THQ Possibly On the Path To Recovery (PC,PS3,360)

NbaSports Ekim 24, 2022

PC
PS3
360

It has been said on many occasion that "much time heals all wounds" and "you'll never get a second change to make a solid first impression." These sayings are both very true and when I think of both of these sayings, I think of publishing company THQ.

When I first think of THQ, titles like WCW Nitro, WCW Thunder, WWF Smackdown, WWF Smackdown! 2: Know Your Role ans Spongebob come to mind and not much else. Thus, the name THQ has become synonymous with 'Pro Wrestling' and children's licensed games. While THQ may have had some success with their licensed wrestling games making a hefty sum off of Ted Turner and Vince McMahon, THQ as a whole one be able to say have been a publishing company many have not really taken seriously. When you pit it up against developers like Capcom, 2K, Epic Games, Insomniac, Bungie, Naughty Dog, EA and so many others, THQ looks pretty small from the average gamer perspective. Again, its biggest marketing audience comes from fans of World Wrestling Entertainment fans.

However, I've got say that in the more recent years, I've been pleasantly impressed with the direction that THQ is starting to go. In part, I feel that THQ may be on their way to becoming a simpler version of Activision. Activision has focus on catering to the average gamer while sneaking in a few licensed games here and there like Transformers. But, Activision still keeps their head in the game. THQ, while still weighing in heavily on licensed games as a whole I think is really beginning to head in the right direction.

THQ had stated a while back that they had chosen to leave behind children's and movie based licensed titles and focus their efforts and place their resources into a different basket. When I heard these words from THQ, a while back, that it peaked my interest and I carefully eyed THQ and what it would do for the company for the future. With a new transition it seems came a new logo. A new look that THQ put out as a statement that they're changing the way their doing things and seriously heading in a new direction.

A Look of the Past

Well, as I'd stated earlier, when I think of those two quotes, I think of THQ even still. "You never have a second chance to make a solid first impression' still rings true. THQ's past has still left a rather bitter taste in my mouth as I've had endure a lot of mediocre titles from THQ and that may never go away fully until perhaps THQ is purchased or its name goes away and falls under new management and becomes the traditional game development company that really focus' on the hardcore gamer as frankly, to this day I believe their has never been a successful adaptation of movie to a game nor has there ever been a successful adaptation of a game to a movie and I continue to think that for films and games to come and the curse will continue. It amazes me that Resident Evil is still going for so long. Fans of the series should be appalled as are complaints with most films that the film does even really follow the game and its an atrocity.

But, I also believe that "much time heals all wounds." THQ is waiting out a pretty severe and deeply cut wound but, time has managed to get that wound a path to recovery and healing. While the most recent installment in the 'Red Faction' franchise was a disappointment, when you look at games like Darksiders and the upcoming Darksiders 2, Saint's Row, Homefront, you can't help but think that THQ are starting to head in the right direction.

Take on a role as War in Darksiders

I've recently been playing through the recently released strategy-game based title from Relic entitled 'Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine. I was a big fan of the PC game Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series and as I think back on Space Marine, it really gives hope to the future of THQ and their current mentality of the direction they want to go. Space Marine was satisfying. While I don't feel it really pushed the envelope of the very definition of what Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 could really do, the game just felt gratifying. It was showing change. Granted, I would rather go back and play Gears of War on my Xbox 360, Space Marine really brings hope to the future of THQ and in a good start in that recovery and healing process but, its entirely up to THQ on where they want things to end up. Its not going to be easy, and its going to take a lot more time but, its possible.