Quick Jump Daily Digest

Thank you for your interest in the Quick Jump Daily Digest. Get notified of all new content on QJ in our free Daily Digest. To subscribe, enter your email address below and click the subscribe button.

Cancel and Return to page

Inside Search Results

Your search for Inside located the below Inside Search Results. The Inside Search Results are returned from stories QJ publishes stories covering Inside news, Playstation news, Xbox news, PC news, Wii News, Nintendo DS News, Gaming News, Reviews, Downloads, Custom Apps, Homebrew and much more.

These Guys Really Love Their Own Game

Posted May 22, 2012 at 7:55AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: Xbox 360, PS3 Tags: ghost recon: future soldier, red storm, Ubisoft

To hear these guys talk about it, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier is the greatest thing since sliced bread. It's out today, so you can judge for yourself. Or just keep playing Angry Birds; it's up to you.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [1]	READ FULL STORY!

Step Right Up and Get Some Crap!

Posted May 17, 2012 at 9:45AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: Xbox 360, PS3 Tags: 2K Games, borderlands 2, Gearbox Software

Yep, it's about that time when we get to see the various super-secret-ultra-hardcore editions of Borderlands 2 full of a bunch of crap that will be taking up room in your closet. But hey at least this one has a bobblehead!


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [3]	READ FULL STORY!

No Art Deco Monsters for You Until Next Year

Posted May 9, 2012 at 9:30AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: Xbox 360, PS3 Tags: 2K Games, bioshock infinite, Irrational Games

Ken Levine says that Irrational is making more "tweaks and improvements" to their next masterpiece, so it's been delayed 'til next year. Are they working on the beloved multiplayer? That was sarcasm.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [2]	READ FULL STORY!

Xbox Suffers The Red Ring Of Drugs

Posted May 6, 2012 at 10:05AM EST by Mr Ham Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: cocaine, drugs, videogame crime

The Avengers may be invading the 360 soon, but not before it gets invaded by Montana's breakfast. Charlie don't surf, he hides in consoles.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [3]	READ FULL STORY!

That Show You Never Watched is Going Away

Posted May 3, 2012 at 8:25AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: inside xbox, Microsoft, xbox live

Microsoft is ceasing production on one of their dashboard shows. Now if they can just get rid of the rest of them...


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [1]	READ FULL STORY!

Diablo III Is Nigh, and On Your TV Soon

Posted Apr 28, 2012 at 8:15PM EST by Mr Ham Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: Blizzard, diablo iii, diablo iii pc gaming, trailer

We all hate long videogame waits, but this one is almost over, and not before a nice Family Guy related treat to make you feel warm inside.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [3]	READ FULL STORY!

No TimeSplitters 4 For You!

Posted Apr 27, 2012 at 10:35AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: Xbox 360, PS3 Tags: Crytek, crytek uk, timesplitters 4

Fans have been clamoring for the return of TimeSplitters, but Crytek gives them all a resounding "No!" Then they go on to make jokes about it. Hilarity ensues. But not really.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [8]	READ FULL STORY!

Raining on the Psychonauts Movie Parade

Posted Apr 25, 2012 at 4:27PM EST by Todd B Listed in: PS3 Tags: grim fandango, Pixar, psychonauts, rumor mill

Rumors are swirling over the prospect of Pixar-helmed Psychonauts and Grim Fandango films. But do they hold up under scrutiny?


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [2]	READ FULL STORY!

One of Twisted Metal's Insane Drivers is Making His Way to Starhawk

Posted Apr 18, 2012 at 9:08AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: PS3 Tags: lightbox interactive, starhawk, twisted metal

It's a bit of a drive, but one of those nutty Twisted Metal guys is going to Starhawk. It seems a weird fit, but somehow it works.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [2]	READ FULL STORY!

PS Vita Tools v1.04 Released

Posted Apr 9, 2012 at 6:00PM EST by Demonchild Listed in: PS Vita Tags: deroad, ps vita hacks, vita tools

deroad is back again with an update to his collection of Vita Tools for hardcore developers and enthusiasts alike. Vita Tools is based from fail0verflow's set of tools for the PS3.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [2]	READ FULL STORY!

Sound Off: Does Power Matter?

Posted Apr 3, 2012 at 3:20PM EST by Todd B Listed in: PoV Tags: Nintendo Wii, ps3, wii u, xbox 360

Today’s rumors indicate that the Wii U won’t have much in the way of power. But does it matter?


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [8]	READ FULL STORY!

GAME Teeters on the Brink

Posted Apr 2, 2012 at 1:15PM EST by Todd B Listed in: PS3 Tags: game, game group, opcapita

The troubled UK-based retailer may have just avoided total closure thanks to a last-minute rescue. But will it hold?


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [3]	READ FULL STORY!

Rumor: Next-Gen Xbox Will Be Like "Two PCs Taped Together" - Wait, What?

Posted Apr 2, 2012 at 7:35AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: Tags: next-gen xbox, xbox 720, xbox durango

Though it sounds like an April Fool's joke, apparently it's not. It's just the strange way someone chose to describe the next-gen Xbox.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [2]	READ FULL STORY!

What the Hell is an Orbis?

Posted Mar 28, 2012 at 4:51PM EST by Todd B Listed in: PS3 Tags: Kotaku, orbis, ps3, ps4, Sony

According to the Latin language, an “orbis” is a circle or orbit. According to Kotaku, it’s the new PlayStation console.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [19]	READ FULL STORY!

Interview: Producer on South Park: Tenorman's Revenge

Posted Mar 21, 2012 at 12:00PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3 Tags: Interview, Other Ocean Interactive, sara guiness, South Park, south park games, xbla

Harrison E talks to Sara Guinness, Senior Producer on the upcoming South Park game, Tenorman's Revenge.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [1]	READ FULL STORY!

