Editing THQ (section)

=== Background and foundation (1990–1999) ===
THQ Inc. was founded by [[LJN]] co-founder [[Jack Friedman]] in April 1990.<ref name="LA Times 1991" /><ref name="Founding" /> "THQ" is an [[initialism]] for "Toy Headquarters".<ref name="LA Times 1991" /> THQ acquired New Ventures, a division of [[Broderbund]], in September 1990.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carlsen |first=Clifford |title=Broderbund Software Inc. jettisons Nintendo, games. (THQ Inc. buys New Ventures division from Broderbund) |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-8921768/broderbund-software-inc-jettisons.html |newspaper=[[San Francisco Business Times]] |access-date=November 10, 2012 |date=September 10, 1990 |archive-date=January 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127162001/http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-8921768/broderbund-software-inc-jettisons.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1991, Trinity Acquisition Corp, a [[NASDAQ]]-listed [[special-purpose acquisition company]] (SPAC), agreed to acquire and merge with THQ in a [[reverse merger takeover]].<ref name="LA Times 1991" /> The deal was a [[stock swap]] valued at about $33&nbsp;million, with THQ's shareholders owning 51.7% of the new entity.<ref>{{cite news |title=N.Y. Company to Acquire Game Firm in Stock Swap |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-05-21-fi-2372-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 1, 2022 |date=May 21, 1991 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165106/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-05-21/business/fi-2372_1_stock-swap |url-status=live}}</ref> THQ's name was retained for the new company, its ticker symbol was changed to "THQI", and Friedman was named as its president.<ref name="LA Times 1991" /> THQ then acquired video game developer Black Pearl Software of Chicago in 1993.<ref>{{cite news |title=THQ Inc. to Acquire Black Pearl Software |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-06-08-fi-919-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 1, 2022|date=March 8, 1993 |archive-date=December 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206182518/http://articles.latimes.com/1993-06-08/business/fi-919_1_black-pearl-software |url-status=live}}</ref> Following the acquisition, THQ would use the Black Pearl Software name for their Sega games, while the Malibu Games name would be used for the Nintendo games.

THQ withdrew completely from the toy business in 1994 to focus solely on video game production.<ref name="THQ history">{{cite web |title=Investor Relations |url=http://investor.thq.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96376&p=irol-faq |website=THQ.Inc |access-date=November 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827064528/http://investor.thq.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96376&p=irol-faq |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Around the same time, the company entered into a deal with [[Electronic Arts]] to license five titles for various consoles.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 1994 |title=ProNews |pages=186 |magazine=[[GamePro]] |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bf/GamePro_US_059.pdf |access-date=September 20, 2023}}</ref> Jack Friedman then left the company in 1995 to co-found the toy manufacturer [[Jakks Pacific]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Valerie J. |title=Jack Friedman dies at 70; toy maker |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-may-06-la-me-jack-friedman-20100506-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 1, 2022|date=May 6, 2010 |archive-date=March 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315013236/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/06/local/la-me-jack-friedman-20100506 |url-status=live}}</ref>

At the Winter CES 1995, THQ signed an expanded deal with [[Electronic Arts]] to develop games for their 16-bit and 8-bit home consoles and handheld titles.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1995-01-04|title=Press release: 1995-01-04: T-HQ shows new lineup of portable video games and XBAND video game modem at 1995 Winter CES|work=The Free Library}}</ref> From then on, the Black Pearl Software name would be used for 8-bit and 16-bit games, while THQ introduced the Kokopeli Digital Studios brand name for their 32-bit games.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kokopeli Digital Studios|url=https://www.mobygames.com/company/kokopeli-digital-studios|access-date=2021-11-17|website=MobyGames|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117022812/https://www.mobygames.com/company/kokopeli-digital-studios|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1997, THQ was reincorporated as a [[Delaware General Corporation Law|Delaware Corporation]],<ref name="THQ history" /> and in 1999 acquired San Jose video game developer [[Pacific Coast Power & Light]].<ref>{{cite news |title=San Jose Game Developer Now Subsidiary of THQ |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-01-me-43070-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 1, 2022|date=June 1, 1999 |archive-date=March 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307235936/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/jun/01/local/me-43070 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 1998, the company entered into a ten-year 50/50 joint venture with Jakks Pacific (entitled THQ/Jakks Pacific LLC) to acquire the [[WWE|WWF]] (later WWE) video game license, previously held by [[Acclaim Entertainment]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/04/08/life-after-attitude | title=Life After Attitude | date=April 8, 1999 }}</ref> The deal, which would begin in October 1999, would correspond with two titles per year that THQ would handle product development and sales for.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jun-16-fi-60559-story.html | title=THQ, Jakks Team for Wrestling Video Games | website=[[Los Angeles Times]] | date=June 16, 1998 }}</ref> 

In 1999, it signed a deal to publish ''[[Power Rangers]]'' video games.<ref>{{Cite web|date=1999-07-08|title=THQ Grabs Old Power Rangers by the Cane|work=IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/08/thq-grabs-old-power-rangers-by-the-cane|access-date=2022-05-01|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117023013/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/08/thq-grabs-old-power-rangers-by-the-cane|url-status=live}}</ref> Also that year, it signed a licensing agreement with British game developer [[Codemasters]] to bring their titles to their handheld market.<ref>{{Cite web|title=THQ TO DEVELOP TWO MICRO MACHINE TITLES FOR GAME BOY.|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/THQ+TO+DEVELOP+TWO+MICRO+MACHINE+TITLES+FOR+GAME+BOY-a054665488|access-date=2021-11-17|website=Free Online Library|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117023222/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/THQ+TO+DEVELOP+TWO+MICRO+MACHINE+TITLES+FOR+GAME+BOY-a054665488|url-status=live}}</ref>