Seems like "Dark Millennium" is really in trouble this time

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**Ma55ter_fett**

So awhile ago there was a rumor going round that THQ had cut the cord on Dark Millennium. THQ came out and said that they totally hadn't and that it was still in production.

Well now it looks a bit more dire.

Source http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/115677-THQ-Needs-Help-With-Warhammer-MMO

The ongoing trouble at THQ means the studio can no longer afford to launch the Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium MMO without outside help.

THQ revealed its third-quarter financial results for the 2012 fiscal year yesterday and as expected, the news is bad. The company suffered a net loss of roughly $56 million for the three months ending December 31, 2011, compared to a $15 million loss over the same period in 2010. THQ said that Saints Row: The Third and WWE '12 performed well but "sales of the uDraw GameTablet and related software, and other titles in the kids, family and casual category were far weaker than anticipated, substantially reducing our financial results for the quarter."

CEO Brian Farrell said THQ has a "strong multi-year pipeline of games" in the works, although most of it, aside from UFC Undisputed 3 and Darksiders 2, isn't slated to arrive until the end of the 2012 or early 2013. The Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online MMO, however, which was originally slated to land in 2013 has now been pushed back into an ill-defined "fiscal 2014 and beyond."

The reason, Farrell explained in a conference call to investors, is simply that the company can no longer afford to get the project off the ground without help. "While the game in development promises to be a high-quality consumer offering, because of the large financial commitment and associated risks, we are being realistic about our resources and we are actively seeking a partner for this compelling MMO," he said. "We will keep you updated on our progress."

MMOs are an expensive business and Dark Millennium is certainly no exception. In March 2011, THQ CFO Paul Pucino said the game would cost around $50 million to get to market.

So who wants to invest in a company whose stock is below $1USD and is about to be delisted from the NASDQ?

Anyone?

**combatmedic**

A few people in my office are good friends with people at THQ, and those that have not been let go are on "limbo" status. Now the main office isn't where they make the games, its their corporate HQ where sales, PR, ect are. Problem is most of the people that where on the 40k MMO project have been let go.

This could mean a number of things: The company will dump more of a work load on the remaining PR/Marketing/QA people, or the project is on indefinite hold, which is never good in this industry.

Edit: My grammar no good :/

**Kazwulf**

Yeah, what I wouldn't give for an extra hundred million right now.

**Noisy_Marine**

This saves us from having to watch the 40K MMO crash and burn like most other MMOs.

**-Loki-**

On the downside, this could affect Darksiders 2, which would be terrible.

**kenshin620**

Pfff Udraw. I cant be the only one who hates kid centric video game attachments right? If you want your kids to have fun, give them an iPad or a Nintendo DS. Not the precursor to the WiiU

Tis a shame though, I loved Saints Row and all the warhammer stuff and CoH

Noisy_Marine wrote:This saves us from having to watch the 40K MMO crash and burn like most other MMOs.

Agreed

-Loki- wrote:On the downside, this could affect Darksiders 2, which would be terrible.

Also agreed!

Plus, DoW3...

**Orinoco**

hopefully they'll cut the weaker stuff and keep these multi year whatevers.

**oni**

Hmmm... I'm wondering how this bodes for GW's IP should THQ be acquired by a larger more powerful firm.

**Ninjakinshu**

I dont hink that thq would cancel dmo, simply because its a guranteed cash cow for t
hem. he problem is that they invested too much into the udraw which failed epicly. i hope thq can pull through. i have stock in their company D:

**Riker210**

I used to work there months ago but moved into the adult entertainment industry (no joke and the best job ive had in years, go figure right?) I wouldnt worry to much about it, THQ will remain standing, just dont know how firm after reading that article, but I'm staying positive they will be, at the worst, fine.

**lord marcus**

Riker210 wrote:I used to work there months ago but moved into the adult entertainment industry (no joke and the best job ive had in years, go figure right?) I wouldnt worry to much about it, THQ will remain standing, just dont know how firm after reading that article, but I'm staying positive they will be, at the worst, fine.

I would assume post production then?

**George Spiggott**

Companies live and die by producing what the consumer wants. With that in mind I have to ask myself where was their mid spec strategically inclined PC game this year, or indeed last year. No it wasn't Dawn of War Two my computer baulked at the specs for that one. Where was Space Hulk the computer game?

I know I bought all of their Dawn of War expansions but nothing they've released since has interested me. I can't buy product that doesn't exist.

If THQ go down the pan then so does a lot of GW's precious future royalties until they can sort out another developer and another game. GW's MMORPGs seem to be cursed. They should do something more like World of Tanks but for 40k.

**H.B.M.C.**

As long as it never goes to Activision, we should be ok.

