Voltage (company)
Voltage Inc (ボルテージ) is a Japanese developer and publisher of interactive story apps, such as visual novels and otome games, for iOS and Android devices. They also develop games with their San Francisco based subsidiary Voltage Entertainment USA.
| Industry | Visual Novel |
|---|---|
| Founded | September 1999 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan |
| Subsidiaries | Voltage Entertainment USA |
| Website | www.voltage.co.jp/en/ |
History
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]
Games
| Year | Name | Language(s) | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Celebrity Darling | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2011 | Love Letter from Thief X | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2011 | My Forged Wedding | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2011 | My Sweet Bodyguard | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2011 | Pirates in Love | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2012 | Be My Princess | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2012 | Kiss of Revenge | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2012 | Class Trip Crush | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2012 | A Knight's Devotion | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2012 | Seduced in the Sleepless City | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2012 | In Your Arms Tonight | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2013 | Metro PD: Close to You | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2013 | 10 Days with My Devil | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2013 | Our Two Bedroom Story | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2013 | Kissed by the Baddest Bidder | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2013 | Serendipity Next Door | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2013 | Dreamy Days in West Tokyo | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2013 | Office Secrets | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | Star-Crossed Myth | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | Scandal in the Spotlight | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | Sakura Amidst Chaos | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | Enchanted in the Moonlight | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | Kiss Me on Clover Hill | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | True Love Sweet Lies | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | Be My Princess 2 | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | Finally, in Love Again | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | First Love Diaries - A Kiss on the Beach | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | My Wedding and 7 Rings | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2014 | Her Love in the Force | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2015 | Bad Boys Do it Better | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2015 | My Last First Kiss | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2015 | Butler Until Midnight | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2015 | Gossip Girl: Style Your Love | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2016 | After School Affairs | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2016 | Era of Samurai: Code of Love | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2016 | Liar! Uncover the Truth | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2016 | Dangerous Seduction | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2017 | Irresistible Mistakes | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2017 | When Destiny Comes Knocking | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2017 | Rose in the Embers | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2017 | Our Private Homeroom | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2017 | Kings of Paradise | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2018 | In Your Arms Tonight Season 2 | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2018 | Love Brings you Home | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2018 | Masquerade Kiss | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2018 | A World with(out) You | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2018 | Ayakashi: Romance Reborn | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2019 | Romance MD: Always On Call | Japanese, English | Otome game |
| 2019 | Destined Mr.Almost Right | Japanese, English | Otome Game |
| 2020 | Love's Hella Punk | Japanese, English | Otome Game |
Adaptations
| Year | Name | Language(s) | Adaptation of: |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | My Lover's a Thief | English | Love Letter from Thief X |
| 2013 | My Killer Romance | English | 10 Days with My Devil |
| 2013 | White Lies & Sweet Nothings | English | My Forged Wedding |
| 2013 | Knight of My Heart | English | A Knight's Devotion |
| 2013 | Intimate Business | English | Office Secrets |
| 2013 | Glass Stilettos in Manhattan | English | Seduced in the Sleepless City |
| 2013 | To Love & Protect | English | My Sweet Bodyguard |
Original titles
| Year | Name | Language(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Speakeasy Tonight | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2014 | Queen's Gambit | English |
| 2015 | Astoria: Fate's Kiss[nb 1] | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2016 | Kisses & Curses | English |
| 2016 | Gangsters in Love | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2016 | Castaway! Love's Adventure | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2017 | Love & Legends | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2017 | Starship Promise | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2017 | Havenfall Is For Lovers | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2018 | Villainous Nights | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2018 | Astoria: Lost Kisses | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2018 | Sweet Enchantments | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2019 | Queen of Thieves | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2019 | Sin With Me | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2019 | Reigning Passions | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2020 | Wicked Lawless Love | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2020 | Tales of the Wild | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
| 2020 | Ever After Academy | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese |
Augmented & Virtual Reality
On January 13, 2017, Voltage Inc. released their first augmented reality title made available to users through the App Store and Google Play, entitled “Let’s Snuggle! AR”. The app is a unique first edition to the company's game portfolio, permitting fans of the Visual Novel romance apps to interact and talk with popular characters in a more personal setting. Following the release and success of the augmented reality app, Voltage Inc. created Voltage VR Inc., a subsidiary of Voltage Inc., dedicated to ensuring and providing fans high quality AR and VR games in the future.
| Year | Name | Language(s) | Genre |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Let’s Snuggle! AR | Japanese, English | Augmented Reality |
| 2017 | Intimate VR: Eisuke | Japanese, English | Virtual Reality |
Notes
- Originally titled Labyrinths of Astoria.
References
- http://www.voltage.co.jp/en/corporate/history.html Voltage Official Website Milestones
- "My Sensual Journey into Japan's $90 Million Fake Anime Boyfriend Market". Broadly, Vice (magazine). 2016-03-18. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
- "Voltage Inc. English GREE games to End Service in November". noobabble. 2014-09-26. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
- "22 Million Women Worldwide Hooked on 'Otome' Romantic Dating Simulator Games". International Business Times. 2014-05-20. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
- "Gamasutra - Press Releases - LOVESTRUCK: CHOOSE YOUR ROMANCE available on the Apple App Store and Google Play". Gamasutra. 2017-03-03.
- Carpenter, Nicole (August 11, 2020). "These game writers made history by going on strike — and winning". Polygon. Retrieved August 12, 2020.