Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Ohio State And Florida Target 2013 Receiver Recruits

THQ to Expand Blockbuster UFC Franchise

THQ delivered its first-quarter earnings report yesterday after the stock-market close, and as expected, UFC 2009 Undisputed was the main topic of discussion.

Here's what we learned:

1) Undisputed has sold 2.9 million units to date, echoing recent statements made by Lorenzo Fertitta. The game was the best-selling video-game title in the June quarter.

2) THQ is taking the UFC franchise to new gaming platforms including handheld ones, and possibly the Nintendo Wii. I personally feel the PS2 would make much more sense because of its huge installed base and the fact that third-party Wii games are a total crapshoot.

3) Just 30% of Undisputed sales were to international markets (Canada probably did well here), vs. about 50% for THQ's WWE franchise. Given the UFC's efforts to expand internationally, that 30% figure should grow significantly.

All in all, it's obvious that the UFC is THE hottest game franchise in the sports category. EA will have an awfully tough time coming up with something to match the UFC/THQ juggernaut, especially if the UFC signs some of the better free agents out there.

It's also worth nothing that the impressive 84 Metacritic rating given to Undisputed could go up next year - further boosting sales. This year's game was impressive but there is plenty of room for improvement by cleaning up the interface and menu systems, further finetuning the gameplay, and adding new fighters and features.

For example, it would be awesome to connect with other gamers online the day of a pay-per-view event to play through that night of fights. THQ could post the results to see how the results of simulated fights compared with the real ones. I'd also love to see a reasonably-priced WEC add-on, fighter entrances, more classic fights, and maybe even a Pride mode (not holding my breath on that last one).

Read more about THQ's results here.

Poll
Do you own the UFC game?
Yes
190 votes
No, but I plan on buying it
26 votes
No, and I don't plan on buying it
17 votes

233 votes | Poll has closed

The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.

Comment 21 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

I have it and played it bunches but in retrospect it’s kind of a terrible game.

by Ahhhoki on Jul 29, 2009 10:42 AM EDT reply actions  

Hyperbole much? The game lacks several things, and could use a bit more polish, but terrible is going way too far.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Jul 29, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions  

Yeah, you’re right. It’s not a terrible game but it’s going to take 3-4 incarnations of the UFC game for it to compare to what the FNR# franchise has done with it’s most recent addition.

by Ahhhoki on Jul 29, 2009 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions  

I haven’t played the new Fight Night – I’ve heard mixed things. Have you tried it?

by MMAEruption on Jul 29, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions  

The next one hopefully will have most of the things it needs, you know THQ is gonna be busting ass working on it.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Jul 29, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions  

Personally I wasn’t overly impressed, I played through the career once and haven’t touched it since. I mean its quite a technical achievement to put so many things into a game, but there’s still quite a lot to work on for the nect game

by StevenGiles on Jul 29, 2009 10:53 AM EDT reply actions  

I like the game a lot and I’m having a blast with it.

My main complaints are the following

1) All the “newsletter” emails in career mode
2) Being offered fights with Karo Parisyan or Tim Boetsch after every other match
3) Submissions should be easier, and KO’s should be harder
4) Some of the fight camp tasks are way too hard or don’t register
5) Chuck Liddell shouldn’t be THAT good

by MMAEruption on Jul 29, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions  

They are suppossed to be releasing a patch to fix the submissions against the computer. Of course they announced that a while ago and im still yet to see anything.

by Rabbit915 on Jul 29, 2009 1:23 PM EDT up reply actions  

The whole menu structure needs to be redone. Too much redundancy.

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift

by Derek Suboticki on Jul 30, 2009 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

that’s over $145 million in one quarter not a bad comeback

Yes, time flies. And where did it leave you? Old too soon...smart too late. - Mike Tyson

by lovingmma25 on Jul 29, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions  

I’m still undefeated, 14-0, against readers.

Disintegration -- I'm taking it in stride.
Follow me on Twitter.

by Eugene Schelfaut on Jul 29, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions  

I’ve been getting destroyed online…

by MMAEruption on Jul 29, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions  

You're a coward

I will rent the game as soon as you’re within 50 feet of a PS3.

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift

by Derek Suboticki on Jul 30, 2009 2:40 AM EDT up reply actions  

Beating up on Richard won’t prepare you for me.

Disintegration -- I'm taking it in stride.
Follow me on Twitter.

by Eugene Schelfaut on Jul 30, 2009 3:02 AM EDT up reply actions  

Love the game and playing online career mode sucks…
Like previously stated you get offered the same fighters over and over.
It takes to long to develop your fighter.
Playing online is awesome
I think submissions are easy. 85%of my wins online are from subs.
Needs work but fun to play.

by jks9202 on Jul 29, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions  

I bought the game but sold it after a month, it got boring.

by DJ Soma on Jul 29, 2009 12:42 PM EDT reply actions  

More great news for the UFC, the game is great and if the UFC and THQ continue to improve it year after year this could be one of the biggest sports franchise games in the market.

by Raker on Jul 29, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions  

i think a ps2 version would be difficult with the graphics and game engine, it probably wouldn’t be as deep

by davec84 on Jul 29, 2009 5:24 PM EDT reply actions  

I played the demo and knocked Shogun out 3 times in a total of about 5 minutes. I bought the game and haven’t opened it yet. It’s my hope that the game blows the demo out of the water. Yeah?

by jebushchrist on Jul 29, 2009 6:57 PM EDT reply actions  

ill say it until the next game is released thq doesn’t fix there franchises look at smackdown they will add more fighters and maybe 1 or 2 additional features 1 being entrances the other im betting isn’t anything special eather or something they will fuck up

by ldglass on Jul 30, 2009 6:55 AM EDT reply actions  

also change the sports categories quote cuz im betting ea takes best sports game of the year wit madden 10

by ldglass on Jul 30, 2009 6:57 AM EDT reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

"I don't want to knock my opponent out. I want to hit him, step away and watch him hurt" - Joe Frazier

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Small
Predicting A Collegiate Wrestler’s Development
Shogun_logo_small
UFC’s Hopes For A Stadium Show In Sao Paulo Appear To Be Dead
Small
The Downfall of Diego Sanchez
Small
The time is right for a superfight, and it doesn't involve Anderson
391807_10150399618817701_750257700_8470850_1424416169_n_small
1 in about 7 billion!  :D

Recent FanPosts

Img_0019_small
Training Progress
Small
Muay Thai camps in Thailand
Blav_small
OT: Help out my short film
Badr_hari3_small
War Machine explains what happenned and asks for support
Warrior_small
MMA Transaction Wire: February 4-10
Bv_small
BE Trivia Night

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

MMA Rankings

USA Today / SB Nation Consensus MMA Rankings