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News > Press Release > Konami makes Silent Hill: Shattered Memories official
Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. today unveiled the latest iteration in the popular Silent Hill franchise scheduled to launch this fall on Wii(TM), PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system. Featuring an interactive user interface, improved puzzle system, and a psych profile that changes the experience based on the players' gameplay choices, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories conveys the most fluid and realistic gameplay of the series to date.
"Silent Hill: Shattered Memories returns to its roots in this re-imagining of the original Silent Hill with the most interactive and frightening installment of the decade-old series," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "With a deep storyline, eerie music and a psych profile that watches its players and evolves to expose their innermost fears throughout the game, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is sure to evoke fear in both franchise newcomers and longtime survival horror fans."
In this terrifying survival horror experience with an all-new soundtrack by acclaimed series composer Akira Yamaoka, players follow Harry Mason, the maladroit protagonist who is searching for his missing daughter, Cheryl. While Harry wanders the snowy streets of Silent Hill searching for clues of her disappearance, he must face twisted creatures from the depths of his frozen nightmares.
In the Wii(TM) version, players will be drawn into the mysterious town using the Wii Remote(TM) as a flashlight and cell phone as they search for clues. The cell phone can also be used by players as a user interface which acts as a story telling device, map, camera and much more, providing seamless flow with no interruption in gameplay. Additionally, through a very unique feature in the game, an advanced psych profile watches and adapts to players' actions to acclimatize Harry and the people he meets, the places he visits, and the enemies he encounters to create an intense and gripping experience like never before.
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is scheduled to launch this fall for the Wii(TM) video game system from Nintendo, PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system.
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (PlayStation 2)
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (PSP)
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories available now for Wii (December 09, 2009)
Konami dates Shattered Hill: Silent Memories for Wii, with PS2 and PSP versions to follow (November 13, 2009)
What the hell? Why would this game only be released for the Wii and PS2 consoles? I initially thought this was an April Fool's Day gag, but I guess it's not!
Masters - April 07, 2009 (06:52 AM)
Yay, now I can play this game! Even though I have absolutely no desire to!
Suskie - April 07, 2009 (07:09 AM)
Statistically, Wii has been turning into a bit of a horror destination. There are the existing and upcoming RE titles on there (Wii RE4, The Umbrella Conspiracy, rereleases of Rebirth and RE Zero, plus that upcoming rails shooter), Fatal Frame 4, Dead Space Extraction, Cursed Mountain, Escape From Bug Island, and now the SH Remake.
I think I also read something about dev kits being cheaper for Wii than other consoles in this gen, making it potentially a more attractive first port of call for someone who wants to get a game in a smaller genre (EG horror) up. Though this is kind of discounting Resident Evil which traditionally sells a bazillion copies, equal to nearly all other horror games combined.
bloomer - April 07, 2009 (07:47 AM)
I guess it's easier to make games beased around last-gen technology and whack gimmicky controls on them.
That, and people are still impressed by the awesome hardware sales yet seem to overlook that software isn't selling anywhere close.
EmP - April 07, 2009 (08:35 AM)
I'm holding out for a Super Nintendo port.
Masters - April 07, 2009 (10:47 AM)
The good news for third parties, EmP, is that well-designed games for Wii do sell close... and then some. A well-designed third-party game on Wii will outsell a well-designed third-party game on the Xbox 360. The problem is that there haven't been a lot of them made for Wii. If Silent Hill is any different, it'll sell just fine.
honestgamer - April 07, 2009 (11:38 AM)
God bless you, Jason. God bless you and your delusions.
EmP - April 07, 2009 (11:45 AM)
Clearly there are exceptions, EmP, and you can point to Resident Evil 5 on the Xbox 360, as well as... uh... hmm. I guess that's it.
Wii has led to tremendous sales success for Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and THQ, sales they haven't really been able to duplicate on the Xbox 360. Given the lower development costs for a Wii title, it's a no-brainer. Companies will continue to produce games for the Wii, despite what you might prefer, and those games will continue to sell well even as shovelware continues to sell poorly on Wii (and on Xbox 360, as well, which isn't exempt from shovelware).
I'm just getting sick of the Wii hate. Much of it is deserved, sure, but just as much--more even--is people making up crap because they don't like the system and figure (rightly so, in many cases) that people won't fact check.
Edit: I remembered Call of Duty 4 and BioShock. Those also sold well.
honestgamer - April 07, 2009 (12:32 PM)
61 Xbox 360 games have sold a million copies worldwide (according to vgchartz), 11 of which were published by Microsoft. 47 Wii games have reached one million sales, 17 of which were published by Nintendo.
Last week's sales chart shows 4 third-party Wii games in the top 50: My Fitness Coach (UbiSoft), Guitar Hero (Activision), Lego Star Wars (Lucas Arts) and Sonic and the Black Knight (Sega). The 360 has 7 third-party games in the top 50.
Mad World has dropped out of the charts altogether. It entered at 23 (two weeks ago) then went to 34. In the same week Warriors Orochi for the PS3 went straight in at number 10. Left4Dead debuted at number 5. Dead Space at number 12.
JANUS2 - April 07, 2009 (01:55 PM)
As did titles like both Gears, Halo, Metal Gear Solid -- games that, saleswise, kicked the stuffing out the big Wii games aside from maybe Wii Fit.
I don't hate the Wii, as it happens; I hate the direction it's going in. I recently enjoyed Spore Wars for the machine (and reviewed it. You should read it!) but that the machine is in stagnation is pretty clear.
I hope that it changes. SEGA's certainly made a play at bringing out some recent titles of note.
EmP - April 07, 2009 (02:00 PM)
It is possible to enjoy success on the Wii, it's just that the vast majority of this success has been experienced by Nintendo. Outside of this only film licenses or video game franchises have performed consistently well. However, the low development costs and massive user-base (40% of the market), mean that third-parties are unlikely to stop trying their luck on the Wii. You just can't ignore a 40% share, as this news story illustrates.
JANUS2 - April 07, 2009 (02:23 PM)
Whispers in the Dark
Eileen was a bit more than surprised when Henry led her out of the hospital bed by the hand. Surely, he knew she could walk, it was just a few minor bumps and bruises, however inexplicably. She was in poorest condition until now...still, she welcomed his kind gesture, too tired to question him.
--
Eileen Galvin stood outside room 303, ready to say goodbye to Henry Townshend for the night. What a bizarre few days it had been!
She pulled out her key and flashed a quick, gentle smile in his direction.
“Thanks for taking me home.”
She was ready to turn the key and open the door. She looked back, curious for his response, and she saw something in his eyes that spooked her. He looked lost, almost afraid...but why?
Of course, he doesn't want to go back to his haunted room! Eileen nearly smacked herself for forgetting. The poor guy must have gone through hell being locked up like that. And if what he said was true, about the cries, the screams...
She shuddered to think about it. It must have been terrifying.
A sudden idea struck her. On any other occasion, it would be a rather risqué idea, considering she'd only known him for a few days.
Oh, what the hell, she thought. Might as well try.
“Henry, if you don't want to stay in your room tonight...you can stay in mine, Eileen offered shyly, pulling the key out of the hole to speak to him. I know I wouldn't wanna go back.”
The look on Henry's face was, at any other time, hilarious. But now, he looked even more terrified.
“I-I don't want to be a burden...”, Henry stumbled for the right words. She'd just offered him her own domicile to sleep in.
“You wouldn't be, Henry, she tried to convince him, gently raising her voice an octave. You've helped me escape that hellhouse alive, the least I can do is offer you a place where you can get some sleep.”
Henry hesitated, stuttering small phrases and bits of words. If he didn't look so terrified, she'd have though he was absolutely adorable.
Well, he was, anyway, just because he was so timid. He could barely speak to a woman without blushing, and yet he could beat the shit out of nightmarish monsters whose skin appeared to be rotting off, their gaping jaws swathed with viscous saliva with no trouble at all. What beautiful irony.
“Henry, please...I insist”, Eileen pressed further, subconsciously reaching out for his hand. Her gentle, warm skin caused an instant blush to flare up in his brooding face, his deep green eyes pointed towards a spot on the floor.
