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Nordic Games involved with THQ since January, is talking sequels
Nordic Games picked up most of the IPs in THQ's back catalog auction, dishing out $4.9 million for Darksiders, Red Faction, MX vs ATV, Titan Quest and a slew of unannounced games from THQ's long list of for-sale properties. Nordic was a surprise to some, especially next to Gearbox, which picked up the Homeworld franchise, and 505 Games, which snagged Drawn to Life and its sequel. But Nordic isn't new."We've been in conversation with THQ since January," Nordic CEO Lars Wingefors told Game Informer. "We signed all the NDAs in January."Wingefors has been in the gaming industry for 20 years, he said, and has handled "a lot" of THQ products during that time. In November 2011, Nordic acquired publisher JoWood, in charge of Painkiller and Torchlight, and also ended up with Canadian publisher Dreamcatcher, spawning Nordic's publishing focus.Nordic took part in the first THQ auction as well, which sold off properties such as Saints Row and some development studios for upwards of $20 million. That sale was too rich for Wingefors: "Saints Row went for $22 million and Koch bought that development studio with that burn rate on a daily basis. Even though I do have financial resources, I don't have those kind of resources."Wingefors didn't want a studio. Nordic is a "middle man" looking for the right team to make some new sequels; there's already been plenty of interest in Darksiders, he said."We have to be very honest," Wingefors said. "I am a business man within the games industry. We are not the creative, talented developer that brings out new versions in house. I understand the potential of the IPs. I respect the original creators and the creative people who are able to create sequels. In the past 24 hours, we have been contacted and there have been a few discussions (but I can't confirm names)."Nordic took home more than 50 former THQ games, but has yet to release the full list."As we still have some open points with regards to a couple of titles we will not publish a comprehensive list at this stage," a Nordic Games representative told Joystiq yesterday. "However, once everything is fixed and the ink is dry – around mid-May – we will go out with a comprehensive list of titles which we have acquired in the process."Nordic will hold talks this summer with different developers, during E3 especially. Don't expect any sequels too soon, though."You won't see a new Darksiders this year," Wingefors said. "I don't believe in bringing out a shitty sequel."
THQ auction results: Nordic Games takes Darksiders, Red Faction; 505 Games is Drawn to Life
The THQ back catalog auction results are in, with Nordic Games riding away with the intellectual property (IP) rights to Darksiders, Red Faction and MX vs. ATV for $4.9 million. The company picked up nearly all the assets in the auction, including Titan Quest, Supreme Commander, Frontlines, Stuntman, Juiced, Full Spectrum Warrior, Destroy All Humans and much more. "First and foremost we are very happy about this deal which also turns over a new leaf for the entire Nordic Games Group. In the long term, we either want to cooperate with the original creators or best possible developers in order to work on sequels or additional content for these titles," said Nordic Games CEO Lars Wingefors. "A very important point for us is not to dash into several self-financed multi-million dollar projects right away, but rather to continue our in-depth analysis of all titles and carefully selecting different financing models for developing new instalments of acquired IPs." The other reveal is 505 Games grabbed the rights to Drawn to Life and Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter for $300K. The news follows this afternoon's unexpected acquisition of the Homeworld franchise by Gearbox Software. We now know the price tag for Gearbox to re-release the original games on digital distribution networks and take a swing at its own spin on the real-time strategy franchise was $1.35 million. We've listed the winning bids in greater detail after the break.
Painkiller: Hell and Damnation coming to Mac, Linux this spring
Nordic Games has announced Mac and Linux releases of Painkiller: Hell and Damnation, the remake of People Can Fly's frantic FPS, along with a mod-kit for the PC version. Nordic says they'll be available sometime this spring, while the game is due out on Xbox and PS3 on April 5.As for the mod-kit, it'll use UnrealEd and be integrated with Steam Workshop, letting players create items, weapons, multiplayer skins, new maps and games for the Painkiller experience.We can expect the beta for that sometime in April, so mark your calendars for lots of painkillin' around then.
Painkiller H&D dev loots temples in Deadfall Adventures for 360, PC
The next game from developer The Farm 51 and publisher Nordic Games is Deadfall Adventures, a first-person shooter/puzzler with a definite Indiana Jones air about it. The game, due July 30 on Xbox 360 and PC, is set in 1938 and stars an intrepid explorer called James Lee Quatermain who's escorting a (probably beautiful) US agent called Jennifer Goodwin. Their mission is to travel to an Egyptian temple and retrieve an ancient treasure, The Heart of Atlantis, ahead of the Nazis or Russians. All that's missing is the whip.Still, it's not like Deadfall Adventures is the first or anything, and Nordic Games isn't shy about its cinematic inspirations and aspirations."Deadfall Adventures marries the ethos of the Saturday morning matinee with the summer blockbuster to create an original adventure which will grip players from start to finish," said Nordic managing director Klemens Kreuzer. "We're putting players into the heart of the action, just as they'd dreamed as children, staring at their heroes on the silver screen."The Farm 51 and Nordic teamed up on Painkiller: Hell and Damnation last year, clearly a relationship both parties enjoyed. Whether or not they can build on that to help Deadfall Adventures do justice to its summer blockbuster billing - well, we'll wait and see. %Gallery-180158%
Painkiller Hell and Damnation delayed until April on consoles
Painkiller: Hell and Damnation was released on PC back in October, but Xbox 360 and PS3 owners are doomed to wait. Originally set for January 22, The Farm 51's remake of the original game will now be released on April 5. It'll be sold in both a "standard" edition for $29.99/29.99/24.99, and a "collector's" edition for $10 more."We have been working around the clock to bring the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game in line with the quality and standard of the PC game," Nordic Games Production and Business Development Manager Reinhard Pollice said in the announcement. "There has been a slight delay so that the console communities can enjoy the fiendishly ghoulish experience that we know they want and deserve."
