Marketing and Leaks

This is a sub-page of Prerelease:Silent Hill: Shattered Memories.

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: Research about Comic Con 2009 (San Diego) event. The game was unexpectedly present there, even people at the time seems confused by the unannounced presence of the game as commented in a thread of Silent Hill Forum. Rarely any information about the presence of the game has surfaced or have become lost due the past of time.

Despite of the odd development where the game concept was changed three times, the initial announcement in April 6, 2009 up to it final release in December 8, 2009 the game didn't change too much.

Pre-release Material and Leaks Timeline#

• February 26, 2009 - Rumors started floating in internet.¹²
• April 1, 2009
  • Nintendo Power May Issue Leaks.³⁴⁵
  • Konami Tease Announcement.⁶
• April 6, 2009 - Official Announcement. Initial title revealed, platforms confirmed and concept art revealed.^78910111213
• April 10-23, 2009 - Previews with opinions, screenshots and interviews with Tomm Hulett and Sam Barlow get released.^{141516171819202122232425}
• May 4, 2009 - Destructoid interview with Tomm Hulett.²⁶
• May 21, 2009 - Konami confirms their participation for E3, no mention of any game.²⁷
• May 28, 2009 - New screenshots and teaser trailer "Lost in Snow".²⁸²⁹
• June 2, 2009 - E3 starts, Konami makes their conference presenting the game with a new trailer, Sam Barlow introduces the game, more footage is shown, a first look of the PSP version, and announcing a playable demo for E3.³⁰³¹
• June 3-25, 2009 - E3 related articles, interviews, gameplays from a demo of the event and screenshots are released.^{323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455565758596061}
• June 20, 2009 - Silent Hill Forum interview with Tomm Hulett⁶²⁶³
• July 6, 2009 - Konami confirms their participation for GamesCom, the game is mentioned to be appear.⁶⁴⁶⁵
• July 23, 2009 - The game makes an unexpected appearance at the Comic Con (San Diego) 2009^{66676869707172737475767778}
  • Side Note: Coverage of the game in this event is really strange
    • Members and moderators from "Silent Hill Forums" reported to have completely missed the presence of the game at the event⁷⁹⁸⁰
    • A microsite was uploaded in November 23, 2009. The microsite contains screenshots related released during the E3, however, it also include screenshots labeled as from the Comic Con of July. Only the Wii screenshots where previously shown off in an article released in September 17, 2009 by Dread Central while the PSP screenshots weren't previously shown anywere before. Additionally the platform label for the E3 screenshots is mixed⁸¹⁸²⁸³
• July 31, 2009
  • 8 new screenshots got released.⁸⁴⁸⁵
  • Hell Decent interview with Tomm Hulett and Mark Simmons.⁸⁶
• August 10, 2009 - Konami announces a haunted house experience with theme of Silent Hill, oddly the Silent Hill logo used is the final logo of the game.⁸⁷
• August 11, 2009 - New screenshots released and full final logo released.^88899091
• August 18-26, 2009 - GamesCom starts, a lightly modified version of the E3 trailer is shown, gameplays from a demo of the event, screenshots, interviews and opinions get released.^{9293949596979899100101102103}