Why do women always do that? He thought to himself, not angrily, but frustrated. Now I have no choice but to give in. It's not right to refuse...
“Are you sure?”, he whispered in a gentle, husky voice, nervous beyond all capacity of measure.
He's so goddamned cute when he does that, Eileen thought with a smile as his eyes struggled to lock with hers.
“Of course I am, now get inside before I drag you”, Eileen chuckled. Henry just looked blank.
“Henry, I was joking, I'm not literally going to drag you.”
“No, I know, I uh...umm...well, uh, l-lets go inside”, he stammered, gesturing towards Eileen's door with one shaking hand. The other reached back to rub his neck.
“Henry, are you alright?”, Eileen asked softly. Sure, he was a shy fellow, but the poor guy looked ready to pass out. She considered feeling his forehead for the temperature, but decided against it; she wasn't sure if he'd freak out from any more physical contact.
“...Yeah.”
“Oh, okay. You looked a little pale”, Eileen said as she turned the key in the lock. She pushed the door open and Henry tentatively stepped in, as if entering a grizzly bear's den.
“Well, I'm gonna probably just sit down for awhile, wanna join me?”, Eileen asked casually.
Henry smirked nervously, looking as though he was ready to curl into a corner and cry into his knees.
After some thought, he finally sat down, a good distance from Eileen. She dismissed it simply as nerves.
“Well...that was an experience, huh?”, she chuckled slightly, giving a weak, tired grin. I meant to ask you...how was...well, being, uh...locked in?”
She giggled nervously after having said that. It wasn't like her to get so nervous around a guy. And it was a strange question.
“Frustrating, and really weird, Henry answered slowly, his eyes roving about the floor. My dryer spewed blood at one point, and then my bathtub was filled with it, too.”
“My God, Eileen whispered sympathetically. Sunderland wasn't kidding when he said that room was freaked out.”
“The super told you?”
“Yeah, while you were still locked in. He said previous tenants had problems, too. I think he slipped a note under your door at one point, did you get it?”, Eileen asked anxiously.
“Yeah...but I couldn't read it, it was just drenched with blood, Henry sighed. I know it sounds crazy, but it's true.”
“Henry, I believe you, Eileen said sincerely, scooting a little closer to him on the couch. I mean, I never thought I'd wake up in some twisted hospital with my next door neighbor staring at me.”
Henry didn't know whether to laugh or simply sigh submissively, so he remained blank.
“Yeah.”
It suddenly occurred to Henry that Eileen didn't look quite as cheerful as she tried to be. Her eyes looked somewhat sunken and red. Dark rims were beginning to form around them, as well. Her entire form was slouched over, as if in pain or just plain exhaustion.
She gave off the tired aura like she'd been hit by an eighteen wheeler and deprived of several days of sleep. But then again, he didn't look or feel too much better.
Eileen lifted her head and seemed to grudgingly meet Henry's eyes.
“Henry...I...I want to thank you...for being there with me. I thought I was done for. I...just can't thank you enough.”
Henry cocked his head, almost incredulously. He was intrigued.
“I can't imagine why you wanted to, I mean...I was just a pain in the ass the whole time”, she muttered, lowering her head at her self-loathing.
Henry shook his head, his facial expression softening to a sad frown.
“No...Eileen, you weren't. You were injured. That wasn't your fault”, he whispered softly, shocked that she would think so little of herself.
Henry shyly placed his hand on her shoulder, his fingers resting gently against it. Not too hard, but not too flimsy either. It was just enough for her.
“And...you were pretty vicious with those monsters when they ganged up on me.”
Eileen gave a small chuckle; he really was a sweetheart.
“I dunno...I just wish I was more useful. You've done so much for me, Henry.”
With that, Henry slowly inched closer to Eileen, closing the delicate distance between the two. He eyed her like a curious animal, terribly nervous about his next gesture. How would she react?
His eyes scanned hers gently, gazing deep into her emerald irises. He never noticed how beautiful they were until now.
Eileen seemed somewhat embarrassed, as if his eyeing her was a type of scrutiny, like he was intentionally looking for some flaw or imperfection.
Eerily, Henry seemed to sense that, and he looked away, staring down at her hand which had rested itself upon his thigh. He felt her heat begin to surge through him.
The human female truly is a dangerous creature. It can lull a man into a state of absolute nirvana. It can win him over with a smile. It can kill with a disapproving frown.
And indeed, she did lull him into a blissful high. Her touch alone made his heart do somersaults.
She has such power over me, but...she doesn't want to use it, Henry thought. Here was a shy, timid man, with whom she had become very close to, and...hell, she could have simply fell on top of him and seduced him with nothing more than a mischievous smile. It wasn't like Henry was much of a ladies' man; they all seemed to think he was either a social recluse or uninterested in the opposite sex.
It was then he came to an important conclusion.
Eileen didn't want to get into his pants, but into his heart.
The rough sound of a dog's bark jolted the pair from their reverie. Eileen gasped harshly, while Henry placed his hand on her thigh in effort to calm her. He stared down at it and retracted slowly.
“Sorry”, he murmured sheepishly.
“It's fine, don't worry about it”, she smiled gently. In truth, she loved his contact, his soft, warm touch.
But Eileen Galvin was too shy to admit it.
--
“Henry, take my bed tonight”, Eileen motioned towards her full size bed. The comforter has a gaudy paisley pattern, a contrast to her normal, quiet clothing style.
“No, I couldn't do that. I'll take the couch”, Henry insisted.
Ever the gentleman, Eileen thought with a sigh. Still...he's taken a good beating, he needs something better than that old couch.
“I don't mind, you know.”
“Really, I'll sleep on the couch.”
“Henry, I don't mind. Please, take it.”
“Really, the couch is fine.”
Henry could be terribly stubborn when he wanted to be. Even about something as simple as whether or not to take her bed.
“You're not gonna change your mind, huh?”, Eileen sighed, slightly annoyed.
“I don't mind the couch, honestly. You need the bed more than I do.”
Eileen wanted to smile at his gentlemanly demeanor, but simply sighed, defeated.
“Alright, I'll take the bed. Let me at least get you some blankets.”
--
Henry heard the shuffling of socks upon carpeting. His head jerked in the direction of the noise.
Eileen, dressed in a long, off-white bathrobe, shuffled zombie-like into the kitchen. She fumbled for the refrigerator handle, her hand only ending up bumping into the door. She swore in a slurred, tired voice.
“Whers th' goddamn door?”
Against his better judgment, Henry decided to flip the lamp on, hoping to save her the embarrassment of groping about for a stark white object in a dark room.
As the incandescent light suddenly illuminated the living room, she screamed, reaching for a sharp utensil. Her fingers closed around a thick butcher knife. She held it above her head with a wide-eyed, terrified expression.
“Eileen! It's okay!, Henry yelped, holding his hands up in submission. I j-just figured I'd flip the light on.”
“Oh...Henry, she breathed a sigh as if she had held her breath for years. Thank God. I thought...um...sorry about that. I was just getting something to drink, you thirsty?”
“No, thanks”, he replied, settling back beneath the warm, thick blankets Eileen provided him with. Eileen quickly put the knife back into the block with the rest of them.
“I didn't realize how easily I spooked”, she chuckled, sitting on the end of the couch with a small glass of milk.
“Are you alright?”, he asked, leaning upwards to get a better look at her.
Despite her ruffled appearance, she still looked quite beautiful. Her pin-straight auburn hair was slightly flat on one side of her head, and her cheeks were red from where they made contact with her pillow.
“Yeah”, she answered slowly, taking a swig of milk.
Liar.
She couldn't sleep, for fear that her dreams would be plagued by hideous nightmares. She felt alone, scared, feeble...for the first time in so many years she felt weak and helpless to her own mind. Afraid of what her own mind may conjure to play before her eyes.
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. She would never had made it out alive if it wasn't for Henry. God only knows what could have happened to her then.
As she set the milk upon the coffee table, her eyes began to sting, both with the lack of sleep and with impending tears surfacing against her will. She tried to look away before they spilled, but...
