Despite not actually really existing anymore, THQ has decided to sue EA and the UFC – for what amounts to collusion. If you’ll recall, EA purchased the licence to make UFC games from THQ while that company was collapsing.
It’s alleged that EA and UFC’s parent company Zuffa collaborated and colluded to force THQ to sell the licence to produce UFC games to EA. The complaint suggests that at one point, EA was in discussions to acquire THQ, and used their inside knowledge on THQ’s finances to make the deal happen.
The UFC wanted out of its contract with THQ all the way back in 2011, based on THQ’s ever-worsening financial difficulties. THQ though, believes that EA “informed Zuffa of THQ’s perilous financial condition and expressed interest in acquiring the UFC franchise directly from Zuffa, causing Zuffa to threaten termination of the UFC license.”
Zuffa ended up paying THQ $10 million to terminate their agreement and transfer the licence to EA – and according to the complaint, THQ believes that UFC was worth at least $20 million. And they want the rest of their money. They believe the transfer was illegal, and want the whole deal nixed. They want their IP back (or what they believe is the monetary value of that IP) and damages of alt least $10 million. They also want EA’s slice of UFC profits.
EA’s yet to release a game based on the licence; EA Sports UFC is coming to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 next year.
“We believe these claims are without merit,” an EA spokesperson told Polygon.
THQ no longer exists as a publisher – but it still exists as a company, because many people still want to extract money from its corpse. Do you think EA’s been underhanded in acquiring the licence? That wouldn’t surprise me in the least – and these are some pretty seriously allegations. It could, however, also be THQ trying to drum up as much money as it can to pay back all those debts.
Last Updated: October 10, 2013
|
|
|
|---|---|
| was reviewed on PC | |
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:05
Sue EA! Sue em about always online while you’re at it. I’ve been violated by always online. Sue em for ruining great games!
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:07
Lest we forget that Valve and Steam violated us digitally with Half Life 2 long before EA did.
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:14
What about Half Life 2? What is this about the all awesome Steam?
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 11:20
I don’t know, I just heard Steam & started screaming like a girl at a Justin Beiber concert.
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 11:21
I suppose you’ve been to a few of those then… BOOM! *Runs
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 11:22
What? Girls? You haven’t? #foreverSP 😉
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 11:25
Well, if you don’t mind pretending Beiber is a girl, go for it man. My imagination only goes so far thogh hence #foreverSP
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 11:27
She’s not? O_o
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:27
Just for the Emperor…
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 11:32
lol, just need one of these handy accessories & good to go!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:33
You sicken me!
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:37
LOL!
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:37
LOL!
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:39
Threw up in mouth just a little bit…
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 11:39
It’s also handy for that!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:42
But look how well he does drag!!
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:43
Makes a better woman than Gaga.
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:48
I thought Gaga was same as Caster Siminya! Its obvious, HE’S A WOMAN!
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 11:32
HAHAHAHAHAHAH! WINNER!
ALKi1234
October 10, 2013 at 11:35
Photoshop: with great power comes great responsibility……thanks allot, i like men now!!!!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:39
What is this world coming too!?!
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:40
Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter swings naked on a wrecking ball. The end is near.
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:46
It is! Damn bitch stealing people’s hammers!
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:50
Somewhere a construction worker is staring at his hammer and thinking: “What idiot licked my hammer?”
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:52
hahahaha WINNER!
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 12:13
You mean the Admiral? BOOM!
CypherGate
October 10, 2013 at 12:36
LOL
Grant Hancock
October 10, 2013 at 15:33
hahahahahahahahaha
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:40
Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter swings naked on a wrecking ball. The end is near.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 11:55
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:39
What is this world coming too!?!
ALKi1234
October 10, 2013 at 11:35
Photoshop: with great power comes great responsibility……thanks allot, i like men now!!!!
Grant Hancock
October 10, 2013 at 15:33
this is the funniest pic i’ve seen in ages ! hahaha … thanks @disqus_RTVUEcBB6N:disqus :’D
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:30
Its a hard life is it not Rince?
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 11:37
It is that! OVG may not be able to join us on Sat…
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:38
that is a shame!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:38
that is a shame!
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:22
Setting up a rifle and finding the right spot to camp takes time.
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 11:24
Funnily enough, exactly like my first mission kill in Hitman.
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:25
They should add a nice DLC for Hitman where you can buy VERY specific targets.
