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THQ

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THQ Inc.
Company typePublic, (Nasdaq: THQI)
IndustryComputer and video game industry
Founded1989 (as Trinity Acquisition Corporation)
HeadquartersAgoura Hills, California, USA
Key people
Brian J. Farrell (Chairman, CEO, President),
Jack Sorensen (EVP Worldwide Studios),
Ian Curran (SVP Int'l Publishing)
RevenueIncrease $1.35 billion USD (2007)
Increase $68.038 million USD (2007)
Number of employees
over 1,600 Worldwide
WebsiteHomepage

THQ Inc. (Toy Headquarters) is a global American developer and publisher of video games. The company develops products for video game consoles, handheld game systems, as well as for personal computers and wireless devices. THQ's titles span most major interactive entertainment software genres, including action, adventure, racing, fighting and wrestling, first person shooter, puzzle, role-playing, simulation, sports, and strategy.

The company maintains a balance of internally created and externally licensed content in its product portfolio. THQ's internally created franchises include Saints Row, Frontlines: Fuel of War, Red Faction, MX vs ATV, and others. The company also holds exclusive, long-term licensing agreements with leading sports and entertainment content creators including World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Games Workshop (Warhammer 40,000), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Nickelodeon and Disney·Pixar.

History

The company began building out its internal product development capabilities in 2001 with the acquisition of Volition, Inc. located in Champaign, IL. Since then, THQ's internal studio system has grown to 16 studios across the globe with distinct capabilities across all viable gaming platforms. Studios such as Relic Entertainment, Paradigm Entertainment, Juice Games, Kaos Studios, and Volition, Inc., who are working on games for next generation of consoles as well as PCs.

THQ's global distribution network includes offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific as follows: United States, Canada and Mexico; Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom; Australia, Korea, and Japan. Key THQ Wireless brands include Star Wars, WWE and certain Disney-Pixar properties. THQ Wireless serves content via all major carriers worldwide including Sprint, Motorola, Nokia (N-gage), AT&T, Sony-Ericsson, Orange in Europe and others.

The company has several titles in development for next-generation console systems and personal computers, including Saints Row 2 and Destroy All Humans!. Major franchises include games based on THQ's long standing licensing relationships with WWE, Disney/Pixar and Nickelodeon. In addition, the company holds long-term rights to Bratz from MGA Entertainment and Warhammer 40,000 from Games Workshop.

On May 10, 2007, THQ reported its highest annual sales figures and net profits ever for the fiscal year which ended March 31. THQ's revenues reached over $1 billion.

In March 2008 THQ announced they were to develop the world's first ever cheerleading game using the Wii balance board.[1]

