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Wii

High Voltage Betting That 'a Hardcore Market Exists' on Wii

by Carmine Red - January 8, 2009, 9:50 pm EST
Total comments: 49 Source: MTV Multiplayer Blog

CEO and Lead Designer believe that ports, and publishers who had "written off" the Wii, are to blame for the lackluster performance of "hardcore" games on Nintendo's console.

MTV wasted no time in challenging High Voltage Software CEO Kerry Ganofsky and Lead Designer Rob Nicholls to prove why they should expect good things from their upcoming Wii first-person shooter The Conduit.

"This is a gamer's game, and we make no excuses for it," answered Ganofsky, "With incredible graphics, a captivating story, and completely customizable controls we are providing a complete package of gaming entertainment."

However, games dubbed "hardcore" aren't prolific on the Wii, and their performance in the marketplace is the target of constant discussion. Ganofsky stated his belief that many game makers were "scared" with the initial Wii launch, stating that "it was hard to convince anyone that there even was a core market, let alone one that would support original games." Nicholls shared his opinion that the Wii had been "written off." When the Wii took off with new gamers, Nicholls thinks that game makers responded by latching onto the new field with "a number of inexpensive casual games that made them money."

This puts High Voltage Software in position to capitalize on what Nicholls believes is a market hungry for their hardcore game. He said that according to "the tremendous online response [they've] had to 'The Conduit,' a hardcore market exists." Nicholls also responded to concerns about the less-than-stellar sales numbers of some other titles, claiming that "these games haven't sold well because they were ports of games designed for other platforms and thus didn’t quite fit on the Wii."

In order to deliver the goods, Ganofsky said that the team "played every FPS released on the platform," and that after that they "played several of the best FPS games from the other platforms including the PC." For example, after failing to get the controls just right in Medal of Honor: Heroes 2, the team realized that they "had to have a fully customizable control scheme." Nicholls added that "one of the biggest lessons was to not abuse the motion controls," and explained that "sometimes a button press is the best solution, rather than a gimmicky gesture."

High Voltage Studio's The Conduit is expected to release sometime this spring and will be published by Sega.

Talkback

I really hope this game will be good...

hioo1Billy Brown, Train GuyJanuary 09, 2009

We should just organize people to buy it, just to prove there is a hardcore market on the wii  :P

RABicleJanuary 09, 2009

Gezzes they still have to make a good game first. the Hardcore wont buy some bullshit game.

ShyGuyJanuary 09, 2009

Conduit will not be legit until it shows up on the side of a Mtn. Dew Can.

If it doesn't show up on the side of a mountain dew can, they can kiss sales success goodbye. j/k... wait... maybe not....

ShyGuyJanuary 09, 2009

Hey Kairon, how's that invitation to High Voltage coming?

KDR_11kJanuary 09, 2009

Of course there's a hardcore market on the Wii, many people were excited about the possibilities of the Wii and bought it just for those. Metroid Prime 3 might not have been the biggest seller on the system but it still sold a few million units.

On the other hand many of the proclaimed hardcore games released on the Wii were artsy niche games that, no surprise, failed in the market. Games like Zack & Wiki or No More Heroes would have sold badly on any console. Some others were just mediocre. Third parties who see the sales of mediocre or niche games and then decide that their "mainstream" core game won't sell (and consequently send a fourth rate team to develop the port which unsurprisingly fails) are just plain retarded. Unfortunately it seems there are a few more bankrupcies needed before third parties wake up (or possibly even the annihilation of the entire core industry so a new industry with a clue can be rebuilt from the ashes).

EnnerJanuary 09, 2009

Quote from: nron10

I really hope this game will be good...

I as well. Actually, I think it has to be. At this point, I think anything less than an all-around solid, good game would be a crippling disappointment. Or maybe if this game fails critically and in market, it would just be another game that didn't sell? Maybe Red Steel 2 would pick up where The Conduit left off? :p

Anyway, I hope this does well for Sega's sake. The publisher needs a good start for this year.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterJanuary 09, 2009

Hardcore gamers are too busy bitching about Nintendo killing gaming in order to play games.

StogiJanuary 09, 2009

I loved Red Steel. Sure it's an average game and a lot of people hate it, but there's something about turning your pistol side ways and shooting someone in the face that other games just can't replicate. So even if this game is average; if it has a solid foundation built around the wiimote, I'll still pick it up.

