High Voltage Software

Background

High Voltage Software is a video game developer formed in 1993 by Kerry J. Ganofsky. Originally starting off as being a developer for the Atari Jaguar's last few months of existence, they have since produced some notable titles in their lifetime, such as the NBA Inside Drive series, Paperboy, Lego Racers, and others. It was bought out by Keywords Studios in 2020.

1st Logo (August 1, 1995-March 20, 1997)

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Visuals: On a black background, the High Voltage logo of the time fades in. It consists of a shiny rectangular frame containing a transmission tower set at a bottom angle against a dark cloudy sky. Below it is the blue/silver 3-D text "HIGH VOLTAGE" with "SOFTWARE" in a smaller print below it, both arcing around the bottom of the frame. Four bolts shoot off from the tower one-by-one from each point.

Variants:

• On White Men Can't Jump, two pieces of warning tape, both having the words "DANGER!!! HIGH VOLTAGE!!!" on them, slide into view before the bolts go off, and slide away when they finish. There is also no "TM" symbol and the logo is notably zoomed out.
• On the Jaguar port of NBA Jam Tournament Edition, the frame and words slide in individually from the top and bottom of the screen respectively. The frame then "shines" with electricity once, and then two more times in succession. A warbling "magic" sound plays when the logo slides in, and then sparks are heard when the frame "shines".
• The Saturn port of Tempest 2000 has a later version of the logo, with the sky in the box being partly cloudy, the text having a tighter curve to it, and "INC" being added to "SOFTWARE". No lightning is shot off either.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The opening theme of the game, with the sound of thunder rumbling when the bolts go off.

Availability: Seen on High Voltage games of the time, like NBA Jam: Tournament Edition and White Men Can't Jump for the Atari Jaguar.

2nd Logo (Vid Grid variant) (September 21, 1995)

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Visuals: The sequence starts off with the same transmission tower from before, but taking up the entire screen and with the sky rotating slightly. The sky lightens up for a few brief moments from the lightning, before it eventually has a bolt traveling across one of the power lines and causes it to burst out a flash of light. As this happens, it cuts to a low shot of the transmission tower across a barren flatland with hills in the back, and a creaking sign on a metal pole is revealed as well. It is white with a large red rectangle with the stenciled text "DANGER" on it, and "HIGH VOLTAGE" is below that in a much more standard font. Another section of the sign flips out from below, revealing "SOFTWARE" in a messy graffiti font. The sign eventually stops swinging, and the sky flashes one last time.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Ominous tones can be heard throughout, as well as electrical sounds and the sign creaking.

Availability: Seen on Vid Grid for the Jaguar CD.

3rd Logo (Tempest X3 variant) (November 1, 1996-February 1, 1997)

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Visuals: Cutting into a tilted shot of a different, more generic-looking high voltage sign on a rusted fence, the camera swoops across it and pans upwards to a transmission tower, all on a cloudy sky similar to the 1st logo. A lightning bolt strikes the tower and then suddenly, a silver wall with a frame in and screws on each corner zooms out and two yellow bands emerge from the wall, being the text from the 1st logo's later version. The areas around the word liquidate for a bit and sparks come off, before a large blast of sparks emerge, and the words cool down to their blue color.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Several whirring and electric sounds throughout, with a low hum near the end.

Availability: Seen on Tempest X3, the PlayStation remake of Tempest 2000.

4th Logo (February 28, 1997)

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Visuals: On a black background, the same high voltage sign from before, but slightly weathered, fades in, as well as a "TM" symbol. The "TM" symbol disappears as a laser carves out a small rectangle in the sign, which drops down to reveal a transmission tower. A strange mist then burns the sign, leaving it horribly blackened and bubbly. Large dents are made in the bottom, leaving the sign to rock, and the "HIGH VOLTAGE SOFTWARE INC." words burst through with sparks, starting off glowing yellow before cooling to their blue color.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A mechanical whirling in the background, as well as the sounds of searing metal and loud banging. A single synth blast plays when the words burst through.

Availability: Seen on World League Basketball and NCAA Final Four '97, as well as the PC port of Tempest X3.

5th Logo (Lego Racers variant) (August 21-December 17, 1999)

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Visuals: Starting off with a darkened area at dusk/dawn, a spotlight illuminates an area with weeds coming out of the wooden floor, and a lever is seen at the end. A Lego minifigure, wearing a white shirt with blue overalls and a blue baseball cap, walks into the spotlight, smiling at us as he trots along. He reaches the lever and grabs it, struggling to pull it. He eventually does with notable creaking, and is dealt with recoil as he does, with flashes of white on the screen. The camera zooms in to show the minifigure's gleeful impression, and the camera flashes to an angled shot of a dim signboard powering up, showing off the new High Voltage Software logo: the same generic high voltage sign from the previous two logos, but with "DANGER" in a bolder font, and a black rectangle with "SOFTWARE" running along the side of it. A transmission tower can also be seen in the corner. As the sign fully lights up, the camera slowly rotates straight forwards at the signboard, with occasional sparks coming off of the lights. As it rests, another transmission tower can be seen in the background before the logo fades out.

