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Analyst: THQ has internal problems
Janco Partners' analyst Mike Hickey, after gazing deep into his crystal ball, reports many bad things in THQ's present and future. The biggest issue, Hickey believes, is the publisher's reliance on the recently delayed Saints Row 2. He surmises there is general internal conflict at the publisher, between corporate trying to salvage the company's finances, and developers trying to deliver a quality product. Hickey states THQ's guidance for this fiscal year is too aggressive and dependent on what THQ is calling "proven franchises," but he believes these titles are at risk due to delays, low demand and major marketplace competition.Hickey spends some time comparing Saints Row to Activision's True Crime. He says that Activision once called True Crime a franchise (before it killed it) the same way THQ is touting Saints Row, but he believes a "franchise" has a "predictable level of consumer demand," which Saints Row just doesn't have. However, he believes it'll be THQ's best-performing owned IP this year. Hickey tells investors to just look back at THQs owned IPs for the last couple years and make their own conclusions about how things are going to go down this fiscal year.
Don't trip dawg, Saints Row 2 be comin' 2 PC
THQ has confirmed to Big Download that ghetto fabulous Saints Row 2 will be poppin' caps on PC. Originally announced for Xbox 360 and PS3, the game doesn't have an official release date yet for com-pu-ters, but Gamestop lists it with the same launch date as the console version. Saints Row 2 probably plays a significant role in THQ's financial stability, so it's not surprising to hear that the title will try to pick up cheddar from whatever platform it can find it on. THQ recently fired 200 employees and reported a $35 million loss in its last fiscal year. We'll holla back with an update if the publisher gives a release date soon. %Gallery-19838%
No Saints Row 2 for you until October 14th
We have sad, sad news for all fanboys who are lil' gang members in training. THQ just announced that Saints Row 2, which was originally set for release on August 26th, has been delayed until October. October 14th to be exact. THQ cited "marketing issues" and overall "product quality" as reasons for the delay, saying that Saints Row 2 "is done" and that now "it's about polish." Humph ...Polish is always good and we'd rather take a two month delay then see a Saints Row sequel that plays like utter crud. But saying that that doesn't mean we have to be cheery about it. So, our official stance on the delay is anti-cheery acceptance.[Via Joystiq]
THQ delays Saints Row 2 until October 14
THQ has broken our gold-plated hearts (and teeth) by announcing that it will delay the launch of Saints Row 2 until the company's third quarter, from the August 26 release date announced just last month until October 14. According to Reuters, THQ cited marketing issues and product quality as the reasons for the delay, making us hope that the nearly two extra months of development will give Volition enough time to stamp out those remaining bugs. Additionally, while THQ believes that the delay will not have a negative impact on the company's fiscal 2009 performance, given the publisher's recent pink slip party and $35.3 million loss in fiscal 2008, there's really nowhere else to go but up. [Thanks Bo]
Would You Rather ... The Other Guys Edition
In our continuing effort to bring you fresh and interesting content, X3F presents Would You Rather ... a weekly feature that asks you the hard questions. The point? If you had to choose one or the other, which would you go for?Now that we got that other game out of our system, we look to the future of sandbox adventures. Two titles stick out in our minds as potential GTA-killers but we're torn on which one to grab. Pretending you'd only get one of the following titles, would you go for the sequel to a pretty solid GTA-clone from look, feel and execution in Saints Row 2 or the sequel of a more original GTA-clone in the form of 1940s based Mafia II? %Poll-13525%Feel free to share the reasons for your vote in the comments. We'll share the results of the poll during the next edition of Would You Rather ... which hits X3F every Wednesday.Last weeks WUR results can be find after the jump ... steal this info!
Gary Busey returns for more Saints Row 2 vids
You may recall Gary Busey's Saint's Row 2 videos from earlier this month. They are, to say the least, insane. That is to say that Gary Busey is insane, but that's okay. It works for him, makes him money. What we're getting at here is that Uncle Gary is back with more Saints Row 2 videos, and he's as crazy as ever. We know the purpose of these videos is to advertise Saints Row 2, but we just can't get over Gary. Frankly, "People don't like getting shot in the face" may be the best line we've ever heard. Find another video featuring Tulsa's insane favorite son after the break.
The tools of Saints Row 2 destruction
Thanks to Uncle Gary, we already have had a chance to preview some of Saints Row 2's arsenal of weapons, but nothing too in depth. Now, thanks to IGN, we have been graced with a rather extensive list of Saints Row 2 weaponry brought to you by helpful folks at ULTOR. You have your standard Annihilator rocket launcher, AS14 Hammer machine gun and stun gun, but also included in the mix are more interesting tools of destruction like a chainsaw and a (very hot) flamethrower. Make the jump to get all the deets and view a preview of the weapons and vehicles you'll encounter in the vid embedded after the break. Dual wielding shock paddles FTW!