Should it have a good story? I suppose. Should it have intriguing missions and cool gadgets? Sure, I guess. Should it show what a FPS is like when aiming with the wiimote? Definitely. That's really all it has to prove to me.

I'm more interested in online anyways. I really just want a license to kill mode: pistols with wii controls. Is that too much to ask?

Ian SaneJanuary 09, 2009

High Voltage is doing the DOA strategy.  In the past DOA took a back seat to bigger fighters like Virtua Fighter, Soul Calibur and Tekken.  Tecmo moved it to the Xbox where there was didily squat for fighters and it became a major franchise on that console.  Okay the female characters certainly helped but on the Xbox DOA stood out.

Conduit is the same thing.  On the other consoles no one would give this game the time of day.  The Xbox 360 has Halo, Bioshock, ORANGE BOX.  First person shooters are king on the PC and these days almost every major PC game goes to the Xbox 360 and often the PS3 as well.  The Wii is starved for first person shooters.  If the Conduit is a decent FPS it will stand out.  I'll buy it unless it gets absolutely creamed in reviews.  But if it gets an average score of at least 80% I'll get it.  It's not just that I want to send a message that hardcore games sell.  I want to play a new FPS.  I miss Goldeneye and Perfect Dark.  I thought Timesplitters 2 was great.  I'm starving and High Voltage is offering to feed me.  Though I'm not going to play a junk game.  They still have to do it right.  Don't tolerate a lousy game just because you're desperate.

UltimatePartyBearJanuary 09, 2009

The so-called hardcore are a fickle bunch.  I have a bad feeling that if this game doesn't score 9s across the board, they'll turn up their noses at it in spite of all the hype.  Since it's a Wii game and will lose a point in every other review for not being HD, it'll have to be worthy of a 10 to even do that well.

It needs to set a benchmark for FPS online multiplayer on the Wii and be THE first-person shooter to own for the console.

KDR_11kJanuary 09, 2009

"in spite of all the hype"? You make it sound like hype is some quality in a game.

It'll also have a chance to turn into the Wii party FPS... if they add splitscreen.

UltimatePartyBearJanuary 09, 2009

Quote from: KDR_11k

"in spite of all the hype"? You make it sound like hype is some quality in a game.

No, I don't.  The game isn't released yet, so there's nothing but hype.  Hype doesn't always sell, obviously, and it's entirely possible that the gamers hyping up The Conduit will simply forget about it.  People will jabber excitedly about nearly anything, but they won't actually do anything about it.

Quote from: UltimatePartyBear

People will jabber excitedly about nearly anything, but they won't actually do anything about it.

T_T

D_AverageJanuary 09, 2009

I'm the hardest core there is, easily,  but I definitely won't buy this game.  I just think the aesthetics of the environment are ugly and a tad too been there done that.  Its just not an appealing way for me to escape from reality, no matter how good the controls.  I'm betting there's a large chunk of the "hardcore" that will feel the same way when they see it on the store shelves.  But hey, at least we still have Animales de la Muerta coming, right....??

NinGurl69 *hugglesJanuary 09, 2009

You are forever sentenced to Quantum of Solace for Wii.

S-U-P-E-RTy Shughart, Staff AlumnusJanuary 09, 2009

MTV


lol


bleaouurrrgghh

Quote from: S-U-P-E-R

MTV


lol


bleaouurrrgghh

/sad panda

Actually, does Stephen Totilo still write for MTV? From the little I've read from him, I like that guy's work quite a bit

ShyGuyJanuary 09, 2009

Totilo and Patrick Klepek.

PeachylalaJanuary 09, 2009

Quote from: D_Average]I'm

The hardcore still bought Halo 3.
And MGS4.
And GTAIV.

Nothing is sacred anymore.

Quote from: UltimatePartyBear]The

Sega can always pull a UbiSoft and bribe the review outlets, it's the latest in getting good game reviews, and you don't have to make the game good!

Bill AurionJanuary 09, 2009

I ****ing hate this generation's "definition" of "hardcore"...

Who made Halo popular?  It sure as hell wasn't only the hardcore base...Casual gamers love FPS too...

