Akira Yamaoka

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Contest Extension: Silent Hill Homecoming Soundtrack

February 26, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

We realize that most of you probably missed this contest announcement buried under both the review of the album and the recent Mirror’s Edge Is Still Alive Contest. Needless to say, we’ve extended the deadline, and will take entries up until 11:59PM PST on Thursday, March 12. So here’s your chance to win a copy of the promotional Silent Hill Homecoming Original Soundtrack.

Just comment on the original post with a description of your experience with the music of the Silent Hill series. This is another easy one to enter, so get those entries in!

Have you had the opportunity to hear the music in Silent Hill Homecoming? What are your thoughts about the late (although much appreciated) soundtrack album?
Game Music

Silent Hill Homecoming Soundtrack Review and Contest: We Were Right!

January 23, 2009 | J.P. Arevalo | 8 Comments Share this

Frequent readers of OSV might remember our Silent Hill: Homecoming interview with Akira Yamaoka and our question about a possible soundtrack release. Since Yamaoka had mentioned that the soundtrack would be out along with the game in September in the United States, and since the game came and went with no word on a soundtrack release, we thought we might have had a misinterpretation on our hands.

But!

At the end of November, Gamestop stores around the country started receiving boxes of the soundtrack as a promotional bonus. A little late, but still very welcome! So, if you bought Silent Hill: Homecoming in the past, you may want to go bug your local game retailer for a copy before they end up as eBay fodder a year down the line.

This is, of course, great news for any Silent Hill or Akira Yamaoka fans. To celebrate the fact that we were right all along while you called us liars and slung mud at our faces, OSV is giving away its spare copy the promotional soundtrack!

Hit the jump for details on how to enter and to read our brief review. (more…)
Game Music

OSVchannel Episode 5: Silent Hill: Homecoming, Etrian Odyssey, and OSV is Hiring!

October 14, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 4 Comments Share this

Another week, another OSVchannel update. I actually recorded this in the middle of the night, right before bed, so sorry if I seem somewhat distant! I didn’t even realize there was so much important stuff to cover from this past week. Good thing I remembered!

The first order of business is the recent Silent Hill: Homecoming soundtrack preview on Amazon, especially the stunning trip-hop track, “Witchcraft,” which is absolutely awesome. Next up, we listen to a couple of my favorite tracks from Live Music by Piano and Strings: Sekaiju no MeiQ I & II Super Arrange Version, including “Scene – Blue and White” and “Cherry Tree Bridge,” both of which are quite beautiful.

Lastly, I put a call out to all of you out there who would be a writer! We’re looking to bolster our Associate Editor list there on the left side of the screen. If you think you have what it takes (that is, some writing experience and a passion for music), send your writing samples to [email protected] and tell us why you want to write about nerdy music. We’re looking forward to working with you!

Will you be picking up the Silent Hill: Homecoming soundtrack when it’s out or the latest Etrian Odyssey album? Do you have a favorite track from the respective preview or album?
Game Music

Amazon tantalizes Silent Hill fans with 3 track sampler from Homecoming

October 6, 2008 | J.P. Arevalo | 3 Comments Share this

In our very own interview with Akira Yamaoka, eternal composer for the Silent Hill series of survival horror games, Mr. Yamaoka mentioned that a soundtrack release would be available from Konami USA by the time the game hit shelves in North America. Well, we think he meant the game, so there goes that right? Maybe not.

As a HUGE fan of Silent Hill (I own 8 copies of Silent Hill 2), I am eagerly anticipating news of an official soundtrack release, and at this point, I don’t care where it comes from. A daily search revealed a small sampler of tracks from Amazon MP3 labeled, Silent Hill Homecoming Bonus Tracks. Contained within are three tracks, “Cold Blood,” “Witchcraft,” and a Mary Elizabeth McGlynn vocal track, “The Sacred Line.” Is this a hint that a full Amazon MP3 release is on the way?

Hit the jump for more speculation and ranting. (more…)
Game Music

A New Kind of Fear: Silent Hill Homecoming Interview with Akira Yamaoka

September 26, 2008 | Jayson Napolitano | 14 Comments Share this

Silent Hill Homecoming is almost upon us. It’s due out on September 30, and we’ve been fortunate to speak with Akira Yamaoka, who is reprising his role as composer and producer, regarding his work on the title. Not only do we discuss a new kind of fear that will be featured in the game, but we also touch on his work habits and his philosophy about games.

Yamaoka confirms that there will be a soundtrack release by the end of September, featuring approximately 70 minutes of music, and even hints at an upcoming project that he belives will be his biggest project to date.

Read the full interview with Akira Yamaoka after the jump. (more…)