Video: Uncle Gary teaches Saints Row 2 lessons
After hearing about Saints Row 2 getting an August release and at the same time only receiving a not teaserific teaser trailer, we went searching for some actual Saints Row 2 gameplay videos. You know, to see how things are progressing over at THQ. And after our lil' search concluded, we came across three Saints Row 2 video gems. Videos that give us a glimpse at the game's gameplay and showcase some of the game's features all through street lessons taught by that "interesting" dude Gary Busey. No joke, it's the one and only Gary Busey. We'll let the videos speak for themselves (one embedded above, two after the break), but be prepared. The Saints Row 2 gameplay is promising, but Uncle Gary is (how do we put this nicely) ... moderately crazy?
Joystiq impressions: Saints Row 2 (360/PS3)
Never before has a videogame so accurately allowed characters to pantomime taking a dump on a slain enemy. Years from now, when every game has a dozen user-selectable taunts built into it, we'll all look back on August 26's Saints Row 2 as the game that started the virtual dumping trend. And as this article was posted, in the comparison between Saints Row 2 and GTA IV, only the former could claim the virtual, pantomimed dump. Your move, GTA IV. There's more to Saints Row 2, and the rest of it also caters to adolescent boys (or the adolescent boy in us all). You can play co-op with a friend online and just fly helicopters, drive boats, race cars and motorcycles, and otherwise play in the updated Stillwater setting. If you want to follow the story missions--purported to be "darker" than the original by developers--you can both drop in and out of a single-player game in a way that keeps track of each players progress, so you don't miss any content. But, who are we kidding? THQ had fans of Saints Row at "pantomimed dump." %Gallery-19838%
Saints Row 2 gets August 26 release, website launched
Listen up son, Saints Row 2 is set for an August 26 release in North America. That's not bad timing actually; once gamers finish this April's GTA IV, they won't have to wait long before getting down to another crime-centric game. What we're wondering, however, is if this title will actually click with PS3 gamers. The original Saints Row was never released on the PS3; this is the debut for the series on our shiny console. Interested, not interested? While you ponder that, you can check out the official website that just launched.[Via Joystiq]
Saints Row 2 settles on August release
Purple color lovers and gangster wannabes, it's time to get ready. Because Saints Row 2 is headed your way this Summer with THQ's announcement that the sequel will hit retailers this August 26th. And as much as we want to say we're excited and are eagerly anticipating its release, we always come back to the fact that Grand Theft Auto IV releases this month. Maybe we're wrong to think that, maybe not and maybe it's just the harsh reality of things. We'll give it time though, play GTAIV through August and see if our Saints Row 2 itch needs to be scratched then.
Saints Row 2 pimp slaps consoles Aug. 26
The pimps, hoes and other assorted citizens of Saints Row are ready to return August 26 on Xbox 360 and PS3. IGN reports the release date was announced at THQ's Gamers' Day event held in San Francisco. The official Saints Row 2 website is now up and blinged to the nines with ghetto fabulousness. Late August seems like enough breathing room between SR2 and GTA IV to give the game a chance. Then again, depending on how over-the-top Saints Row 2 ends up being, it could carve out its own niche. We're just looking forward to some co-op play, because you gotta have friends to survive in the ghetto ... and a pimp hat, yeah, we're gonna need big pimp hats.
Saints Row 2 trailer has us wondering why they even bothered
Anyone who wants to see gameplay footage or cinematics from Saints Row 2, this trailer isn't for you. In fact, we're a bit wary about calling it a "trailer" in the first place. It's more of a sound file with a purple swirly visualiser attached. With four trailers for GTA IV already available, all showing gameplay footage, it doesn't really bode well for Saints Row 2. How could it ever really compare?While Saints Row 2 will be coming out for the PS3, the original never made it and remains an Xbox 360 exclusive. Just another reason why we're not particularly interested in the sequel. Feel free to disagree, though.
Developer admits Saints Row 2 will have 'bugs'
Developer Volition admits that Saints Row 2 "won't be bug free" when it releases. Speaking at the game's unveiling in London, a Volition producer says no title ships bug free, but that the studio is going to do its best to polish the game before it releases this year. He even says the company has "a full QA team" on the project, which given the issues with the first title causes us to imagine it only had a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig named Mortimer testing it. Admitting off the bat there will be bugs is refreshing honesty from a developer, but it's more like preemptive damage control spurred by the fact that Saints Row was known for its comedic code issues. In fact, the bugs were so ridiculous in the game that there was a musical made about them (which can also be found after the break for those afraid of links).