• August 31, 2009 - Initial Europe box art spotted.^104105106107
• September 3, 2009 - A pre-order bonus for users who pre-order the game at GameStop were going to get a free copy of the game's soundtrack is spotted.^108109110111
• September 4, 2009 - GameShark interview with Tomm Hulett.¹¹²
• September 10, 2009 - Konami confirms their participation for Tokyo Game Show, no mention of the game.¹¹³
• September 15, 2009
  • Nintendo confirms release date for November.¹¹⁴
  • Konami confirms the game will appear at Tokyo Game Show.¹¹⁵
• September 16, 2009 - The game is presented at Konami Gamer's Night Brazil event.^{116117118119120}
• September 24-28, 2009 - Tokyo Game Show starts, a recycled trailer from GamesCom is shown, gameplay, new screenshots, a playable demo of both PSP and Wii versions are released for the event, and opinions get released.^{121122123124125126127128129130131132}
• October 5, 2009 - New gameplay and interview with Tomm Hulett by G4TV.^133134135
• October 8, 2009 - Retronauts interview with Tomm Hulett.¹³⁶¹³⁷
• October 12, 2009 - Delay, Undefined release date for America and Europe final release month.^138139140141
• October 22, 2009 - New Gamespot opinion.¹⁴²
• October 24, 2009 - The final Europe box art is spotted.¹⁴³
• October 25, 2009 - 9 New screenshots.¹⁴⁴
• October 28-30, 2009 - Interview with Tomm Hulett from Siliconera.¹⁴⁵¹⁴⁶
• November 1, 2009 - Nintendo announces final American release date for Wii.
• November 12-13, 2009
  • Konami confirms release date for American Wii, new screenshots, concept art and profile of characters revealed.^{147148149150151152153}
  • Nintendo Power leaked review.¹⁵⁴
• November 20, 2009 - New IGN opinion with screenshots.¹⁵⁵
• December 2, 2009 - Konami release a "Launch Trailer" which is the intro of the game.¹⁵⁶
• December 4, 2009 - IGN review.¹⁵⁷
• December 8, 2009
  • Wii version releases on America.
  • Interview with Tomm Hulett from Nintendo World Report.¹⁵⁸
• December 8-9, 2009 - Compilation of a few reviews.^{159160161162163164165166167}
• December 10, 2009 - PR of Konami about the American game release.¹⁶⁸
• December 13, 2009 - Gamespot release a hand-on impressions of the PSP version.¹⁶⁹
• December 17, 2009 - IGN release a hand-on impressions of the PSP version.¹⁷⁰
• December 22, 2009 - Official full release date for Europe.¹⁷¹
• January 19, 2010
  • PSP and PS2 versions releases on America.¹⁷²
  • Nintendo Life interview with Sam Barlow and Mark Simmons¹⁷³
• January 21, 2010 - Eurogamer interview with Sam Barlow and Mark Simmons.¹⁷⁴
• January 22, 2010 - Final release date for Japan.^175176177
• January 26, 2010
  • IGN review of the PSP version.¹⁷⁸
  • Interview with Sam Barlow by Official Nintendo Magazine.¹⁷⁹
• January 29, 2010 - G4TV interview with Tomm Hulett talking about the game conception.¹⁸⁰
• February 5, 2010 - Interview with Sam Barlow by Telegraph.¹⁸¹
• February 10-12, 2010 - Interviews with Tomm Hulett by Gamer Grenade.¹⁸²¹⁸³
• February 25, 2010 - Game releases in Europe.¹⁸⁴¹⁸⁵
• March 25, 2010 - Game releases in Japan.¹⁸⁶¹⁸⁷
• June 3, 2010 - Silent Hill Heaven interview with Tomm Hullet.¹⁸⁸
• November 11, 2010 - Silent Heaven interview with Mark Simmons.¹⁸⁹

