UFC coming to Wii, handhelds

While Ultimate Fighting Championship matches are strictly confined to "the Octagon," publisher THQ has no desire to similarly fence in its series of games based on the mixed martial arts league. In a conference call with investors today, THQ president and CEO Brian Farrell confirmed that the franchise will expand onto new platforms.

"Over time, we plan to build our UFC franchise by expanding international sales and by developing games on new platforms, such as handhelds and Nintendo Wii," Farrell said.

Farrell did not specify when the series would debut on those new platforms, but his confirmation came after discussion of THQ's plans to annualize the franchise. The executive didn't get into details about next year's game, other than to say that it would feature new gameplay modes and features.

UFC 2009 has been a breakthrough success for THQ. Earlier today, the publisher reported its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, citing the mixed martial arts game and its 2.9 million units shipped as a major factor in a 77 percent year-over-year sales spike.