Studios

Main article: Big Huge Games
Founded in 2000 by four veteran game developers and acquired by THQ in 2008, Big Huge Games is a video game studio focused on cutting-edge technology and aimed at mass-market game development. Big Huge Games founders Brian Reynolds, Jason Coleman, David Inscore and Tim Train continue in the tradition of creating inspired and innovative games for PC and next-generation consoles. Creating games that have received numerous "Game of the Year" awards and accolades, Big Huge Games is headquartered in Timonium, Maryland.
Main article: Blue Tongue Entertainment
Founded in 1995 and acquired by THQ in 2004, Blue Tongue Entertainment Pty. Ltd. is located in Melbourne, Australia. Blue Tongue has released titles in many genres, from Windows PC simulations to console platforms. Blue Tongue's most recent games include Barnyard for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Wii and Windows PC; and Nicktoons Battle for Volcano Island for PlayStation 2 and GameCube. Today, Blue Tongue is developing original and licensed titles for current and next-generation consoles.
Main article: Heavy Iron Studios
Founded as a THQ studio in 1999. Heavy Iron has worked in close partnership with creators of high profile, animated feature film properties, including Disney•Pixar's The Incredibles and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie video game. Heavy Iron's previous hit titles include Scooby-Doo!: Night of 100 Frights and SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom. Both of these titles were nominated in consecutive years by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences for "Children's Title of the Year." Heavy Iron is working on next-generation console games within the character action and platform genres. Heavy Iron Studios is located in Los Angeles, CA.
Main article: Helixe Games
Founded in July 2000, Helixe Games specializes in innovative game development for Nintendo handheld gaming platforms. The studio has produced games for the Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy® Advance including top-selling Disney•Pixar's The Incredibles and Cars, as well as games based on the Star Wars and Scooby-Doo franchises and numerous titles based on popular Nickelodeon brands. Today, Helixe is focused on high profile licensed games for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. Helixe is located just outside of Boston, MA.
Main article: Incinerator Studios
Established by THQ in 2005, Incinerator Studios was founded by industry veterans with development experience in the NFL GameDay game, Twisted Metal, and MLB: The Show franchises from Sony, as well as the Midnight Club franchise from Rockstar Games. Incinerator produced Disney•Pixar's Cars for the Wii console, and it now creating multiple genre-leading projects for all of the next-generation consoles. Incinerator Studios is located in Carlsbad, CA.
Main article: Juice Games
Founded in 2003 and acquired by THQ in 2006, Juice Games released the 1.5 million-unit selling Juiced in June 2005. and so far, 1.5 millions sales for Juiced 2. The game won the best New UK/European Studio in the 2005 Develop Industry Excellence Awards. Juice Games also develops titles for popular handheld and mobile gaming devices. Juice Games is located in Warrington, UK.
Main article: Kaos Studios
Established by THQ in 2005, Kaos Studios was formed by industry veterans of the first person shooter genre. The group's core team had key roles in Trauma Studios' Desert Combat, the multi-million download modification for the original Battlefield 1942, and includes members of the R&D team for DICE's Battlefield 2. Additional members of the 50-person team contributed to the development of shooters that include FEAR, Medal of Honor, and Doom 3. Kaos is currently developing Frontlines: Fuel of War, a large-scale FPS title for Windows PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Kaos Studios is based in New York, NY.
Main article: Locomotive Games
Formerly Pacific Coast Power & Light, Locomotive Games was founded in 1997 and acquired by THQ in 1999. Locomotive Games has developed racing, arcade, and action titles for the PSP system and Wii video game console, including Disney•Pixar's Cars for the PSP. Locomotive first partnered with THQ on titles such as Nuclear Strike and Road Rash for the Nintendo 64. After becoming an official THQ studio, Locomotive developed the motor cross title, MX Superfly. Currently, Locomotive is working on several titles for both the PSP system and Wii platform, including Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed. The studio is located in Santa Clara, CA.
Main article: Mass Media (company)
The core group of Mass Media came together in the late 1980s at Cinemaware. In 1995, Mass Media became an exclusive developer for Time Warner Interactive. Since then and before being acquired by THQ, Mass Media was an independent developer. The company is based in Moorpark, CA, and has worked on such titles as Full Spectrum Warrior and Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers for THQ.
Main article: Paradigm Entertainment
Founded by industry veterans in 1997, and acquired by THQ in 2006, Paradigm Entertainment has multiple projects for next-generation consoles, including the next Stuntman driving game. Paradigm has created a variety of well-known action games including Pilotwings 64, Beetle Adventure Racing, and SpyHunter. The studio is located near Dallas, TX.
Main article: Rainbow Studios
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Rainbow Studios was founded in 1996 and acquired by THQ in 2001. In 2006, Rainbow developed Disney•Pixar's Cars, a racing title based on the hit film and released on all major gaming platforms. Rainbow also developed the "MX" franchise, including MX Unleashed and MX vs. ATV Unleashed, both of which achieved "Greatest Hits" and "Platinum Hits" status from Sony and Microsoft. During its fifteen-year video game history, Rainbow's racing and technological expertise gained success with titles such as: Motocross Madness, Motocross Madness 2 (winner of Best Sports Computer Game of 2000 by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences), Splashdown, ATV Off-Road Fury, ATV Off-Road Fury 2, and Mat Hoffman Pro BMX 2.Rainbow studios released MX vs. ATV: Untamed in December of 2007, and they are currently developing Deadly Creatures, a new action/adventure game exclusively for the Wii.
Main article: Relic Entertainment
Based in Vancouver, BC, Relic Entertainment was founded in 1997 and acquired by THQ in 2004. Relic Entertainment develops real-time strategy games, such as Company of Heroes, which is one of the highest rated Windows PC games. Relic's history of critically acclaimed titles began with Homeworld, which received several Game of the Year and Strategy Game of the Year awards from PC Gamer and Computer Gaming World. Since then, Relic has released Homeworld: Cataclysm (co-developed with Barking Dog Studios), Impossible Creatures, Homeworld 2, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War with its expansions Winter Assault, Dark Crusade and Soulstorm, The Outfit, and Company of Heroes with its expansion Opposing Fronts.
Main article: Sandblast Games
Formerly Cranky Pants Games. Formed by THQ in 2002, Sandblast Games brought together veteran industry talent from Electronic Arts, Nintendo to focus on cutting-edge design for current and next-generation gaming platforms. Sandblast Games developed Evil Dead: Regeneration for the Sony PlayStation 2 and Xbox video game system, based on the cult horror film by director Sam Raimi. Sandblast Games also created versions of the critically acclaimed Red Faction II and Summoner: A Goddess Reborn for the Nintendo GameCube. Sandblast Games is currently working on Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon for next-generation consoles. Sandblast Games is located near Seattle, WA.
Main article: THQ Studio Australia
Founded in January 2003, THQ Studio Australia most recently shipped Avatar The Last Airbender: The Burning Earth, on PlayStation®2, Wii, and Xbox 360®. Previously, the studio created the hit Nickelodeon titles Avatar: The Last Airbender, SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, PANTS! and Jimmy Neutron: Attack of the Twonkies on the Wii, PlayStation2, Nintendo GameCube and Xbox®. With a staff of around 90 and a strong internal technology group, the studio is currently building titles on sixth and seventh generation video games consoles. More information about THQ Studio Australia can be found at www.thqstudioaustralia.com.
Main article: Vigil Games
Founded in 2005, most notably by comic legend Joe Madureira, and acquired by THQ in 2006. The team's combined game credits include Unreal Tournament, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Dark Age of Camelot, Daxter, Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and others. Vigil Games is working on blending unique visual style with innovative gameplay to create next-generation console titles. Vigil Games is located in Austin, TX.
Main article: Volition, Inc.
Acquired by THQ in 2000 to develop original titles for all major gaming consoles. The company was created when Parallax Software (the developer of the Descent series) was split. (The other half was the now-defunct Outrage Entertainment who developed Descent 3 and Alter Echo.) Volition, Inc. developed the FreeSpace series of space simulation computer games, and other titles including: Red Faction, Red Faction II, Summoner, The Punisher. In August 2006, THQ and Volition released Saints Row, the first next generation open-world title for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Among other innovative features, Saints Row combines extensive character and vehicle customization with multiplayer gameplay over the Xbox Live network. Saints Row was the number one selling game following its release and received Editor's Choice accolades from IGN.com and GamePro. They are currently working on a follow-up, Saints Row 2, scheduled to be released in 2008 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Volition is located in Champaign, IL.

Additional Developers/Divisions

Upcoming games

2008

Critism

Most gamerss dislike THQ for thier lisenced games and a lack of qualitiy in some of their works.

See also

References

  1. ^ THQ announce cheerleading game - 07/03/2008
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