As she turned away, one tear fell from her eye, glittering like a precious crystal, landing softly on her thigh. She bit her lip as a few more began to build up in her eyes. She shuddered, trying to hold back the urge to cry.
“Eileen?”, he asked timidly, his heart pounding. That one shimmering tear was like a piece of her soul slowly leaking out for him to see, and he was dead scared of it.
Henry looked on in pity as she struggled to control herself. He scuttled a bit closer to her, honestly at a loss for what to do.
She instantly let her emotions go as she saw his arms open and available. Pressing her face into his chest, she sobbed aloud. She tucked her fists into him like a frightened child.
“God...I was so scared...Henry, please don't leave me alone...”
Henry looked on in silent shock, only to be overtaken by empathetic pity. He gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders, rocking her softly as she trembled.
“It's okay..., he whispered. It's over...”
Despite his attempts to comfort her, she continued to cry, though he could tell she was desperately trying to stop. Her body trembled with soft sobs. His timid hand found its way to her hair, tenderly lacing his fingers through the auburn locks. Hopefully, that would calm her down.
He stole a glance downward. It felt as though he was invading her privacy this way, but he couldn't help himself.
Eileen's face was ashen in the cheeks, streaked and damp with tears. On the occasion she did open her luminous green eyes, they appeared bloodshot and glazed as fresh tears poured from them.
Henry looked around him and his eyes locked with a tissue box to his direct right, seated upon a dark, mahogany end table.
As discreetly as possible, he reached over and pulled a tissue from the box. His hand shook slightly as he slowly handed it to her.
“Here”, he whispered softly, holding it before her eyes. He wasn't pushy or demanding; just eager to help. One hand stayed behind her back, rubbing it to calm her down.
Eileen took the tissue without making any eye contact. Somehow, though, he knew she was grateful for the kind gesture. She wiped her cheeks roughly, as if her tears were some kind of muck or grime. She clutched the tear-stained cloth in her fist, sniffling and quivering softly.
Neither person said a word; Eileen just sat still against his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat. Her breathing normalized soon enough, the only noise issuing from her was an occasional sniffle.
When she was sure she could talk, Eileen spoke up softly.
“T-thank you...I really needed to get that out of my system”, she whispered with a shuddering sigh, wiping a stray tear from her cheek with the tissue.
Henry elected not to answer; somehow, he felt it would spoil the mood. He picked the box back up from the end table and offered it to Eileen. She laughed gently.
“No thanks, I think I got it all out.”
Henry smiled softly.
Upon closer inspection, however, he noticed one lone tear on her flushed cheek. It was amazing how she could still look so beautiful with her flushed facial features, her eyes red and glassy.
Nervously, he pulled one more tissue from the box. With as little shaking as he could possibly manage, he brought the cloth to her cheek, his index finger shyly hidden behind it. He dried that last tear ever so gently, pulling the moist tissue away from her face and to the side. It wouldn't be needed for now.
Eileen nearly gasped. His hand shook slightly as he wiped her cheek dry, but the look of sincere concern for her was perfectly steady and clear in those deep, beautiful green eyes. He really was a kind young man.
She laid her head and pressed her hands against Henry's chest with a deep, relieved sigh. His warmth was so soothing as his hands fell to her waist, grasping it gently.
“I'd like to stay with you for a little while, if that's okay”, she sighed, reveling in his peaceful aura.
“Um...sure”, he responded after a little thought, releasing his grip on her so that she could shift.
Eileen tucked her limbs into her body, pressing herself against Henry. His chin brushed the top of her head as she snuggled into him. He blushed lightly, smiling softly at her warmth.
For a long time, Eileen was silent, just resting peacefully in Henry's arms. His nerves slowly began to ebb away; just being around her seemed to calm him. He drew up the courage to grasp her hand, as it fell from the fisted position it was previously in. She smiled, gently squeezing back.
“You're such a sweet guy”, Eileen whispered with a small giggle.
This caused Henry to blush even redder than before. That wasn't something he was told often. Still, it was a heartwarming feeling that she instilled in him.
“Thanks”, he whispered back, affectionately running his fingers through her hair. It was soft...and warm. He began slowly twirling the locks with his fingers.
Eileen smiled; this man just seemed to ooze warmth and a sort of shy affection. His touch wasn't shaky anymore; it was calm, gentle, and (for the most part) sure of itself. In turn, this soothed her more.
She felt her eyelids grow heavy; the exhaustion was finally beginning to catch up with her. But sleep was both a necessity and a source of great fear. She wasn't sure if she wanted to take the chance, to fall into the darkness of her own nightmares. It was quite a risk.
"Henry...can we leave the light on? I...I know it sounds silly--"
"No, it's not, he gently interrupted. I feel the same. I'm...I'm scared, too."
This was new on his part; he always carried an air of caution about him, but never before did he audibly voice his fear.
"As long as we stick together, we should be okay", she soothed, gently stroking his hand. For the moment, she switched roles between victim and savior. After all, Henry had gone through quite an ordeal himself. She wasn't the only sufferer...
"Yeah", he responded slowly. She was right; they stayed alive in each other's company. They kept their eyes on each other. They defended each other. They were a fantastic team.
As Eileen shifted further into Henry, he swore her pouted lips were brushing delicately along his grazing jawline.
"Eileen?"
"No...Henry, I know what you're thinking, Eileen interrupted, annoyed that he would take that presumption. I'm not some cheap whore trying to get into your pants.”
“What? I'd neversay that”, he responded in shock. It was wrong of her to presume that about him, but then again...she wasn't in top form, either. She was frightened and unsure of herself. She needed someone to calm her...
Comfort! Of course! That's why she brushed close, held him to her like a precious plaything, but treated him like a man that meant so much more. He should have considered that.
“Henry...I didn't mean that...I just thought...oh, damn it!”, she sighed sharply, frustrated beyond belief. She let her reddened face fall into her hands. I shouldn't have thought...I'm sorry.”
“No, Eileen, it-it's okay”, he sighed, angry at himself for flustering her so badly. She didn't need the extra aggravation. I didn't mean to frustrate you.”
Henry put his arm reassuringly around her shoulders.
“I just...feel as though you...I don't know...you...make me feel...whole. And...safe”, Eileen mused.
Henry stared at her, dumbfounded. She seemed to see it in his face as she looked up for his reaction, and continued.
“You make me feel as though I have something to hope for...in the future...I dunno, it probably sounds really stupid--”
“Eileen...that's the most beautiful thing I've heard anyone say”, Henry interrupted her gently, almost tearfully. It really seemed as though Eileen had just recited a piece of poetry that touched him deeply.
She knew Henry was the silent and shy type, but she never saw him as the sensitive, almost poetic type. She could tell he was embarrassed by his sudden surge of emotion, as he looked away and cleared his throat.
Eileen reached out, tenderly brushing her fingers along Henry's rough, stubble-covered cheek. She tilted his face gently towards her, staring deep onto his eyes. Windows of the soul, they were said to be.
They revealed everything, those deep, emerald eyes tinged with a dark pine hue. His scleras were pinkish, giving him a weary look about him. But his kindness...anyone could see that as his eyes tilted towards Eileen's, his irises glowing faintly.
Whether she knew it or not, she was sending him signals, only the kind that two souls send when they are undeniably smitten with one another. Her heart practically screamed “Kiss him! He's there! Don't make stupid comments about how you feel, just show him!”
Henry was equally intrigued, and possibly more nervous. He was actually afraid his bladder would let loose from the intense nerves building up in his stomach. His skin warmed up considerably, and a light sweat began to form upon it.
The pair closed their eyes simultaneously, their faces growing closer. Henry could hear Eileen moan slightly, a pleased, anticipating moan.
Then...
Henry's lips slid as his head jerked unexpectedly, earning a mouthful of something soft and thin.
But it was neither lips nor cheek.
He opened his eyes instantly as she began to giggle.
“Nice one.”
There was no biting malice or cruel sarcasm in her voice; it was just playful and kind. Just like her.
Then he realized; he had a mouthful of her hair.
“Oopsth”, he murmured, muffled by her auburn locks. Sthorry.”
He released his mouth from her hair with a sheepish grin.
