high-voltage
Latest
See Gladiator A.D. in bloody action
We know that it's not fair to pass judgment on a game when its at an early stage of development, but we're having a problem with this first trailer for High Voltage's new Gladiator A.D. Namely: It doesn't look very good. It's not that it doesn't look fun, there's no way of knowing that, but it just looks really ... homely.We're going to cross out fingers and hope that this is just a super-early clip and the finished product is going to knock our sandals off in Q1 of 2010. Agreed?
High Voltage follows The Conduit with Gladiator A.D.
Having already established itself as a leading developer of mature Wii games about guys shooting stuff with The Conduit, High Voltage Software has revealed its latest Wii project using the Quantum3 engine: a game about guys swording stuff. Gladiator A.D. is a bloody fighting game that puts players in the role of (obviously) a Roman gladiator.The 300-inspired fighter allows players to choose from a selection of gladiators from different backgrounds, each with his or her own story and rival characters. The fighting takes place from an over-the-shoulder perspective, with each Wii controller representing one of the fighter's hands. Optional MotionPlus compatibility allows players to control the angle at which their swords cut into their opponents.Gladiator A.D. is currently slated for a Q1 2010 release. High Voltage told IGN that it would also announce another title before E3.[Thanks, KEENMACHINE]
Astro Boy movie adaptation coming to Wii, DS, PSP, PS2
It appears that High Voltage Software's unannounced non-FPS title has been revealed, and ... it's only wearing underpants. According to a recent press release, the Conduit developer, along with D3Publisher, will be bringing Imagi Studios' upcoming CGI-infused Astro Boy film to the Wii, PSP and PS2 -- but in the form of a video game. How very clever! We'll see how well this bold experiment pans out when the game drops this Fall, probably around the film's October 23 release date.The title will also be developed for the DS by Art Co. Ltd., who also adapted Coraline for D3Publisher. That doesn't exactly fill us with confidence, but hey -- it's pretty tough to screw up "Finger Lasers, Arm Cannons, and Butt Machine Guns."
Check out The Conduit's packaging, and the game as well
Sega released a bunch of cool media for The Conduit, including this new trailer, titled "Trouble in the Metro." It's somewhat debatable as to what causes more trouble in this game's version of the Washington, D.C. Metro system: all the alien guys running around, or the player character discharging a bunch of weapons in there.Sega also released images of the special edition boxes for both the UK and North America. Sega has yet to announce anything about the UK special edition, but we feel pretty confident in saying that there will be a hint book included. %Gallery-25003%
Joystiq interview: High Voltage Software on The Conduit
While the Wii can often become a minigame jukebox, games like House of the Dead: Overkill and MadWorld prove that there's still room on Nintendo's console for players hungry for more than just another party. Despite Nintendo's preaching that it has not abandoned core gamers, others, like Illinois-based High Voltage Software, are doing something about it.High Voltage's upcoming shooter, The Conduit, was positioned early on as the studio's effort to prove that the Wii could handle a hardcore FPS. Now, with it set to release in June, we cornered High Voltage creative director Matt Corso and spoke at length on the Wii, its perception with the hardcore crowd, and how his game's graphics size up to other titles like Gears of War. %Gallery-33787%
New trailer examines The Conduit's literary side
Sure, we all know that The Conduit looks to be one of the premiere first-person shooters on the Wii. We've all read about how it looks fantastic, it's going to revolutionize FPS controls on Wii, all that jazz. But what is it about? Seriously, without a well-written, heartfelt story about love, loss and lost love, then the only thing left is gameplay.Knowing that you, dear readers, want more than blood, aliens and explosions -- that you are sophisticated -- we have embedded a new story trailer for The Conduit above. Put on your smoking jacket, pour the Courvoisier and take in some culture.
Compare The Conduit's graphics to other Wii FPS titles [update]
Update: Apparently neither Sega or High Voltage approved this video, and it was uploaded by accident. At the request of Sega and High Voltage, we've removed it from the post.High Voltage dares you. This isn't some kind of silly kid's dare, though. No, this is a triple dog-dare, the coup de grace of all dares. And, after watching the video past the break, which compares The Conduit to the likes of other Wii FPS games such as Metroid Prime 3, Red Steel, and Call of Duty: World at War, we'd say High Voltage has certainly made its case. What do you all think? [Via Go Nintendo]
The Conduit channeled into retail on June 23
Representatives for High Voltage Software and Sega have informed Joystiq that The Conduit will reach retail on June 23. There was some confusion this morning about The Conduit's development status, following a Eurogamer story indicating that Sega had "pushed ambitious Wii first-person shooter The Conduit back from spring to summer." This is technically accurate -- The Conduit was originally scheduled to release June 9 (spring), but will now release June 23, two days after summer begins. High Voltage Software's Eric Nofsinger assured us that the game's development hadn't slipped at all, but that pushing the "Nintendo networking beyond its usual transfer of data and taking full use of the WiiSpeak" is "good for the game and gamer," even if it lengthens the time taken for testing and approval.%Gallery-33787%
Pre-order The Conduit's 'Exclusive Limited Edition Special Upgrade with Bonus' at GameStop!
