High Voltage cuts power

Earlier this week, Evil Avatar reported on a tip it received that independent game developer High Voltage Software had laid off a sizable chunk of its workforce stemming from Vivendi Universal's refusal to pay the developer for its work on a title.

High Voltage president John Kopecky declined comment on the matter, except to say that the company did "reduce its workforce" by 36 people, from 156 employees to 120. He also took the opportunity to dispel any speculation about the health of the company.

"We have been in business for 13 years and see many more on the horizon," Kopecky said, "with a number of projects in development, and more in discussion with publishing partners."

According to the company's Web site, High Voltage is working on at least four unannounced projects (an action adventure, a shooter, and two adventure games). It's currently unclear which of those, if any, have been scrapped as a result of the staff reductions.