Homefront
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THQ sales slump for FY2011, looking to successful sequels in 2012
THQ has announced its earnings for fiscal year 2011, which ended March 31, 2011. Stacked up against last year's report, the publisher's net sales on a GAAP basis were down from $899 million to $665 million, a drop of $234 million overall. Its net loss saw a dramatic increase from $9.6 million to $135 million, most likely attributable to a large marketing push for Homefront and ramp-up in the number of titles in development. Brian Farrell, the company's president and CEO, decided to focus on the coming fiscal year in his statements, stating that "We expect to generate significant growth, profitability and cash in fiscal 2012, driven by the latest installments of multi-million unit selling franchises Saints Row, Red Faction, Warhammer 40,000, MX vs. ATV, UFC, WWE and uDraw." Net sales for Q4 2011 also slumped, totaling $124 million, down $74 million from $198 million in Q4 2010. The company's biggest release for the quarter, Homefront, shipped 2.6 million copies before March 31 according to Farrell. The title had sold through one million units as of March 24.
Crysis 2 holds back Zumba Fitness invasion on UK charts
Crysis 2 barely held off Zumba Fitness from taking the top spot on the UK sales chart last week, with only 500 copies separating the two, according to Chart-Track. The Zumba rise in the all-formats chart (up 3,148 percent) was triggered by the Wii version's launch on April 1 (no joke). Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars slipped one spot into third, while Shift 2: Unleashed debuted in fourth. Fellow racer Motorstorm: Apocalypse didn't have such a stellar premiere in position 17, perhaps due in part to some launch hiccups. Homefront lost a little ground last week, retreating back to fifth. Keeping THQ's heavily marketed first-person shooter company were two new chart entrants: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters and WWE All Stars, which premiered in sixth and seventh, respectively. Activate power mode and sprint past the break for the UK top ten.
Homefront Xbox patch live, 'wide range of exciting DLC' inbound
In what is, perhaps, the least funny April Fools' Day gag yet, THQ has released a new patch for the Xbox 360 version of Homefront, which fixes the "profile freezing" issue that has plagued the game; similar to the one found in S.H.R.A.P.N.E.L. Squad. A few problems: 1. THQ made the announcement yesterday. (Sorry guys, against the rules) 2. The profile freeze is an actual bug -- what's funny about that? 3. The patch was actually released, so it's barely even a prank at this point. THQ got closer with its tease of a "wide range of exciting DLC" that's in the works, but where are the hilarious details? Does the DLC turn all the guns into rubber chickens? Put bananas peels all over the battleground? You have to give us something.
Crysis 2 and 3DS premieres shake up UK top ten
Crysis 2 and the Nintendo 3DS both disrupted the steady order of the UK all-formats charts last week, with Crytek's showcase shooter taking top spot in software. According to Chart-Track, the distribution of sales across formats for Crysis 2 gave 57 percent to Xbox 360, 29 percent to PS3 and 14 percent on PC -- of course, the company doesn't account for digital distribution, which would likely alter the PC figure. Other chart-topping debuts last week included Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars in second and The Sims: Medieval in seventh. The 3DS premiere helped launch Super Street Fighter 4 3D Edition, Pilotwings Resort and Rayman 3D into the overall top ten, with Capcom's portable fighter winding up in fourth as the most popular launch title for the system. The 3DS version of Lego Star Wars 3 was the fifth most successful title for 3DS, just below Super Monkey Ball 3D. Meanwhile, last week's chart-topper, Homefront, lost a little ground and fell back to third place. Check out the UK top ten after the break.
Homefront debuts at #6 on Xbox Live charts
Major Nelson has released the Xbox Live activity numbers for the week of March 14, and things are looking good for THQ's Homefront. After less than a week on the shelves, Homefront debuted at number six on the charts. While a far cry from the top spot (unsurprisingly occupied by Black Ops), it's still impressive for a brand new property, especially in its first week. Then again, given Homefront's sales figures, a strong showing on Xbox Live isn't too shocking. On the Xbox Live Arcade front, newcomer Full House Poker took the top spot, with Runic's Torchlight coming in second. The XBLA version of Battle: Los Angeles, despite a complete lack of marketing, landed in third. Oh, you hadn't heard? Yes, there totally is a Battle: Los Angeles game on XBLA.