Boy, that GameStop sure has a way with words, huh? The retailer's game page for The Conduit declares an "Exclusive Limited Edition -- with Bonus!" It's the usual: Pre-order the game with a down payment and secure your "Special Edition upgrade." But just how limited/special/upgraded, you ask? Well, you're looking at it. Don't see it? Look harder: That's a custom-detailed A.S.E., pal, and a not-so-secret-looking "Secret Agent" multiplayer skin. Oh, and there's an art book. But, honestly, are you really ever gonna open that?See, around here, we believe the best art is art with no strings attached. And to prove it, we're opening up our vault of non-exclusive and unlimited [go on, keep clicking] multiplayer screens! But that's not all ... We've got the first online multiplayer trailer too! Continue on after the break to watch it, again and again, until your eyes bleed.%Gallery-50178%
No split-screen multiplayer in The Conduit to preserve visuals
Sorry, split-screen fans, The Conduit is hanging you out to dry. According to lead designer Rob Nicholls, the upcoming shooter will exclude a split-screen multiplayer option in order to maintain the game's visual punch. In an interview with HD Warriors, Nicholls said the main reason the feature isn't included is because of concern the graphics quality would be reduced when "double-rendering" the game for the mode. High Voltage's top priority in developing The Conduit is making sure the title achieves the "best looking" graphics on the Nintendo Wii, said Nicholls. While the in-house tech team at High Voltage continues to squeeze power out of the console, The Conduit will ship without split-screen -- but Nicholls said it is a possibility for future titles.[Via Nintendo Everything]
We see an ESRB rating in The Conduit's 'All Seeing Eye' trailer
The beginning of this trailer for The Conduit reveals the answer to one of the biggest questions surrounding High Voltage's FPS: the ESRB rating. Yes, that was one of the biggest questions surrounding The Conduit, along with the identity of the publisher. It's controversial and kind of mundane at the same time!Of course, with The Conduit, we understand the concerns about the ESRB rating. The Conduit is labeled T, which may be a disappointment to those of you hoping for a nonstop bloody mess -- or a relief to those of you fearing sleeping gas and Nerf guns. This trailer demonstrates the "All Seeing Eye," the item that deciphers alien writing, interfaces with computers, and pretty much seems to do everything. We're going to call it the "Plot Device."%Gallery-49612%
Sega wants you to want The Conduit
Sega just sent out an announcement that should give classic rock fans a jolt of excitement. The publisher announced that High Voltage's The Conduit will feature new guitar music composed by Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen. This is presumably in addition to the score from composer Diego Stocco. "We were very excited to get the chance to work with Rick on The Conduit," said High Voltage's Eric Nofsinger. "Even though he's known for driving rock guitar, he was able to provide great ambience and textural qualities that perfectly fits the mood of the game and helps it become a truly unique experience." For his part, Nielsen said simply, "I hope these lunar notes float with you." We hope that High Voltage takes a "lunar note" from Nielsen and puts five-necked guitars in the game as weapons.%Gallery-25003%
Conduit devs had 'dusty Wii syndrome,' hope to release cure
The dev team at High Voltage Software has suffered from dusty Wii syndrome, but is hopeful that its upcoming shooter, The Conduit, will hold a piece of the cure. Speaking with CVG, Conduit producer Josh Olson said High Voltage Software's Wii units had been "gathering dust" due to a lack of games for the core audience. Of course, Olson's comments echo (Conduit publisher) Sega's recent company line that the hardcore market needs Nintendo Wii love too. To that point, Sega has recently released The House of the Dead: Overkill and MadWorld. Or maybe High Voltage just wants gamers to start cleaning up their rooms. Olson also took an opportunity to discuss the multitude of player customization options found in The Conduit. In the game, players are free to remap the controls, alter the sensitivity, remodel the in-game HUD and pretty much change anything they can think of because High Voltage isn't "so arrogant to think that the game has to be played a certain way." Then Olson throws it down, exclaiming that he is confident that The Conduit will be "the best-looking game on the console" and will include the "best available" multiplayer the Wii has ever offered. Unfortunately, High Voltage hasn't detailed any multiplayer features other than the use of Wii Speak.[Via GoNintendo]
Tap into new The Conduit screens
Click for more screens, you con-du-it It feels like we just wrote a post about new The Conduit screens. Oh wait, that's because we did. Yesterday. But, these are new screens, differing from those presented yesterday in almost every way possible. So, if you're anxious to step into Mr. Ford's shoes, then we suggest you step into our gallery below and satiate yourself on 13 brand new screens, some of which even depict real-life locations.
