Insert Quarter: The Rise and Fall of THQ’s Empire

Posted on December 12, 2014 by John Scalzo

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Insert Quarter is our showcase for some of the best and most interesting writing about video games on the Internet.

Gamers often didn’t know what to make of THQ. The publisher built its empire on the backs of tie-in games based on Nickelodeon and Pixar properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants and The Incredibles. But they also produced intriguing original games such as Saints Row: The Third and Darksiders. They were even the initial driving force behind Evolve, one of 2015’s most anticipated games. But that all changed when the company went bankrupt early last year.

So what happened? Tracey Lien, writing for Polygon, set out to discover the answer by talking to as many former THQ employees as she could including the charismatic (but possibly crazy) Danny Bilson. Her portrait of a publisher in free fall makes you wonder, could anything have been done?

Many blame the company’s fall on the licensed games well drying up. Some pin it on the commercial failure of the company’s uDraw tablet for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Others point to poor management and too many risky bets.

“There isn’t any one, isolated event that killed the company,” says a former THQ executive who asked to not be named. “This was one of the most successful video game businesses in America. We were a billion dollar company. It was complicated.”

THQ suffered a “death by a million spider bites,” the executive says.

The full article is available for your perusal at Polygon.

Posted in 3DS, DS, Insert Quarter, Mobile, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Retro, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 | Tagged , ,

The greatest trick CoD: Advanced Warfare ever pulled was being Nov 2014’s best-selling game

Posted on December 11, 2014 by John Scalzo

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Activision’s Call of Duty franchise continues its reign atop the video game world by capturing the top spot in The NPD Group’s survey of November 2014’s best-selling games. It managed to hold off a strong challenge from Grand Theft Auto V, which received a huge boost from its new-generation re-release.

Nintendo had a very good month as Super Smash Bros. For Wii U and Super Smash Bros. For 3DS managed to sneak into the top three thanks to their combined might (The NPD Group considers them one game for the purposes of the monthly list). Further down the list, Pokemon: Alpha Sapphire shot to #5 while Pokemon: Omega Ruby owned the #7 spot (for some reason, the latest Pokemon release is considered two separate games by The NPD Group).

Ubisoft also had multiple games in the top ten, including Far Cry 4 at #6. Assassin’s Creed: Unity entered the list at #9, and while that’s an impressive achievement, it’s well below the top-three ranking attained by both Assassin’s Creed III and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag during their respective debut months.

Finally, Microsoft has plenty to crow about tonight as they’ve revealed to IGN that that the Xbox One outsold the PS4 for the first time.

The full top ten for November 2014 can be found after the break.

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Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

Nintendo Download: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, Xeodrifter, more

Posted on December 11, 2014 by John Scalzo

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Do you object to hearing about this week’s Nintendo Download? I wouldn’t, because Capcom has added the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy collection to the 3DS eShop. The wild courtroom antics of Phoenix Wright will be joined on the 3DS eShop by Xeodrifter, a Metroidvania-style game from Moon Chronicles developer Renegade Kid.

In other eShop release news this week, Activision is opening up their vault once again and dropping a ton of older 3DS and Wii U games onto Nintendo’s digital storefront. Angry Birds Trilogy (3DS and Wii U), Angry Birds Star Wars (3DS and Wii U), Wipeout 2 (3DS), and Transformers: Dark of the Moon (3DS) are all available to download now.

More details on all of these games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break.

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Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged ,

IDARB will be released for Xbox One in February… but you can win it early

Posted on December 11, 2014 by John Scalzo

IDARB, Other Ocean’s eight-player basketball/hockey hybrid, will be released for the Xbox One in February 2015. The retro-inspired game will be available for free through Microsoft’s Games With Gold program, but dedicated fans might be able to score a copy two months early.

Other Ocean plans to give away download codes for the game through their Twitter account, on IDARB.com, and through live video streams on their Twitch channel. Major Nelson will also have some codes to give out during tomorrow’s “Free Code Friday” event on his blog.

If IDARB is new to you, here’s what you can expect when it comes to the Xbox One this February:

IDARB is a competitive game for up to eight players that combines classic 2D platformer mechanics with hockey and basketball rules. Players can draw their own characters in a charming 8-bit pixel style, build their own teams, compose their own fight songs, and compete with other players either in the same room or over the internet.

