The Conduit - Game of the Year Contender? High Voltage Thinks So

In this fourth excerpt from the Interview with The Conduit's lead Game Designer Rob Nicholls, readers find out why he thinks that The Conduit can hang with the big boys and potentially be named amongst those considered for Game of the Year.

[EYEamNUMBER1]

would be nice but seeing as how its not a big name IP i doubt it most likely resident evil 5 will get it even though it doesn't deserve it at all

[ZuperAmazingCooKie]

What a bold claim. Too bold considering it's on Wii so you can't do very much there, and being another Alien related FPS doesn't help much either in a very crowded genre, especially when you start comparing it to significantly superior products.

Once they see how little it sells on the Wii they'll realize that upgrading the IP for current-gen consoles will be the ideal move for this game, that is if they somehow manage to differentiate themselves from Area 51, Timeshift, the Darkness, prey, resistance, halo, killzone, gears of war, etcetera.

[SinnedNogara]

@ ZuperAmazingCooKie

If another Alien FPS game can't win GOTY, then why did Halo 3 win GOTY. It wasn't that good.

[badz149]

...HAHAHAHA...HAHAHAHA...just too funny of a claim! an FPS on a SD console for GoTY? HAHAHAHA...

[TruthbeTold]

1. More people have SD T.V.'s and play games on them than HD T.V.'s

2. Play The Conduit on an SD T.V. and play Killzone 2 on an SD T.V. and you won't find a huge difference in graphical quality. That's the point.

3. These developers combed through alot of ancient and modern day mythology, as well as conspiracy theories in order to create this story. Don't knock it until you've actually experienced it.

[Mini Mario]

"Too bold considering it's on Wii so you can't do very much there, "

Didnt mario galaxy get GOTY on most sites when it was released>>? So your argument is COMPLETELY flawed.

You fail.

[Mini Mario]

"1.3 - MUAHAHAHAH...
...HAHAHAHA...HAHAHAHA...just too funny of a claim! an FPS on a SD console for GoTY? HAHAHAHA... "

You really dont get that graphics dont make a game great. Plus most games ive played on my ps3 are 720p! not even 1080

...does this mean these games are crap coz they only run in 720......and not true "full hd"

laugh at yourself for being so blinded.

[Mini Mario]

"Well it's easy to defend the Wii if you put it this way, but in the context of videogames there are many storylines that aren't Alien invasions"

Yeh and sometimes like MGS4 they put in hours and hours and hours of cut scenes to really tell a story...i mean how fun and IntereStinG is that.

GTAIV yeh i loved where you play darts and pool, i guess it was part of the story line so they made u live it just to show u how exciting it is.

Me personally i just like to play a game, without going too overboard on story. Otherwise i would be reading alot more books.

[ZuperAmazingCooKie]

Story may not be the most important factor as far as game of the year awards, but it is still something worth considering, especially if you're making a game of an overcrowded genre like FPS. So a storyline about Aliens and a First Person Shooter? What's so new about that?

Perhaps FPS of 2009 for Wii and that's it, but that's because there aren't many FPS on Wii and it's not like Winning best FPS of Wii is a compliment anyway.

I don't remember Halo 3 winning GOTY awards, and if it did then that just proves you how much these "journalists" get paid by their "sponsors" because it wasn't even the best multiplayer FPS game of 2007 since that was won by COD4, unless you're talking about Xbox 360 exclusives.

Oh, and just because Mario Galaxy won a few GOTY awards it doesn't mean it was THE GOTY. To others it was Bioshock, or Mass Effect, or hell even Uncharted to some degree because of how well delivered the game was even if it didn't have any multiplayer or if it wasn't revolutionary in terms of storyline by being in the veins of Tomb Raider.

[Mini Mario]

"Oh, and just because Mario Galaxy won a few GOTY awards it doesn't mean it was THE GOTY. To others it was Bioshock, or Mass Effect"

Actually it won many GOTY on most sites. Like i said the "hardcore" *cough* FPS's u talk about arent the only games ppl play. There is a world besides FPS's.

And the original doom games didnt have much of a story (that ppl cared about at least), and funny enough it was an awesome game that got ported to almost every game console known to man. Doom 3 with all the emails and logs, (u know the story part) really made the game boring.

