[Multi] Nordic Games big winner at THQ IP auction

[Multi] Nordic Games big winner at THQ IP auction

The final remnants of defunct publisher THQ were auctioned off earlier this month, and it appears that little-known publisher Nordic Games comes away as the surprise big winner as the results of that auction were revealed today. For $4.9 million, Nordic picked up the IP rights to Darksiders, Red Faction, MX vs. ATV, as well as a couple of lots with various properties that include Destroy All Humans!, Supreme Commander, Stuntman, Juiced, Full Spectrum Warrior, and more. What may be most surprising is that Crytek was unable to acquire the Darksiders franchise after announcing their intention to do so in order to allow former Vigil Games employees now working at Crytek USA to once again work on the franchise that they created.

"First and foremost we are very happy about this deal which also turns over a new leaf for the entire Nordic Games Group," said Nordic Games CEO Lars Wingefors. "In the long term, we either want to cooperate with the original creators or best possible developers in order to work on sequels or additional content for these titles. A very important point for us is not to dash into several self-financed multi-million dollar projects right away, but rather to continue our in-depth analysis of all titles and carefully selecting different financing models for developing new instalments of acquired IPs."

A Nordic representative also added, "As we still have some open points with regards to a couple of titles we will not publish a comprehensive list at this stage. However, once everything is fixed and the ink is dry (around mid-May) we will go out with a comprehensive list of titles which we have acquired in the process then."

Also of note in the auction is Borderlands developer Gearbox Software grabbing the rights to Homeworld for $1.35 million, and 505 Games picking up Drawn to Life and Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter for $300,000.

Written by: Mike Glubish

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[PS3] Sony vs. LG: this game's winner is Sony

[PS3] Sony vs. LG: this game's winner is Sony
The on-going patent battle between Sony and LG that we reported about last week finally ended today. After LG managed to block the sales of new PS3 consoles in Europe, Sony must have been sweating a little bit.

It looks like they'll be breathing easier again now though, as they have won this round and LG will have to pay legal fees amounting to €130,000 (approximately US$180,000). For every day they fail to comply, it will be fined at a rate of

"InsideGamer.nl reports that all seized PlayStations will have to be released, no more seizures will take place, and LG has to pay legal fees amounting to ," FOSS Patents reports. "For each day that LG fails to comply, it will be fined at a rate of €200,000 (approximately US$275,000), which is a pretty expensive fine.

Sony must be relieved at the moment, because LG were also trying to start trouble in the US with the release of PS3's as well.

Written by: Kyran Morrison

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