Gamespot has published a short interview with Frank Delise, formerly of Trauma Studios – Developers of the popular Battlefield 1942 Mod “Desert Combat” and Dan Kelly, Senior VP of business development at THQ. He and the rest of the Trauma Studios crew have formed a new game development studio called “Kaos Studios” and are working on a new game with the backing of the THQ Publishing House. Look for an official announcement later today from THQ. Here is a snippet of the interview which I think captures exactly what made the Desert Combat Mod so successful:
FD: One thing we were really good at [with the Battlefield 1942 mod Desert Combat] was we really listened to players. What do they want? What do they want to see next? Its really passion about the stuff we make. That obviously paved the way for us to develop the Battlefield 2 R&D projects. But now we have totally different ideas of where the action-drama should go. The most important thing to me was I wanted to keep the core team together and even expand on that.
Edit: The press release is out! Click “read more” to see it in its entirety.
Creators of Desert Combat and Battlefield 2 R&D Projects to Head Up New Studio
Feb 03, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) today announced the opening of Kaos Studios, founded by veterans of Trauma Studios, creators of Desert Combat and Battlefield 2 R&D projects. Kaos first project is an original intellectual property for next generation consoles and Windows PC scheduled for release in 2007.
THQ/Kaos Studios Press Release
THQ Announces Formation of Kaos Studios
Creators of Desert Combat and Battlefield 2 R&D Projects to Head Up New Studio
Feb 03, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) today announced the opening of Kaos Studios, founded by veterans of Trauma Studios, creators of Desert Combat and Battlefield 2 R&D projects. Kaos first project is an original intellectual property for next generation consoles and Windows PC scheduled for release in 2007.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041118/LATH093LOGO )
“THQ is a great home for experienced, creative teams like ours,” said Frank DeLise, lead designer, Kaos Studios. “When we looked at all the opportunities available to us, we found they truly foster creativity and embrace new, original intellectual properties. THQ was absolutely the best choice, hands down.”
“THQ is committed to supporting strong creative talent, as evidenced by our growing internal development system which now numbers 18 teams across 12 studios,” said Dan Kelly, senior vice president of business development, THQ. “We are thrilled to make the full resources of THQ available to the Kaos team to help them realize their vision of building a world-class studio in New York City that will deliver compelling original properties.”
More information about Kaos Studios and their first project will be forthcoming in 2006.
About Kaos Studios
Kaos Studios is a division of THQ located in New York City. More information about Kaos Studios and its products can be found at www.kaosstudios.com.
About THQ
THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ is a top producer of original intellectual properties including titles such as Destroy All Humans!(TM), Juiced(TM) and Full Spectrum Warrior(TM) as well as the upcoming Saints Row(TM), Titan Quest(TM) and Company of Heroes(TM). More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ, THQ Wireless, Kaos Studios, Destroy All Humans!, Juiced, Saints Row, Titan Quest, Company of Heroes, and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “THQ”), including but not limited to expectations and projections related to games developed by Kaos Studios, and are based upon managements beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements, including, but not limited to economic, competitive and technological factors affecting the operations, markets, products, and pricing of THQ. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQs financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, and particularly the discussion of risk factors that may affect results of operations set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.