The Silver Case

The Silver Case

PlayStation cover art
Developer(s) Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher(s)

‹See Tfd›

Distributor(s) Limited Run Games (PC)
Director(s) Goichi Suda
Designer(s) Goichi Suda
Artist(s) Takashi Miyamoto
Writer(s) Goichi Suda
Masahi Ooka
Sako Kato
Composer(s) Masafumi Takada
Platform(s) PlayStation
Microsoft Windows
OS X
PlayStation 4
Release date(s)

PlayStation‹See Tfd›

  • JP: October 7, 1999

HD Remaster
Microsoft Windows‹See Tfd›

  • WW: October 6, 2016

OS X‹See Tfd›

  • WW: November 7, 2016

PlayStation 4‹See Tfd›

  • NA: Early 2017
  • EU: Early 2017
Genre(s) Adventure, visual novel
Mode(s) Single-player

The Silver Case (Japanese: シルバー事件 Hepburn: Shirubā Jiken) is an adventure visual novel video game developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and published by ASCII Entertainment for the PlayStation in 1999. A remastered version was released digitally by Grasshopper Manufacture worldwide for Microsoft Windows and OS X in 2016, while a port for the PlayStation 4 will be released by NIS America in early 2017. A port for the Nintendo DS was also in development, but never released due to game director and designer Goichi Suda's dissatisfaction with the final product.

The setting is contemporary Japan, and takes place in a universe which would later be used by Suda for later works. Within a place called the 24 Districts, a series of bizarre murders occurs, prompting the 24 Districts Police Department to send two detectives from their High-degree Murder Division to solve the case. The killings are soon linked to Kamui Uehara, a notorious killer who supposedly died several years before. The gameplay revolves around text-based situations, point-and-click mechanics, and interactive question and answer segments.

The Silver Case was the debut title of Grasshopper Manufacture, beginning development with the studio's formation in 1998. As they had limited staff and resources, Suda devised the window-based story-telling to make best use of their assets. The story, written by Suda, Masahi Ooka and Sako Kato revolved around themes of crime and the clashing of people on different sides: its themes would become a recurring feature in later titles developed by Suda. The character designs were done by Takashi Miyamoto, while the music was composed by Masafumi Takada.

Prior to its remaster, the game did not see a release outside Japan, despite Suda wanting a Western release: this was attributed by Suda and others to concerns over properly translating and localizing the game's dialogue. The localization is being handled by Active Gaming Media in collaboration with Grasshopper Manufacture. An episodic sequel was developed for mobile devices and released between October 2005 and March 2007.

Gameplay

The Silver Case is a text-based point and click adventure visual novel video game where players take control of different characters through two linear scenarios: in the "Transmitter" scenario, players take the role of a detective solving a serial murder mystery, while in the "Placebo" scenario, they control a freelance journalist covering the investigation.[1][2][3] During gameplay sequences, the player moves through environments in first-person.[4] Proceeding through the scenario, story events play out in special windows against a single background: some are dedicated to text, while others show scenery related to events in the game. These scenery are a combination of 2D and 3D artwork, real-world photographs incorporated into the game, limited full-motion graphics, and short live action sequences.[1][4][5][6] At some points in the game, quiz questions are shown for the player to answer, in addition to mini-games the player can complete. There are also puzzles which are strongly related to the game's text-based features and presentation.[2]

Premise

In 1999, there exists a city called the "24 Wards". A series of mysterious and bizarre murders have begun happened there, prompting the High-degree Murder Division (HMD) of the 24 Wards Police Department to investigate. They find that the murders closely match the profile of a well-known serial killer, Kamui Uehara, who assassinated many key government figures one after another several years ago. Uehara was held in a mental hospital and was thought to be completely unfit to commit crime again, but these new incidents imply otherwise.[7][8][9]

