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Double Fine requests paperwork in THQ bankruptcy, auction details posted
The bidding procedures for assets in the THQ bankruptcy have been posted, along with a mention that Tim Schafer's Double Fine Productions has requested some documents from the case. The Distressed Debt Investing Twitter feed – which has been a solid source on the proceedings – mentioned Double Fine was checking things out. It was previously reported Warner Bros. and Electronic Arts were also sniffing about.Before going to bed tonight with dreams of Double Fine making the next Darksiders game, let's tap the brakes here for two seconds. Any company with half a brain (and a couple million laying around) right now is looking at THQ, especially since the assets of the company will be split up if the individual pieces receive bids more than the whole. So, while the big dogs fight for Saints Row and other similarly large properties, a smaller company could take a... oh, a Homeworld? Perhaps a franchise that won't continue "in any meaningful way" like Red Faction?Double Fine and THQ had a relationship in producing Costume Quest and Stacking, although it's unclear who owns the actual intellectual property (we're following up). If you're interested and have the cash, feel free to read the bidding procedures. Bids are due January 22, 2013, by 9AM Eastern.
THQ will sell whole unless exceeded by individual asset bids
THQ acknowledging the details of yesterday's reported bankruptcy proceedings this morning, confirming its assets will only be purchased a la carte if individual offers exceed a whole buyout."Today's ruling provides a clear path. We will now know definitively by January 23 where we stand," stated THQ CEO Brian Farrell. "We appreciate the support of our employees, partners, and suppliers now more than ever."As things stand now, we know that private equity firm Clearlake Capital Group has offered "$60 million, including a new $10 million note for the benefit of the company's creditors." What this means is that anybody offering more for the whole of the company can take THQ from the cushy speed agreement made between THQ executives and Clearlake.There's also the very real possibility that Electronic Arts, along with Warner Bros and other bidders, could collaboratively purchase THQ's intellectual property (Saints Row, Darksiders) and studios (Volition, Relic, Vigil). If those bids exceed Clearlake's total (and Saints Row is definitely getting any player most of the way there), that's it for THQ.Bids are due January 22, 2013, by 9AM Eastern. The auction will be held at 3PM. Hearing on the sale will be held at 9:30AM the following day, followed by the closing on January 24.
Steam Holiday Sale continues with Dishonored, Future Soldier, Darksiders franchise and more
Valve's unceasing quest for the bottom of your bank account continues today with six new daily deals, as part of its ongoing annual Steam Holiday Sale promotion.Today's stable of temptations include Dishonored for $30, Darksiders and Darksiders 2 (plus a wealth of DLC) for $13.59, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier for $15 (or as part of a massive $68 Tom Clancy's franchise pack), all three FEAR games (plus DLC) for $13.71, as well as SimCity 4 and Psychonauts for less than five bucks each.As always, various Flash Sales will come and go throughout the day, so remember to check the store periodically. Alternatively, add games you're interested in to your wishlist, and Valve will email you if they happen to go on sale.
Everything Darksiders for $13.19 on Amazon
No, "Everything Darksiders" isn't the name of a new apocalypse-themed cookbook from THQ, although that would be pretty sweet. What we're saying, if you'd listen for five minutes, is that Darksiders, Darksiders 2 and 11 pieces of Darksiders 2 DLC can all be purchased from Amazon as a Darksiders Franchise Pack for $13.19.There is a catch of course, which is that the pack is A) download only and 2) PC only, so anyone without Windows and some phat pipes is in for a struggle. For everyone else though, this sale could at least facilitate an ironic way to ride out Friday's end of the world.
Darksiders 2 statue brings Death and Despair into your living space
State of the Art Toys is preparing to let loose Death and his steed Despair on the collectibles world. A $249.99 statue of both Darksiders 2 characters is available for pre-order right now, with the first shipments expected to go out in mid-February.High intensity LEDs are built into Despair, lighting up his mane, hooves and tail. Death rides atop Despair with his scythes in hand, ready to reap the souls of all your other collectibles should they get out of line. What? That movie Toy Story was a documentary, you guys – your toys are alive and move when you're not looking.%Gallery-173141%
Darksiders 2 'The Demon Lord Belial' DLC revealed, available tomorrow
Darksiders 2 will suddenly summon "The Demon Lord Belial" as downloadable content this week. Death seeks out the last remnants of humanity and faces off against the Demon Lord Belial in this DLC, which is included for those with a "Darksiders 2: Season Pass."The Demon Lord Belial is $9.99 (800 Microsoft Points) and rides onto PS3, Xbox 360 and PC tomorrow, December 4. It'll cross the pond December 6 for Europeans with PS3s. Speaking of THQ, remember that you can currently pay what you want for a whole mess of games from the publisher in the Humble THQ Bundle.