Previews#

The only difference commented in all of the previews is in the IGN Preview from the Konami's Gamers Night event where one paragraph says:

...Hold Z and he'll run. C button will cue a quick 180-turn...

In the final release, press C button doesn't perform this action, however it can be performed if player holds Z and then moves the analog stick from the Nunchuck backward.

Early Logo#

The logo of the game was changed in August 10, 2009. The original logo had a completely different font for the "Silent Hill" title, while the "Shattered Memories" was preserved, but modified making it outline bigger.

Initial Announcement Logo	Final logo

In the alternative white version of the logo the color of the "Shattered Memories" is change between the early and the final versions. In the early logo it completely black meanwhile in the final logo it's also black, but now have a blue outline. In the teaser trailer dubbed as "Lost in Snow" (released before the logo change) for some reason this variation actually had more changes as the inner part of "Silent Hill" title was whiten.

Initial Announcement Logo	Alternative	Final logo

Early Box Art#

Initially spotted in an internal Konami magazine to then being seen in the game pre-orders for Europe went up, the box art was different, instead it shows Harry horrified and frozen face with a big shine over his right eye. This early boxart only lasted for a few months after getting replaced by the final one which is just a variation of the NTSC boxart.

Chris Hoffman (former Senior Editor for Nintendo Power magazine) pointed out that the final box art was originally meant to be the cover for the Nintendo Power Issue where the game was meant to be announced, however, Future US's management (company in charge of Nintendo Power since 2007) found it too disturbing. After the rejection it was quickly designated to be the final cover for the game.¹⁹⁰¹⁹¹

Wesley Burt (The person who did the original concept art from which the box art is base off) wasn't aware of the usage of his art with that purpose.¹⁹²

Early	Final

Trailers#

Teaser Trailer "Lost in Snow"#

Watch on YouTubePrevious to the E3 2009 and alongside some screenshots, in May 28, 2009 a teaser trailer named as "Lost in Snow" was released.

Not many differences can be spotted in the video:

• Different camera angles in the first cutscene.
  • This camera angles can be seen in an early version of the intro cutscene.
• In both Diner 52 variations there is one painting different.
• Many buggy transition effects when the world is turning into nightmare world.
• An alternative early logo is shown at the end of the trailer.

E3, GamesCom and Tokyo Game Show#

A game trailer was shown off at E3 2009, GamesCom 2009 and Tokyo Game Show 2009. The E3 and GamesCom trailer barely change from each other while the Tokyo Game Show trailer is the same Gamescom trailer, but with subtitles in Japanese. The game producer (Tom Hullet) was asking about this at the GamesCom 2009 whereof he answered, quoted from an IGN article:

"We noticed that in Germany they've always gotten E3 assets, which is kind of boring. So we took our E3 trailer and used the psych profile to change all of it," ... "So it'll be similar, but you'll kind of get a feel for what can change as you play through the game."

Watch on YouTubeDifferences that can be spotted from the E3 trailer:

• Missing lighting during some cutscenes and different lighting in the bar and the therapy session.
• Differences during the first therapy session:
  • Glitched black door.
  • Minibar objects are different.
  • Objects over the desk from previous screenshots can be spotted.
  • Two scenes can be seen for brief moments:
    • The scene where Harry washes his face at the The Balkan there is little bug in mirror's reflection, and the effect of cleaning the steam from the mirror does not match the position of the Harry's hand.
    • The scene where Harry and Michelle brokes into the principal's there is a different camera angle, and oddly, the pointer can be seem in the right corner.
• The sky has a different color.
• A TV and the grating in the entrance of Clear Picture are different.
• In Diner 52, some objects from the walls are different in both "Sexy" and "Professional" variations.
• When hiding during the nightmare section the player still have the flashlight on while in final game it always turns off.
• For a brief moment, close to the end of the trailer, an untextured exit sign can be seen.
• Early Phone UI.
• When taking the Echo Photo in the playground neither the static or shape of the person can be seen, this is probably a bug
• The new message notification is in the right while final game has it on the left.

Watch on YouTubeAs previously stated the GamesCom/TGS trailer have barely some changes. The only difference compared to the retail release is the lack of lighting at the Irish Pub variation of the bar and the ending of the trailer where the hanging person instead of relaying on himself is relaying on the wall, just like how he does in the PSP version.

Screenshots#

Konami's Gamers Night Previews Screenshots#

First therapy session
Preview
Differences: table is different, a chunk of the floor (down the table) is partially wood while in the final Wii release the whole floor is ceramic (interestingly the PS2 and PSP versions still having this differences), the desk has many things among them there are early version of the images intended to be used in the last therapy session
Inside of Theresa's
Preview
Differences: different poster although in PSP seems to be using an earlier version of the poster
Staff Room from Theresa's
Preview
Differences: wall's paint is different (although in PSP final release have the wall's paint from preview screenshot), markers are yellow instead of white, the button to return to the home screen of the phone is tagged as "Exit" while in final release is "Back", the saved pictures quantity has a dialogue that only can read "(no" instead of numbers, and the saved pictures icon is white instead of cyan

