Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Report: How Homefront's developer crumbled]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/08/how-homefronts-developer-crumbled/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/08/how-homefronts-developer-crumbled/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/08/how-homefronts-developer-crumbled/#comments The slow demise of Kaos Studios leading up to its June 2011 closure has been attributed to poor management and a misallocation of resources, according to conversations anonymous ex-staff members had with Gamasutra. One of the Homefront developers believed THQ's "plan was to close the studio regardless."

Management issues reportedly stemmed from inexperienced team members leading more qualified peers during Homefront's development. One ex-staff member said the studio "had this level of leads with tons and tons of experience, and you had the directors with much less." Those directors "didn't listen to the very talented team they hired."

Former THQ Executive VP of Core Games Danny Bilson was also the target of former team members' frustrations. Ex-staffers spoke of Bilson's heavy involvement in Homefront's development and his tendency to "hand out mandates on high and then disappear," adding that "he's not qualified to talk about game mechanics."

We've contacted THQ for comment on this story.

JoystiqReport: How Homefront's developer crumbled originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 08 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Danny-Bilsonhomefrontkaoskaos-studiosmicrosoftpcplaystationps3THQxboxSun, 08 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jason Rubin and Danny Bilson: a tale of two THQs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/jason-rubin-and-danny-bilson-a-tale-of-two-thqs/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/jason-rubin-and-danny-bilson-a-tale-of-two-thqs/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/12/jason-rubin-and-danny-bilson-a-tale-of-two-thqs/#comments Jason Rubin and Danny Bilson a tale of two THQsDuring Danny Bilson's tenure at Saints Row publisher THQ, the company went from license-dependent (think Nickelodeon) to "Core-focused" (think ... uh, Saints Row). And eventually, the publisher's entire direction turned, from a split between casual/family-focused titles and those of its "Core" division, to one solely focused on that "Core." THQ today is essentially just the "Core" division.

When Bilson was fired from THQ and Jason Rubin was appointed president just over a week ago, the publisher's messaging didn't change. "Rubin's appointment comes as THQ realigns its focus from a maker of licensed games for broad audiences to a developer of AAA 'Core' games for multiple platforms," Rubin's appointment PR reads.

But Bilson arguably lead THQ's charge into "AAA 'Core' games," pushing for games like Metro 2033, Darksiders, and Saints Row: The Third, and brokering deals with Guillermo del Toro for a three-game survival horror series called "Insane," with Turtle Rock for an unnamed FPS, and Ninja Gaiden creator Tomonobu Itagaki for a (since dropped) project called "Devil's Third." Why he was fired remains unknown. "I don't think it's a question for me," THQ president Jason Rubin told us during an E3 2012 interview.

Continue reading Jason Rubin and Danny Bilson: a tale of two THQs

JoystiqJason Rubin and Danny Bilson: a tale of two THQs originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsone3-2012free-to-playjason-rubinmobilesocialthqTue, 12 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ's Danny Bilson exits as Jason Rubin takes prez spot]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/thqs-bilson-exits-as-jason-rubin-takes-prez-spot/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/thqs-bilson-exits-as-jason-rubin-takes-prez-spot/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/29/thqs-bilson-exits-as-jason-rubin-takes-prez-spot/#comments THQ announced this afternoon that former executive vice president of "Core Games" Danny Bilson stepped down from his position in the company, and Naughty Dog co-founder Jason Rubin is taking the position of president. Rubin will report directly to chairman and CEO Brian Farrell.

Additionally, senior vice president of Core Studios Dave Davis is exiting the company. Bilson, Davis, and the "Core Games" group at THQ lead the charge in recent years on THQ's rebranding (including the logo you see above) from a licensed-game publisher to one developing and publishing what Bilson and co. considered "core" franchises (Warhammer 40K, Saints Row, and Red Faction among others). The move is especially odd considering THQ's continuing initiative to develop "AAA 'Core' games for multiple platforms."

As for Rubin's appointment, that's distinctly less odd - he helped create one of the game industry's most successful development studios. "Jason's proven track record in the industry speaks for itself, and he is one of the brightest minds in the business," Farrell said of Rubin's appointment. As for Bilson, Farrell noted his "significant contributions" and thanked him.

JoystiqTHQ's Danny Bilson exits as Jason Rubin takes prez spot originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 29 May 2012 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-farrellcorporatedanny-bilsondave-davisjason-rubinnaughty-dogthqtotal-madnessTue, 29 May 2012 17:09:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ reaffirms existence of inSane, other games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/thq-reaffirms-existence-of-insane-other-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/thq-reaffirms-existence-of-insane-other-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/thq-reaffirms-existence-of-insane-other-games/#comments Insane logo
Director Guillermo Del Toro's THQ project, inSane, "is not cancelled" according to THQ's Executive VP of Core Games Danny Bilson. The executive went to Twitter last night to make the declaration.

The statement comes a couple days after THQ, which reported a loss of $239.9 million in the previous fiscal year, announced during an investor call it was looking to unload Tomonobu Itagaki's Devil's Third for a few extra bucks.

During that same investor call, the company also reiterated that the Turtle Rock Studios (Left 4 Dead) FPS and Patrice Désilets' game, speculated to be 1666, are still in production.

JoystiqTHQ reaffirms existence of inSane, other games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Danny-Bilsoninsanemicrosoftpcplaystationps3THQxboxThu, 17 May 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ's Bilson outs Saints Row 4, says it'll be much 'wilder']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/thqs-bilson-outs-saints-row-4-says-itll-be-much-wilder/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/thqs-bilson-outs-saints-row-4-says-itll-be-much-wilder/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/08/thqs-bilson-outs-saints-row-4-says-itll-be-much-wilder/#comments There's no doubt that the Saints Row franchise is a big deal for THQ -- especially now, since the publisher just killed one of its biggest -- and it looks like work on a fourth entry is already underway. THQ's Executive VP of Bean Spilling, Danny Bilson, dropped the news during a video interview with G4, saying that he thinks the next Saints Row game will be much wilder than the third. Dildo bats that shoot dildo bats full of tiny dildo confetti, anyone?

Hit the jump for the video.

Continue reading THQ's Bilson outs Saints Row 4, says it'll be much 'wilder'

JoystiqTHQ's Bilson outs Saints Row 4, says it'll be much 'wilder' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonsaints-rowsaints-row-4thqvolitionTue, 08 Nov 2011 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ's Bilson 'not sure there's room' for Space Marine sequel alongside MMO]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/thqs-bilson-not-sure-theres-room-for-space-marine-sequel-alo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/thqs-bilson-not-sure-theres-room-for-space-marine-sequel-alo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/thqs-bilson-not-sure-theres-room-for-space-marine-sequel-alo/#comments Joystiq got a chance to chat with THQ's Executive Vice President of Core Games, Danny Bilson, at a Saints Row: The Third event earlier this week. He spoke to us about Space Marine's chances for a sequel, and what he plans for THQ this holiday and beyond.

Bilson says Warhammer 40K: Space Marine is "doing okay," and that "40K fans in particular" were pleased. "It's a really good game, it's doing pretty well. In this world, honestly, you have to do exceptionally well to make any money, because the games are so expensive." Bilson hopes the game keeps selling, and expects the impending release of co-op DLC and "more DLC after that" to help maintain its momentum.

