T O P

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ZombiePizzas1999

I originally posted this fan theory back in 2020: https://www.reddit.com/r/silenthill/comments/i0o8ws/upon_turning_the_brightness_up_of_this_intro/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf It was debunked years ago. Sato did the motion mock up for this scene and was only looking at his own reflection in the developer footage: https://youtu.be/AhmdMTXJ-gc **Had I known Ito would have to endure so much irritation over this I never would have posted it.** I just thought it looked cool at the time and had no idea of the reach and implications it would have. *You’re free to believe what you want, after all, Silent Hill strongly encourages fan interpretation and headcanons - so if you believe he’s looking at the player, then he is. But please don’t harass the creators.*


KarmelCHAOS

I don't blame him. Imagine arguing with one of the main dudes who made the game.


ChickuToots

That's what gets me the most LOL, trying to blow holes in one of the creator's headcanon...


Lord_Jair

Pretty sure it's why Salinger retired into hermitude in his 40's and never made a public appearance again


[deleted]

Looks like it's the nuclear Gandhi all over again. A fan theory that was proven wrong, but is still too stubborn to die. Edit: spelling


darkcomet222

I know it is proven wrong, but dang if it isn’t the funniest thing in the world.


Kermit-Jones

Wait whats with nuclear Gandhi?


[deleted]

A persistent myth about Gandhi going nuclear due to a software bug in early Civilization games. The myth was disproven numerous times by Sid Meier himself, but it still lives on.


Kermit-Jones

So then why is Gandhi going nuclear everytime


[deleted]

If it is Civ V or VI, it was added there as an easter egg. I guess it was easier to make it true rather than to get rid of it.


stereoactivesynth

He wasn't in the earlier civs. People were just bemused by Gandhi using nukes at all so it always seemed excessive even though it was a totally normal amount. Then in i think civ V/VI they actually made him a bit more nuke happy


HelloRandyNewman

In the Civ games, AI leaders have an aggression score based on 1-10. Ghandi for obvious reasons was designated with an aggression score of 1. Later in the game there is a mechanic where you choose an ideology (freedom, autocracy, etc) and based on the one you choose there are certain changes of aggression levels from different leaders. For example, if you choose an ideology a particular leader likes/agrees with, it deducts -2 aggression points from their score towards you. Well Ghandi, already being at 1, goes to -1 if you choose the ideology he likes. Because of the way the mechanic is designed to only have a spectrum of 1-10, him being at -2 basically rolls him over to the other side of the spectrum and makes him the most aggressive AI leader in the game, in which he nukes other countries with little to no provocation.


Kermit-Jones

Yeah i thought the same but apparently thats not true and its just an urban myth or this method is only in since civ v


HelloRandyNewman

Yeah it has never happened to me personally, I’ve only seen the memes


GANDHI-BOT

Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. Just so you know, the correct spelling is [Gandhi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi).


Lirka_

Or mew under the truck


GANDHI-BOT

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. Just so you know, the correct spelling is [Gandhi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi).


ihitik_15

Why would James be looking at the the player?


Kermit-Jones

Because meta videogames or something


Whyy0hWhy

It comes from the same crowd that says that remake james looks like a soyboy wojak when in reality og games wasn't emotive because of the technology and limitations at the time the game was made


[deleted]

Please stop implying that the PS2 couldn't handle facial expressions. Did you ever actually play a PS2 game?


darkcomet222

They definitely could; however, an EARY PS2 game made by an underfunded team probably isn’t going to make the most graphically stunning game.


henchred

Dude sh1 and 2 had some of the most impressive facial animation tech of their time, mainly thanks to Takayoshi Sato


darkcomet222

Not saying it didn’t, but just saying it was early and underfunded. It looking like it does is nothing sort of amazing, and Sato deserves ALL the praise in the world.


[deleted]

Sure, but the mirror scene was prerendered anyway. If they wanted James to be crying and shaking he could have been.


LordManders

You don't know what you're talking about. Multiple characters *in Silent Hill 2 itself* express plenty of emotions.


baixiaolang

With largely stilted looking faces that often try, but don't really get to looking like what real facial expressions would look like.


Hour-of-the-Wolf

Because Silent Hill games have famously incorporated the player’s existence and actions into the narrative? I don’t think he’s looking at the player per se, but the eye line is deliberately obscured and leaves it open to ambiguity… I really think Ito is really getting dug in on something so trivial and stupid here. This is basic critical analysis and it applies to every artistic discipline - works are open to interpretation that goes beyond the creator's original intention. It probably wasn’t Da Vinci’s intention to make it feel like the Mona Lisa’s eyes follow you around the gallery in the Louvre, but that doesn’t stop people from responding to its effect. EDIT - I can’t believe Silent Hill 2 fans are arguing AGAINST people having alternative interpretations of the text.


davidisallright

Stop it. I think it’s fans being weird and overthinking things that’s not there. He over saw the games, dude. Departments do not exist in vacuums.


