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Wii

The Grinder No Longer Wii Exclusive, Scheduled for 2011

by Pedro Hernandez - February 4, 2010, 4:36 pm EST
Total comments: 48 Source: IGN

High Voltage Software reveals that the once Wii-exclusive shooter will be available on other platforms.

In an interview with IGN, High Voltage Software CEO Kerry Ganofsky and chief creative officer Eric Nofsinger have confirmed that The Grinder, a first-person horror shooter first announced last year, will no longer be a Wii exclusive. The title, which HVS hopes to finish by Halloween 2011, will now be released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC as well.

When asked as to why the once Wii-exclusive title is now a multiplatform release, Nofsinger explained that, "Bringing our third internal IP to all the current-generation systems allows us to show off what our company can really do and get it into the hands of the most gamers." As to the differences between the Wii version and the other versions, Kerry told IGN "We'll show you first at GDC."

As for The Grinder's Halloween 2011 release, Eric expressed to IGN that "It is a long time… but given the sheer amount of quality content needed to make a game of this type, our game design scope, our team size, and the amount of time we have designated for polishing the game, we are confident that this schedule allows us to meet our expectations for the game."

Talkback

Shorty McNostrilFebruary 04, 2010

No surprise there.

BlackNMild2k1February 04, 2010

I was expecting it this halloween :(

broodwarsFebruary 04, 2010

It should be fun watching the game High Voltage is ripping off with The Grinder, Left 4 Dead, utterly destroying this game on the 360 and PC.  I can kind of understand porting this game to the PS3 since the PS3 doesn't have Left 4 Dead, but it just seems pointless to go after the PC and 360 when I have very little doubt after playing The Conduit that Left 4 Dead will probably remain the superior experience with an already immensely loyal (bordering on obsessive) fanbase.

BlackNMild2k1February 04, 2010

Best part of this news is that even if they are making a HD version to "show off what the are capable of", the lead system is still the Wii.

And if they are gonna up-port it to PS3, then they might as well spend a little more time and convert that up-port to 360 and by default PC.


It's kinda like stopping to get something to drink. You're gonna spend $1.35 on a 32oz drink, but you could get the 64oz for $1.65 and the GUT BUSTER for only $0.10 more cents over that. Might as well spend only a little bit more and get the most that you can.

EasyCureFebruary 04, 2010

Quote from: broodwars

It should be fun watching the game High Voltage is ripping off with The Grinder, Left 4 Dead, utterly destroying this game on the 360 and PC.  I can kind of understand porting this game to the PS3 since the PS3 doesn't have Left 4 Dead, but it just seems pointless to go after the PC and 360 when I have very little doubt after playing The Conduit that Left 4 Dead will probably remain the superior experience with an already immensely loyal (bordering on obsessive) fanbase.

I hear that. My best friend wants to build me a new PC just because he wants to play L4D with me. I mean, i was in the market for a new PC anyway and I can get a discount on either Dells or HPs thru the company I work for.. but the second I brought it up he's offered to build me one instead, so he can optimize it for L4D.

BlackNMild2k1February 04, 2010

You would get a better PC for your money if you let him build it than what Dell would give you. (software not included)

Mop it upFebruary 04, 2010

This is probably a result of The Conduit performing a bit under expectations. Still, it is being developed on Wii, right? If so, it could still be a good game that doesn't suffer from a halfhearted port job. Is Sega going to publish this one?

BlackNMild2k1February 04, 2010

Quote from: Mop_it_up

This is probably a result of The Conduit performing a bit under expectations. Still, it is being developed on Wii, right? If so, it could still be a good game that doesn't suffer from a halfhearted port job. Is Sega going to publish this one?

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

Best part of this news is that even if they are making a HD version to "show off what the are capable of", the lead system is still the Wii.

EasyCureFebruary 04, 2010

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

You would get a better PC for your money if you let him build it than what Dell would give you. (software not included)

Oh i know, i didn't expect him to offer to build me one considering he now lives out in the mid-west and I'm still back here on the east coast lol. The point was he's an obsessive L4D fan.

NWR_pap64Pedro Hernandez, Contributing WriterFebruary 04, 2010

Here's what I suspect happened...