Variant: The Nintendo 64 version of Lego Racers uses in-game graphics rather than the pre-rendered video of the other two versions. While the animation is the same, there are several key differences, like the beginning being an empty black void, the lever now resembling an electrical switch, and the panning to the sign being rather different with the minifigure still in view before the camera pans up to the logo, as well as several other details changed.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The sounds of the minifigure's footsteps, the creaking lever, and all the machinery and electrical sounds lighting up the logo. As the sign lights up, a rising synth note is heard, before it segues into a twinkling set of notes, and finally a choir is heard before the logo fades out.

Availability: Seen on Lego Racers for PC, PS1 and Nintendo 64.

6th Logo (Paperboy variant) (October 31, 1999)

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Visuals: On a black background, the Paperboy from the game appears, riding his bike. The screen then pans down to a bulldog, which is chasing him. The camera then switches to two electrical towers and a power switch with the HVS shield below the switch on the sign. The Paperboy throws a newspaper at the switch, turning on the towers and shocking the dog. He then lies on the ground, possibly dead, and the switch turns as the screen zooms in on the logo. A lightning bolt scans the screen.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Wheel-creaking and the whining of the fried dog, with a horn theme all through it. Crackling is heard at the end.

Availability: Seen on Paperboy for Nintendo 64.

7th Logo (Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy variant) (December 14, 2000)

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Visuals: Through an optic device, we observe soldiers moving across the desert, when we scan over to a transmission tower, not unlike those in the first couple of logos. As it pans down and eventually stops, there are also generators and a fence with the High Voltage Software logo on it. The device shuts off for a moment, only for it to turn on and show the logo zooming out while being out of focus. When it comes into view, the scanlines disappear.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Minor wind sounds and the soldiers talking, as well as a loud whirring sound when the logo zooms out.

Availability: Seen on Ground Control: Dark Conspiracy.

8th Logo (January 21, 2002-November 28, 2003)

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Visuals: At a generator plant on a cloudy day, several bolts of lightning strike and emerge from the transformers, causing sparks to go everywhere. On the fence in front of it is an all-rusty High Voltage Software logo. As the camera zooms in and rebounds from it, sparks rain down in front of it as bolts still continue to fly about.

Variant: The NBA Inside Drive series appears to have the logo rendered in-game, with the bouncing removed and given widescreen support.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Various electricity sounds, which features a dramatic 11-note horn fanfare in the background.

Availability: Seen on games such as the NBA Inside Drive series and Disney's Stitch: Experiment 626.

9th Logo (November 20, 2002-October 14, 2003)

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Visuals: On a black background, the High Voltage Software logo fades in, before fading into a darker environment with the logo on it, with rust around it and swinging back and forth. It then zooms out to reveal that it's on a bug zapper, hanging above an old porch with broken windows and insects flying around it, with one being shocked. The screen then cuts to a close up shot of a brown bug with a cigar in its mouth, goggles over its eyes, and the left wing shell having "DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR" and the other one having a skull and crossbones and below it "LIVE FREE OR DIE", both being in a grungy white font. The logo zooms out from it to reveal a swarm of wasps, dragonflies, and other insects flying through a forest. They swerve off-screen and then we cut back to the porch, but in a wider shot, where a bug gets shocked and the swarm goes into it. They then all get shocked, which proves too much for the zapper and explodes, sending the brown bug off the screen, the windows burned out, and the porch with burn marks as the remains of the zapper swing back and forth, sending a few jolts before falling off and hitting the ground. The screen then cuts to the bug zapper's remains and zoom onto the High Voltage Software logo, which remains on-screen as a lone firefly lights it up before flying away and fading to black.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Sounds of zaps and buzzing heard throughout the logo, a dramatic orchestral theme when we cut to the swarm, an explosion when the bug zapper blows up, and then sounds of rusty swinging when the zapper swings.

Availability: Seen on the PC version of Monster Jam: Ultimate Destruction, the GameCube versions of Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance and Disney's The Haunted Mansion, and other games of the era. Used in tandem with the previous logo.

10th Logo (October 5, 2004-December 12, 2006)

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Visuals: On a black background, glowing white/red block wireframes fade into existence, all of them falling as the camera rotates around them. When the camera pans over, they all seem to flicker part of the company logo on them. The camera spins around and zooms into the completed logo, distorted from the red static. A plain print logo wipes over the finished product.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Some electrical swishes.

Availability: Seen on Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude and Blitz Overtime for PSP.

11th Logo (Duel Masters variant) (November 2, 2004)

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Visuals: Flames open up a view on a red-haired character from the game shown from behind. He looks back and we immediately zoom close into his eyes. He produces a Duel Masters card from flames and proceeds to throw it at the screen. The card has the logo on the other side of it, and it flips several times before it flashes and wipes.