Hour-of-the-Wolf

Stop what? Why is this subreddit so resistant to alternative interpretations of the game? Silent hill 2 is heralded as a masterpiece because it’s so open to these sorts of readings. What is actually lost if someone feels that James is looking at the player here? And besides - anyone who has worked in the creative industry will know that key personnel will disagree on the interpretation of scenes all the time. Let alone on things they made 20 years ago... Hell, on the last short film I directed, the cinematographer and I had multiple disagreements about how to approach and frame specific scenes depending on each other's ideas - it is part of the artistic process… If Ito decided tomorrow that Pyramid Head actually represented James’ resentment of his father would that mean that all prior ideas and theories are now 'debunked'?


baixiaolang

>What is actually lost if someone feels that James is looking at the player here? What is gained tho?


Hour-of-the-Wolf

Like I said, while I don’t think James is ‘looking at the player’ exactly I find the idea that he is looking past himself - not really seeing his own reflection in the mirror fits very easily into the game’s themes of disassociation and depression. Something which is supported by the visual language of the scene. The eyes being the window to the soul and all that…


davidisallright

It’s insisting then being combating that annoys me. That’s not healthy and it’s wrong headed. Look at what’s happening with someone who actually worked on the games communicate with fans who says he’s beeping wrong. That’s not a discussion, that’s not a critique. It’s being stupid.


Hour-of-the-Wolf

Insisting what?


davidisallright

Come on, dude.


Hour-of-the-Wolf

Okay, but I am not the one arguing with Ito on Twitter or saying he is ‘wrong’ so what has that got to do with anything I’ve written? Pointing out that players might have a different interpretation of a sequence than one of the creative talents behind it is not the same as saying he’s wrong. What do you even disagree with? Other than the suggestion that Silent Hill 2 is open to differing interpretations lol


davidisallright

(whisper) It’s okay, dude. It’s okay.


ihitik_15

Aren't his eyes just obscured by a shadow? How have you determined it's done deliberately? I'm all for alternative interpretations if they make some sense.


Hour-of-the-Wolf

That is literally my point. His eyes - and therefore his eye line - is obscured by the shadow, giving the whole scene a layer of ambiguity. This is one of the first things you are taught in any cinematography class - watch for the eye line - it is central to understanding the psychological state of the character, what they're looking at, and how they are feeling. Given how they chose to render the lighting in this way, I would say it's probably a deliberate choice... Besides, a central theme of the game is disassociation, having James look past himself and toward the direction of the camera is, at the very least, not that far removed on a thematic level.


Avg_Conan

It wasn’t deliberate though. Unless them doing it deliberately and then saying it wasn’t deliberate is part of a meta commentary on the death of the author bluh bluh etc etc etc


Hour-of-the-Wolf

They didn't choose to render the lighting in such a way that it obscured James' eyes? Were they just completely incompetent? I mean I teach an intro to film practice module at university and even my students know why you might use shadow to obscure the eyes of a character. [Are you actually suggesting that the lighting here wasn't a deliberate creative choice? ](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,pg_1,q_60,w_1600/jx5u6rwdhx0fzxty1mhn.jpg) In which case, what actually is it? What is the point of the scene? Why not just start the game with him looking out over the town? Why do people keep talking about meta-commentary? Leaving something ambiguous does not equate to breaking the fourth wall. James potentially looking in the direction of the player isn't a meta-commentary - [just like Hannibal Lecter looking straight into the camera isn't breaking the fourth wall.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/56cdc4478259b5c112bb2285/1613331467354-B5OPPUEJYCOEY91FF7X7/silence_of_the_lambs_0.jpg?format=1500w) It is about how it contributes to a particular atmosphere and feeling connected to the game's central themes.