The Conduit has a story
High Voltage has been mentioning some kind of deep conspiracy in its trailers for The Conduit, which suggests that there's more going on here than just some soldier or secret agent or whoever shooting at guys in bad-guy uniforms. So what is The Conduit about? IGN spoke to High Voltage's Eric Nofsinger and Josh Olson, and found that the concept is basically "all kinds of horrible stuff is happening." Nofsinger sets up some of the backstory: "In D.C. specifically, there's a virus, linked to the contaminated water supply, that's been attacking people's immune systems. Missing persons reports have increased dramatically. Domestic terrorist attacks - including an attack on the Washington monument - have caused rioting and panic. Martial law has been declared." How do you shoot at a virus? Oh, and then there's a full-scale alien invasion. As Agent Ford, a Secret Service agent recruited by an even more secret organization called The Trust, you are called in to deal with all of that. Guided by your Trust contact, "John Adams," Ford must help defend Washington D.C. from the aliens while also dealing with a possible rogue Trust agent. We've also got new screens courtesy Sega Europe. We trust you will enjoy them.%Gallery-48055%
Why High Voltage dropped MotionPlus from The Conduit
We've all been under the impression that The Conduit would feature MotionPlus, but it turns out that High Voltage has tried it, and decided to take it out of the game. Why, you ask? Well, High Voltage's VP and chief creative officer Eric Nofsinger tells 1UP that Nintendo provided them "with early hardware and good developer support," but when they put it into The Conduit, it "didn't really add anything for our primarily ranged combat." Nofsinger also got a bit more technical, adding that High Voltage hoped MotionPlus "would allow for better off screen IR tracking." Instead, Nofsinger says the device "seems to lend itself more naturally for hand to hand combat" and that it "doesn't feel like an optimal fit for how we had designed our moment to moment gameplay." Well, that explains it. Sure, we want as many features as we can get our hands on in a game, but if it doesn't improve on the experience and just feels tacked on for the sake of being a bullet point on the back of a box, it's not worth it. It looks like High Voltage agrees.%Gallery-25003%
Joystiq Review: Evasive Space (WiiWare)
We've been telling everyone that Evasive Space is kind of like a shmup, without all of the sh-ing. Turns out, that's wrong. Evasive Space is like combining Operation and Asteroids.If you've had enough of text today, then feel free to watch our video review. It's injected with 100% videological goodness, courtesy of Joystiq (patent pending).%Gallery-37316%
Wiikly Wares: Evasive Space and Life Force
Today, we've got two new games. On the WiiWare side, there's Evasive Space, which is a shmup without all of the shooting. Then, on the Virtual Console, we've got ... a shmup. Man, they sure love flooding the Wii with shmups. If you want to try Evasive Space for free, remember we're giving it away for a few more hours. WiiWareEvasive Space (Yukes Company of America, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 1,000 Wii Points): Players take on the role of Konki the Stellar Guardian, who is charged with recovering stolen Constellation Stones that make up the heavens. Dr. Dark Matter and his space thieves have nabbed them, and players must navigate 20 dangerous time- and collection-based missions to get them back. Check out some screens in our gallery below.Virtual ConsoleLife Force (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone – Mild Fantasy Violence, 500 Wii Points): An arcade shmup ported to the NES in 1988, players must navigate the inside of a giant alien that is infected by a strain of bacteria, shooting down enemies and grabbing power-ups when they can.There's also a weird sort of riddle that Nintendo included in the press release this week. Find it after the break. Gallery: Evasive Space
Joyswag: Evasive Space (WiiWare) [update]
Update: The contest is closed. Keep an eye on your email, winners!Looking forward to next week's release of Evasive Space? So are we, which is why we've hooked up with Yuke's and High Voltage to gift four (4) lucky readers with their very own copy of the game. To get in on the action, simply follow the rules below: Leave us a comment telling us what your favorite WiiWare game is You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US You may enter once per day This entry period ends at 11:59AM ET on Monday, February 16. We'll randomly select 4 winners at that time to receive Evasive Space ($10). Please check your e-mail! For a list of complete rules, click here Best of luck to you all and thanks for reading!%Gallery-37316%
The Conduit coming June 9th, Animales de la Muerte no longer WiiWare
Talking to Nintendo World Report, High Voltage's Eric Nofsinger officially dated the now officially not-terrible The Conduit. The hyped FPS is scheduled for release in North America on June 9. Unfortunately, the company confirmed that the game will not include local multiplayer. However, that news may be overshadowed (for us, at least) by the mere mention of High Voltage's other game.Normally, with a game as scarcely covered as Animales de la Muerte, we'd say something like "Hey, remember Animales de la Muerte?" when news about it finally pops up. But of course we all remember Animales de la Muerte. There is no way anyone could have forgotten a game about a Mexican zoo full of zombie animals. And now we have some news to report about the game that is, more than anything else, the reason we're looking forward to The Conduit (when it's out, High Voltage can put more resources into this!).Animales isn't dead! It remains undead, of course, but High Voltage is actually planning on releasing it -- on a disc! High Voltage scrapped plans to deliver the game via WiiWare when it became apparent that it wouldn't fit in the 40mb limit set for WiiWare games, due to its "focus on comedy and its accompanying large quantity of audio".%Gallery-28238%[Via WiiWare World]