HVS was betting on The Conduit being a smash hit on the Wii due to all the fan hype and Sega support. But when the sales were less than expected HVS didn't have enough money to cover the costs of their next titles, Gladiator and The Grinder. So while Sega agreed to publish these titles under several conditions. First, Gladiator would change themes so its a Mythical Creature fighter and ditch MotionPlus support, and The Grinder would be ported to three other consoles.

Mop it upFebruary 04, 2010

So Sega is publishing this? I was just wondering if it was more the publisher than the developer who wanted this game to go multiplatform.

BlackNMild2k1February 04, 2010

I'm just curious how well the the conduit engine upscaled to the HD consoles.

HVS licensed the Infernal Engine for PS3 and 360 last year, so I'm not sure how much they'll be working on engine-level stuff for those platforms.

I'm perfectly fine with this game going multiplat, just as long as it comes to the Wii. AS LONG AS IT COMES TO THE WII!!!

Mop it upFebruary 05, 2010

Quote from: Kairon

I'm perfectly fine with this game going multiplat, just as long as it comes to the Wii. AS LONG AS IT COMES TO THE WII!!!

For in general, I would add "and as long as it isn't a poor downgrade." I hear you though, it doesn't matter if a game appears elsewhere (regardless if it is "better") as that doesn't stop me from enjoying it if it is good.

KDR_11kFebruary 05, 2010

Let's see those "it would have sold better on HD platforms" comments get torn to shreds. It'll be a mediocre game and if you think the Wii audience is unkind to mediocre FPSes you haven't seen the HD consoles that got GOTY candidate FPSes up the wazoo.

Quote from: MegaByte

HVS licensed the Infernal Engine for PS3 and 360 last year, so I'm not sure how much they'll be working on engine-level stuff for those platforms.

As in the Infernal games? Expect FAIL.

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 05, 2010

The fact that this game has Vampires makes it far better then L4D

Quote from: KDR_11k

As in the Infernal games? Expect FAIL.

No.  It was used in Ghostbusters.

StratosFebruary 05, 2010

I hope that making it multiplatform does not water down the whole games experience because of the split resources.

PeachylalaFebruary 05, 2010

I keep telling everyone I know that then reason The Conduit underperformed is because it wasn't that great of a game. It was generic as generic can get, and the online wasn't that great either. What makes it worse? When a game from 2002 (Metroid Prime) has better looking graphics and a port of a two year old game (Modern Warfare Reflex) has better game design and a better online system, you wonder why they even bothered.

I seriously need to get a better PC. I want to play Valve FPS so bad. =(

Chozo GhostFebruary 05, 2010

Quote from: Kairon

I'm perfectly fine with this game going multiplat, just as long as it comes to the Wii. AS LONG AS IT COMES TO THE WII!!!

The Wii will get a "special edition" on-rails collection of mini-games.

SixthAngelFebruary 05, 2010

Quote from: Peachylala

a port of a two year old game (Modern Warfare Reflex) has better game design

While I thought Conduit was much better than Modern Warfare: Run to the Next Checkpoint while your Teammates Do the Work (never played online) you can't complain about game design as if it gets old like graphics.  Good game design doesn't really get old.

Ian SaneFebruary 05, 2010

It's a bummer that HVS went from being the great hope for Wii third party support to where we are now where a Wii exclusive is going multiplatform.

Yeah, at least it's on the Wii BUT how good is it going to be on the Wii?  The whole hook of The Conduit was that it was designed specifically for the Wii controls.  If they're making this multiplatform they CAN'T design this specifically for the Wii controls.  It has to be more generic so as to work with all the different consoles.  And since I'm assuming they'll have better visuals in the other versions the Wii will end up the WORST version.  The problem with the Wii is that if you want to go multiplatform with it you can't optimize the controls (ie: you settle for waggle) but the controls is the ONLY thing the Wii has going for it.  By gimping the hardware Nintendo ensured that the Wii would get the worst version of ANY multiplatform game... assuming the Wii gets a version at all.  The Wii is so different that it's really only ideal for exclusives and that's why the third party support SUCKS.

HVS is going to not matter at all on the other consoles.  Why would I waste my time with this when I can play Bioshock, Call of Duty, Halo, Left 4 Dead, Orange Box, etc?  Even a really good FPS has to fight to get noticed and HVS has only made an average FPS that didn't even matter on the FPS-starved Wii.

StratosFebruary 05, 2010

Modern Warfare Reflex has already reportedly outsold Conduit. This makes me wonder what will happen in the future. If Activision does a good job bringing Modern Warfare 2 or other games to Wii in the next year or so Grinder may very well become mostly irrelevant once 2011 rolls around.

