We haven’t heard of this Siren in the Maelstorm. What the heck is it? “Silicon Knights is busy working on several exciting projects,” a spokesperson told game site Eurogamer. “Unfortunately, it is too early to disclose any details.”

Then, we shall wait.

Besides Too Human, Silicon Knights has also developed Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, Eternal Darkness and now “several exciting projects”.

Silicon Knights quiet on Siren name News [Eurogamer]

Too Human developer Silicon Knights hired Michael Mays, a “skilled financier” with nearly 20 years financial experience, as their new vice president.

Mays will work closely with Denis Dyack to “to drive the company forward by fostering continual growth for Silicon Knights, as well as the games industry in Ontario and the Niagara Region. “

No exactly sexy, exciting stuff, but it is the sort of thing that can keep a developer from going belly up in harsh economic times. Of course within his first month on the job, Mays was handing out actual swords to Silicon Knights employees with ten years service, so maybe not.

“The sword ceremony only confirmed for me what I already knew – Silicon Knights attracts talented individuals that are devoted to being at Silicon Knights and to creating groundbreaking video games,” said Mays. “I am very excited to be working for one of the largest independent game developers in the world.”

Dyack says Mays arrive marks a step forward in the development of Silicon Knights.

“His keen business acumen and financial knowhow makes him the perfect leader for us and for working with the Ontario government to help build the video game industry presence in the Niagara Region and Ontario,” said Denis Dyack, President of Silicon Knights. “Michael brings a fresh and knowledgeable perspective on business growth and partnerships, and I am pleased to be working with him to expand the company and move our guild forward.”

Rob DePetris, vice-president of finance for Canadian developer Silicon Knights, has left the company. His reason?

According to DePetris, “I’m just looking for something different.” What exactly that is, DePetris does not yet know, adding, That’s something I am going to worry about in the new year,” he said. “But I am going to stay involved in the community, and I am not planning on leaving.”

The exec was instrumental in collaborating with the Ontario government on various game initiatives that helped fuel the company. DePetris is not severing ties as he will continue to work “closely” with SK president Denis Dyack (pictured), Silicon Knights stated.

Silicon Knights exec calls it quits [St. Catherine Standard via ENDSIGHTS]

The soundtrack, which was originally scored by Steve Henifin and performed by the FILMharmonic Orchestra and Choir Prague, is selling for $US10 to $US17 through Amazon.com, Best Buy, iTunes and CD label’s Sumthing Distribution’s website.

I can dig listening to a bit of Too Human when relaxing, maybe as ambient sound. But the write for the soundtrack’s release totally lost me.

The music ranges by location and scenario. There are moments of long beds of orchestral music, followed by electronic/metal sounding tracks that put the listener into a different space altogether. There are also vast ambient tracks that are made of layers upon layers of sample-based sounds and evolving electronic sounding textures as well.

OK, I’ve got you so far…

So while the music and audio is Norse in its presentation, it is not exclusively Norse in its sound. It branches out quite a bit, but still stays in the realm of an ancient lost world of technology. It also has its moments using a more aggressive contemporary sound. In places, the Silicon Knights audio team brought in layers of electronic elements, but in a more subtle way. The cyber elements are more elegant and organic in style. In some cases the song style was influenced by the style of the instrument itself, whether that be a Balaban, Bone flute, Frame Drum, Bagpipe or something else, making the phrasing and general feel of a song constructed around the characteristic of that one instrument.

Annnnnnd, I’m lost.

Silicon Knights was reported to be working on a “third-person action/psychological thriller” and enjoying a long term relationship with Sega. It is also not ruling out revisiting Eternal Darkness.

We were told by Sega reps back in June to expect the unveiling of the Silicon Knights project “in the coming months” after a video, incorrectly identified to be that project, was leaked from market research firm Intellisponse.

We’ve contacted Sega reps to get confirmation on the rumoured change in plans.

An anonymous reader contacted us this afternoon to let us know the Canadian-based developer behind Too Human has let us know that about 10:30 a .m. today 25 to 30 employees were brought into the lecture theatre inside the office and told they were being laid off.

“It seemed as though most of those laid off were people who had been hired to work for the company within the last year or so, however many had been heavily involved in the production of Too Human.”

Reached for comment Monday Silicon Knights officials had this to say:

After any big game ships, there is often some attrition. Teams are lean and mean in the beginning, grow toward the end of the project, and then whittle down once the project is finished. To that end, Silicon Knights temporarily laid-off 26 employees today while they ramp up on other projects. All the company’s directors and leads are still at Silicon Knights and working on its next projects.

The slight cutback comes after four years of unprecedented growth for the St. Catharines’, Ontario (Canada) company, during which its headcount had expanded to more than 180 employees.

Denis Dyack, President and founder of the company, stated, “Silicon Knights is currently working on several new and exciting games that will be announced to the public in the coming months. In addition to those projects, Silicon Knights continues to develop and promote other new and original ideas, which will become the innovative games of tomorrow. These 26 individuals are hard-working and valued team members that we hope to bring back as we ramp up on our future projects.”

Carman Dix, Art director of Too Human:
Underneath, Denis is still that boy that genuinely loves video games with a passion.

Henry Sterchi, Director of design of Too Human:
Denis is sincerely passionate about the quality of everything Silicon Knights does, and with that passion comes some of his outspokenness and desire to interact with the community.

Steve Henifin, Audio director of Too Human:
One of the things I like about Denis is that he is a tenacious person and he takes risks. I respect him for that, because I’m the same way.

That’s nice and all… What do you really think?

‘Too Human’ Developers Share Impressions Of Denis Dyack [Multiplayer] [Pic]

X3F Presents: Silicon Knights studio tour [X3F]

[2chan]

Microsoft Game Studios and Silicon Knights are committed to finishing the first instalment, but Too Human is an overarching epic with a rich and vast game universe that cannot be told in one instalment.

This game will begin the saga of the god Baldur in the narrative tradition of classic trilogies, such as Star Wars and Lord Of The Rings. We will talk about the full trilogy and we are very excited about its potential.

Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Too Human? All in the same Microsoft breath.

Too Human trilogy ‘very exciting’, says Microsoft [MCVUK]