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[Nordic Games involved with THQ since January, is talking sequels]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/nordic-games-involved-with-thq-since-january-is-talking-sequels/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/nordic-games-involved-with-thq-since-january-is-talking-sequels/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/23/nordic-games-involved-with-thq-since-january-is-talking-sequels/#comments Nordic Games involved with THQ since January, is talking sequelsNordic Games picked up most of the IPs in THQ's back catalog auction, dishing out $4.9 million for Darksiders, Red Faction, MX vs ATV, Titan Quest and a slew of unannounced games from THQ's long list of for-sale properties. Nordic was a surprise to some, especially next to Gearbox, which picked up the Homeworld franchise, and 505 Games, which snagged Drawn to Life and its sequel. But Nordic isn't new.

"We've been in conversation with THQ since January," Nordic CEO Lars Wingefors told Game Informer. "We signed all the NDAs in January."

Wingefors has been in the gaming industry for 20 years, he said, and has handled "a lot" of THQ products during that time. In November 2011, Nordic acquired publisher JoWood, in charge of Painkiller and Torchlight, and also ended up with Canadian publisher Dreamcatcher, spawning Nordic's publishing focus.

Nordic took part in the first THQ auction as well, which sold off properties such as Saints Row and some development studios for upwards of $20 million. That sale was too rich for Wingefors: "Saints Row went for $22 million and Koch bought that development studio with that burn rate on a daily basis. Even though I do have financial resources, I don't have those kind of resources."

Wingefors didn't want a studio. Nordic is a "middle man" looking for the right team to make some new sequels; there's already been plenty of interest in Darksiders, he said.

"We have to be very honest," Wingefors said. "I am a business man within the games industry. We are not the creative, talented developer that brings out new versions in house. I understand the potential of the IPs. I respect the original creators and the creative people who are able to create sequels. In the past 24 hours, we have been contacted and there have been a few discussions (but I can't confirm names)."

Nordic took home more than 50 former THQ games, but has yet to release the full list.

"As we still have some open points with regards to a couple of titles we will not publish a comprehensive list at this stage," a Nordic Games representative told Joystiq yesterday. "However, once everything is fixed and the ink is dry - around mid-May - we will go out with a comprehensive list of titles which we have acquired in the process."

Nordic will hold talks this summer with different developers, during E3 especially. Don't expect any sequels too soon, though.

"You won't see a new Darksiders this year," Wingefors said. "I don't believe in bringing out a shitty sequel."

JoystiqNordic Games involved with THQ since January, is talking sequels originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsauctionDarksidersmacmicrosoftmobilemx-vs-atvnintendonordic-gamespcplaystationplaystation-vitaps3Red-FactionTHQthq-bankruptcytitan-questvitawii-uxboxTue, 23 Apr 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ auction results: Nordic Games takes Darksiders, Red Faction; 505 Games is Drawn to Life]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/thq-auction-darksiders-red-faction-homeworld/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/thq-auction-darksiders-red-faction-homeworld/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/22/thq-auction-darksiders-red-faction-homeworld/#comments THQ auction results Nordic Games takes Darksiders, Red Faction 505 Games is Drawn to Life
The THQ back catalog auction results are in, with Nordic Games riding away with the intellectual property (IP) rights to Darksiders, Red Faction and MX vs. ATV for $4.9 million. The company picked up nearly all the assets in the auction, including Titan Quest, Supreme Commander, Frontlines, Stuntman, Juiced, Full Spectrum Warrior, Destroy All Humans and much more.

"First and foremost we are very happy about this deal which also turns over a new leaf for the entire Nordic Games Group. In the long term, we either want to cooperate with the original creators or best possible developers in order to work on sequels or additional content for these titles," said Nordic Games CEO Lars Wingefors. "A very important point for us is not to dash into several self-financed multi-million dollar projects right away, but rather to continue our in-depth analysis of all titles and carefully selecting different financing models for developing new instalments of acquired IPs."

The other reveal is 505 Games grabbed the rights to Drawn to Life and Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter for $300K.

The news follows this afternoon's unexpected acquisition of the Homeworld franchise by Gearbox Software. We now know the price tag for Gearbox to re-release the original games on digital distribution networks and take a swing at its own spin on the real-time strategy franchise was $1.35 million.

We've listed the winning bids in greater detail after the break.

Continue reading THQ auction results: Nordic Games takes Darksiders, Red Faction; 505 Games is Drawn to Life

JoystiqTHQ auction results: Nordic Games takes Darksiders, Red Faction; 505 Games is Drawn to Life originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Apr 2013 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>505-gamesDarksidersdarksiders-2Destroy-All-HumansHomeworldmicrosoftnordic-gamesnordic-games-licensing-abpcplaystationps3red-factionSupreme-Commanderthqthq-bankruptcyxboxMon, 22 Apr 2013 18:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Darksiders, Homeworld, Red Faction and other IPs next on THQ auction]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/darksiders-homeworld-red-faction-and-other-ips-next-on-thq-auc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/darksiders-homeworld-red-faction-and-other-ips-next-on-thq-auc/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/26/darksiders-homeworld-red-faction-and-other-ips-next-on-thq-auc/#comments THQ has announced that it will be auctioning off the intellectual property rights for a large portion of its back catalogue, including Darksiders, Red Faction and Homeworld. The full list of properties up for sale, broken into six lots and posted in full after the break, also includes games like Destroy All Humans! and numerous licensed products.

Once interested bidders have gone through the proper channels, initial bids must be submitted by April 1, 2013, with final bids due on April 15. Once all bids have been submitted, THQ will talk the situation over with the various entities it owes money to and will then designate a primary and back-up bid for each lot. Once all that has been completed, the sales will be presented to the court for final approval, expected to take place in May.

Continue reading Darksiders, Homeworld, Red Faction and other IPs next on THQ auction

JoystiqDarksiders, Homeworld, Red Faction and other IPs next on THQ auction originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionbankruptcyDarksidersDestroy-All-HumansHomeworldRed-FactionTHQTue, 26 Feb 2013 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction: Armageddon PC demo hits OnLive exclusively (for now)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/red-faction-armageddon-pc-demo-hits-onlive-exclusively-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/red-faction-armageddon-pc-demo-hits-onlive-exclusively-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/26/red-faction-armageddon-pc-demo-hits-onlive-exclusively-for/#comments You may have already noticed, but cloud gaming service OnLive and publisher THQ have developed quite the relationship. First the two began offering free games and hardware as pre-order bonuses, and now they're offering an exclusive demo for Red Faction: Armageddon. While it's already available to Xbox 360 owners via Xbox Live, the only way that PC (and Mac) users are going to play the demo in the immediate future is through OnLive.

