THQ scoops up Mass Media

Rising publisher adds to its in-house development stable; shop will be focused on PS3 ports.

As part of its earnings announcement this morning, THQ revealed that it had acquired Mass Media Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The Moorpark, California-based studio began the decade by making Game Boy Advance titles such as Pac-Man Fever but has since become something of a PlayStation 2-port specialty shop. It helped bring Metal Arms: Glitch in the System, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers to the system.

Though Mass Media is now wholly a part of THQ's 16-studio in-house development stable, it doesn't look like its role will change much. Speaking to analysts in a conference call, THQ CEO and president Brian Farrell said, "We love their cross-platform development tools, and so I wouldn't necessarily think of them as a product shop that actually is going to produce an individual game. They're a technology shop that we think is going to be a great enabler for our PS3 cross-platform development tools."

Farrell's query was in response to the revelation that Mass Media is working on a new, unnamed next-gen title. Called "Project X" on the studio's site, it is described only as "an AAA next-generation title, so cool and cutting edge, that we cannot talk about it." So far, THQ's highest-profile PlayStation 3 port is the forthcoming version of its Xbox 360 hit Saints Row.

27 Comments

  • gigabrowser12

    Posted Feb 4, 2007 1:53 pm GMT

    wait... a story that they can't talk about it?!?!?

  • okassar

    Posted Feb 4, 2007 12:39 pm GMT

    Oh wow,Project X,...,so discrete...........who cares?If it was something as good as Halo,they would have told us to start the hype so they recieve expectations,and you know,everything else that hype brings.I expect this to be not a bad,but an OK game that they're over-crazed about.

  • ObiKKa

    Posted Feb 3, 2007 11:47 pm GMT

    Wow, lucky THQ! But they should let Mass Media make that Project X, because THQ shouldn't underestimate their talent in my own eyes. It's not for the sake of making the PS3 seem more appealing, no.

    Skiggy80
    "THQ was never that great of a developer."

    Hey? THQ is a THIRD-PARTY PUBLISHER, along with their own current stable of 16 horses (hic) developers, as well as contracts with the independent ones. They actually have an eye for publishing great games (eg. Company of Heroes), and decent movie licensed games like the Incredibles. In fact they're one of my fav publishers!

  • highvolts12

    Posted Feb 3, 2007 7:44 pm GMT

    Saint's Row is not that great but when there was nothing to play on the 360 in the summer it was a good game. Hopefully this fills some void in the ps3's lackluster game lineup so far.

  • Riverwolf007

    Posted Feb 3, 2007 6:21 am GMT

    Or you could go down to EB/gamestop/babbages and pay $30(or less by now) for a used copy of Saints Row, and have another $30 left over for more games.

  • just_an_opinion

    Posted Feb 3, 2007 4:55 am GMT

    15 % of development cost? by the time the game comes out there will be roughly 2-3 million PS3 in consumer's hands (install abse). out of those i reckon only 1 in 10 will buy the game. even though i liked the game i know many people didn't plus most people would have already played it on the 360 and its just the same game being ported. so judging by my NOT so accurate calculation they will probably only sell around 300 000 copies. that doesn't seem like its worth it. what do you guys think? by the way, anyone know how many copies it sold on 360?

  • kingyoto

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 7:30 pm GMT

    Skiggy80 apparently owns no games...tragic.

  • anarchicgoth

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 7:29 pm GMT

    THQ sucks

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 5:35 pm GMT

    well hopefully they can start making better games now

  • Skiggy80

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 5:12 pm GMT

    THQ was never that great of a developer. I wouldnt get too excited. I love my ps3, but so far this gen belongs to the other two systems. I was heart broken when i read in the latest EGM that MGS4 and possibly DMC4 may not be Sony Exclusives. And if they are, they aren't coming out until 2008. This sux

  • wildsnipe

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 4:48 pm GMT

    Project X!!! So mysterious it has to be great...right? This AAA gen (never knew it existed) will help PS3 gain positive publicity as will the addition of Saints Row. Really hope Sony can turn this around and start hooking up some nice games for PS3.

  • piecake

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 4:16 pm GMT

    kooll!

  • kingyoto

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 3:58 pm GMT

    i see console sales sky rocketing.

  • wizardps2

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 3:28 pm GMT

    hmmm its nice to know ps3 will get back up

  • kingyoto

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 3:17 pm GMT

    i agree with soulkillah if the ps3 gets ames like saints row im sure to buy one.

  • blowmestudios

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 3:15 pm GMT

    what SOULKILLA said cept the excited part (not that im not just not alot) THQ and MassMedia inc.hmmm ok but what does this really mean just how much of an improvement will it be on thier games well i guess we'll wait and see

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 2:59 pm GMT

    its good they are doing some ps3 stuff

  • SoulKillah

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 2:50 pm GMT

    Nice...THQ has been showing Ps3 luv lately!that's great news 4 most people looking forward to Saints Row...i'm one of them

  • cheezlarson

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 2:37 pm GMT

    Yay Spongebob in 1080p

  • AvIdGaMeR444

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 2:33 pm GMT

    THQ sure loves the PS3...even though it is the worst selling console this gen so far.

  • skirlnik

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 2:09 pm GMT

    This is heartening news for the PS3. If they really are "a technology shop that we think is going to be a great enabler for our PS3 cross-platform development tools," then maybe I can have some more good games without having to invest in MS technology.

    It doesn't say anything about it here, but maybe these are tools that will be passed along to other studios that could then continue to expand Sony's unfortunately dry lineup for the new system. I, for one, hope so.

  • BYS2

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 2:04 pm GMT

    nice

  • Doolum

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 1:53 pm GMT

    More news on THQ!!

  • Cyncro

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 1:42 pm GMT

    I highly doubt that the game will be good. Even if the trailers make it look so awesome I think it won't do well. THQ isn't good and anyone they acquire can't that good either,

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 1:36 pm GMT

    so cool and cutting edge eh?

  • Re_ensurer

    Posted Feb 2, 2007 1:36 pm GMT

    I'm hearing a lot about THQ lately.

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