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THQ closes mobile developer Universomo
THQ has confirmed the closure of Finnish developer Universomo, who worked on mobile licensed games for the publisher -- and whose original (and interesting-looking) DS game, Beat City, is expected to be released this spring. Paradoxically, the confirmation of the shutdown was given to Mobile Entertainment as part of a note about THQ's increased dedication to mobile gaming. "We are very excited about digital gaming and have increased our investment in this area," a THQ rep said. "We have more than 15 games and entertainment applications scheduled for release on mobile handsets this year. That said, we did place Universomo into liquidation." THQ plans to use external companies for the development of these titles. Even so, it seems Universomo picked the wrong time to make a DS game instead of a cell phone game. [Via Edge]
Beat City screens are nice and confusing
We suggested our enthusiasm for THQ's Beat City may be reduced upon seeing actual screenshots of the rhythm-based minigame collection. We're delighted to report that in addition to sounding like a neat idea, we think it looks pretty interesting as well! It's got an unusual geometric art style. You can inspect the style of Beat City for yourself in our gallery, and even see storyboard-style sequences that are ... intended to explain the gameplay. We see an assembly line of crows being turned into parrots. We see a loving couple wearing outfits that grow spontaneously more ren-faire. We don't feel illuminated. %Gallery-86760%
THQ taking DS to Beat City
Ever wonder what a city built on rock and roll would actually look like? Find out this spring when THQ releases Beat City for the DS. Beat City, developed by THQ Wireless developer Universomo, is a series of 20 rhythm-based minigames in which players "tap, swipe, or hold" to the beat, while the city transforms. Success in minigames will help drive Dame Isolde Minor and her Cacophony Corporation, who presumably dislike music, out of the city. While Universomo isn't quite as glamorous a developer as the Nintendo R&D1 team that created Rhythm Heaven, we're delighted to see someone else taking on the idea of rhythm-based minigames. That enthusiasm may diminish when we see actual screens or footage, but why not enjoy the moment? Update: Three screens of some "funky mannequins" are now in our gallery. %Gallery-82928%