He balks at promising a sequel, however, saying that the Space Marine gameplay may bump up against THQ's planned Warhammer 40K MMO, Dark Millennium, in 2013. "We've already announced the Imperium in the MMO as a class you can play," he says, "and if you combine that it's very active, as opposed to the more turn-based stuff. I'm not sure there's room for Space Marine." But there is more coming for you, battle brothers: "We are heavily invested in the 40K universe, so there's more stuff coming in the 40K universe, absolutely. We extended the deal for quite a while."

Continue reading THQ's Bilson 'not sure there's room' for Space Marine sequel alongside MMO

JoystiqTHQ's Bilson 'not sure there's room' for Space Marine sequel alongside MMO originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonmicrosoftmmopcplaystationps3space-marinewarhammer-40kwarhammer-40k-space-marinexboxFri, 14 Oct 2011 08:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Crytek developing Homefront sequel with THQ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/homefront-2-developed-by-crytek/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/homefront-2-developed-by-crytek/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/homefront-2-developed-by-crytek/#comments Having shuttered Kaos Studios, the developer of Homefront, THQ has secured a new partnership to develop the next title in the FPS franchise. A sequel to Homefront will be developed in collaboration with Crytek, the company behind Far Cry, Crysis and the visually opulent CryEngine platform.

"We see Homefront as a really strong universe that has a lot of potential and that has been expertly created and marketed by THQ," said Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli. He's certainly right about the expert marketing. After plastering America with adverts, THQ overcame tepid critical response and shipped over 2.6 million copies of Homefront by the end of March 2011.

Yerli suggests that Crytek has been granted a reassuring amount of "creative freedom" over Homefront, and aims to bring its war-ravaged world to life "in a new and innovative way." It'll take some time, though -- the Homefront sequel is scheduled to launch on PC and consoles in THQ's fiscal 2014, meaning anywhere between April 2013 and March 2014.

Update: Joystiq has confirmed that the Homefront sequel will be built by Crytek's Nottingham, UK studio on the "latest" CryEngine technology.

Continue reading Crytek developing Homefront sequel with THQ

JoystiqCrytek developing Homefront sequel with THQ originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014cevat-yerlicrytekdanny-bilsonhomefronthomefront-2microsoftpcplaystationps3release-datethqxboxTue, 20 Sep 2011 08:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Dawn of War 3 further detailed by THQ's Danny Bilson]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/dawn-of-war-3-further-detailed-by-thqs-danny-bilson/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/dawn-of-war-3-further-detailed-by-thqs-danny-bilson/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/15/dawn-of-war-3-further-detailed-by-thqs-danny-bilson/#comments THQ executive vice president Danny Bilson is known for his many things -- his gorgeous shock of graphite hair, his devil-may-care attitude, a movie star daughter. But in the game industry, he's best known for speaking loosely and passionately about his company's yet-to-be-revealed projects. A recent interview with Eurogamer is no exception, with Bilson offering a small brigade of details on Dawn of War 3.

Bilson says that the sequel to 2009's Dawn of War 2 is in development "right now," and is a mix of new elements with features from the first two titles. He also admitted that his company will be making a game announcement at GamesCom in the PC gamer-friendly country of Germany, which we're taking a wild guess is the official reveal of DoW3. We'll be on the ground in Cologne this August to bring you more details.

[Pictured: Dawn of War 2]

JoystiqDawn of War 3 further detailed by THQ's Danny Bilson originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsondawn-of-war-3gamescom-2011pcreal-time-strategyrelicrelic-entertainmentrtsthqwarhammerwarhammer-40kWed, 15 Jun 2011 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[inSane planned as trilogy, but 'if the first game doesn't work, there won't be a trilogy,' Bilson says]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/insane-planned-as-trilogy-but-if-the-first-game-doesnt-work/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/insane-planned-as-trilogy-but-if-the-first-game-doesnt-work/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/insane-planned-as-trilogy-but-if-the-first-game-doesnt-work/#comments

Guillermo del Toro's forthcoming franchise for THQ -- the awkwardly innercapped inSane -- may be planned as a trilogy, but that doesn't mean it'll necessarily play out that way. Though THQ is confident in del Toro and the franchise, Core Games veep Danny Bilson has a realistic outlook on the franchise's ability to expand to a trilogy. "We have aspirations to make a trilogy," Bilson told a gathering of press at GDC this week, including Joystiq. "If the first game doesn't work, there won't be a trilogy. It's not complicated."

Bilson cited Hollywood's ability to make trilogies as an example of how not complicated this concept is. "If Avatar had been a flop then there wouldn't be two more sequels. And if the first Matrix wasn't a success there wouldn't be two more sequels." For Bilson and THQ, it means delivering quality products first. "We have to succeed on the first one. And then we have to succeed on the second one! And then you can make the third one. It's not really that arrogant, if you will, to plan a trilogy because we're very realistic." And unlike Hollywood, "we can't make two at once," Bilson jokes.

"It doesn't cost that much to plan, right?" Volition president Mike Kulas said. "We're not building a bunch of assets for the future games." Instead, Kulas estimates that "a couple percent of the total budget of the second game will be spent before we have a better idea of how the first one's shaping up." As the studio responsible for collaborating with Del Toro on inSane, Volition has to succeed where many others have failed: working with Hollywood to create a successful video game franchise.

JoystiqinSane planned as trilogy, but 'if the first game doesn't work, there won't be a trilogy,' Bilson says originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Danny-BilsonGDCGDC-2011Guillermo-Del-ToroinsaneMike-KulasTHQVolitionFri, 04 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Homefront is most pre-ordered title in THQ history]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/homefront-is-most-pre-ordered-title-in-thq-history/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/homefront-is-most-pre-ordered-title-in-thq-history/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/homefront-is-most-pre-ordered-title-in-thq-history/#comments Say what you will about the silly and even careless marketing campaign for Homefront, but it appears to be working, as THQ core games VP Danny Bilson told Eurogamer that Homefront has racked up more pre-orders than any other game in the publisher's history. Bilson didn't reveal worldwide numbers, though he noted that 200,000 pre-orders have been made in the US alone.

That would seem to be good news for developer Kaos Studios, whose employees voiced concern over a possible studio move or closure after Homefront's completion. Bilson intimated that the developer's fate rests on the success of the game, saying that sales would "help influence" what might happen going forward; and he insisted THQ hasn't made any decisions at this point. "That's the truth."

"A lot of it has to do with how successful [Homefront] is and how strong that core team comes out on the other side," said Bilson, adding that he "loves" Kaos and that THQ is "trying to do what's best for everyone."

JoystiqHomefront is most pre-ordered title in THQ history originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonhomefrontkaos-studiosmicrosoftpcplaystationpre-orderps3salesxboxThu, 03 Mar 2011 22:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Seen@GDC: Dillinger Escape Plan tears through the Homefront rally]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/seen-gdc-dillinger-escape-plan-tears-through-the-homefront-rall/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/seen-gdc-dillinger-escape-plan-tears-through-the-homefront-rall/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/seen-gdc-dillinger-escape-plan-tears-through-the-homefront-rall/#comments 10,000 red balloons? Sure. Speeches by global experts? You bet! A whole mess of hired protesters? Also that! But Dillinger Escape Plan? That we did not expect to see at THQ's Homefront rally this morning outside of GDC. And how does THQ's veep of Core Games explain the inclusion of the hardcore show? "They're a great local band who would bring people out!" he told us. "Even in the rain!" And we can't help but agree with the former statement (aren't they from New Jersey, Danny?).