**Riker210**

lord marcus wrote:
Riker210 wrote:I used to work there months ago but moved into the adult entertainment industry (no joke and the best job ive had in years, go figure right?) I wouldnt worry to much about it, THQ will remain standing, just dont know how firm after reading that article, but I'm staying positive they will be, at the worst, fine.

I would assume post production then?

hahahaha yes. I'm excited for the 40k mmo for where ever it comes out, aroused even lol....jk.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

H.B.M.C. wrote:As long as it never goes to Activision, we should be ok.

I refuse to buy anything from Activision. As long as it doesnt goto any of them, ill be happy as well.

**kenshin620**

H.B.M.C. wrote:As long as it never goes to Activision, we should be ok.

Or anything EA Origins related

I never had EA Origins, and I do not think it is as "evil" as people say it is (though EA is pretty evil

) but a good chunk of the PC community will never trust that

**BorderCountess**

I'd love to sit on some of these meetings...

Exec: The uDraw tablet for the Wii sold horribly. What should we do?

Other Exec: Launch it for the other two systems, too?

Exec: Brilliant!

...Seriously? I got a front-row seat for that failure.

**Savnock**

I wonder if this might be good for the product in the long run. It sounds like THQ had a pretty larded-up management structure. Maybe taking the code (or if the code ages too much by the time it gets picked back up, just the IP and writing etc.) and moving to a more efficient or just more skilled company wouldn't be a bad thing.

**Ninjakinshu**

Thq is just the publisher and producer. vigil games aré the developers, the same guys doing darksiders 2 and dmo. If thq folds, then vigil can just get a diff publisher (and with their catalogue and talent, Who wouldnt?)

**Darkwynn**

They lost 56 million in three months and their market cap is 37 million.They have their warning about their stock being pulled off the market.

At the rate they are falling they are going to burn fast. I would give them 9 months and if they stay alive they will be about 10% or 20% of what they are now. They will be forced to sell off studios and there will be a lot more lay offs. There stock after their announcement dropped another 28%.

Don't have any grand illusions that the 40k mmo will come out. Your best hope is to have the studio sold off to someone else and they Re willing to prop it up.

**warboss**

Manfred von Drakken wrote:I'd love to sit on some of these meetings...

Exec: The uDraw tablet for the Wii sold horribly. What should we do?

Other Exec: Launch it for the other two systems, too?

Exec: Brilliant!

...Seriously? I got a front-row seat for that failure.

Except that it actually sold well for the Wii... but the audience for the other two consoles is vastly different than your typical Wii user. I've never found myself wanting to draw something on my 360 and suspect most other "hardcore" gamers haven't either. Plenty of little kids with Wii's did though apparently.

**Mr. Burning**

THQ is the publisher that brought us Ping Pals as their first release for the then new DS.

Like U-Draw. Once they get a crazy idea in their head they cannot let go of it.

**damarine**

I appear to have been one of the few people that enjoyed Space Marine, and even now still play it with a few of my friends. Seems like if this MMO is going to be a problem; a game they said they would be focussing on more in the future, then any chance of a sequel to SM is minimal.

Shame really.

DaMarine

**Johnny-Crass**

H.B.M.C. wrote:As long as it never goes to Activision, we should be ok.

Or EA

**Brother SRM**

Riker210 wrote:I used to work there months ago but moved into the adult entertainment industry

\

Best post/avatar combo I've seen on Dakka.

damarine wrote:I appear to have been one of the few people that enjoyed Space Marine, and even now still play it with a few of my friends. Seems like if this MMO is going to be a problem; a game they said they would be focussing on more in the future, then any chance of a sequel to SM is minimal.

Shame really.

DaMarine

A lot of people enjoyed Space Marine, it was a good game. It just came out within a month or two of when Battlefield 3, Modern Warfare 3, and Gears of War 3 all came out, and as a result got swamped by the competition. The post-release content hasn't been great either. I would have love to see a sequel, but it's increasingly unlikely, unfortunately.

**Kilkrazy**

$50 million is still considered a big chunk of money to spend developing a video game. I wonder what the possible user-base would be for Dark Millenium.

**Kroothawk**

Brother SRM wrote:
Best post/avatar combo I've seen on Dakka.

Weird rank though

**Riker210**

Kroothawk wrote:
Brother SRM wrote:
Best post/avatar combo I've seen on Dakka.

Weird rank though

...Said the Kroothawk lol.

Honestly even if it never comes out, would everyone really be crazy upset? I'd love to play it, but I prefer the table top over the video games and nothing will compare (at least for me).

**GalaxyGames**

oni wrote:Hmmm... I'm wondering how this bodes for GW's IP should THQ be acquired by a larger more powerful firm.

I hope so.

I hope EA or Activision can nab their IP and work wonders with it.

**H.B.M.C.**

Just EA. Not Activision.

EA are, amazingly, the lesser evil.

**Moopy**

Like I was saying...