The service calls this an "industry milestone," saying that the demo will remain its exclusive until Armageddon's retail release on June 6. An OnLive account (free) is required to play the trial, which concludes with an offer to pre-purchase the full game from a retailer or the streaming service. Doing the latter will also net buyers instant access to Red Faction: Guerilla and a free MicroConsole system, in a promotion originally launched earlier this month.

Continue reading Red Faction: Armageddon PC demo hits OnLive exclusively (for now)

JoystiqRed Faction: Armageddon PC demo hits OnLive exclusively (for now) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demomaconlivepcred-factionRed-Faction-ArmageddonthqvolitionThu, 26 May 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction: Armageddon trailer breaks the seal, lets out the bad]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/red-faction-armageddon-trailer-breaks-the-seal-lets-out-the-b/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/red-faction-armageddon-trailer-breaks-the-seal-lets-out-the-b/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/red-faction-armageddon-trailer-breaks-the-seal-lets-out-the-b/#comments You've seen the aliens Darius Mason is tasked with squashing in Red Faction: Armageddon, but do you know how they became a threat to all of the humans on Mars?

Continue reading Red Faction: Armageddon trailer breaks the seal, lets out the bad

JoystiqRed Faction: Armageddon trailer breaks the seal, lets out the bad originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 17 May 2011 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpcplaystationps3Red-FactionRed-Faction-ArmageddonTHQVolitionxboxTue, 17 May 2011 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Armageddon a free OnLive MicroConsole with Red Faction pre-order]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/armageddon-a-free-onlive-microconsole-with-red-faction-pre-order/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/armageddon-a-free-onlive-microconsole-with-red-faction-pre-order/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/armageddon-a-free-onlive-microconsole-with-red-faction-pre-order/#comments A few months ago, THQ and OnLive partnered to give away free MicroConsole devices with pre-orders of Homefront. OnLive is launching another THQ promotion, and this one is arguably a better deal, because it doesn't include a copy of Homefront.

From now through June 6, if you buy a "Full PlayPass" for Red Faction: Armageddon through OnLive, you'll get a free MicroConsole, allowing you to play streaming OnLive games on your TV -- and a free copy of Red Faction: Guerrilla. Eventually, you're going to end up with a pile of these MicroConsoles!

JoystiqArmageddon a free OnLive MicroConsole with Red Faction pre-order originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 May 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>macmicroconsoleonlivepcpre-orderred-factionRed-Faction-Armageddonred-faction-guerrillathqWed, 04 May 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction production stills look very, very surly]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/red-faction-production-stills-look-very-very-surly/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/red-faction-production-stills-look-very-very-surly/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/red-faction-production-stills-look-very-very-surly/#comments The SyFy press site recently added a handful of production stills for its upcoming original film adaptation of the Red Faction franchise, posted in the gallery below. Did you know that, in addition to being composed of red rocks, Mars is also made out of frowns?

Continue reading Red Faction production stills look very, very surly

JoystiqRed Faction production stills look very, very surly originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adaptationfilmmoviered-factionstillssyfyMon, 25 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ calls Red Faction: Battlegrounds reception a 'disappointment']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/15/thq-calls-red-faction-battlegrounds-reception-a-disappointment/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/15/thq-calls-red-faction-battlegrounds-reception-a-disappointment/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/15/thq-calls-red-faction-battlegrounds-reception-a-disappointment/#comments During an event today promoting SyFy's Red Faction: Origins tie-in movie, THQ's creative / biz dev director Lenny Brown shared with Joystiq his thoughts on the reception of the recent download-only release in the franchise, Red Faction: Battlegrounds. "I think it's a little bit of a disappointment," he told us bluntly, with the bulk of that letdown caused by the game's Metacritic score, currently sitting at 49 out of 100.

"I think what's most disappointing for me," Brown said, "is how sometimes the prose of the reviews don't match the final score. Someone will say something not necessarily glowing, but you think you're tracking along a 7, and then you get a 4." Our own review gave the game two out of five stars.

"That's not talking about the fairness of the score of this game in particular," he clarified. "It's not the best game in the world, but it's not a 5. It's a satisfactory experience that leads into the bigger game. And I think just because of what we're trying to do, that's innovative, and I think that alone deserves a 7."

Continue reading THQ calls Red Faction: Battlegrounds reception a 'disappointment'

JoystiqTHQ calls Red Faction: Battlegrounds reception a 'disappointment' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lenny-brownmicrosoftplaystationps3red-factionred-faction-battlegroundsthqxboxFri, 15 Apr 2011 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction Battlegrounds review: Get your half-ass to Mars]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/red-faction-battlegrounds-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/red-faction-battlegrounds-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/11/red-faction-battlegrounds-review/#comments Man, is there anything more pretentious than a game reviewer? Just look at him, stirring his whole leaf Darjeeling tea with a gold-rimmed monocle, sneering at any game that doesn't aspire to turn Roger Ebert into a weepy Gamestop customer. Why can't he just enjoy a four-player vehicular combat game for its simple pleasures and stimulating explosions?

I tried, between sips. Despite ticking some appealing boxes and crates of TNT, Red Faction Battlegrounds is a tepid pursuit of the bare minimum, resistant to the creative nudge that could have made it feel like something worthwhile. Everything works, it does what it says on the tin, but there's not a spark of personality in there. Even the ties to Red Faction are superficial -- the tanks, armored cars and bipedal mechs could have been from any game and any planet.

Gallery: Red Faction Battlegrounds (4/5/11)

Continue reading Red Faction Battlegrounds review: Get your half-ass to Mars

JoystiqRed Faction Battlegrounds review: Get your half-ass to Mars originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftplaystationps3psnred-factionred-faction-battlegroundsthqthq-digitalxblaxboxMon, 11 Apr 2011 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Hour-long documentary goes behind the scenes at Volition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/03/hourlong-documentary-goes-behind-the-scenes-at-volition/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/03/hourlong-documentary-goes-behind-the-scenes-at-volition/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/03/hourlong-documentary-goes-behind-the-scenes-at-volition/#comments Game Informer's story on Saints Row: The Third started with just a few screenshots, but apparently the magazine had some extra video footage around, so it decided to turn it into a nearly one hour long documentary on the entire Volition studio, from its PC beginnings with Descent: Freespace, up into the big console series Red Faction and Saints Row.