So like i said story yes to some ppl like yourself, but really its not as necessary as u say (how much story is their in online gaming>>?...with games like battlefield or Counter strike). As long as the game is good the story really should be an extra bonus. Unless its an RPG of corse.

[Maxned]

Im sorry, Im hyping this game alot. But I dont see this as a game of the year contender. The story is way too cliche.
But please, prove me wrong High Voltage. If they can get the multiplayer nearly as good as Call of Duty's, then maybe it has a chance. But its competing with Killzone 2, Modern Warfare 2, ODST, Spirit Tracks, Chinatown Wars, and possibly a Zelda Wii title.

[Marcelles25]

handhelds dont get game of the year, odst is just an added campaign, its between uncharted 2 and MW2

[ChickeyCantor]

"the story is way too cliche. "

What story isn't?

[ZuperAmazingCooKie]

"What story isn't? "

Well it's easy to defend the Wii if you put it this way, but in the context of videogames there are many storylines that aren't Alien invasions, Celtic/Nordic Mythology or WW2 related. Heavenly Sword, Alan Wake, Uncharted, God of War, Lost Planet, Infamous are pretty original in the context of videogames IMHO.

Of course you'll find similarities in movies and/or books and/or comics, but the first art mediums were based folklore, which was based on the most basic of human instincts. This is about pointing out which games are original in the context of videogames, and the Wii lacks in that department.

[Mahr]

"Heavenly Sword... Uncharted... God of War.. are pretty original in the context of videogames IMHO"

You're joking, right?

[ZuperAmazingCooKie]

Alright, Uncharted is like Tomb Raider, except Tomb Raider is now a dead franchise as far as quality goes, and Uncharted has taken the lead in that genre. It's not like it is a crowded genre unlike the Alien FPS genre anyway.

However, what other hack and slash is like God of War or Heavenly Sword? As far as storyline goes, in the context of videogames? Of course God of War is inspired in Greek Mythology and Heavenly Sword in Asian Legends (I guess), but as I said before, there is hardly anything original under the sun.

Anyway, at least these games are more original than your typical WW2/Alien invasion/Celtic myth games. That is, more original than the conduit. So if the devs from the Conduit want to claim their game is GOTY when it's just another FPS with aliens with nothing we haven't seen before in terms of gameplay or tech or anything else you can think off, it's hard not to laugh at them.

Maybe most technologically impressive Wii game of 2009, and that's the best I could concede, IMHO.

[Mahr]

"However, what other hack and slash is like God of War or Heavenly Sword? As far as storyline goes, in the context of videogames?"

Well, speaking about God of War, in the first place, I'm not certain that once a series has had two console games, a PSP entry, and a release on cell phones, that subsequent entries can reasonably be referred to as 'original' anymore.

But ignoring that for the moment, game developers basing plots revolving around Greco-Roman mythology goes back at least to the NES, which off the top of my head had Kid Icarus, Altered Beast, Battle for Olympus, and Rygar. And if you want to speak strictly hack and slash games, Rygar's outing on the PS2 was utilizing long-range melee combo attacks something like three or four years before Kratos came about.

There was also Spartan: Total Warrior, which literally involved using weapons called the blades of athena, featured some of the same mythological boss creatures, and ended with a battle against Ares. Although in all fairness, I think that may have come out after the first God of War.

Heavenly Sword, I might concede, if only because I don't actually remember much of its story. Wasn't it about all sorts of cliched stuff like a clan protecting an ancient weapon from an evil empire, some kind of ancient prophecy or whatever, and the woman single-handedly taking down a whole evil army?

"So if the devs from the Conduit want to claim their game is GOTY when it's just another FPS with aliens with nothing we haven't seen before in terms of gameplay or tech or anything else you can think off, it's hard not to laugh at them."

Since when is originality a prerequisite for being a potential Game of the Year candidate for various sites? Didn't Mario Galaxy win, like, ten of them back in '07?

[ape007]

this game will be good but there's something thaty called modern warfare 2 is coming and the other called bioshock 2 and we already got kz2

IF

if it can delever the addictive sp experince seen in ge007 then it will sure be a contender

[ChickeyCantor]

To bad they couldn't add the new engine features.
Here is hoping it will sell enough.

[Shoko]

This game isn't a GOTY contender. It's gonna be great, no doubt, but MW2 and Bioshock 2 are gonna take the cake. But this game will get the credit it deserves.........hopefully.