PeachylalaFebruary 05, 2010

Quote from: Stratos

Modern Warfare Reflex has already reportedly outsold Conduit. This makes me wonder what will happen in the future. If Activision does a good job bringing Modern Warfare 2 or other games to Wii in the next year or so Grinder may very well become mostly irrelevant once 2011 rolls around.

Numbers?

StratosFebruary 05, 2010

In the sales thread it was reported that Reflex broke the 500k mark.

Conduit only sold around 350k last I heard.

Dirk TemporoFebruary 05, 2010

Quote from: GoldenPhoenix

The fact that this game has Vampires makes it far better then L4D

Are you kidding? Vampires were done to death by the early 90s, and now they're just boring. And these things are a classical vampire type anyway, which is pretty much just zombies.

BlackNMild2k1February 05, 2010

Quote from: Ian

It's a bummer that HVS went from being the great hope for Wii third party support to where we are now where a Wii exclusive is going multiplatform.

Yeah, at least it's on the Wii BUT how good is it going to be on the Wii?  The whole hook of The Conduit was that it was designed specifically for the Wii controls.  If they're making this multiplatform they CAN'T design this specifically for the Wii controls.  It has to be more generic so as to work with all the different consoles.  And since I'm assuming they'll have better visuals in the other versions the Wii will end up the WORST version.  The problem with the Wii is that if you want to go multiplatform with it you can't optimize the controls (ie: you settle for waggle) but the controls is the ONLY thing the Wii has going for it.  By gimping the hardware Nintendo ensured that the Wii would get the worst version of ANY multiplatform game... assuming the Wii gets a version at all.  The Wii is so different that it's really only ideal for exclusives and that's why the third party support SUCKS.

HVS is going to not matter at all on the other consoles.  Why would I waste my time with this when I can play Bioshock, Call of Duty, Halo, Left 4 Dead, Orange Box, etc?  Even a really good FPS has to fight to get noticed and HVS has only made an average FPS that didn't even matter on the FPS-starved Wii.

Ummm.... this game is being built from the ground up on the Wii and the engine it is using was built from the ground up for the Wii and the controls will be for the most part identical to The Conduit (100% customizable), so I have no idea what you are going on about. They are up-porting this to the HD consoles as Wii is the lead console.

As far as control on the HD consoles go, expect this to use Sony Arc and play nearly the same as the Wii version on the PS3. for Natal..... maybe you slash your hand in the air to work your sword or use the second analog stick. Either way, I'm sure all 3 consoles will have options of using a regular controller.

But I agree with the sentiment that HVS is making a mistake by delaying this to port it to HD systems. It might have been a big hit THIS year, but there is no telling what will bury it next year. They should just release the Wii version this year and send the(improved?) ports to the HD systems next year when they are ready.

SeacorFebruary 05, 2010

Well, this is disappointing news.  I was looking forward to see the Wii hardware pushed even more with another exclusive Wii title from HVS.  Now that their efforts are focused to the HD twins, my interest in The Grinder has fallen a bit.

The Conduit was a very good Wii game and one of the best Wii titles from a "technical standpoint."  Sure, it may not be in the same league as some of the HD twin shooters, but really who cares.  The Conduit was built specifically for the Wii hardware and shows technically what the Wii can do in the hands of a developer with focus and passion.

As a Wii owner with only one console,  I had a great time with The Conduit. Based on what the full package brought to the table, I can safely say it is the best FPS on the Wii.

I am sure the Wii version of Grinder will turn out OK, but will it be the best it could of been?  Does HVS still have passion to make a high quality title on the Wii?  Has the lead development code shifted to on of the HD twins?

I fear the publisher for The Grinder may get in the way and not provide HVS enough time and resources for the Wii development team.  The funding will most likely go to support development of the game on the HD twins.

MorariFebruary 05, 2010

No great loss here. The Conduit was mediocre at best. The only thing it truly did right was to allow for full customization of the controls.

cubistFebruary 05, 2010

Looking back, I think HVS gathered too much hype on their titles and suckered Sega into publishing for them.  If they were really competent, I think Nintendo would've invested in them.

PeachylalaFebruary 05, 2010

Quote from: cubist

Looking back, I think HVS gathered too much hype on their titles and suckered Sega into publishing for them.  If they were really competent, I think Nintendo would've invested in them.