Technique: 2D animation.

Audio: Mainly "whooshes" in various tones.

Availability: Seen on Duel Masters.

12th Logo (July 15, 2005-November 6, 2012)

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Visuals: There is a young boy (not the same as the last logo) with glasses, short slicked up straightened black hair, black eyes and pale skin, who is wearing a light gray short sleeved T-shirt with long black pants and white socks in a room, who's looking through a pile of games that he has. He then pulls out a disc that has a stylized label based on the logo, and it shines with pride while orange rays rotate around. He puts it in his game console and begins playing it, until his TV begins to shake. It surges with electricity, and shoots out a bluish light, leaving the boy with an amazed face as the camera zooms in on his glasses, where the logo can be seen and the camera zooms in on that. The logo surges with electricity on a black background, zooming in slightly.

Variant: A short version exists, which can be seen on some Nickelodeon games such as Nickelodeon Fit for Wii.

Technique: Flash animation and CGI.

Audio: A rock theme starting when the boy finds the disc with the logo on it, but we hear the sounds of birds chirping beforehand, and we also hear several video game sound effects and electrical surges throughout.

Availability: Currently only known to be on the console versions of Codename: Kids Next Door: Operation V.I.D.E.O.G.A.M.E, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Iron Man 2, Ben 10: Protector of Earth, and Nickelodeon games published by 2K Play.

13th Logo (September 25, 2006-March 16, 2007)

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Visuals: On a black background, there is the logo as the screen zooms in on a mechanical arm coming out from the left side of the logo. It begins rotating and mildly surging with electricity, and then a rod extends out of the tip as we pan over the "DANGER" portion and the rod sparkles. The camera then cuts back to the logo, panning down to face it head on with two strange arms coming off of it, which then tilt back and discharge electricity onto the logo. The screen is engulfed with the electricity, erasing the arms.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The sounds of electrical surges throughout.

Availability: Seen on the console versions of The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy and all versions of Family Guy Video Game!.

14th Logo (August 23, 2007-January 8, 2008)

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Visuals: On a black background, the logo is seen on a metal plate. Two streams of fire-like energy emerge and coat themselves over the logo, filling the screen with white briefly and scanning the logo downwards before disappearing. The logo slightly zooms in before disappearing via a "shut off" effect.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: An ethereal noise.

Availability: Seen on Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law for all platforms, and Tom Clancy's GRAW 2 for PSP.

15th Logo (Still variants) (June 23, 2008-)

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Visuals: Just the High Voltage logo on a white or black background.

Variant: Sometimes, the logo may zoom in slightly.

Technique: Usually none, though 2D animation is sometimes used.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen first on Gyrostarr for Wii, and has appeared on a few other titles since.

16th Logo (The Conduit variant) (June 23, 2009)

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Visuals: A hand pulls out an orb (All-Seeing Eye) that shines light on a rune, with the symbol of the game itself and the High Voltage Software logo over it in gold, as well as several different alien letters. The orb then produces a beam onto the logo and the camera suddenly focuses onto it, where it shines to its correct colors as the background becomes pure white.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The orb making sounds as it scans and electric sounds when the logo appears on full screen.

Availability: Seen on The Conduit.

17th Logo (March 29-October 25, 2011)

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Visuals: Just the logo zooming in while tilting, all over a cloudy mass with lightning emerging from it.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Thundering sounds.

Availability: Seen on Captain America: Super Soldier, Conduit 2, Nicktoons MLB (excluding the DS version), and Country Dance.

18th Logo (November 1, 2011-February 10, 2012)

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Visuals: On a purple stage, the High Voltage Software logo appears, pulsing and emitting reflections in joint with the music beats. Three lights descent above and join in with the beats. After some beating, the logo suddenly explodes and dissolves into particles.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Disco beat music synchronized with the sign beating.

Availability: Seen on Victorious: Time to Shine, Nickelodeon Dance and Country Dance 2.

19th Logo (Toy Story Mania! variant) (October 30, 2012)

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Visuals: On a black background, dust seems to scatter about as an orange square blinks and a cyan border grows. The screen then glitches as more borders spin around, along with a cluster of cyan pixels appearing. The logo then pixelates into existence and glitches out for a brief moment before returning to normal. Several pixels also appear for a brief second before the screen glitches one last time. A single cyan pixel blinks until the logo ends.

Technique: Computer animation.

Audio: Beeping and clicking sounds.

Availability: Seen on Toy Story Mania! for PS3 and Xbox 360.

20th Logo (January 24, 2019)

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Visuals: On a black background with a wet roadbed below, an orange-colored rectangular spark is seen, which then gets struck by an orange lightning bolt. This forms a rusty metal High Voltage Software logo, which then brightens. The camera slowly zooms in during all of of this.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The opening/closing theme of the showreel.

Availability: Appears on this showreel of games by the studio. Only time will tell if this will appear on any of their games.