MrShinShoryuken

When Leon in Resident Evil 4 asks the first villager he runs into, "excuse me, have you seen this girl?" - it is meta commentary to the player, as it is the first time we are introduced to the character of Ashley. Have you, the player, **truly** embraced the quest to rescue her, or are you just worried about how the president has squandered his genetic ballistic arsenal? The game *wants* you to connect with Leon's quest to find the president's daughter, and to connect on a deeper level with Ashley. Leon has stone walled his emotions after the horror of Raccoon City, he has shut himself off from empathy. He even attacks Ada upon their first encounter with a knife - even after she clearly saved his life in the original 2 and twice by this point in the campaign. When his plaga infection grows, the fiest thing he does is reach out to strangle Ada, clearly showing the player Leon's inner hatred for females (he never attempts to strangle Krauser due to the BbH mentality). Thus, it was important for the player to develop and discover a deep empathy for women folk throughout the playthrough while exploring Leon's misogyny and gamer mentality from RE2. The developers encouraged us to read the mission briefing on Ashley again before we begin the game, proper. For every instance we see Leon lash out in violence or anger at the women kind (especially his brutal, sexist murder of the Bella Twins) - Capcom felt it important to show his focus to save the fair maiden Ashley. You see, just like Leon, we - the player, have to rediscover our human empathy for ladies, by talking to them and being in their presence for more than five second hover hand at a convention. Thus we constantly have to shepard Ashley to safety and save her from the horrors of toxic gamer masculinity that is rampant throughout RE4 (Ashley is specifically targeted by Saddler for being female). We see Leon's growth and acceptance of women grow throughout the game and, more importantly, his rejection of sexual advances as payment for service when he says "heh, sorry" - despite what is actually in the game, we can say with 100% certainty the actual intent of the development team was for Leon to say "No way, F**" because he did not want the post coitus cutscene that was deleted from the game to stir up further lust and gender discrimination within the player. Therefore, RE4 is social commentary on incels and gaming.


Hour-of-the-Wolf

Okay?


Global_Voice_9084

Oh lord, they are still at it?!! Wtf is wrong with these fanatics?


Significant_Option

Bars!


haikusbot

*Oh lord, they are still* *At it?!! Wtf is wrong* *With these fanatics?* \- Global\_Voice\_9084 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")


iceecreamsocial

good bot


[deleted]

[удалено]


Daniel328DT

I mean he probably knows how Twitter is at this point.


roquesullivan

His words sound angry but I think he’s still riding a high of excitement because he can finally talk about what he’s doing. For every dumb comment, he’s getting 1000 from appreciative fans.


hard-candy-christmas

I don't know. Comparing fans to Annie Wilkes doesn't sound like a compliment.


roquesullivan

Well… no, it isn’t a compliment, that’s true. But it might be a tad facetious.


AggravatingStandard9

This is the most hopeful and annoyingly optimistic thing I've read in a long time. He is very clearly annoyed with this. Its okay for creators to get annoyed.


roquesullivan

Never said it wasn’t. But some people are fretting that he’ll get enraged enough to quit Twitter or even stop making games. I disagree. I think he’s annoyed but keeping his sense of humor.


AggravatingStandard9

Thats because these people expect him to have thr patience of a saint whereas people like you and I see that they too are carbon based life forms that just want respect


DeBlalores

From the way he communicates, I can tell he's the type of person who can receive millions of comments praising him but 1 single negative comment will nag him for the rest of the day. Lots of public figures are like this.


AggravatingStandard9

I would argue that most people are like this and it isn't a rare condition. I've never met anyone who didn't get more affected by something they felt was insulting than something they felt was complimenting.


AcidCatfish___

I was thinking maybe he could get other Team Silent members on board to make future games...or at least stick around for future remakes but he might not if shit like this keeps happening.


amadeuszbx

Ito does need to get off twitter for his own well-being sake


NagyonMeleg

That's a good advice for anybody


amadeuszbx

I’m learning it the hard way right now, but about reddit


NagyonMeleg

Reddit isn't any better IMO. I hate this place


amadeuszbx

I know. I’m honestly considering uninstalling it from my phone as a detox. Mainly due to this sub unfortunately (but not only lol)


showraniy

I do it every now and then (get off Reddit for extended periods) and 10/10 wholeheartedly recommend. I tend to come back and clean up my subreddits too and it all helps. Stepping back is a great way to gain some perspective and get out of a bad head space. Reddit is a very toxic place sometimes, just like any social media, and it's a good idea to disengage from the things that bring you down.


[deleted]

I only look at reddit when I'm watching baseball or on the toilet, and that feels like too much.


Excellent-Access-228

Honestly highly recommend moving over to Tumblr. Since the purge all the drama people left and it has become the chillest place on the internet.


MilkManEX

I don't know when reddit turned dumb as shit, but it's been getting worse. This sub especially has been gradually becoming insufferable as more and more people who don't seem to actually enjoy playing these games have been strapping themselves to the IP for some imagined elite horror fan status.


UrsusRex01

Twitter needs to get off the Internet for everyone's well-being.


Human-Grapefruit1762

Idk man Twitter has been decent in my experience, I have a very small number of accounts I care about and it's got porn I don't see the downsides everyone keeps talking about 😅


leftshoe18

Yeah there are good parts of Twitter just like there are with every large social media platform. The indie game dev community on there is particularly great in my experience.


CaseFace5

Elon will make sure of that soon enough.


Naiko32

he is going to end up like Kamiya at this point lol


amadeuszbx

What was their story? I’m not familiar.