First look at THQ's thuggish Saints Row 2
IGN has the first look scoop on THQ and Volition's gangster sequel Saints Row 2 and all things said, we think the game has some healthy potential.It's obvious that developer Volition took the criticisms of Saints Row and were determined to fix everything possible. For the sequel, they've revamped the game's look, bumped up the amount of dialog, added all kinds of new rides and added the ability to fully "trick out" your character with customization options. You'll not only be able to change your thug's appearance, but you'll even get to change the way he walks and celebrates. Also, your "crib" can be customized to your liking as well. Saints Row 2 sounds to be carrying its own attitude (car bombs FTW!) and its own brand of sandbox style fun, but we cannot help but fear that GTAIV's massive wake will all but drown out any anticipation for Volition's baby. But THQ is confident that it can hold its own, so we'll just have to wait and see if it's a fresh enough experience to pull us away from Liberty City and into Stillwater.
TheStreet.com rattles off the big games of '08
Though we're still shaking off the gaming haze of 2007, aught-eight is under way and waiting for no man. Just when it seems like nothing could top last year's surfeit of incredible games, along comes a feature by TheStreet.com, covering 2008's biggest known releases and reminding us that we're not out of the water yet. Considering their Wall Street pedigree, it shouldn't be surprising that they concentrate mostly on the major public companies and their biggest '08 releases. First up is Take-Two and Grand Theft Auto IV, the obvious frontrunner in terms of sales for '08. Next is EA's Spore, which presents a slightly more muddled outlooks; without a franchise name to build off of, and a nebulous release date, analysts aren't sure where to put it. THQ's been hurting a bit lately, so analysts are hopeful that Saint's Row 2 (expected in '08) along with licensed games (y'know, for kids) will help pull them out of their funk. Oh, and there's some Wii Fit thing which is supposed to make "Nintendo" a bunch of cash. Or something. The last two titles on their list are PS3 exclusives: Metal Gear Solid 4 they say "will be a bigger deal for Sony than for Konami" while LittleBigPlanet could "revive Sony's fortunes in the video games industry." What other big titles should we be looking out for in '08? [Via GamePolitics]
Violent Saint's Row 2 co-op details discovered
CVG wrangled up some new and juicy Saint's Row 2 details from various magazine sources and things are definitely looking good for this sequel. First off, Saint's Row 2 promises a city 45% larger than the original in which you can drive motorcycles, jet-skis, boats and crash buildings with helicopters and planes. You'll also be able to take hostages, dual wield weapons and customize your character like never before. But the most exciting Saints Row 2 feature is co-op. Yup, yup, two-player online campaign co-op is in the works and it'll allow you and a buddy take to the streets for gangster warfare. Things are looking on the up for Saint's Row 2, but can we get some gameplay footage already? It's hard to take our minds off of GTAIV without any gameplay footage.
Quit stepping, Saints Row 2 screenshots emerge
Lock your doors and close your blinds, because Saints Row is back! Jeux-France posted seven (supposed) new screenshots from THQ's Saints Row 2 and it's looking mighty fine. If these are legit, the graphics in this sequel and overall art direction seem to be focused more towards the realistic end of the spectrum, ever so slightly leaving behind the semi-cartoony feel of the first. Which of course we can't complain about. Curious Saints Row fanboys focus your attention after the jump to check out the seven new (supposed) Saints Row 2 screenshots. Bang bang![Via MEGATONik]
Destroy All Humans, Saint's Row sequels not coming this year
A brief note in publisher THQ's fiscal report (PDF file) indicates that a previously announced sequel to Saint's Row will not be marching until fiscal year 2009. In calendar terms, that means excess excess pimp-slapping won't be coming until at least April 1, 2008. Conspicuously absent from the entire report was a mention of a Destroy All Humans sequel. Though DAH3 was reportedly announced in a German magazine as coming out this calendar year to consoles, no mentions were made of the franchise for either FY 2008 or 2009. It is still listed as one of its key IPs, however. There's always a chance, however slim, that THQ could pull a surprise announcement at next week's Min-E3. Expected this fiscal year from THQ are Stuntman: Ignition, Frontlines: Fuel of War, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights and MX vs. ATV. Oh, and licensed titles, too.
