Silent Hill: Ascension: An Interactive Episodic Drama
Silent Hill: Ascension is a unique take on the horror genre, blending the episodic drama format with interactive elements that allow viewers to vote on the direction of the story. This new entry in the Silent Hill series requires a season pass for fans to participate in the decision-making process. The concept has been likened to a “Twitch plays Bandersnatch” scenario, where the collective choices of the audience shape the narrative in real-time.
Initially, the game was perceived as an innovative way to experience the horror and mystery of Silent Hill, with the potential to reflect the darker aspects of internet culture through its interactive storytelling.
Image credit: Konami
Season Pass and Emote Controversy
The Silent Hill: Ascension season pass includes an emote that has sparked a significant amount of controversy among the community. The emote, which was highlighted by a social media user, has been criticized for its seemingly insensitive portrayal of trauma within the context of a horror game.
Image credit: @SmoughTown on Twitter
- “Still cannot get over the fact that this is an emote, in a battle pass in a Silent Hill product. It’S tRaUmA Silent Hill Ascension everyone #SILENTHILL #SILENTHILLAscension” – Twitter user
- “Is this supposed to be a joke? Trauma isn’t an emote…” – Community forum post
- “I love Silent Hill but this is in poor taste…” – Reddit comment
Monetization of Voting Power
The voting system in Silent Hill: Ascension has been monetized, allowing those who spend more money on the season pass to wield greater voting power. This approach has been criticized for undermining the game’s core premise of collective decision-making, turning it into a pay-to-influence model.
| Intended Democratic Outcome | Actual Monetized System |
|---|---|
| Equal voting rights for all participants | Increased voting power for higher-paying users |
| Collective narrative shaping | Financially influenced narrative direction |
This monetization strategy has been met with backlash from the community, who feel that it detracts from the inclusive and democratic experience that was promised.
Chat Room Chaos
The Twitch-style chat room for Silent Hill: Ascension faced significant issues due to poor moderation. The chat quickly descended into chaos, with users posting a range of inappropriate and offensive messages.
Image credit: @Cyasashiku on Twitter
Image credit: @hydoutmusic on Twitter
Image credit: @DeinFerret on Twitter
Despite the presence of automated filters, they were insufficient in curbing the tide of raunchy and disruptive content. The situation highlighted the challenges of moderating a live, interactive platform and raised questions about the preparedness of the developers in managing such an environment.
Temporary Shutdown and Developer Response
In response to the overwhelming chaos in the chat room, the developers of Silent Hill: Ascension made the decision to temporarily shut down the chat feature. They acknowledged that the moderation system did not perform to their standards due to the unexpected volume of chat during the premiere. The team is now working to create a better chat environment that is fun, safe, and respectful for all participants.
The situation serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of internet culture and the necessity for robust moderation systems in interactive online experiences. It also raises questions about the feasibility of such ambitious social experiments in gaming.
Reflecting on the incident, it’s clear that while the idea of a democratically-driven narrative is appealing, the practical implementation of such a concept on the internet today comes with significant challenges. The developers’ efforts to rectify the situation show a commitment to their vision, but only time will tell if they can overcome the hurdles presented by the rowdiness of an unfiltered online audience.