There's a lot of fascinating behind-the-scenes stuff here for old-school Volition fans, including a lot of thinking on why Volition has made the games it has, how the company has built up its growing legacy piece by piece, and even why some developers on the staff didn't want anything to do with Saints Row in the first place. The last 18 years of Volition's work makes for some excellent weekend watching.

JoystiqHour-long documentary goes behind the scenes at Volition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>descentmicrosoftpcplaystationps3red-factionsaints-rowsaints-row-the-thirdvolitionxboxSun, 03 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction's Battlegrounds open up in Europe this April]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/red-factions-battlegrounds-open-up-in-europe-this-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/red-factions-battlegrounds-open-up-in-europe-this-april/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/07/red-factions-battlegrounds-open-up-in-europe-this-april/#comments THQ's downloadable game about Mars cars, Red Faction: Battlegrounds, will launch in Europe in the first week of April, according to a statement from THQ to Eurogamer. No North American date has been announced, but the overwhelming majority of PSN and XBLA releases arrive here the same week as they do in Europe.

It's therefore safe to assume you'll be blasting the surface of Mars in walking mechs, rovers and other vehicles for a good month and a half before Armageddon hits. We're checking with THQ ourselves to make sure.

JoystiqRed Faction's Battlegrounds open up in Europe this April originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europemicrosoftplaystationps3psnq2-2011red-factionred-faction-battlegroundsrelease-datexblaxboxMon, 07 Mar 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction: Battlegrounds beta extended to Oct. 26]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/red-faction-battlegrounds-beta-extended-to-oct-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/red-faction-battlegrounds-beta-extended-to-oct-26/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/red-faction-battlegrounds-beta-extended-to-oct-26/#comments If you were one of those lucky few PlayStation Plus members selected for the Red Factions: Battlegrounds beta, you'll have an extra week to zoom around and blow junk up. Word comes via the PlayStation Blog, where Volition community manager J Goldberg also announced that 1,000 more PlayStation Plus members will be invited into the beta.

Red Faction: Battlegrounds is a twin-stick shooter in which up to four players engage in vehicular-based combat both online and off. It's expected to launch on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network in early 2011.

JoystiqRed Faction: Battlegrounds beta extended to Oct. 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnred-factionred-faction-battlegroundsthqthq-digitalVolitionvolition-studiosxblaxboxxbox-live-arcadeThu, 21 Oct 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ partners with Joyent for 'rapid prototyping and deployment' of social games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/thq-partners-with-joyent-for-rapid-prototyping-and-deployment/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/thq-partners-with-joyent-for-rapid-prototyping-and-deployment/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/20/thq-partners-with-joyent-for-rapid-prototyping-and-deployment/#commentsFiled under: , ,

THQ and its core games VP Danny Bilson have been touting the publisher's dedication to making properties flexible across multiple mediums ("transmedia") -- for instance, Red Faction is getting a movie, a downloadable game, and a retail game (we're unceremoniously awaiting the inevitable book or comic tie-in). One area the publisher has yet to tap into with its core games IPs is social gaming, though that may no longer be the case. This morning, THQ announced a partnership with digital infrastructure company Joyent for the "rapid prototyping and deployment of online games."

We spoke with VP of online publishing and operations Mike Hogan just late last week about the partnership and what it means for THQ. Will we see Red FactionVille anytime soon on Facebook? "We have a pretty strong online strategy right now -- next week we're launching Company of Heroes Online, it's been in open beta for some time now and we've had great results on that," he told us. "If you take a look at the social applications, it is a part of what we do but it's certainly not all of it. As far as the actual games, I really can't tell you specifically what we have in development, but if you take a look at our license -- THQ has a great portfolio of licenses -- it wouldn't be too far of a stretch to think that some of those are involved."

Continue reading THQ partners with Joyent for 'rapid prototyping and deployment' of social games

JoystiqTHQ partners with Joyent for 'rapid prototyping and deployment' of social games originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joyentmacmike-hoganmobilepcred-factionsocial-gamingthqMon, 20 Sep 2010 15:20:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ wants Red Faction: Battlegrounds to be free, or at least cheap]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/20/thq-wants-red-faction-battlegrounds-to-be-free-or-at-least-che/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/20/thq-wants-red-faction-battlegrounds-to-be-free-or-at-least-che/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/20/thq-wants-red-faction-battlegrounds-to-be-free-or-at-least-che/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There is likely to be a low barrier of entry for THQ's downloadable Red Faction spinoff, Red Faction: Battlegrounds. At Gamescom, a THQ representative told Joystiq that the company may opt to give the game away as a pre-order bonus for Red Faction: Armageddon.

"No price yet," the rep said. "They are talking about possible pre-order specials. It's possible, hasn't been finalized yet, that if you pre-order Armageddon you may be able to toss this in as well. They obviously want to keep it as low as possible." Barring that, he said, THQ hopes to sell it for 400-800 Microsoft Points ($5-10). The freebie strategy fits with THQ core games VP Danny Bilson's strategy to use downloadable games to extend its brands.

In addition, the representative offered additional details on the downloadable title's planned DLC. "Two downloadable packs," he said, "one ties into the [Red Faction: Origins] miniseries ... it also has a Armageddon DLC pack."

JoystiqTHQ wants Red Faction: Battlegrounds to be free, or at least cheap originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescom-2010microsoftplaystationpre-orderps3PSNRed-Factionred-faction-armageddonred-faction-battlegroundsTHQXBLAxboxFri, 20 Aug 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ registers 'Red Faction Battlegrounds' domain]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/thq-registers-red-faction-battlegrounds-domain/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/thq-registers-red-faction-battlegrounds-domain/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/13/thq-registers-red-faction-battlegrounds-domain/#commentsFiled under: , ,

THQ has a lot of Red Faction transmedia projects going on, so let's add another to the mix: RedFactionBattlegrounds.com. The RF: Battlegrounds domain registration, noticed by Superannuation, is either another non-gaming project or is more likely the name of THQ's Red Faction downloadable title for XBLA and PSN, which is supposed to come out before Red Faction: Armageddon's launch in March.

The publisher also currently has Red Faction: Origins, its SyFy original movie (which could turn into a television series), set to premiere next March. At this rate, it'll be fitting if THQ announces Red Faction: Overload for April -- but we doubt it.

