posted 03-17-09 10:56 PM CT (US)
A little over a year ago, THQ acquired Big Huge Games, the developers of the Rise of Nations and Rise of Legends franchises, but are now looking to sell the studio.
According to a statement released by THQ: "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."
This is just one of the many cutbacks at THQ to recover from the current economic times and decreasing sales. Earlier, THQ laid off several BHG employees and they let go of their grasp on Heavy Iron Studios, the developers of WALL-E, and Incinerator Studios, the developers of Cars. Both studios are now independently run. THQ also has plans to slash 24% of its employees if the situation does not alleviate.
Apart from the Rise of... franchise, BHG released Catan for the Xbox Arcade back in May of 2007 and co-developed Age of Empires III's second expansion pack, The Asian Dynasties. The studio is currently working on their "Big Huge RPG" lead by game design veteran Ken Rolston, the lead designer of The Elder Scrolls III and IV. BHG job openings also hinted at a separate Wii title, although no further information has been released. Suspiciously, the BHG job openings are now restricted to the art and narrative teams instead of all the programming positions usually open - unsure if this is related to the possible closure or the fact that the positions were filled as I haven't checked their site in a couple weeks.
I really hope BHG can pull through and release their RPG. My heart can't take both ES and BHG shutting down. :/ Though maybe BHG will be like ES and only shut down in theory. BHG is a great team and they've always been great to HG and myself and have produced some magnificent titles. Best of luck!
According to a statement released by THQ: "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."
This is just one of the many cutbacks at THQ to recover from the current economic times and decreasing sales. Earlier, THQ laid off several BHG employees and they let go of their grasp on Heavy Iron Studios, the developers of WALL-E, and Incinerator Studios, the developers of Cars. Both studios are now independently run. THQ also has plans to slash 24% of its employees if the situation does not alleviate.
Apart from the Rise of... franchise, BHG released Catan for the Xbox Arcade back in May of 2007 and co-developed Age of Empires III's second expansion pack, The Asian Dynasties. The studio is currently working on their "Big Huge RPG" lead by game design veteran Ken Rolston, the lead designer of The Elder Scrolls III and IV. BHG job openings also hinted at a separate Wii title, although no further information has been released. Suspiciously, the BHG job openings are now restricted to the art and narrative teams instead of all the programming positions usually open - unsure if this is related to the possible closure or the fact that the positions were filled as I haven't checked their site in a couple weeks.
I really hope BHG can pull through and release their RPG. My heart can't take both ES and BHG shutting down. :/ Though maybe BHG will be like ES and only shut down in theory. BHG is a great team and they've always been great to HG and myself and have produced some magnificent titles. Best of luck!
[This message has been edited by Alex (edited 03-18-2009 @ 00:34 AM).]
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I kind of doubt they will continue the Rise of... series. RoL came off as a bit of a blunder.