Leaving Diner 52
Preview
Difference: different camera angle
Town
Preview
Differences: different road texture, a different car, Clear Picture open sign is in different position and a sign from Clear Picture was removed
Staff Room from Clear Picture
Preview
Difference: sticky note was moved
Meeting Cybil at Diner 52 (Sexy and Hard Ass variation)
Preview
Differences: three paints were changed and Cybil doesn't brings her gun

Nintendo Power Issue 241 Screenshots#

Even though information and screenshots of this issue were leaked on March the few differences that can be notice are from screenshots that were not shown on the leak.

Town
Preview
Differences: inconsistency between phone UI as in the in-game screenshot shows an early UI, however a render aside of the screenshot shows the phone with the final UI (without the stadistic icon), early map and the player pull out his phone on a section that is impossible to do it.
Staff Room from Clear Picture
Preview
Differences: different wall texture, different post it position and the TV aside shows an early graphic that can be better seen in one of the early game footage
Possibly Harry animation while doing a call seen from a free angle
Preview
Difference: The screenshot shows an early version of Harry.

Pre-E3 Screenshots#

Previous to the E3 2009 and alongside a teaser trailer, in May 28, 2009 some screenshots were released.

Playground
Preview
Differences: miss-aligned UI, slightly different camera angle and the mini-trailer was fully closed
Inside of Diner 52, Cybil Hard/Proffesional and Kind variations
Preview
Differences: a different painting and the entrance door has stickers that are abscent in final release
First nightmare, Pool
Preview
Difference: missing exit sign texture over the door

E3 Screenshots#

Many screenshots were released during this period from both Wii and PSP versions, but only PSP one shows noticeable differences, all of them shows a considerable downgrade compared to the final release, but some of them are more noticeable than others.

Meeting Cybil at Diner 52 (Unknown variation)
Preview
Differences: different Harry and Cybil models and while it is not clear which variation is, it appears to be the Proffesional and Kind due the Cybil's hair and the camera angle matching the same position, but in the early screenshot it uses the ambient lightling of the Hard ass variation.

Exiting Garage
Preview
Differences: different Harry model and the door is being open despited of being locked
Inside Diner 52 (Unknown variation)
Preview
Differences: absent minor details, the marker is yellow, more darker lighting, flashlight with soft shadow and different Harry model
First nightmare, hallway to the locker room
Preview
Differences: better quality textures, better baked lighting, better flashlight lighting and different Harry model

July Screenshots#

On July 31, 2009, Nintendo Everything released 8 screenshots, 2 of them having noticeable differences.

Abandoned dock in the forest
Preview
Difference: the dead deer is underwater
Exiting Garage
Preview
Differences: the sadistic option is not available and the box is clipping the wall

Pre-GamesCom Screenshots#

On August 11, 2009, Nintendo Everything released 8 screenshots, 4 of them having noticeable differences.

Meeting Cybil at Levin Street (Hard Ass variation)
Preview
Differences: different camera angle and Harry's wallet is clipping inside Cybil's hand
Cybil (Sexy and Hard Ass Variation) car drive section
Preview
Differences: car's frontal panel is different, slightly different camera position, the right window is open, and the windshield is more opaque
Ranger Station
Preview
Differences: completely different map and missing text in phone's map
Water tower in the forest
Preview
Differences: the text in the right corner and originally we were going to be able to spin the objects by moving the nunchuck analog

GamesCom Screenshots#

In mid-August 2009 released 8 screenshots from the Wii version were released, 2 of them having noticeable differences. Additionally, eight screenshots from the PSP version were released, noticeably 2 of them having differences.