JoystiqTHQ registers 'Red Faction Battlegrounds' domain originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Red-FactionRed-Faction-ArmageddonRed-Faction-BattlegroundsTHQVolitionFri, 13 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction: Armageddon and the balance of open-world versus story-driven]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/27/red-faction-armageddon-and-the-balance-of-open-world-versus-sto/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/27/red-faction-armageddon-and-the-balance-of-open-world-versus-sto/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/27/red-faction-armageddon-and-the-balance-of-open-world-versus-sto/#comments THQ and Volition brought Red Faction: Armageddon to Comic-Con last weekend, and even though the demo on display was the same one we saw behind closed doors at E3, we threatened to collapse their headquarters with a Nano Forge if they didn't tell us something new about the game. Volition producer Dan Sutton and writer Drew Holmes gave us a little insight on what they're planning to do with the story of Darius Mason, Alec's grandson.

Let's get the important stuff out of the way first: The sledgehammer is coming back, so don't worry about that. As for the Ostrich, I didn't get confirmation so much as laughter from the developers, but they said that there would probably be something silly in the game this time around, depending on what the community came up with. "It's up to NeoGAF," joked Holmes. "Someone will photoshop something, and then we'll be stuck."

Gallery: Red Faction: Armageddon (Comic-Con)

Continue reading Red Faction: Armageddon and the balance of open-world versus story-driven

JoystiqRed Faction: Armageddon and the balance of open-world versus story-driven originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capekcomic-con-2010Dan-SuttonDrew-Holmesmicrosoftostrich-hammerplaystationps3red-factionRed-Faction-ArmageddonsledgehammerthqvolitionxboxTue, 27 Jul 2010 15:30:00 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[Red Faction: Origins movie to debut on SyFy in March 2011]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/19/red-faction-origins-movie-to-debut-on-syfy-in-march-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/19/red-faction-origins-movie-to-debut-on-syfy-in-march-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/19/red-faction-origins-movie-to-debut-on-syfy-in-march-2011/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This March -- for the first time ever -- you may have a non-ironic interest in watching a SyFy original movie. That's because the live-action Red Faction movie, now called Red Faction: Origins, will be airing on the network during that month, coinciding with the release of Red Faction: Armageddon. So that's what that other domain registration was about!

The two-hour "pilot" movie (meaning it'll be a series if it does well) takes place between the Guerrilla and Armageddon games, focusing on Alec Mason's last surviving son Jake, who fights against a new human army dedicated to destroying the Red Faction. Somehow, Jake's sister has gotten involved with this group. We can assume because it's a SyFy movie that she's also been cursed to turn into a weresnake at night, or that she arrives on a train filled with spiders who have been snacking on nitroglycerin during the journey.

Along with the announcement of the movie, THQ sent out a new screenshot of Red Faction: Armageddon. Find it in the gallery below.

Gallery: Red Faction: Armageddon

JoystiqRed Faction: Origins movie to debut on SyFy in March 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpcplaystationps3Red-FactionRed-Faction-ArmageddonRed-Faction-OriginsSyFyTHQxboxMon, 19 Jul 2010 09:33:00 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[Dig beneath the surface of the Red Faction: Armageddon trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/05/dig-beneath-the-surface-of-the-red-faction-armageddon-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/05/dig-beneath-the-surface-of-the-red-faction-armageddon-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/05/dig-beneath-the-surface-of-the-red-faction-armageddon-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There was something about the last installment in the Red Faction franchise which seemed to eradicate any fear we may have possessed while traversing the Martian landscape. That thing was, of course, a hammer the size of a teenager. Something tells us that won't be enough to stave off the subterranean terrors we'll encounter in the series' next chapter, Red Faction: Armageddon, which was debuted last night on GameTrailers TV. Click past the jump to see the very first, surprisingly spooky footage of the game.

Taking place 50-some years after the events of Guerrilla, players will fill the dust-filthy boots of Darius Mason, grandson of Alec and Samanya, protagonists of the last game. Following a cataclysmic accident on the planet's surface, Martian colonists are forced to live in underground mines. It's a pretty bad scene, but it's made even worse when someone unleashes a swarm of gruesome monsters into the cavernous network of settlements, supplying the game's titular Armageddon.

Of course, Darius is equipped with all manner of artillery to stave off the horde, including the Nano Forge, which played a major role in the plot of Guerrilla. The trailer includes a March 2011 release date for the title, though we're certain to see more of it at E3. Stay tuned!

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading Dig beneath the surface of the Red Faction: Armageddon trailer

JoystiqDig beneath the surface of the Red Faction: Armageddon trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>microsoftpcplaystationps3Red-FactionRed-Faction-ArmageddonTHQVolitionxboxXbox-360Sat, 05 Jun 2010 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Red Faction to be revealed tomorrow on GameTrailers TV]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/next-red-faction-to-be-revealed-tomorrow-on-gametrailers-tv/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/next-red-faction-to-be-revealed-tomorrow-on-gametrailers-tv/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/06/03/next-red-faction-to-be-revealed-tomorrow-on-gametrailers-tv/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We won't have to wait for E3 to see the first info about the new Red Faction game. GameTrailers TV will reveal a trailer for the upcoming game tomorrow, at 12:20AM Eastern. Destructoid says that the game is called Red Faction: Armageddon, which fits with a trademark registered by THQ recently. In any case, we'll know ... early tomorrow morning!

The episode will also feature new footage of Crysis 2 and Platinum Games' Vanquish, so it's probably worth checking out if you like to see people in futuristic armor shooting things. See the promo after the break.

[Via Destructoid]

Continue reading Next Red Faction to be revealed tomorrow on GameTrailers TV

JoystiqNext Red Faction to be revealed tomorrow on GameTrailers TV originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CrytekFPSGameTrailers-TVmicrosoftpcPlatinum-Gamesplaystationps3Red-FactionRed-Faction-ArmageddonThird-Person-ShooterTHQVanquishVolitionxboxXbox-360Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Red Faction to be unveiled 'later this month']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/next-red-faction-to-be-unveiled-later-this-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/next-red-faction-to-be-unveiled-later-this-month/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/next-red-faction-to-be-unveiled-later-this-month/#commentsRed Faction Guerrilla THQ has never been shy about reflecting on the job it did marketing Red Faction: Guerrilla's launch. "I'd give us a 'B' on the launch of Red Faction: Guerrilla," CEO Brian Farrell admitted to investors last July. Today, on a generally upbeat earnings call -- sales are up and quality is definitely up! -- Farrell again questioned the launch of the title, but this time with a new focus, saying, "I think we did a great job on the game, I think we did an average job on demand creation."