[Microsoft Xbox 360]

Maybe GOTY for the Wii but overall? Not a chance.

[DragonWarrior_4]

I agree about it being game of the year for the Wii by itself. I actually think this is the only good game coming out for the wii this year. Unless IW makes MW2 for the wii, then there might be some competition.

[Bnet343]

Can't believe I'm saying this, but for once I actually agree with you ... For the Wii yeah, but overall? Chill my dawgs. KZ2, MW2, Halo 3 ODST, etc. Too much for the Wii too handle.

[SinnedNogara]

Definently GOTY for the Wii. Otherwise it has few competion. MadWorld maybe (probably). What else does it go against?? Overlord: Dark Legend??

[condorstrike]

even if it doesn't win GOTY, it'll be in the top 10.

and if they do deliver and wins, then fanboys are going to cry again, like they did with Twilight Princess, Graphics are not everything, if it was then why do people keep going back to playing the classics, like pac-man, street fighter 2, Sonic, Mario and more?

[PirateThom]

If this game was on PS360, no one would really care.

It's the type of game that gets mediocre reviews on those consoles becauses there's so many of them...

For Wii, it's something different.

It won't be GOTY, and it may not even be a contender, but that doesn't mean it won't be a good game.

[hatchimatchi]

exactly

[TruthbeTold]

because it doesn't take into account this game's biggest strength. Unparalleled controls. It's that reason why they believe it can be a contender. The game's good graphics, and uncommon effects (for Wii) are just the icing on a well made cake.

[PirateThom]

The controls are more or less the same as every Wii FPS so far, none of which have been anything special.

[Kamikaze135]

It looks like it takes full advantage of the Wii hardware and it seems polished. However, it falls drastically short when compared to 360 and PS3 games of the same genre....so no. Plus the year isn't even half way done. More games will come and most GOTY contenders aren't even out till at least October.

[hatchimatchi]

My money is on uncharted 2, but modern warfare 2 will probably get it, or bioshock 2 maybe. Heavy Rain looks interesting also. Lots of good games to look foward to, 2009 is a solid year for all the consoles.

[Jadaking]

Hell no. Nobody in this website can defend this game for the game of the year. Its a good game, but theres just way way waay better games coming out this year.

[Rubberlegs]

Doesn't even have chance with some of the bigger name games coming out this fall/winter. I think though if the game turns out to be good it would be big for High Voltage. This is there first own IP, everything they have done for in the past have been ports or hired on from a publisher. They have never released any games that have stood out for them. This is why I've always been on the fence about the game. I want it to be good but just look up all the games they have worked on in the past.

[Danja]

Definately now GOTY but for the Wii yes... but this is also my most anticipated game for the Wii this year

[Seferoth75]

LMAO@Zuperamazing fanboy... Heavenly sword is rip off of God of War. There is nothing original about it. All the did for Infamous was take Tomb Raider and add a male lead. Nothing original there either.

It seems you only think things are original because you have little to no life experience or gaming expereince. Everything looks original when its your first gen.

those of us that have been gaming for 30 years see nothing original in most games. BTW you do know that while you are trashing 1 Wii game over its story that many of the games you'll play this year as far as FPS offer nothing new. KZ2 nothing new. Bioshock nothing new. Oh but its only fair to hate on the Wii games that do it. Leave the Sony PS3 copy and paste games out of it.

I also nticed that you couldnt name off 1 FPS on PS3 or 360 with an original story. All completely different genres.. And you actually think you made a valid point comparing a Wii FPS to action games? Why not compare it to other FPS? Oh because then you cant really make your poor point can you? I mean the only way you can make the story look bqad is by grabbing games from other genres for your console.

[hatchimatchi]

look at this private message he sent me

"12 hours ago | By: Seferoth75 | Block

You are such a pathetic fanboy.
Grow up kid. If last years E3 was bad to you then Stfu and stop trolling the Wii area fanboy. I was very happy about GTA, Voice chat and ALL the other announcements outside of AC and Wii Music which like any good fanboy is the only thing you'll claim was there."

you sir, are a douche

[bigjclassic]

so a Wii game can get GOTY even if its not graphically super impressive, imho. The story looks like it may hold them back but if they can get a cult following it may happen.

