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Review: The Conduit

by Justin McElroy { Jun 30th 2009 at 12:45PM }

The problem with reviewing High Voltage's The Conduit is that it's impossible to do in a vacuum. Depending on where you're coming from, you're going to have vastly different reactions to this game, so I'm going to do my best to talk to everyone.

Gallery: The Conduit

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This Week on the Nintendo Channel: E3 interviews

by David Hinkle { Jun 22nd 2009 at 2:15PM }

This week, the Nintendo Channel has been flooded with a variety of interviews about big upcoming Wii titles. There are interviews with the folks behind FFCC: The Crystal Bearers, Red Steel 2, Cave Story, and, as you can see above, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles. So, hit up the video above, then if you want more E3 interview goodness, be sure to boot up your Wii and check out what's on the Nintendo Channel.

Gallery: Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (Wii)

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The Conduit delayed in Europe, Australia [update]

by JC Fletcher { Jun 17th 2009 at 11:00AM }

[Update: Sega has confirmed that the US release date remains June 23.]

Sega has announced that the European release of The Conduit has been delayed from its original June 26 date to July 10. According to CVG, unspecified issues with the game's multi-language European localization are responsible for the holdup.

VOOKS has also confirmed a delay for the Australian release of High Voltage's FPS. Once given a June 25 release date, the game has been pushed back to July 16. Neither Sega nor VOOKS offered any reason for this version's delay, and the Australian release shouldn't be affected by the same localization problems. At this point, your best shot at playing The Conduit next week remains the "living in North America" strategy, or the slightly less drastic "importing from North America" strategy.

Gallery: The Conduit

Amazon offering 'The Conduit' digital comic with purchase

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 26th 2009 at 10:15PM }

In addition to the Collector's Edition of The Conduit at GameStop, there's the option of receiving a digital comic with a purchase from Amazon. The Conduit: Orange Lights provides back story and follows a DC talk-radio host as he digs into the origins of the title device.

The fine print on the offer is that the redemption instructions for the comic will be sent within 10 business days of the game's release. So, the game will be out before those who purchase can get the "back story?" Huh.

[Via Sega Blog]

Check out The Conduit's packaging, and the game as well

by JC Fletcher { May 6th 2009 at 5:05PM }

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: The Conduit

Joystiq hands-on: The Conduit online multiplayer

by Randy Nelson { May 6th 2009 at 8:00AM }

click to enlarge

Wii's biggest FPS of the summer (we'd say year, but Ubisoft has a little something cooking), The Conduit, has, perhaps in keeping with its theme of conspiracy and hidden secrets, only just now been shown with its online multiplayer component virtually complete and ready for the game's June 23 release. We spent an afternoon at Sega America playing through its various maps and modes with other games press and members of the dev team from High Voltage Software.

Before we even got into the action, though, we were already impressed by how, well ... un-Wii-like the online mode was in both presentation and function. High Voltage has clearly spent a good deal of time pondering what players will want to find when they sit down for a multiplayer game of The Conduit for the first time.

Gallery: The Conduit (Online Multiplayer)

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Sega confirms partial E3 lineup

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 5th 2009 at 1:15PM }

Sega's official Twitter account has confirmed several games that will be shown at E3 2009. The financially troubled slave drivers of Sonic have stated the following games will be on display:

Alpha Protocol
Bayonetta
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Planet 51
The Conduit
Vancouver 2010

Titles we notice are missing so far: Infinite Space, Sands of Destruction, Phantasy Star Zero ... and any of the Aliens games. Hm, no standalone Sonic game ... is that even possible? We'll keep our fingers crossed for a Valkyria Chronicles sequel announcement at the show -- or at least some ports.

High Voltage Software revealing two games at E3

by Griffin McElroy { Apr 30th 2009 at 10:30PM }

Though its highly anticipated, National Treasure meets Duke Nukem shooter The Conduit has yet to hit store shelves, High Voltage Software is already teasing the big E3 reveal of two new Wii-exclusive titles. According to French gaming site Nintendo Master's recent interview with Voltage's Eric Nofsinger, the developer is cranking out another FPS (one with even stronger visual tech than The Conduit), and another title which is "a different kind of a thing." You know what that means? Equestrian breeding sim. Check out the video interview after the jump!

[Via Nintendo Everything]

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Joystiq interview: High Voltage Software on The Conduit

by Jason Dobson { Apr 30th 2009 at 11:00AM }

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: The Conduit

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New trailer examines The Conduit's literary side

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 29th 2009 at 7:00PM }

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]

by David Hinkle { Apr 29th 2009 at 4:00PM }

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

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 16th 2009 at 2:25PM }

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: The Conduit

Pre-order The Conduit's 'Exclusive Limited Edition Special Upgrade with Bonus' at GameStop!

by James Ransom-Wiley { Apr 15th 2009 at 2:45PM }

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: The Conduit (Multiplayer)

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No split-screen multiplayer in The Conduit to preserve visuals

by Xav de Matos { Apr 8th 2009 at 5:00PM }

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

by JC Fletcher { Apr 8th 2009 at 1:25PM }

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."