Alongside the red (allegedly biodegradeable) balloons and red Homefront signs Dillinger Escape Plan fans and passersby both enjoyed the hardcore music stylings of classic Dillinger Escape Plan tunes. There's also a strong possibility that some folks were moshing.

Bilson continued, explaining the rally as a means "to highlight the story aspects of Homefront." He also hesitantly admitted, "We're trying to do more and more things to market our game. Just trying to do something different, ya know?"

He further detailed the rally as showing off Homefront's "social science fiction," and hopes it'll "get people thinking about more than just pulling triggers." It certainly got us thinking about more than just pulling triggers. For instance -- making sure we weren't being trampled by die-hard Dillinger Escape Plan fans.

Gallery: Homefront rally @ GDC

JoystiqSeen@GDC: Dillinger Escape Plan tears through the Homefront rally originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 04:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsondillinger-escape-plangdcgdc-2011homefrontmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxThu, 03 Mar 2011 04:45:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ nearly signed Respawn, but IP ownership was a deal-breaker]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/thq-nearly-signed-respawn-but-ip-ownership-was-a-deal-breaker/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/thq-nearly-signed-respawn-but-ip-ownership-was-a-deal-breaker/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/thq-nearly-signed-respawn-but-ip-ownership-was-a-deal-breaker/#comments THQ vice president Danny Bilson recently told Wired about a potentially powerful, but ultimately thwarted partnership the company sought early last year, with ex-Infinity Ward heads Vince Zampella and Jason West's new ensemble, Respawn Entertainment. According to Bilson, the deal almost went through, though one point in the THQ contract was a deal-breaker for the young developer: Respawn wanted ownership of any IP it created while in the publisher's employ.

"My responsibility to our stockholders and to my CEO and the company is to build an IP library," Bilson explained, adding that granting their request would "open the doors for everyone else to say, 'I wanna own it too.'". Zampella corroborated Bilson's story, explaining, "As for the IP ownership, frankly, after what we'd just been through with Activision, owning the IP we were going to create was important to us." We can't possibly imagine why.

JoystiqTHQ nearly signed Respawn, but IP ownership was a deal-breaker originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonintellectual-propertyjason-westRespawn-EntertainmentthqVince-ZampellaFri, 14 Jan 2011 14:40:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ's Bilson: Metro 2033 'wasn't properly nurtured,' sequel to address issues]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/thq-bilson-metro-2033-wasnt-properly-nurtured-sequel-to-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/thq-bilson-metro-2033-wasnt-properly-nurtured-sequel-to-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/14/thq-bilson-metro-2033-wasnt-properly-nurtured-sequel-to-a/#comments Last March, Metro 2033 snuck up on our reviewer radar and went on to earn respectable Metacritic scores of 77 on Xbox 360 and 81 on PC among critics at large. Though THQ CEO Brian Farrell characterized the title as "very profitable" for the publisher, it wasn't exactly burning up the sales charts. Speaking with the company's VP of Core Games, Danny Bilson, this week, we asked about Metro 2033 falling short of its potential.

"I'll give you the straight answer: It wasn't properly supported in all areas," Bilson said frankly. "It was a cool deal," he explained of the publishing agreement with developer 4A Games, "where it was inexpensive and they were doing their stuff."

"Did the game need polish in certain areas? Yes." he admitted. "So when I say it wasn't fully supported, it was product development and marketing that didn't support it the way it should've been." Bilson described Metro 2033 as "an orphan stepchild," saying that "a great marketer picked it up with four months to go and did what he could with four months to go, but it wasn't properly nurtured by marketing."

The absence of polish, Bilson assured, won't be an issue for Metro 2034, the in-development sequel. "The new one doesn't have any of those issues," Bilson said. "I green-lit the sequel before [the first] one shipped, because I know what [4A Games is] capable of -- I knew how cool it was."

Continue reading THQ's Bilson: Metro 2033 'wasn't properly nurtured,' sequel to address issues

JoystiqTHQ's Bilson: Metro 2033 'wasn't properly nurtured,' sequel to address issues originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4a-gamesdanny-bilsondmitry-glukhovskydmitry-glukovskymareketingMetro-2033metro-2034microsoftpcplaystationthqtransmediaxboxFri, 14 Jan 2011 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ needs your money to publish more Double Fine games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/thq-needs-your-money-to-publish-more-double-fine-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/thq-needs-your-money-to-publish-more-double-fine-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/thq-needs-your-money-to-publish-more-double-fine-games/#comments Between the adorable (and enjoyable) Costume Quest last October, and the forthcoming (and quite charming) Stacking some time this year, we're quite looking forward to the other two downloadable titles in Double Fine's four game roadmap. And though THQ isn't the only publisher that could release them, it would sure like to be. "I really wanna do a lot more with Tim [Schafer]. I've always been a huge Tim fan. Grim Fandango to me is one of the greatest works of art in gaming," THQ Core Games head Danny Bilson gushed to us this afternoon.

He said the choice to publish Stacking was an easy one. "Stacking I fell in love with. When Tim brought that in, I was like, 'Let's do this game! This is fantastic!'," he said. The game was later moved to THQ's "Kids, Family, and Casual" department (like Costume Quest), though Bilson's desire to publish more Double Fine games clearly hasn't diminished.

He reiterated that, currently, his studio only has a two-game contract with Double Fine: the aforementioned Costume Quest and Stacking. "There's a few more that I've identified, but I haven't made those deals yet," Bilson told us. He then paused before adding, "We've gotta get some hits rolling so I have more money to spend, to be honest with you." And between Homefront, Red Faction: Armageddon and Stacking, there's ample opportunity for that money to be made in the first quarter of 2011.

JoystiqTHQ needs your money to publish more Double Fine games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costume-questdanny-bilsondouble-finegrim-fandangomicrosoftpcplaystationps3stackingthqthq-core-gamesthq-kids-family-casual-gamestim-schaferxboxWed, 12 Jan 2011 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Itagaki's Valhalla Game Studios sharing tech with Relic for Devil's Third]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/itagakis-valhalla-game-studios-sharing-tech-with-relic-for-devi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/itagakis-valhalla-game-studios-sharing-tech-with-relic-for-devi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/itagakis-valhalla-game-studios-sharing-tech-with-relic-for-devi/#comments Among the many things touched on by THQ Core Games head Danny Bilson in his speech this morning was Tomonobu Itagaki's post-Team Ninja home, Valhalla Game Studios. Rather than speak to when we'll hear more about Devil's Third, Bilson outed Itagaki's current location: Vancouver, Canada.

Apparently, the head of Valhalla Studios and some of his team are "in Vancouver at Relic Studios, partnering with Relic on a few really cool aspects of the technology in their game." Bilson brought this up in an effort to explain how THQ treats, "all our external teams as internal teams" -- Relic Entertainment is owned by THQ, while Valhalla is self-owned -- and that means sharing technology on a regular basis. We later clarified with Bilson that this means Relic is contributing in some way to Devil's Third (rather than vice versa), leaving us to speculate what this could mean Devil's Third -- an extra space marine or two? Some form of hybrid ninja slash marine thing? Ohhhh, right, that already exists. How could we have forgotten?