Epic Games Tells You How To Avoid Clones

Posted Mar 16, 2012 at 8:23PM EST by Mr Ham Listed in: PS3 Tags: GDC, Gears of War, indie games, tim sweeney epic games

Ah, GDC talks. They're so much more informative than old press releases.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [3]	READ FULL STORY!

Rumor: Shenmue HD is Already Finished

Posted Mar 16, 2012 at 12:34PM EST by Todd B Listed in: PS3 Tags: crazy taxi, jet set radio, Sega, shenmue hd, shenmue ii, shenmue iii, sonic adventure

QJ hits the rumor mill again, this time in the spirit of HD remakes.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [7]	READ FULL STORY!

Review: SSX

Posted Mar 15, 2012 at 1:00PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3 Tags: ea games, Electronic Arts, review, ssx, ssx tricky

Harrison E gets tricky with SSX, but is it a cool game or just an avalanche waiting to happen?


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [1]	READ FULL STORY!

Gabe Newell tops billionaire list

Posted Mar 10, 2012 at 8:35AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: Forbes, Gabe Newell, pc gaming, Steam, valve

Big in development, big in the money.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [4]	READ FULL STORY!

Waggle Your Way To Victory

Posted Mar 7, 2012 at 7:45AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: Game Developers Conference, gdc12, razer, razer hydra, Steam, valve

Get ready to start waggling!


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [3]	READ FULL STORY!

Calm Down: Blizzard F2P Rumors are Out of Hand

Posted Feb 23, 2012 at 5:48PM EST by Listed in: MMORPG Tags: Blizzard, BlizzCon, diablo, dota, World of Warcraft

One random source does not a story make.

The gaming internet exploded earlier today with rumors that Blizzard, creator of World of Warcraft and Diablo, had a top-secret free-to-play project in the works. This news scoop came courtesy of Develop, a gaming news site that apparently has the inside dope on what’s going on over at Blizzard HQ. Naturally, the rumor quickly spun into a firestorm.

Here’s the problem—no one stopped to ask Blizzard. And when someone (GameSpot) finally got around to doing it, the company simply said, “Yeah, we’re working on a F2P game. It’s called Blizzard DOTA, and we announced it at BlizzCon.”

So, by all accounts, this looks like another case of the gaming press putting the cart before the horse. Blizzard is indeed working on a F2P game – it’s been confirmed that DOTA will run on a microtransaction model – but there’s nothing particularly “top secret” about it.

Nothing to see here, folks. Move along!

Unless, of course, the response from Blizz was all a clever ruse…

What do you think Blizz is up to?

[GameSpot]

One random source does not a story make.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [0]	READ FULL STORY!

A Big Leap For Gaming

Posted Feb 18, 2012 at 2:35PM EST by Mr Ham Listed in: Nintendo DS Tags: the british library, videogame preservation

Preservation by The British Library is under way, of all your favourite sites and...fan art?


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [0]	READ FULL STORY!

Guild Wars 2 Probably Coming to Consoles

Posted Feb 15, 2012 at 12:09PM EST by Listed in: MMORPG Tags: console mmos, Guild Wars 2, NCsoft

Because that’s what people want – console MMOs.

Guild Wars 2 is creeping steadily across the horizon, ready to pounce on the F2P MMO crowd at nearly any moment. And while there’s no official release date available for the game, that doesn’t mean NCsoft doesn’t have anything interesting to reveal.

In a conference call early this morning, Guild Wars 2 developers discussed a rough timeframe for the game’s beta and, yes, the possibility of a console port. Before you get too excited, it’s worth noting that the studio merely confirmed there is some sort of Guild Wars 2-related console development taking place – it’s far from a guarantee.

Here’s the exact quote, which you are free to interpret however you want:

“When it comes to Guild Wars 2 [on consoles] as we have announced already, we are in the preparation stage. For other titles we are looking at various options as we speak. So once again, nothing has been finalized yet for me to make specific comments now.”

So there you have it. They’re in the preparation stages, which means the game may or not make it to consoles. If you’re curious about that beta, the studio confirmed that large scale testing will occur in March and April. NCsoft will use the test results and seasonal market trends to determine the final launch schedule.

Are you excited to see Guild Wars 2 finally making forward progress? And what do you think of console MMOs?

[Guild Wars Insider]

Because that’s what people want – console MMOs.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [1]	READ FULL STORY!

Minecraft On Vita? No.

Posted Feb 14, 2012 at 11:00AM EST by Mr Ham Listed in: PS Vita, PC Gaming Tags: cobalt vita, minecraft ps vita, mojang interview

Want Minecraft, Scrolls or Cobalt on your Vita? Answers inside...


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [9]	READ FULL STORY!

Harrison E Visits: Sony Sessions

Posted Feb 9, 2012 at 11:05AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PSP, PS Vita, PS3 Tags: BRAVIA, personal 3d viewer, Sony, sony sessions, sony tablet p, storm surfers 3d

Sony are pretty good people despite all the shit people sometimes talk. Especially when they're showing off and want to get you to buy some stuff. Harrison E got a chance to talk with them about their new products in Sydney at Sony Sessions.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [14]	READ FULL STORY!

New RE: Operation Raccoon City Trophies/Achievements Reveal DLC

Posted Jan 31, 2012 at 8:35AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: PS3, Xbox 360 Tags: operation raccoon city, operation raccoon city trophies, resident evil, resident evil dlc

Somebody got their hands on a list of some of the new trophies/achievements for Operation Raccoon City. Pretty insightful stuff.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [2]	READ FULL STORY!

GameJam Wollongong 2012

Posted Jan 30, 2012 at 8:14PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: gamejam wollongong, ggj, ggj12, gjwoll, global game jam, ouroboros

Or How I Spent my Weekend watching 20+ people make games in 48 hours.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [1]	READ FULL STORY!