Get it over with, nagged the little voice in his head. Don't make her wait. Let her feel you...you want it, she wants it.
Henry leaned into her, gently cupping the back of her head with his hand. With the other hand, he braced himself, softly gripping her shoulder. No way was he going to lose his balance. He was going to get it right.
As he met her lips, she leaned in further, pressing hers into those soft lips of his. They were gentler than she expected; smooth, and comfortably dry.
Henry practically breathed her in, caressing her bottom lip with his upper one. He exhaled a short little breath, and the moist air flooded Eileen with instant warmth.
He was sweet and gentle, never did he bite down on her or force his tongue down her throat. When she was ready to take that step, she would. But not now. She must be tired...
Eileen gasped, and slowly broke away, gulping for breath. Henry did the same and once he caught his breath, he rested his forehead against hers, smiling kindly. He gently tousled the ends of her medium length hair, letting it run through his fingers like silk.
She was speechless, both with exhaustion and the pure exhilaration of the moment. Instead of ruining the moment with some bizarre remark, she reached out and brushed a few stray locks of thick hair out of his face, so she could see those gorgeous eyes clearly.
She receded, yawned, then stretched her arms over her head. Cuddling further into Henry, she heard him mumble something about getting back to bed. It was too late; she was too tired. She was out cold, snoozing peacefully with her head pressed against his stomach.
At first, he was astounded at how quickly she fell asleep. She must have been tired.
Well, it's not like he had gotten a great deal of sleep, either. He smiled, watching her eyes flutter beneath the lids. She gave a small grunt before shifting onto her side, her back to Henry, and sighed.
He considered carrying her to bed, but he looked at her peaceful, sleeping form; he couldn't wake her, not now. She looked pretty comfortable as she was, there was no reason to rouse her.
With a gentle sigh, Henry wrapped his arm around Eileen's shoulders, pulling her ever so much closer into him. He instantly felt warm...and safe.
Henry allowed himself to lapse into a much needed slumber.
--
--6 Months Later--
“Hey!”
Eileen let out a laugh of victory as a well-packed snowball hit home, landing right on Henry's ass.
“Well, don't just stand there! You're making this too easy!”, she hollered through her cupped, mitten-covered hands.
Henry turned back around with a devious grin.
“Better start running”, he chuckled, sweeping his thick leather gloves into the snow.
Eileen heeded his warning, laughing jovially as Henry prepared a stinging ball of frozen water, grinning with anticipation. After a few more pats and a little more smoothing, his ammunition was ready to fire.
But as he turned around, Eileen was nowhere in sight.
He scanned the grey skies, still pouring out a plethora of snow in think sheets, but his eyes never caught her.
“Eileen?”, he called out, still smiling like an idiot, awaiting his best friend's giggling voice.
Only the bleak howl of the wind answered him.
Uh oh...
“Eileen? Hey, where are you?”, he asked again, becoming slightly concerned. It was hard enough to see through the snow and his thick, faux-fur lined hood. Surely, she couldn't have gone too far, or gotten lost...right?
Suddenly he felt the wind knocked out of him and he got a face full of cold snow. He gave a startled grunt.
“Looking for me?”, came a familiar giggling voice.
Henry quickly rolled over to see Eileen, her cheeks flushed with the cold, her eyes bright and jovial.
“Heads up!”, she shouted, disarming him of his well-crafted snowball, shoving it down his jacket collar.
“Oh shiiit!, he howled, both with the sheer cold and with a great bout of laughter. I'll get you for this!”
“Come get me then! Get the lead out!”, Eileen shouted back, retreating to behind their apartment building to create an arsenal of snowballs.
Henry grinned, chuckling softly to himself.
“Eileen, you're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me”, he whispered to the howling wind, trusting it to keep his secret. He'd let her know when he was ready.
Meanwhile, he prepared a new snowball and sidled the corner of their building, awaiting his “prey”.
hmd - April 07, 2009 (03:01 PM)
The way I see it is this: almost no one really expected Wii to succeed the way it has. I include Nintendo and every major publisher in that. Even the companies that did well from the start--Ubisoft, primarily--were just hedging their bets.
Now we're seeing Wii become this generation's PS2. Remember, though, that the PS2 took awhile to get really rolling and that was even after the success of the PSX gave developers reasons to expect greatness.
This round, I see Wii following the course that the PS2 did last time around, just on a slower schedule because of the delay when developers weren't even really making the effort to produce good software for it. Now they are, but that takes time. We're only just starting to see what developers can produce for Wii and I see that continuing for at least another year or two. Basically, then, you should expect to see a lot more stuff like this.
What I would personally appreciate is if people wouldn't take every Wii success as an opportunity to start asking "Why this success for a system I hate?" when the answers are obvious. Success for Wii doesn't stop the Xbox 360 from having great stuff. If anything, it pushes Microsoft to excel.
honestgamer - April 07, 2009 (03:05 PM)
^^^ huh?
Suskie - April 07, 2009 (03:11 PM)
If comparisons to PS2 are warranted, then I only hope Wii isn't followed by a ludicrously overpriced console resembling a George Foreman grill that has maybe three worthwhile exclusives.
Suskie - April 07, 2009 (05:24 PM)
Heh. *looks at board* Happy birthday, Jason! =D
wolfqueen001 - April 07, 2009 (06:35 PM)
serious answer for hmd:
The 360 is the emotional successor to the Sega systems of lore, and the Sega systems of lore have a tendency to get crushed and dominated by other systems until they die and fade from the market. Gamecube afficianados are probably feeling the same way. No one wants to see their emotional investment die (and there actually are some good reasons for emotionally investing in a machine). Of course, the 360 is in no danger of death -- nor is the Wii -- so there's probably some repressed anger surfacing, too.
This thread is actually pretty civil and not approaching the "sales = godliness" attitude that you doth protest (rightfully). But it's interesting to look at which companies and genres perform well on each system. I would hope it's clear that some games will sell better on the 360, and some on the Wii, and none on the PS3 (har har!) but people will still debate these things because it is the nature of people to debate.
It kills time until we die.
//Zig
zigfried - April 07, 2009 (06:37 PM)
yeah happy birthday venter
YOU FUCKIN' SNERD
no but really happy b-day :)
hmd - April 07, 2009 (06:40 PM)
It kills time until we die.
I'm going to try to use that phrase as many times as I can for the rest of my life.
Suskie - April 07, 2009 (07:08 PM)
I gave my Gamecube to my sister a little after I bought the Wii, since the Wii runs its software, but the Gamecube exuded all those dark, square vibes I liked. It's not as cool to put 'cube Bloodrayne in the Wii and be presented with the glaring white entry screen and those pleasant chimes -- as it was to put it in a thing that was a tiny (relative to all other consoles) black cube. So even though the 'cube games still run perfect now, I did feel a tiny pang of sadness at passing my cube on.
bloomer - April 07, 2009 (07:45 PM)
I'm going to try to use that phrase as many times as I can for the rest of my life.
Hm, potentially a poor use of your pre-death time. You gotta maximise variety!
bloomer - April 07, 2009 (07:49 PM)
I liked GameCube. I totally acknowledge that it was the "worst" console of the last generation but at the same time it had some of my all-time favorite games. Metroid Prime beats anything on Xbox or PS2 as far as I'm concerned.
Suskie - April 07, 2009 (07:54 PM)
I heard that President Obama loves Wii Fit.
genj - April 07, 2009 (09:46 PM)
Support our country and president!
genj - April 07, 2009 (09:50 PM)
I never suggested that it's a problem for people to like the Wii, nor did I make the observation that sales figures = quality. I know sales figures are not 100% reliable, but I decided to look at them to see what they reveal about the reality of third-party development on the Wii. Whether you like it or not, all video game companies are in it for the money (aside from a few rare exceptions). Sales figures matter. Otherwise we wouldn't need to use the phrase "criminally underrated" because who cares who underrates it? I think we're all mature enough to discuss sales figures without getting into arguments about how much a console "SUCKS BECAUSE THE GAMES DON'T SELL HAGHAGLHAGLAGHALGH." As far as I can see, no one in this thread said that.
