Goodnight Sweet THQ

[Beezy]

No, I just didn't think they'd have money to go after anyone.

SEGA has access to a shit-ton of cash if they can justify it.  Their parent company rolls around in filthy pachinko lucre all day and all night.

I see

[Himu]

Is this good or bad for volition

[Human Snorenado]

Is this good or bad for volition

I mean, it's probably a good move if you ever want to play a Saint's Row 4.  Long term who knows?

[AdmiralViscen]

Yea, both those things are better than I expected

[archie4208]

Relic and Sega seems too good to be true.

In before EA outbids them. 

[chronovore]

Just happy someone swooped in for Volition. Also happy it wasn't EA because, though EA has been better about doing original IP and stuffs, I still feel like they live to destroy any inherent company culture, and eventually cast aside the gutted goose once the golden eggs are no longer produced.

[Human Snorenado]

I'm not sure EA is in acquisition mode any more

[archie4208]

Sega - Relic
Ubisoft - South Park game and Montreal dev studio
Take 2 - Vigil and Darksiders franchise (might just keep the IP and not the staff)

[cool breeze]

Ubisoft buying THQ Montreal is funny because Patrice Desilets left Ubisoft for it.

others

Sega agreed to purchase Relic
Koch Media agreed to purchase Volition and Metro
Crytek agreed to purchase Homefront
Take 2 agreed purchase Evolve and
Ubisoft agreed to purchase Montreal and South Park
We expect these sales to close this week.

edit: Evolve might be Turtle Rock's shooter.  People originally behind Counter Strike and Left 4 Dead.

[Great Rumbler]

Koch

[Himu]

Who is slated to get wwe

[ToxicAdam]

Man, I love Koch.


Glad to see a shitty company like Ubisoft will take the hit on South Park bombing.

[Purple Filth]

full letter

http://kotaku.com/5978429/this-is-the-letter-that-thq-sent-to-employees-today

To All THQ Employees:

We now have the answers we've been seeking through our financial restructuring and
Chapter 11 case. While much will be written, here are the facts of the bids and auction
that occurred:

Yesterday morning, we received a competing bid for the operating business,
along with Clearlake's offer, and numerous offers for separate assets.
During an auction process that lasted over 22 hours, the final conclusion was
that the separate-asset bids would net more than a single buyer for the majority
of the company.

Shortly, we will, present the results to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, which must
concur with our assessment.

The proposed sales of multiple assets is as follows :
Sega agreed to purchase Relic
Koch Media agreed to purchase Volition and Metro
Crytek agreed to purchase Homefront
Take 2 agreed purchase Evolve and
Ubisoft agreed to purchase Montreal and South Park
We expect these sales to close this week.

Some assets, including our publishing businesses and Vigil, along with some other
intellectual properties are not included in the sale agreements. They will remain part of
the Chapter 11 case. We will make every effort to find appropriate buyers, if possible.

What this means for employees

We expect that most employees of the entities included in the sale will be offered
employment by the new owners. However, we cannot say what these owners may
intend, and there will likely be some positions that will not be needed under the
new ownership. You should receive notice this week or early next week if the new
owners intend to extend employment to you. Please note that the terms of your new
employment, including pay and benefits, may be different from the current terms of
your employment with THQ.

If you are an employee of an entity that is not included in the sale, we regret that
your position will end. A small number of our headquarters staff will continue to be
employed by THQ beyond January 25 to assist with the transition. THQ has sufficient
resources to pay these employees for work going forward, and we will be contacting
these employees immediately to ensure their continued employment during this
transition period. We are requesting the ability to offer certain severance pay to
minimize disruption for employees of non-included entities as they determine the next
steps in their careers.

We know you will have many questions about this news. We'll be meeting tomorrow
when we return to talk through this announcement and to answer any questions you
have. You will receive a benefits fact sheet and FAQs with answers to some questions
that may be on your mind. Please review these materials closely.

A personal note

The work that you all have done as part of the THQ family is imaginative, creative,
artistic and highly valued by our loyal gamers. We are proud of what we have
accomplished despite today's outcome.

It has been our privilege to work alongside the entire THQ team. While the company
will cease to exist, we are heartened that the majority of our studios and games will
continue under new ownership. We were hoping that the entire company would remain
intact, but we expect to hear good news from each of the separate entities that will be
operating as part of new organizations.