EA and THQ losing staff

Posted Jan 29, 2012 at 8:37AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3, iPhone, Xbox 360 Tags: ea games, Electronic Arts, layoffs, playfish, THQ

2012 will be a big year for EA and THQ but it looks like some of their staff are either jumping ship or being fired from the big gaming companies.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [1]	READ FULL STORY!

Xbox Live Games coming to Android

Posted Jan 26, 2012 at 4:30PM EST by Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: android, ios, Microsoft, windows phone, xbox live

Take that, Windows phones!

Want to play Xbox Live games but don’t have your Xbox nearby? How about an Android phone? According to one developer with a bit of inside information, Microsoft is currently working on an Xbox Live app for Android which will bring many of the service’s functionalities directly to Android users – including the ability to play games from Xbox Live Arcade.

This story actually broke thanks to a job posting on the official Microsoft careers website. The posting indicated that Microsoft had intentions to bring the Live service to Windows Phone, iOS and “other mobile platforms.” A quick bit of calling around, and it was easy to find a developer willing to confirm that Android was on the table. It’s a bit of an odd piece of news, since Microsoft has leaned so heavily on Xbox Live being exclusive to Windows Phone.

However, it’s always good to give your customers more ways to access your service. And while Microsoft isn’t conceding defeat in the mobile wars, they are aware that the Android and iOS markets are trouncing them in terms of mobile game sales. If they want to compete, bringing the Live app to Android and other platforms is essentially the only way to do it.

There’s no information on when we can expect an Android Xbox Live app, but we here at QJ will keep you posted as details emerge.

What do you think of Xbox Live on your Android phone?

[Business Insider]

Take that, Windows phones!


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [9]	READ FULL STORY!

PoV: No Used Games on Xbox 720?

Posted Jan 26, 2012 at 2:06PM EST by Listed in: PoV Tags: online pass, xbox 720, xbox live

Why Microsoft’s plan to block used games may not be such a bad idea.

Rumors surfaced yesterday, thanks to an insider source, that the next-gen Xbox system currently in development might contain some sort of anti-used game technology. We’re not exactly sure what that means, or how it would be implemented, but the basic gist is that the new Xbox may not play used games at all.

News of this function fired off a massive Internet backlash, with countless commenters railing about how they’d never buy an Xbox 720 (or whatever) if they can’t play used games. And while I certainly agree that limiting your customers’ choices is a very dangerous way to move forward in business, I think that Microsoft may actually be doing the right thing here.

Put aside, for the moment, the arguments against publishers getting cash for used sales. We all know it doesn’t make sense for used games to be treated differently than used cars. The bottom line, however, is that publishers want a slice of that pie, and they’re going to do anything they can to get it. The current solution is the Online Pass, which most gamers would agree is a complete disaster.

Online Passes are engineered to ensure that publishers get a taste of any after-market sale of their games, but mostly serve as enormous headaches to the people that bought the game new. Anyone that had to suffer through Battlefield 3’s ridiculous registration process will know what I mean. And as we move forward, more and more publishers are going to slap Online Passes on their games.

The way I see it, we have two potential used game futures: In the first, every game we buy will have an Online Pass from whatever publisher owns the game, requiring an obnoxious registration code and all the trappings we’ve already encountered. In the second, used games are blocked at the console level, and you purchase your Online Pass directly through Xbox Live or PSN.

Having the console deal with used game access eliminates the need for cumbersome Online Passes, and ensures you have access to Xbox’s support network instead of some random person at whatever publisher happened to make your game. It’s not ideal, but it’s certainly better than what we have at the moment.

I don’t agree with the concept of preventing players from accessing used games, but it’s not like Online Passes are going to fade away. One way or another, we’re paying that money to the publisher – would you rather do it through Xbox Live or a dozen different registration websites?

Why Microsoft’s plan to block used games may not be such a bad idea.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [60]	READ FULL STORY!

Preview: Soul Calibur V

Posted Jan 26, 2012 at 9:06AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Xbox 360, PS3 Tags: gamespot australia, Namco, Namco Bandai, scv, soul calibur v, vmax

Harrison E got to check out the new Soul Calibur title from Namco Bandai. Does it hit in all the right places or flail all over the place with button-mashing?


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [3]	READ FULL STORY!

Letter from Alleged THQ Staffer Calls Out Management, CEO

Posted Jan 25, 2012 at 3:30PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: saints row the third, THQ

THQ hasn’t been doing great over the last few months, and this nasty letter from a former employee doesn’t make things look any better.

THQ, the company behind Saints Row: The Third, had a tough 2011. The company was in such dire straits that rumors floated around about it canceling its entire 2014 lineup, rumors the company vehemently denied. This morning we received word that THQ was shifting its strategies yet again, this time focusing more on its core franchises over third party licensing.

It’s hard to get a bead on exactly what’s happening with THQ. Rumors and sales indicate the company is in serious trouble despite the success of Saints Row, but the company refuses to admit that they have any sort of problem. Only one person seems to be willing to comment on the state of the company – an alleged former employee with an obvious bone to pick.

In a letter written to THQ’s Board of Directors, CEO Brian Farrell as well as the general public and a collection of gaming news sites, this “Formerly Mismanaged” employee rattles off a laundry lists of complaints about the company.

The letter essentially claims that THQ’s problems stem from mismanagement and a Board of Directors that has no clue how to strategically run a gaming company. It gives examples like acquiring game studios with no plan on how to utilize their talents (then later shutting them down), investing money into shrinking niche markets, the company’s refusal to dump a CEO that has tanked its stock price and high-paid executives making enormous mistakes that call their competency into question. The disastrous uDraw tablet also makes an appearance.