Darksiders 2 Wii U review: Scythe quest
For Wii U re-releases of existing games, we're republishing our original reviews with added evaluation of the new material. Keep track of all of Joystiq's Wii U launch coverage on the Wii U hub page! Death may be deficient when it comes to charisma and skin tone, but he boasts one of the biggest adventures of the year in Darksiders 2. The Wii U version of the grim reaper's star vehicle is as roomy as a hearse and comes packing nearly all of the game's DLC right out of its new blue box.The Wii U revision isn't too ambitious in utilizing Nintendo's new hardware, though this also spares us from obnoxious mechanisms that don't do justice to the game's original design. Pairing different weapons, powers and protective outerwear with Death's taut physique is a simple time saver on the Wii U's GamePad, and it's a great deal faster than the sluggish menu that shipped with the other versions. You can, of course, keep the original menu and play exclusively on the TV or your handheld screen.There's some graphical tearing on the smaller screen, but otherwise Darksiders 2 comes close to technical parity with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. There appears to be more shadow pop-in within the larger areas, but the framerate holds up just as well (which is to say, it doesn't always hold up when fighting gets frantic). Attacks feel responsive through the game pad – the light click of the right shoulder button works especially well for Death's graceful dodge – and they all work through the Pro controller if you prefer. The face-button commands are not remapped, however, leading to considerable travel time for your right thumb between jumping on B and manipulating the camera via the right stick.Other Darksiders detritus ends up on the Wiipad too: you jolt the controller to spur on your undead equine transportation (that's the thesaurus result on "zombie horse"), and you tilt it to roll around the impractical, spherical keys that tend to litter ancient temples. Neither of these are preferable to doing it the old-fashioned way, so it's just as well they're optional control methods.The best addition to Darksiders 2 on Wii U is the inclusion of post-release content, offered separately on other systems. You can start using some bonus high-level weapons and armor once you exceed level 5, while "Argul's Tomb," a bonus campaign that can be accessed from the main menu, offers extra traversal puzzles involving portals and Death's ghostly grappling hook.The overall game doesn't get the polish on Wii U that it needed on other platforms back in August, but it remains a majestic blend of melee combat, puzzle solving and exploration. And if you squint, it's the best Steven Tyler game since Revolution X!%Gallery-166856%
Darksiders 2, Kingdoms of Amalur, EndWar all coming to PSN Nov. 20
Prepare to get your brutality, fantasy, and strategy on, as Darksiders 2, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, and Tom Clancy's EndWar are all arriving on PlayStation Network November 20. This week's PlayStation Blogcast confirmed the trio of PS3 digital releases.Darksiders 2 recently got its second downloadable content pack, Abyssal Forge. Developer Vigil Games claims the DLC has some of the toughest enemies in the game. But, as the saying goes, Death laughs in the faces of a game's toughest enemies, or something. According to the podcast, the PSN version of Darksiders 2 includes a pass to the game's Crucible arena, and the official soundtrack.Eccentric shoot-em-up Sine Mora lands on PSN next week too, for PS3 and Vita. Grinding onto Vita via PSN is Jet Set Radio, free for PS Plus users until the end of the year. Clan of Champions and the fifth episode of The Walking Dead will be available online for PS3.
Darksiders 2 for PC 66% off on Amazon, Steam
Death is here to chop Darksiders 2 prices by 66 percent for PC. Both Steam and Amazon currently have deals on the apocalyptic action game, dropping the regular $50 price to $17. The deal runs for the next day and a half of Steam, the Amazon sale doesn't say when its time is up.Despite Darksiders 2 selling 1.4 million copies since launch, THQ CEO Brian Farrell said the game sold "below our expectations." The publisher is currently hanging on to life by a thread.%Gallery-162548%
THQ stock plummets 50 percent
THQ's stock is (as of this writing) down 42 percent, trading at $1.74, following yesterday's dramatic second quarter earnings conference call.The conference call, which totaled 12 minutes, concluded with CEO Brian Farrell saying that the company had been "advised not to conduct a [question and answer] session" following prepared remarks because it is currently "exploring strategic alternatives" with a company that handles private equity deals.THQ took drastic measures a few months ago to save its stock, after shares fell below a dollar and the company was threatened with NASDAQ delisting. The solution was a 10-to-one reverse stock split, turning THQ's 70 million shares into 7 million. That action moved the decimal point on the company's $0.51/share stock into $5.16/share. THQ's market capitalization at the time stood at $35.4 million. Now, a couple months later, with today's drop it sits at $11.9 million.THQ has been working other angles to obtain cash to continue doing business, selling off its UFC license earlier this year to Electronic Arts for an "undisclosed cash payment." Selling off more assets is still on the table, but the company doesn't plan to disclose developments or progress until the board and its advisers at Centerview Partners LLC deem it appropriate.Update: THQ's stock closed the day at $1.50/share, down 50 percent.
