THQ

Two months after the tragic collapse of long-time publisher THQ, we’re still watching the dust settle. In the mix is Double Fine, whose priority is not letting its hard …
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Update: Following our report this morning on developer IllFonic’s XBLA shooter Nexuiz having its servers shut down XBLAFans was able to get in contact with IllFonic Creative Director Kedhrin Gonzalez about the unfortunate situation resulting from publisher THQ’s bankruptcy. When asked if it was possible for the developer to take control of the servers now that THQ, the current server manager, is no longer around to foot the bill, Gonzalez explained to us via email that IllFonic does not possess the funding to do so.

“We certainly could pay for the servers to be up and running on XBLA outside of THQ,” he said. “However, the cost to do this is too much for IllFonic in our current state.”

As noted in our original story, the game disappeared from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace earlier this month only to reappear a short time after. Gonzalez explained that that too, as we suspected, was a result of THQ’s bankruptcy filing. He informed XBLAFans that the game was de-listed after its servers were taken down. “However, THQ tried to get them back up for a while longer to keep the game alive. Unfortunately, the costs are just too high for THQ or IllFonic to carry. We are very happy THQ tried to keep things running for as long as they could. This situation has been really sad for us at IllFonic and [we] wish there was something more we could do.”

Gonzalez reiterated the point made in yesterday’s Facebook post on the matter, ensuring PC players that the version of Nexuiz on their platform of choice will remain online since it is hosted on completely different servers than those hosting the XBLA version.

But with THQ planning to sell off Nexuiz as part of a lot of game properties to the highest bidder in April, what will become of IllFonic and its shooter? “Nexuiz will remain in the control of IllFonic even if a new publisher wins the bid of Lot 6 Licensed IPs,” said Gonzalez. “However, we are a developer that believes in working with partners…even if it comes through a unseen circumstance like this. We don’t know what to expect in the event someone does purchases the license. Whatever happens, we will do whatever it takes to make sure our PC players can continue to enjoy the game. However, if a new publisher or owner of the licensed IP wants to turn the XBLA lights back on…we certainly wouldn’t be against it.”

Original Story: Due to the much-publicized bankruptcy of publisher THQ, the servers for XBLA shooter Nexuiz have been shut down. IllFonic, the game’s developer, explained on Facebook yesterday that there is no one to maintain the servers now that THQ is defunct.

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Following their bankruptcy filings in late January, game publishers THQ and Atari have recently seen several of their XBLA titles delisted from the Xbox Marketplace. The XBLA games in question can still be found on the Xbox Marketplace, but they can no longer be purchased. A total of four THQ-published XBLA games have been pulled:

• Apples to Apples — Originally released Dec 7, 2011
• Screwjumper! — Originally released Dec 10, 2009
• SpongeBob UnderPants! — Originally released Dec 26, 2007
• Voltron — Originally released Nov 30, 2011

The same fate has not yet befallen all of the defunct publisher’s Xbox Live Arcade games, though. Costume Quest, Elements of Destruction, Nexuiz, Red Faction: Battlegrounds, Rocket Riot, Stacking and Warhammer 40K: Kill Team are still available for purchase.

Only one Atari game is currently unavailable: Warlords, which was first released on Nov 14, 2012. Yar’s Revenge, which debuted on March 3, 2011, was temporarily taken down but has since burst back onto the scene, albeit at half of its former 800 MSP price tag. Haunted House, another Xbox Live Arcade game published by Atari, is also currently selling at half price (400 MSP). And finally The Undergarden is selling at 240 MSP which is 70% discount of its original price of 800 MSP.

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Nexuiz was developed by Illfonic and published by THQ. It was released on February 29, 2012 for 800 MSP. A copy was provided for review purposes.

Arena shooters are something of a lost art. To find a newly developed one is like finding money on the sidewalk: no matter how much is there you’re just happy to see it. But sometimes they miss the mark. The controls can be tight, the maps can be solid, the graphics can even be impressive, yet you turn delete the game from your drive and go back to one of your old staples.

Nexuiz is one of those. It’ll seem really enticing by its screenshots, but in the end there’s not much to keep you playing.

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We had the opportunity to ask Kedhrin Gonzalez, Creative Director at Illfonic, about Nexuiz the upcoming arena shooter for XBLA. A big thanks to Kedhrin for taking the time to answer our questions and give us greater insight into the team and the game. Nexuiz will be available as a part of the XBLA House Party promotion on February 29 for 800 MSP.

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The squared circle may be heading to Xbox Live Arcade thanks to THQ in the form of WWE WrestleFest, a remake of the early 90’s arcade game which will …
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Illfonic has released a new trailer for their upcoming CryEngine 3 powered arena first-person shooter Nexuiz. The trailer focuses on the game’s mutators and how they can quickly turn …
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Machinima.com has released a new three minute video of the upcoming arena-style first-person shooter Nexuiz from Illfonic and THQ. The video shows off plenty of fast paced run and …
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If you follow the industry closely, you’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about things going on over at THQ as of late. Today however, we’re able to bring …
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Forget Power Rangers, Voltron was the original team robot. We sit down with Producer Russell Brock to discuss why.
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