These allegations of management incompetency surface just a few days before THQ announces its current financial standing on February 2, and things certainly don’t look good. One analyst has gone on the record by stating that THQ, without some sort of financial windfall, with run out of cash near the middle of this year.

You can read the letter in its (extremely long) entirety below:

[JoyStiq]

"To:

THQ Board of Directors

Lawrence Burstein

James Whims, Gigex, Inc.

Henry DeNero, Arcturus Capital

Brian Dougherty, AirSet, Inc.

Jeffrey Griffiths , Lumber Liquidators

From:

Current and Ex-Employees, Shareholders, and The Public

Dear THQ Board,

I am an ex-employee at THQ. I saw the tweet-started headlines over the past week from an "industry expert." This expert is one who I and my friends and co-workers in the industry have never heard of after a long time in the field. I had been reading the various following articles and accounts and it generated sympathy for friends both recently laid off and currently still there. I thought it would be a good idea to send a note with their input. This note has honest facts and thoughts about THQ and the current problems there. Most of these facts are public knowledge and they have been confirmed by public records or can be confirmed by current and former THQ staff there both before and after my and their time.

I have long felt the need to explain to outsiders how this beaten-down company has wound up in this position. It is to the point where having it on your resume is not a point in your favor. And that shouldn't be the case. I'm/We're sending this note anonymously because some of us are still awaiting final checks and others know how little corporations like employees who air their dirty laundry. We feel the need to say something to combat the partial misinformation being written.

THQ had been known through the years for having a formula. They find a hot license, make a cheap game, barely advertise it, and make money. This formula worked during the Playstation and Xbox and Gameboy days and made the company a lot of cash. Unfortunately, THQ's old guard executives seem to be stuck trying to manage the company the same way they did back then and haven't realized the industry has changed.

The beginning of the end came years ago as Brian Farrell lead an executive team to acquire a large number of studios. A large amount of cash was used in the acquisition or setup of game developers with different degrees of talent. The problem was they were bought without strategic reasoning or specific plan on to use them. So after awhile another large amount of money was spent as those studios failed and were sold off and shut down. The executive team at the time were an entirely different group of people with one key exception in the CEO. The CEO/the then executive team wasted the cash that the company had built up with these massive investments and selloffs.

The studio purchase errors were not helped by the mistakes in the licensing deals that were signed by the same CEO. Millions and millions of dollars were wasted on acquiring licenses at the same time the kids, family, casual business was declining at a rapid rate. Instead of slowing those acquisitions he overpaid for more of them until again cash was wasted in paying for brands that didn't sell well anymore.

The mistakes in decisions and cash losses triggered wave after wave of layoffs. In the most recent wave, about 40 people lost their jobs this past December through no fault of their own. The reason why is the chronic and constant mismanagement of their company. The fact is that the CEO and executive committee were so focused on trying to hit an unrealistic financial goal that they bet everything on an extremely risky proposition in the uDraw tablet. When they lost, they further displayed their lack of management skills by not having a contingency plan. Three weeks after the game launched, an entire business unit was wiped out when it didn't meet its goal due to relying on that one product to hit an unrealistic target.

After the layoffs many ex-employees walked around shell-shocked and trying to figure out who was responsible. They came to the understanding that most of us do after leaving the company. The issue with THQ has never been one of lack of staff creativity, intellect or business intelligence. It all rests of the failure of its management team and you the Board of Directors.

This Board has allowed the Brian Farrell, the CEO, the ongoing ability to take a cash-rich profitable company and drive it from a $30 share price down to around $.70 without acting despite numerous mistakes that even for those lacking business training, could see were errors. Even without glaring mistakes how can the same CEO stay in charge after a 99% share price loss? Aside from the board, who is responsible for the current situation and who is accountable for the current and future job losses at the company? When you ask the recently departed who are a good source of information, you get the same answers. This uDraw failure is the largest and most recent one in a string of them that were hushed over and hidden. The answer aside from the Board is the current executive team that allowed this uDraw implosion to happen.

Brian Farrell, CEO with a 2011 salary of $1,289,558, for a lack of business intelligence or fiscal accountability. A vocal inside group pointed out the mistake of trying to launch a year-old product that received almost no software support in the last 12 months. Instead of listening and having a back-up plan, he went ahead and invested a ridiculous amount of money in the manufacturing and advertising of the product and failed miserably. It is passed time for him to go. We are wondering what is taking so long for you to act. We have been wondering this same question for a long time.

Martin Good, EVP and head of Kids, Family, Casual with a 2011 salary of $1,198,023, for bringing no strategic thought or business sense to the role. He was brought out from Australia sales to replace an outgoing head of the business unit and rapidly displayed a complete lack of leadership skills, vision, and any sort of analytical sense. Looking at his compensation package, he is an excellent negotiator as his salary is higher than anyone's except for the CEO. On the plus side he lost his job with the rest of those laid off. On the minus side, he will be floating down on a golden parachute while the rest of the former employees scramble to look for jobs in this challenging environment. Most of those jobs will be at studios in other parts of the country, so they will be forced to relocate their families in the middle of their childrens school years. It is incredible that he made this level of income while doing such a poor job, but it serves as a reflection of the lack of Brian Farrell's ability to staff well and manage.

Paul Pucino, CFO with a 2011 salary of $674,855, for not planning for this possibility and having a safety net or a plan to cover THQ just in case of failure. We have a line of credit that we likely used to buy the plastic that is not selling to customers. It is like taking a cash advance to buy THQ stock and just as worthless of an investment. Paul is known as an absentee executive who is missing when business situations gets complicated. While he was in the loop at the point of the risk, with the following failure he has been clearly unavailable. It is another example of Brian Farrell's inability to staff.