JoystiqItagaki's Valhalla Game Studios sharing tech with Relic for Devil's Third originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsondevils-thirdmicrosoftpcplaystationps3relic-entertainmentthqthq-core-gamesvalhalla-game-studioswarhammer-40000-dawn-of-war-iixboxWed, 12 Jan 2011 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Patrice Desilets bringing three 'key members' from Ubisoft to THQ Montreal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/patrice-desilets-bringing-key-members-of-ubisoft-to-thq-montre/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/patrice-desilets-bringing-key-members-of-ubisoft-to-thq-montre/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/patrice-desilets-bringing-key-members-of-ubisoft-to-thq-montre/#comments"I trust him ... basically it's all about trust and support," THQ's "Core Games" head Danny Bilson told us in an interview this morning, speaking about soon-to-be THQ Montreal studio head Patrice Désilets. Bilson was detailing the hiring of "key members" for Désilets' team, something he briefly mentioned during a stage presentation that kicked off the company's NYC "gamer's week" today. He wanted to reiterate that THQ Montreal is entirely in Désilets trusted hands.

When we pressed Bilson for more info on the new hires, he couldn't name anyone specific, though he would confirm all three people are from Ubisoft. "I don't think I can talk about the other three people we've already contracted because I wouldn't ... I just know Patrice said, 'I need these three guys.' And I said 'Okay! Whatever you need!'," Bilson said. "We put all of them on retention and got them started on their non-competes [non-compete clauses]. I kind of know what their roles are, but they were the most important people to Patrice. All three of them are Ubi."

Which isn't to say that Désilets is doing anything nefarious. Bilson assured us that the forthcoming hires will be, "not just Ubi, but people from the community in Montreal and all over the world." And none of this is happening just yet. Désilets doesn't start at THQ until May 29 ("when his non-compete ends"), so it'll be quite some time before we see the fruits of THQ's largest studio yet.

JoystiqPatrice Desilets bringing three 'key members' from Ubisoft to THQ Montreal originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonpatrice-desiletsthqthq-core-gamesthq-montrealubisoftWed, 12 Jan 2011 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ logo revamped for a new focus on 'innovation and creativity']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/thq-logo-revamped-for-a-new-focus-on-innovation-and-creativity/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/thq-logo-revamped-for-a-new-focus-on-innovation-and-creativity/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/thq-logo-revamped-for-a-new-focus-on-innovation-and-creativity/#comments You know that old, silly THQ logo? The one where it looks like the letters are going high speed? That is now, officially, old and busted. As seen above, the publisher unveiled its new logo (aka "the new hotness") this morning, with company head Brian Farrell noting, "Our new logo epitomizes the change, innovation and creative growth that are the cornerstones of the new THQ." Farrell is of course speaking to the past few years of major changes at THQ, kicked off with the hiring of core games VP Danny Bilson in early 2008 and followed by several successful business choices in the subsequent years -- everything from achieving cost-cutting goals early on to brokering deals with top talent.

The new logo will start making retail product appearances this February and "will be rolled out over the next few months" in other venues. Goodbye speedy THQ logo, hello crazy future-font THQ logo!

Continue reading THQ logo revamped for a new focus on 'innovation and creativity'

JoystiqTHQ logo revamped for a new focus on 'innovation and creativity' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-farrellcore-gamesdanny-bilsonhomefrontlogorebrandingthqWed, 12 Jan 2011 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[From the VGAs Red Carpet: Guillermo del Toro and THQ's Danny Bilson]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/12/from-the-vgas-red-carpet-guillermo-del-toro-and-thqs-danny-bil/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/12/from-the-vgas-red-carpet-guillermo-del-toro-and-thqs-danny-bil/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/12/from-the-vgas-red-carpet-guillermo-del-toro-and-thqs-danny-bil/#comments THQ Executive VP of Core Games Danny Bilson stopped by our red carpet post at the VGAs this weekend with director Guillermo del Toro in tow, and Bilson talked with us about all of THQ's upcoming properties, including the quickly ensuing Red Faction movie on SyFy. "They're prepping right now," he promised, "And there's another one coming that we're going to announce soon." Would that be the elusive Saints Row 3? "I can't talk about it or they'll cut my head off," he said. "But we're going to be talking about it at some point in the future in a big way."

For his part, Guillermo del Toro decided to work with THQ on the newly revealed inSane because he believes that gaming "is one of the most immersive mediums for storytelling right now." We asked him to tick off a few specifics, and he dutifully did. "Left 4 Dead has passages that are incredibly scary. Silent Hill is great, and Shadow of the Colossus was incredibly moving. There are Call of Duty moments that are better than any war movie."

Bilson interrupted at that one. "Wait until they ride the bus in the first level of Homefront!" As for del Toro's inSane, Bilson says, "we're only focusing on the game right now, and whatever happens later happens later. But we're building an incredible world together that we will be talking about more later on." We'll look forward to it.

JoystiqFrom the VGAs Red Carpet: Guillermo del Toro and THQ's Danny Bilson originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 12 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonguillermo-del-torohomefrontinsaneinterviewred-carpetsaints-row-3thqvga-2010Sun, 12 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction movie delayed to May 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/red-faction-movie-delayed-to-may-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/red-faction-movie-delayed-to-may-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/03/red-faction-movie-delayed-to-may-2011/#comments Better re-mark those calendars. SyFy's Red Faction: Origins movie, originally slated for next March, isn't coming out until May. That's according to a tweet from THQ CEO Danny Bilson, who says that the company started prep work on the film this week, will be shooting in January and that the finished product "airs in May with game release."

"Game release," of course, means Red Faction: Armageddon, which recently got pushed back to May. Hopefully those ostriches they're using don't get too cold out there on the Martian landscape during filming.

JoystiqRed Faction movie delayed to May 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonmicrosoftmovieplaystationps3Red-Faction-Armageddonred-faction-originssyfyxboxFri, 03 Dec 2010 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ to announce 'one core Kinect game soon']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/thq-to-announce-one-core-kinect-game-soon/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/thq-to-announce-one-core-kinect-game-soon/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/29/thq-to-announce-one-core-kinect-game-soon/#comments The Kinect launch was pretty much dominated by one third-party publisher: Ubisoft. Despite plenty of announcements at TGS and that Star Wars game, there isn't much on the docket from the bigger third-party devs. THQ's Danny Bilson promised on Twitter earlier today that would change.

"We will be announcing one Core Kinect game soon," Bilson wrote in a missive. This followed an earlier tweet where Bilson promised a "big game announcement" at the upcoming VGAs, but it's likely he's referring to the Guillermo Del Toro game (again) and not this Kinect title. Regardless, we've followed up with THQ for comment and will let you know what we find out.

JoystiqTHQ to announce 'one core Kinect game soon' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-kinectthqxboxMon, 29 Nov 2010 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Bilson gets to the heart of the new THQ in IGDA Leadership keynote]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/bilson-gets-to-the-heart-of-the-new-thq-in-igda-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/bilson-gets-to-the-heart-of-the-new-thq-in-igda-keynote/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/11/bilson-gets-to-the-heart-of-the-new-thq-in-igda-keynote/#comments Keynoting the IGDA Leadership Forum last week, THQ "core games" boss Danny Bilson not only reflected on the publisher's steady turnaround (despite a recent slump), but also focused on its goals for the future. Previously reported updates from Bilson on Homefront, Darksiders 2 and Guillermo Del Toro's project, however, were just mere nuggets from his near hour-long presentation, which kicked off with a retelling of his personal journey from non-interactive media to games.

