Nintendo News | THQ: High-end doesn

By Jorge Ba-oh 22.06.2007 18

In a recent interview with Brian Farrell, CEO of billion-dollar video game publisher THQ, he discusses budgeting for upcoming games, specifically with the Wii being considerably different from the high-definition efforts from Sony and Microsoft.

Q: What are team sizes and game budgets like?
A: We're over 100 on some of the teams. We have a very diverse portfolio. At the real high end, we have teams over 100 that are still doing a fair amount of outsourcing of no-critical tasks to Asia or Eastern Europe. On the younger-skewing titles that aren't as technically ambitious, the teams are still in the 30 or 60 range.

Q: And the budgets?
A: It depends on the type of game. When you are aiming high, with a genre-defining game like Saint's Row, you can spend $15 million to $20 million at the high end. On the core wrestling games where we are expanding the graphics and modes, and we already have the core wrestling technology with our WWE franchise, you're on the lower end of that range. Now that we have technology up and running on all of the next-generation systems, to take some of our games like the Pixar stuff Cars or Ratatouille to next-generation, we can use existing technology. So it's nowhere near that range. It depends on where you are aiming and your market segmentation. Now that I've said that, that is a big theme of ours we are trying to communicate. We think this next-generation is all about segmenting the market. It's no longer about taking one game and putting it on all platforms. The guy doing Frontlines isn't going to put it on the Wii. It belongs on the Xbox 360, PS 3 and the PC. It's a high-end, core gamer multiplayer title. It doesn't belong on the Wii. There are some things I can't talk about on the Wii that we don't want to put on the PS 3 or Xbox 360.

Q: Are the Wii titles coming out at half the cost?
A: Yes, and sometimes even less than that. Where costs are occurring in this generation are in asset and content creation. And since the Wii is not high-definition, and it can still look good. You have to remember a lot of game systems aren't yet hooked up to high-def TVs. Content creation is costing all the money. With the Wii, you can look great at a third of the cost sometimes. The business model on the Wii works.

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ohm is offline. ohm 22.06.2007#1

Is buying rights to using engines expensive (relatively speaking)? Because developer costs have risen so high.

 
Mandown is offline. Mandown 22.06.2007#2

He makes some very valid points, like the ones about developing cost for the Wii. In E3 2006 Iwata's hope was that he could get devs on board with such incentives, his hopes have now come to fruition. The title to this thread is true, most Wii owners knew this when they bought the machine. [LS]

( Edited on 22.06.2007 11:17 by Linkyshinks )

 
beamrider2600 is offline. beamrider2600 22.06.2007#3

Since when did THQ ever do anything 'high-end'? Smilie

 
Modplan Man is offline. Modplan Man 22.06.2007#4

beamrider2600 said:
Since when did THQ ever do anything high-end? Smilie

Amazingly true.

 
team22 is offline. team22 22.06.2007#5

'When you are aiming high, with a genre-defining game like Saint's Row,'

...eh,ok...

 
Laurelin is offline. Laurelin 22.06.2007#6

So that may be true, but you easily can built an AAA-title with AAA content and assets on Wii, but you just wouldn't have to spend AAA-budgets like on PS3 and X360. So why no one does this titles? Why does no one check that and why does everyone think only casual games sell on Wii? I hope RE4 Wii sells shitload and some business-nerd realises that! *grumble*

I find your lack of faith disturbing!
 
The Croft is offline. The Croft 22.06.2007#7

All i want from THQ is a quality WWE brawler for the Wii, with online play.


Mike Gee of iZINE said, "...The Verve, as he [Richard Ashcroft] promised, had become the greatest band in the world. Most of the critics agreed with him. Most paid due homage. The Verve were no longer the question mark or the clich�. They were the statement and the definition."
 
Darkflame is offline. Darkflame 22.06.2007#8

"Where costs are occurring in this generation are in asset and content creation."

Thats only because your all re-use age-old engine code with a lick of paint.
Truely great Wii games will need a fair amount of R&D to get proper motion controlls.
Engines have to be built around the concept to take full advantage, mapping to buttons is not enough.

The idea that graphics is the only cost to games that should be invested in continues to show the sad state of the industary.

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+. 
 
Shig Guevara is offline. Shig Guevara 22.06.2007#9

Co Chief Resident John Dorian said:
All i want from THQ is a quality WWE brawler for the Wii, with online play.

Your not suggesting Smackdown VS Raw are you? i need that game!, I dont particularly like wresting, But that game looks sweet. The only reason my friends brought a wii is for that game.

THQ havent made any games worth buying in ages, only a couple of thier wresting games are good (DOR2) and I can only recall S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Fire Warrior as games that I actually enjoyed. How can they define quality?

 
Mandown is offline. Mandown 22.06.2007#10

Laurelin said:
So that may be true, but you easily can built an AAA-title with AAA content and assets on Wii, but you just wouldnt have to spend AAA-budgets like on PS3 and X360. So why no one does this titles? Why does no one check that and why does everyone think only casual games sell on Wii? I hope RE4 Wii sells shitload and some business-nerd realises that! *grumble*

I would like to think the masses will avoid such low quality software by next year, as there will be no excuse by then, the standard set by Nintendo will raise the bar and a choice few others will do the same.