Ian Curran, EVP and head of global publishing with a 2011 salary of $1,037,047, for not flagging an unrealistic sales goal to the CEO or the Board when a big part of the corporation felt the numbers were unrealistic. He blindly held up an unachievable target and didn't act when multiple people told him he was aiming to high and out of step with the marketplace. If a sales executive's job is to anticipate the market, he has done a poor job of it. Another example of Brian Farrell not being able to find the right people for the right job.

Ed Kauffman, EVP of Legal and Business Affairs who clearly was signing bad deals on licensed products, not factoring in the changes in the business and being more critical with financial terms with partners. uDraw by itself cannot possibly explain the companies poor financial health. It is a combination of that product and a string of bad licensed deals that the company took on against better judgement. While Brain Farrell would logically be the final decisionmaker for deals, Kauffman is either unpersuasive in his arguments to not do them or supported them. Either situation equates to another example of poor staffing choices by the CEO.

uDraw was failure and the only people to blame are the people listed above. THQ and its current financial situation is also their responsibility. And they were paid around $4.5 million dollars for their poor decisions. If there is any doubt we would recommend talking to current and former staff to get the straight story. Don't read this note as bitterness on their part, but more as long overdue truth.

So, Board, it is time. Passed time for you to act and passed time for you to do something about the mismanagement that has gone on for too many years. We've watched the stock from the outside and read the comments and the reason why the company is valued so low despite its sales is because of this underqualified management team.

Board it is time for you to act before your names are added to the list above of things that must change.

Sincerely,

The Formerly Mismanaged"

THQ hasn’t been doing great over the last few months, and this nasty letter from a former employee doesn’t make things look any better.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [0]	READ FULL STORY!

Microsoft May Be Ditching MS Points

Posted Jan 24, 2012 at 8:13AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: Microsoft Points, xbox live, zune

The convoluted exchange system may be gone by the end of the year.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [19]	READ FULL STORY!

PS Vita only really worth $159

Posted Jan 22, 2012 at 9:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS Vita Tags: 3G, ps vita teardown, Sony, vita pricing, vita teardown

When it all comes down to it I doubt you could make it yourself...but let's see what it all costs inside?


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [40]	READ FULL STORY!

Skyrim Patch 1.4 Details

Posted Jan 20, 2012 at 4:30PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: Bethesda, patch 1.4, skyrim

Bethesda releases full patch notes for their latest Skyrim update, now in the certification testing.

It seems like it’s been forever since the launch of Skyrim, but millions of gamers are still spending their free time slaying dragons and “accidentally” murdering their followers. And, as is customary with Bethesda games, Skyrim still has a fair few issues interfering with players’ ability to fully enjoy the game.

The company is more than aware of Skyrim’s issues and has been working non-stop to get them fixed –especially the ever-present PS3 bug that makes the game nearly unplayable for some users. I’ll skip the analysis and go straight to the patch notes. If you’re a Skyrim fan, you’ll want to read through these:

NEW FEATURES

Skyrim launcher support for Steam Workshop (PC)

BUG FIXES

General optimizations for memory and performance

Fixed occasional issue with armour and clothing not displaying properly when placed on mannequins in player’s house.(PS3)

Improved compiler optimisation settings (PC)

Long term play optimisations for memory and performance (PS3)

Memory optimisations related to scripting

Fixed crashes related to pathing and AI

Fixed crash in Haemar’s Shame if player had already completed “A Daedra’s Best Friend”

Fixed rare crash with loading saved games

Fixed issue with accented characters not displaying properly at the end of a line

Master Criminal achievement/trophy unlocks properly in French, German, Spanish and Italian

Fixed issue where dragon priest masks would not render correctly

Fixed issue where quests would incorrectly progress after reloading a save

Fixed issues with placing and removing books from bookshelves in the player’s home

Fixed issue where weapon racks and plaques would not work correctly in player’s house if player immediately visits their house before purchasing any furnishing.

Fixed issue where the player house in Windhelm would not clean up properly

Fixed crash related to giant attacks and absorb spells

Fixed issue with ash piles not cleaning up properly

Fixed occasional issue where overwriting an existing save would fail

Fixed memory crash with container menu

Fixed infinite loop with bookshelves

Fixed issue where traps in Shalidor’s Maze would not work properly in French, German, Spanish and Italian versions

Fixed issue where transforming back to human from werewolf would occasionally not fail

Bows and daggers will display properly when placed on weapon racks

QUEST FIXES

The Unusual Gem inside the Thalmor Embassy is now accessible after finishing “Diplomatic Immunity”

In “Breaching Security”, the quest token is no longer required to receive a fortune reading from Olava the Feeble

Fixed issue where Galmar would not complete Joining the Stormcloaks properly if “Season Unending” was an active quest

Fixed issue where starting “Season Unending” after finishing “Joining the Stormcloaks” would prevent “The Jagged Crown” from starting properly.

Fixed issue progressing through “Message to Whiterun” while “Season Unending” was still open would block progression for both quests.

In “Arniel’s Endeavor”, fixed issue where a quest journal would trigger multiple times

In “Forbidden Legend”, the amulet fragment can no longer disappear after player leaves a dungeon without taking it

Fixed rare issue in “Forbidden Legend” where killing Mikrul Gauldurson while sneaking would make his corpse unaccessible

In “The White Phial”, the phial can no longer disappear if player leaves dungeon without taking it

“The White Phial” will now start properly if player already has a briar heart in their inventory

Player can no longer get stuck in Misty Grove after completing “A Night to Remember”

Fixed issue where leaving Riften during “A Chance Arrangement” would prevent quest from progressing

In “Darkness Returns”, a door in Twilight Sepulcher will properly open if the player leaves the dungeon for an extended period of time before completing the quest

In “Under New Management”, if the player leaves the Oculory for an extended period of time after placing the focusing crystal and returns, the quest will proceed correctly

“Onmund’s Request” will now start properly if player has already found Enthir’s staff before receiving this quest

Fixed instance where Tonilia would stop buying stolen items and also would not give Guild Leader Armor

“Repairing the Phial” will start properly if player already has unmelting snow or mammoth tusk in their inventory

Finding Pantea’s Flute before speaking with Pantea no longer prevents her quest from updating

In “The Coming of the Dawn”, fixed rare instance where a quest object would spawn incorrectly on the Katariah during Hail Sithis

Fixed rare issue in “The Mind of Madness” where player is unable to equip the Wabbajack

Fixed issue in “Pieces of the Past” where Mehrunes Dagon’s Razor will not trigger properly if player leaves the cell for extended period of time before activating it

“Blood’s Honor” will start properly if you visited and completed Driftshade and an extended period of time passes before starting the quest.