Outside of Worderland and The Brothel
Preview
Difference: different cartels
Diner 52
Preview
Differences: both variations (one unknown, while the other is one of the sexy variations) shares the same lighting and shows the stickers in the door seen in early Wii footage

Famitsu's Tokyo Game Show Screenshots#

At the end of September and thanks to the Tokyo Game Show Famitsu published a few screenshots of the game from both Wii and PSP versions, but Wii screenshots have nothing new unlike PSP which contain some minor differences.

Inside of Good Old Days
Preview
Differences: the Good Old Day bar used different ambient for the Hard of Heard in the Irish Pub instead using the ambient from the Sport Bar variations, the head of the bartender goes through her head, and the bartender saves a bottle with from a different mark

Garage exit
Preview
Differences: different controller input prompt
Playground

Rare PS2 Screenshot#

Some German and British retailers received some exclusive PS2 screenshots as well this screenshots are used in back of the UK and German PS2 box releases. These screenshots could be from an earlier PS2 build as one of them feature some minor differences compared to retail PS2.¹⁹³¹⁹⁴

Therapy Sessions (Unknown Session)
Preview (PS2)
Differences: the bottom drawers in the minibar have broken textures, an additional bottle glass that is absent in the final game, the lamp in the column (absent in PS2, but present in Wii and PSP), abnormally lit chair and Kaufmann's mouth is completely black.

Gameplays and Demos#

E3 Conference#

Watch on YouTubeDuring the conference the game was the penultimate to be presented, it was presented entirely by Sam Barlow (Game writter). First a new trailer, then Sam Barlow presents the game while showing more in-game footage and lastly it's shown an early version of the PSP version.

Differences can be spotted in the gameplay exclusively presented during E3 Conference. Wii:

• The wrecking yard has a different texture which shows a road and many minor objects are absent.
• In the cutscene before the first nightmare sequence, the planks of wood and the dumpster switches places and the planks are replaced with a trash can.
• During the nightmare section when Harry crawl under a table, while not running and not being chased plays an cut animation.
• When Harry is being grab by an Rawshock while climbing and the player is unable to do the QTE on time the Rawshock jump off from him to then jump again over him.
• Early Phone's map.
• The hole in the pool is absent.

PSP:

• Silent Hill's map and the calendary photo inside of the garage are different.
• A noticeable jitter occurs when Harry moves.

First Demo Gameplays#

Thanks to a development blog of the game, we know that this demo was actually a repurposed vertical slice build of the game from November 2008. It is not specified if this exact demo was reused for other event as it is know that the game was present with a demo available at Konami's Gamers Night 2009, Comic Con San Diego 2009, Konami's Gamers Night Brazil 2009, GamesCom 2009 and Tokyo Game Show 2009, however, the footage available of those events hint that this demo was reused for most this events, the only exception being the TGS demo which was built off a more advance version of the game and features a Japanese translation.

Watch on YouTubeWatch on YouTubeWatch on YouTube

IGN released a three part gameplay of the E3 demo, in the video more differences can be spotted:

• Music triggers or the music handler is buggy throughout the whole gameplay.
• Tutorial prompts are different:
  • All of them lack the background static, they don't stop the music to play a static sound, they are a bit more down and the font colors are different.
  • The first tutorial prompt has a different image.
  • In the second and third tutorial prompts the phone in the images has a shining outlining.
• Different main menu and Psychological warning screen.
  • The menu uses the song "A Father's Touch" from Silent Hill: Origins.
• The first therapy session contains many of the previously mentioned differences and now including an early track that can be found inside the game files.
• The icons that indicate to move the head to say "Yes" or "No" during the first therapy sessions are different.
• Zooming do not adjust the position of the camera to be over Harry's shoulder like final release.
• When opening the garage door, the icon to move forward is a bit different and the indicator says "Open Door" while in final release is just "Open".
• The map of Silent Hill, the photo of the calendar and the family photo (this last one only fully visible in a different footage) inside the garage are different.
  • The final release PSP version has the early texture of the map.
• Harry's comment on the 911 advertisement is different, in the demo says "911. Nah! The phone's out." while in final release he says "911. The phone's out."
• The windows of the gas station have glass.
  • The final PlayStation releases do have the glass, but has broken transparency making impossible to see the steel shutter
• In Clear Picture, the televisions that can be seen on the grating on the entrance, one on the floor of interior and the one in the staff .room that shows a photos of a marriage on the final release shows a blue screen with a letter saying "01" on the right corner.
  • • The texture can be found inside the files of the map from the PS2/PSP versions and a lower quality version of this texture can actually be seen in the retail Wii version.

