High Voltage Software, Inc. Company type Private Industry Video games Founded April 23, 1993; 31 years ago (1993-04-23 ) Founder Kerry J. Ganofsky Headquarters , US
Key people
Kerry J. Ganofsky (CEO ) Eric Nofsinger (CCO ) Number of employees
160 (2006) Subsidiaries HVS NOLA Website high-voltage.com
High Voltage Software, Inc. (HVS ) is an American video game developer based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois . Founded in April 1993 by Kerry J. Ganofsky, the company is best known for developing Lego Racers (1999), Hunter: The Reckoning (2002) and The Conduit (2009).
History
High Voltage Software was founded by Kerry J. Ganofsky on April 23, 1993,[ 1] following his graduation from college.[ 2] Out of Hoffman Estates, Illinois , a suburb of Chicago , the company started out with four employees and used old doors set on top of sawhorses as desks.[ 2] In June 2006, the company had 160 employees.[ 3]
In 2008 interviews, High Voltage leadership expressed interest in improving the quality of contemporary third-party Wii games.[ 4] The company developed Quantum3, a game engine that specifically targets Wii deployment.[ 5] The engine itself had been used in several previous titles made by the developer, but was heavily upgraded for higher performance on Wii.[ 6]
Since that time, High Voltage Software has been active in eighth generation software, developing ports for Injustice: Gods Among Us , Mortal Kombat X and Saints Row: Re-Elected ,[ 7] as well as leading development on Saints Row: Gat out of Hell .
High Voltage Software remains focused on emerging technology and new markets. At E3 2015 , High Voltage and Oculus VR announced the development of Damaged Core . A playable demo was available at the Oculus booth, featuring hands-on gameplay which showcased the first-person shooter genre on the Oculus hardware. The title released as an Oculus Rift exclusive in August 2016 to critical acclaim.[ 8] The company's second VR title, Dragon Front , released less than three months later as a cross-platform title on Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR .[ 9]
HVS NOLA
On December 17, 2014, Ganofsky announced that High Voltage would be opening a satellite studio for the company in Place St. Charles in New Orleans .[ 2] The opening, scheduled for early 2015, would provide 80 new job opportunities in the area, with initial staff transferred from the company's Hoffman Estates headquarters.[ 2] [ 10] Through the opening, High Voltage was able to take advantage of local financial incentives, including a US$ 150,000 performance-based grant to cover relocation costs, workforce training programs and a digital media incentive.[ 2] [ 11] [ 12] Prior to the announcement, Ganofsky also considered opening the studio in Georgia or Florida , but found New Orleans to be a better cultural fit for High Voltage.[ 2] As a result, talks between economic development leaders in the area and Ganofsky began in October 2013.[ 2]
Games developed
Year
Title
Platform(s)
Publisher(s)
1995
White Men Can't Jump
Atari Jaguar
Atari Corporation
Ruiner Pinball
Atari Jaguar
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Starship Bridge Simulator
Sega 32X
Interplay Entertainment
Vid Grid
Atari Jaguar CD
Atari Corporation
1996
NHL Open Ice
Microsoft Windows
Midway Games
NBA Jam: Tournament Edition
Atari Jaguar
Fight For Life
Atari Jaguar
Atari Corporation
NBA Hangtime
Microsoft Windows
Midway Games
Tempest 2000
Classic Mac OS, Sega Saturn
Interplay Entertainment
Tempest X3
PlayStation
1997
World League Basketball
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
Mindscape
NCAA Final Four '97
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
1999
Paperboy
Nintendo 64
Midway Games
Lego Racers
Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, PlayStation
Lego Media
NBA Inside Drive 2000
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft
2000
Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy
Microsoft Windows
Sierra Studios
All-Star Baseball 2001
Nintendo 64
Acclaim Entertainment
NFL Quarterback Club 2001
Dreamcast , Nintendo 64
2002
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
GameCube
Interplay Entertainment
Monster Jam: Maximum Destruction
Microsoft Windows
Ubi Soft
NBA Inside Drive 2002
Xbox
Microsoft
Disney's Stitch: Experiment 626
PlayStation 2
Disney Interactive
NBA Inside Drive 2003
Xbox
Microsoft Game Studios
Hunter: The Reckoning
GameCube, Xbox
Interplay Entertainment
2003
Hunter: The Reckoning – Wayward
PlayStation 2
Vivendi Universal Games
Hunter: The Reckoning – Redeemer
Xbox
NBA Inside Drive 2004
Xbox
Microsoft Game Studios
Disney's The Haunted Mansion
GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
TDK Mediactive
2004
Duel Masters
PlayStation 2
Atari, Inc.
Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Sierra Entertainment
2005
Zathura
PlayStation 2, Xbox
2K Games
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
GameCube, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Global Star Software
50 Cent: Bulletproof G Unit Edition
PlayStation Portable
Vivendi Games
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One
GameCube
Activision
Codename: Kids Next Door – Operation: V.I.D.E.O.G.A.M.E.
GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Global Star Software
2006
The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy
PlayStation 2, Gamecube, Wii
Midway Games
Blitz: Overtime
PlayStation Portable
Family Guy Video Game!
PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox
2K Games, Fox Interactive
2007
Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law
PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
Capcom
Ben 10: Protector of Earth
PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
D3 Publisher
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2
PlayStation Portable
Ubisoft
America's Army: True Soldiers
Xbox 360
2008
Go, Diego, Go!: Safari Rescue
PlayStation 2, Wii
2K Play
V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack
Wii
High Voltage Software
Gyrostarr
Wii
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess
PlayStation 2, Wii
2K Play
Go, Diego, Go!: Great Dinosaur Rescue
PlayStation 2, Wii
2009
The Secret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5th Sun
PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
D3 Publisher
High Voltage Hot Rod Show
Wii
High Voltage Software
Astro Boy: The Video Game
PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
D3 Publisher
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Game Day
PlayStation 2, Wii
2K Play
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom
PlayStation 2, Wii
Evasive Space
Wii
Akinai Games
The Conduit
Wii
Sega
2010
Iron Man 2
Wii, PlayStation Portable
Tournament of Legends
Wii
Dora's Big Birthday Adventure
PlayStation 2, Wii
2K Play
Pheasants Forever Wingshooter
Wii
GameMill Entertainment
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Wii, Nintendo DS
Red Wagon Games
2011
Conduit 2
Wii
Sega
Captain America: Super Soldier
Wii, Nintendo 3DS
Nicktoons MLB
Wii, Xbox 360
2K Play
Nickelodeon Fit
Wii
Nickelodeon Dance
Wii, Xbox 360
Victorious: Time to Shine
Xbox 360
D3 Publisher
Country Dance
Wii
GameMill Entertainment
Country Dance 2
Wii
2012
Country Dance All-Stars
Xbox 360
Kinect Star Wars
Xbox 360
LucasArts , Microsoft Studios
Zone of the Enders HD Collection
PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360
Konami
Toy Story Mania!
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Disney Interactive Studios
Nickelodeon Dance 2
Wii, Xbox 360
2K Play
Avengers Initiative
Android , iOS
Disney Interactive
Batman: Arkham City Lockdown
Android, iOS
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Victorious: Taking the Lead
Wii
D3 Publisher
2013
Le Vamp
iOS
High Voltage Software
Zoombies: Animales de la Muerte
iOS
The Conduit HD
Android
Mortal Kombat
Microsoft Windows
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Enter the Dominatrix
PlayStation 4 , Xbox One
Deep Silver
Injustice: Gods Among Us
PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Ben 10: Omniverse 2
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Wii U
D3 Publisher
2014
The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Nintendo 3DS
Activision
2015
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Deep Silver
Saints Row: Gat out of Hell
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Mortal Kombat X
Microsoft Windows
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
2016
Damaged Core
Microsoft Windows
Oculus Studios
Dragon Front
Microsoft Windows
2017
They Live to Destroy
Microsoft Windows
2018
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden
Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Funcom
Fortnite: Save the World
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Epic Games
2019
Zombieland: Double Tap – Road Trip
Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
GameMill Entertainment, Maximum Games
Canceled
References
^ "High Voltage Software turns 15" . gamesindustry.biz . Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
^ a b c d e f g "Illinois video game developer to open New Orleans studio, hailed as economic development win" . nola.com . Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
^ "Tour of Chicago - Pt. 1: High Voltage Software" . gamasutra.com . Retrieved August 13, 2018 .
^ "Exclusive First Look: The Conduit" . ign.com . April 17, 2008. Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
^ Staff, Gamespot (July 7, 2008). "Q&A: Eric Nofsinger channels The Conduit" . gamespot.com . Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
^ Casamassina, Matt (April 17, 2008). "Exclusive First Look: The Conduit" . ign.com . Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
^ "Saints Row 4: Re-Elected coming to PS4 and Xbox One, $30 this January" . polygon.com . Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
^ " 'Damaged Core' Review: Meet The New King of VR Shooters" . uploadvr.com . August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
^ "Dragon Front Open Beta Launches Today" . vrfocus.com . Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
^ "High Voltage to open New Orleans studio" . gamesindustry.biz . Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
^ "High Voltage opening New Orleans studio" . mcvuk.com . Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
^ Wawro, Alex. "Chicago's High Voltage plans New Orleans expansion" . gamasutra.com . Retrieved August 12, 2018 .
External links