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THQ Puts Big Huge Games Up For Sale

Zach Lott — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:23:37 -0500

Crispy Gamer has received word from THQ that the publisher is putting Big Huge Games, responsible for the Rise of Nations series, up for the sale, and that the studio will be closed if a buyer is not found.

Also, two other studios, Heavy Iron Studios and Incinerator, will become independent companies as a result of THQ's latest moves to cut workforce and reduce financial losses.

THQ, who acquired Big Huge last year, released this statement:

As part of THQs previously announced business realignment and related headcount reduction plans that targeted cost reductions of $220 million, including a reduction in workforce of 600 people worldwide, THQ today notified the staff at two of its development studios that they will be spun out as independent companies: Heavy Iron in Los Angeles, CA, and Incinerator in Carlsbad, CA. In addition, THQ informed the staff at its Big Huge Games studio in Timonium, MD, that it plans to close the studio if a sale is not completed in the near future. These actions were unfortunate but were necessitated by the difficult economic environment.

Big Huge, who also developed the popular XBLA title Catan as well as an expansion for Age of Empires III, has two unnamed titles, one for the Wii and another for the 360, PS3, and PC, in development. They have a good track record with their RTS games, so hopefully THQ won't have much trouble finding someone to sell them to.

First Deadly Creatures (Wii) Trailer Live

Shiva Stella — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:12:38 -0600

The first trailer for THQ's Deadly Creatures on the Wii is available tonight and linked below for your viewing pleasure.

The game is being developed by Rainbow Studios, the team behind Motorcross Madness, Cars, and ATV Offroad Fury; for this reason I haven't gotten my hopes up, but I admit that I'm curious... monsters go oh-so-well with destruction.

THQ Confirms Red Faction 3 for PS3, 360, PC

Aaron Dunlap — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:45:38 -0600

During an investor-related conference call, THQ let slip the news that Volition is hard at work now on a new sequel to Red Faction, a series that hasn't seen an entry since 2003's Red Faction II.

The original Red Faction was a pretty big deal on the PlayStation 2 with its GeoMod engine featuring destructible environments. Red Faction II received less fanfare but was pretty good. Since then, however, Halos and Calls of Duty and Gears of War have come along to push the FPS envelope. Here's hoping that Volition, who've been busy with Saints Row, is able to keep up.

THQ expects the game to release late 2008 or early 2009.

Frontlines: Fuel of War (PS3) Only Almost Canceled

Shiva Stella — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:27:28 -0600

According to FiringSquad, recent reports that the PlayStation 3 version of THQ's Frontlines: Fuel of War has been canceled are in fact incorrect and the game has only suffered a delay.

The title is currently being developed by Kaos Studios and should release for the PC and Xbox 360 in February (latest estimates are at Feb 25); meanwhile the PS3 version should launch sometime in 2008.

Frontlines: Fuel of War is a first-person shooter with a heavy emphasis on multiplayer action, something the PlayStation 3 desperately needs a strong dose of. Here's hoping everything goes just swimmingly.