Development

The Silver Case was the debut title of Grasshopper Manufacture, a then-independent company formed in 1998 by video game developer Goichi Suda after leaving Human Entertainment following the completion of Moonlight Syndrome, a spin-off from Human's Twilight Syndrome series.[1][10] The Silver Case, and consequently Grasshopper Manufacture, was born from Suda's wish to create something original, having only worked on pre-existing projects for Human.[11] While the development team was independent, the production itself was supported by the game's publishers ASCII Entertainment, whom Suda had approached following the company's formation.[11] During development, the team was faced with severe financial restrictions, which further exasperated the problems caused by a small staff as they could not produce all the art assets normally needed for such a game. To compensate, Suda created what he termed the "film window engine": illustrations and text were relegated to dedicated windows. This allowed development to continue.[1] Story sequences were also communicated through 3D CGI and inserted live-action sequences.[6]

It was developed for the PlayStation with a five-person team, who created the basic core of the game.[2][10] During the last six months of development, the team expanded to include ten people.[10] Suda acted as both director and designer in addition to other duties, partially due to the constricted nature of development.[1][11] The character designs were done by Takashi Miyamoto, who would go on to work on Grasshopper Manufacture's following title Flower, Sun, and Rain.[12] His design was influenced by a large range of media, from books to films and television: many of those he used for influence for The Silver Case crossed over with Suda's own tastes.[6] The music was composed by Masafumi Takada, who would go on to work extensively in the video game industry and contribute to future games developed by Grasshopper Manufacture.[13]

The game's two scenarios were handled by different writers: Suda wrote the "Transmitter" scenario, while the "Placebo" scenario was written by Masahi Ooka and Sako Kato.[14] According to Suda, before writing the scenario, the team created the setting and the social structure, with the main crime as the central event: rather than focusing on a particular character, the game instead looked at characters on either side of the crime, with the main theme being described as "human power VS. human power". This theme would carry over into Suda's later scenario work.[15] Suda and Ooka created the overall scenario together, with Suda in particular handling the events surrounding Kamui. Suda had not intended to write so much of the game, but he was forced into that position due to the limited staff: though having had previous experience with scenario writing at Human, it was difficult for him to create a wholly original premise and script for the game.[11] Speaking later, Suda noted that The Silver Case was very different from the studio's later titles, with no action gameplay and a lack of bloody violence.[3] The Silver Case formed the middle part of an unofficial trilogy with Moonlight Syndrome and Flower, Sun, and Rain: according to Suda, while they use the same setting and have some recurring characters, there is otherwise no connection.[16]

Release

The Silver Case was published by ASCII Entertainment on October 7, 1999.[14][17] The PlayStation version would later be reissued through the PlayStation Network on December 10, 2008.[18] While Suda wished for the game to be localized in English, translating and localizing the game properly initially prevented this: issues with translation ranged from the sheer amount of dialogue and some of its more nuanced and technical aspects, to questions in gameplay that required deep knowledge of how Japanese worked due to its implementation in puzzles and dialogue.[2][19]

Suda had wanted to re-release the game in some form, but similar issues with its story and dialogue initially kept it exclusive to Japan.[20] A remake for the Nintendo DS was announced in 2007. It was also announced that it would receive a Western release.[1] According to Suda, the gameplay was revamped to work with the DS' dual screen and touchscreen functions, but he also wanted the title to be more "complete" as it was Grasshopper Manufacture's first title. No extra storyline was created.[11][16] During this period, Suda was also working on No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, and so when asked about the game, said that its Western release needed time.[21] Suda later stated in 2009 that the DS port was "up in the air": while the game had been successfully ported to DS, Suda and his team felt that they needed to completely remake the title to fit in with current gaming trends.[22] Suda eventually confirmed in February 2012 that the DS port would not be released.[23] Speaking in later interviews, Suda said that the DS port was cancelled because it did not feel right, as would have needed drastic changes to suit its new environment.[2][3]

The Silver Case HD Remaster

First teased in April 2016,[24] The Silver Case HD Remaster is a high-definition remake of The Silver Case. Co-developed by Grasshopper Manufacture and Active Gaming Media, it is set for a worldwide digital release in Autumn 2016 for Microsoft Windows through Steam and Playism, in addition to other unspecified platforms.[2][3] Active Gaming Media approached Suda about localizing the game several years after the DS port was cancelled. Having been keen to release The Silver Case overseas, Suda agreed to the collaboration, acting as producer for the project: Active Gaming Media handled the high-definition assets and localization, while Grasshopper Manufacture acted as general supervisor and supplied the original assets. The remaster is being developed using the Unity 5 game engine, so porting to multiple platforms is simplified.[2][10][19]