For those THQ employees who are part of entities that are not included in the sale, we
are confident that the talent you have displayed as part of THQ will be recognized as you
take the next steps in your career.

Thank you all for your dedication and for sharing your talent with the THQ team. We
wish you the best of luck and hope you will keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Brian Farrell
Chief Executive Officer

Jason Rubin
President

  @ Vigil

[Mr. Gundam]

So South Park will be $30 a month after release.

Who is slated to get wwe

I heard EA.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

no one bought saints row?  

[Great Rumbler]

no one bought saints row?  

Did you miss the part where Koch Media bought it?

[MyNameIsMethodis]

they bought Volition, volition don't own the SR IP IIRC

[Purple Filth]

amounts from twitter.

Ubi bought Patrice for nothing it seems





and apparently the starting bids were 500K 250K, so no one thought to even spend 500K 250K on Vigil?...   (oscar some help on this plz)

[Purple Filth]

Kotaku on fire.

Apparent runners up of the bids that took place

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

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.

Turtle rock even tried to buy their own game

[MyNameIsMethodis]

I dont understand why anyone would pay $26m for Volition especially since how bad Saints Row has done and how they killed Red Faction all within a year

[Mr. Gundam]

No one else tried to buy South Park. What does that say about the game?

[MyNameIsMethodis]

No one else tried to buy South Park. What does that say about the game?

Nothing; it's just publishing rights werein you'd make very little money.

[Great Rumbler]

Zenimax just barely missed out on Company of Heroes, but I guess Sega is a better home for an RTS series.

I dont understand why anyone would pay $26m for Volition especially since how bad Saints Row has done and how they killed Red Faction all within a year

Yeah, SR3 only sold 4 million copies. What a bomba lol

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Considering it only sold that many because GTA hasn't been around and theres a GTA game coming out this year, Saints Row will never sell more than 1m again. If that IP is even still existing.

[Verdigris Murder]

I dont understand why anyone would pay $26m for Volition especially since how bad Saints Row has done and how they killed Red Faction all within a year

Koch is serious bznz.

[Great Rumbler]

Considering it only sold that many because GTA hasn't been around and theres a GTA game coming out this year, Saints Row will never sell more than 1m again. If that IP is even still existing.

Stop being such a moron, Methodis. Saints Row 2 sold 3.4 million years the SAME year that GTA4 came out. So shut up about things that you're not smart enough to discuss intelligently.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Well considering no one knows who owns the Saints Row IP anymore maybe we should all just shut up and realize a very mediocre developer just got purchased for 26m while high quality developers keep going under. A sad world we live in

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Also RIP Virgil. You made one good game, a shite game, a WiiU game then you died (like all WiiU third party devs)

[Purple Filth]

Well considering no one knows who owns the Saints Row IP anymore maybe we should all just shut up and realize a very mediocre developer just got purchased for 26m while high quality developers keep going under. A sad world we live in

Koch Media also got Saints Row dude

http://www.thesangreal.net/gafpics/results.pdf

Court Documents on the sale, winning bidders, runners up and what they got aka IP

stolen from GAF


Tl:DR version

[demi]

Also RIP Virgil. You made one good game, a shite game, a WiiU game then you died (like all WiiU third party devs)

Good troll, but you forgot to mention they made PC games too

[Beezy]

Saints Row lives on. That's all I wanted to hear.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

Also RIP Virgil. You made one good game, a shite game, a WiiU game then you died (like all WiiU third party devs)

Good troll, but you forgot to mention they made PC games too

If PC is the culprit then why was the Company of Heroes IP more valuable than the Saints Row ip? 

[Human Snorenado]

itt methodis being stupid, what a shocker

[Himu]

Saints Row lives. The Third Streets Saints shall persevere and wreck shit.

GET UP.

I SAID GET UP.

That's right.

GET UP

[MyNameIsMethodis]

WHY DID NOBODY BUY RED FACTION.

Also RIP Virgil. You made one good game, a shite game, a WiiU game then you died (like all WiiU third party devs)

Good troll, but you forgot to mention they made PC games too

If PC is the culprit then why was the Company of Heroes IP more valuable than the Saints Row ip? 

Only it's not.