E3 Demo Gameplay Screenshot 1 (Wii)	E3 Demo Gameplay Screenshot 2 (Wii)
Game texture (PS2)	Retail (Wii)

• Clear Picture interior is completely different to final release and the staff's room have a different wall texture.
  • Both final PlayStations releases have some attribute from both early version and the final Wii release, especially the PSP version which is more similar to the early version than to the final Wii release.
• The audio record lacks the beep sound effect heard at the start and end of the record and the button push sound effect is missing.
• The climbing animation are a little bit buggy.
• In the playground there is a sign of prohibited things to do in it, in final release it has the no drugs, alcohol and smoking it is marked, in this version is unmarked and the sign is a bit more up.
• In the playground the sign for a Dance School seems to be different.
• The door that goes from the playground to the street where Diner 52 and Good Old Days is has a graffiti that says "Dead Dog".
• While meeting Cybil the position of the static camera that let the player freely look their environment it's a bit different.
• When Harry goes outside of the Diner 52 the cutscene has a few different angles, in one of them it focuses on Harry looking at the map in his phone.
• The prompt that shows when receiving a message or a call is positioned in the right while final game is in the left, they don't fade in and out and the icon of the phone when receiving calls does not shake.
• The phone book icon in the dial app is at an incorrect angle.
• Transition between first and third-person camera is buggy and when the player is listening to a call or audio movement seems stiff.
• The transition sound to the first nightmare world section is different.
• The transition animation from the alleyway cutscene to the first nightmare section is missing, instead after finishing the cutscene the game fade into a black screen to then fade out and spawn the player in the first nightmare section.
• A bug occurs one the player is grab for third time in the nightmare section that causes Harry to grunt continuously throughout the rest of the section.
• Throwing object originally required only to move the nunchuck while in final release the player has to move both nunchuck and wiimote.
• Activating a light flare originally needed to move the nunchuck and press C, in the final release you only need to press C.
• The final scene of the demo uses a different song.
• The car parked in front of the garage is in diagonal to the home while in retail is properly aligned to one of the garage doors looking to the street.
• The ending of the demo shows an image that says "To be continue...".

Watch on YouTubeIn a different video a Konami employee showcases some of the features from the phone, one of this features that highlight the most is an app named Game which was completely removed in the final.

Watch on YouTubeIn a different video more differences can be seen:

• A better look to the early family photo frame in the garage.
• Early pause menu
• While not fully clear, it can be notice that the poster aside of the men's bathroom door at the gas station was different
• Early version of message drawn in the men's bathroom at the gas station.

Watch on YouTubeThe only difference that can be only spotted in this video is in one of the screens in the bottom where another menu screen can be seen which shows what seems to be the pending rating mark of the ESRB. Possibly this screen is intended to appear after finishing the demo and being thrown back to the main menu.

There are only two videos from the GamesCom demo which shows differences or new interesting elements of the demo. Watch on YouTubeWatch on YouTube

Differences that can be spotted:

• When the player opens the phone while Harry is hurt the phone moves more and in case of moving it the hand could clip the camera.
• Almost at the end of one of the videos the game crashes just when finishing the demo.
  • This also reveals that the demo to contain debug symbols.
• At the end of one of the videos a bug occurs during the cutscene where Harry is in front of the frozen Levin house, the player was still having an active light flare when the cutscene triggered showing Harry holding the light flare instead of the flashlight as it always does in the final game.

Soundtrack's Unused Track#

Alongside the official game soundtrack an additional track was added under the name "Childish Thoughts".

References#