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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: Starks on November 09, 2012, 12:43:41 pm

Title: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Starks on November 09, 2012, 12:43:41 pm
https://www.google.com/finance?client=ob&q=NASDAQ:THQI
http://venturebeat.com/2012/11/09/which-company-is-worth-more-zynga-or-thq/

Company is only worth 8 million dollars now.

What happens to Volition and their IP?
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Luis Dias on November 09, 2012, 12:50:28 pm
Curious. What the hell happened in July to make its stock skyrocket 1000%?

Overall seems a wild stock... and yeah 8 million is peanuts.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: The E on November 09, 2012, 12:52:13 pm
Nothing.

Because nothing has happened yet. THQ hasn't filed for bankruptcy, they haven't been delisted from NASDAQ, nothing. I mean, I'm sure there's going to be some consequences sooner or later, but given that Volition is more or less the only THQ subsidiary that is actually profitable, I think nothing much is going to happen.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Davin on November 09, 2012, 12:57:41 pm
Curious. What the hell happened in July to make its stock skyrocket 1000%?

I would guess that E3 and the hype machine for Darksiders 2 happened.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: karajorma on November 09, 2012, 02:09:44 pm
I pay little attention to stock price. I still remember when everyone was predicting Apple's demise when their stock fell so low that the company was valued at $3billion.

Even though they had $4billion in the bank.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: headdie on November 09, 2012, 02:25:05 pm
TotalBiscuit did a bit on it in wednesday's Content Patch, basically darksiders 2 didnt sell well which meant they posted a loss a couple of days ago, also the company has pushed back the release of 3 games.

on the other hand they are talking to private equity firms and are certainly not dead yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cj0bTKYC3w&feature=plcp#
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Phantom Hoover on November 09, 2012, 03:24:52 pm
I pay little attention to stock price. I still remember when everyone was predicting Apple's demise when their stock fell so low that the company was valued at $3billion.

Even though they had $4billion in the bank.

their stock had negative value
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: SpardaSon21 on November 09, 2012, 04:13:07 pm
Nothing.

Because nothing has happened yet. THQ hasn't filed for bankruptcy, they haven't been delisted from NASDAQ, nothing. I mean, I'm sure there's going to be some consequences sooner or later, but given that Volition is more or less the only THQ subsidiary that is actually profitable, I think nothing much is going to happen.
What about Relic?  If I recall correctly Dawn of War 2 sold pretty well and even Space Marine must have made a profit of some kind.  If THQ pushed CoH2 back that's a huge mistake considering the first CoH sold like hotcakes.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: MatthTheGeek on November 10, 2012, 01:23:42 am
It's not necessarily a mistake if the game was not ready to be released. Remember how Sierra killed HW2 ?
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Mort on November 10, 2012, 02:06:39 am
Curious. What the hell happened in July to make its stock skyrocket 1000%?

Overall seems a wild stock... and yeah 8 million is peanuts.

They consolidated their shares to raise it above a dollar. They did to avoid getting delisted
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: SpardaSon21 on November 10, 2012, 02:19:03 am
It's not necessarily a mistake if the game was not ready to be released. Remember how Sierra killed HW2 ?
No, I don't remember hearing anything like that when HW2 was released.  I don't even know when HW2 was released, 2004?  Steam is still saying a 2013 date for CoH 2 though, so I'm not worried.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Starks on November 11, 2012, 09:28:05 pm
http://www.ripten.com/2012/11/10/thq-defaults-on-50-million-line-of-credit/

Wonder what the stock price will be on Monday.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Mort on November 11, 2012, 10:10:41 pm
Time to short sell their stock I think. Might see the price drop close to a dollar or even below it
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Starks on November 12, 2012, 05:20:30 pm
It's at 1.16 now. It was at 1.35 before the opening bell.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Eishtmo on November 13, 2012, 06:33:20 pm
Let's all hope THQ starts shedding assets to make cash.  AKA, selling Volition.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: AndrewofDoom on November 13, 2012, 06:38:31 pm
I...don't think they'll sell one of their most profitable subsidiaries. :p
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: An4ximandros on November 13, 2012, 07:06:52 pm
Let's donate to :v:'s founders then have them buy the studio.