MorariJanuary 09, 2009

Quote from: Kairon

In order to deliver the goods, Ganofsky said that the team "played every FPS released on the platform," and that after that they "played several of the best FPS games from the other platforms including the PC."

There isn't any other platform for FPS. You're diluting yourselves.

PeachylalaJanuary 09, 2009

Quote:

Who made Halo popular?  It sure as hell wasn't only the hardcore base...Casual gamers love FPS too...

Sorry, as both a core and casual (casu-ore...?), I don't like FPS games... except for Goldeneye and Perfect Dark.

FPAs on the other hand (<3 Metroid Prime).  ;D

IceColdJanuary 10, 2009

Red Steak sold over a million. Both the Resident Evil games sold over a million. I'm pretty sure there's a market.

Dirk TemporoJanuary 10, 2009

Quote from: Kairon

"a captivating story"

Oh come on. "Aliens invade Washington DC. As a super secret government agent, you have to stop them."

Real captivating. Honestly, I'm disappointed with the story, and if the first level is anything to go by, the writing is crap too.

KDR_11kJanuary 10, 2009

IOW, the story should remain in the booklet? Nice to see FPS return to its roots :P

FPSes are all about multiplayer these days.  The campaigns are pretty much an hors d'oeuvre, and the multiplayer is the main course.  Conduit's online multiplayer had better not lack, because I have a feeling the single-player story mode will be pretty meh.

T_T

I LOVED the single-player missions and story in Perfect Dark. They made me happy. I replayed them all the time. Especially the villa one...

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterJanuary 10, 2009

In a way, I already feel bad for Conduit and HVG.

I mean, the game isn't even out yet and people are either declaring the best Wii FPS ever or a failure.

This is why I believe game developers should just make the game they want to make and hope for the best.

I admire that HVG is working hard towards proving that the Wii is a gaming console like the rest. But if they fail, even a tiny bit, they will feel the backlash.

People have yet to forgive Ubi for Red Steel, and it too was a FPS game that wanted to prove the Wii could do games like these.

So, I feel bad for Conduit.

MarioJanuary 10, 2009

God I wish people would stop saying hardcore, the word itself is just embarrassing and alienating, kind of like Xbox and PS3.

Anyway i'm still boycotting this flop until they add multiplayer.

PeachylalaJanuary 10, 2009

Quote:

This is why I believe game developers should just make the game they want to make and hope for the best.

It will never work for any game company. It's a miracle I still play games if it wasn't for Nintendo, Good Feel, WiiWare, and NitRome. Everyone else comes up with BS that gives me a headache.

I'm looking at you, UbiSoft.

And I'm with Kairon on Perfect Dark's story mode. Loved it.

How Rare managed to screw up PD Zero is beyond knowledge.

Well, before they screwed up PD Zero, first they had to destroy Joanna Dark. Once they did that, everything was easy... T_T

Actually, I'm being childish. I never played PD:Zero, so I don't really know if it's good or bad. All I know is that I'm not exactly enticed to find out.

PDZ is not really that great.
It has bots in multiplayer, and that is really all I remember.

No Elvis = No fun!

KDR_11kJanuary 11, 2009

Oh it does seem like developers are making what they want but most seem to want to make another FPS for the HD systems (because they believe THEY have the idea that's necessary to make FPSes really perfect).

UltimatePartyBearJanuary 12, 2009

Quote from: pap64

In a way, I already feel bad for Conduit and HVG.

I mean, the game isn't even out yet and people are either declaring the best Wii FPS ever or a failure.

This is why I believe game developers should just make the game they want to make and hope for the best.

I admire that HVG is working hard towards proving that the Wii is a gaming console like the rest. But if they fail, even a tiny bit, they will feel the backlash.

People have yet to forgive Ubi for Red Steel, and it too was a FPS game that wanted to prove the Wii could do games like these.

So, I feel bad for Conduit.

I liked Red Steel even with all its flaws.  What I haven't forgiven Ubisoft for is ignoring the sales the game saw, which were pretty good for a poorly reviewed launch game, proving that the market existed right from the start.  Ubisoft had a perfect opportunity to refine the Wii FPS experience.  As an early mover, Ubisoft had a chance to get an improvement out the door before anyone else could even finish a first attempt.  Instead, they tried to copy Nintendo.  Badly.