Fixed rare issue where “Dampened Spirits” would not start properly

Fixed issue where player would be unable to become Thane of Riften if they purchased a home first

Fixed issue where killing guards in Cidhna Mine woud block progression for “No One Escapes Cidhna Mine”

Fixed numerous issues with “Blood on the Ice” not triggering properly

In “Blood on the Ice”, Calixto can now be killed if player owns a house in Windhelm

In “The Cure for Madness”, killing Cicero then resurrecting him no longer impedes quest progress

Fixed rare issue in “To Kill an Empire” where an NPC would fail to die properly

Clearing Knifepoint Ridge before starting “Boethiah’s Champion” no longer prevents quest from starting.

That’s quite a few fixes for one patch – Bethesda hopes to have 1.4 submitted for certification early next week.

[Edge]

Bethesda releases full patch notes for their latest Skyrim update, now in the certification testing.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [7]	READ FULL STORY!

THQ Denying 2014 Cancellations

Posted Jan 16, 2012 at 3:51PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: dark millennium online, digital warrington, kaos, saints row the third, THQ, udraw

It’s a day of denials as THQ refutes stories that their 2014 lineup has been called off.

Over the weekend, news broke that THQ was in dire financial straits. So dire, in fact, that the company was planning on dumping its 2014 releases and opening itself up for a bailout buyout. The story came loose as the result of tweets sent by Kevin Dent of the IGDA, who claimed some sort of insider knowledge on the subject.

Early this morning, however, THQ issued a strong denial, noting that there have been no changes to its 2014 lineup, and that the company is merely “strategically addressing the most attractive markets.” The company also noted that Saints Row: The Third, released late in 2011, was a smashing success that put the publisher in fifth place for 2011 sales.

Rumors have been swirling for a while now that THQ’s MMO, Dark Millennium Online, is on the auction block. THQ also denied that they were attempting to sell the game, noting that they have made no official plans regarding the title. THQ, by all means, had a rough 2011, firing the uDraw team and closing down several studios including Kaos and Digital Warrington.

We’ll just have to wait and see how the story plays out. Even if THQ has canceled its lineup and is looking for a buyout, the company certainly isn’t going to sabotage its potential value by admitting it to the press.

What do you think is going on over at THQ?

[VG247]

It’s a day of denials as THQ refutes stories that their 2014 lineup has been called off.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [0]	READ FULL STORY!

New Gameplay Trailer for Spec Ops The Line Released

Posted Dec 22, 2011 at 11:00AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: Xbox 360, PC Gaming Tags: 2K Games, spec ops: the line, yager development

The latest trailer for Spec Ops: The Line is an action-packed, third-person romp.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [2]	READ FULL STORY!

Next Xbox due 2013. Manager replaced

Posted Dec 16, 2011 at 9:00AM EST by QJ Staff Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: don coyner, emma williams, next gen xbox, xbox rumors

Reports backing up reports, this is as close to a confirmation as we've seen so far.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [3]	READ FULL STORY!

Kinect 2 will read your lips

Posted Dec 4, 2011 at 4:00PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: kinect 2, kinect 2 megapixel rate, kinect 2 release date, kinect xbox loop

Kinect 2 will also know when you're asleeping and when you're awake.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [4]	READ FULL STORY!

PoV: Rocketbirds Hardboiled Chickens

Posted Nov 30, 2011 at 10:00PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3 Tags: hardboiled chickens, psn, ratloop, rocketbirds, rocketbirds hardboiled chickens, sian tan yue

Rocketbirds Hardboiled Chickens is exactly what it sounds like...okay, it's a lot more than that.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [2]	READ FULL STORY!

PoV VLOG: A Skyrim Wish List

Posted Nov 30, 2011 at 3:34PM EST by Listed in: PoV Tags: Bethesda, skyrim review, skyrim vlog, skyrim wish list

Let’s talk about some of the things Bethesda could add to Skyrim without breaking the game.

Howdy QJ readers! We’re trying something a little bit different today, with a PoV in the form of a video. I’ve been playing Skyrim for around 30-40 hours and while there is lots to love about the title, there are a few things that seem like they could be improved. This video certainly isn’t a complain-fest, as I think the game stands on its own as is, but just a couple of thoughts on things I’d love to see implemented.

Here’s my Skyrim wish list, in video form:

I wanted to keep the video short, but there are a few other things I would love to see modified in the world of Skyrim. Here they are, in no specific order:

Follower Damage

I appreciate the fact that my loyal follower charges into battle with me, but is it really necessary for them to be vulnerable to my attacks? Combat in Skyrim is sloppy enough – I’ve killed my follower several times despite having my axe lined up directly with an enemy. I understand that killing your follower needs to be possible for the sake of freedom, but in combat it can turn into a real mess. There’s nothing more annoying than completing a tough fight only to accidentally shout your follower to death.