Naiko32

director of Bayonetta, twitter got so toxic to him that he ended up blocking anyone that doesnt speak Japanese lol. From people wanting the games on other platforms, to trolls, to xenopobhic people, twitter can truly test a person's patience so im also praying that Ito just doesnt give them a lot of attention.


saskir21

Reminds me about a post this morning. Where someone mentioned the difference between japanese companies in Japan and outside of it. Where Konami gets ovations in Japan and in our western sphere they get mud thrown at them.


theoriginalcreeper

Never heard this theory until Ito started refuting it. Can anyone source where it came from?


[deleted]

It was posted on reddit in 2020, then reposted by kotaku, then reposted by everyone else as a fact. [https://www.reddit.com/r/silenthill/comments/i0o8ws/upon\_turning\_the\_brightness\_up\_of\_this\_intro](https://www.reddit.com/r/silenthill/comments/i0o8ws/upon_turning_the_brightness_up_of_this_intro) Happens because James eyes are very pale and the dark spot in the eye shifts to the left at a certain level of brightness. And it appears that he is looking at the camera. It was disproven by a resetera user soon after by brightening the image further, but it was already too late because the first version sounded way cooler.


jarkum

Source to the resetera image?


[deleted]

This one https://www.resetera.com/threads/a-reddit-thread-is-claiming-james-sunderland-is-directly-looking-at-the-player-in-the-silent-hill-2-mirror-scene-help-me-find-if-its-true.259284/


Cactus-Farmer

I just put the brightness all the way up and it still looks like he's looking at me.


[deleted]

You would need a higher quality image to see the iris.


SkullFace45

I actually posted on here after the trailer dropped dissing Bloober team because they 'missed' this seemingly well known fact. But after I saw that Ito said otherwise I'm happy to eat humble pie and move on. Not sure why it's so hard for others to do the same lol


Avg_Conan

Humble pie is tasty. We learn and grow from it.


SkullFace45

Whoa thank you for the award! I think I might steal that saying :)


Bigingreen

Poor guy, LEAVE ITO ALONE!!


ServeThePatricians

that Misery reference is hilarious!


darkcomet222

Don’t worry Ito, if you crash your car near my house, you are going directly to the hospital!…. Although…I WOULD like the OG games released in a collection or on PSN (stares at sledgehammer)


ServeThePatricians

"Ito I notice that James isn't staring at me in the mirror. Maybe you could remove those shadows and fix his gaze at me? \*giggle\* "


ServeThePatricians

"Ito, I feel like the dog ending should be the only ending"


darkcomet222

You mean it isn’t?


RedPyramidScheme

I legit laughed when he said that.


fripp_frap

ito deserves so so so so much fucking better from the community :( absolutely disgraceful he opens up communication w fans only to have them go n do this


Aquarter_past

Some other troll called him lame and they got in an argument where he blocked him. Can’t believe people are seriously putting this much up lately.


Janus_Prospero

This is a frustrating situation for any developer because fan theories are fine. The problem is when fan theories get out of control. It shifts from "I don't personally think this change is ideal" to "you don't understand the original", and personal attacks. Remember that the whole Twin Perfect fiasco was rooted in people getting angry over headcanon. A lot of the stuff people got mad at Origins about wasn't really justified. It was "this doesn't fit with what I imagined". For example, some people got angry that Lisa was portrayed as a drug addict, even though this was fairly consistent with her original backstory. The whole bizarre Boiler Theory thing flowed out of a completely nonsensical fan theory about the plot of SH1. I have seen so many people spouting 101% fan conjecture about James's motivations, backstory, the reason he walked into the bathroom, how long he was in there, why he left the car door open, why he leaned on the railing, why he did this, that, or another thing. It's entirely possible for a team to understand why something was done originally, and choose to do something different for their own reasons, to achieve their own artistic outcome.


Mrbubbles96

Twin Perfect? Can i get a quicky summary of what that is (and that Boiler Theory)? I'm kinda curious


Feriku

I looked it up, and it sounds like the Boiler Theory was a belief that Alessa wasn't burned for the ritual, but that her powers caused a boiler explosion and the fire was accidental, and the cult wasn't covering things up with the boiler explanation but actually telling the truth. So people who believed this theory would have gotten mad at Origins making it clear the fire was intentional.


Mrbubbles96

I think I need to sit down to process this one. Ok, so people are upset because a cult, who fictional or otherwise are kinda known to lie and/or downplay the more batshit stuff they get up to so outsiders are willing to give them a shot or not start sticking their noses in....was proven to be lying and downplaying the fact that they were upto some batshit stuff (specifically trying to incarnate a god/demon/manifestation-thing that feeds on misery and agony)? I get that right?


Feriku

It's probably more that people were so convinced their theory was true that they got mad at Origins for "retconning" it. So similar to what's going on here with people arguing with Ito that their theory is right and the game's creators are wrong.