Get a glimpse of The Raven, from Unwritten Tales developer King ART
King ART, developer of The Book of Unwritten Tales, has a new adventure game in the works called The Raven. The game is set in 1960s Europe and has players on the hunt to find a thief known as The Raven, who has stolen an emerald called the "Eye of the Sphinx." The Raven is in development for PC, Mac and as-yet-unannounced consoles. Put on your favorite detective hat and check out the trailer (above) and gallery for the game from Gamescom. %Gallery-163318%
Rochard boxed edition slingshots to EU shelves this month
European publisher Nordic Games is launching Rochard on a whole new plane – the physical one. A boxed edition of Rochard for PC is set to hit shelves on August 14, including the game, a poster and the soundtrack.CEO of Recoil Games Jan Achrenius says that apart from reaching a new, store-going audience, the boxed edition will be handy for the collectors out there:"Signing this deal with Nordic Games means that we'll be able to bring Rochard to fans of the game and PC Gamers who like to display their games on a shelf."We are delighted to expand the scope of Rochard and build a successful relationship with Nordic Games, their extensive games catalogue speaks for itself."If you haven't already bought Rochard in its digital form, maybe hold out for the real – er, we mean, boxed – version to pack in a few hours of side-scrolling, gravity gameplay. It might just be worth it.
Book of Unwritten Tales available in North America right now
King Art's Book of Unwritten Tales adventure game is now available in North America after launching in the UK late last year. The critically acclaimed point-and-click saga has a brand new re-launch trailer above, detailing the basic tropes found in the adventure genre – for those of you crazy enough to have skipped some of the classics.While BoUT, as it's called for short by fans, might borrow the trappings of yesteryear are decidedly in the vein of the current generation. You can grab the game for $19.99 at a digital or physical retailer near you.%Gallery-161485%
Joyswag & Unboxing: Alan Wake PC Collector's Edition
At GDC 2012, Remedy Entertainment handed Joystiq two copies of the PC Collector's Edition for Alan Wake. We're passing them on to our readers!Distributed by Nordic Games in Europe and Legacy in North America, the Collector's Edition includes a number of bonuses. Like the Xbox 360 Collector's Edition, Alan Wake's retail release for PC includes a behind-the-scenes DVD, 'The Alan Wake Files' book, and more. There are also exclusive PC bonuses, like additional music on the soundtrack disc, Bright Falls postcards, and stickers.For a detailed look at the Collector's Edition, check out our unboxing video above. Find out how to enter the giveaway after the break.
Alan Wake busts into box form on April 3 in North America
Remedy Entertainment and Nordic Games have snagged Legacy Interactive to distribute the boxed PC version of Alan Wake in North America and will begin shipping the title on April 3. This deal took some careful planning, it appears, as Remedy previously extended the Steam collector's edition launch deal for an extra week while North American fans waited for a physical launch announcement.Similarly to the Steam version, the boxed PC edition of Alan Wake includes two DLC packs, The Writer and The Signal, and supports stereoscopic 3D and multiple screens.
Alan Wake extending launch deal on Steam for another week
While Remedy has locked down a retail partner for the boxed release of Alan Wake in Europe, a North American deal still hasn't been worked out. Because of this, Remedy has decided to extend the availability of the Alan Wake collector's edition on Steam for another week.The collector's edition includes everything in the standard edition -- both DLC episodes, The Signal and The Writer, the original soundtrack, some posters and stickers and a manual -- plus optional commentary and background information that can be turned on during the game. We recently spoke with Remedy's Oskari Hakkinen about Alan Wake's PC debut and the possibility of XBLA follow-up Alan Wake's American Nightmare on the platform. We may be biased, but we think it's a pretty good read.
Alan Wake getting boxed PC version from Nordic Games
For those not content with simply downloading the PC version of Alan Wake next month, Nordic Games has some good news. The Swedish publisher will be releasing a boxed version of Alan Wake's PC outing, with an official launch date to be announced in "the next few days."Like its downloadable cousin, the boxed version will also include both of Alan Wake's DLC episodes, "The Signal" and "The Writer."