Vendor Selling

Having numerous vendors that only sell one or two types of things is a Bethesda trademark, but it starts to get annoying pretty early in the game. Here’s a quick sample of how my post-dungeon trips go now: Fast-travel to Whiterun, sell weapons and armor to the blacksmith until she runs out of money. Go inside the shop (loading screen), sell to the guy until he runs out of money. Go outside (loading screen), run to the general store. Go inside (loading screen), sell to that guy until he runs out of money. Go outside (loading screen), fast-travel to Markarth (loading screen), repeat. It’s a little much.

Horse Improvements

In addition to the horse problem I mentioned in the video, horses could use a big buff. What’s the point of spending 1,000g on a horse if it runs at the same speed you do? And the bonus carrying capacity is a joke – who is slowly walking all the way out of a dungeon to find their horse? Speaking of which – can we get a horse whistle or something? I can’t count how many times that horse has run off during a fight and I’ve just had to charge on without him after ten minutes of trying to figure out where he went.

Those are my rough complaints/suggestions. I feel like each one could be addressed with a relatively simple in-game fix, but I’m not a developer so I could be dramatically underestimating the complexity.

Do you have any features you’d like to see added to Skyrim? Let us know in the comments.

Let’s talk about some of the things Bethesda could add to Skyrim without completely breaking the game.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [9]	READ FULL STORY!

Pre-orders strong for PS Vita in US and Asia

Posted Nov 28, 2011 at 12:00PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Tags: ps vita memory cards, ps vita release, sony ps vita

Pricing guides also popping up for consoles and memory cards in Australia, US and Japan.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [1]	READ FULL STORY!

Final Fantasy XIII-2 trailer shows off Lightning the Goddess

Posted Nov 25, 2011 at 10:26PM EST by Amanda Orneck Listed in: PS3 Tags: ffxiii trailers, ffxiii-2, final fantasy sequels, final fantasy videos, lightning the goddess

There’s a lot to love in the latest trailer from Square Enix, featuring the battle for Valhalla.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [14]	READ FULL STORY!

Humble Voxatron Bundle Breaks 900K

Posted Nov 16, 2011 at 4:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: binding of isaac, blocks that matter, gish, humble bundle, humble indie bundle, indie games, notch, voxatron, zen garden puzzles

Humble Bundle's over but sometimes the fun is about to begin.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [0]	READ FULL STORY!

Happy Birthday, Xbox!

Posted Nov 15, 2011 at 2:26PM EST by Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: halo, Microsoft, xbox

Ten years ago, Microsoft took a chance by stepping into a market with zero credibility. It seems to have worked out.

On November 15, 2001, Microsoft’s Xbox console launched into a market dominated by the PlayStation 2 and captivated by the brand new GameCube. It’s easy to forget this now, but when Microsoft first started talking about developing a console, many industry insiders simply believed it couldn’t be done. There were plenty of people that predicted the Xbox would flop, and that Microsoft would end up taking heavy losses on the experiment.

Ten years later and we all know the story. Fueled by a selection of excellent launch titles (including the now-legendary Halo: Combat Evolved), the Xbox quickly raised its market share until it became a true force to be reckoned with. Xbox also brought us the first true connectivity for consoles through Xbox Live, which has matured into by far the best online service consoles currently have to offer.

The original Xbox was a monstrosity with controllers that felt like bricks, but there was something special about sitting down in front of the new system and catching a few rounds of Halo or Dead or Alive 3. With Microsoft’s powerful media engine behind it, Xbox has become synonymous with gaming and now sits among the three primary competitors for sales superiority.

There have been a few hits and misses along the way, but I think we as gamers can acknowledge the incredible impact the Xbox had on the industry, mostly for the positive. So happy birthday, Xbox. Thanks for all the great games.

What is your favorite original Xbox memory?

Ten years ago, Microsoft took a chance by stepping into a market with zero credibility. It seems to have worked out.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [6]	READ FULL STORY!

Where should you buy your copy of Asura's Wrath?

Posted Nov 14, 2011 at 8:00PM EST by Amanda Orneck Listed in: PS3 Tags: Amazon, Capcom, Penny Arcade

We’ve sorted through all the retailer exclusives for Asura’s Wrath, and have made the decision a little easier for you.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [3]	READ FULL STORY!

Big week for Playstation 3 new releases

Posted Nov 13, 2011 at 9:00PM EST by Tim Curtin Listed in: PS3 Tags: assassins creed revelations, need for speed: the run, playstation new releases, saints row the third, sony game releases, ultimate marvel vs capcom

8 new PS3 titles, 3 for the Playstation Move and 5 for the PSN. Check them out inside!


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [2]	READ FULL STORY!

Warp Aimed Squarely at PSN Winter Release

Posted Nov 7, 2011 at 1:48PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: psn updates, warp

Check out this cuddly but incredibly violent game, headed to your PS3 a little later this year.

It’s hard to explain the concept of Warp, but I’ll give it a shot. You, playing as a small alien creature, manipulate various special powers in order to navigate puzzle-like rooms. While doing so, you also kill dozens of guards and research scientists in some of the most graphic ways imaginable.

But somehow the carnage is still cute? Check out this trailer to get a better idea of what I mean:

In addition to the abilities on display in the trailer, Zero (the game’s protagonist) has a number of other strange talents such as blowing objects (and people) up from the inside or basic warping, which allows him to bounce through walls and other obstacles.

What’s neat about the game design is that it’s not necessary to kill everyone in sight. Trapdoor has promised that depending on your play style, you can solve puzzles through various means – killing everything you see or sneaking about and leaving everyone else untouched. It’s all about how you want to play.

This is a nice bit of PS3 news, as sometimes it feels like PSN is the neglected middle child of the arcade game market. Developers are starting to head that way, which is good news for PS3 owners everywhere. More PSN games are surely always welcome.

What do you think of Warp?

Via PlayStation Blog

Check out this cute but incredibly violent game, headed to your PS3 a little later this year.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [1]	READ FULL STORY!

