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Voltage (company)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Voltage Inc.
Native name
ボルテージ
IndustryVisual Novel
FoundedSeptember 1999
HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
SubsidiariesVoltage Entertainment USA
Websitewww.voltage.co.jp/en/

Voltage Inc. is a Japanese developer and publisher of interactive story apps, such as visual novels and otome games, for iOS and Android devices. They also previously developed games with their San Francisco based subsidiary Voltage Entertainment USA.

History

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The company originated in 1999,[1] based in Tokyo, and began to expand to English-speaking audiences in 2011, releasing English-language versions of their games through the Apple Store and Google Play. They went on to establish a US subsidiary company, Voltage Entertainment USA, in 2012.[2] Expanded versions of several of their games were previously released through GREE, however support for the GREE platform ceased in 2014.[3]

Voltage's American subsidiary, Voltage Entertainment USA, have released adaptations of existing Voltage games which have been localized to appeal to Western audiences. Beginning in 2013, the subsidiary began producing original games marketed directly to their English-speaking audience. By 2014, it was reported that Voltage had an audience of 22 million across all its games.[4] In 2017, Voltage Entertainment USA launched the multi-series app Lovestruck: Choose Your Romance and transitioned its AmeMix series into the app.[5] In July 2020, Voltage Entertainment USA's writing staff went on strike and won increased wages and greater workplace transparency.[6]

In December 2021, Voltage announced they would be shutting down Voltage Entertainment USA in 2022 to allocate resources more efficiently.[7]

Games

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Name Release date(s) Platform(s)
Celebrity Darling 2008 Android, IOS
Love Letter from Thief X 2011
7 Sep. 2020 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
My Forged Wedding 2011
17 Sep. 2020 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
My Sweet Bodyguard 2011 Android, IOS
Pirates in Love 2011 Android, IOS
Be My Princess 2012 Android, IOS
Kiss of Revenge 2012 Android, IOS
Class Trip Crush 2012 Android, IOS
A Knight's Devotion 2012 Android, IOS
Seduced in the Sleepless City 2012
20 Oct. 2022 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
In Your Arms Tonight 2012 Android, IOS
Metro PD: Close to You 2013 Android, IOS
10 Days with My Devil 2013 Android, IOS
Our Two Bedroom Story 2013
5 July 2020 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Kissed by the Baddest Bidder 2013
28 Nov. 2019 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Serendipity Next Door 2013 Android, IOS
Dreamy Days in West Tokyo 2013 Android, IOS
Office Secrets 2013 Android, IOS
Star-Crossed Myth 2014
29 Aug. 2019 (Switch)
22 Mar. 2023 (Steam)
Android, IOS, Switch, Steam
Scandal in the Spotlight 2014
25 Mar. 2021 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Sakura Amidst Chaos 2014 Android, IOS
Enchanted in the Moonlight 2014
13 Jun. 2019 (Switch)
22 Mar. 2023 (Steam)
Android, IOS, Switch, Steam
Kiss Me on Clover Hill 2014 Android, IOS
True Love Sweet Lies 2014 Android, IOS
Be My Princess 2 2014 Android, IOS
Finally, in Love Again 2014 Android, IOS
First Love Diaries - A Kiss on the Beach 2014 Android, IOS
My Wedding and 7 Rings 2014 Android, IOS
Her Love in the Force 2014
21 Jan. 2021 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Bad Boys Do it Better 2015 Android, IOS
My Last First Kiss 2015
25 Nov. 2021 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Butler Until Midnight 2015 Android, IOS
Gossip Girl: Style Your Love 2015 Android, IOS
After School Affairs 2016 Android, IOS
Era of Samurai: Code of Love 2016 Android, IOS
Liar! Uncover the Truth 2016 Android, IOS
Dangerous Seduction 2016 Android, IOS
Irresistible Mistakes 2017
18 Aug. 2022 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
When Destiny Comes Knocking 2017 Android, IOS
Rose in the Embers 2017 Android, IOS
Our Private Homeroom 2017 Android, IOS
Kings of Paradise 2017
27 May 2021 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
In Your Arms Tonight Season 2 2018 Android, IOS
Love Brings you Home 2018 Android, IOS
Masquerade Kiss 2018 Android, IOS
A World with(out) You 2018 Android, IOS
Ayakashi: Romance Reborn 2018
3 Apr. 2021 (Switch)
Android, IOS, Switch
Romance MD: Always On Call 2019 Android, IOS
Destined Mr.Almost Right 2019 Android, IOS
Love's Hella Punk 2020 Android, IOS
Even If Tempest 6 Sep. 2022 Switch
The Red Bell’s Lament 2025 Switch

Voltage Entertainment USA

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Adaptations

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Year Name Adaptation of:
2012 My Lover's a Thief Love Letter from Thief X
2013 My Killer Romance 10 Days with My Devil
White Lies & Sweet Nothings My Forged Wedding
Knight of My Heart A Knight's Devotion
Intimate Business Office Secrets
Glass Stilettos in Manhattan Seduced in the Sleepless City
To Love & Protect My Sweet Bodyguard

Original titles

[edit]
Year Name
2013 Speakeasy Tonight
2014 Queen's Gambit
2015 Astoria: Fate's Kiss[nb 1]
2016 Kisses & Curses
Gangsters in Love
Castaway! Love's Adventure
2017 Love & Legends
Starship Promise
Havenfall Is For Lovers
2018 Villainous Nights
Astoria: Lost Kisses
Sweet Enchantments
2019 Queen of Thieves
Sin With Me
Reigning Passions
2020 Wicked Lawless Love
Tales of the Wild
Ever After Academy
2021 Immortal Heart Society
My Siren Crush
Edge Case Love’s Pursuit

Augmented and virtual reality

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Voltage Inc. has a subsidiary, Voltage VR Inc. Their first app, "Let's Snuggle! AR" allows users to interact and talk with characters from other Voltage romance titles in a more personal setting.[8]

Year Name Genre
2017 Let’s Snuggle! AR Augmented Reality
Intimate VR: Eisuke Virtual Reality

Notes

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  1. ^ Originally titled Labyrinths of Astoria.

References

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  1. ^ http://www.voltage.co.jp/en/corporate/history.html Archived 2015-06-27 at the Wayback Machine Voltage Official Website Milestones
  2. ^ "My Sensual Journey into Japan's $90 Million Fake Anime Boyfriend Market". Broadly, Vice (magazine). 2016-03-18. Archived from the original on 2016-03-25. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  3. ^ "Voltage Inc. English GREE games to End Service in November". noobabble. 2014-09-26. Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  4. ^ "22 Million Women Worldwide Hooked on 'Otome' Romantic Dating Simulator Games". International Business Times. 2014-05-20. Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  5. ^ "Gamasutra - Press Releases - LOVESTRUCK: CHOOSE YOUR ROMANCE available on the Apple App Store and Google Play". Gamasutra. 2017-03-03. Archived from the original on 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  6. ^ Carpenter, Nicole (August 11, 2020). "These game writers made history by going on strike — and winning". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Mateo, Alex (2021-12-27). "Game Maker Voltage Shuts Down U.S. Division". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on 2023-06-04. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
  8. ^ "Voltage's 1st AR app gets a major update! Let's Snuggle! AR Released April 10th with a brand-new character". Archived from the original on 2017-06-21.
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