This is perfectly valid. HVS hit the nail early in the coffin when they hyped the game. Sega made it worse.

GoldenPhoenixFebruary 05, 2010

Quote from: Dirk

Quote from: GoldenPhoenix

The fact that this game has Vampires makes it far better then L4D

Are you kidding? Vampires were done to death by the early 90s, and now they're just boring. And these things are a classical vampire type anyway, which is pretty much just zombies.

Vampires can never be done to death. Besides a classic vampire is Dracula and he wasn't just a zombie. I don't even care if these the zombiefied vampires, they are still vampires, woohoo.

KDR_11kFebruary 06, 2010

Quote from: Morari

No great loss here. The Conduit was mediocre at best. The only thing it truly did right was to allow for full customization of the controls.

Yeah, now let them take their "360 level graphics" to the HD consoles... Gonna be fun to watch that massacre. I honestly don't believe they'll make a great game, maybe a decent one but that won't fly on the HD consoles due to the stronger competition.

By the way, one concern about Grinder: L4D is designed for coop. There is no way you're going to get through that game without coop or serious exploiting. Yet The Grinder was shown singleplayer so far. Looks like coop will not be as essential in it, not really competition for L4D.

If the game is good and doesn't sell on the Wii it means quality doesn't sell on the Wii. If it's not that good and it sells better on Wii than the HD consoles it means Wii gamers have low standards. If it's not good and it doesn't sell it'll still be used as proof that third party games don't sell on Wii. If it sells better on the HD consoles it means there's no market for FPS games on the Wii. The only way we don't get screwed is if it is good and sells well on the Wii, better than the HD versions, which has about no chance of happening.

BlackNMild2k1February 06, 2010

You forgot the scenarios of:
It's good, get lots of advertising and sells better on the HD consoles
It's no good, gets lots of advertising and sells better on HD consoles

The only way we don't get screwed is if it is good, get lots of advertising and sells well on the Wii, better than the HD versions, which has about no chance of happening.

ShyGuyFebruary 06, 2010

Yeah these vampires seemed fully transformed into Were-bats or something.  I guess that makes sense in the context of FPS that throws waves of enemies at you, but smarter human vampires would be a more interesting.


http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/shyguy70/the-grinder-20090722010536178_640w.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k302/shyguy70/the-grinder-20090722010550678-1.jpg

BlackNMild2k1February 06, 2010

It really looks like the type of B-Horror movie that I would enjoy. and I get to play it instead of just watch.

I hope they have a really good story to go with it and some great character dialog too.

FWIW, HVS said that one of their primary influences in the Grinder design was Nosferatu.

MorariFebruary 06, 2010

Nosferatu's influence only comes through visually, and even then it's pretty vague. Count Orlok was not simply a construct of animal instincts. These vampire seem much more akin to those found in "From Dusk Till Dawn".

Chozo GhostFebruary 06, 2010

They look like the Remans from Star Trek Nemesis

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/thumb/9/98/Reman_viceroy.jpg/180px-Reman_viceroy.jpg

Quote from: MegaByte

FWIW, HVS said that one of their primary influences in the Grinder design was Nosferatu.

Darn. And here I was hoping they were on team Edward.

UltimatePartyBearFebruary 08, 2010

I guess this going multiplatform means I don't have to feel bad anymore for not really being interested in it.

King of TwitchFebruary 09, 2010

Quote from: Zap

How long until third excuse makers begin preemptively porting games?

I see.

PeachylalaFebruary 10, 2010

Quote from: Zap

Quote from: Zap

How long until third excuse makers begin preemptively porting games?

I see.

Petz: Shooterz

Chozo GhostFebruary 10, 2010

Quote from: Peachylala

Quote from: Zap

Quote from: Zap

How long until third excuse makers begin preemptively porting games?

I see.

Petz: On-Railz Shooterz

Fixed.

PeachylalaFebruary 10, 2010

Quote from: Chozo

Quote from: Peachylala

Quote from: Zap

Quote from: Zap

How long until third excuse makers begin preemptively porting games?

I see.

Petz: Guided Shooterz

Fixed.

Fixed again.

EasyCureJune 18, 2010

Posted in error, removed by user.

Message form EasyCure: Silly me, I thought I had something new to post regarding the Wii version of this game.

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