JANUS2 - April 08, 2009 (01:44 AM)
"Silent Hill: Shattered Memories returns to its roots in this re-imagining of the original Silent Hill with the most interactive and frightening installment of the decade-old series," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "With a deep storyline, eerie music and a psych profile that watches its players and evolves to expose their innermost fears throughout the game, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is sure to evoke fear in both franchise newcomers and longtime survival horror fans."
In this terrifying survival horror experience with an all-new soundtrack by acclaimed series composer Akira Yamaoka, players follow Harry Mason, the maladroit protagonist who is searching for his missing daughter, Cheryl. While Harry wanders the snowy streets of Silent Hill searching for clues of her disappearance, he must face twisted creatures from the depths of his frozen nightmares.
In the Wii(TM) version, players will be drawn into the mysterious town using the Wii Remote(TM) as a flashlight and cell phone as they search for clues. The cell phone can also be used by players as a user interface which acts as a story telling device, map, camera and much more, providing seamless flow with no interruption in gameplay. Additionally, through a very unique feature in the game, an advanced psych profile watches and adapts to players' actions to acclimatize Harry and the people he meets, the places he visits, and the enemies he encounters to create an intense and gripping experience like never before.
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is scheduled to launch this fall for the Wii(TM) video game system from Nintendo, PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, and PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system.
Press release posted by Jason Venter (April 06, 2009)*
* News, press releases and editorial content provided on the HonestGamers site do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the person posting them, or of site staff members and sponsors. All posted content is subject to change.
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Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (Wii)Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (PlayStation 2)
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories (PSP)
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories available now for Wii (December 09, 2009)
Konami dates Shattered Hill: Silent Memories for Wii, with PS2 and PSP versions to follow (November 13, 2009)
What the hell? Why would this game only be released for the Wii and PS2 consoles? I initially thought this was an April Fool's Day gag, but I guess it's not!
Masters - April 07, 2009 (06:52 AM)
Yay, now I can play this game! Even though I have absolutely no desire to!
Suskie - April 07, 2009 (07:09 AM)
Statistically, Wii has been turning into a bit of a horror destination. There are the existing and upcoming RE titles on there (Wii RE4, The Umbrella Conspiracy, rereleases of Rebirth and RE Zero, plus that upcoming rails shooter), Fatal Frame 4, Dead Space Extraction, Cursed Mountain, Escape From Bug Island, and now the SH Remake.
I think I also read something about dev kits being cheaper for Wii than other consoles in this gen, making it potentially a more attractive first port of call for someone who wants to get a game in a smaller genre (EG horror) up. Though this is kind of discounting Resident Evil which traditionally sells a bazillion copies, equal to nearly all other horror games combined.
bloomer - April 07, 2009 (07:47 AM)
I guess it's easier to make games beased around last-gen technology and whack gimmicky controls on them.
That, and people are still impressed by the awesome hardware sales yet seem to overlook that software isn't selling anywhere close.
EmP - April 07, 2009 (08:35 AM)
I'm holding out for a Super Nintendo port.
Masters - April 07, 2009 (10:47 AM)
The good news for third parties, EmP, is that well-designed games for Wii do sell close... and then some. A well-designed third-party game on Wii will outsell a well-designed third-party game on the Xbox 360. The problem is that there haven't been a lot of them made for Wii. If Silent Hill is any different, it'll sell just fine.
honestgamer - April 07, 2009 (11:38 AM)
God bless you, Jason. God bless you and your delusions.
EmP - April 07, 2009 (11:45 AM)
Clearly there are exceptions, EmP, and you can point to Resident Evil 5 on the Xbox 360, as well as... uh... hmm. I guess that's it.
Wii has led to tremendous sales success for Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and THQ, sales they haven't really been able to duplicate on the Xbox 360. Given the lower development costs for a Wii title, it's a no-brainer. Companies will continue to produce games for the Wii, despite what you might prefer, and those games will continue to sell well even as shovelware continues to sell poorly on Wii (and on Xbox 360, as well, which isn't exempt from shovelware).
I'm just getting sick of the Wii hate. Much of it is deserved, sure, but just as much--more even--is people making up crap because they don't like the system and figure (rightly so, in many cases) that people won't fact check.
Edit: I remembered Call of Duty 4 and BioShock. Those also sold well.
honestgamer - April 07, 2009 (12:32 PM)
61 Xbox 360 games have sold a million copies worldwide (according to vgchartz), 11 of which were published by Microsoft. 47 Wii games have reached one million sales, 17 of which were published by Nintendo.
Last week's sales chart shows 4 third-party Wii games in the top 50: My Fitness Coach (UbiSoft), Guitar Hero (Activision), Lego Star Wars (Lucas Arts) and Sonic and the Black Knight (Sega). The 360 has 7 third-party games in the top 50.
Mad World has dropped out of the charts altogether. It entered at 23 (two weeks ago) then went to 34. In the same week Warriors Orochi for the PS3 went straight in at number 10. Left4Dead debuted at number 5. Dead Space at number 12.
JANUS2 - April 07, 2009 (01:55 PM)
As did titles like both Gears, Halo, Metal Gear Solid -- games that, saleswise, kicked the stuffing out the big Wii games aside from maybe Wii Fit.
I don't hate the Wii, as it happens; I hate the direction it's going in. I recently enjoyed Spore Wars for the machine (and reviewed it. You should read it!) but that the machine is in stagnation is pretty clear.
I hope that it changes. SEGA's certainly made a play at bringing out some recent titles of note.
EmP - April 07, 2009 (02:00 PM)
It is possible to enjoy success on the Wii, it's just that the vast majority of this success has been experienced by Nintendo. Outside of this only film licenses or video game franchises have performed consistently well. However, the low development costs and massive user-base (40% of the market), mean that third-parties are unlikely to stop trying their luck on the Wii. You just can't ignore a 40% share, as this news story illustrates.
JANUS2 - April 07, 2009 (02:23 PM)
Whispers in the Dark
Eileen was a bit more than surprised when Henry led her out of the hospital bed by the hand. Surely, he knew she could walk, it was just a few minor bumps and bruises, however inexplicably. She was in poorest condition until now...still, she welcomed his kind gesture, too tired to question him.
--
Eileen Galvin stood outside room 303, ready to say goodbye to Henry Townshend for the night. What a bizarre few days it had been!
She pulled out her key and flashed a quick, gentle smile in his direction.
“Thanks for taking me home.”
She was ready to turn the key and open the door. She looked back, curious for his response, and she saw something in his eyes that spooked her. He looked lost, almost afraid...but why?
Of course, he doesn't want to go back to his haunted room! Eileen nearly smacked herself for forgetting. The poor guy must have gone through hell being locked up like that. And if what he said was true, about the cries, the screams...
She shuddered to think about it. It must have been terrifying.
A sudden idea struck her. On any other occasion, it would be a rather risqué idea, considering she'd only known him for a few days.
Oh, what the hell, she thought. Might as well try.
“Henry, if you don't want to stay in your room tonight...you can stay in mine, Eileen offered shyly, pulling the key out of the hole to speak to him. I know I wouldn't wanna go back.”
The look on Henry's face was, at any other time, hilarious. But now, he looked even more terrified.
“I-I don't want to be a burden...”, Henry stumbled for the right words. She'd just offered him her own domicile to sleep in.
“You wouldn't be, Henry, she tried to convince him, gently raising her voice an octave. You've helped me escape that hellhouse alive, the least I can do is offer you a place where you can get some sleep.”
Henry hesitated, stuttering small phrases and bits of words. If he didn't look so terrified, she'd have though he was absolutely adorable.
Well, he was, anyway, just because he was so timid. He could barely speak to a woman without blushing, and yet he could beat the shit out of nightmarish monsters whose skin appeared to be rotting off, their gaping jaws swathed with viscous saliva with no trouble at all. What beautiful irony.
“Henry, please...I insist”, Eileen pressed further, subconsciously reaching out for his hand. Her gentle, warm skin caused an instant blush to flare up in his brooding face, his deep green eyes pointed towards a spot on the floor.
Why do women always do that? He thought to himself, not angrily, but frustrated. Now I have no choice but to give in. It's not right to refuse...
