Microsoft have announced that there are big changes coming to Xbox.com from tomorrow. as well as a change of design, there are other features coming to the website including:
Browser based Avatar editor: Edit your avatar and preview avatar items before purchase
Combined views for messages, friend and game requests
Improved notification of your account subscription
Leverage Family Reports to understand what your family is doing and how they are using LIVE
Play web games with your Xbox LIVE friends on the web or on Windows Phone 7
Marketplace: More powerful search and more intuitive ways to browse and filter
Because of the upgrade, starting at 0500 ET/0200 PT/0900 GMT on October 20th Xbox.com and the Xbox forums will be offline and unavailable for a short period of time. Xbox Live service is not affected and will be available.
THQ Have announced they are opening a new studio next summer called THQ Montréal. they also announce that heading up the studio will be Patrice Désilets. Patrice Désilets was a creative director on the Assassin's Creed franchise and Prince Of Perisa: Sand Of Time.
Press Release
MONTRÉAL, CANADA – October 19, 2010 – THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) announced today its plans for talented game developer Patrice Désilets to join the company next summer to form a new THQ owned development studio housed within its video game development studio in Montreal, Quebec.
“The best way we can deliver fresh, high-quality gaming experiences is by working with the best talent and THQ is delighted to have the opportunity to make a brilliant addition to our team next year with Patrice Désilets,” said Danny Bilson, THQ Executive Vice President, Core Games. “We expect calendar 2011 to be a watershed year for THQ, and adding developers like Patrice helps ensure our focus on new IP and great games is charted by leading industry artists.”
Désilets previously served as creative director on the Assassin's Creed franchise, as well as Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. THQ has the exclusive option to have Désilets work from THQ’s new Montreal studio beginning summer 2011. When he joins the studio, Désilets will be charged with the hiring of a new team that will develop new intellectual properties for THQ.
Bilson added, "Simply put, we can’t wait for Patrice to join THQ. Patrice brings a passion for games rich with action-packed sequences, gripping characters and cinematic flair, and we’re all looking forward to having him and his newly formed team develop an all new franchise with us.”
Montreal is recognized for a high concentration of media talent and will serve as a hub for the latest location in THQ’s expanding studio system. Its selection reflects THQ’s strategy to grow development talent in highly skilled locations. Through the opening of the Montreal office, THQ expects to strengthen its internal creative development expertise, furthering its commitment to develop new intellectual properties.
Patrice Désilets is represented by Creative Artists Agency.
About THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ and the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
THQ Inc. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “THQ”), including, but not limited to, expectations and projections related to the growth of THQ’s Montreal studio, creation of new intellectual properties and the company’s expectations for calendar 2011, and are based upon management’s current beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ’s financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2010, and particularly the discussion of risk factors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Nordic Games Have released a new trailer for their upcoming Nintendo Wii game, We Sing Robbie Williams. this trailer shows in-game footage and Robbie Williams music videos.
EA and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment have announced Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 is coming to the Nintendo DS. in the game you play as Harry Potter but have Ron and Hermione by your side who have special magic moves that help you.
Press Release
The EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment are working hard to create handheld magic in Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsTM – Part 1 for the Nintendo DS. The game will deliver an action-packed adventure, loaded with frantic combat against fierce adversaries and a myriad of challenges to uncover.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part I for the DS drops players into the role of Harry PotterTM as he undertakes a dangerous quest to locate and destroy Voldemort’sTM Horcruxes. With Ron and Hermione by their side, players will need to muster their most powerful magic against relentless assaults from the likes of Death Eaters and Snatchers.
As in the upcoming film, the DS version places Harry outside of Hogwarts’TM protective walls for the first time as he tries to elude Voldemort’s grip. As players venture through diverse new environments, they must look to Ron and Hermione for help; combining their varied powers at just the right moment to escape the grasp of the Dark Forces. Each environment will introduce new enemies, puzzles to solve, and quests to complete. This time the danger is real. It’s time for players to fight for their lives.