Then they can make games out of their own volition. ;7
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Mongoose on November 13, 2012, 10:41:14 pm
There was a quote from Ubisoft's president expressing interest in some of THQ's properties, which would presumably include :v:'s stuff.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Flipside on November 14, 2012, 05:52:08 am
I'm in two minds about Ubisoft, on one hand they do the Anno series, which I love, on the other, they are one of the worst companies for invasive DRM and 'quick-buck' DLC that I know of.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Klaustrophobia on November 14, 2012, 01:20:36 pm
i haven't had any problem with ubisoft in the past. granted, i only have a couple of their games.  but it's kinda hard for me to complain about their practices in light of what EA is doing.  money grab DLCs are just the new normal.  the video game industry's version of "secret inflation".
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Eishtmo on November 14, 2012, 06:10:35 pm
I...don't think they'll sell one of their most profitable subsidiaries. :p

At this point, it won't matter.  They need money, fast.  Best way to do it is sell your most profitable subsidiary for a **** load of money.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Mort on November 14, 2012, 07:30:12 pm
Their current stock price is $1.11. They better act fast.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Ypoknons on November 17, 2012, 08:51:29 pm
Unless we wanna get a few guys together to put together an LBO whilst the price is down. Cuz that's the way we roll.

Edit - oh wait is their D/E already enough. Nvm then.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Starks on December 19, 2012, 04:02:28 pm
Stock price is now 0.36 and the company has filed for bankruptcy.

The Humble Bundle didn't generate enough revenue to save their asses.

Time to sell off assets?
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: General Battuta on December 19, 2012, 04:04:27 pm
Bankruptcy might be a good thing for these guys.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: The E on December 19, 2012, 04:06:24 pm
It's probably going to mean that THQ's going to be a lot smaller next year. I just hope that :v: will be able to do Saint's Row 4....
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Dragon on December 19, 2012, 04:12:30 pm
I don't like this. I hope that the licenses from Games Workshop for WH40K and regular Warhammer end up in good hands. THQ had some sort of monopoly agreement with GW regarding those games. I also hope :v: won't get shut down in this mess, or transferred to a company which would waste it's potential.
Ah, and I wonder what those Stompy Bot guys are up to...
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: The E on December 19, 2012, 04:39:50 pm
Quote
I hope that the licenses from Games Workshop for WH40K and regular Warhammer end up in good hands.

THQ only had the 40k license, IIRC. And even then, it's not like they did anything with it since SPESS MAUREEN.

Quote
I also hope :v: won't get shut down in this mess, or transferred to a company which would waste it's potential.

If anything, :v: forms the core of THQ's profitable developers, given their strong homegrown IPs. Anyway, filing for bankruptcy does not automatically mean that the company is being shut down and its assets dispersed. It just means that the company gets a bit of breathing room and time to consolidate its operations while plans are drafted and enacted to ensure that the remaining debts get serviced.

What I am more worried about is what this means for Obsidian, given that one of their projects was funded by THQ.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Dragon on December 19, 2012, 04:57:19 pm
Quote
I hope that the licenses from Games Workshop for WH40K and regular Warhammer end up in good hands.
THQ only had the 40k license, IIRC. And even then, it's not like they did anything with it since SPESS MAUREEN.
You're right, Warhammer Fantasy stuff wasn't made by THQ. My bad. Also, it's hardly surprising they haven't produced an 40K title for some time, their spiral into bankrupcy didn't start overnight. There's been some talk of DoW3, but nothing official.
Anyway, filing for bankruptcy does not automatically mean that the company is being shut down and its assets dispersed.
Not usually, but this happens sometimes. I hope you're right in that there's nothing to worry about. But as they say "hope for the best, prepare for the worst".
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Galemp on December 19, 2012, 11:46:38 pm
Hm.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: The E on December 20, 2012, 03:26:06 am
Well, that was quick.
http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/12/19/thq-filing-for-bankruptcy-selling-off-assets/
Seems there's an investor lined up already.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Colonol Dekker on December 20, 2012, 06:56:51 am
 :pimp:

It was................................


.

.

.

.

.

Snail :yes:
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Trivial Psychic on December 20, 2012, 10:51:41 pm
Just as long as the rights of FS aren't bought up by He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: General Battuta on December 20, 2012, 11:03:50 pm
Just as long as the rights of FS aren't bought up by He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.

But, um, hasn't the whole issue for the past decade or so been that the rights are with Interplay, not THQ?
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: An4ximandros on December 20, 2012, 11:20:10 pm
Just as long as the rights of FS aren't bought up by He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.
Bethesda? :D
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Gloriano on December 21, 2012, 08:22:49 am
Seems like Ubisoft might be interested to buy THQ's assets

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/ubisoft-plots-thq-bid/0108645
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Luis Dias on December 21, 2012, 11:36:23 am
Just as long as the rights of FS aren't bought up by He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named.
But, um, hasn't the whole issue for the past decade or so been that the rights are with Interplay, not THQ?

