THQ prevails in WWE licensing dispute

THQ announced this afternoon that it has prevailed in an arbitration hearings against JAKKS Pacific, the company’s partner in a joint venture meant to deal with the WWE license related to video games. The binding arbitration, which was in the terms of the operating agreement should both parties not agree, came to the conclusion that JAKKS Pacific should have been given a lower preferred return payment for WWE video games sold under a license granted by World Wrestling Entertainment to the joint venture, THQ/JAKKS Pacific LLC.

As a result, a new rate, which is 40 percent below the previous rate, reaches all the way back to July 1, 2006 and applies through December 31, 2009. Because of this, THQ will receive approximately $23 million during the fiscal 2010 second quarter ending September 30, 2009.

Under the terms of the HQ/JAKKS Pacific LLC. operating agreement, JAKKS Pacific was to be paid a preferred return from sales of the LLC’s WWE-licensed video games. The preferred return rate was to be reset for the period beginning July 1, 2006 through December 31, 2009 but both companies could not agree on a new preferred return rate. Because of this THQ filed a suit to compel arbitration pursuant to the terms of the operating agreement.

Naturally THQ is happy about this and will continue to reap the rewards from the SmackDown vs. RAW series as well as Legends of WrestleMania.

Old School: Smackdown vs. RAW 09 DLC

New playable characters have been released for WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2009 today on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network, giving players of the game on both systems access to some classic World Wrestling Entertainment stars.

The stars available in today’s downloadable content release include The Bushwakers (Bushwacker Butch, Bushwacker Luke), Doink the Clown, Earthquake and Vader. On Xbox Live Marketplace this gaggle of old schoolers will cost you 400 MS Points, while the PlayStation Network is charging a mere $4.99. Hopefully these new stars will offer players some new and exciting moves to mess around with.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 originally launched on November 9, 2008 and is available at retailers worldwide.

The Rundown: Jan. 14, 2009

Today’s Rundown offers lots of entertaining news bits, but I wanted to show off my City of Heroes Tanker, Back Hair Brawler. This big, hairy oaf uses willpower and super strength to fight crime when he’s not tending to his shiny gingery coat. His only weaknesses? Duct tape and razors. Now onto today’s news…

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The Rundown: Jan. 8, 2009

EA announces a stand-alone expansion to RA3, City of Heroes is available for Mac gamers, Nyko shows off at CES, EVE Online expands, SmackDown vs. RAW 09 gets some DLC and much, much more in today’s Rundown. Right after the jump…

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The Rundown: Dec. 29, 2008

All is calm, all is bright. I hope you’re enjoying your vacation time, assuming you are one of those lucky folks that gets it during this time of year. For the rest of us, onward and upward as we slither into 2009…

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SmackDown Vs. RAW 2009 Released

One of my favorite franchises gets a new release this week, offering more refined tag team play and the new make your own finisher mode, amongst other new features. Will SmackDown Vs. RAW 2009 offer better graphics, collision detection and faster loads times over the 2008 edition? I hope so.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the latest addition promises added depth and realism, a tag team co-op storyline, multiple ways to generate and share player-created content, and the debut of downloadable content. Obviously there are significant differences between the next-gen versions of the game and the Wii, PSP and DS versions. Look for a review soon.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is now available for the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii and Nintendo DS, with the mobile version slated to launch on various carriers throughout November.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 Collector’s Edition Details

THQ and JAKKS Pacific announced details on the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 collector’s edition, which just happens to be a PS3 exclusive. No worries for fans of the series on the Xbox 360 and other platforms - the extent of the SE contents is a bonus disc with some multimedia extras. Before we get into that it should be pointed out that publishers like THQ need to put a lot more thought into what collector’s edition of a game should contain besides behind the scenes stuff; we are in an age where it is easy to distribute extra contents like arenas, wrestlers and move sets, so why doesn’t THQ offer these kinds of incentives to gamers willing to fork out an additional $10 - $20? Maybe I just don’t get it.

PS3 owners that buy the collector’s edition of the game will get a bonus Blu-Ray disc containing behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the videogame, as well as more than two hours of WWE footage from a variety of popular SmackDown vs. Raw cross-brand matches from 2008. The content is delivered in a steel cage package for North America, while fans in Europe and Asia Pacific regions will see their items encased within a miniature ring. The SE edition is available at most major retailers for pre-order right now.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is slated for release on the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2. PSP, Wii, Nintendo DS and mobile devices on November 9.