“Are you sure?”, he whispered in a gentle, husky voice, nervous beyond all capacity of measure.
He's so goddamned cute when he does that, Eileen thought with a smile as his eyes struggled to lock with hers.
“Of course I am, now get inside before I drag you”, Eileen chuckled. Henry just looked blank.
“Henry, I was joking, I'm not literally going to drag you.”
“No, I know, I uh...umm...well, uh, l-lets go inside”, he stammered, gesturing towards Eileen's door with one shaking hand. The other reached back to rub his neck.
“Henry, are you alright?”, Eileen asked softly. Sure, he was a shy fellow, but the poor guy looked ready to pass out. She considered feeling his forehead for the temperature, but decided against it; she wasn't sure if he'd freak out from any more physical contact.
“...Yeah.”
“Oh, okay. You looked a little pale”, Eileen said as she turned the key in the lock. She pushed the door open and Henry tentatively stepped in, as if entering a grizzly bear's den.
“Well, I'm gonna probably just sit down for awhile, wanna join me?”, Eileen asked casually.
Henry smirked nervously, looking as though he was ready to curl into a corner and cry into his knees.
After some thought, he finally sat down, a good distance from Eileen. She dismissed it simply as nerves.
“Well...that was an experience, huh?”, she chuckled slightly, giving a weak, tired grin. I meant to ask you...how was...well, being, uh...locked in?”
She giggled nervously after having said that. It wasn't like her to get so nervous around a guy. And it was a strange question.
“Frustrating, and really weird, Henry answered slowly, his eyes roving about the floor. My dryer spewed blood at one point, and then my bathtub was filled with it, too.”
“My God, Eileen whispered sympathetically. Sunderland wasn't kidding when he said that room was freaked out.”
“The super told you?”
“Yeah, while you were still locked in. He said previous tenants had problems, too. I think he slipped a note under your door at one point, did you get it?”, Eileen asked anxiously.
“Yeah...but I couldn't read it, it was just drenched with blood, Henry sighed. I know it sounds crazy, but it's true.”
“Henry, I believe you, Eileen said sincerely, scooting a little closer to him on the couch. I mean, I never thought I'd wake up in some twisted hospital with my next door neighbor staring at me.”
Henry didn't know whether to laugh or simply sigh submissively, so he remained blank.
“Yeah.”
It suddenly occurred to Henry that Eileen didn't look quite as cheerful as she tried to be. Her eyes looked somewhat sunken and red. Dark rims were beginning to form around them, as well. Her entire form was slouched over, as if in pain or just plain exhaustion.
She gave off the tired aura like she'd been hit by an eighteen wheeler and deprived of several days of sleep. But then again, he didn't look or feel too much better.
Eileen lifted her head and seemed to grudgingly meet Henry's eyes.
“Henry...I...I want to thank you...for being there with me. I thought I was done for. I...just can't thank you enough.”
Henry cocked his head, almost incredulously. He was intrigued.
“I can't imagine why you wanted to, I mean...I was just a pain in the ass the whole time”, she muttered, lowering her head at her self-loathing.
Henry shook his head, his facial expression softening to a sad frown.
“No...Eileen, you weren't. You were injured. That wasn't your fault”, he whispered softly, shocked that she would think so little of herself.
Henry shyly placed his hand on her shoulder, his fingers resting gently against it. Not too hard, but not too flimsy either. It was just enough for her.
“And...you were pretty vicious with those monsters when they ganged up on me.”
Eileen gave a small chuckle; he really was a sweetheart.
“I dunno...I just wish I was more useful. You've done so much for me, Henry.”
With that, Henry slowly inched closer to Eileen, closing the delicate distance between the two. He eyed her like a curious animal, terribly nervous about his next gesture. How would she react?
His eyes scanned hers gently, gazing deep into her emerald irises. He never noticed how beautiful they were until now.
Eileen seemed somewhat embarrassed, as if his eyeing her was a type of scrutiny, like he was intentionally looking for some flaw or imperfection.
Eerily, Henry seemed to sense that, and he looked away, staring down at her hand which had rested itself upon his thigh. He felt her heat begin to surge through him.
The human female truly is a dangerous creature. It can lull a man into a state of absolute nirvana. It can win him over with a smile. It can kill with a disapproving frown.
And indeed, she did lull him into a blissful high. Her touch alone made his heart do somersaults.
She has such power over me, but...she doesn't want to use it, Henry thought. Here was a shy, timid man, with whom she had become very close to, and...hell, she could have simply fell on top of him and seduced him with nothing more than a mischievous smile. It wasn't like Henry was much of a ladies' man; they all seemed to think he was either a social recluse or uninterested in the opposite sex.
It was then he came to an important conclusion.
Eileen didn't want to get into his pants, but into his heart.
The rough sound of a dog's bark jolted the pair from their reverie. Eileen gasped harshly, while Henry placed his hand on her thigh in effort to calm her. He stared down at it and retracted slowly.
“Sorry”, he murmured sheepishly.
“It's fine, don't worry about it”, she smiled gently. In truth, she loved his contact, his soft, warm touch.
But Eileen Galvin was too shy to admit it.
--
“Henry, take my bed tonight”, Eileen motioned towards her full size bed. The comforter has a gaudy paisley pattern, a contrast to her normal, quiet clothing style.
“No, I couldn't do that. I'll take the couch”, Henry insisted.
Ever the gentleman, Eileen thought with a sigh. Still...he's taken a good beating, he needs something better than that old couch.
“I don't mind, you know.”
“Really, I'll sleep on the couch.”
“Henry, I don't mind. Please, take it.”
“Really, the couch is fine.”
Henry could be terribly stubborn when he wanted to be. Even about something as simple as whether or not to take her bed.
“You're not gonna change your mind, huh?”, Eileen sighed, slightly annoyed.
“I don't mind the couch, honestly. You need the bed more than I do.”
Eileen wanted to smile at his gentlemanly demeanor, but simply sighed, defeated.
“Alright, I'll take the bed. Let me at least get you some blankets.”
--
Henry heard the shuffling of socks upon carpeting. His head jerked in the direction of the noise.
Eileen, dressed in a long, off-white bathrobe, shuffled zombie-like into the kitchen. She fumbled for the refrigerator handle, her hand only ending up bumping into the door. She swore in a slurred, tired voice.
“Whers th' goddamn door?”
Against his better judgment, Henry decided to flip the lamp on, hoping to save her the embarrassment of groping about for a stark white object in a dark room.
As the incandescent light suddenly illuminated the living room, she screamed, reaching for a sharp utensil. Her fingers closed around a thick butcher knife. She held it above her head with a wide-eyed, terrified expression.
“Eileen! It's okay!, Henry yelped, holding his hands up in submission. I j-just figured I'd flip the light on.”
“Oh...Henry, she breathed a sigh as if she had held her breath for years. Thank God. I thought...um...sorry about that. I was just getting something to drink, you thirsty?”
“No, thanks”, he replied, settling back beneath the warm, thick blankets Eileen provided him with. Eileen quickly put the knife back into the block with the rest of them.
“I didn't realize how easily I spooked”, she chuckled, sitting on the end of the couch with a small glass of milk.
“Are you alright?”, he asked, leaning upwards to get a better look at her.
Despite her ruffled appearance, she still looked quite beautiful. Her pin-straight auburn hair was slightly flat on one side of her head, and her cheeks were red from where they made contact with her pillow.
“Yeah”, she answered slowly, taking a swig of milk.
Liar.
She couldn't sleep, for fear that her dreams would be plagued by hideous nightmares. She felt alone, scared, feeble...for the first time in so many years she felt weak and helpless to her own mind. Afraid of what her own mind may conjure to play before her eyes.
The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. She would never had made it out alive if it wasn't for Henry. God only knows what could have happened to her then.
As she set the milk upon the coffee table, her eyes began to sting, both with the lack of sleep and with impending tears surfacing against her will. She tried to look away before they spilled, but...
As she turned away, one tear fell from her eye, glittering like a precious crystal, landing softly on her thigh. She bit her lip as a few more began to build up in her eyes. She shuddered, trying to hold back the urge to cry.