Postal III Headed for Steam

Posted Oct 29, 2011 at 2:27PM EST by Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: postal iii, Running with Scissors, Steam

Despite rumors that the game had been shelved, Running With Scissors finally issues an update regarding the latest in their often-ridiculous Postal series.

The original Postal game was a top-down shooter with no real story. You knew that the main character had been evicted from his house, and was subsequently going berserk, but that was about it. Postal 2 was even more insane, with so much violence it was actually banned in some countries (read: Australia). Now, after a few years of silence on the topic, it looks like Running With Scissors is finally ready to return to the franchise.

The company has just announced that Postal III will launch in the Steam store on December 10th, bringing with it the return of the game’s main character, “Postal Dude.” Postal III takes place in Catharsis, and will presumably revolve around causing as much damage as possible in order to quell the rage that lives inside of you.

The press release on the game’s official site also indicates that it may be heading to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, albeit at a later date. Time is going to have to tell.

Anyone play the first couple of Postal games?

Via GamePro

Despite rumors that the game had been shelved, Running With Scissors finally issues an update regarding the latest in their often-ridiculous Postal series.


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [5]	READ FULL STORY!

Skyrim Main Campaign Beaten in 2 hours (and 15 minutes)

Posted Oct 14, 2011 at 7:00PM EST by Tim Curtin Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: bethesda speedrun, sam bernstein, skyrim, skyrim speedrun

If you read this and respond with "What the .... the game isn't even out yet!, have no fear, it was only Bethesda employee's showing off again!


EMAIL STORY! \| COMMENTS [4]	READ FULL STORY!

HOT GAMING NEWS | LATEST GAMING SEARCHES | FORUMS

QUICK JUMP DAILY DIGEST

Welcome to QJ.Net!

If you want your comments to go live without waiting for moderation, you need to be logged in. Being logged in has its benefits:

Logged in members do not wait for their comments to be approved.
Logged in members can create Profiles to be seen by other users.

So why wait? Create an account or login now! It's easy, quick, and free.

To get started, use the LOGIN boxes, or the REGISTER link below!

Want to learn more about the team who brings you the QJ news?

Read about them now!

HOT FLASH GAMES

QJ.NET Categories
• Apple • E3 • Featured Articles • Gadgets • Games for Windows • iPad • iPhone • MMORPG • Mobile • News • Nintendo 3DS • Nintendo DS • Opinions & Analysis	• Photography • PlayStation 3 • PoV • PS Vita • PSP • Rumors • Science • Site News • Tabula Rasa • Wii • Wii U • World of Warcraft • Xbox 360

Sitemap

Newest Downloads

05/29/2012 - 06/04/2012

PS3Tools aldotools PARAM.SFO Editor 2.3 -	06/02/2012
Harmony's Nightmare v1	06/02/2012
SPU Emulation BETA 2	06/02/2012
Zombiies	06/01/2012
Newo Runner v1.1	06/01/2012
Kurushi Wii v1.0	06/01/2012
Hero City 2 v1.1	06/01/2012
WiiFlow Mod 3.0 r431	05/31/2012
XeBuild GUI 2.061	05/30/2012
edicpopDS v0.3.01	05/29/2012
RGLoader 0v290 Beta	05/27/2012
WiiMod 3.2	05/27/2012
WiiMC v1.2.7	05/25/2012
True Blue Firmeware v2.7	05/24/2012
3DS Video Converter v2.3	05/24/2012

Most Comments this Month
3D On Your Vita, iPhone an..	(8)
Finally: Star Wars for Gro..	(8)
Feel Like Squashing Some S..	(5)
Metal Gear Rising Goes Wro..	(5)
Diablo III Refunds: Nope!	(4)
Japan Says No To Pirates	(3)
Watch This: Tomb Raider is..	(3)
Wanna Return to Agent 47's..	(2)
Get a Load of the Doom 3:..	(2)
Co-Op Is Dead...Space 3	(2)
Another Expensive, Full-of..	(2)
Absolution; Finally You Ca..	(2)
Watch This: The Elder Scro..	(2)
Rumor: Modern Warfare 4 to..	(2)
Defeat Space Zombies with..	(2)
Rumor Mill: Green 3DS Plan..	(1)
Ni No Kuni Coming To Your..	(1)
People Can Fly To Gears Of..	(1)
Skyrim's Map Contains all..	(1)
Be A Little King On The Go	(1)
Gameloft Shows Off Some Gr..	(1)
Sacrifice Exclusivity, Sou..	(1)
FF7 Gets Another Dosage of..	(1)
Assassinate On The Go	(1)
On Shelves this Week: Jun..	(1)

Top Jumps this Month
Pokemon Liquid Cryst..	(38)
Naruto Shippuden: Ul..	(30)
PSP Is Back, Whiter,..	(16)
Finally: Star Wars f..	(12)
Bust Out Your PSP Fo..	(11)
PSP homebrew - LameC..	(11)
Homebrew - PSP/PS3 P..	(10)
Watch This: Tomb Rai..	(9)
Metal Gear Rising Ge..	(8)
GTA IV patch 1.0.6.0..	(8)
Wii homebrew - SD/US..	(7)
Metal Gear Rising Go..	(7)
Wii homebrew - WAD M..	(6)
Sacrifice Exclusivit..	(6)
neur0n Knocks Out An..	(6)
Download full Sid Me..	(5)
dTunes v2.6 - downlo..	(5)
Brian Lara Internati..	(5)
Civilization V patch..	(5)
Hellcat Working On R..	(5)
neur0n Gives You Mor..	(5)
Another Expensive, F..	(4)
The Need For...An An..	(4)
Zone Of The Opener....	(4)
QJ Download and Home..	(4)

HOT GAMING NEWS TOPICS