Posted Nov 07, 2007 at 07:30PM by Nicolo S. Listed in: Opinions & Analysis Tags: THQ, Downloadable Content, Brian Farrell
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THQ logo - Image 1


Major developer and publisher THQ, known for WWE and Nickelodeon games, wants Sony and Nintendo to improve on online services for their platforms. According to CEO Brian Farrell, publishers won't be getting much by providing downloadable content for the consoles Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii if online offerings don't get any better.

Farrell commends the Xbox Live service available for the Microsoft Xbox 360, but wants more from the side of format holders. "If you look at markets like Asia, China, Korea and others it's a digital download market because they are predominantly online," he said at the BMO Capital Markets conference.

"Obviously we're seeing a huge uptake with Xbox Live since that's a very, very user friendly download system. We get a fair number of downloads on our PC business," Farrell continued. On Sony platforms, however, THQ "haven't seen the roll-out by Sony of their robust online strategy." Farrell went on, saying "Nintendo keeps working on their digital download strategy as well."

Farrell believes offering consumers the ability to download and consumers adopting to such mechanisms will show significant growth for the DLC scene. "It'll probably keep growing but we need some more visibility from a couple of key partners to see that real growth driver over the next several years," he added.


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9 Comments


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   by mreverdred01 - 2007-11-07
 » ....

then why is the Xbox 360 doing so horribly in Asia?

   by platon - 2007-11-07
 » ??? PSN is not good now?

I like my matchmaking in motorstorm WAY more that what I had on my past x360. For one major reason that some stupids do not think about... it's free! I mean, when I had my x360, I never had xbox live, not even with my 1st xbox, like I'd pay two times for the same. I mean, I already pay for the internet, and the PC games are free online, so why the ***** should I pay for console games online, this is unfair and even imbecile. (sorry for the crude language)

I think that sony and nintendo are doing way better since it's free. For downloadable content the wii is really bad because they don't have an HDD, so no demos, no additionnal stuff, etc. But the PSN is a copy of xbox live with almost all the features (I'd like to have a gamercard, lol, but anyway the other features will pop with home) and for free, how can somebody say it's bad!

Anyway, I only own motorstorm for online so I'm not aware of the bad stuff is their is bad stuff. In motorstorm it's perfect, I play online all the time (the last tracks in single is TOO HARD) and it' fun! :D And because of the open online the PSN will have UT3 mods and stuff while the x360 will... pay for less, lol.

Anyway, I don't have my x360 anymore and I like the PSN way more since my online connexion was always dropping when I downloaded demos, also, I couldn't let my x360 download overnight since the morning I had a kind of grey screen and I needed to restart my system. Still, the consoles problems do not affect xbox live, but paying for the same :S, I'm not into it. I'm used to PC online gaming like for conterstrike, wich is free (dah, on pc it's always free). The only thing you pay online for PC or PS3 is MMORPG.

Anyway, I don't like THQ games so I suppose I'm not affected by what they think or do.

Still, one of my friends sold his x360 for a ps3 and he says that XBL was better than the PSN (he paid every month for that), he changed for the games (especially ratchet and crank). So maybe xbl IS better, I dunno. But the complete version of winrar is almost better than the free, still, I use the free, lol.


   Re: teh not so 1337 g@m3r - 2007-11-07
 » .

You talk the same way poor people do

   Re: DVSDevise - 2007-11-07
 » ...

If it wasn't for Xbox Live you wouldn't hardly have any games that have online play. Xbox Live has taken online console gaming to a new level. Sony's attempt is still half assed. And they can't charge for it, because nobody would pay for such a crap service. The publishers are forking the bill at the moment, and they will take the games offline in after a year. Where as I can still playing all my Xbox 1 games online (except for EA ones) still to this day.

Plus it's only 13 cents a day.

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   Re: Billie - 2007-11-09
 » what's wrong

What's wrong with being poor? Not everybody is blessed with parents that have money to blow on video games.
   by hush404 - 2007-11-07
 » Well

I do feel that the "PS Store" needs an update. It's kind of an ugly webpage... :P

But the PSN itself is fine, I have no problems playing any online game.

   by CHUCKINGROCKSATSPACESHIPS - 2007-11-07
 » Oh Hogwash!

Sonys doing a fine job and getting better all the time. Just about every week new content is available. Its developers like THQ that keep the whole online content continuing but if they complain and don't release anything for the Playstation Network then duh, there won't be any content.

   by Mleep - 2007-11-08
 » Hmm?

Follow Xbox Live? No thanks. I prefer Sony and Nintendo's model which lets you play online for free.
If I want XBL I can just play X360. But Sony and Nintendo should keep and improve their models. I'm sure Home is going to be amazing.

   by yworob - 2007-11-08
 » Asians (in Asia) only like crappy games

Have you ever noticed how bad Japanese games are that get sent to the U.S. ? Asians (in Asia) like weird characters and they predominantly play online only games. Gears of War and Halo aren't the types of games that people over there like to play. If you made Master Chief look like a gay elf then they might be interested in playing the game.



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