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[Draugoth]

Silent Hill: Ascension’s pricing explained ahead of Halloween premiere

Download the app to participate or just watch the Silent Hill horror play out

www.polygon.com

Silent Hill: Ascension will be free to watch and interact with. The app itself, available from the App Store and Google Play, is also free to download. But viewers can purchase a season pass that will work similarly to many games' battle passes. That season pass unlocks a long list of in-game cosmetics, including stickers and character customization options.

Viewers who want to be a part of the experience will be able to show off those cosmetics through cameo contests. Ascension viewers' in-app avatars have the opportunity to show up as extras and in speaking roles.

Genvid's series will play out nightly, with new episodes premiering at 9 p.m. EDT/6 p.m. PDT. As episodes stream, viewers can vote in real time, spending what are called Influence Points, or IP (styled as ᚾᚹ in the app), to sway decisions. The more points you have, the stronger your influence, says Jacob Navok, CEO of Genvid.

Navok says that Silent Hill: Ascension won't be pay-to-win; viewers can't simply spend a bunch of money on IP to outvote their fellow Silent Hill fans. And while IP can be purchased directly and unlocked through the season pass, there are free ways to earn the points. In addition to its branching narrative scenes, Ascension has moments called Endurance Scenes, real-time QTEs that viewers can participate in to decide characters' fate (and earn them IP).

Genvid is selling the season pass for $19.99, which spans six months of content. That six-month window includes the original 16-week playthrough of the interactive series, and new game plus-style replays, which will offer different outcomes. The initial season pass is available as part of a Founder's Pack until Nov. 14, and that pack includes exclusive cosmetics.

 

[kvltus lvlzvs]

Damn, Konami is really going through the opposite of the redemption arc Capcom is in the middle of. This is a new low.

 

[Connificent]

 

[U n i o n 0015]

This looks like a Photoshop someone on GAF would've made in 2010 as a joke on the concept of season passes.

 

[Bry0]

What am I even looking at in these screens? Lmao

This will bomb.

 

[Shake Your Rump]

What the helll am I reading? Cosmetic micro transactions for a "free to watch" game?

 

[T4keD0wN]

This is how you do a true horror game.

The horror is the game itself.

 

[Drizzlehell]

 

[roosnam1980]

 

[Soodanim]

What little I could be bothered to read just now tells me I will never have any interest in this product, but at the very least it's free with paid extras. That's better than some can say, I guess.

 

[havoc00]

Why do they keep doing things like this? Who runs Konami now?

 

[Northeastmonk]

I finished today's short clip. It took 4-5 minutes to watch it and I got to vote on a decision. It's not much content. What I don't get is why is that worth $20 for extras? You're literally paying to customize your avatar to watch a show about Silent Hill.

It was free, but still. Why would you want to pay extra?

It's about as stupid as paying to watch someone else play a video game. You're 1 in a sea of thousands. Your choice is pointless, but I guess that's what this modern gaming platform is all about.

 

[GHG]

I have zero faith in the remakes of MGS3 and SH2 being authentic.

Konami are a joke right now.

 

[Connificent]

Why do they keep doing things like this? Who runs Konami now?

Al Pachinko

 

[MiguelItUp]

I hope this fails. I don't know what they were thinking whatsoever. Why would you think this is a good idea, or something that the community wants? Lmao.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Al Pachinko

 

[Saber]

And just like Diablo Immortal, we will have the "I don't care/I don't mind", "Just don't purchache guys" or "it's just cosmetics" people for them to be like "oh you don't mind, thanks then we will go full force with the main game as well".

 

[Kenneth Haight]

 

[havoc00]

It's insane how little Konami cares
They would shoot silent hill porn if someone told them how much it would make

 

[Caffeine]

ill enjoy watching the story on youtube not a single cent will be supporting this bullshit.

 

[MDSLKTR]

There was hope a year ago. It's gone now.

 

[Caffeine]

shoulda just sold a episodic game like tell tale

 

[rofif]

Skip Pass

 

[Northeastmonk]

I wouldn't call this a comeback. I call this modern day mobile jank.

 

[HeWhoWalks]

More like...

 

[ThisIsMyDog]

Why Konami cant just die already?

 

[xrnzaaas]

So that's one less new Silent Hill game to look forward to. That was fast.

 

[The Fuzz damn you!]

All of these Silent Hill games will be under-funded low-effort trash.

ALL of them.

Look at the MGS collection and just let your hopes die.

 

[Caffeine]

ye thats what im thinking.
-ascension is a mobile trash whatever
-sh2 bloobmake will be average like medium, purists will rake it across the coals
-townfall actually a good narrative indie game that will fly under the radar not really having an impact on the franchise.
-sh2 movie will be alright like the first one but it will have a lot of changes I know ill still probably like it.
-f, neobards has no massive projects to even speak of and its probably a visual novel with cutscenes lol.

 

[SmokedMeat]

So glad they have forgotten about Gradius.

 

[nial]

Konami hasn't been good since 2001, but this is a new low...

 

[Revolutionary]

An F2P mobile game is full of microtransactions?

 

[manfestival]

Looking forward to playing this. Yall are just overreacting to this news.

 

[MDSLKTR]

 

[Davevil]

 

[Bioshot]

I've been hoping for a Silent Hill comeback for ages but hell. I regret that thought now.

 

[Badlucktroll]

i hope this doesnt make silent hill a laughing stock lol
i will just watch it when its done on youtube

 

[Syphon Filter]

They will get away with it since most gamers are docile idiots and conformists. It also doesn't seem like a silent hill game at all, just using the name.

 

[Skifi28]

Looks dope, this is how I've aways wanted to experience my horror games, with random commentary from strangers.

 

[MLSabre]

And the fanboys desperate to play their new game from a dead franchise will eat it all up in the name of "funding for the next title".

I dunno about everyone else but if a dead franchise I cherish is being revived to be microtransaction hell, I rather it lay down in its crypt permanently with its dignity intact.

 

[dotnotbot]

I'm dead. Konami wants to monetize Telltale-like story games, funniest shit I've seen in a long time.

 

[Aion002]

Wow! The company that decided to focus on gambling machines and fired all their main video games creators is making shitty games with shitty microtransactions....

 

[Krathoon]

So, this is essentially a pick a path movie?

 

[TheInfamousKira]

Konami got stoned at 3 AM and googled "world record for speed running company into the ground," then hastily decided "We can beat that," failing to realize that they were already number one.

 

[CherryFalls]

Wow! That's so cool! I can't wait to purchase product at a high price.

 

[killatopak]

 

[Draugoth]

 

[Frwrd]

Easy PASS then.

 

[simpatico]

This is the new worst image on the internet.

 

[GHound]

Every good circus needs a few clowns and I nominate every person that ever seriously spoke of a "Konami redemption arc" being in the cards.