“Eileen?”, he asked timidly, his heart pounding. That one shimmering tear was like a piece of her soul slowly leaking out for him to see, and he was dead scared of it.
Henry looked on in pity as she struggled to control herself. He scuttled a bit closer to her, honestly at a loss for what to do.
She instantly let her emotions go as she saw his arms open and available. Pressing her face into his chest, she sobbed aloud. She tucked her fists into him like a frightened child.
“God...I was so scared...Henry, please don't leave me alone...”
Henry looked on in silent shock, only to be overtaken by empathetic pity. He gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders, rocking her softly as she trembled.
“It's okay..., he whispered. It's over...”
Despite his attempts to comfort her, she continued to cry, though he could tell she was desperately trying to stop. Her body trembled with soft sobs. His timid hand found its way to her hair, tenderly lacing his fingers through the auburn locks. Hopefully, that would calm her down.
He stole a glance downward. It felt as though he was invading her privacy this way, but he couldn't help himself.
Eileen's face was ashen in the cheeks, streaked and damp with tears. On the occasion she did open her luminous green eyes, they appeared bloodshot and glazed as fresh tears poured from them.
Henry looked around him and his eyes locked with a tissue box to his direct right, seated upon a dark, mahogany end table.
As discreetly as possible, he reached over and pulled a tissue from the box. His hand shook slightly as he slowly handed it to her.
“Here”, he whispered softly, holding it before her eyes. He wasn't pushy or demanding; just eager to help. One hand stayed behind her back, rubbing it to calm her down.
Eileen took the tissue without making any eye contact. Somehow, though, he knew she was grateful for the kind gesture. She wiped her cheeks roughly, as if her tears were some kind of muck or grime. She clutched the tear-stained cloth in her fist, sniffling and quivering softly.
Neither person said a word; Eileen just sat still against his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat. Her breathing normalized soon enough, the only noise issuing from her was an occasional sniffle.
When she was sure she could talk, Eileen spoke up softly.
“T-thank you...I really needed to get that out of my system”, she whispered with a shuddering sigh, wiping a stray tear from her cheek with the tissue.
Henry elected not to answer; somehow, he felt it would spoil the mood. He picked the box back up from the end table and offered it to Eileen. She laughed gently.
“No thanks, I think I got it all out.”
Henry smiled softly.
Upon closer inspection, however, he noticed one lone tear on her flushed cheek. It was amazing how she could still look so beautiful with her flushed facial features, her eyes red and glassy.
Nervously, he pulled one more tissue from the box. With as little shaking as he could possibly manage, he brought the cloth to her cheek, his index finger shyly hidden behind it. He dried that last tear ever so gently, pulling the moist tissue away from her face and to the side. It wouldn't be needed for now.
Eileen nearly gasped. His hand shook slightly as he wiped her cheek dry, but the look of sincere concern for her was perfectly steady and clear in those deep, beautiful green eyes. He really was a kind young man.
She laid her head and pressed her hands against Henry's chest with a deep, relieved sigh. His warmth was so soothing as his hands fell to her waist, grasping it gently.
“I'd like to stay with you for a little while, if that's okay”, she sighed, reveling in his peaceful aura.
“Um...sure”, he responded after a little thought, releasing his grip on her so that she could shift.
Eileen tucked her limbs into her body, pressing herself against Henry. His chin brushed the top of her head as she snuggled into him. He blushed lightly, smiling softly at her warmth.
For a long time, Eileen was silent, just resting peacefully in Henry's arms. His nerves slowly began to ebb away; just being around her seemed to calm him. He drew up the courage to grasp her hand, as it fell from the fisted position it was previously in. She smiled, gently squeezing back.
“You're such a sweet guy”, Eileen whispered with a small giggle.
This caused Henry to blush even redder than before. That wasn't something he was told often. Still, it was a heartwarming feeling that she instilled in him.
“Thanks”, he whispered back, affectionately running his fingers through her hair. It was soft...and warm. He began slowly twirling the locks with his fingers.
Eileen smiled; this man just seemed to ooze warmth and a sort of shy affection. His touch wasn't shaky anymore; it was calm, gentle, and (for the most part) sure of itself. In turn, this soothed her more.
She felt her eyelids grow heavy; the exhaustion was finally beginning to catch up with her. But sleep was both a necessity and a source of great fear. She wasn't sure if she wanted to take the chance, to fall into the darkness of her own nightmares. It was quite a risk.
"Henry...can we leave the light on? I...I know it sounds silly--"
"No, it's not, he gently interrupted. I feel the same. I'm...I'm scared, too."
This was new on his part; he always carried an air of caution about him, but never before did he audibly voice his fear.
"As long as we stick together, we should be okay", she soothed, gently stroking his hand. For the moment, she switched roles between victim and savior. After all, Henry had gone through quite an ordeal himself. She wasn't the only sufferer...
"Yeah", he responded slowly. She was right; they stayed alive in each other's company. They kept their eyes on each other. They defended each other. They were a fantastic team.
As Eileen shifted further into Henry, he swore her pouted lips were brushing delicately along his grazing jawline.
"Eileen?"
"No...Henry, I know what you're thinking, Eileen interrupted, annoyed that he would take that presumption. I'm not some cheap whore trying to get into your pants.”
“What? I'd neversay that”, he responded in shock. It was wrong of her to presume that about him, but then again...she wasn't in top form, either. She was frightened and unsure of herself. She needed someone to calm her...
Comfort! Of course! That's why she brushed close, held him to her like a precious plaything, but treated him like a man that meant so much more. He should have considered that.
“Henry...I didn't mean that...I just thought...oh, damn it!”, she sighed sharply, frustrated beyond belief. She let her reddened face fall into her hands. I shouldn't have thought...I'm sorry.”
“No, Eileen, it-it's okay”, he sighed, angry at himself for flustering her so badly. She didn't need the extra aggravation. I didn't mean to frustrate you.”
Henry put his arm reassuringly around her shoulders.
“I just...feel as though you...I don't know...you...make me feel...whole. And...safe”, Eileen mused.
Henry stared at her, dumbfounded. She seemed to see it in his face as she looked up for his reaction, and continued.
“You make me feel as though I have something to hope for...in the future...I dunno, it probably sounds really stupid--”
“Eileen...that's the most beautiful thing I've heard anyone say”, Henry interrupted her gently, almost tearfully. It really seemed as though Eileen had just recited a piece of poetry that touched him deeply.
She knew Henry was the silent and shy type, but she never saw him as the sensitive, almost poetic type. She could tell he was embarrassed by his sudden surge of emotion, as he looked away and cleared his throat.
Eileen reached out, tenderly brushing her fingers along Henry's rough, stubble-covered cheek. She tilted his face gently towards her, staring deep onto his eyes. Windows of the soul, they were said to be.
They revealed everything, those deep, emerald eyes tinged with a dark pine hue. His scleras were pinkish, giving him a weary look about him. But his kindness...anyone could see that as his eyes tilted towards Eileen's, his irises glowing faintly.
Whether she knew it or not, she was sending him signals, only the kind that two souls send when they are undeniably smitten with one another. Her heart practically screamed “Kiss him! He's there! Don't make stupid comments about how you feel, just show him!”
Henry was equally intrigued, and possibly more nervous. He was actually afraid his bladder would let loose from the intense nerves building up in his stomach. His skin warmed up considerably, and a light sweat began to form upon it.
The pair closed their eyes simultaneously, their faces growing closer. Henry could hear Eileen moan slightly, a pleased, anticipating moan.
Then...
Henry's lips slid as his head jerked unexpectedly, earning a mouthful of something soft and thin.
But it was neither lips nor cheek.
He opened his eyes instantly as she began to giggle.
“Nice one.”
There was no biting malice or cruel sarcasm in her voice; it was just playful and kind. Just like her.
Then he realized; he had a mouthful of her hair.
“Oopsth”, he murmured, muffled by her auburn locks. Sthorry.”
He released his mouth from her hair with a sheepish grin.
Get it over with, nagged the little voice in his head. Don't make her wait. Let her feel you...you want it, she wants it.