Demand creation is the new game in town at THQ's Core Games unit, and Farrell thinks the company has got this nut cracked for the next Red Faction title. "I think you'll see that in spades," Farrell said about creating that all-important demand creation for the future Red Faction. "You'll see it in the way we unveil it later this month." But it's not all about building hyp-err, demand creation -- THQ has got the SyFy movie and all those free copies of Guerrilla to help with that -- it's also about improving the quality of the game itself.

Danny Bilson already told Joystiq that the next game would be more "narrative" and Farrell reaffirms that goal. "It's got a new storyline; we think that was one of the weaker points [in Guerrilla]," Farrell said. "Red Faction's always been a technological showpiece, and we wanted to add production values in terms of story and environment this year. And when you see the new Red Faction, it's just a much more appealing game universe."

When can you smash this more appealing game universe, you ask? Farrell mentioned a fiscal 2011 release window, which is open now and ends in March 2011, for the as-yet-unnamed sequel ... right when Bilson told us to expect it. But first things first, we'll learn more about this new, more narrative Red Faction "later this month." And then we'll tell you. (See, that's how this relationship works.)

JoystiqNext Red Faction to be unveiled 'later this month' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 May 2010 20:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Brian-FarrellMicrosoftRed-FactionRed-Faction-4Red-Faction-ArmageddonRed-Faction-GuerrillaTHQXbox-360Wed, 05 May 2010 20:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction 'Origins' and 'Armageddon' website domains registered]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/red-faction-origins-and-armageddon-web-domains-registered/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/red-faction-origins-and-armageddon-web-domains-registered/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/red-faction-origins-and-armageddon-web-domains-registered/#comments Internet paperwork bloodhound Superannuation has sniffed out several Red Faction-based domain name registrations by THQ. A series of domains corresponding to would-be titles in "Red Faction Armageddon" and "Red Faction Origins" have been secured by the publisher.

These two potential Red Faction projects would appear to correspond with the current plan for the franchise, which sees SyFy producing a "back-door pilot" for TV (Origins, maybe?) and the next installment of the game series planned for March 2011 (why not Armageddon?). Of course, these things are never so neatly tied together, are they? There are numerous possibilities for the two Red Faction titles used in the new domain registrations.

Anyway, have you played Guerrilla yet? It's a really fun game, we swear.

JoystiqRed Faction 'Origins' and 'Armageddon' website domains registered originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>domainred-factionRed-Faction-4red-faction-armageddonred-faction-originsregistrationthqFri, 30 Apr 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction TV movie being produced by Syfy; ongoing series possible]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/red-faction-tv-movie-being-produced-by-syfy-ongoing-series-poss/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/red-faction-tv-movie-being-produced-by-syfy-ongoing-series-poss/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/26/red-faction-tv-movie-being-produced-by-syfy-ongoing-series-poss/#comments It looks like THQ and the still awkwardly named Syfy have more than just De Blob in store for their transmedia tryst: Broadcasting & Cable reports that "Syfy has just closed a deal to bring Red Faction to television via a two-hour movie, which will also serve as a back-door pilot." A "back-door pilot," for those of you not in on television industry jargon, is defined by Variety as a "pilot episode filmed as a standalone movie, so it can be broadcast if it is not picked up as a series." So, in other words, Syfy is making a Red Faction movie, ostensibly tied into the new, more "narrative" game expected in early 2011, with the hope of continuing the production as an ongoing series.

While discussing his studio's transmedia strategy with Joystiq at GDC in March, THQ's Danny Bilson put to rest any concerns that this project is going the way of the Halo movie. "I'm only doing deals where we have a greenlight, meaning we are on the air; we are being made as a film," Bilson said. "You're not going to read about, 'Oh, this producer is going to do the Red Faction movie,' and you never hear about it again."

But that's not the end of this relationship. The aforementioned 2011 Red Faction game "will be produced in conjunction with Syfy Games," adding to the cable channels other ongoing gaming projects, including the Battlestar Galactica MMO and the "Syfy Action MMO" that Trion is working on. Syfy's Alan Seiffert said of the Red Faction deal, "It is the kind of content that fits our genre. It is a great fit for a big Syfy Saturday movie, and if it really works, it is a great back-door pilot."

[Via Press the Buttons]

JoystiqRed Faction TV movie being produced by Syfy; ongoing series possible originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Red-FactionRed-Faction-ArmageddonSyFySyFy-GamesTHQMon, 26 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction: Guerrilla dev post-mortem: to embrace true open-world freedom 'you need to stop caring']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/red-faction-guerrilla-dev-post-mortem-to-embrace-true-open-wor/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/red-faction-guerrilla-dev-post-mortem-to-embrace-true-open-wor/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/red-faction-guerrilla-dev-post-mortem-to-embrace-true-open-wor/#comments In a lengthy post-mortem on Gamasutra, design director James Hague breaks down how his team at Volition developed Red Faction: Guerrilla's many, many missions while working with an enormous, open world where pretty much everything can be destroyed. Beyond the seemingly minor decisions (order of actions within a mission, for instance) being problematic, the sheer enormity of RFG's terraformed Mars and its fully destructible environment drove the game's developer to deliver on the promise of freedom not just between missions, but during them as well. This, as you might imagine, caused quite a bit of a hitch, resulting in the eventual boiling down of some mission objectives to their most basic elements.

"To truly fit into the open world model, missions have to provide the same sense of freedom that the world itself provides. And to make that work takes a change of mindset. It means letting go of being a control freak and instead embracing the chaos that's inherent in open world design," Hague says. For him, game design is often a struggle for how to control the player, and thusly, the player's experience. In the case of RFG, though, he exclaims the team had to "stop caring" about said control. "You can't control what the player experiences every moment. That's not a failure; it's what comes with letting the player do what he wants."

Hague goes into far more detail over four pages of individual mission dissection, so if you're a fan of the game like we are, we'd suggest checking out the whole piece -- it may not be as rewarding as destroying a tower and watching it fall on scrambling soldiers, but then what is?

