[RUMOR] Akira Yamaoka Leaves Konami

[sjenkins32-1]

http://www.konami.jp/gs/game/vx131/logo_sh.jpg

Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/5415759/rumor-silent-hill-composer-leaves-konami) is reporting that according to game site Aeropause Games, Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka has apparently left Konami. He has worked at the company for the past 16 years.

Yamaoka's trademark music and sounds are very much part of the Silent Hill experience. He has been producer of the series since Silent Hill 3. If this is in fact true, no word why Yamaoka has left the company

Sad to hear him leave if true.

Thoughts

[Syl]

Even his solo album was published by Konami, maybe he's feeling restrained? He's always been one of my favorite composers. Hell, i look forward too a new silent hill more for the soundtrack than the gameplay these days.

[Johan]

He was seeing Tiger Woods too, eh? Wow...

:D

[thejeromer]

That's super sad news. I love love love the Silent Hill soundtracks.

[Mozgus]

Never liked the game's besides the original, but I love the first 4 scores. The latest ones just haven't come close to that standard, however. I hope he can churn out something awesome for a different genre.

[Anenome]

Drama!!!

He'll probably have his pay tripled at a new company. That's often how these things go. Hired unfamous. Paid like unfamous. Leaves famous. Paid like famous.
:P

[alienchild]

Silent Hill was a trilogy, and even Yamaokas music was dropping a bit in quality with the third game in the series. The rest of the games are either originally non-Silent Hill games (SH4) or fan games made by outside devs who loved the series. Yamaokas top work in my book was Silent Hill 2. The music for that game has influenced me as a musician greatly. The latter of his work was to some extent horrible, at a point where even I think I could make better "Silent Hill music" then he did (where Silent Hill 1/2 is the norm).

[atariv8]

More money in freelance I gather...

[Metal Jesus]

I still listen to the Silent Hill 3 soundtrack often. Absolutely mind blowing and atmospheric. Perfect for a quiet morning at work...