THQ realigns Online unit

About this time a year ago, THQ was in full recovery mode, having come off a dismal fiscal year in which it posted nearly half a billion dollars in losses and laid off almost a quarter of its total workforce. As part of its path to recovery, the publisher realigned its business units under three pillars: Core Games; Kids, Family, and Casual Games; and Online.

Today, THQ revealed plans to transform its tripod strategy into stilts, announcing that it would be integrating the Online business unit into the Core Games and Kids, Family, and Casual Games units. Additionally, Martin Good, who previously headed up the Online division, has received a new title along with the reorganization. Good has been appointed to executive vice president of Kids, Family, and Casual Games. He will also continue to oversee THQ's global online services, which will support the Core and Kids, Family, and Casual Games units.

"Online and digital represents our industry's largest growth opportunity, and it is imperative that we integrate digital and online game strategies into all of our key franchise plans," commented THQ president and CEO Brian Farrell on the reorganization. "Now that we have momentum in our online pipeline, this is a natural evolution of our organizational structure, putting the leaders of our two product-focused business units in charge of development across all platforms. The company will now be organized in two clear business units, and we are aggressively creating content to be delivered to gamers in all possible formats."

Good will replace Doug Clemmer, an eight-year veteran of THQ who had previously headed up the Kids, Family, and Casual Games unit. THQ noted that Clemmer had resigned from his position for unspecified reasons, though he would stay on with the company through August to aid in transition efforts.

THQ's online portfolio ranges from free-to-play, microtransaction supported games, such as Company of Heroes Online and WWE SmackDown vs. Raw Online, to more traditional subscription-based fare, like its upcoming Warhammer 40,000 massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Online games for Facebook, iPhone, Xbox Live, and PlayStation Network are also among these offerings.