Getting back to HVG, my greatest fear is that the game will not perform well enough and will "prove" the opposite of what HVG is saying.  Other publishers will point to it as an example of why they only make "casual" games for Wii.  My hope is that it is a very good game, a critical darling, and a huge seller.  We will then be drowned in FPS games, hopefully with a few gems in the mix.

Actually, I take it back.  My greatest fear is that the game will sell phenomenally, but then other publishers will continue on the same path, claiming either that it was a fluke or that Wii gamers wouldn't buy another one for some crazy made up reason.  It will prove that the third party situation on the Wii is indeed not the product of rational thinking, but the response of an industry angry at Nintendo for disrupting its market, moving its cheese, upending its tea table, etc.

All this is too much to place at The Conduit's feet, of course.  All I really want from the game is a fun time, and my predictions of doom are just for fun (it's not like I know anything).  You can't say High Voltage isn't at least partly to blame for all the punditry about it, though.  They know it's good for publicity.


Edit:  If anyone particularly pedantic comes along, I know I didn't really use the phrase "upend the tea table" right.

KDR_11kJanuary 12, 2009

I think some publishers will still reject the Wii even if it proves itself with Conduit, I expect those publishers to be pretty irrelevant in a few years as those who do react will reap big incomes and thus have more capacity to release games. Then again by the time Conduit comes out the Wii is already what, 2.5 years old? How much time would the late comers have to even get a game out?

EasyCureJanuary 12, 2009

Quote:

I loved Red Steel. Sure it's an average game and a lot of people hate it, but there's something about turning your pistol side ways and shooting someone in the face that other games just can't replicate.

Perfect Dark did that :)

KDR_11kJanuary 12, 2009

So did UT, the difference is that in Red Steel it's not a button you press and your character does it but YOU do it.

Ian SaneJanuary 12, 2009

Quote:

People have yet to forgive Ubi for Red Steel, and it too was a FPS game that wanted to prove the Wii could do games like these.

All Ubisoft wanted to prove was that they could make a quick buck by having some Wii games available right at launch.  To say otherwise is give them way too much credit.  Red Steel was never supposed to be good or bad, it was just supposed to get that launch day sale.

Quote from: Ian

Quote:

People have yet to forgive Ubi for Red Steel, and it too was a FPS game that wanted to prove the Wii could do games like these.

All Ubisoft wanted to prove was that they could make a quick buck by having some Wii games available right at launch.  To say otherwise is give them way too much credit.  Red Steel was never supposed to be good or bad, it was just supposed to get that launch day sale.

T_T  Sad, but it's sounding more and more true as time goes on. Oh Ubisoft, how you deceived us!

EasyCureJanuary 12, 2009

way, as cool as i thought it would be, i never ended up using it that way in RS because it threw my aiming off and i have ocd about headshots most of the time. I did on occassion n for it in PD either :) though some very early trailers made it seem as though you could....any

Quote from: KDR_11k

So did UT, the difference is that in Red Steel it's not a button you press and your character does it but YOU do it.

Technically you didnt need a button press to do it in PD either :) although.... some early trailers made it look like there was one at some point...

thats besides the point. anyway, as cool as that was, i never really did that in RS. it threw my aim off and i have ocd about headshots sometimes. I did on occasion try to replicate a move from (i think) the matrix. It involves holding the uzi, tilted left, and emptying a clip while spraying your shorts to the right as you tilt it the other way. never looks as good as the movies :(

NinGurl69 *hugglesJanuary 13, 2009

r u ok?

KDR_11kJanuary 13, 2009

Quoting failure?

UltimatePartyBearJanuary 13, 2009

That's what happens when you try to post while cutting yourself, I guess.

EasyCureJanuary 13, 2009

Quote from: NinGurl69

r u ok?

Quote from: KDR_11k

Quoting failure?

Holy crap you're right, that was epic fail. I'll blame it on my stupid phone.

Quote from: UltimatePartyBear

That's what happens when you try to post while cutting yourself, I guess.

You know I'm pretty cool about the stupid emo jokes that go around cuz i know its all in fun, but that ones a little uncalled for because i know people that've done that and aren't around anymore.

KDR_11kJanuary 13, 2009

told u i was hardcore

UltimatePartyBearJanuary 13, 2009

Yeah, I crossed a line there.  For some reason, that didn't stop me from posting for once.  I should have just saved the evidence and kept quiet.

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