JoystiqRed Faction: Guerrilla dev post-mortem: to embrace true open-world freedom 'you need to stop caring' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>james-hagueMicrosoftopen-worldpost-mortemred-factionred-faction-guerrillavolitionvolition-incvolition-studiosXbox-360Wed, 07 Apr 2010 01:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Red Faction planned for March 2011, focus on franchise's roots]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/next-red-faction-planned-for-march-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/next-red-faction-planned-for-march-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/11/next-red-faction-planned-for-march-2011/#comments In an interview with Joystiq during the 2010 Game Developer's Conference, THQ's executive VP of Core Games Danny Bilson let a few new details slip about the upcoming sequel to the critical-smash hit Red Faction: Guerrilla. "The new game takes [Red Faction] to a whole new place, it kind of goes back to the old Red Faction because about 80% of it is underground," Bilson said. According to Bilson, the as-yet-properly-named sequel -- which he describes as a "hybrid" between the first two titles in the Red Faction franchise and Guerrilla -- is planned for release in March 2011. (In February, THQ's annual investors conference call vaguely stated a Guerrilla sequel was planned for the company's "fiscal 2011" window.)

Bilson was tight-lipped on other details but did confirm the upcoming open-world third-person shooter would be far more "structured," akin to a "narrative" shooter. The sequel will still feature the destructibility Bilson says cost THQ "a fortune" to develop for Guerrilla, but will have a much greater impact on cities built closer together in the tight confines of the new underground world.

Although Guerrilla captivated most critics (netting a Metacritic average of 85 across three platforms) the third-person shooter failed to meet THQ's sales expectations. While Bilson said it would have been easy to scrap the characters and setting in the upcoming sequel and shift it into a new intellectual property -- effectively severing its connection to Guerrilla's poor retail showing -- he felt the quality in the previous entry was too great to abandon the Red Faction universe.

The strategy now, says Bilson, is to expose gamers to the series in order to prepare them for the future, citing the recent Red Faction: Guerrilla giveaway promotion as an example of giving the title the exposure it "deserved" at launch. "Giving away the stock now, on Red Faction, is getting more people exposed to the IP because we're going bigger on Red Faction next time," Bilson told us. "If the game wasn't so good, we wouldn't be giving it away at all."

JoystiqNext Red Faction planned for March 2011, focus on franchise's roots originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>danny-bilsongdc-2010Microsoftq1-2011red-factionred-faction-4Red-Faction-ArmageddonRed-Faction-Guerrillarelease-datethqXbox-360Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:55:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ CEO: Saints Row and Red Faction at E3, De Blob going multiplatform]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/17/thq-ceo-saints-row-and-red-faction-at-e3-de-blob-going-multipl/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/17/thq-ceo-saints-row-and-red-faction-at-e3-de-blob-going-multipl/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/17/thq-ceo-saints-row-and-red-faction-at-e3-de-blob-going-multipl/#comments In an interview with IGN, THQ CEO (that's a lot of three-letter abbreviations right next to each other) Brian Farrell provided more details about the company's upcoming lineup. For one, we can expect to see the new Saints Row and Red Faction games as soon as E3, as well as other assorted games from THQ's lineup.

"I think we're going to blow people away at E3," Farrell said. "You'll be seeing Saints Row 3. You'll be seeing the next Red Faction. You'll be seeing more of Homefront. We've been talking about it, but we'll actually show some of our Warhammer 40k MMO, and I think people are going to go, 'Oh my God. They've got their stuff together.'" And Saints Row 3 will evidently cause some to remark, "This is not your father's THQ."

Farrell also suggested that THQ has learned its lesson from the last few years of the Wii market, and won't be trying anything like Deadly Creatures again -- a "fun experience" that "didn't find much of an audience." A few "brand extensions" will be shown on Wii this E3, Farrell said. And speaking of extended brands and the Wii, the executive said that the upcoming SyFy-fueled relaunch of De Blob won't just be a Wii game -- it'll be released across multiple platforms, still developed by Blue Tongue. "Actually, I prefer it on a normal controller," Farrell said.

JoystiqTHQ CEO: Saints Row and Red Faction at E3, De Blob going multiplatform originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-farrellde-blobMicrosoftNintendored-factionRed-Faction-4Red-Faction-Armageddonred-faction-guerrillasaints-rowsaints-row-3saints-row-the-thirdthqvolitionWiiXbox-360Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Darksiders rides into 1.2 million homes, THQ recovering financially]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/darksiders-rides-into-1-2-million-homes-thq-financially-recover/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/darksiders-rides-into-1-2-million-homes-thq-financially-recover/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/darksiders-rides-into-1-2-million-homes-thq-financially-recover/#comments THQ today announced to investors its financial holdings for the year ending December 31, 2009, reporting a net income of $1.4 million and sales of $701.5 million in the final nine months of the year. To put that in some perspective, the net income for the same period last year was a $334.2 loss. No doubt well-reviewed titles like UFC Undisputed 2009 and (personal favorite) Red Faction: Guerrilla helped that financial 180° turn -- a much needed one after a rocky 2008 and a mess of layoffs in 2009.

The publisher also announced "first four week" sales of Darksiders have already reached 1.2 million in the US (Ahem, Mr. Greenwald? Did you hear that?). Interestingly, THQ called the game part of its "growing portfolio of owned brands," among Red Faction, de Blob, Drawn to Life, and Saint's Row. And with this afternoon's investor call, it would certainly appear we'll be seeing more from that portfolio in the coming year.

JoystiqDarksiders rides into 1.2 million homes, THQ recovering financially originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>darksidersde-blobdrawn-to-lifeearningsfinanceincomeinvestorMicrosoftmoneyred-factionred-faction-guerrillasaints-rowthqufc-undisputed-2009Xbox-360Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:55:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ prepping Homefront, new Red Faction for 'fiscal 2011']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/thq-prepping-homefront-new-red-faction-for-fiscal-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/thq-prepping-homefront-new-red-faction-for-fiscal-2011/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/03/thq-prepping-homefront-new-red-faction-for-fiscal-2011/#comments During its annual investors conference call, THQ's Brian Farrell dropped details on that Homefront game we've been waiting on, as well as word on a new Red Faction title. Both will arrive during the company's fiscal 2011 window -- to us regular schmucks walking the streets, that's the period between April 2010 and March 31, 2011.

As for Homefront, it's really not news: THQ had already said the game will arrive sometime this year or early next. However, this Red Faction business is definitely news. We'll be crossing our fingers for more wacky animal-based weaponry this time around. Oh, and more stuff to blow up. Definitely more of that, please. Both games will be shown during E3 2010 in June.

