Gangbangers to get extra bling!

THQ have told us the details of the collector's editions of Saints Row 2 for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC...
» Read More 

From GAMER.tm: "In a demonstration of Saints Row 2 at last week's Games Convention in Leipzig, Volition designer David Bowring revealed to us that the sandbox sequel would have the dubious honour of being the first videogame to feature tea-bagging.

"Tucked away at the bottom of the new customisable taunts menu is the offending – and indeed offensive – option, replacing the age-old tradition of repeatedly crouching and standing over a fallen enemy with a genuine and fully animated alternative for ultimate humiliation.

"It's not just for show, either. With a refined respect system in place, well-timed taunts can earn you more kudos from your posse and conversely, positive emotes (also mapped to the D-pad) can be used to praise allies and again garner a little more respect."
» Read More 

Saints Row developer Volition has elaborated on the botched release of the original game on PS3, telling CVG in an interview "we just couldn't get our heads around the Cell technology".

"In Saints Row 1 we got about half way through the process and then we realised that we just couldn't get our heads around Cell," producer Dan Sutton told CVG. "It's just really complicated and I'm sure you noticed other games like Stranglehold push their dates up. "Cell's really, really powerful. The problem is it's also a really different system, the way it uses multi-threading technology."
» Read More 

VG247: We're not making it up. THQ just sent word that "adult actress" Tera Patrick will be joining the Saints Row dev team at Volition as a "special producer."
» Read More 

Saints Row 2 will be packing it's own collectible content when it's released this October. The goods come packed in a $79.99 Collector's Edition for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3.

Here's what's included in addition to the game:
- Tin box
- Saints Row 2 exclusive art book?
- Saint's Row 2 USB drive, in the form of a bullet
- Saint's Row 2 playing cards?
- Saints Row 2 Poster with map
» Read More 

Gamedaily.biz writes: "Lazard Capital Markets' Colin Sebastian cautions that THQ's IP is a big risk, but he believes the publisher's management is taking the right approach to costs and product strategy.

Lazard Capital Markets recently hosted investor meetings with publisher THQ and apparently came away more optimistic about the company's long-term prospects. Analyst Colin Sebastian said that THQ management is "not standing still" and is "focused on improving execution."

"...we believe management is taking a number of steps to address recent product and financial underperformance," he said. "Improved control over the company's cost structure and better product management should generate more consistent performance, in our opinion."

THQ recently delayed one of its more high profile games, Saints Row 2. At the time, Janco Partners' Mike Hickey questioned the "credibility foundation" of THQ and whether Saints Row can truly be considered a franchise."
» Read More 

The original Saints Row from 2006 sold over 2 million copies on Xbox 360 and was well-received by critics, but the general consensus was that it copied a lot from the reigning king of crime sandbox, Grand Theft Auto.

And with the Volition-developed Saints Row 2 launching in the same year as GTA IV, Farrell sought to convince investors that this sequel would offer something different from Rockstar's hit megafranchise.

"We have a very differentiated product in this open-world genre," Farrell said during the William Blair & Company's investor meeting Wednesday in Chicago.
» Read More 

In a recent investor presentation, publisher THQ confirmed that it will offer download content for its upcoming Volition developed open-world title Saints Row II.
» Read More 

A recently-released trailer for THQ's Saint's Row 2 has been criticised as being "unusually pompous" for its digs at Grand Theft Auto IV.Industry analyst Mike Hickey commented on the trailer, which makes fun of GTA's in-game social activities like bowling, watching TV and going to a cabaret club."The trailer directly attacks Grand Theft Auto IV in game content, an unusually pompous position in our view, ... » Read More

Gamasutra reports:

"As part of a new analyst note, Janco Partners' Mike Hickey has referenced the latest Grand Theft Auto IV-satirizing trailer for THQ's Saint's Row 2, suggesting the move is "unusually pompous" and reiterating "conservative" sales expectations for THQ's urban open-world title.

The trailer directly attacks Grand Theft Auto IV in game content, an unusually pompous position in our view, considering GTA IV is estimated to be the highest grossing 1st week entertainment release of all time - and is currently the highest quality scored game on both the Xbox 360 and PS3 according to Metacritic.com."
» Read More 

Volition's Scott Philips said that GTA and Saints Row 2 will be ahead of the pack by the end of the year.

