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More THQ stockholders suing THQ over uDraw
After an initial investigation into whether or not THQ misled its investors about the demand for its uDraw tablet – and a subsequent lawsuit – shareholders have filed another lawsuit against the beleaguered publisher, reports GamesIndustry. The class action suit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California by New York law firm Levi & Korsinsky on behalf of THQ shareholders. The complaint alleging that THQ "misrepresented or failed to disclose" that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of uDraw were not selling and, thus, THQ "lacked a reasonable basis for their positive statements" about its current condition.As GI points out, this is the second such lawsuit that THQ has faced in as many months. Shareholders wishing to join the suit may do so by filling out a form on the Levi & Korsinsky website.
THQ suspected of misleading investors about uDraw
A Georgia law firm is investigating THQ to determine if it misled investors about the stagnant demand for its uDraw tablet, before discontinuing its production in February. Holzer Holzer & Fistel assert that THQ may have withheld information about decreased demand for the uDraw, and may have made "false and misleading" statements about its progress, Gamasutra reports.If THQ employed any of these tactics, it could be in violation of federal securities laws.This investigation follows a slew of financial issues at THQ as well as the sale of its UFC franchise rights to competitor Electronic Arts.
THQ no longer manufacturing uDraw hardware
THQ will no longer manufacture uDraw hardware, according to its fiscal 2012 third quarter financial report. "Sales of the uDraw GameTablet and related software, and other titles in the kids, family and casual category were far weaker than anticipated, substantially reducing our financial results for the quarter," reported THQ president and CEO Brian Farrell.The uDraw is seemingly out of picture at this point, as the publisher "has no future commitments or plans to manufacture uDraw hardware." The Wii version of the tablet proved to be a success for THQ in 2010, leading the company to produce versions for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Sales of uDraw on Sony and Microsoft's platforms were underwhelming, however, leading the company to lower financial forecasts at the end of 2011.THQ now plans to focus on "premium core and fighting franchises." The report doesn't specify whether or not THQ will continue to produce software for uDraw, though it seems unlikely given the transition away from children's products. Unless someone is working on a Saints Row art game, of course.
12 Days of Joyswag: uDraw tablet, games, Sony digital photo frame, and Meon
Another year, another 12 days of holiday giveaways! Between now and Christmas Day, we're doing the one thing that makes us feel truly alive: giving. Specifically, we're giving you fine folks some of the swag we've managed to collect in our cluttered home offices. And the good will and merriment doesn't stop here! Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for even more chances to win! While uDraw may not have fared so well on Xbox 360 and PS3, we imagine you won't say no to a free game tablet and two games, uDraw Pictionary (Ultimate Edition!) and uDraw Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat. Still not interested? Let's sweeten the pot with a Sony digital photo frame, which THQ sent to promote the uDraw tablet. Still not convinced? We're not sure what a Meon Interactive Animation Studio is, but we've got one of those in the office as well and it's not doing us any good. Win the entire pile simply by leaving a comment. Rules after the break!
uDraw for 360 and PS3 is multitouch, ships with new Studio software
THQ released the first images of the PS3 and Xbox 360 iterations of the uDraw Game Tablet, due this fall, and revealed details that make the new thing sound more impressive than its Wii contemporary. The HD consoles' tablets both feature "high definition" input at 2000x1600 revolution, multitouch surfaces for "pinch-and-stretch and rotation features," and built-in tilt sensors (which the Wii uDraw has because it has a Wiimote all up in). Both tablets will include copies of a new version of uDraw Studio, called uDraw Studio: Instant Artist, with new tutorials and a new interface. There's also a version of Pictionary planned for the new device.
If uDraw wintry artwork, you could win prizes
Are uEnjoying the uDraw tablet and its included uDraw Studio software? If so (and if you're, like, way talented), you could win a bunch of THQ Wii games. Through Jan. 11, THQ is soliciting winter-themed artwork drawn in uDraw Studio for a "Winter Wonderland" contest. The winning artwork will be used as the background for the World of uDraw website, and the artist behind said artwork will get a "THQ Kids videogame prize pack" for Wii, worth $500. The uDraw thing is somewhat of a surprise hit, so expect lots of competition. For those of you who don't have a tablet, or are crazy enough to go out to the mall today in search of one as a gift, THQ says it's "working with retailers to ensure stock is on hand to meet demand during the busiest shopping season of the year."