Suda noted that local and overseas interest in the title had been piqued with the release of an artbook containing concept and character artwork from the company's titles, including The Silver Case.[11] He was initially skeptical about whether the game could be properly translated into English, but in 2016 he said that he was satisfied by the results to that point. The game's question segments needed to be entirely rewritten due to their reliance on a knowledge of Japanese.[19][20] According to the game's director Douglas Watt, the resolution needed to be changed from the PlayStation original's 480p to a modern 1080p. In addition, the UI and interface underwent modifications to be user-friendly for modern gamers. The 3D graphics and color balance were also altered and improved.[10] Another difficult part was re-creating the game as a high-definition experience: some of the original data had been lost, so needed to be reconstructed.[20] The original music is being remixed by Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka.[25] Alongside all these updates and alterations, Suda wanted to keep the original atmosphere intact.[11]

In addition to being released on Steam and Playism, a physical copy is being published by Limited Run Games. Pre-orders for this physical version went live on October 4, 2016 with an expected release in December, 2016. Each copy is individually numbered, and includes extras such as a 22-page manga, art book, manual, and soundtrack on CD. There will only be as many physical copies as there are pre-orders, and it will not be reprinted.

It was announced on October 20, 2016 that NIS America would publish the game in both physical and digital formats for the PlayStation 4, with an expected release of early 2017.[26]

The Silver Case: Ward 25

An episodic sequel to The Silver Case was developed for i-mode, EZweb and Yahoo! mobile devices by Grasshopper Manufacture.[27] Titled The Silver Case: Ward 25 (シルバー事件25区 Shirubā Jiken: 25-Ku, lit. Silver Incident: Ward 25), it was first announced in September 2005: like its predecessor, it was a text-based adventure game, with action commands being linked to number inputs.[27][28] Ooka, Miyamoto and Takeda returned as scenario writer, character artist and composer respectively.[13][16][29] The existence of Ward 25 was the reason why the planned DS remake of The Silver Case did not have any new story content.[16] The episodes released between October 2005 and March 2007, with later versions releasing between 2007 and 2011: the game was divided into three scenarios of five episodes each.[27] A remake of Ward 25 for the DS was initially planned alongside its predecessor, being announced around the same time.[1] According to Suda, if The Silver Case HD Remaster is commercially successful, Ward 25 could also be remade.[2]