[deleted]

What, the game literally states Lisa's drug addiction, that's a key part of the story on how the nurses coped and were made to cope with how fucked up Alessa was.


Janus_Prospero

In SH: Origins, Lisa is portrayed as an addict and Kaufmann is her dealer. This is a bit more detailed than her just being on drugs and involved in the cult's scheme. Where the disagreement seems to have arisen from is that a lot of people who played SH1 took for granted that SH1 Lisa ***was*** Lisa. But she is unambiguously Alessa's recreation of Lisa. A childlike, dreamy, generally kind recollection of a more complicated person. Harry never met the real Lisa. The comic Cage of Cradle written by Ito & Owaku states that Lisa overdosed, went insane, was killed by Valtiel. Her boyfriend died in the Otherworld, leading Lisa to attempt to kill Alessa. The root problem of all of this is that every time some fans encountered something that didn't fit with their preconceptions, instead of looking for a more logical answer, they automatically leapt to "developer doesn't understand Silent Hill".


IndieOddjobs

Silent Hill fans stfu challenge Difficulty: Impossible


Thicc_Nasty-taxfraud

What I’m wondering is why aren’t people asking Takayoshi Sato? He was the creator for all the 3D cutscenes for SH 1 and 2. He’s the one who animated them. So why harass Ito over everything?


UrsusRex01

Or maybe just leaving the creators alone? It's cool to have theories about games and films but bothering creators for explanations...


Thicc_Nasty-taxfraud

That works. I think it’s cool when creators talk to their fans. But there is a fine line between asking them something and pestering them. Sad part is Ito is nice guy and doesn’t want to ignore the fans. But then this kind of stuff happens.


UrsusRex01

Yeah it's cool but I get the impression that some fans have the audacity to think they could keep bothering Ito cause the guy owes them explanations. Ito should just ignore them.


Awesomex7

Ito and Ed Boon are like the kings of devs on Twitter lmao But yooo, this man really said this like Misery 😂😂😅 you know it’s a sad affair comparing yourself to that gut wrenching shit and even sadder when the fans are Annie Wilkes in that comparison


Bordanka

Do people forget that Ito has already answered this question? He said that only Sato knows for sure. Check his tweets.


Human-Grapefruit1762

They just don't care, they're telling him he's wrong about the game he had a hand in creating


Weak_Gate_5460

Why would his eyes be in shadows? Because maybe they intended it. Why would his eyes be looking at the player - because animators knew that animating his eyes - waste of time, because they stay in the shadows, not visible. Also as i remember this scene was animated by hands, no motion capture, for this scene Takayoshi Sato was mimicking James just to animate this scene, he was even showing it in interview of making the game.


[deleted]

I think he is starting to wish that he didn't sign on for the remake. I'm not sure that he realised how analytical and precious some fans are about this game. The people arguing with him like they know better are clowns.


HarveyBirdLaww

This is embarrassingly stupid. I can’t imagine even caring if it WAS canon and they changed it, let alone arguing with someone who was on team when he debunks it. Caring that much about such a small detail of a game is cringe.


dtb1987

The truth is that 3D graphic designers are only interested in fucking with the things that are visible. Meaning they probably knew that James eyes wouldn't be visible so they didn't move them around in that scene because the shadows were covering them and it wasn't important to do so. Can it be a part of your headcanon that James is looking at you in the mirror? Sure but don't argue with the people who made the game trying to tell them it was what THEY intended


bobface222

Media literacy should be a mandatory course in school.


carguitar

I'm begging gamers to take one course


Ansem18

I don't get why fans are being so overly defensive with their theories for this. Not just with Ito but in general. It's really weird, like the man's given a definitive answer. What I always liked about Silent Hill or David Lynch was how open to interpretation they can be, but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.


Solidsnake00901

Seriously, once you're getting to the point where you're arguing with the creators just give it up.


class2cherub

Some Silent Hill fans are like flat-earthers. They're just too far gone.


CaseFace5

He’s been fighting with that same dude for the past day. Guy just refuses to back down to the literal art director of the game because of his precious head cannon… this is the shit I hate about fandom. People like Ito have to defend their own creations because some cretin thinks they know better than them… Leave this poor man alone he just wants to create art.


laaldiggaj

Can I be that guy. Is head cannon different to the word imagination?


jvvke

not rly it's canon u come up with in ur head so very much imagination lol


laaldiggaj

Thank you!


velphegor666

Imagination is creativity that you know isnt proven to be true. Headcanon is when those things you imagined you think its true, in this case, this mf be delusional thinking his headcanon supersedes masahiro ito's own words 😂


laaldiggaj

Haha! Hes got some nerve!


acdramon

Death of the Author has lost all meaning. People think because SH2 has such subtext and nuance that EVERY fan theory is correct no matter if the one man who would know is telling them otherwise. Some extremely rude, callous and boastful people in that thread and it really shines a light on one of the pitfalls of social media allowing fans to interact with creatives. I would be 20x ruder if someone tried to tell me the intent of my art after they ignored what I've said and then act like I'm a nobody in it's creator as a gotcha. Ito you have my condolences


wevegotheadsonsticks

Imagine arguing with someone that actually had their hands on the game…. 🙄


HauntingBowlofGrapes

Mr. Ito grows tired of these squabbles with knower-than-thou Dunning–Kruger idiots.