We will get close to the standard of games you talk of next year from 3rd parties and if those sell well I imagine it will be full steam ahead from them. Right now they are playing safe by sticking with a certain demographic they believe Wii owners fit into, but of course the Wii is for everyone and is marketed so by Nintendo to developers.

Hold tight, much of what we have seen apart from a handfull have essentially been test games, and you cannot blame them after the GC. On the present positive, Nintendo really has done amazing work rounding up support from those they need to, everything that Iwata said in his '05 Keynote has come true, even though at the time I myself was even sceptical about their plans and direction.

There is much to look foward to, RE4 is out next week as is Trauma Centre soon after. We have Dewy's Adventure and Chocobo Dungeon and a few others which look top draw coming up. There is also of course Zack and Wiki which is said to be great and well within the the top five game the Wii will have at the end of the year.

The REAL show starts next year, but in the meantime the best thing we can all do as consumers is not to buy crap Wii software that is below par from what we deserve, and the console deserves. I have 4 wii titles and none of them are that, soon to be five with RE4 on friday, IF the Royal Mail does F up my Amz order what with this strike action.

[LS] -Wii games: Wario, SSX, Zelda, Mario Strikers, [RE4*]

*Apparently RE4 plays better and the sounds from the Wii Remote have individual distinct sounds for all the weapons!. I am going to have fun with it next weekend. If it sells well and better on Wii the ramifactions are very good. We already have strong support from Capcom what with Wiki, but other developers will take note of such successes.

 
MattEvansC3 is offline. MattEvansC3 22.06.2007#11

According to Eurogamer the Wii edition of Resident Evil 4 is the worst of the three as the controls have been badly implemented and don't work as well as the control pad.

Matthew Evans [ Writer :: Moderator :: King of Impartiality :: Lord of the 15min Thread ] As the wind blows the sand to cover the camel's tracks so does time move to cover the Lord's.
Rejoice for the Lord will taketh his quarter and give much back to his followers.
 
Mandown is offline. Mandown 22.06.2007#12

Matthew Gastrian Evans said:
According to Eurogamer the Wii edition of Resident Evil 4 is the worst of the three as the controls have been badly implemented and dont work as well as the control pad.

Well that would be a rubbish review then as far as I am concerned. I suppose the said the controls felt like they were tacked on too.

I have read in detail exactly what has been implimented I have read a broad range of reviews that have said that the controls are great apart from some minor things.

I myself am happy with what has changed. I will be able to take advantage of my WideScreen, and not my zoom function [+]. I will be playing the game with clearer visuals, as some of the textures have been replaced[+]. The sound from the Wii Mote is said to be a good addition, with individual sounds for weapons with better vibration,[+]. Targeting on the fly and increased accuracy are said to make the Mercenaries game even more fun[+]. I suppose this change also effects the single player story mode by making it more fun too target specific parts of your Plaga infested scumbags, you can toy with them a little if your aim is good, with your hand steady, and not a thumb[++]. [LS]

( Edited on 22.06.2007 20:03 by Linkyshinks )

 
Martin_ is offline. Martin_ 22.06.2007#13

I think the guy is just being frank and honest. What he's saying does reflect the sorts of games that are out on Wii, as opposed to PS3/360/PC. You can't really deny this. However, this made me chortle:

When you are aiming high, with a genre-defining game like Saint's Row

Smilie Saint's Row was crap. And even if it were brilliant; it's a GTA-clone, so how can you say it's 'genre-defining'..?

 
The Croft is offline. The Croft 23.06.2007#14

Matthew Gastrian Evans said:
According to Eurogamer the Wii edition of Resident Evil 4 is the worst of the three as the controls have been badly implemented and dont work as well as the control pad.

I have read 3 or 4 reviews that state clearly that the Wii iteritation is the best version by far.

Oni-Ninja said:
Saints Row was crap. And even if it were brilliant; its a GTA-clone, so how can you say its genre-defining..?

Smilie Found that funny as well, and the best thing all the 360 lovers, such as Raab bum the fuck out this utterly bollocks game.

( Edited on 23.06.2007 11:43 by Co Chief Resident John Dorian )


Mike Gee of iZINE said, "...The Verve, as he [Richard Ashcroft] promised, had become the greatest band in the world. Most of the critics agreed with him. Most paid due homage. The Verve were no longer the question mark or the clich�. They were the statement and the definition."
 
Raff is offline. Raff 23.06.2007#15

A bit like Scarface and the Godfather on Wii then.

It's going to be shit and you jolly well know it.
 
CuRoi is offline. CuRoi 23.06.2007#16

Must be a double-bill.

Actually a couple more have disappeared too.

( Edited on 23.06.2007 17:06 by CuRoi )

 
twinstronglord is offline. twinstronglord 24.06.2007#17

This article would have been better... No. the world would have been better if THQ said they would just stop making games. It is indicative of the ignorance of the "Hard-core" gamer that this company is still in business.

 
MattEvansC3 is offline. MattEvansC3 24.06.2007#18

THQ make good games, admittedly its only a small percentage of their titles but they still make them.

Matthew Evans [ Writer :: Moderator :: King of Impartiality :: Lord of the 15min Thread ] As the wind blows the sand to cover the camel's tracks so does time move to cover the Lord's.
Rejoice for the Lord will taketh his quarter and give much back to his followers.
 

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