. The film, particularly its emotional, religious and aesthetic content as well as its creature design,...
by overseeing and approving specific aspects of the movie throughout its production. Team Silent members are now working on separate projects. Some of the original members (as led by Toyama, director of the first Silent Hill
Silent Hill
is a survival horror video game series consisting of seven installments published by Konami and its subsidiary Konami Digital Entertainment. The first four games in the series, Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2, 3 and 4, have been developed by an internal factor, Team Silent...
game) went on to create the Siren
Siren (video game)
, known as Forbidden Siren in Europe and Australasia, is a survival horror video game developed by SCE Japan Studio for the PlayStation 2 in 2003.-Plot:...
series, which has a similar atmosphere to the Silent Hill
Silent Hill
is a survival horror video game series consisting of seven installments published by Konami and its subsidiary Konami Digital Entertainment. The first four games in the series, Silent Hill, Silent Hill 2, 3 and 4, have been developed by an internal factor, Team Silent...
franchise.