Back in the late-90s, Bilson recalled, he was working in television in Vancouver -- specifically, on Viper and The Sentinel. During a business trip, a stranger sitting next to him on the plane asked about the scripts Bilson happened to be reviewing. That stranger was Don Mattrick, who was president of Electronic Arts at the time. Bilson would eventually join EA, launching his career in video games.

Continue reading Bilson gets to the heart of the new THQ in IGDA Leadership keynote

JoystiqBilson gets to the heart of the new THQ in IGDA Leadership keynote originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelsdanny-bilsonigdaigda-leadership-forumigda-leadership-forum-2010keynotemicrosoftpcplaystationps3sonythqthq-montrealvalhalla-game-studiosxboxThu, 11 Nov 2010 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ details Homefront sequel, novel tie-in and potential miniseries]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/thq-details-homefront-sequel-novel-tie-in-and-potential-miniser/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/thq-details-homefront-sequel-novel-tie-in-and-potential-miniser/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/thq-details-homefront-sequel-novel-tie-in-and-potential-miniser/#comments An upcoming novel will follow a tabloid reporter in L.A. during the first moments of the North Korean attack on the US. It's the first salvo in THQ's "transmedia" strategy for Homefront, which is about "building worlds first," then having "different media access that world in interesting ways," Danny Bilson said during his keynote speech at IGDA Leadership Forum 2010. THQ is hoping also to do a miniseries for the game following the contents of the book -- it'd be on SyFy, we imagine -- but even more interesting are Bilson's comments regarding the next game.

"The sequel has new features and doesn't even deal with the same characters," Bilson revealed. "It takes place on the other side of the Mississippi -- nobody knows what's going on over there because the North Koreans have irradiated the Mississippi with radioactive iodine and nobody can cross it without a hazmat suit. It's very interesting stuff."

Bilson says the book will be available for purchase a month before the game launches. HomeFront is currently slated for March 2011.

JoystiqTHQ details Homefront sequel, novel tie-in and potential miniseries originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonhomefrontigdaigda-leadership-forumigda-leadership-forum-2010kaos-studiosmicrosoftpcplaystationps3thqxboxMon, 08 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Darksiders 2 will star new character, take place alongside events of first game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/darksiders-2-will-star-new-character-take-place-alongside-event/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/darksiders-2-will-star-new-character-take-place-alongside-event/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/darksiders-2-will-star-new-character-take-place-alongside-event/#comments
Cue that one sad song ...

During his keynote speech at the IGDA Leadership Forum, THQ wunderkind Danny Bilson revealed some info on Darksiders 2, the sequel to Joe Mad's inspired take on a post-apocalyptic Earth. Instead of taking up the mantle of War again, the sequel will offer a new playable character -- one of the other three horsemen of the apocalypse, perhaps?

"When we do the Darksiders sequel, it'll be a different character and take place simultaneously to the other story," Bilson said. "There's only one apocalypse -- I couldn't very well have four different apocalypses, one for each rider. It has some new mechanics and some very robust features that differentiate it a lot and grow it from the first game because you have to build on the first one, you can't repeat it. I think that's very important in franchise-building."

It tied into the rest of the keynote, which revolved around Bilson and THQ's take on sequels and how to approach them when trying to create franchises. Look for our full write-up of Bilson's candid keynote speech soon.

JoystiqDarksiders 2 will star new character, take place alongside events of first game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsondarksidersdarksiders-2igdaigda-leadership-forumigda-leadership-forum-2010microsoftpcplaystationps3thqvigil-gamesxboxMon, 08 Nov 2010 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Guillermo Del Toro's THQ game to be revealed during VGAs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/guillermo-del-toro-thq-spike-vga/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/guillermo-del-toro-thq-spike-vga/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/guillermo-del-toro-thq-spike-vga/#comments "You've heard rumors of us working with a big film director who is actually a big gamer," THQ core games EVP Danny Bilson said during his keynote at the IGDA Leadership Forum. Uh, dude, heads-up: those aren't rumors any more. As it turns out, we'll finally get an official announcement about Guillermo del Toro's THQ project during the Spike VGAs next month.

"He's a gamer who wants to make a great game," said Bilson about director Guillermo del Toro, "and has very interesting points of view and is partnered very closely with myself and my writing partner, Paul." Bilson revealed that THQ "will be announcing the game title and the studio and all of that on the VGA awards in about a month."

If you're late to the party, catch up on some of our previous coverage here. Del Toro's game will have Lovecraftian themes to it ---- which is great, because we've always felt there should be more awesome games about Cthulhu.

JoystiqGuillermo Del Toro's THQ game to be revealed during VGAs originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonguillermo-del-toroigdaigda-leadership-forumigda-leadership-forum-2010insanethqvga-2010Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Saints Row XBLA aiming to be 'more unique,' says THQ's Bilson]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/saints-row-xbla-aiming-to-be-more-unique-says-thqs-bilson/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/saints-row-xbla-aiming-to-be-more-unique-says-thqs-bilson/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/saints-row-xbla-aiming-to-be-more-unique-says-thqs-bilson/#comments Not much is known about THQ's downloadable Saints Row title, save for the fact that it's in development for Xbox Live and is also likely to land on Nintendo's 3DS in some form. In a new interview with Shacknews, THQ's head of core games, Danny Bilson, alluded to some changes made to the title's direction and its dependence on a larger game.

"That one is changed. It's changed," said Bilson. "It's going to be a different--we actually changed the design and are doing something more unique. This is just creative but we wound up feeling the game we were building was too much like a section of Saint's Row that you could play in Saint's Row." Bilson added that this Saints Row would feature an "original game mechanic" that would aid it in supporting the larger franchise.

THQ's approach, then, seems to diverge from the one that spawned Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, a downloadable prequel to Capcom's zombie masher, Dead Rising 2. Capcom called its $5 teaser, composed of gameplay similar to that found in the retail follow-up, its "most dynamic sales weapon" ever, having sold over 500,000 units by the middle of September.

Bilson, however, believes "you don't want to play something that you can play within the main experience." You might be inclined to agree, but only because there's another dynamic sales weapon pointing at your head.

JoystiqSaints Row XBLA aiming to be 'more unique,' says THQ's Bilson originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdanny-bilsondsmicrosoftnintendosaints-rowsaints-row-drive-bythqvolitionxblaxboxWed, 03 Nov 2010 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Homefront novel announced, part of 'vast transmedia strategy']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/homefront-novel-announced-part-of-vast-transmedia-strategy/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/homefront-novel-announced-part-of-vast-transmedia-strategy/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/25/homefront-novel-announced-part-of-vast-transmedia-strategy/#comments The Homefront novel, which was passively mentioned last week during THQ's Montreal Studio presser, has officially been announced, with an "early 2011" publishing date. Written by John Milius (Red Dawn and Apocalypse Now) and Raymond Benson (Metal Gear Solid and James Bond novels), the novel is designed to flesh out the world of Homefront, which finds United States citizens dealing with a North Korean occupation.

