News
25 CommentsSouth Park: The Stick of Truth is still on track for 2013 launch, Ubisoft confirms
By Emily Gera on May 03, 2013 05.03.13
South Park: The Stick of Truth will still be released this year despite not being included in the publisher Ubisoft's official release schedule made available earlier in the week, VideoGamer.com reports. According to a Ubisoft representative, while there are no updates on the status of the game, The Stick of Truth is still "scheduled for release in calendar 2013." Ubisoft acquired the title for $3.2 million earlier in the year, following THQ's closure. The game was initially slated to be released later this May when it was still under the THQ umbrella; however, it was delayed after being acquired by Ubisoft. South Park: The Stick of Truth remains in development under Obsidian. The title is being developed for Windows PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, while South Park creators Trey...
News
2 CommentsChris Avellone explores differences between Project Eternity and Torment: Tides of Numenera
By Dave Tach on Apr 10, 2013 04.10.13
Chris Avellone, the developer playing a part in Project Eternity and Torment: Tides of Numenera, says each game's setting and gameplay allows him to work on multiple projects simultaneously, according to an interview published in GamesIndustry International. Avellone, chief creative officer at Obsidian Entertainment, is working on the developer's crowdfunded Project Eternity, a fantasy role-playing game. At least on the surface, it bears a resemblance to InXile Entertainment's Torment: Tides of Numenera, a project he became a contributor to when the game hit its $3.5 million stretch goal. But the similarities don't pose a problem, he said. "Numenera is much more free flowing, much more story-focused, and Eternity is stuff like dungeon exploration, party team, how do you approach a...
Report
15 CommentsVigil received no bids and other details from the THQ courtroom proceedings
By Christopher Grant on Jan 23, 2013 01.23.13
While Morrison looked similar enough to many of the other men in the court room — that's to say, a middle-aged white man in a suit — he was the only person to take the podium and argue for a stop to the proceedings. As an "equity holder" in the company, Morrison and a colleague were frustrated that the entirety of THQ could be valued for as little as $100 million when the last game from just one of its studios sold over five million units. "That would be the [sale] that we'd object to," Morrison said, referring specifically to Saints Row: The Third developer Volition, Inc. Barring that brief diversion — a reminder that the actual shareholders of companies filing for bankruptcy protection in the historically corporate-friendly Delaware are often on the losing end of things — the...
Ubisoft acquires new IP in THQ auction, THQ Montreal, South Park confirmed
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Jan 23, 2013 01.23.13
Ubisoft has acquired the rights to a new intellectual property in addition to its previously reported purchase of THQ Montreal and South Park: The Stick of Truth, the company announced. The new IP has yet to be announced. THQ Montreal's team will join Ubisoft's already bulging number of 6,259 people across 26 studios worldwide. "This deal adds experienced developers to our internal creative teams at a key moment in the cycle of the video game industry," Yannis Mallat, president of Ubisoft Montreal, said. South Park: The Stick of Truth will continue external development under Obsidian. The game is still scheduled for release this year. South Park Digital Studios LLC's objection to the THQ sale, which would have required their consent to to transfer the South Park license, was...
News
10 CommentsUbisoft bidding $2.5M for THQ Montreal, $3.265M for South Park in THQ auction
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Jan 23, 2013 01.23.13
Ubisoft has put forth an offer of $2.5 million for THQ Montreal and $3.265 million for South Park: The Stick of Truth in the auction for THQ's subsidiaries, although the sale will not be final until a judge approves it. THQ's CEO Brian Farrell and company president Jason Rubin outlined the sales in a letter to all employees, stating that sales are expected to close by the end of the week. Employees involved with the projects up for sale are expected to be offered jobs under the new companies, although employment is not guaranteed. Additionally, pay and benefits might differ from the previous offers under THQ. Employees of titles not included in the sale were informed that their positions "will end." South Park Digital Studios LLC, the company that owns the South Park license, r...