JoystiqTHQ prepping Homefront, new Red Faction for 'fiscal 2011' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brian-farrellfiscal-2011fpshomefrontkaos-studiosred-factionRed-Faction-ArmageddonthqVolitionWed, 03 Feb 2010 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Best of the Rest: Ben's Picks of 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/01/best-of-the-rest-bens-picks-of-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/01/best-of-the-rest-bens-picks-of-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/01/best-of-the-rest-bens-picks-of-2009/#comments
 Red Faction: Guerrilla
Arriving approximately seven months late to the party, I didn't play RFG until earlier this month when I desperately cobbled together 2009's game releases for a massive pre-GOTY playstravaganza. That marathon came to a long pause while I smashed through the many structures of Mars with my trusty sledgehammer, constantly hearing "Space A$&%*#&" playing along the way in my mind. Sure, RFG was a bit rough around the edges, but what it lacked in mechanical prowess was more than made up for by the sheer amount of childlike joy I experienced while demolishing everything in my path.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Ben's Picks of 2009

JoystiqBest of the Rest: Ben's Picks of 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applebest-of-the-restbest-of-the-rest-2009call-of-dutycall-of-duty-modern-warfare-2canabaltDShalohalo-3-odstiPodMicrosoftmodern-warfare-2Nintendopcpixeljunk-edenpixeljunk-eden-encorepixeljunk-shooterplants-vs-zombiesred-factionred-faction-guerrillaretro-game-challengerock-bandrock-band-unpluggedsuper-street-fighter-ivwolverinex-men-originsx-men-origins-wolverineX-Men-Origins-Wolverine-Uncaged-EditionXbox-360Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your ass back to Mars for quintuple XP in Red Faction: Guerrilla]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/get-your-ass-back-to-mars-for-quintuple-xp-in-red-faction-guerr/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/get-your-ass-back-to-mars-for-quintuple-xp-in-red-faction-guerr/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/17/get-your-ass-back-to-mars-for-quintuple-xp-in-red-faction-guerr/#comments Ah, Total Recall references -- does it get any better? Well, five times the XP for five days in Red Faction: Guerrilla is a start. Any of you Quaids out there who jump online for some jetpack-fueled fun will get quintuple XP from today up until Monday, December 21.

And if you've not downloaded the multiplayer DLC pack yet, check out Volition's Twitter feed, @RedFaction. Volition's going to be giving away codes for the DLC to a few lucky followers throughout the event.

JoystiqGet your ass back to Mars for quintuple XP in Red Faction: Guerrilla originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcMicrosoftred-factionred-faction-guerrillatotal-recallvolitionvolition-studiosXbox-360xpThu, 17 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction: Guerrilla assembles DLC for PC retail assault]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/red-faction-guerrilla-assembles-dlc-for-pc-retail-assault/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/red-faction-guerrilla-assembles-dlc-for-pc-retail-assault/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/red-faction-guerrilla-assembles-dlc-for-pc-retail-assault/#comments The PC port of Martian liberation sim Red Faction: Guerrilla will include all downloadable content released thus far. IGN notes that the September 15th release will include Demons of the Badlands single-player campaign, which acts as a prequel to the events in the game, and the multiplayer DLC. The latter will add two exclusive maps for PC and another two that were previously only available as a console pre-order bonus.

It's a great deal for $40 -- just make sure you've constructed a system powerful enough to demolish the bad guys.

Gallery: Red Faction: Guerrilla


[Via Big Download]

JoystiqRed Faction: Guerrilla assembles DLC for PC retail assault originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demons-of-the-badlandsreactor-zerored-factionred-faction-guerrillared-faction-guerrilla-dlcthqvolitionWed, 02 Sep 2009 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Next Red Faction: Guerrilla DLC to be multiplayer-focused]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/next-red-faction-guerrilla-dlc-to-be-multiplayer-focused/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/next-red-faction-guerrilla-dlc-to-be-multiplayer-focused/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/next-red-faction-guerrilla-dlc-to-be-multiplayer-focused/#comments
Okay, so Red Faction: Guerrilla is set to receive three different DLC injections. The first, Demons of the Badlands, drops tomorrow. Old hat, we know, but you may be interested in what Volition had to say about the other two packs during a recent chat with Loading Reality.

Volition specifically named "Multiplayer and Wrecking Crew" as the focus of the next two DLC releases. Sadly, the studio would not divulge any other details concerning the upcoming content, like a timetable for release and price, but you can bet we're crossing our fingers for at least some more animal weaponry.

[Thanks, Brandon T.]

JoystiqNext Red Faction: Guerrilla DLC to be multiplayer-focused originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demons-of-the-badlandsdlcMicrosoftred-factionred-faction-guerrillathqvolitionXbox-360Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:20:00 EST<![CDATA[UK: Win THQ's custom Red Faction Xbox 360]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/uk-win-thqs-custom-red-faction-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/uk-win-thqs-custom-red-faction-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/12/uk-win-thqs-custom-red-faction-xbox-360/#comments
In order to promote the imminent release of the "Demons of the Badlands" DLC for Red Faction Guerrilla, THQ is giving away a sweet, custom painted Xbox 360. The contest itself is pretty simple: Visit the contest page (THQ membership required) and answer an easy question about where the DLC takes place (hint: Mariner Valley). Entries will be accepted until August 31. The only catch is that the contest is only open to residents of the UK, although the entry form, for some reason, still allows users to choose the United States as their location.

So, we wish the best of luck to all of our UK readers. The rest of us will just have to stare at the pretty picture.

[Via @SAGExSDX]

JoystiqUK: Win THQ's custom Red Faction Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>modsred-factionred-faction-guerrillathqvolitionWed, 12 Aug 2009 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction patch out Aug. 6, brings long double XP weekend]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/red-faction-patch-out-aug-6-brings-long-double-xp-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/red-faction-patch-out-aug-6-brings-long-double-xp-weekend/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/05/red-faction-patch-out-aug-6-brings-long-double-xp-weekend/#comments
Here we are, only a day after Volition detailed the upcoming patch for Red Faction: Guerrilla, and now we have an official release date for both the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, August 6. It should hit the 360 at around 4am PT, while the PS3 should receive the update in the afternoon (presumably alongside the weekly PSN update).

One of the new features that the patch enables is the ability for Volition to allow double XP, and the dev is ready to kick the doors off with an extended double XP weekend. Starting tomorrow, once the patch releases, players can earn double XP until Sunday, August 9, midnight PT. With that much double XP, it'll be ostrichin' time before you know it.