The novel is part of the "vast transmedia strategy" for the franchise -- according to THQ's Danny Bilson -- so expect the standard graphic novels and coloring books to follow. Okay, maybe not the latter, unless it's bundled with a big red crayon for all the blood.

Although no further transmedia projects have been announced, let's be clear about how ambitious THQ can get in these situations: Red Faction is getting a TV movie on SyFy that could potentially turn into a full series.

JoystiqHomefront novel announced, part of 'vast transmedia strategy' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonhomefrontJohn-Miliusmicrosoftnovelpcplaystationps3Raymond-BensonxboxMon, 25 Oct 2010 09:55:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ exec appreciates North Korea's cooperation in selling Homefront fiction]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/thq-exec-appreciates-north-koreas-cooperation-in-selling-homefr/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/thq-exec-appreciates-north-koreas-cooperation-in-selling-homefr/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/thq-exec-appreciates-north-koreas-cooperation-in-selling-homefr/#comments THQ's EVP of Core Games Danny Bilson deftly diffused a potentially explosive question regarding Homefront's cultural sensitivity toward militaristic North Korea today during THQ Montreal's press event, by emphasizing that the game is "speculative fiction." Bilson noted that, thanks to North Korea scaring the international community over the past couple years through its nuclear testing and sinking of a South Korean ship, that "they've been really cooperative" in selling the game's world. With tongue firmly planted in cheek, he said, "And we really appreciate the regime in North Korea for supporting Homefront the way they have."

Bilson explains that when THQ made the decision to go with North Korea as the antagonist in the game, that it consulted with East Asia experts in Washington D.C. to sell the premise. He notes that the timeline trailer released during E3 shows the result of that "speculative fiction that comes out of paranoid theory." The company will also release a Homefront novel early next year that follows a reporter in 2027 and explains the world even deeper.

Bilson does believe Homefront is a "global game" because it's not important that it takes place in America; the story is about a country being occupied, and it draws its inspiration from other countries being occupied throughout history. Bilson concluded, "There is a reality to [Homefront], but it's by filtering history through a future fiction that gives some sense of gravity to a fantasy."

JoystiqTHQ exec appreciates North Korea's cooperation in selling Homefront fiction originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Danny-Bilsonhomefrontkaos-studiosmicrosoftpcplaystationps3thqTHQ-MontrealxboxTue, 19 Oct 2010 16:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Bilson: Homefront's 'emphasis is on multiplayer']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/bilson-homefronts-emphasis-is-on-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/bilson-homefronts-emphasis-is-on-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/bilson-homefronts-emphasis-is-on-multiplayer/#commentsDuring THQ's Montreal event, core games EVP Danny Bilson categorized its FPS Homefront as a primarily multiplayer experience, though "the single-player is extraordinary," he said (of course).

"The emphasis is on multiplayer," Bilson explained, "but with an awesome movie to play through on the other side." The reason one even has to be emphasized over the other is, of course, budget. "To get to the old things we used to play, like the 20 hours of single-player," he said, "you'd have to sacrifice, perhaps, the depth of the multiplayer, or have a five-year schedule and unlimited budget." The two portions of the game take place in different settings and involve very different gameplay, with the single-player game involving guerrilla warfare and the multiplayer involving all-out army vs. army combat.

Bilson estimated that the single-player portion of the game -- the "awesome movie" -- will run between six and ten hours, which makes it more of an awesome miniseries. The multiplayer is "hopefully in the hundred-hour range." That means it's going to be really heartbreaking if the game is changed at the last minute to be about an invasion from the North Opposing Force.

Gallery: Homefront (multiplayer)

JoystiqBilson: Homefront's 'emphasis is on multiplayer' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonfpshomefrontkaos-studiosmicrosoftmultiplayerpcplaystationps3thqthq-montrealxboxTue, 19 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ Montreal will be a two team studio working on 'great, original IP']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/thq-montreal-will-be-a-two-team-studio-working-on-great-origin/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/thq-montreal-will-be-a-two-team-studio-working-on-great-origin/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/thq-montreal-will-be-a-two-team-studio-working-on-great-origin/#commentsDuring a press event in Montreal this morning, THQ Core Games veep - and certified Straight Shooter[TM] - Danny Bilson took the opportunity to not only welcome Assassin's Creed designer Patrice Désilets to the newly created THQ Montreal studio, but to also tell the assembled press that THQ would be "building a second large-scale game in that studio. It's a two-game studio." To fuel that type of production, Bilson said that THQ Montreal will be the "largest studio in the THQ system," hiring as many as 400 developers over the next five years. If we didn't know better, we'd guess that the majority of Montreal is inhabited exclusively by game developers at this point.

"We look forward to filling this place with some of the best game makers in the world," Bilson said. "Starting with Patrice and his team and followed by a second team that I haven't announced yet and we're not going to."

When asked if the studio would be working on the unnamed Guillermo Del Toro project, Bilson teased, "Have we announced that? Uh, no." Instead, Bilson offered the following: "They'll be awesome core games" and "great, original IP." He did concede, "We do look to see what the transmedia opportunities are to make the games more important." While that's not quite the same thing as saying, "Yes, Guillermo Del Toro is making a movie and a game and there will be comic books and action figures," we'll all pretend.

Ultimately, Bilson wanted everyone to understand that this morning's announcements - centered around the new studio and the hiring of Patrice Désilets - are intended to continue to weave the story of a new THQ. "We've all been in beautiful facilities at many companies that turned out a 68-rated Metacritic game," Bilson said. "It's not about the facility but the people we put in the facility." We might not know who's leading up this second team, but with recent hires like Désilets and partnerships with developers like Tomonobu Itagaki, we're increasingly bullish on THQ.

JoystiqTHQ Montreal will be a two team studio working on 'great, original IP' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Danny-BilsonPatrice-DesiletsTHQTHQ-MontrealTue, 19 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Patrice Desilets to head up new IP at THQ Montreal]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/patrice-desilets-to-head-up-new-ip-at-thq-montreal/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/patrice-desilets-to-head-up-new-ip-at-thq-montreal/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/19/patrice-desilets-to-head-up-new-ip-at-thq-montreal/#commentsPatrice Désilets, former creative director of Ubisoft's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed 2, has found a home at the newly opened THQ Montreal. According to an official announcement made this morning, THQ "has the exclusive option to have Désilets work from the new Montreal studio beginning summer 2011."

Désilets will provide impetus to a new development team that will create original franchises for THQ. According to Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President of THQ's 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 charted by leading industry artists."

Other artists that are set to collaborate with THQ on its aggressive demand for new IP include Tomonobu Itagaki, who is currently working on Devil's Third with his own Valhalla Studios, and film director Guillermo del Toro, who has an unannounced horror project lined up.

[Image source: Gamersglobal]

JoystiqPatrice Desilets to head up new IP at THQ Montreal originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonmicrosoftnintendopatrice-desiletspcplaystationps3thqthq-montrealwiixboxTue, 19 Oct 2010 09:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction: Armageddon's destruction with a purpose detailed in dev diaries]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/red-faction-armageddons-destruction-with-a-purpose-detailed-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/red-faction-armageddons-destruction-with-a-purpose-detailed-in/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/19/red-faction-armageddons-destruction-with-a-purpose-detailed-in/#comments Red Faction: Guerrilla's nano forge gun could disintegrate objects large and small, but did you know it could also rebuild them? Apparently in Red Faction: Armageddon, the nano forge will gain the ability to recreate structures out of thin air, allowing for the construction (and, likely, subsequent destruction) of buildings, walkways, and other such objects in the underground world of Mars. Finally, destruction with meaning!