I looked at Interplay's homepage. They are selling Prehistorik Man for android and other gems like that. (well, I love MDK2 but damn)

e: they are developing Descent for the wii and Battle Chess (!!!) for PC.
Title: Re: THQ stock price fell by 60% this week. The company is circling the drain.
Post by: Mikes on December 22, 2012, 05:21:46 pm
Let's all hope THQ starts shedding assets to make cash.  AKA, selling Volition.

Aka, selling Volition, to EA... ? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!


:p
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: headdie on December 22, 2012, 05:55:19 pm
here is one, with the increase in the profile of the indie scene over the last few years would :v: be able to raise the capital to go independent and if they do so what would everyone's opinion of that be?
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Dragon on December 22, 2012, 06:43:33 pm
I'd love to see :v: go indie. Maybe they'd finally do a next Descent of even FS3. It'd be funny if they did the latter, if just to screw with everyone here who says "it'll never happen".
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Phantom Hoover on December 26, 2012, 09:39:38 am
Volition are an established AAA developer with an excellent history, they have no motivation to go indie.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Dragon on December 26, 2012, 10:25:53 am
Why not? They'd have freedom to do what they want and all the money would go to them. Bohemia Interactive is also  a reputable AAA developer, yet it's "Indie" by the classic definition after splitting from Codemasters. They're better off for it, too.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: The E on December 26, 2012, 10:39:09 am
Quote
Why not? They'd have freedom to do what they want and all the money would go to them.

This is wrong.

Volition is a wholly-owned subsidiary of THQ. As such, they are not free to make their own business decisions, everything they do has to be signed off (and ultimately financed) by THQ. Going indie is only a good idea if :v: can prove to THQ's management (and the bankruptcy administrators!) that they can turn a healthy profit by doing so; Considering that any such move would mean abandoning or delaying projects that are assumed to be very profitable indeed (namely Saint's Row 4), noone in their right minds would support such a notion.

Now, that does not mean that they can't do what Obsidian did and do a Kickstarter-funded project (Or go the Star Citizen route of using crowdfunding to get other investors on board), but it's somewhat unlikely for them to take such a leap of confidence when they can just as well continue what they have been doing and have a somewhat sure way of generating revenue.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Dragon on December 26, 2012, 10:42:38 am
Well, if that's the situation, then they indeed can't just split off from THQ. I hope Saint's Row 4 sells well in this case, maybe it'll keep them afloat.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Gloriano on January 23, 2013, 04:13:22 am
Seems like a Koch media (publisher of Dead island) is interested buying Volition and Sega is interested on Relic
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: headdie on January 23, 2013, 06:42:17 am
Interesting to see how that evolves.  Not a fan of Sega's involvement after the Japan arm of the company went mental on YouTube content
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Thaeris on January 23, 2013, 10:21:55 am
To my understanding, the Japan arm of Sega was always a bit loopy.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Dragon on January 23, 2013, 10:46:57 am
I'm not surprised, considering what kind of games Japanese make. :) I hope that Sega manages to strike a deal with GW so that Relic can keep making 40K games.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Gloriano on January 23, 2013, 03:04:20 pm
Quote
Relic Entertainment
Makers of Company of Heroes
Winning bidder: Sega, $26.6 million.
Runner-up: Zenimax Media, $26.3 million.

THQ Montreal
Makers of 1666 and Underdog, titles under development.
Winning bidder: Ubisoft, $2.5 million. No runner-up.

Evolve
(title in development at Turtle Rock Studios)
Winning bidder: Take-Two Interactive, $10.894 million.
Runner-up: Turtle Rock Studios, $250,000.

Volition, Inc.
Maker of Saints Row
Winning bidder: Koch Media, $22,312,925.
Runner-up: Ubisoft, $5.4 million.

Homefront
Released 2011; due for a sequel.
Winning bidder: Crytek. $544,218.
No runner-up.

Metro
Series; due for the sequel Metro: Last Light.
Winning Bidder: Koch Media, $5,877,551
Runner-up: Ubisoft: $5.175 million.

South Park
License; South Park: The Stick of Truth is due for release March 5.
Winning bidder: Ubisoft, $3,265,306
No runner-up.

Source kotaku http://kotaku.com/5978425/thq-is-getting-sold-off-today++heres-everything-we-know


well good news none of the assets went to EA
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: NGTM-1R on January 23, 2013, 03:19:06 pm
Homefront is due for a sequel in what universe?
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: General Battuta on January 23, 2013, 03:34:01 pm
Homefront is due for a sequel in what universe?