"We think there is going to be two dogs at the end of this," he said. "You're going to have GTA and Saints Row 2 and then everybody else."
» Read More 

THQ has released a new Saints Row 2 trailer that asks the question we've all been thinking: wouldn't you rather being playing GTA IV?"Would you rather go bowling... or spray loads of sewage on pedestrians?" asks the trailer. "Would you rather go to the cabaret with a friend... or inflict serious bodily injuries to your friend to earn a little insurance money?"Although GTA IV isn't mentioned by name, you can see the direct ... » Read More

Next-Gen.Biz writes: "THQ's fiscal 2009 relies too heavily on the success of Saints Row 2, says Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey.

The recently-delayed Saints Row 2 is THQ's premier title for this fiscal year, but Hickey said in an investor note on Tuesday that the Agoura Hills, Calif.-based publisher's fiscal year depends too much on the game's success.

"Ultimately, if the game's quality underperforms the 'franchise's' original release, future iterations of the game could be in jeopardy, along with the Company's fiscal '09 expectations," Hickey said of the internally-developed and owned title.

'We believe their guided expectations from owned IP in fiscal '09 will prove aggressive given their titles slated for release, weighing too heavily on the success of Saint's Row 2.'"
» Read More 

THQ Moderator, V-Collison: Hey all,

I thought I'd drop you a line to let you know what's going on with Saints Row 2.

First off, as many of you have seen, we have moved the release date back from August 26th to October 14th. I know, I know...its got to be a bummer for a lot of you wanting to get your hands on SR2, but we want to give you the best quality game possible. Single-player, co-op, and multiplayer have all undergone multiple iterations and polish; and now we have even more time to tweak and balance gameplay. Its a designer's dream come true.

We are also already weeks into our graphics "polish" stage. The world is starting to look absolutely amazing! We're extremely grateful that THQ sees how amazing this game is going to be and is willing to give us these extra few weeks to make sure we give you the highest quality product (and not rush anything out of the door).

Look for an exciting (and controversial) video to hit the web late next week. We also should have some new screenshots and articles accompanying this release.

We know what the quality bar is for open world games and we look forward to meeting and exceeding your expectations come October 14th! More info coming soon
» Read More 

THQ has delayed the release of Saints Row 2 by two months due to product quality and marketing considerations.The game will now be released on October 14 instead of August 26, meaning it will miss the publisher's fiscal second quarter.THQ is counting on Saints Row 2 and Red Faction Guerilla to be sales drivers during the current fiscal year after failing to meet its revenue and profit targets during the financial year ended ... » Read More

VG247: Lazard Capital's Colin Sebastian put out a note this morning saying he believes the now-confirmed Saints Row 2 slip into the back half of 2008 was made to further work on the game's co-op aspects.
» Read More 

A new Saints Row 2 trailer couldn't possibly be any worse than the last one released, and this time around we're being treated to in-game action rather than squiggly lines and dialogue.You can watch the trailer, which runs for two minutes, below. Can this really stand up against GTA IV?embedOn top of the trailer, THQ's released four new screenshots into the wild, which you can give a look-y ... » Read More

To kickoff their Gamers' Day event being held in downtown San Francisco, THQ today announced the official release date, pre-order campaign plans, and the launch of the official website for Saints Row 2. The game will ship on August 26, 2008 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and gamers can pre-order their copy starting tonight (April 3) at 6 PM PST. THQ also announced the launch of the official website for Saints Row 2.
» Read More 

THQ has today unveiled the key titles that will form the publisher's fiscal 2009 video game line-up. Scheduled for release in the 12-month period ending March 31, 2009 are a range of new editions to existing franchises, new original games and social and party titles.

Gamers can look forward to new editions of multi-million unit franchises, including Saints Row 2, Red Faction: Geurrilla and WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009. All new video game titles on the way include Darksiders: Wrath of War, Deadly Creatures and de Blob. Additionally THQ plans to release new social and party games for the Wii, including Battle of the Bands and Big Beach Sports.
» Read More 

We've seem some odd teaser trailers in our time, but the first for THQ's sequel Saints Row 2 really wins the weird - and rubbish - award we've just made up. Devoid of gameplay and even cinematics, the teaser features dialogue and squiggly black lines against a purple-sun background that eventually forms itself into the Saints Row 2 logo. Is it, perhaps, some belated April Fool? Join us in our bewilderment: ... » Read More