Thu, Feb 05, 2009 | 07:54 GMT
THQ to develop fewer “core” titles in wake of losses
THQ boss Brian Farrell said in the firm’s Q3 earnings call last night that fewer core games are to be developed by the publisher in the coming year, but those that are will be more polished and better marketed.
“With respect to the core gamer, the aggregate spending will come down,” Farrell said.
“The idea is focus, focus, focus. But we will compete aggressively…when we launch.”
THQ is “putting fewer core gamer titles into full production,” but focusing more heavily on the development and marketing of each.
Farrell added: “Clearly, this is one of the most challenging holiday retail environments that I’ve experienced in my 18 years at THQ.”
The exec’s comments come in the wake of the announcement of a $191.8 million loss for the three months ending December 31. Around 600 THQ staffers are to lose their jobs.
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Posted in: Financials, THQ, Trade
Tags: thq q3 financials 2009
8 comments
#1
JesteR
05/02/09, 7:55 am
Oh wow usual THQ produces crap anyway so i am not sad.
#2
Blerk
05/02/09, 8:18 am
Fewer, better games would probably seem like a sensible move. Unfortunately I get the impression that what everyone actually means is ‘fewer games and a fuck load of cheap throw-away Wii crap please-god-let-one-of-them-be-a-hit’.
#3
tont
05/02/09, 8:37 am
Oh god oh god please don’t cancel Saints Row 3.
#4
SplatteredHouse
05/02/09, 11:19 am
If the idea is not to spend, in order to save money then there’ll be more Carnival Games’ emulators. Somehow, some way, people have seen that that works, so it’s inevitable that quality will drop and it becomes a game of as much, and as cheap as possible. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a Destroy All Humans released, based around a minigame concept, only on Wii.
Saints Row is something they have that actually works, and people react universally well to. I think it would be incredibly unwise of them to abandon any plans they have for a sequel, so I agree with you, tont.
#5
SplatteredHouse
05/02/09, 11:34 am
You know, having skim-read the conference call transcript, THQ seem very upbeat about Saint’s Row.
“First, we are focusing on delivering one to two high quality titles targeted to the core gamer each year. Today we have shifted more than 2.6 million units of Saints Row 2 posting sales in excess of $100 million on this title.
Saints Row 2 achieved a medic credit rating of 82 and we marketed the game aggressively. The conclusion, when we focus make a great game and market it aggressively we succeed.
We intend to apply these three steps to the upcoming launch of game like Red Faction: Guerrilla and Darksiders. Our goal with each of these titles is to launch high quality games, market it aggressively into windows where we can win.”
I forgot about Darksiders, as well – that’s looking like it could be really good. So, perhaps I was a bit hasty in throwing cynical remarks about their product strategy. Maybe they can achieve a situation where they successfully cater to the majority of tastes.
#6
SplatteredHouse
05/02/09, 11:45 am
Checking the copyright policy on that, I think I’m now actually obliged to type something along the lines of:[check out http://www.seekingalpha.com, for the full transcript]
So, there you go.
#7
Alakratt
05/02/09, 1:29 pm
Maybe they should stop making trying to copy GTA-like titles, and just focus on innovative ones.
#8
DrDamn
05/02/09, 1:49 pm
@Alakratt
I was of a similar opinion myself – based on the first Saints Row. I thought they produced a reasonable clone but missed a lot of the humour and essential make-up of GTA. Saint Row 2 – whilst technically inferior to GTA4 – is streets ahead in terms of fun and enjoyment though. Loads and loads of stuff packed in to do and enjoy. GTA4 feels like the fun has been sucked out of it in comparison.