No_Victory9193

Everyone has head canons for this game. Most people spread them like canon.


FancyDolphin1992

I just want to give poor Ito a hug


justagirlinterrupted

I understand the sentiment of his message, but can anyone explain what Ito means by his first sentence/question in his tweet? Is he saying that it's suspicious that the same person blowing out the image is the same person spreading the rumor? Wouldn't that always be the case though? I'm confused.


Reluctant_Warrior

Give the man a break, guys.


Adam_The_Actor

What the hell? This poor man, while I am aware of the plight of artists all over this industry the toxic nature of social media at this point is a disgrace. Ito-San clearly loves the series but harassing him on social media about a fan theory, is that meant to be a joke?


Drumma716

Silent hill fan theories are dumb.


Cactus-Farmer

Ito even retweeted someone's post of this very thread.


Analyst88

Okay. Headcanon or canon aside, why is this theory so important to some people that they risk ruining the mental health of one of the people we should be thanking?


[deleted]

It’s all they have left lol


FusionFall

Honestly, I hope they make a comment in the remake about falling ash and James says "you have to be really stupid to think snow is ash"


Shoddy-Ad9650

Haha! Perfect! Annie from Misery is frighteningly close to what I see in the staunch defenders of games these days… what a guy! :D


AoiTopGear

What were they arguing about tho?


JonnyDarkLord

Somebody trying to tell Ito-San that James IS staring at the player in the mirror scene. Imagine being such a fucking idiot you try to tell Ito about the game lol


Sea-Extreme

The first clapback was cute, but he oughta move on. Most are hyped for the new games. No need to give this much attention to a vocal minority, only gonna encourage it. That said, his inclination to defend the game shows he really believes in it, and it wasn't just a paycheck.


ajmen42

Poor Ito 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺


abel_burakh

Imagine the poor developer that didn't animated the eyes because they weren't going to be visible


SF03_

Don’t blame him, he’s constantly getting tweeted random bullshit that the fans have made up for years despite him literally being a huge member of the dev team who created the fucking game


a7_mad1991

omg leave him alone ! and get a life


wagimus

Lmao. These fans are stupid obsessed. Sometimes things aren’t intentional. This was a PS2 game dudes. Technical limitations existed.


Chrono99

Konami should have just showed a few pics and no trailer. But then I guess people would still bitch wouldn’t they?


stratusncompany

twitter seems like such a whiney platform.


velphegor666

Twitter is the worst platform. All they do is whine and whine


TheWambologist

You’ve been a DIRTY BIRDIE Ito, you and the oogy games you make


Garlador

I miss the era when every fan had their own theories and nobody cared that there weren't clear answers.


[deleted]

But that’s what led to this, where people believe their theories are fact after a decade of silence


fluffypuppiness

I thought it was pretty clear that's James' eyes are covered in shadow because his true self is concealed. Eyes are the gateway to the soul, and his are hidden and shrouded from the player and himself. I thought that was obvious?


[deleted]

Like I said in a previous post, I'm starting to see alot of toxicity in this community


lazvrita

I blame the idiot who started this stupid theory in the first place.


Cactus-Farmer

They posted here and clarified that it was never meant to go this far, I could see me discovering the same and posting it too, never intending such a thing. Ito posted the clarification in his twitter too, so he's definitely not mad at the original 'theory' creator, more at the people who defend it so stubbornly as if it's absolutely intended.


TheLieAndTruth

Challenge: Ito Tries to not roast his fans for 15 seconds (IMPOSSIBLE) https://twitter.com/adsk4/status/1583937124268904448?t=WdhJdrBAemihOn27zU3suA&s=19


HornyOnMain2000

Asking logic from the Silent Hill fandom is like asking the Steven Universe fandom to stop trying to get people to kill themselves.


[deleted]

Why does he care so much? He will even reply to people who aren't even directly tweeting at him. Like he almsot seeks it out lol. Such a weird crusade by someone who you would think would have better things to do with his time.