In a nod to real arena sports, IDARB is the first video game where fans spectating a session can disrupt the players, in real time, using either Twitch or Twitter. Spectators can turn the ball into a bomb, spawn fireworks, fill the screen with water, and more.

Don’t forget to check out the game’s “Release Date Trailer” above. It very lovingly spoofs the recently released Star Wars: The Force Awakens teaser.

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged

Square Enix confirms that Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is coming to PS4

Posted on December 11, 2014 by John Scalzo

finalfantasyxboxAfter being teased on their online store a few days ago, Square Enix has confirmed that Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will be making the jump to the PS4. The two-pack should be available sometime next Spring, presumably right around the same time as Final Fantasy VII.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster will be released as a retail disc and will include “system-exclusive features” on the PS4. But aside from that news, Square Enix isn’t ready to go into detail on just what those features may be.

Oh, and the publisher also revealed that Final Fantasy VII will be priced at $15.99 and will be available exclusively through the PlayStation Store.

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged ,

NetherRealm is making WWE Immortals for mobile devices

Posted on December 11, 2014 by John Scalzo

netherrealmstudios-logoWarner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has announced that NetherRealm’s mobile team has teamed up with the WWE to create WWE Immortals for mobile devices running iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) and Android. In recent years, the team has produced mobile games based on Batman: Arkham City, Batman: Arkham Origins, and Injustice: Gods Among Us.

“It’s amazing to be working with WWE to offer a new way for fans to experience the brand on mobile platforms,” said Greg Ballard, the Senior Vice President of Mobile, Social, and Emerging Platforms at WB Games. “NetherRealm Studios are experts in creating award-winning games and the team is working hard to deliver the same quality of engaging gameplay with WWE Immortals.”

“We are excited to partner with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios to create WWE Immortals and bring a new action-packed mobile experience to our passionate fan base,” said Casey Collins, the Executive Vice President of Consumer Products at WWE. “By tapping into NetherRealm’s legendary game development studio along with the unparalleled reach of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, we are creating a new way for fans to engage with the larger-than-life WWE characters.”

Chicago-based Phosphor Game Studios will assist in the development of WWE Immortals, which will be available sometime in 2015.

Posted in Mobile, News |

Daily Scoop: December 11, 2014 – The snow is here!

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Nicole Kline

The snow has finally touched down here in Philadelphia! It’s light, but it’s still beautiful. I need to leave to go to a dentist’s appointment, which is a bummer, as I’d rather be snuggled up all day playing video games. But teeth are important! So away I go.

Of course, I need to talk about deals first. It’s the last few hours of the Humble Weekly Bundle, so if you want all these simulators, you still have time. Pay what you want for Lunar Flight, Rescue – Everyday Heroes, Farming World, Postmaster, and Zoo Park. Pay $6 or more for Cities in Motion 2 and Car Mechanic Simulator 2014. Pay $10 or more to unlock Spacebase DF-9.

Other than that, I’ve got a few shirts for you after the jump!

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Posted in Daily Scoop |

Mortal Kombat X will not include platform-specific characters

Posted on December 11, 2014 by John Scalzo

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Trolling Twitter is practically Ed Boon’s full-time job. The Creative Director of NetherRealm Studios (you know, his actual full-time job) has been dropping hints about platform-specific characters coming to Mortal Kombat X on the social media service for quite a while now. A few months ago, the online scuttlebutt said that The Predator would be playable in the game while Twisted Metal‘s Sweet Tooth became the guest du jour just before the PlayStation Experience.

But Shaun Himmerick, the game’s Executive Producer, put the kibosh on his boss’s teasing by telling Hardcore Gamer that Mortal Kombat X will not include platform-specific characters:

Hardcore Gamer: Which brings me to a good followup question, are there any plans for platform-specific characters like Kratos in Mortal Kombat 9?

Himmerick: We have no platform exclusive characters planned for MKX.

Obviously, anything could happen between now and the game’s April 2015 launch date. But as of today, don’t expect to base your PC vs Xbox 360/Xbox One vs PS3/PS4 purchasing decision on which platform has the coolest exclusive character.

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