silent hill – My Geek Wisdom

“The only me is me. Are you sure the only you is you?”

From: PT

Genre: Video games

Who said it?: The Brown Paper Bag

The story behind the quote: This week’s quote comes from the now defunct demo game PT. Released by Konami as a playable trailer for a proposed new entry in the Silent Hill franchise, the actual game was going to be produced and directed by acclaimed game designer, Hideo Kojima. However, after the two had a falling out, Hideo Kojima left Konami and the demo as well as the proposed game was scrapped.

The quote is given a couple of times throughout the demo. When you first start the game, the quote will be displayed on the screen, hinting at what’s to come. Later on, near the end of PT, the game will look like it crashes and the unnamed protagonist will wake up in the room just like at the start of the game. This time, a brown paper bag will appear in the table in the corner of the room and, in some circumstances, will utter the quote.

Geek wisdom: We like to think of ourselves are totally unique. However, this might not be the case as we do like to copy and imitate others. So, in a way, a good chunk of what we are is actually because of us mimicking others.

“They looked like monsters to you?”

From: Silent Hill 3

Genre: Video games

Who said it?: Vincent Price

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from Konami’s Silent Hill 3. The game focuses on Heather, a teenager who gets wrapped up in the cult of Silent Hill and she journeys to the town in an attempt to kill their leader, Claudia, for revenge.

The quote comes late in the game. Heather encounters cult member Vincent Price, who is against Claudia’s methods and plans of resurrecting the god of the town. Vincent gets angry at Heather for looking down on him. He states that she’s worst than he is as she takes pleasure in killing the things coming after her. When a confused Heather tries to clarify if Vincent is referring to the monsters she’s been fighting, he delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Our perceptions change what we see. We may see a dangerous animal or person when they’re actually kind and harmless. We can believe a person has a kind heart but, in reality, they’re just keeping their dark side from public.

“There was a HOLE here. It’s gone now.”

From: Silent Hill 2

Genre: Video games

Who said it?: Unknown

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from, Silent Hill 2, a Konami game that was released before the company was still heralded as one of the best in the industry and before the entire #fuckonami movement. The game revolves around James Sunderland, a recent widower, who receives a letter from his deceased wife, Mary, to return to the town of Silent Hill. Of course, the instant James enters the town, things go frighteningly wrong.

The quote comes early in the game. James explores Silent Hill and comes across Neely’s Bar. In the bar, he gets a vital item that helps him push through in the game. But also, scrawled on the newspaper covered windows, is the quote.

Side Note: When I played Silent Hill 2, I can vividly remember going to Neely’s Bar in the “Otherworld” first. I do recall seeing a hole on that very spot but James didn’t want to go through it. This is why I returned to the bar after returning to the “normal” world. This was when I saw the quote… and it really creeped me out because it was like the game knew what I wanted to do!

Geek wisdom: Things change. Landmarks and old hangouts you used to love going when you were a younger may not be there anymore when you get old. You can drift away from family and friends you were close with before. We never thing about the possibility they may be gone in an instant.

Cherish the time you have with the people and places you love. Enjoy spending time with them while they are still on this earth… and not the Otherworld.