New interview?

[Phantom Allure]

^Badassery issues aside, the thing being picked apart on this thread is Hullett's stipulation that this installment raises Silent Hill's realism aspect to heighten the gaming experience. Of course, given how obsessively anal Silent Hill fans could be about details (as if that hasn't been painfully obvious), it's inevitable how this claim about the touchy subject of realism could open the proverbial can of worms.

The fire is most likely a psychological trigger for the enemies, regardless of the heat it may or may not generate. Simple as that. I'm not saying this game is looking to be the epitome of logical deduction, but that Harry opting to obstruct his attackers rather than fight them makes sense.

Except the interview already made it clear that the so-called "temperature difference" is the reason why the flares are an effective deterrent. Which I think is absurd considering that when you hold a flare, your hand doesn't even feel the heat despite being mere inches away from the lit end. The team might have had an easier time explaining the torches if they rationalized instead that the Raw Shocks have an aversion to the sight of fire instead, as your interpretation states.

While 'nightmare' has been a popular title for the otherworld forever, I think there's a reason they've been tossing it around so much in interviews, judging by the themes they are trying to present.

The common phenomenon of the unfight-able monster chasing you relentlessly in your nightmares? Good point, except in dreams where you're being chased, you're generally in a featureless environment where you don't have any useful items at hand (melee weapons, wink, wink) to survive the encounter... Not even a flashlight.

... Or a cellphone

[neonblack]

^^No, no, I was referring more to the plot of the game, and the way it is based around recalled encounters that Harry or whoever the character in the psychiatrist's office supposedly experienced.

I didn't notice that the interview mentioned temperature difference, but it is worth noting that some flares do burn hot.

edit: right. the design is not without its flaws.

[Phantom Allure]

^They might... it still stands to reason that the Second Law of Thermodynamics render such hot-burning flares useless.

[stopped_clock]

^They might... it still stands to reason that the Second Law of Thermodynamics render such hot-burning flares useless.

Not instantly.

But regardless of that, Raw Shock physiology could mean that they can only survive in the extreme cold, as suggested by their non appearance outside of icy SH, therefore even the tiniest rise in temperature could be enough to keep them at bay. Since all flares whether designed for light or heat use combustion, there would at least be a small rise in temperature around them.

[GrievousGarland]

Have you ever thought that the flares, though their heat is insignificant in normal situations, may have more effectiveness in a world MADE OF ICE. -_-

Perhaps temperature differences are exaggerated in a Silent Hill that is frozen over.

[Phantom Allure]

^If it were actually THAT big of a temp. difference, Harry would have dropped the flare like a hot potato. Besides, it doesn't seem to be really cold at all as Harry is only wearing a simple jacket. Heh. Wouldn't want to be seen bumbling around in something so bulky as a parka. And yet, the devs had seen fit to make the environment practically Siberian during the Otherworld transitions.

The devs should have just flat-out said the Raw Shocks are afraid of fire. Period.