Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


Conduit multiplayer revealed: uses WiiSpeak, Friend Codes photo

Last month we spoke with High Voltage, developers of the upcoming Wii first-person shooter The Conduit. There they were willing to talk about every aspect of the game except multiplayer, the very thing we wanted to know most about. Luckily, our new interview with High Voltage's Chief Creative Officer Eric Nofsinger finally drops some details on how multiplayer is going to work on the Wii.

One of the things we've wondered about most is how voice communication will be handled in a online multiplayer session. The television-topping speaker/microphone WiiSpeak will handle the duties, Nofsinger reveals.

"It’s so cool, but it was a bear. It’s a neat device, but there were things we needed to sort out," he says.

The main challenge was finding a way to overcome the chaos of 12 players talking at the same time. Their fix? Limit communication.

"So one of the things we incorporated is a system of inclusion, which allowed for the six players the closest to you are the ones you hear," Nofsinger says. "It adds plausibility to it, realism that cuts down on some of that cross-chatter." 

Finally, it seems like Wii Friend Codes were unavoidable: "We do have Friend Codes. It was something we wanted to make as elegant as possible, but while still working within the boundaries of Nintendo," he says. "I personally am not a fan of Friend Codes; however, I understand why they are there."

Be sure to check out the rest of our interview on The Conduit's multiplayer.


Continue: More wii stories





prev next

14 comments | showing # 1 to 14

Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 15:33
Magnalon
Conehead Master Chief unlock CONFIRMED
Cartman's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 15:40
Cartman
Is anyone a fan of friend codes?
Jon Bloodspray's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 15:43
Jon Bloodspray
Don't pander to Nintendo, there is NO reason friend codes are necessary. Still excited for the game though.
moocow21's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 16:01
moocow21
And people WONDER why there aren't more developers trying stuff like this on the Wii.. 12 player limit, friend codes, and limited communication. Nintendo is still 10 years behind on online multiplayer and showing no signs of progress. That said, I applaud High Voltage's effort and I can't wait to see how this game turns out in SPITE OF the limitations they face.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 16:39
Chronic Logic
Woah wait, ONLY 12 players at a time? The MINIMUM should at least be 16 players. Why would they do this? Still the actual game concept is still cool.
Conan-san's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 16:47
Conan-san
MEATMOUTH DEMANDS CODE OF FRIEND TO DELUTE ALL CORE GAME.
flabzilla's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 17:15
flabzilla
Bummer about the friend codes I wonder how many freinds you will be able to register, it was annoying in mario kart only having 30slots.
snotrocket's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 17:17
snotrocket
Friend codes kill this for me. I love FPSes on the wii and was really hoping to take this game online. ::sigh::
Hiltz's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 17:40
Hiltz
High Voltage said that it had to make it 12 players in order to keep the game running smoothly and to also maintain the quality of graphics in the final build of the game. Personally, I'd be just as happy with 8,10 or 16 players. Doesn't make a difference to me.

The only reason The Conduit supports friend codes is because High Voltage had to comply with Nintendo's policy and probably also Sega's position on the matter as well. Friend codes are inconvenient and silly but they'll be a small price to pay for what may turn out to be the Wii's best FPS yet.
Dexter345's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 17:53
Dexter345
Ugh. We'll make do what with Wii FNF, but I really wish the Friend Code thing were just abolished.
pascuz46's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 18:13
pascuz46
@ chronic logic I think COD:WAW for wii is a max of 8. So 12 isnt so bad. Still the friend code thing is just stupid. oh well!
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 18:54
pedrovay2003
Wow, lots of people complaining about "only" being able to have 12 players. Gears of War had 8 and Gears 2 has 10, and no one seemed to mind in those games. I don't think 12 is a bad thing.
Magnalon's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/16/2009 20:38
Magnalon
@Pedro
Those are 3rd person shooters. FPS games generally have a much higher max player limit (usually 16-32 or more). People went up in arms with FEAR 2's limit.
eastbayant's Avatar - Comment posted on 04/17/2009 19:35
eastbayant
I don't understand why more publishers/developers don't do what EA did for the Wii version of Medal of Honor Heroes 2 and use an EA login. Is there something I'm missing?
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 

   Got news?   tips@destructoid.com   |   Dtoid Twitter

New Videos

more videos


Reviews & Previews
BioShock 2 review
Dante's Inferno review
Chime review
Hustle Kings review
iPhone Review Round-up: January review
more reviews
Dawn of War II Chaos Rising
Metro 2033
A trip to the racetracks Days of Thunder Arcade
Double the pleasure, double the fun with Darwinia+
Wizarding world in plastic Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4
more previews


- The Dtoid Army is 56751 strong -

Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

Call for entries: the Areas of my Expertise

New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide


 Originals
Jim Sterling: How Aliens are blatantly better than Predators





















More Destructoid Originals




We are Destructoid   tips@destructoid.com
Nick Chester
Editor-in-Chief
Niero
Founder, Big Boss
Jim Sterling
Reviews Editor
Hamza Aziz
Community Manager
Dale North
News Editor
Rey Gutierrez
Destructoid Video EIC
Anthony Burch
Features Editor
Brad Nicholson
Managing Editor
Tom Fronczak Colette Bennett
Ashley Davis Ben Perlee
Conrad
Zimmerman
Chad Concelmo
Jonathan Holmes Jonathan Ross
Brad Rice Jordan Devore
Will Maddock Matthew Razak
Josh Tolentino
Joseph Leray
Topher Cantler Samit Sarkar
     
  Adam Dork
Daniel Lingen
Hollie Bennett
Joe Burling
Mikey Turvey






 
 
  get involved

register or login
post a blog
post a forum
enter a contest
contribute a news tip
suggest a feature
be a guest editor
support

new member's guide
login assistance
tech support
report abuse
email our editors
read our dev blog
nuclear crisis?
keep in touch

RSS feed
Twitter
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr
Game nights
Meetup+play online
seriously

about Destructoid
advertising
terms of use
privacy policy
jobs at MM
buy our crap
our network

Tomopop
Japanator
Despingation?




Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
living the dream since March 16, 2006