Henry leaned into her, gently cupping the back of her head with his hand. With the other hand, he braced himself, softly gripping her shoulder. No way was he going to lose his balance. He was going to get it right.
As he met her lips, she leaned in further, pressing hers into those soft lips of his. They were gentler than she expected; smooth, and comfortably dry.
Henry practically breathed her in, caressing her bottom lip with his upper one. He exhaled a short little breath, and the moist air flooded Eileen with instant warmth.
He was sweet and gentle, never did he bite down on her or force his tongue down her throat. When she was ready to take that step, she would. But not now. She must be tired...
Eileen gasped, and slowly broke away, gulping for breath. Henry did the same and once he caught his breath, he rested his forehead against hers, smiling kindly. He gently tousled the ends of her medium length hair, letting it run through his fingers like silk.
She was speechless, both with exhaustion and the pure exhilaration of the moment. Instead of ruining the moment with some bizarre remark, she reached out and brushed a few stray locks of thick hair out of his face, so she could see those gorgeous eyes clearly.
She receded, yawned, then stretched her arms over her head. Cuddling further into Henry, she heard him mumble something about getting back to bed. It was too late; she was too tired. She was out cold, snoozing peacefully with her head pressed against his stomach.
At first, he was astounded at how quickly she fell asleep. She must have been tired.
Well, it's not like he had gotten a great deal of sleep, either. He smiled, watching her eyes flutter beneath the lids. She gave a small grunt before shifting onto her side, her back to Henry, and sighed.
He considered carrying her to bed, but he looked at her peaceful, sleeping form; he couldn't wake her, not now. She looked pretty comfortable as she was, there was no reason to rouse her.
With a gentle sigh, Henry wrapped his arm around Eileen's shoulders, pulling her ever so much closer into him. He instantly felt warm...and safe.
Henry allowed himself to lapse into a much needed slumber.
--
--6 Months Later--
“Hey!”
Eileen let out a laugh of victory as a well-packed snowball hit home, landing right on Henry's ass.
“Well, don't just stand there! You're making this too easy!”, she hollered through her cupped, mitten-covered hands.
Henry turned back around with a devious grin.
“Better start running”, he chuckled, sweeping his thick leather gloves into the snow.
Eileen heeded his warning, laughing jovially as Henry prepared a stinging ball of frozen water, grinning with anticipation. After a few more pats and a little more smoothing, his ammunition was ready to fire.
But as he turned around, Eileen was nowhere in sight.
He scanned the grey skies, still pouring out a plethora of snow in think sheets, but his eyes never caught her.
“Eileen?”, he called out, still smiling like an idiot, awaiting his best friend's giggling voice.
Only the bleak howl of the wind answered him.
Uh oh...
“Eileen? Hey, where are you?”, he asked again, becoming slightly concerned. It was hard enough to see through the snow and his thick, faux-fur lined hood. Surely, she couldn't have gone too far, or gotten lost...right?
Suddenly he felt the wind knocked out of him and he got a face full of cold snow. He gave a startled grunt.
“Looking for me?”, came a familiar giggling voice.
Henry quickly rolled over to see Eileen, her cheeks flushed with the cold, her eyes bright and jovial.
“Heads up!”, she shouted, disarming him of his well-crafted snowball, shoving it down his jacket collar.
“Oh shiiit!, he howled, both with the sheer cold and with a great bout of laughter. I'll get you for this!”
“Come get me then! Get the lead out!”, Eileen shouted back, retreating to behind their apartment building to create an arsenal of snowballs.
Henry grinned, chuckling softly to himself.
“Eileen, you're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me”, he whispered to the howling wind, trusting it to keep his secret. He'd let her know when he was ready.
Meanwhile, he prepared a new snowball and sidled the corner of their building, awaiting his “prey”.
hmd - April 07, 2009 (03:01 PM)
The way I see it is this: almost no one really expected Wii to succeed the way it has. I include Nintendo and every major publisher in that. Even the companies that did well from the start--Ubisoft, primarily--were just hedging their bets.
Now we're seeing Wii become this generation's PS2. Remember, though, that the PS2 took awhile to get really rolling and that was even after the success of the PSX gave developers reasons to expect greatness.
This round, I see Wii following the course that the PS2 did last time around, just on a slower schedule because of the delay when developers weren't even really making the effort to produce good software for it. Now they are, but that takes time. We're only just starting to see what developers can produce for Wii and I see that continuing for at least another year or two. Basically, then, you should expect to see a lot more stuff like this.
What I would personally appreciate is if people wouldn't take every Wii success as an opportunity to start asking "Why this success for a system I hate?" when the answers are obvious. Success for Wii doesn't stop the Xbox 360 from having great stuff. If anything, it pushes Microsoft to excel.
honestgamer - April 07, 2009 (03:05 PM)
^^^ huh?
Suskie - April 07, 2009 (03:11 PM)
If comparisons to PS2 are warranted, then I only hope Wii isn't followed by a ludicrously overpriced console resembling a George Foreman grill that has maybe three worthwhile exclusives.
Suskie - April 07, 2009 (05:24 PM)
Heh. *looks at board* Happy birthday, Jason! =D
wolfqueen001 - April 07, 2009 (06:35 PM)
serious answer for hmd:
The 360 is the emotional successor to the Sega systems of lore, and the Sega systems of lore have a tendency to get crushed and dominated by other systems until they die and fade from the market. Gamecube afficianados are probably feeling the same way. No one wants to see their emotional investment die (and there actually are some good reasons for emotionally investing in a machine). Of course, the 360 is in no danger of death -- nor is the Wii -- so there's probably some repressed anger surfacing, too.
This thread is actually pretty civil and not approaching the "sales = godliness" attitude that you doth protest (rightfully). But it's interesting to look at which companies and genres perform well on each system. I would hope it's clear that some games will sell better on the 360, and some on the Wii, and none on the PS3 (har har!) but people will still debate these things because it is the nature of people to debate.
It kills time until we die.
//Zig
zigfried - April 07, 2009 (06:37 PM)
yeah happy birthday venter
YOU FUCKIN' SNERD
no but really happy b-day :)
hmd - April 07, 2009 (06:40 PM)
It kills time until we die.
I'm going to try to use that phrase as many times as I can for the rest of my life.
Suskie - April 07, 2009 (07:08 PM)
I gave my Gamecube to my sister a little after I bought the Wii, since the Wii runs its software, but the Gamecube exuded all those dark, square vibes I liked. It's not as cool to put 'cube Bloodrayne in the Wii and be presented with the glaring white entry screen and those pleasant chimes -- as it was to put it in a thing that was a tiny (relative to all other consoles) black cube. So even though the 'cube games still run perfect now, I did feel a tiny pang of sadness at passing my cube on.
bloomer - April 07, 2009 (07:45 PM)
I'm going to try to use that phrase as many times as I can for the rest of my life.
Hm, potentially a poor use of your pre-death time. You gotta maximise variety!
bloomer - April 07, 2009 (07:49 PM)
I liked GameCube. I totally acknowledge that it was the "worst" console of the last generation but at the same time it had some of my all-time favorite games. Metroid Prime beats anything on Xbox or PS2 as far as I'm concerned.
Suskie - April 07, 2009 (07:54 PM)
I heard that President Obama loves Wii Fit.
genj - April 07, 2009 (09:46 PM)
Support our country and president!
genj - April 07, 2009 (09:50 PM)
I never suggested that it's a problem for people to like the Wii, nor did I make the observation that sales figures = quality. I know sales figures are not 100% reliable, but I decided to look at them to see what they reveal about the reality of third-party development on the Wii. Whether you like it or not, all video game companies are in it for the money (aside from a few rare exceptions). Sales figures matter. Otherwise we wouldn't need to use the phrase "criminally underrated" because who cares who underrates it? I think we're all mature enough to discuss sales figures without getting into arguments about how much a console "SUCKS BECAUSE THE GAMES DON'T SELL HAGHAGLHAGLAGHALGH." As far as I can see, no one in this thread said that.
JANUS2 - April 08, 2009 (01:44 AM)
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Cursed Mountain is another Wii game in the Action genre that has been attracting activity lately, so you might want to check it out and see what all of the fuss is about!
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