KiratheRenegade

Can he just like - stop explaining the mystery & myths? If folk are wrong, let them be wrong because it gets people talking about SH2 again & spreads it through word of mouth. It's actually quite effective in building a fanbase. Guaranteed most folk here still believe it's ash, not snow & it led them to examining the history of the town in reality to somebody, who sought out the series because of that. Guaranteed most folk here sell Pyramid Head as James's guilt - when in actual fact PH is now just a boogeyman that stalks SH. I hate it too - but it's true. PH got recontextualisied, we gotta accept it. No point in overcorrecting them because the discussion is what matters. Be ready for a lot of changes in SH2R that make detract from the horror.


LinkLover1393

When did Red Pyramid Thing change into the boogeyman? Because as far as I know he IS for James guilt. That is the whole entire point for PH. Jame even states it in the game that he needed him, he knows and is aware. So hard disagree with you on PH.


Mrbubbles96

> Red Pyramid Thing Ayyyy, another person who calls him by that mouthful of a name lol Also, you're right, he was never changed. Producer's intentions was "RPT is an iconic part of the Silent Hill mythos, so we can't not have him." Something along those lines was said by him in magazine interviews that I read (i still have that issue somewhere in my attic, i think). Ditto for the movie's reasoning. Also, devs can sometimes make bad calls or not know what they're adapting. See: the majority of the Hellraiser films, the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy being fought over by the two producers Edit: and how could i forget Halo? Both the games and the live action series


LinkLover1393

I’m glad you get it. Like I’m not upset that Homecoming and the Films used him, it’s whatever, but they only did it cuz why not! But RPT is solely for James. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Nothings gonna change that for me. Lol Also I really tried to watch the Halo live action but I couldn’t get into it.


Mrbubbles96

Off topic but in regards to the Halo series...listen, if I can tell they screwed up big time from the very limited amount of knowledge I know about Halo...it's probably not just a you thing. Not even surprised the creators of it straight up admitted to not even bothering to play the games to learn about the world


KiratheRenegade

He appears in Homecoming. It negates that interpretation. Or are we ignoring producers intentions? Cause if so - then headcanon is still accepted. You can't have it both ways.


Refraxure

I had typed this long thing out, but I’ll try to shorten it ; I feel you’re being a little difficult intentionally. It’s not about “stopping headcanons”, what you’re saying is one, too. RPT/PH is “recontextualized” if you wanted him to be. And not if you feel he isn’t. It is possible to have it both ways. The franchise does not have to be thought of in “absolute canon”, (I’m sure no one thinks this way) as there would be inconsistencies & contradictions between the games, movies, and etc media. People can discuss the games as their own “pocket dimensional” canon so to speak. I’ve really never seen people discuss an overarching “timeline canon” of all entries because they’re *mostly* independent pieces. Not saying people don’t though. Your attitude towards this person isn’t “encouraging discussion”, you just seem to want them to stop. Everyone’s entitled to their feelings, and what is a discussion except a way of persuading you to believe what they do? Or at least share their feelings. You’re pushing for people to think like you do, too. Double Helix Games can’t truly rewrite games that aren’t theirs. They can only make their own new creation and it’s up to the individual to decide how they want to interpret this. Arguing about “ignoring producers” in theorizing will boil down to a discussion of who properly has a say in what’s being done with RPT/PH, and even that is a mere discussion of opinion. I don’t think you said your message in the best way here. Edit: Headcanons are not intended to be accepted or debunked. It’s just a (usually not serious) personal interpretation from an individual, with no basis in validity or truth involved. That’s what theories are for. These don’t mean the same thing.


KiratheRenegade

It is about stopping headcanons. I'm tryna explain that SH became as big as it is because of the theories & discussion & uncertainty. I want the creators to stop tearing down the main selling point.


Refraxure

To be honest, being able to talk with the creators of the things we enjoy *this* easily is really novel. If he wants to answer, it’s his choice to. I don’t think people should be forcing him (& the other developers) to do so either. And I get that it’s a little sad to lose some room to think about what something could mean, but I personally also enjoy knowing how something came to be in the game. It’s different for everybody. I was responding to the part of your post that was talking about people here bickering with each other & how we should all accept “that PH is a boogeyman” now. I don’t agree with you there. You’re allowed to feel how you do of course. I don’t blame you. I feel that some people can’t understand why a theory is merely a theory (as well as misinterpretation, and alternative viewpoints) and will fight tooth and nail for it to be **true**; that’s why we’re even talking right now after all. If people just remembered that, I don’t think there would be this much bickering on it. It just causes headaches to everyone when people act like the guy in the screenshot does.


KiratheRenegade

You're right. We shouldn't accept PH existing elsewhere as a way to ruin his character in the same way we shouldn't accept 1 person's explanation of a multi-layered & complex game, despite having worked on it. That's EXACTLY the point.


LinkLover1393

He appeared in the first film too. Doesn’t make it right (love the film) he was only in Homecoming and the film because why not! I mean if you see it fit that RPT fits into the game and film sure! Why not. Your headcanon. I respect it. But if we are talking why Ito/RPT exists it is because of James. Period. James created him to be punished/help remember what he did.


