Sega of America and Sega Europe reveal The House of the Dead: Overkill as a new Wii exclusive. It's been under wraps at UK studio Headstrong Games (previously Kuju London).

Sega has already enjoyed success with ports of coin-op light gun game Ghost Squad and compilation The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return on the Wii.

The new game will be the company’s first original light gun-style title for the console, however, and the first mainline The House of the Dead game not to debut in arcades.

Previously created by in-house teams at Sega Japan, it represents a further example of Japanese publishers turning to Western developers for both new and established franchises - a trend which Sega has helped to pioneer.

The new game will be released in early 2009, with the new trailer and box art appearing to favor a grindhouse-style pastiche. The game is billed as a prequel to the existing titles and is set in small-town Louisiana.

“Paying homage to the pulp horror comics and films that inspired generations of gore fans, The House of the Dead: Overkill will expose gamers to a brand-new fleshy rollercoaster ride of revolting dismemberment,” said Gary Knight, European marketing director at Sega Europe. “This is the hardcore Wii title you’ve been waiting for.”