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THQ Dropping Big Huge Games

Kris Graft's picture

By Kris Graft

March 18, 2009

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Yet another established game developer faces closing.

THQ said that nine-year-old Rise of Nations and Catan creator Big Huge Games must soon find a buyer, or suffer a complete shutdown. THQ acquired Maryland-based Big Huge Games just over a year ago.

THQ VP of investor relations Julie MacMedan told CrispyGamer, "THQ informed the staff at its Big Huge Games studio in Timonium, MD, that it plans to close the studio if a sale is not completed in the near future.

"These actions were unfortunate but were necessitated by the difficult economic environment."

The move is part of THQ's previously-announced plan to cut 24 percent of its workforce, or 600 workers, with the goal of $220 million in cost reductions.

THQ also has informed internal dev houses Heavy Iron Studios and Incinerator that they will become independent companies.

In 2007, Big Huge Games announced that it had entered an agreement with RPG vet Ken Rolston to create a new RPG for PC and consoles. It would be a departure for the studio, which made its name developing top-tier PC strategy games.

Calls to THQ and Big Huge Games were unanswered as of press time.

grognard66's picture
On March 18th grognard66 said:

This economy sucks. It would be sad to see another quality developer close shop. I've really enjoyed their games and always had a soft spot for them since they're in my home state.

manhattan's picture
On March 18th manhattan said:

Having been given a 16% pay-cut memo myself the other-day, I deeply sympathize with BHG.

SunKing's picture
On March 18th SunKing said:

The only game I actually recognise them as producing was Rise of Nations, which was actually pretty good, if a little micromanagement-heavy. But that was over five years ago, and they haven't really moved on since then. Those kind of RTS games have really fell out of favour in the last few years; it's no real surprise that Ensemble had to shut their doors. Both are good studios, but they were masters in making a certain type of RTS which doesn't have that kind of following anymore.

dreamhunk's picture
On March 18th dreamhunk said:

they should have stuck with pc gaming in the first place instead of going off onto ricky console invesments. High production costs on consoles would have kill that company in the long with or with the recession. I think that they should stay small for while and make some pc tittles console gaming will there in the future. The last thing you need right now is a flop. If I was in their shoes I wouldn't even think console gaming. You can still make money with the pc gaming market. maybe make a web game for now build your income back up, with new ips on the pc.

It saddens me they now have to go this route.

ArronC07's picture
On March 18th ArronC07 said:

You do realise that they should be doing precisely the opposite of what you've posted as consoles offer more secure revenues (less piracy) and a faster growing market.

dreamhunk's picture
On March 18th dreamhunk said:

Yea another dum company will go the way of interplay with high production costs. I think console gaming has destoryed too meny good companies. It makes it worse in a recession.

ArronC07's picture
On March 18th ArronC07 said:

How do you work that out? Console gaming is set to be one of a handful of industries that will buck the trend and GROW during the depression (lets not kid ourselves, this isn't just a recession) as people look for entertainment opportunities at home. It wouldn't make sense to ignore that massive user base that owns a Wii/PS3/360 if anything PC gaming is the area one would expect to be dropped if something had to be dropped.

Have you been at the pipes again?