JoystiqRed Faction patch out Aug. 6, brings long double XP weekend originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>red-factionred-faction-guerrillathqvolitionWed, 05 Aug 2009 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction patch inbound, adds new mode, fixes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/red-faction-patch-inbound-adds-new-mode-fixes/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/red-faction-patch-inbound-adds-new-mode-fixes/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/red-faction-patch-inbound-adds-new-mode-fixes/#comments
Volition has announced that a patch is on the way for Red Faction Guerrilla, which will add some new features and contain some tweaks to the game as well. The biggest of the additions is a new variant of Wrecking Crew called Challenge Mode. Wrecking Crew Challenge Mode, appropriately enough, challenges players with three consecutive levels, each with different weapon and backpack settings. The ultimate goal, as usual, is to rack up as high a score as possible. Additionally, all other Wrecking Crew modes will be available for single-player games.

There are a number of other additions, like the ability to disable specific weapons and backpacks in custom games. Ore that hasn't been mined will also now show up on the mini-map, which is good news for Achievement / Trophy hunters. Finally, the patch will add support for the upcoming DLC, which is set to release next week. Head over to the official Red Faction site for the full patch notes.

JoystiqRed Faction patch inbound, adds new mode, fixes originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>patchred-factionred-faction-guerrillathqvolitionTue, 04 Aug 2009 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[THQ earnings show profits up ]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/28/thq-earnings-show-profits-up-thanks-ufc-and-red-faction-guerr/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/28/thq-earnings-show-profits-up-thanks-ufc-and-red-faction-guerr/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/28/thq-earnings-show-profits-up-thanks-ufc-and-red-faction-guerr/#comments
THQ recently unloaded its earnings for its first fiscal quarter ending June 30, and with strong sales of UFC 2009 Undisputed and Red Faction: Guerrilla (it's all about the ostriches, baby!), the company is, uh, very much not operating like THQ. It reports that net profits climbed a whopping 77% to $243.5 million (from $137.6 million last year) and that net sales (non-GAAP) for the three months ending June 30 was $233.9 million, up 93% from $121.1 million last year.

And, again, it's all due to strong showings of Red Faction: Guerrilla and UFC 2009 Undisputed. Both titles shipped over a million units (the latter shipping almost three) and made huge profits for THQ during Q2 of this year, the company's first fiscal quarter of 2010.

JoystiqTHQ earnings show profits up originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earningsprofitsred-factionred-faction-guerrillareportthqufcufc-2009-undisputedTue, 28 Jul 2009 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: 'Red Faction: Guerrilla' avoids being 'birdf*cked!']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/metareview-red-faction-guerrilla-avoids-being-birdf-cked/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/metareview-red-faction-guerrilla-avoids-being-birdf-cked/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/metareview-red-faction-guerrilla-avoids-being-birdf-cked/#comments
Sorry, we couldn't help but reference Volition's absolutely brilliant April Fools video in the headline. Anyway, the reviews for Red Faction: Guerrilla are fairly solid. The Mars liberation simulator is being recognized as good summer fun with plenty of explosions. Now, "get your ass to Mars."
  • 1UP (A-): "Guerrilla isn't a terribly deep game, but as a "summer blockbuster," it works just right. It doesn't expect you to get lost in a deep, engaging sci-fi world -- you're on a mission to Mars to watch stuff explode. A deeper story might have made it more enjoyable in some respects, but it might also have killed the momentum of the demolition action."
  • GamePro (5/5): "It's become a rare thing for me to actually stop playing a game to call one of my friends and gush about something amazing that happened, or how much they need to play it when it comes out, but I did this countless times while playing Guerrilla"
  • GameInformer (90/100): "The single-player campaign is lengthy, and continually rewarding. Don't be surprised, however, if you shun this experience for multiplayer. ... No matter what mode you enter, Red Faction: Guerrilla delivers on its promise of destruction, and offers an experience unlike anything else out there."
  • Giant Bomb (4/5): "While there are clunky bits at the fringes of Red Faction: Guerrilla that give it a handful of frustrating or disappointing moments, the core moments of the game are exciting and well-conceived."
  • Edge (7/10): "Red Faction plays its hand early, letting you blow a building to pieces in the first few minutes of the game. Though the explosions scale with progress, and the act of detonation continues to be a giddy pleasure, Mars could do with a thicker atmosphere."

Gallery: Red Faction: Guerrilla


JoystiqMetareview: 'Red Faction: Guerrilla' avoids being 'birdf*cked!' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>metareviewred-factionred-faction-guerrillathqvolitionWed, 10 Jun 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red Faction: Guerrilla getting multiplayer demo May 21]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/red-faction-guerrilla-getting-multiplayer-demo-may-21/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/red-faction-guerrilla-getting-multiplayer-demo-may-21/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/red-faction-guerrilla-getting-multiplayer-demo-may-21/#comments The recent single-player demo for Red Faction: Guerrilla has been downloaded more than a million times already. Still, assuming you're tired of swinging sledgehammers in a vacuum, Volition and THQ will release a multiplayer demo over Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network on May 21.

The demo will highlight the game's "Damage Control" mode, as players work to build and rebuild key structures on a pair of included maps, using an assortment of nine weapons and five backpacks. 15 unlockable experience levels will also be included -- useful with Red Faction: Guerrilla set to ship on June 2 and ostrich hunting season just around the corner.

[Via Console Monster]

JoystiqRed Faction: Guerrilla getting multiplayer demo May 21 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 May 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demoMicrosoftmultiplayerpsnred-factionred-faction-guerrillathqvolitionXbox-360xbox-liveFri, 15 May 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Red Faction's Ostrich Hammer is real]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/psa-red-factions-ostrich-hammer-is-real/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/psa-red-factions-ostrich-hammer-is-real/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/psa-red-factions-ostrich-hammer-is-real/#comments
click to enlarge (without hilarious speech bubble)

Just a quick note: Remember the Ostrich Hammer that was revealed on April Fools' Day for Red Faction: Guerrilla? Yeah, well it's real. We asked Volition if the ornithoid tool would actually be featured in the game. At the time, we were told that the team was waiting to see what the community's reaction would be. It seemed feasible, given that the developers had gone to the trouble to actually model it in the game.

It's more than feasible now, it's official. Volition has confirmed -- with new screenshots, no less -- that the Ostrich Hammer will be an unlockable in Red Faction: Guerrilla's multiplayer mode. On top of that, the devs are promising plenty of new info in the coming weeks regarding "more hammer unlocks, new modes" and changes made based on multiplayer beta feedback.

We suggest you spend the interim researching what other animals would make the best hammers

Gallery: Red Faction: Guerilla (The Ostrich Hammer)

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JoystiqPSA: Red Faction's Ostrich Hammer is real originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Microsoftred-factionred-faction-guerrillathqvolitionXbox-360Fri, 03 Apr 2009 15:17:00 EST