Relic is so valuable because Games Workshop is extremely protective of the 40k license. Owning Relic means you'd be in a good position to acquire the rights to the 40k IP since Games Workshop and Relic have a fantastic working relationship. SEGA and Creative Assembly currently have the rights to make Warhammer fantasy games. SEGA having both would put them in an amazing position to make a lot of money because there's a lot you can do with those IPs outside of RTS games.

Relic had more bidders than Saints Row at higher prices. So it makes it more valuable HTH.

[Great Rumbler]

[Himu]

GET UP

[cool breeze]

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

they thought they could own their own game

[Himu]

NOTHING



CAN STOP



THAT SAINTS FLOW

[MyNameIsMethodis]

except good reviews

[Great Rumbler]

except good reviews

Why would all those good reviews that the Saints Row series got stop the Saints flow? That doesn't make sense!

[Purple Filth]

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

they thought they could own their own game

If nobody made a bid, THQ would've possibly taken it to the grave. So they made a bid but 2k really like what they saw, apparently and scooped it up.

in a weird way it kinda works out for them ( unless take-two went all dickish and got another dev to finish it)

[demi]

I played through Saints 2 just recently, and theres no question that 3 is the superior product. Much more enjoyable to play.

[Himu]

2 has a more fleshed out game, though. more to do. SR3's main story is better, but it's riddled with side activities and feels too short.

[Human Snorenado]

2 has a more fleshed out game, though. more to do. SR3's main story is better, but it's riddled with side activities and feels too short.

SR2 has better sidequests and more variety in location, but literally everything else is better about SR3.  Including the dildo weapons.

[MyNameIsMethodis]

SR2 had the worst PC port of all time so i cant play it therefore SR3 is better

[Himu]

SR2 also has a better main character. SR3's is a wimp in comparison. I want more psychopathic shenanigans.

[Great Rumbler]

SR3 is definitely more fun overall and has the better main story, but the limited budget really hurt them as far as side activities and cutscene completeness goes. Hopefully, Koch well give them the money they need for SR4.

[Himu]

SR3 does NOT have a better story.

[Human Snorenado]

SR3 does NOT have a better story.

I think we've been over this, and I'm pretty sure you're the only one in that camp.

[Himu]

I know for sure I'm not

[Human Snorenado]

Let me rephrase that then- people who legit care about the story of a videogame series where you use monster trucks to murder rival's girlfriends and escape a sex dungeon in a pony cart are inherently ludicrous, and probably the sort of people who claim to enjoy The Sims.

[Himu]

I just want more shenanigans. Is that so wrong?

You didn't get time to fuck with the Morning Star boss. He just dies in a cutscene. I want to go medieval on his ass.

[Rahxephon91]

I remember the middle of SR3 feeling pretty weak and well it was the last mission that saved the game for me. Lot of the sp felt like filler.

Greatly enjoyed 2 more, but three just looks a lot better.

[Himu]

2 had an arc for every gang. In 3, the gangs feel like filler and barely have a proper ending. You barely fuck with them, and it doesn't get as crazy as it does with Maero in 2 or the Yakuza gang in 2.

[Purple Filth]

Seems Koch Media is excited.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/courts-police-and-fire/2013-01-23/updated-volition-chief-sees-very-positive-future.html

Volition's general manager, Dan Cermak, who was in Delaware for the auction, said it appears the studio will remain in Champaign and the future looks "very positive" for Volition under Koch Media.
 
"I haven't had a chance to sit down with (Koch officials) except for a few moments, and they were very positive," Cermak said in an email shortly after the bid results were released.
 
"They love Saints Row and are very happy to own its creator," he said, adding that "Volition is not moving."

[Great Rumbler]

SR3's main story is better

SR3 does NOT have a better story.

[Himu]

Whoop, I meant SR3's story has better highs, but more lows. I should read what I type.

[Stoney Mason]

Saints Row 3 was the only one I finished and that was solely because I thought it was funny and wanted to see what happened next.

Never felt that way about the second one which I got about halfway through and never finished. Mainly because I didn't really care about any of the story stuff and didn't find it funny. I wasn't immersed. Opinions and all that.

I'm probably more of a fan of Volition going to one of the more traditional publishers but we'll see how it turns out I guess.


Thank God the WWE license is in other hands. THQ and Yukes were just awful.
Too bad about Vigil Games. I liked them quite a bit.

[Sho Nuff]

WWE games are hot garbage, the Yukes games have legacy code in there reaching back to the PSOne days. Those games need a reboot, MERCY KILL PLEASE