Homefront has had a sequel in development at Crytek for at least a year now
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Klaustrophobia on January 23, 2013, 03:43:31 pm
i didn't realize crytek was independent now.  too bad volition didn't go to them.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Mongoose on January 23, 2013, 03:45:03 pm
Oh thank God...I saw "Koch Media" and though it was something connected to those Kochs.  Hopefully this works out well for :v:.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: NGTM-1R on January 23, 2013, 03:57:06 pm
Homefront has had a sequel in development at Crytek for at least a year now

That does not make it a good idea, or one that belongs in a marginally sane universe.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: General Battuta on January 23, 2013, 03:58:32 pm
Homefront has had a sequel in development at Crytek for at least a year now

That does not make it a good idea, or one that belongs in a marginally sane universe.

Yeah I agree, but, well -
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: headdie on January 23, 2013, 04:00:37 pm
of the players out there Crytech is probably one of the better options for fixing it
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: General Battuta on January 23, 2013, 04:02:28 pm
The guys who own V now publish X3
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: SypheDMar on January 23, 2013, 04:19:30 pm
I'm very glad Ubisoft didn't get it.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Scourge of Ages on January 23, 2013, 04:22:40 pm
Seems like a Koch media (publisher of Dead island) is interested buying Volition and Sega is interested on Relic

So FS3 deluxe edition preorders will come with a bloody Miss Vasuda torso (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/01/15/deep-silver-promote-dead-island-with-appalling-statue/)?
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: G0atmaster on January 23, 2013, 05:30:16 pm
You say Koch published X3?

Start the letters! Convince Koch to buy the FS license from Interplay! Get it back into the position where V can do something with it!

I'm sure if we show big enough crowd support, we can convince both V and their new publisher to do this.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Beskargam on January 23, 2013, 05:57:24 pm
probably better that fs3 doesn't get made. not a huge market for it, and plus the it would be hard to meet the niche market expectations for such an endavor
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Ace on January 23, 2013, 06:57:09 pm
Well the Koch Brothers now own Volition... yowch.

On the other hand Crytek buying Homefront seems to continue their trend of BEST KOREA.

If they are merging Homefront and Crysis as IPs (the only thing that would make sense) alien tech would at least make the plot of a game I never played and never intend to play slightly less pants-on-head retarded.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: General Battuta on January 23, 2013, 06:58:36 pm
Well the Koch Brothers now own Volition... yowch.

Uh, do they? Isn't Koch Media German (it is)
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Ace on January 23, 2013, 06:59:36 pm
Ah, I assumed the worst.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: General Battuta on January 23, 2013, 07:02:48 pm
Crytek has been working on Homefront 2 since before the THQ collapse. God knows why! It won't be merging with Crysis, it'll just be...more Homefront, I guess.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Rodo on January 23, 2013, 07:27:38 pm
Kosh, Bosch, why does it always have to be German?
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Kopachris on January 24, 2013, 01:12:24 am
My last name is Koch.  Feels weird to have everyone talking about Koch Media.  I didn't even know there was such a company until yesterday.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Scourge of Ages on January 24, 2013, 01:59:26 am
Feels weird to have everyone talking about Koch Media.  I didn't even know there was such a company until yesterday.

Heh, same for me. Actually, I felt the same way when I heard what "Zenimax" was; it sounded like a VHS or CD-R manufacturer or something...
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: achtung on January 24, 2013, 03:15:41 am
Important thing is that Volition didn't get dissolved like Vigil. I'm also glad to see Metro bought up by the same company.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Gloriano on January 24, 2013, 10:44:05 am
Important thing is that Volition didn't get dissolved like Vigil. I'm also glad to see Metro bought up by the same company.

It's a shame that vigil to dissolved i quite liked the darksiders series, but there is small hope it's seems like Platinum games would be interested on vigil

Source http://www.polygon.com/2013/1/23/3909506/platinum-games-boss-expresses-interest-in-buying-darksiders-on-twitter
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Suongadon on January 24, 2013, 11:43:37 am
Quote
Relic Entertainment
Makers of Company of Heroes
Winning bidder: Sega, $26.6 million.
Runner-up: Zenimax Media, $26.3 million.

Total War: Green iz da' best?
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Scourge of Ages on January 24, 2013, 01:44:37 pm
Total War: Green iz da' best?

Oh, you mean like this? http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=83076.0
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: Woolie Wool on February 04, 2013, 05:04:48 pm
Quote
Relic Entertainment
Makers of Company of Heroes
Winning bidder: Sega, $26.6 million.
Runner-up: Zenimax Media, $26.3 million.

Total War: Green iz da' best?

No, no, no, da red wunz go fasta, every ork knows that.
Title: Re: THQ files for bankruptcy
Post by: SpardaSon21 on February 04, 2013, 06:46:58 pm
Sod off, ya git.  Orkses iz green, so green is da best!