Homefront sells a million, ships 2.4 million units
THQ has shined its best bugle to announce that Homefront is a success: today, the publisher revealed the game has managed to infiltrate one million homes in North America, Europe and Asia. Last week, the game was the top seller on UK Chart Track. Additionally, THQ reveals that 2.4 million copies have been shipped. "We are very pleased with strong worldwide shipments and sell-through for Homefront, and we continue to fulfill new retail orders for the game across the globe," concluded THQ president and CEO, Brian Farrell, in the announcement.
Homefront invades UK charts
THQ's Homefront blitzed the UK's wallets last week, taking the top spot on Chart-Track's all formats chart. According to Chart-Track data obtained by Eurogamer, format purchasing for the new IP was quite lopsided, with 70 percent of total retail Homefront sales being on Xbox 360, 26 percent on PS3 and the four percent remainder (which does not include digital distribution) on PC. Due to the invasion the prior week's top two, Dragon Age 2 and Pokemon White, slipped down one spot each, leaving BioWare's well-received RPG in second place. Beyond Homefront, the UK saw several solid premieres last week. PC-exclusive Total War: Shogun 2 found an honorable place in fourth, while multiplatform tennis sim Top Spin 4 just missed out on the top ten in the 12th spot. Taking a trip further down the list, we find Yakuza 4 debuting at number 25.
Analysts weigh in on Homefront's potential profitability
Homefront has had an interesting ride so far. Touted as THQ's most pre-ordered game in company history, it debuted to middling reviews (ours included), which seemingly triggered a massive decline in THQ's stock price. Still, despite reviews, THQ announced over 375,000 units in first day sales. It's also worth noting that both Amazon and Walmart knocked $20 off Homefront the day after it released, which probably aided sales as well. Whether or not Homefront proves profitable for THQ, well, that's where analysts come in! Speaking to Benzinga, Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter noted that THQ would need to move two million units to break even. In light of the need to move in excess of two million to yield a profit, Pachter called day one sales "a disappointing start," adding that poor reviews could lead to stagnating sales moving forward. That said, Pachter does expect the title to at least break even. Bradley Safalow of PAA Research pins Homefront's low review scores on its short single-player campaign. Had the campaign been two to three hours longer, said Safalow, "then it could have achieved a Metacritic of 80." Safalow believes Homefront could bring in a "modest profit" for THQ, though he has much higher hopes for Saints Row: The Third. Finally, Wall Street Strategies' Brian Sozzi expects Homefront to meet THQ's overall sales goals with the help of downloadable content. Like Safalow, Sozzi's firm is also "optimistic" regarding Saints Row: The Third and Red Faction: Armageddon.
Homefront PS3 patch met with poor reviews; stats reset unaddressed
Kaos Studios responded to reports of "freezing" issues and other bugs in Homefront by pushing out a patch for the PS3 version of the game last night at approximately 8PM ET. In its announcement, the developer claimed that "far fewer issues" had been reported in the Xbox 360 version, though a title update was in the works nonetheless. Additionally, a "small hotfix" was released for the PC version yesterday, to be followed by "a patch with full change-list in the near future." Following the update's release via PlayStation Network, a few worrisome comments began to appear below the announcement post. "I thik [sic] they broke the game," observed one commenter complaining of lag. "I hadn't had any lock up problems till this update, now all it does is lock up making the game unplayable for me," posted another. "I too have lost my rank (PS3)," reads a more alarming comment, "I was rank 24 and i played a game and noticed i was back to 2." This issue of reset player ranks and XP appears not to be an unintended side effect of the patch, but rather an ongoing issue since the game's launch earlier this week, acknowledged by Kaos yesterday afternoon. "We are aware of the buggy leader boards and stat tracking issues and it is being addressed in an upcoming patch," promised Kaos' Dan Matlack in response to one of the many, many forum threads on the issue. While the stats reset bug was not addressed in last night's update, Kaos' patch notes did highlight the introduction of "several fixes for reported freezes." In the main "PS3 'Freezing' Issues" thread, posters have reported mostly failed results. In the "Multiplayer Status Update" thread, similar complaints about freezing have appeared following the patch's release, in addition to reported server connection and party system failures. Still, some forum-goers remain optimistic: "great patch, the only problem im still having is my ps3 is freezes usually after every other game," posted a cheery St0rMiN_X_NoRMaN. [Thanks, Gwynne]
