THQ's MotoGP spinning its wheels

Publisher is "evaluating the viability" of the franchise after development studio is bought out by Buena Vista Games.

Earlier today, Disney-owned Buena Vista Games announced that it is set to acquire Climax Racing, the studio behind THQ's MotoGP series and Sony's ATV Offroad Fury games.

While Sony hasn't yet said how the move will impact the future of the ATV Offroad Fury series, a THQ spokesperson shed a little light on the publisher's plans for its own racing offerings--and it might not be good news for MotoGP fans.

"MotoGP is a good but niche franchise for us," the spokesperson told GameSpot. "We are evaluating the viability of the brand for us after next year."

Waiting until after next year to reevaluate the series fits well with news from Lazard Capital Markets analyst Colin Sebastian. In an investor's note earlier today, Sebastian said he expects Climax Racing to finish work on MotoGP 07 before THQ makes the call on continuing with another developer or scrapping the series entirely.

27 Comments

  • ErikB0869

    Posted Jan 11, 2007 8:20 pm PT

    Well, although I hope they manage to improve 07 with such things as working guages, more detailed cockpits, and better AI, if they decide to scrap the series, then I hope that some of the motorcycle nuts working on Forza 2 at Turn 10 take note of this and pick up the torch!

  • MotoGP74

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 7:54 pm PT

    I'm glad that the game is currently under review, but I'll be happier if they decide to scrap this game... I'm a fan of MGP but this series has quite an unbalance twitch.

  • aramitz

    Posted Oct 2, 2006 5:20 pm PT

    I guess gamers don't want a racer where you have to use the brake button.

  • _Sam_

    Posted Sep 30, 2006 8:19 pm PT

    why dump it?

  • OPOLO

    Posted Sep 29, 2006 4:38 am PT

    Yeah I saw this coming

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 11:52 pm PT

    interesting

  • michael31303

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 9:40 pm PT

    Send your angry e-mails to Buena Vista games. ( I did ! )

  • Carpe_Noctum

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 9:34 pm PT

    While I enjoy MotoGP '06, sans the qualify and save "bugs", everyone who I know that has played it hates it. Unless it's made more user-friendly the sales will continue to be slow.

  • thekey

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 9:09 pm PT

    ooops I better snatch up Moto GP 06 for the 360 before they don't exsist.

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 8:39 pm PT

    ive never liked these biking games

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 8:15 pm PT

    you know what i hope they do get rid of that and do another more realistic one

  • John_of_Fire

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 5:46 pm PT

    Moto GP is a great series. I never thought I would like a motorcycle game, much less a sim like one at that, and Climax was able to make me get into a genre that I never thought I would like. They really did a great job with their Moto GP titles, it will be a shame if they will no longer make motorcycle games. I hope THQ can find someone good to fill their shoes. What Disney is going to do with Climax is beyond me.

  • TintedChimes

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 5:29 pm PT

    more racing games, please please please let the guy on the bike spill out on the road, PLEASE!

  • Chainblast

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 3:43 pm PT

    If THQ already hasn't they need to secure Rrelic before they loose the best RTS developer currently making games.

  • Monstromo

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 3:14 pm PT

    So, THQ can't use Climax Racing anymore for MotoGP because Climax was bought by Disney. You can't blame Disney for that for THQ deciding not to use another studio. Blame THQ. Obviously, using another studio would impact the quality of future MotoGPs after '07. But who knows? Sometimes switching studios is a good thing or a bad thing. Tomb Raider anyone?

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 2:20 pm PT

    Oh well. Life Goes On.

  • tig1979

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 2:12 pm PT

    Yeah dont get rid of MotoGP that would suck big

  • blackIceJoe

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 1:47 pm PT

    I really hope THQ will still make MotoGP game's down the line. As for Sony and ATV Offroad I think it will go to another studio they have.

  • gjb-sensei

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 1:30 pm PT

    The MotoGP franchise is a great one... it would suck to see it get terminated in a sense.

  • gapboi954

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 1:26 pm PT

    If they get rid of Moto GP that would really suck!!

  • Kayrod29

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 12:52 pm PT

    MotoGP was a good Xbox game, I remember playing it on Xbox Live BETA.

  • JamMessiahJC

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 12:34 pm PT

    MotoGP is one of the most solid series ever made, when I pick up a title, I know I won't be dissapointed. I can't say that about many other franchises. Please don't let it go!!

  • Rvdecwthug1976

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 12:31 pm PT

    What makes me even more angry is that a trash series like Tony Hawk, that has been beating to death like a dead horse with 4 bad games in the series in a row and a good young lion like Motogp has to be disrespected

  • TexEx03

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 12:09 pm PT

    Save MotoGP!!!!!

  • doddeath1982

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 11:58 am PT

    what the hack the Disney-owned Buena Vista Games will do with the Climax studio, creating, Micky mouse Francineding motorcycles?

  • Racerchops

    Posted Sep 28, 2006 11:41 am PT

    as a person that likes the motoGp, and atv series, i guess this is bad news

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