Developers of The Conduit give their thoughts on the infamous Friend Codes, and how they may or may not factor into the game...

While we're still awaiting for the publisher of upcoming Wii exclusive first-person shooter The Conduit to be announced later this month, here's some other news fresh out of the High Voltage dev studio.

Asked about the game's online play, Rob Nichols, the game's lead designer, and Tony Mecca, an animator also working the title, have offered their views on Nintendo's controversial Friend Code system. Here's what Nichols had to say:

"Ahhh, the infamous friend codes. Ummm, what I can announce on that is we are working very closely with Nintendo. Ummm, we're looking at some possiblilities and some options. If we have to use Friend Codes, which, you know we probably will, I will just say that and make that admission right now, but we're going to make it as streamlined and as fast as [possible]. Give Nintendo its credit, every time they've come out with a new multiplayer game, which you'll notice, other than EA, Nintendo� first-party games are the only ones that have multiplayer. Every time they've done that, there have been small improvements to the system, and we're going to, you know, try to build up on that as well and work with them to make it even more improved than it has been in the past ... It's Nintendo's system. It's their console, which we have to have their permission and their sign-off for whatever we put into the game. And if Friend Codes are what is, [necessary, that's what] it's gonna be."

So will The Conduit definitely be using Friend Codes? Mecca answers:

"We definitely want gamers to know that we're not all completely hyped up about Friend Codes, especially in the first generation of games that it was used in, you know. And we are definitely interested in getting the best online experience you can get. And we're not, by any means, fans of Friend Codes ... We're looking at every possible option we can possibly have to get you guys online and playing games with friends as fast as possible."

Keep it locked to N-Europe for the latest as it breaks.