Additionally, players can fight the ultimate battle in the game’s multi-player mode. Choose to fight it out against family and friends, assuming the role of either Harry or a fearsome DementorTM as they battle to achieve the highest score, and determine once and for all whether good will triumph over evil.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 will be available to buy on the Nintendo DS from November, PEGI 12+.
EA have released a new video for MMA. this video has many members of the development team, who made the game, talking about many of the games important features, features that are perhaps unique to this game. they also talk about how they've tried to make the game accessible by offering a couple of different control options and including MMA fighters and rules from across the world.
EA have released a new video for EA Sports Active 2. this video is an indepth look at what the game offers. the video has Gerard Recio talking through many of the different aspects of EA Sports Active 2 and what it offers for the player. he also talks about the online connection to the EA Sports Active Web Portal and how you can use and manage certain parts of your routine from the site.
THQ And Nickelodeon have announced they've entered into a multi year licensing agreement, granting THQ the rights to develop and publish videogames based on the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise. The first game to come from this agreement is set to come to the Nintendo 3DS, uDraw GameTablet For Wii, and Xbox 360 Kinect.
Press Release
AGOURA HILLS, Calif. -- Oct. 18, 2010 -- THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) and Nickelodeon today announced that they have entered into a new multi-year, licensing agreement, granting THQ the worldwide rights to develop and publish video games based on the highly popular SpongeBob SquarePants franchise. Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants has been the No. 1 animated program among kids ages 2 to 11 for more than seven consecutive years.
Under the new agreement, THQ has the right to develop and publish interactive games based on the SpongeBob SquarePants property for the Sony PlayStation®3, Nintendo Wii™ and Microsoft Xbox 360® consoles, the Nintendo DS™ and Sony PSP® handheld systems, and the Xbox LIVE® for the Xbox 360® video game system, PlayStation®Network and Nintendo Wii™ Virtual Console online gaming portals. Scheduled for release in 2011, the first game to be developed under this agreement is being designed to take advantage of the unique capabilities of Nintendo 3DS™, THQ’s highly anticipated uDraw™ GameTablet™ for Wii™, and Kinect™ for Xbox 360®, no controller required.
“Over the last eight years, THQ has been creating quality gaming experiences based on everyone’s favorite animated character who lives in a pineapple under the sea,” said Martin Good, THQ Executive Vice President, Kids, Family, Casual and Global Online Services. “We are pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Nickelodeon and excited to deliver more SpongeBob SquarePants video game offerings for the multitude of fans worldwide.”
“THQ has consistently demonstrated the ability to seamlessly bring the world of SpongeBob SquarePants to life in the interactive space with quality titles that are memorable and engaging for gamers of all ages,” said Manuel Torres, Senior Vice President, Global Toys, Video Games & Consumer Electronics, Nickelodeon Consumer Products. “We look forward to introducing the next SpongeBob game adventure via THQ’s innovative new platform, the uDraw GameTablet for Wii, which will bring the gaming experience to another exciting level.”
THQ has been developing video games based on SpongeBob SquarePants since 2002, and recently launched top performing titles across all genres, such as SpongeBob Boating Bash (2010) and SpongeBob Truth or Square (2009).* Global life-to-date games shipped for all published SpongeBob video game titles total more than 29 million units. For more information on previously released SpongeBob titles, please visit www.THQ.com.
*Source: NPD Group
About THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products can be found at www.thq.com. THQ, uDraw, uDraw GameTablet and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 31st year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ"), including, but not limited to, expectations and projections related to the new license agreement for THQ to publish video games based on the SpongeBob SquarePants property, and are based upon management's current beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ's financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2010, and particularly the discussion of risk factors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Microsoft Announce Big Changes Are Coming To Xbox.com From Tomorrow
THQ Announce They Are Forming THQ Montréal And Patrice Désilets Will Head The Studio
Nordic Games Have Released A New Trailer For We Sing Robbie Williams
EA Announce Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 Is Coming To The Nintendo DS
EA Have Released A New Video For MMA Showing Many Of The Games Features
EA Have Released A New Indepth Look Video For EA Sports Active 2
THQ And Nickelodeon Announce THQ Have The Rights To Develop Videogames Based On SpongeBob SquarePants