If uncharted 2 drops this year it will probably be the front runner. Not barring any killer Nintendo/MS 1st party games, imho.

[phantomexe]

I've been looking forward to this game for awhile.Tt may have a chance based on controls i mean if this game can hit all the notes right.It has a crazy following.Wasn't there a fansite that had over a million people registered? It may have been the conduit's main site.

[TruthbeTold]

Uncharted 2 would be the front runner because it will look really nice? I'm sorry, but I think that the industry has grown past overrating games just because they look good. Games have to have the whole package. I'm not saying that Uncharted 2 necessarily won't, but we do know that The Conduit is the whole package. Pleasing to the eye, with unparalleled controls and customization. You can't knock it for the Wii's graphics limitations any more than you can knock Killzone 2 or Halo 3 for analog stick control limitations of the HD consoles.

[BeNice]

"but I think that the industry has grown past overrating games just because they look good."

That is so not true. It happens quite often.Gears of war 1 and 2 really these games wouldn't be lauded as they are were it not for the graphics. I played the first one and it easily ranks in the top 3 worst games I have ever played. The gameplay is bland and makes me sick, it actually made me angry. My friend who bought the game was surprised it took me 1.5 hours to realize that. Killzone 2 (god they are going to tear my limbs away from me) is graphically very impressive. However its characters, setting and its general statement "I AM AN EPIC GAME" are just lame. It truly is just world war 2 in space. Nothing but the graphics impress me.

In this entire generation the only fps games that have impressed me in fact are bioshock , portal, half-life 2 , metroid prime 3 corruption and cod4. COD 4 I hevaily doubt I will remember years later. It was just arcadey fun and I liked it. All this is personal opinion so people don't need to get pissy I am not staing them as fact like some people do. If those games i slammed are ones you like well its nice to know you found satisfaction in the 60 dollars you spent on them.

Oh and games like assassin's creed and a number of titles coming up. If you want I'll make bets with you on which ones will score 9s and above in the coming months.

And if someone thinks i'm biased for mentioning games only from the hd consoles well the wii can't really get away with having average or below average games that are pretty( it does not do pretty according to most).

Wait.MADWORLD. stylized graphics got a lot of attention but bad because of camera issues and game length. SOmething MGS4 should have been docked for considering it has only a few hours of actual gameplay. (Hate the mgs series and totally stumped by how they could possibly present the future of videogames.If you guys want to compete with mvoies and books by using mgs games you are going to fail.Not becuse they are playstation exclusive however. DO not mistake me for a fanboy. I am just a guy who speaks his mind.)

[hatchimatchi]

Have you ever played the first uncharted? There's no other game out like it with it's platforming mechanics. Not to mention the brilliant storyline. It's more than just HD graphics.

Hardly anyone is saying the conduit is gonna suck, just that in terms of gameplay (outside of pc style controls) it hasn't shown that it's offering anything new.

[ChickeyCantor]

"Hardly anyone is saying the conduit is gonna suck, just that in terms of gameplay (outside of pc style controls) it hasn't shown that it's offering anything new."

Lies, and im not even going to point out the videos.
Just do your research.

[dizzpump]

If George W. Bush can win two terms.....The Conduit can win GAME OF THE YEAR

[TruthbeTold]

RE:5 will probably win this year when it's done nothing more than disappoint all but the most loyal fanboys. Why? Because it's selling a crapload and has a big name. Just like that disappointment that was GTA4 last year.

[hatchimatchi]

yea i'll agree with you on that, i think gta4 is extremely overrated. I doubt re5 will get goty though.

[N4g_null]

I guess we will see. Once the conduit is out it could have a halo effect where more and more players want to actually play it. It all depends on what HVS and sega does to make the most of what they have already done. Now if they could some how get DLC on this game also I would be very very happy!

The funny thing is this game will not be GOTY. Simply because people will have to buy the games they are bias for first then realize they are boring then play this game and see what all the WIi hardcore have been talking about.

Another thing is What happens if red steel two was actually good and you could use your sword in a FPS game! If HVS can make an engine this could what is stopping every one else, funding of course!

I'd say conduit, demon blade, red steel2, excite bots, FF crystal bearers all have a good chance if they come out this year. Yet there are still more games on the way. Some developer will wait for HVS to get the trophy before the make a go at it while others will see a good opportunity to get a strangle hold on a 50 million plus market.