THQ uDraw GameTablet 'doing very well,' software lined up through 2012
As Kinect and Move continue to make headlines as the season's hottest hardware, THQ is quietly enjoying the apparent success of its uDraw GameTablet, which launched November 14 for Wii. Early indications from the company suggest the kid-targeted device is selling well at retail (for around $70), as one tongue-in-cheek tweet from VP Danny Bilson hinted. Without sharing specific sales figures, Wayne Cline, director of product development for THQ's Kids, Family and Casual division, got a bit more specific about uDraw's performance. "Our early reports are looking very promising, and I know we're doing very well at Walmart, Best Buy and Toys R Us -- outlets like that," he told Joystiq. "And we're getting really good first-look feedback from a lot of things like parenting magazines and such. It's looking very positive." But how long will that last? %Gallery-99627%
uDraw preview: Hands-on with THQ's GameTablet
THQ's uDraw GameTablet is a rather interesting peripheral. At first glance, it looks like a first-party peripheral. The simple mostly-white design makes it a perfect companion for the Wii, the Balance Board and the iconic Remote itself. Even after playing a few of the games that are compatible with the device, it's hard not to think of it as a Nintendo-made accessory. Essentially, the uDraw enables gamers to translate a DS-esque stylus-based gaming experience onto the TV. I tested uDraw Studio, a design application that comes bundled with the uDraw peripheral. In addition, I got to try out Pictionary and Dood's Big Adventure, two additional games that support the accessory.
THQ pencils in uDraw release date: November 14
THQ's uDraw device, a drawing tablet for Wii, will launch in North America on November 14. The $69.99 package will include the tablet and uDraw Studio, a drawing and coloring game. In addition, the other two known uDraw-compatible games, Pictionary and Dood's Big Adventure, will also be released on November 14, for $30 each. Along with these three release dates (or this one release date for three things), THQ noted that "Future waves of video game titles are planned during calendar 2011 and beyond." It's nice to have some measure of reassurance that the peripheral will be supported, at least.%Gallery-99627%
Nintendo support was crucial to uDraw's creation
THQ may be the company publicly pushing the recently announced uDraw tablet controller for the Wii, but a presentation of the new technology at Gamescom this week emphasized just how important Nintendo's support was to the device's creation. "When we came to [Nintendo] in the beginning with the idea for uDraw, they said 'that's brilliant, let's figure out how to do this,'" THQ director Luis Gigliotti said during a presentation. "It's been an incredible partnership. ... I've been working in game development for 17-plus years and I can honestly say this is one of the smoothest collaborations with a first party I've ever had, just because everybody got it on day one." Gigliotti specifically pointed out that Nintendo's hardware design expertise was key to transforming the monstrous uDraw prototype (nicknamed "Frankenstein" by the THQ team), into the light, sleek unit shown off at the show. "[The prototype] was a like bunch of lasers and mirrors and loose parts, it was wood and it had brass on it," he recalled. "I said, 'There's no way we can get this to something like this [the current hardware] without it costing a fortune.' Nintendo said, 'Don't worry about it. You guys are software developers, we are the kings of hardware. We will figure this out.' And they did, for one reason -- the idea was solid. Everybody knew it was a good idea, so we figured out the rest."
Video: Digital artist gets some face time with THQ's uDraw
We saw some of the gaming applications of THQ's uDraw Wii peripheral earlier this week -- but how well will the tablet function as an actual virtual drawing tool? Prolific iPad illustrator David Kassan recently tried his hand at uDrawing, the results of which can be found in the video posted below.
THQ announces uDraw Game Tablet for Wii
How's this for heady irony? The "Games Aren't Art" faction takes a mighty blow today, and it comes at the hands of the publisher that brought us ... 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand. THQ has revealed "uDraw," a four-by-six inch tablet peripheral for the Wii that makes drawing as natural an input into the system as punching and pointing. It launches this holiday season in the states for $70, bundled with uDraw Studio, an "expansive drawing, coloring and art-based video game." A couple of other titles, Pictionary and Dood's Big Adventure will arrive on the same day for the appealing price of $30 with more on the way. Wiicasos in international territories can look for the pad in early 2011. %Gallery-99627%
THQ's uDraw GameTablet is like a Wacom for Wii (video)
Art games on consoles tend to be unpopular creations, Mario Paint about the only one to even approach retail success, but maybe all they needed was a proper input method. That's what THQ is hoping, at least, announcing the uDraw GameTablet for the Nintendo Wii. It's a chubby, pencil-like stylus tethered to a tablet that connects wirelessly to the console thanks to the Wiimote that slots right in. The tablet comes with a drawing game called uDraw Studio, while THQ is also working on an artsy platformer called Dood's Big Adventure and a digital version of Pictionary, which could be this thing's killer app. (You can catch a glimpse of them all in action in the video after the break.) The tablet will cost $69.99 when it ships by the end of the year, while games will be a rather more affordable $29.99. THQ also promises more games to come through 2011, but we're guessing their release is somewhat contingent on just how many little Picassos find these in their stockings this holiday season.