THQ explores 'strategic alternatives' with private equity broker
THQ's second quarter earnings conference call today totaled 12 minutes. Executives rattled through the financial quarter, noted game delays and CEO Brian Farrell concluded that the company had been "advised not to conduct a [question and answer] session" following prepared remarks. Since these calls usually last about an hour, this was unusual.THQ's sudden case of tongue-biting has to do with it "exploring strategic alternatives" with a company called Centerview Partners LLC. This company's job is to evaluate financing alternatives to improve THQ's overall cash. The company notes that it does not plan to disclose developments or progress until the board deems it appropriate.We spoke to sources with knowledge of companies like Centerview Partners and their take is THQ is attempting to go private. Centerview Partners is a broker for private equity deals, which means THQ's shareholders would preferably be out of the picture. THQ's stock is currently trading at $3.02, following drastic measures to retain its listing; it should also be noted after hours trading has been suspended.
Darksiders 2 Abyssal Forge DLC engineers October 30 release date
Darksiders 2 is getting its second chunky piece of DLC in time for Halloween, with Abyssal Forge available to download on PS3, Xbox 360, and PC on October 30. Except if you're playing on PS3 in Europe, in which case you'll have to wait one day longer, until Halloween itself. Abyssal Forge is priced higher than Argul's Tomb, coming in at $9.99 or 800 MSP.Vigil Games further detailed the DLC today, which features a new swampy area called Shadow Lands. It includes two new dungeons, along with new enemies and unique loot. Vigil claims Abyssal Forge features "the hardest enemies and puzzles yet."It'll also spotlight the meaty-looking dude in the above picture. He's an outcast known as the Mad Smith who's been wasting his years away by building an army, probably with that giant thingamabob he's holding. We expect he'll find another use for it when you meet him in Shadow Lands.
Darksiders 2 creative director Joe Madureira leaves Vigil Games
Vigil Games founder and creative director Joe Madureira has left the company. The news comes via a tweet, in which Madureira bids farewell to Vigil, thanks publisher THQ and refers to the Darksiders franchise as a "career highlight." In a message on his Facebook fan page, Madureira notes, "I could not be more proud of what we achieved, or the awesome people who helped build up this studio." He adds that Vigil is "in very good hands, so expect only awesomeness down the road."Madureira plans to reveal "the Next Big Thing" soon. In the meantime, the well-known artist is focusing on his other job, namely "banging out a bunch of comics."Vigil's most recent game, Darksiders 2, topped the NPD sales chart for August, selling 247,000 copies. Only time will tell what Madureira's departure means for Vigil – and possibly for publisher THQ, which has a lot riding on the success of Darksiders 2.
Wii U's Darksiders 2 features off-screen play, included DLC
Darksiders 2's Wii U release, which will be out on the console's November 18 launch day, supports the full range of control options. You can play on your TV with the GamePad used to access your inventory and special abilities; you can play directly on the GamePad's screen, leaving the TV free for things that don't have skull faces; or you can use the Pro Controller and get an experience similar to that on other consoles.Other perks of the Wii U version include built-in DLC, including Argul's Tomb, and the "Death Rides," "Angel of Death & Shadow of Death," and "Deadly Despair" packs, which bestow extra quests, items, armor, and ... horse speed.%Gallery-166856%
Darksiders 2 first DLC, Argul's Tomb, comes for Death on September 25
Argul's Tomb, the ice-based DLC for Darksiders 2, is set to launch on September 25 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, for $7 (560 Microsoft Points).Argul's Tomb comes free with the Limited Edition of Darksiders 2, including anyone who pre-ordered the game. It will come packaged with the Wii U version of Darksiders 2 when that console hits in the US on November 18.