THQ executive VP Danny Bilson and Volition creative director Jacques Hennequet spend the majority of two dev diaries explaining how this -- among many other new features -- will work in next March's release. Head past the break for both.

Continue reading Red Faction: Armageddon's destruction with a purpose detailed in dev diaries

JoystiqRed Faction: Armageddon's destruction with a purpose detailed in dev diaries originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsondev-diaryjacques-hennequetmicrosoftpcplaystationps3Red-Faction-ArmageddonthqvolitionxboxThu, 19 Aug 2010 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro in talks with THQ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/report-pans-labyrinth-director-guillermo-del-toro-in-talks-wit/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/report-pans-labyrinth-director-guillermo-del-toro-in-talks-wit/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/05/report-pans-labyrinth-director-guillermo-del-toro-in-talks-wit/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Writing on LA Times' Hero Complex blog, Ben Fritz reports that film director Guillermo del Toro is looking to forge a partnership with Red Faction publisher THQ. Though del Toro, who directed Pan's Labyrinth and almost directed The Hobbit, has refrained from naming the custodian of his video game vision, he recently admitted that he was in talks with a "big company" to collaborate on "technically and narratively very interesting" projects.

THQ is no stranger to films and has adopted an enthusiastic stance on their intersection with games. The publisher is currently preparing an original sci-fi (and Syfy) movie based on the Red Faction franchise, set to debut alongside the latest game in March 2011.

THQ's Core Games VP, Danny Bilson, has expressed belief in the "Hollywood model" of IP ownership, "which is that, the bigger the artist, the more important, the more successful they are, the bigger share they get." Bilson has been aggressive in acquiring high-profile talent and products for THQ (such as Devil's Third, led by Tomonobu Itagaki), and predicted that the company's lineup of partnerships would impress us over the next few months.

"Wait till you see our announcements! You're going to go, 'oh my God'."

JoystiqReport: Pan's Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro in talks with THQ originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonguillermo-del-toroinsanethqThu, 05 Aug 2010 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ spinning off another WWE series]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/thq-spinning-off-another-wwe-series/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/thq-spinning-off-another-wwe-series/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/28/thq-spinning-off-another-wwe-series/#commentsFiled under: , ,

THQ has another WWE game on the way, joining its WWE Smackdown vs. Raw series and the new WWE All Stars (pictured). According to THQ's Danny Bilson, the new WWE "extension" shares All Stars' focus on accessibility over Smackdown vs. Raw's detailed ... simulation of simulated wrestling.

"Next year you'll see another new extension [of the WWE license]," Bilson told CVG, "that's just as exciting as All Stars, but a little different. We're not talking about that yet." He said that the plan was to release a WWE game every six months (presumably for many years to come), alternating between Smackdown vs. Raw, All Stars and this new series -- the latter two being "more friendly, easier and less simmy than Smackdown vs. Raw." There's a fourth franchise too, WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw Online, but that's intended solely for the Asian market.

If you're thinking that the "new" series will feature WWE wrestlers driving in cars and shooting at each other -- THQ tried that one already. Our wild guess: the new game's gonna really Kinect players to the Moves.

JoystiqTHQ spinning off another WWE series originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonsmackdown-vs-rawTHQwrestlingWWEWWE-All-Starswwe-crush-hourWed, 28 Jul 2010 20:40:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ's Danny Bilson reveals the universe of Red Faction media]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/thqs-danny-bilson-reveals-the-universe-of-red-faction-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/thqs-danny-bilson-reveals-the-universe-of-red-faction-media/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/thqs-danny-bilson-reveals-the-universe-of-red-faction-media/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

THQ's Core Games VP Danny Bilson contributed to a panel with a few Syfy execs this past weekend at Comic-Con, along with Andrew Kreisberg, writer for the upcoming Red Faction: Origins movie. The panel was about "transmedia" in general and Red Faction specifically, with THQ being a prime example of a company trying to tell (and sell) a universe's stories across multiple platforms and media. The way it's all going to work is that Red Faction Guerilla starred Alex Mason, Red Faction: Origins will star his son and daughter Jake and Myra, and then Red Faction Armageddon will star Darius Mason, Alex's grandson.

Kriesberg revealed that the movie will feature "three sort of main factions," and that "they're all sort of right. Everyone thinks this is their planet, and that's what makes the drama." Kriesberg shared one line from the movie that he believes wraps up a major theme: "It's hard to win a war, because the winners have to clean up."

Bilson also mentioned the upcoming downloadable game, and said that one of the factions from the movie, the White Faction, will have "elements" in the XBLA and PSN title. Bilson said that THQ's got "two more of these" transmedia properties "in the hopper" -- we presume he means Saints Row and de Blob, both previously revealed to be in progress.

JoystiqTHQ's Danny Bilson reveals the universe of Red Faction media originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>comic-con-2010danny-bilsonmicrosoftnintendopcplaystationps3red-factionRed-Faction-ArmageddonRed-Faction-BattlegroundsthqwiixboxMon, 26 Jul 2010 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ still focused on owning IP the 'Hollywood' way]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/thq-still-focused-on-owning-ip-the-hollywood-way/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/thq-still-focused-on-owning-ip-the-hollywood-way/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/01/thq-still-focused-on-owning-ip-the-hollywood-way/#commentsFiled under: , ,

THQ's competitors -- namely EA and Activision -- have recently landed publishing deals with high-profile developers, such as Respawn, Bungie and Insomniac, by allowing the studios to own their new game franchises. And while THQ offers its own "Partners" program, the company is still focused on owning franchises.

"I believe in the Hollywood model, which is that, the bigger the artist, the more important, the more successful they are, the bigger share they get," VP Danny Bilson explained to IndustryGamers. "But you know know, most of the biggest talents in Hollywood don't own their IPs. It doesn't work that way. My job coming to this company was to build an IP library, which builds value in THQ. So that means having a developer own the IP becomes a deal-breaker." According to Bilson, THQ had discussions with Respawn's West and Zampella; undoubtedly, Bilson's position made an offer impossible.

While Bilson offers no flexibility in this particular regard, he believes the company has still acquired strong talent by offering "an absolutely better place to work." At this year's E3, the publisher surprised many with the announcement of Devil's Third, a new action IP from the Itagaki-led Valhalla Studios. According to Bilson, other high-profile partnerships will be announced "over the next six months," and he noted, "you're going to go, 'oh my God.'" Considering the incredible turnaround of THQ's portfolio under Bilson's tenure, it's difficult not to share his excitement.

JoystiqTHQ still focused on owning IP the 'Hollywood' way originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsonintellectual-propertyippublishingthqThu, 01 Jul 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction downloadable game due before Armageddon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/red-faction-downloadable-game-due-before-armageddon/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/red-faction-downloadable-game-due-before-armageddon/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/red-faction-downloadable-game-due-before-armageddon/#commentsFiled under: , ,

THQ is going to deliver some emergency Red Faction to those fans unable to hold out until the March 2011 release of Armageddon. Danny Bilson, THQ's VP of core games, told CVG to expect a downloadable Red Faction game to hit Xbox Live Arcade and PSN in the interim between Guerrilla and Armageddon.