Reception

Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu gave The Silver Case a score of 30 points out of 40: while one of the reviewers noted that the display windows were sometimes difficult to see, the magazine's critics were generally positive about the game's atmosphere, comparing it favorably to Suda's previous work on Moonlight Syndrome.[30] Prior to its release in the West, The Silver Case was highlighted by multiple sites as an early example of Suda's distinctive style.[31][32]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Low, David (18 April 2007). "Suda51 Talks Emotion In Games, 'Breaking Stuff'". Gamasutra. UBM TechWeb. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Matulef, Jeffrey (6 May 2016). "Suda 51's first game, The Silver Case, is getting a western remake". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Tach, Dave (6 May 2016). "The Silver Case, Grasshopper Manufacture's first game, will be resurrected this fall". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  4. 1 2 Fenner, Robert (18 August 2016). "The Silver Case: Hands-On Preview". RPGFan. RPGFan. Archived from the original on 3 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  5. ↑ Greenhough, Chris (4 February 2008). "2008's Biggest Blips: Flower, Sun and Rain / The Silver Case". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 Asma (2 September 2016). "The Silver Case Artist On How Technology Influences Game Art Design". Siliconera. Curse, Inc. Archived from the original on 3 September 2016. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  7. ↑ "The Silver Case - Introduction". The 24 Wards make up a beautiful and stylish city, bustling with activity. Well-equipped to fulfill any need, citizen life is managed efficiently and the city continues to feed its residents the illusion of safety. The 24 Wards Heinous Crimes Department works hard to prevent and eliminate heinous crimes that disturb peace and order in the city. You, the player, a former member of the Special Security Force, now work for the 24 Wards Heinous Crimes Department. There you must find your place among a group of detectives with sharply distinctive personalities and accept the reality that criminals are constantly committing inhumane acts all around you. Computer hackers operating over digital networks, corrupt corporate executives, psychopaths seeking their own twisted forms of pleasure, conspiracies to overthrow the government, state officials clinging onto power...and the return of the legendary serial killer Kamui!
  8. ↑ "The Silver Case - Story".
  9. ↑ "The Silver Case - Character".
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 『シルバー事件』PCリマスター版が今秋配信決定。グラスホッパー・マニファクチュアの原点となるアドベンチャーゲームが蘇る. Famitsu. Enterbrain. 6 May 2016. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Umise, Minoru (22 July 2016). 『シルバー事件』の始まり、そしてシナリオライターとして目覚めたきっかけ。須田剛一氏インタビュー. Automaton. Active Gaming Media. Archived from the original on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  12. ↑ 須田剛一氏×イシイジロウ氏がグラスホッパー作品をアツく語る――『アート オブ グラスホッパー・マニファクチュア』発売記念トークショーをリポート. Famitsu. Enterbrain. 24 May 2015. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  13. 1 2 Takada, Masafumi. サウンドプレステージ合同会社. Masafumi Takada website. Masafumi Takada website. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  14. 1 2 "The Silver Case / Project / Grasshopper Manufacture". Grasshopper Manufacture. Grasshopper Manufacture. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  15. ↑ 『NOMOREHEROES』須田剛一氏にインタビューその2！キーワードは団地と「相棒」!?. Dengeki Online. ASCII Media Works. 8 December 2007. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Ciolek, Todd (22 July 2015). "The X Button - How Suda Is Now". Anime News Network. Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  17. ↑ -+- The Silver 探索編 製品紹介 -+-. The Silver Case Official Website. Grasshopper Manufacture. Archived from the original on 22 May 2005. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  18. ↑ シルバー事件 / ソフトウェアカタログ / プレイステーション® オフィシャルサイト. PlayStation Network. Sony Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 Watt, Douglas (21 July 2016). "The Silver Case Devlog 1". Playism. Active Gaming Media. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 Ashcraft, Brian (13 July 2016). "Japanese Video Game History Is Disappearing". Kotaku. Gawker Media. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  21. ↑ Sheffield, Brandon (19 December 2008). "Interview: Grasshopper's Goichi Suda Talks No More Heroes 2, Time Travel". Gamasutra. UBM TechWeb. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  22. ↑ Riley, Adam (15 July 2009). "Suda51: More Sumio Mondo, Silver Case 'Up in the Air'". Cubed3. Cubed3. Archived from the original on 23 May 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  23. ↑ Suda, Goichi (1 February 2012). SUDA51/須田剛一 on Twitter - 11:16 AM - 1 Feb 2012. Twitter. Twitter. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  24. ↑ 「ネットを信じよ」の意味とは？　グラスホッパー・マニファクチュアが，5月6日に何かを発表か. 4Gamer.net. Aetas Inc. 23 April 2016. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  25. ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (20 July 2016). "Suda 51's 1999 visual novel The Silver Case teases first footage of remake". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 21 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  26. ↑ "The Silver Case, a Suda51 Classic, is Coming to PS4 in Early 2017". PlayStation. Archived from the original on 20 October 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  27. 1 2 3 シルバー事件２５区 / 開発実績 / Grasshopper Manufacture. Grasshopper Manufacture. Grasshopper Manufacture. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  28. ↑ 【ブース】ケータイだって負けてない！　ドコモブースは超話題作のオンパレード！. Famitsu. Enterbrain. 18 September 2005. Archived from the original on 23 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  29. ↑ 名作AVG『シルバー事件』シリーズのイベントに小島秀夫監督がゲストで登場！. Dengeki Online. ASCII Media Works. 23 January 2006. Archived from the original on 28 August 2006. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  30. ↑ シルバー事件 (PS). Famitsu. Enterbrain. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  31. ↑ Barnholt, Ray (18 October 2008). "Formula 51 - A look at Suda 51". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. p. 2. Archived from the original on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  32. ↑ Mackey, Bob (9 August 2012). "Hopping Mad: The Inspired Oddness of Grasshopper's Early Games". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 7 December 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.

External links

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