Metareview: Homefront
There is definitely a war going on in Homefront, especially in the game's review scores. We weren't exactly keen on the game, but hardly anybody seems to be. The general consensus has the game taking significant lambasting by outlets over the short, mediocre single-player campaign, tempered by what the title has going on in multiplayer: GamePro (4/5): "Homefront does a whole lot right, delivering powerful imagery and actions on the single-player side, as well as interesting multiplayer alterations, but neither end feels fully realized. ... Should Kaos expand on this promising start with meaningful and memorable additions in a sequel, Homefront may prove a potent franchise in no time at all." Game Informer (70/100): "Thanks to some well-crafted maps and a unique in-game economy, the multiplayer fares better than the campaign. Rather than give each team a set number of vehicles at the start of the match, Homefront rewards you with Battle Points for each kill, assist, or flag capture." IGN (70/100): "[Homefront] controls and feels like a typical shooter, looks like a game that's several years old, and most importantly, has an inexcusably brief campaign. Multiplayer is Homefront's redeeming quality, and those gamers out there who are like me and swoon for alternate/future history settings should certainly look into it. " 1UP (B-): "Kaos Studios has made a competent shooter to accompany an engrossing story, one I'm more than willing to finish (assuming a sequel will be made). Multiplayer is where the game's real value lies, and it's certainly more than competent. There's a polish to the online mode that speaks to the developer's true talent." Giant Bomb (3/5): "Whether or not you decide to pick up Homefront should rely entirely on how much you want to play its multiplayer. It's not quite exciting or remarkable enough to trump the current giants of online dude-shooting, but it's a solidly crafted mode made comparatively impressive by just how tremendously mediocre the game's single-player campaign proves to be." %Gallery-104301%
Homefront devs looking into 'freezing' issues, THQ did not support price drops 'in any way, shape, or form'
Homefront developer Kaos Studios notes on its forums that it's currently investigating reports of the game "freezing" on both the PS3 and Xbox 360. The company asks for patience, as it "will need a bit of time" to figure out what the problem is. Of course, if they do figure it out, then comes the console certification process (fun times). THQ and Kaos Studios can't seem to catch a break during the high-profile Homefront's launch week. Despite solid initial sales of 375,000 units of the game, bad review scores have punched THQ's stock price and yesterday's pricing "race to the bottom" by Amazon and Walmart didn't help perception. For its part, THQ issued the following comment on the price drops: Amazon and Wal-Mart.com have raised the prices back up and it was a one day play to gain market share on the biggest title in the industry right now. THQ did not support this in any way, shape, or form.
Homefront first day sales 'robust,' server capacity being added
Despite some rough reviews for Homefront (including our own) and a nasty dip in stock price (it's still down), things aren't all frowny face in THQ Land. Homefront already had the distinction of being the most pre-ordered title in THQ history and now, just one day after launch, THQ is trumpeting "robust" first day North American sales of approximately 375,000 units. Of course, nothing says "successful multiplayer game" like a server boost, and THQ core games veep Danny Bilson is happy to note as much. "Due to the strong and growing demand for Homefront's multiplayer, we continue to add dedicated server capacity," Bilson said in a press release. Bilson's boss, CEO Brian Farrell, added, "We are delighted with first day sales for Homefront and are already fulfilling re-orders for the game from multiple retailers." $20 says that two of those retailers are Walmart and Amazon.
Homefront just $42 from Walmart, Amazon
Just as Homefront's citizen soldiers attempt to roll back a fictionalized North Korean invasion of our homes and chain restaurants, Walmart and Amazon have valiantly rolled back the price of the newly launched game. Just a day after Homefront's official release date, monolithic superstore Walmart began selling the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game for $41.96, both for in-store and online (though brick-and-mortar stores still have it at full price, according to a reader). Online purchases also include an "exclusive Goliath Drone Avatar." (The PC edition remains $49.96.) Seemingly in response to Walmart's discount (it's unknown whether it's temporary or permanent), Amazon has dropped the price of its Homefront console copies to exactly the same $41.96. The game's approaching "White Castle takeout" prices at a rapid clip!
