Topic: Drawn to Life Coming to Wii, de Blob is 'Nintendo-esque'

[Kairon]

THQ's Q3 conference call also addresses casual gaming, third party performance, and more.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=15234

 THQ recently held a conference call to discuss their third quarter financial results and unsurprisingly, there was some talk about upcoming games for Nintendo platforms. But the conference call also managed to touch on the topics of casual gaming and third party performance on the Nintendo Wii in addition to usual sales and financial statements.    

One of the first topics covered regarded THQ's original Nintendo DS title, Drawn to Life. Although CEO Brian Farrell didn't give specific numbers, he claimed that Drawn to Life had sold several hundred thousand units worldwide. As a result, THQ was looking to "extend this brand to the Wii in the future."    

Farrell also mentioned THQ's upcoming original title de Blob and how the reception for the Wii exclusive had been very encouraging. The title did not yet have a solid release date, but Farrell described the title as "Nintendo-esque" and planned to launch it in a window away from competitive titles from Nintendo. He said that they were taking the time to polish the title so that they could put out a "very high quality game targeted very much at the casual game consumer."    

In fact, he acknowledged a relationship between the emerging casual market and the children's market, where THQ has a strong stable of licensed properties. Farrell expected upcoming announcements about new titles for the Wii and other consoles to prove that they would have a broad base casual games line-up as well as a kids line-up.    

Farrell was also questioned on the issue of third party marketshare on the Wii. He was not pleased with their current share on Nintendo platforms. He acknowledged that Nintendo typically has a strong start early in the cycle, but felt that THQ was in a position to significantly boost marketshare on Nintendo platforms and would concentrate on continuing to increase revenue from those systems. Echoing sentiments similar to Nintendo's, Farrell expected third parties to catch up to Nintendo later in the cycle, pointing out that the DS had exhibited this same pattern.    

During the full conference call THQ also released information that their WWE Smackdown '08 titles had shipped more than five million units worldwide, and mentioned the upcoming release of their new MX vs. ATV franchise in March for the Wii and in Europe. They also briefly mentioned a new Tak title, now backed by a Nickelodeon cartoon series, and although last year's Ratatouille had not performed to expectations, they were looking forward to the late June launch of WALL-E, based on the next Pixar Animation film.

[Plugabugz]

Making good games helps a lot too.

[Kairon]

That's why they're taking their time on de Blob instead of rushing it to market. THQ spent a lot of the conference call talking about improving quality.

[darknight06]

De Blob is Nintendo-esque huh, that's nice except for the idea that I don't want Nintendo emulations from other companies like this.  That's what Nintendo is for.  You know THQ, I actually liked Stuntman Ignition, would be great to see a Wii version with NFS Wii like controls... oh wait you dropped the franchise due to failing sales on consoles where the majority of the userbase just doesn't care for it.  They're not going to boost marketshare of any sort if they keep producing the same half baked crap on the Wii and on other consoles that they've been doing lately.  I don't care what they do with their Nickelodeon titles or anything like that since they clearly make enough of the crap to justify another one right after that, but don't go downgrading games from other consoles just to try to make it "fit" with the so called "Wii Audience" only to get mad when it doesn't sell.

[Plugabugz]

Ubi said they were "6 months to a year away" to reaching Nintendo quality. Then comes Nitro Bike.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

There goes Red Steel 2.

[Kairon]

Quote
Originally posted by: darknight06
De Blob is Nintendo-esque huh, that's nice except for the idea that I don't want Nintendo emulations from other companies like this.  That's what Nintendo is for.

Hey, I get what you're saying, but don't hate on de Blob man. And don't hate on Drawn to Life. These are great original efforts that THQ is publishing, and they should be PROUD to publish.

Of course, I would've liked to see that Conan game on the Wii... but still. Nintendo isn't the only one allowed to publish innovative, charming, colorful titles you know?

[that Baby guy]

The problem with Drawn to life is that up until the last level and boss, the game itself is bland and boring.

[Kairon]

Quote
Originally posted by: thatguy
The problem with Drawn to life is that up until the last level and boss, the game itself is bland and boring.

Raputa! What you're saying drives a dagger into my heart! Raputa!  

[darknight06]

Hold up a minute...

Now if THIS is what they mean by upping their quality, then I'm all for it.  This is the one of the coolest ideas for a music game I've seen in a long time!  30 songs, but every one of them has 5 different versions done in different genres.  It would be criminal for this game to come out bad, I will murder someone at THQ if that happens.

[Kairon]

That is some sorta awesome all right. Go go THQ!

[Kairon]

With the announcement of Deadly Creatures....

You're awesome THQ. You're awesome.

[nitsu niflheim]

I'm interested in De Blob, just looks like a fun kind of game to play when you don't want to play a epic story heavy game.