I think I’d pick Bieber, Miley and “lady” Gaga
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 11:26
lol they’d make a… killing. dumdumtish!
Kromas
October 10, 2013 at 11:31
Bamboo torture for Bieber. A wrecking ball dropped on Miley and “RELEASE THE WOLVES” while Gaga wears her meat suit.
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:35
Or Polar bears…
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:52
Or both!
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:21
Jeez man. I heard it. That was YOU?
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 11:22
I got excited :/
Kromas
October 10, 2013 at 11:15
HL2 had a once off update then you could play in offline mode. Then a patch screwed it over and another patch fixed it.
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:17
I never updated mine, just downloaded a fix for the .exe when I got it and never had a second-worth of problems.
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:19
You had to download a couple hundred MB to complete the installation if memory serves. Those files were on the Steam servers which were completely overloaded.
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:20
Oh. Wow, I really was oblivious to that. Had no decent internet back then, copied most of my stuff from a friend.
EDIT: I must add that I didn’t get mine when it just released. Only a few months after.
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:45
After all that DRM crap they only managed to delay the crack for 2 weeks. I cracked my original as soon as I could.
Kromas
October 10, 2013 at 11:58
Took the day off to play the game.Delivery to the shop was quite late so I sat the Stones next door and got very drunk.I still have no idea how I got home or how the game got installed but when I woke up I was ready to play. That being said I was wireless connected to our companies 1meg break out.Back in those days that was amazingly fast.
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:18
Yeah and it was also the first time DRM fucked up a game so badly on release it was unplayable for many ppl on day one. The servers were overloaded and it took days to sort the shit out. Best SP game of the decade and it had a disgusting launch and forced DRM down the route we “all love” now.
Kromas
October 10, 2013 at 11:28
I will agree that steam had some hiccups at the start but they have come a long way and EA and Ubisoft had far worse DRM systems at one time or another. EA’s 5 time activation system screwed with many many many people and their initial response was “you activated the game 5 times so you have to buy a new copy. Ubisoft’s StarForce fail cost me two disc drives and one of those was a brand new R1600 4x DVD writer. No apologies ever made.
Makes steam look like heaven in comparison.
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:37
Agreed but they were emulating the Steam model. We tend to forgive Steam because Valve are behind one of the most beloved franchises of all time an they have (mostly) ironed out many of the original kinks but Steam was horrendous upon release not allowing gamers to play purchased titles without first connecting to the internet in an age when connectivity it was still extremely dodgy in many countries.
I have almost 200 games in my Steam library but I went through A LOT of pain to get to a point where they are my go-to platform.
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:38
I’ll be honest….I hated Steam when they just started it. But since then I have changed religion upon seeing all it can offer and all it has done for us. Hail Steam.
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:06
So if THQ get the additional UFC IP cash the money would surely just go to whomever still has claims against them as they filed for bankruptcy. I smell some seriously sour grapes.
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
October 10, 2013 at 11:06
I honestly don’t care what you sue EA for as long as they are being sued…
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 11:09
What you said, times all.
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:11
At least we got Dead Space 1 & 2 from them but otherwise yah well they can fok off.
Kromas
October 10, 2013 at 11:14
Please no. Don’t screw with them till after they have released DA:Inquisition.
Admiral Chief of Rivia
October 10, 2013 at 11:17
And Star Wars Battlefront!
Kromas
October 10, 2013 at 11:29
May the Force be with you young Geralt.
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:19
Can’t they add a mass-castration clause to the sue?
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:11
I’d fall on EA’s floor and break a leg, then sue them! hahaha
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:15
Yes. And Yes.
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 11:08
EA being arseholes?! NEVA! THQ FTW!
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:15
I thought EA represents EveryAsshole?
Seraphim
October 10, 2013 at 11:15
I’m starting to wonder what happened last night in your offices?
The spelling and grammar seems to have taken a belly flop since last night, at least compared to the usual amount of mistakes.
Or are you guys using a phone to type this?
Dam auto-correct.
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 10, 2013 at 11:17
*Damn *cough*
Seraphim
October 10, 2013 at 11:27
I prefer this type of dam.
They’re prettier.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
October 10, 2013 at 12:10
Sorry about that. The first thing I said in the office this morning was “Guys, I apologise…but I have the_dumb today”
I’ve had more coffee.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:15
Is that Vickie’s coffee again? Are you sure it’s not from a hobo peeing in a cup?