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12 CommentsSouth Park Studios objects to THQ's sale of The Stick of Truth, seeks $2.275 million in default payments
By Dave Tach on Jan 22, 2013 01.22.13
South Park Digital Studios LLC, the company that owns the South Park license, filed an objection in Delaware bankruptcy court recently to prohibit the sale of South Park: The Stick of Truth unless several conditions are met during THQ's upcoming bankruptcy proceedings, according to documents filed in the Delaware court. The objection asks the court to deny the sale of South Park: The Stick of Truth unless South Park Digital Studios consents to the sale transfer of any South Park licenses, receives a payment of $2.275 million for defaulted payments and "adequate assurance of future performance" for the game. According to objection filed by South Park Digital Studios (PDF link) dated Jan. 18, the Studio and THQ entered into an agreement referred to as a "Deal Memo" on June 29, 2011 to...
Deals
8 CommentsMicrosoft Store offers $20 in Microsoft Points for pre-orders of upcoming games
By Griffin McElroy on Jan 18, 2013 01.18.13
Microsoft Store is running a promotion offering 1600 Microsoft Points ($20) to shoppers who pre-order major upcoming Xbox 360 titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 and BioShock Infinite. Ten different games are applicable for the free points, all of which cost the standard MSRP of $59.99: Grand Theft Auto 5 BioShock Infinite Tomb Raider Lost Planet 3 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Crysis 3 Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 Dead Space 3 South Park: The Stick of Truth The site doesn't mention how long the promotion will run, so if you were planning on picking up any of those titles, this may be an avenue worth considering.
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10 CommentsMetro: Last Light PC pulled from GameStop digital store in fear of THQ instability
By Griffin McElroy on Jan 18, 2013 01.18.13
Metro: Last Light is no longer available to pre-purchase on GameStop PC Downloads, the retailer's hub for downloadable PC games, due to fears of publisher THQ's instability, a GameStop exec told GameSpot today. Shoppers searching for the game on GameStop PC Downloads can no longer pre-order THQ's upcoming, post-apocalyptic shooter, and anyone who already reserved the PC downloadable version of the title is eligible for a refund from GameStop customer service. The console versions of the title are still available to pre-order in-store and on the retailer's website; we've contacted GameStop representatives to find out if that's due to change. "Essentially, due to THQ's current financial situation and uncertainty of delivery, in order to protect our consumers we removed the ability to...
News
12 CommentsSpike Video Game Awards nominees led by Halo 4, Journey and Borderlands 2
By Alexa Ray Corriea on Nov 15, 2012 11.15.12
Nominees have been announced for the tenth annual Spike TV Video Game Awards, scheduled for Friday, Dec. 7 at 9 p.m. ET, with Borderlands 2, Halo 4 and Journey earning seven nominations each. The awards ceremony, hosted by actor Samuel L. Jackson, will honor games across nearly 30 categories, including best on each platform, Best Soundtrack, Best Graphics and Best Performance by a Human Male and Female. Game of the Year nominations include recently-released Assassin's Creed 3, Arkane Studios' Dishonored, Mass Effect 3, Telltale Games' The Walking Dead episodic series and Journey. The VGAs will also include new trailers for Naughty Dog's The Last of Us, Gears of War: Judgment and South Park: The Stick of Truth, with more to be announced in the coming weeks. The event will be...
News
33 CommentsTHQ in default with Wells Fargo over $50 million credit facility
By Michael McWhertor on Nov 10, 2012 11.10.12
Troubled publisher THQ dropped more potentially bad financial news on Friday, revealing that it was in "certain defaults" on a $50 million credit facility with lender Wells Fargo. The Agoura Hills based publisher of Darksiders, Saints Row and WWE wrestling games wouldn't clarify the conditions of the credit facility it has defaulted on, but did report "loan availability on the Credit Facility was less than 12.5% of the maximum revolver amount," a technical default of the terms of the loan. THQ tells Polygon that Wells Fargo continues to fund its requests while the two parties discuss the terms of their credit agreement. In a filing with the SEC, THQ says it was notified by Wells Fargo on Nov. 7 that "one or more events of default have occurred under the terms of the Credit Facility,...