THQ stock drops 25 percent in one day on Homefront launch
"If THQ can come up with a couple of franchises that sell well, that's a much clearer path to profitability and a higher stock price." -- Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital Markets "75" -- Metacritic score for Homefront, the most pre-ordered title in THQ's history "This score is a bit of a disaster for THQ and the share price today is reflecting that." -- Mike Hickey of Janco Partners
Homefront review: First-person Hooters
Maybe I'm naive, but I honestly believe there was a point at which Homefront was destined to be something special. An FPS war game where the conflict was made intensely personal by staging it in America and waging it with real people? It's an inarguably rock-solid concept. The question then (and isn't the question always some variation on this?) is how did Kaos Studios and THQ go from that great germ of an idea to the brain-dead, dull and frankly pretty lousy final product they're releasing today? %Gallery-107660%
Homefront mobilizes launch trailer
Homefront is prepared for its March 15 launch, sending out the final trailer to gather troops for battle against The Great Leader.
Homefront fires off its multiplayer carnage trailer
THQ's made it no secret that Homefront's design "emphasis is on multiplayer." This trailer seeks to tempt multiplayer shooter fans away from their beloved Call of Duty and Battlefield.
Overheard@GDC: Homefront devs 'put a baby in a dumpster' (and then took it out)
Kaos Studios' Homefront has gone "gold" and is under two weeks away from being released. We found out yesterday afternoon about one scenario that didn't make the cut: protecting a dumpster ... with a baby in it. Lead single-player designer Chris Cross (real name!) related a story about the team's process of involving civilian presence in the game. Cross said his team wanted to "make it relevant without making it cheap." As it turns out, relevant became a little crazy -- at least initially. "We went through all kinds of crazy crap! We put a baby in a dumpster and were using that as a bullet shield," Cross explained, heartily laughing. "We were trying a bunch of very strange ideas." We'll be doggedly exploring every dumpster we find in Homefront in search of secret (baby) easter eggs when the game ships on March 15.
Homefront franchise to be co-developed by THQ Montreal: 'Manhattan is an incredibly expensive place'
As heavily hinted at in comments made by Homefront devs Kaos Studios and publisher THQ eariler this year, it looks like the future of the franchise won't be created solely in The Big Apple. Senior VP of Core Studios Dave Davis spoke to the THQ Montreal/Kaos Studios collaboration during a studio head roundtable this afternoon at GDC. "Wherever the talent is, we will have our studios," Davis told us, though he admitted that "Manhattan is an incredibly expensive place." Yeah, we know all about it, Dave. He also added, "There isn't a [critical mass] talent pool -- many of the people we have there are imported to NYC." That said, he doesn't see Kaos shutting its doors as its employees relocate to The Great White North. In fact, Kaos has already worked with the Montreal studio (in a relatively cursory sense) on the first game in the franchise. "When finishing Homefront, we had about 10-11 people who helped shipped the original Homefront. And that was talent that we got from Montreal that we couldn't get anywhere else," Davis said. He further assured us that "We're trying to do the best thing for the product and the best thing for the studio, and going forward there will definitely be collaboration." What's not clear is if collaboration means consolidation in this case.
Homefront is most pre-ordered title in THQ history
Say what you will about the silly and even careless marketing campaign for Homefront, but it appears to be working, as THQ core games VP Danny Bilson told Eurogamer that Homefront has racked up more pre-orders than any other game in the publisher's history. Bilson didn't reveal worldwide numbers, though he noted that 200,000 pre-orders have been made in the US alone. That would seem to be good news for developer Kaos Studios, whose employees voiced concern over a possible studio move or closure after Homefront's completion. Bilson intimated that the developer's fate rests on the success of the game, saying that sales would "help influence" what might happen going forward; and he insisted THQ hasn't made any decisions at this point. "That's the truth." "A lot of it has to do with how successful [Homefront] is and how strong that core team comes out on the other side," said Bilson, adding that he "loves" Kaos and that THQ is "trying to do what's best for everyone."