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:16
Where is vicky? I have only seen 1 article!
Admiral Chief of Rivia
October 10, 2013 at 11:17
INCOMING KICK TO THE FAAAAAAAAACE
Love the header
O_O becomes X_X
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:22
That was the final fight in the WEC I think and WOW! Just WOW! Great to see that Showtime hasn’t lost any of his freaky ability in the UFC.
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
October 10, 2013 at 11:25
EA purchased the licence to UFC games * Fixed it for you
Seraphim
October 10, 2013 at 11:28
Don’t forget:
… damages of at least $10 million.
ALKi1234
October 10, 2013 at 11:29
the last EA game i bought was crysis 2 so don’t really care for them.
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:30
Mmmh Disqus is smoking it’s socks again…
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:34
I was you for 2 minutes!!
GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness
October 10, 2013 at 11:36
Same…
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:40
I hope you behaved…
Downloadable content John
October 10, 2013 at 11:42
With Tim you’ll never know what happens behind the shades.
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:49
you know me sooo well! *hugs*
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 11:33
I have to say, THQ made one of my favourite UFC games. I note OVG isn’t about today, so here is a link of me messing him up with in record time! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=313232965233&l=6912442185203169660
Anon A Mouse
October 10, 2013 at 11:38
Hahaha nice one, but it looks like you actually missed him with that punch. Nice spin though 😉
Anon A Mouse
October 10, 2013 at 11:38
Hahaha nice one, but it looks like you actually missed him with that punch. Nice spin though 😉
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:50
Who was brock lesner?
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:53
You can say what you want but he only competed against the best in the world and was mostly competitive. Just a pity that he never learned to like getting punched coz if he did he would still be around and a huge factor in the division.
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 11:53
Agreed. He also almost died man. That can make any fighter lose. I heard rumour he wanted back in UFC 🙂
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:54
Who almost killed him?
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 11:56
Yeah that condition he had was hectic. He apparently dropped to around 200 pounds while off that time. He never knew if he would be back at anything physical never mind UFC. For a dude that walks around at 280+ pounds that is serious as hell.
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:57
This is all news to me! flippin hectic!
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 12:02
It was before he fought Shane Carwin (interim champ at the time) and then more aggressively after he fought Velasquez. Diverticulitis.
EDIT: There should be a *treated* in there somewhere
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:05
That disease stuffed him up big time!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:19
Yeah, he should have taken more time off after the surgery, I think the diverticulitis screwed him up more than he would ever admit. He just wasn’t in a fight condition. I mean he was winded a few minutes into the match….
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 12:18
Yeah. It was a damn shame man. He was like a silverback gorilla!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:55
I saw back in the day how Brock trained, flipping insane! going into an ice bath after workout otherwise all his muscles would cramp up!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:19
The dude is a beast! Do you know if Batista made it in MMA? I remember he was keen on fighting but at the time he was already well over 40.
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:21
His one fight was a joke! I honestly don’t know, last I heard he was pondering coming back!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:35
Probably, I guess his film career didn’t take off either. Everyone think that they can emulate the Rock, but the Rock is on a different level. The guy’s charisma is unmatched!
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 12:38
Was unmatched, have you seen the size of him now? It’s like a competition between his charisma and his body and he still wins.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:40
He’s bulked up for his Hercules movie right?
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 12:42
I don’t know but he makes Vin and Marky Mark look like dwarfs in Furious 6 and Pain & Gain respectively.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:43
And both Vin and Marky Mark aren’t small guys!!
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 12:45
Exactly
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:45
Was for Pain and Gain actually..
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 11:53
Me!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:53
NICE!! I always wanted to get UFC…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:10
Brock Lesnar was an internet end-level boss who once defeated the Undertaker in a bra and panties match. Once he became Divas champion he decided to join the UFC in homoerotic wrestling — BECAUSE NOTHING SAYS YOU’RE A MAN LIKE BEATING UP ANOTHER MAN WHILE WEARING BEACH SHORTS!!!
hahahah good ol’ GTA 5!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:15
Dude I know who he is…. I was asking about the video Rince added. thanks for the insight though!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:17
You had me worried there… 😮 Although, I prefer CM Punk and Austin Aries in TNA. Good wrestlers, good performers and excellent promo-givers.