Darksiders 2 DLC 'Argul's Tomb' has hell frozen over
Argul's Tomb, the first piece of DLC for Darksiders 2, is set to launch "in the next few weeks," a reveal video from IGN shows. Argul's Tomb is free for those who pre-ordered Darksiders 2, and it will be included in the Wii U version on launch day.Argul's Tomb is a far-away realm that hides legendary items and weapons within its icy, frozen confines, and has two new dungeons and one open area for an on-rails shooter.
NPD: Darksiders 2 sold 247K copies in August
Darksiders 2 brought Death to top of the NPD charts for the month of August, having launched on August 14 in North America. In close to two weeks – the cut-off for NPD's August period was August 25 – the Vigil Games sequel managed to move 247,000 copies at retail, GI.biz reports. This figure doesn't account for international sales or Steam, and is perhaps a muted victory in a month that saw software sales go down year-over-year.A lot is riding on Darksiders 2, the first major release under newly appointed THQ president Jason Rubin. It's undoubtedly setting the tone for his THQ, which he hopes will get back to prosperity by focusing on games with the highest potential for success. This move has seen THQ drop Guillermo Del Toro's Insane and roll Saints Row 3's Dominatrix DLC into a full sequel.
Death arrives on UK charts in second, Sleeping Dogs lie in first
Sleeping Dogs rests comfortably in first place for a second week on the UK charts. Darksiders 2's debut didn't knock off the crime simulator, but the apocalyptic sequel did see 80 percent more units sold in its first week than its predecessor, according to Chart-Track.The only other new entry to the top of the charts last week was Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, which rolled out into fifth. The holiday season is just starting and the battle for the charts is slowiy heating up. Transform this page past the break for the UK top ten.
Metareview: Darksiders 2
Darksiders 2 is a patchwork of the best in the third-person beat-em-up action genre and that's what makes it comforting. We said in our review that "you're not required to forgive the game's faults," but it does spend more time on the good side than bad. Here's what others thought about their trip with Death. Game Informer (90/100): "One of the most polished aspects of the game is environment traversal. Death can run along walls and leap between pillars much like the Prince of Persia. These platforming-like sequences add an element of verticality to exploration, and are used extensively to unearth hidden areas. The overworld is filled with them (including numerous bonus areas and bosses). A handy fast travel ability makes backtracking painless affair." Gamespot (85/100): "Bigger doesn't mean better, of course, but this isn't a "more of the same, just bigger" kind of sequel. The game uses its expansive geography to cultivate a poetic tempo in which your intellectual triumphs are rewarded with the immediate pleasures of fleet-footed platforming and demonic brutality. In Darksiders 2, Death is not an end, but rather, a portal to a memorable saga of snarling brutes and stolen souls. " GiantBomb (4/5): "The adventure has its rough spots and the technical issues are disappointing, but these are relatively small issues in the grand scheme of things. Darksiders 2 is an exciting and lengthy adventure with interesting characters and a host of items and features that make its mix of combat and puzzle-solving very attractive. It's better if you also played the original game, but even if you didn't, Darksiders 2 is definitely worth looking at." IGN (75/100): "Despite its problems, I was compelled onward in my quest with Death because Darksiders 2 is simply a fun game. The RPG elements and to-the-point action all make for some solid gaming, glitches and all. It's a shame so many glaring issues hold such an ambitious endeavor back from the greatness its developers were clearly aiming for. Still, if you love action adventure games, it's certainly worth checking out - but don't expect it to rival the masterpieces it will inevitably call to mind."%Gallery-162548%
THQ cuts marketing jobs, boosting development side [update]
An internal memo attributed to THQ president Jason Rubin sent yesterday to staff outlines plans for layoffs in the publisher's marketing team and desire to boost development. The letter, published by 3D Realms founder George Broussard, notes the marketing and production staff will be cut by "20 individuals.""It is worth pointing out that none of the development teams are effected, and we do not anticipate the reduction to have any impact whatsoever on the titles in production or the future scale of our output," wrote Rubin. "It is also quite likely that in the long run the company will hire new individuals with different skill sets in their stead. To put this in perspective, Volition alone anticipates growing by about 20 individuals in the next 12 months."Rubin says the change represents a resource shift from oversight to production, and from centralization out to the development studios. He also notes that the two departments affected by the cuts were "largely unaffected" by the January layoffs.We've reached out to THQ for a statement on the memo.Update: THQ statement found after the break.
