THQ

'THQ Inc.' () (Toy Headquarters) is a global 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 strategic balance of internally created and externally licensed content in its product portfolio. THQ's internally created franchises include Saints Row™, Stuntman®, Frontlines™: Fuel of War™, Red Faction®, MX vs ATV, Juiced, Company of Heroes™ 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.

Contents

History

Studios

Blue Tongue Entertainment

Concrete Games

Heavy Iron Studios

Helixe Games

Incinerator Studios

Juice Games

Kaos Studios

Locomotive Games

Mass Media

Paradigm Entertainment

Rainbow Studios

Relic Entertainment

Sandblast Games

THQ Studio Australia

Vigil Games

Volition, Inc.

Additional Developers/Divisions

Upcoming games

See also

External links

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 DisneyoPixar 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'', ''Destroy All Humans!'', ''Company of Heroes'' and ''Stuntman''. 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.

Studios

Blue Tongue Entertainment

BlueTongue.com
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.

Concrete Games

ConcreteGames.com
Located in Carlsbad, CA, Concrete Games was established by THQ in 2004 and has an expanding team of highly talented individuals bringing years of game development experience to the THQ Studio System. Team members have contributed to titles such as '' and ''Halo 2'', ''Medal of Honor '', and ''Everquest''. Concrete Games is focusing on next-generation game consoles technology and original titles.

Heavy Iron Studios

Heavy-Iron.com
Heavy Iron Studios was 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 ''. 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.

Helixe Games

Helixe.com
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.

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 '' franchises from Sony, as well as the ''Midnight Club'' franchise from Rockstar Games. Incinerator produced Disney•Pixar's ''Cars'' for the Wii video game console, and it now creating multiple genre-leading projects for all of the next-generation consoles. Incinerator Studios is located in Carlsbad, CA.

Juice Games

JuiceGames.com
Founded in 2003 and acquired by THQ in 2006, Juice Games released the 1.5 million-unit selling ''Juiced'' in June 2005. 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.

Kaos Studios

KaosStudios.com
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 '', a large-scale FPS title for Windows PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Kaos Studios is based in New York, NY.

Locomotive Games

LocomotiveGames.com
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. The studio is located in Santa Clara, CA.

Mass Media

MassMedia.com
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 '' for THQ.

Paradigm Entertainment

PE-i.com
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 ''Pilot Wings 64'', ''Beetle Adventure Racing'', and ''SpyHunter''. The studio is located near Dallas, TX.

Rainbow Studios

RainbowStudios.com
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''. According to their main site, Rainbow Studios is currently developing a new action/adventure game exclusively for the Wii.

Relic Entertainment

Relic.com
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 '' (co-developed with Barking Dog Studios), ''Impossible Creatures'', ''Homeworld 2'', '' and its expansions, '' and '', ''The Outfit'', and ''Company of Heroes''.

Sandblast Games

Sandblast Games
Formerly Cranky Pants Games. Formed by THQ in 2002, Cranky Pants Games brought together veteran industry talent from Electronic Arts, Nintendo, and Valve to focus on cutting-edge design for current and next-generation gaming platforms. Cranky Pants developed '' for the Sony PlayStation 2 and Xbox video game system, based on the cult horror film by director Sam Raimi. Cranky Pants also created versions of the critically acclaimed ''Red Faction II'' and '' for the Nintendo GameCube. Cranky Pants is currently working on ''Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon'' for next-generation consoles. Cranky Pants Games is located near Seattle, WA.

THQ Studio Australia

THQStudioAustralia.com
Founded in January 2003, THQ Studio Australia developed as a launch title on Nintendo's Wii video game console alongside the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube. The studio also created the hit Nickelodeon titles, '' and ''Jimmy Neutron: Attack of The Twonkies'' on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. With a strong technology group, the studio is building titles on current and next-generation platforms, with projects in production on the Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. THQ Studio Australia is located in Brisbane, Australia, that country's third largest and fastest growing city.

Vigil Games

VigilGames.com
Vigil Games was 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'', '', 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.

Volition, Inc.

Volition-Inc.com
Volition, Inc. was 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

★ ''Blitz Games''

★ ''Game Workshop''

★ ''Gas Powered Games''

★ ''SimBin Development Team AB''

★ ''Team17''

★ ''Slingdot''

★ ''ValuSoft''

★ ''Universomo''

★ ''THQ Wireless''

★ ''Genetic Anomalies'' (Acquired in 1999, no longer in operation)

Upcoming games

★ ''Conan'' (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

★ '' (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

★ ''

★ ''MotoGP '07'' (Xbox 360, PC)

★ ''WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008'' (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360, DS, PSP, PS2)

★ '' (Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, PS2)

★ ''Warhammer 40,000 MMO'' (PC)

★ '' (PC)

★ ''Cars Mater-National'' (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, DS, PC)

★ '' (Xbox 360, Wii, PS3)

★ ''Drawn to Life'' (Nintendo DS)

★ '' (DS, PSP)

★ '' (PS2, GBA, Wii)

★ '' (DS)

★ ''Bratz Super Babyz'' (PC, DS)

★ '' (PC)

★ ''S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky'' (PC)

★ ''UFC 2007'' (Confirmed PS3, Assumed On Xbox 360)

★ ''Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon'' (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

★ ''Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed'' (PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii)

★ ''de Blob'' (Wii)

★ '' (Wii)

See also

★ List of THQ games

External links

★ THQ (official website)

★ ''THQ'' profile on MobyGames