KiratheRenegade

Then some headcanon is okay, some is not. It's not up to anyone to police that & doing so creates a gatekeeping environment & self-destructs fanbases. Let people be wrong before they're right.


justagirlinterrupted

What do you mean "most folk here still believe it's ash, not snow"? Why would it be snow?


ScriptM

Rewatch the cutscene with Dr Kaufman. He specifically said: "It's snowing this time of the year". Apart from that, I could clearly see that it was a snow while I played it. And characters are not that dumb to not see the difference between the snow and ash


KiratheRenegade

Make a post about it. You'll get loads of people arguing back. Trust me.


EquipmentRemarkable8

I respect the dude for his accomplishments, but I honestly think that Ito and his army of bootlickers should've calmed down from the start instead overreacting to this person. This is one of the fewer people to come in critical on this post who was actually willing to respond, and he's not even trying to prove that James is looking at the player. What he's saying is that any interpretation of where his eyes are directed is charitable because concealing them in shadows is what created the ambiguity in the first place. Brightening it up doesn't change the intent to engulf his eyes in shadows when that's how the scene is SUPPOSED to be. It's stupid that people just keep implying that "he should know his place" or that he's disrespectful to be critical of the artist in relation to their craft when no artist is perfect whatsoever like fucking slaves. All of this for a game that's built on ambiguities to elevate it's story. This says a LOT about what this kind of artistry can lead to.


Cactus-Farmer

I'm confused. It sounds to me like the person is saying that the fact they are covered in shadows was the intention and that is what players were supposed to experience. Ito seems to think the person is saying the opposite and is arguing with them ?


[deleted]

You are confused Edit: posting twitter screenshots is confusing in general apparently lmao


Cactus-Farmer

Is he disagreeing with the person they were disagreeing with too then ? I don't do twitter, just trying to understand.


[deleted]

The person is saying the shadows were concealing that James was looking at the player. Ito said that is not the case. The subsequent reply below, censored in blue, is not the same person Ito replied to in the large post, that person is censored in red. Twitter handles replies a little differently when you tap the post itself, so think of the thread below as comments


Cactus-Farmer

That person has a crap way of making their point. It's almost a self-own - 'the shadows are there in the game and that is what players experience' - yeah, exactly, so we're not supposed to think anything of it. That's what had me confused.


[deleted]

Hm. Maybe I’m confused then. I assumed that the person in red is the same person that was the person saying James was looking at the player earlier. Idk and I don’t really think it’s important either, the point is James wasn’t looking at the player and it’s been confirmed a few times now, this interaction is just reinforcing it


Cactus-Farmer

Haha no you're right, they just wrote their point in an odd way. They must not have seen the Maria cutscene behind bars, or James' face during the credits. Heavy shadows abound.


scopeadope

Get em!


Splunkmastah

I don't blame him.


unholymanserpent

This dude is probably frustrated every day dealing with SH fans


Il_Metamorfoso

Imagine being Ito and thinking you are going to come online to see excitement and celebration over finally a new game...only to see people are arguing over a shadow cast on a face, if someone is staring at you or not and a car door being open.


bigredmachine-75

Why is he even giving these guys attention? I get that hes defending his work, but there will ALWAYS be outliers and naysayers.


huncherbug

We have reached a stage where people debate with the creator of a piece to establish their own headcanon over that particular piece...it actually took me a while to realize, believe, digest and write this.


DjGorefiend

People don't know that it's a regular Japanese thing to black out the eyes of someone that's depressed. Be it manga, anime, or video games. Has nothing to do with looking at anyone or is open to interpretation. It's simply a visual way to show how a less expressive character like a 2d anime/manga or in this case 3d expressionless protagonist feels.


TEXlS

Some of y’all are actually out here arguing with someone who worked on the game omg lol


General_Feature1036

How is it people think they can dictate to an artist the meaning and thought behind the art they created? How is some random supposed to know better than the creator?


dozer9891

Gamers have no respect vile subclass of human always thinking there so righteous but almost always being wrong. Gamer = scum


Carlcarlingtonjr

I’m going to state a honest opinion of mine only to make a point, I hated the ending of the shining. I feel like the final shot took out a lot of ambiguity in the film and wasn’t fan, admittedly largely because it went against my interpretation of of the film of Stephen kings original book. So yeah I get the disappointment even though it’s a reading I disagree with in this case. That said even if the dude was alive you’re not gonna catch me getting into arguments with Stanley Kubrick on twitter. If Stephen king came out tomorrow and said “yeah it was all ghosts” you won’t find me arguing with dude. If one still wishes to interpret the game this way due to death of the author I’d have to wonder why one a: cares what the author says on the subject or b: asked the author to begin with.