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Multiplayer shooter Nexuiz tied up in the future of THQ Partners
Nexuiz, an arena-based product of Illfonic and THQ Partners, is in limbo following THQ's bankruptcy and assets sale, during which the Partners brand was not sold."Our deal with THQ was basically a licensing deal through THQ Partners, so we do have a period of time [in which] THQ has the rights to be the exclusive publisher," Illfonic president Chuck Brungardt tells Polygon. "Now with them folding we are still trying to figure out what this means and awaiting details from our contacts handling the transitions at THQ."Brungardt says it will probably take another month to figure out the future of Nexuiz and the remaining THQ assets. Nexuiz is lumped in with THQ Partners, the Darksiders franchise, Vigil Games and other back catalog properties that former THQ president Jason Rubin said will be sold off in a separate process.
Warner Bros. to distribute Codemasters games in 2012
British developer/publisher Codemasters has left THQ Partners, who handled its distribution in the Americas during 2011, in favor of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, who will now take care of distribution, sales and marketing for all of Codemasters' 2012 releases in North and South America, including Dirt Showdown and F1 2012.Fake eyewitness accounts report seeing THQ Publishing outside of Codemasters' bedroom window, holding a ghetto blaster above its head that was said to be playing "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel. We have, however, received conflicting reports that a freshly embittered THQ Publishing has opened a record shop and hired a young and enthusiastic Jack Black to work behind the counter.
THQ takes on distribution of four Codemasters releases this year
THQ announced today that, through its THQ Partners unit, it would be handling the North American distribution of four of Codemasters 2011 releases. In fact, THQ Partners actually began its task today, with the release of Dirt 3 into the retail channel. The deal also encompasses distribution of Operation Flashpoint: Red River, Bodycount and F1 2011. The new Operation Flashpoint hits June 7, with Bodycount set for "later this summer." Financial details of the deal weren't disclosed, but it has been confirmed that Codies will continue to handle the marketing of all four titles in-house.
Worms: Battle Islands squirming to PSP, Wii
In case your iPhone, Xbox, PS3 and PC didn't provide enough recent opportunities to play Worms games, you can now look forward to playing Worms: Battle Islands on PlayStation Portable and Wii. Aside from a single-player campaign, Battle Islands adds a new weapon customization utility and the ability to alter the look of individual worms to an even greater extent. The PSP version will be arriving via the PlayStation Network and comes packed with an all new "Tactics Mode," where players use one of the game's 16 "secret island bases" to gain "a tactical advantage for the player to use at the beginning of a game" -- some examples given are "recon a battlefield before the war commences" and "snipe an enemy worm to gain the upper hand." If you explode (or drown, snipe, dismember, etc.) your online opponents fast enough, you'll earn one of their secret base's items. Both Wii and PSP versions will have online multiplayer and the new secret island base feature (only the PSP has "Tactics Mode"). Though we're sure to see these additions in forthcoming Worms titles, they'll be featured first in Worms: Battle Islands when it comes out this November.%Gallery-103143%
THQ Partners program to assist publishers and developers with global distribution
Amidst the seemingly endless barrage of recent business announcements from game developers and publishers, THQ revealed its new "THQ Partners" program, led by former THQ wireless head Tim Walsh. Rather than mirroring similar initiatives at EA and Activision, THQ seems to be taking a different approach to its program: the publisher will be assisting developers and publishers in the US to bring their games to a global audience. Like the aforementioned EA and Activision initatives, however, there's a heavy focus on pedigree. "I'm looking forward to working with a select number of world-class developers and publishers to distribute their great games through our global network," Walsh says of his new position, briefly touching on the "quality over quantity" mantra repeatedly preached by THQ as of late. THQ Global Publishing executive VP Ian Curran echoes the sentiment, adding, "THQ Partners is charged with maximizing the efficiencies of our global distribution network by enhancing our product offerings with quality games from developers and publishers who don't have the benefit of our extensive retail and online sales operations." In human speak, "enhancing our product offerings with quality games" means "we're going to publish good games, and more of them," and those other parts in there talk about working harder to bring more games to more markets, on a global scale. Though we've reached out to see if THQ is already in talks with developers and publishers, the announcement says that Tim Walsh and THQP "will be meeting with interested parties at E3." Update: Tim Walsh answers some questions on the new program for us after the break.
