THQ Digital Studios UK

Moby ID: 6566

AKA +
  • THQ Digital Studios Warrington Limited (from 2010-03-05 to 2010-04-07)
  • Juice Games Limited (from 2003-02-19 to 2010-03-05)
  • Egame Limited (from 2003-01-20 to 2003-02-19)

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THQ Digital Studios Warrington was a game development studio based in Warrington, North West UK. It was founded in 2003 as Juice Games by Colin Bell and Don Whiteford with designers, programmers and artists from Rage's Warrington Studio - a group who also formed the basis of the flight simulation developers Digital Image Design.

Juice Games developed a number of titles for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Sony PSP, PC and the following generation of console platforms. It also had a mobile game development team. The company was named after its first game: Juiced. The title was signed by Acclaim, but the publisher went bust in September 2004 prior to the release. Through a funding deal with Fund 4 Games the game was pitched to THQ and they provided room for an additional five months of polish. It was eventually released in June 2005.

In March 2006, Juice Games was acquired by THQ. After releasing three different Juiced games, THQ announced in January 2008 not to pursue the franchise. In January 2009 it was revealed the company was working on the title Stormbirds at that time, a action flight simulator similar to the Ace Combat series. THQ cancelled it and about 30 people were laid off.

In February 2010 the studio was renamed THQ Digital Studios Warrington, following a corporate THQ decision to focus on digital opportunities, instead of traditional retail. The studio was downsized because of the decision. Two new studios were formed by employees with the company. Former technical director Jamie Campbell and development director Stephen Powell announced the outsourcing d3t in August 2011. Art director Stuart Jennett and lead UI artist Donna Jennett opened the concept art studio Alien Apple Studios on 3rd August 2011.

The studio's last release was Red Faction: Battlegrounds for XBLA and PSN in April 2011 as a tie-in for Red Faction: Armageddon. In its first month the game sold about 2,000 units and on 13th June 2012 THQ announced it had closed the studio.

In the same month Nomad Games appeared, a development studio established by former Juice Games co-founder and studio director Don Whiteford along with THQ Digital Warrington's Matt Draper, Rob Anderson, Carl Jackson and Andrew Bate. It is based in the former studio of THQ Digital Warrington.

Credited on 9 Games from 2005 to 2011

Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team (2011 on Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
Red Faction: Battlegrounds (2011 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
Homefront (2011 on Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3...)
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (2007 on Windows, PlayStation 2, PSP...)
Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (2007 on Nintendo DS)
3D The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo (2006 on J2ME, DoJa, BREW)
Juiced: Eliminator (2006 on PSP)
3D The Fast and the Furious (2005 on BREW, DoJa, J2ME)
Juiced (2005 on Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox)

History +

February 4, 2010

The studio is re-branded THQ Digital Studios Warrington, following a THQ corporate decision to focus on digital opportunities.

December 1, 2008

Juice artist Greg Calvert reveals an unannounced air combat game titled Stormbirds is cancelled by the main company THQ. About thirty people are laid off in the process.

March 3, 2006

Company acquired by THQ, Inc.

2003

Company formed with programmers, artists and designers from Rage's Warrington Studio and Digital Image Design Limited when Rage folded.

Trivia +

Contact information (2008)

Juice Games Ltd

Ground Floor, Dukes Court

Duke Street

Woking

Surrey GU21 5BH

England

Related Web Sites +

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