"There's going to be a Red Faction Arcade game that ships about three or four months before Armageddon," Bilson said. "What's interesting is that we will sell it to the fans, it will have content you can download that is TV show-related, it will build up to the new game and also we can use it to drive pre-orders, too; we can give codes and aspects of it, we can give the whole thing away." The TV show to which the game will relate is likely Syfy's Red Faction program, produced as part of a larger multi-franchise partnership between the cable network and THQ.

Bilson said that the supplementary downloadable game strategy will be in place for other games. "You'll see it on Red Faction, you'll see it on Saint's Row and a couple of others," he said, adding that a Red Faction comic book was also in the works. Bilson also announced plans to reveal plans this December for "the biggest trans-media play anyone has ever done" related to the Saints Row franchise.

JoystiqRed Faction downloadable game due before Armageddon originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Danny-Bilsonmicrosoftplaystationps3PSNRed-FactionRed-Faction-ArmageddonRed-Faction-BattlegroundsTHQXBLAxboxMon, 28 Jun 2010 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ puts Devil's Third in 2012, announces UFC Trainer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/thq-puts-devils-third-in-2012-announces-ufc-trainer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/thq-puts-devils-third-in-2012-announces-ufc-trainer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/thq-puts-devils-third-in-2012-announces-ufc-trainer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While we were furiously running from appointment to appointment somewhere inside the LA Convention Center last week, THQ was busy holding an investor call -- and subsequently detailing a densely packed game release future. While we already heard from the publisher back in February that Darksiders and Saint's Row sequels would be arriving sometime in fiscal 2012 (between March 2011 and April 2012), it seems that Valhalla Games' debut effort Devil's Third will join the fold (as evidenced by the above image).

Also of note, "UFC Trainer" was detailed in the financial call as a Kinect/Move/Wii exercise/training title set for release in Jan 2011 (as reported by GameSpot). It's aiming to contend with the likes of EA Sports Active and Wii Fit, albeit with a tougher slant. "We want this thing tuned to perfection without lag. And I'm not going to ship it until it's the coolest fighting thing in the world," THQ exec Danny Bilson said of UFC Trainer, explaining its absence from E3. He also reconfirmed that a sequel to Darksiders has been "greenlit" and is currently in production, though said nothing of the Devil's Third release window specifically (presumably for fear of being sliced to bits by Valhalla's ninjas).

JoystiqTHQ puts Devil's Third in 2012, announces UFC Trainer originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Danny-BilsonDarksidersDarksiders-2devils-thirdmicrosoftplaystationps3q1-2012release-dateSaints-RowSaints-Row-3THQUFC-TrainerxboxTue, 22 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ planning big for Natal, but waiting for install base to grow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/thq-planning-big-for-natal-but-waiting-for-install-base-to-grow/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/thq-planning-big-for-natal-but-waiting-for-install-base-to-grow/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/thq-planning-big-for-natal-but-waiting-for-install-base-to-grow/#comments Speaking to CVG, THQ core games exec Danny Bilson revealed that he's got quite an ambitious idea for Microsoft's upcoming Project Natal peripheral; specifically, he cites plans for a "core game" that leverages Natal's motion-sensing tech "in a really, really cool way." That said, Bilson intimates that the budget for such a game -- which he estimates to be from $30-40 million -- would prevent the game from being released before the Natal install base is large enough to support it. Still, he adds, "The concept I have uses every corner of that tech and maybe in a couple of years we'll do it."

Whatever Bilson's mystery project is, he certainly seems excited by the technology. Just last week, Bilson was talking up another project that THQ plans to announce at E3, which may or may not be the "super awesome" and "physically active" Natal project he told Joystiq about during GDC. THQ was also one of the first companies to reveal it had been working on Natal dev kits when Microsoft first announced the peripheral last year.

JoystiqTHQ planning big for Natal, but waiting for install base to grow originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Danny-BilsonMicrosoftproject-natalthqXbox-360Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:29:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ Core Games VP teases fighting game and motion game for E3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/thq-core-games-vp-teases-fighting-game-and-motion-game-for-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/thq-core-games-vp-teases-fighting-game-and-motion-game-for-e3/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/31/thq-core-games-vp-teases-fighting-game-and-motion-game-for-e3/#comments Danny Bilson - executive vice president of "Core Games" at rebounding publisher THQ - recently told CVG that his "fighting group is actually taking on the management of another game that we're going to announce at E3 that has a certain amount of melee combat in it ... ." Before spilling all the beans, Bilson added, "It's a major developer and you'll get exactly what I'm talking about when I'm able to talk about it. It's really cool, it's another one of the things I'm doing to rebuild everything around the core division of THQ."

This reminded us of something Bilson told Joystiq when we spoke with him at the Game Developer's Conference earlier this month. "We have one active product that we're going to announce pretty soon and it's on Move, it's on Wii, and it's on Natal," Bilson said. When asked if "active product" meant "physically active" Bilson replied, "It's physically active. On a big brand. And it's super awesome, we'll definitely show it at E3. I'm very proud of it."

Whether or not these two projects are one and the same remains to be seen, but there are some parallels worth pointing out: A "certain amount of melee combat" could allude to a "physically active" product and this unnamed fighting game is "really cool" while the unnamed motion game is "super awesome."

JoystiqTHQ Core Games VP teases fighting game and motion game for E3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Danny-BilsonMicrosoftNintendoPlayStation-MoveProject-NatalTHQWiiXbox-360Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ's Bilson: Research and focus testing will 'usually destroy' creativity]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/thqs-bilson-research-and-focus-testing-will-usually-destroy/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/thqs-bilson-research-and-focus-testing-will-usually-destroy/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/thqs-bilson-research-and-focus-testing-will-usually-destroy/#comments During an interview at the 2010 Game Developers Conference, THQ executive VP of Core Games Danny Bilson told Joystiq that market research creates "bland" titles, citing it is not a process his group is willing to utilize for future development. "We don't do research to find out what people want to play. If you need to do that kind of research you must not be playing games yourself," Bilson said, noting that research and overusing focus tests can "misguide creative forces."

According to Bilson, his core group at THQ is ruled by creating "excellent" titles. Put simply, Bilson says he will not ship a game if it's not "really good" -- noting that doing otherwise will make it impossible for him to "sleep at night." As an example of this process, Bilson noted his decision to push Darksiders from a 2009 release into the early-2010 calendar in order to ensure the game was of high quality. (Darksiders currently holds an average Metacritic rating of 83.)

"Inspiration comes from one place and research and focus testing will usually destroy it. It will usually create 'bland' and create something for everyone and really nothing for anyone," he said, praising the idea that publishers should not ship a game until it's ready. "If my teams make really good games, in the long run, that's what people relate to. They're not buying advertising, they're not buying Wall Street nonsense. They're buying what's on that disc."

JoystiqTHQ's Bilson: Research and focus testing will 'usually destroy' creativity originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsondarksidersfocus-testinggdc-2010market-researchMicrosoftthqXbox-360Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:40:00 EST