Lesnar was always too one dimensional!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:18
Cm punk in his earlier days was cool, not so much lately. The only thing I do remember most about Brock is picking up The Big Show and breaking the ring!! hahaha
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:20
Hahahah that was awesome! It was an F5 from the turnbuckle right?
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:22
Yeah think so! was like WOAH! 0_0 500 pounds! Poor other wrestlers had to use a broken ring hahahahaha
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:25
Yeah, I need to watch WWE again – haven’t really watched in years. I did go to Smackdown in Cape Town a few months ago. That was freaking awesome! Saw RVD! Regardless of being a massive pothead, the guy is still as cool as he was in ECW
E CEEE DUB EEE CCCEEEE DDDUUUBBB!!!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:26
RVD is a pothead?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:29
Apparently yeah, that’s why he and Sabu were released from the WWE a few years ago. I still wish that kurt Angle would make a return to the WWE. I want to see him take on CM Punk or even The American Dragon – Bryan Danielson (aka Daniel Bryan)
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:32
The american dragon, never heard Daniel Bryan called that!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:33
Yeah, you should check out the matches he had in Japan. Amazing stuff!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:08
Hahahaha! No wonder OVG is so angry!
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 12:13
🙂 He was NOT happy. I then did a repeat a week later 😉
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:23
Awesome, one must always show dominance to a sibling. Keeps them in their place! I do that to my brother was well, whenever we play Tekken! I don’t think he’s ever beaten me, and the years of losses has made him reluctant to play any games any more…
Yes! I broke him! MUAHAHAHAHAHAhahahah… sniff.. cry…. 🙁
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:24
Your the eldest I am assuming! Who is older Rince or ovg? EDIT King in Tekken is still kickass if you know his moves!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:27
Nope, youngest – but he used to beat me in grass wrestling, bastard used two moves he learnt at school to always beat me. I got my revenge years later … in digitial warfare.. muahahahah!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:28
My boet did a Tombstone piledriver to me.. I was never the same again… OUT COLD!
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 12:30
So much can explained in so few words ;p
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:33
Hectic dude! Yeah, something similar happened to me (but at school). One of the bullies thought it would be funny to that to me. Bled through my ears. Apparently they thought I was dead…. 🙁
But I came back from the abyss…
He’s still on my to-be-assassinated list though. I guess one day when I’m King Jim of Greater Southern Nambabwe, I will have my ninjas take him out.
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 12:45
You came back from the dead! lol I have died before 2min almost at birth! lol Only side effect can see supernatural! not fun sometimes! I kid you not!
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 12:29
Haha! I do that, but with my Ryu vs. OVG’s Ken!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:34
I thought you’re Dan! Muahahahha 😛
NecroRince
October 10, 2013 at 12:42
You shut up nana!
Skyblue
October 10, 2013 at 12:44
I used to moer my boet and mates with Ken or Sagat and then moved onto Fei Long when Super SF2 was released. Good times.
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
October 10, 2013 at 11:38
Those are serious allegations. If THQ can prove malice or collusion then EA’s in a lot of trouble
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 11:38
And that is why, EA wins Golden Poo every year! Absolutely horrid company!
TiMsTeR1033
October 10, 2013 at 11:53
Yet they keep getting bigger and richer by the year!
JHN
October 11, 2013 at 12:06
Business is always dirty, you want to be a big corporate eventually you have to fight ugly.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 11:38
And that is why, EA wins Golden Poo every year! Absolutely horrid company!
silverscorpio
October 10, 2013 at 11:45
I think there is merit in the case but if Zuffa paid to end the contract with THQ then they are free to sell it to whoever they want to. I think EA is more to blame here because if they used confidential information in their negotiations then they should pay up.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
October 10, 2013 at 12:02
Exactly, since Zuffa’s already paid, THQ can’t demand more cash, but I think it might hinge on EA using a competitor’s details to get a better deal, and they would be liable because of anti-competition practices. That’s essentially why THQ is suing EA rather than Zuffa!
But, it’s going to be near impossible for THQ to prove this, unless they have access to emails and other documents – or something concrete like former EA or Zuffa employees who witnessed this collusion..
Anon A Mouse
October 10, 2013 at 11:52
EA’s share price is slightly up, that should be an indication that shareholders isn’t taking this very serious.
Sk3tz0
October 11, 2013 at 08:46
Been following the UFC game for Next gen since E3.. My 2c says THQ sad they not getting coin for this potentially awesome game.