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===Company growth and acquisitions (2000β2009)=== [[File:THQ logo.svg|thumb|Former logo, used from 2000 to 2011]] In February 2000, THQ faced a class action lawsuit over a violation of federal security laws due to nondisclosure of material information.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Spector,+Roseman+and+Kodroff,+P.C.+Announces+Class+Action+Lawsuit...-a059580646 |title=Spector, Roseman and Kodroff, P.C. Announces Class Action Lawsuit Against THQ, INC. |date=February 20, 2000 |access-date=July 12, 2013 |archive-date=February 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201162602/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Spector,+Roseman+and+Kodroff,+P.C.+Announces+Class+Action+Lawsuit...-a059580646 |url-status=live}}</ref> In September of the same year, the company expanded its internal product development capabilities with the acquisition of [[Volition (company)|Volition]] located in [[Champaign, Illinois]]. Since then, THQ's internal studio system grew to eleven studios across the globe with distinct capabilities across all viable gaming platforms. Some of these studios, such as [[Relic Entertainment]], [[Vigil Games]], [[Blue Tongue Entertainment]], Juice Games, [[Kaos Studios]] and [[Volition (company)|Volition]], worked on games for next generation consoles as well as PCs. THQ went on to acquire [[Vigil Games]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |title=THQ Announces Acquisition of Vigil Games |url=http://investor.thq.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96376&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=832692 |website=THQ |access-date=November 10, 2012 |date=March 16, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902002938/http://investor.thq.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96376&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=832692 |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2000, THQ signed a deal with [[Fox Interactive]] to bring five of the titles to the [[Game Boy Color]] market, such as the ''[[Croc: Legend of the Gobbos|Croc]]'' franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|title=THQ and Fox Partner for the Game Boy|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/thq-and-fox-partner-for-the-game-boy/1100-2541880/|access-date=2021-11-17|website=GameSpot|language=en-US|archive-date=August 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820193208/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/thq-and-fox-partner-for-the-game-boy/1100-2541880/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2001, THQ obtained an extended agreement with [[Nickelodeon]] to produce video games based on their franchises, as well as computer game rights to ''[[Rugrats]]'', ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' and ''[[Rocket Power]]'' and console and computer rights to other Nickelodeon shows like ''[[Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius]]'' and ''[[The Wild Thornberrys]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=THQ and Nickelodeon expand partnership|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/thq-and-nickelodeon-expand-partnership/1100-2683938/|access-date=2021-11-17|website=GameSpot|language=en-US|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117000530/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/thq-and-nickelodeon-expand-partnership/1100-2683938/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Nick And THQ Announce New Videogame Development Deal|url=https://www.awn.com/news/nick-and-thq-announce-new-videogame-development-deal|access-date=2021-11-17|website=Animation World Network|language=en|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117000542/https://www.awn.com/news/nick-and-thq-announce-new-videogame-development-deal|url-status=live}}</ref> The agreement also covered games based on original intellectual properties, such as ''[[Tak and the Power of Juju]]'', with the potential that THQ would release a game first, followed by an animated cartoon on Nickelodeon.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tran|first=Khanh T. L.|date=2002-02-13|title=Video-Game Maker Turns Its Focus To Kids in Deal With Nickelodeon|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB101355202461443920|access-date=2021-11-17|issn=0099-9660|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117000659/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB101355202461443920|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, THQ signed an agreement with [[MGA Entertainment]] to publish video games based on the [[Bratz]] fashion doll line.<ref>{{Cite web|title=THQ signs multi-platform publishing agreement with MGA Entertainment for Bratz|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/thq-signs-multi-platform-publishing-agreement-with-mga-entertainment-for-bratz|archive-date=December 4, 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231204031809/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/thq-signs-multi-platform-publishing-agreement-with-mga-entertainment-for-bratz |access-date=2024-05-05|url-status=live|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=September 24, 2004 |language=en-US}}</ref> On May 10, 2007, THQ reported its highest annual sales figures and net profits ever for the fiscal year which ended on March 31. THQ's revenues reached over $1 billion. In March 2008, THQ announced the development of the world's first ever cheerleading game using the [[Wii Balance Board]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/publishing/thq-announces-cheerleading-game/ |title=THQ announces cheerleading game | Games industry news|website=MCV |date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-date=February 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218094319/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/29845/THQ-announces-cheerleading-game |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |title=THQ announces cheerleading game |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/publishing/thq-announces-cheerleading-game/ |website=[[MCV (magazine)|MCV]] |access-date=May 1, 2022 |date=March 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022111905/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/thq-announces-cheerleading-game |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Not long after, on November 3, 2008, the company closed five of its internal studios: [[Paradigm Entertainment]], [[Mass Media Games|Mass Media Inc.]], [[Helixe]], [[Locomotive Games]], and Sandblast Games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/55703/thq-closes-five-studios-updated |title=THQ Closes Five Studios |last=Faylor |first=Chris |date=November 3, 2008 |website=ShackNews |access-date=May 1, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206135536/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/55703 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ransom-Wiley |first=James |title=THQ reveals 'Significant Business Realignment' |url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-11-05-thq-reveals-significant-business-realignment.html|website=Engadget|access-date=May 1, 2022|date=November 5, 2008 |archive-date=April 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401194106/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/05/thq-reveals-significant-business-realignment/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, huge declines in sales prompted THQ to form a strategic plan to cut $220 million in annual costs by 2010 and invest in "fewer, better bets." Previously in 2007, THQ had a $68-million profit and $1 billion in revenue, which put it within range of their rival [[Activision]]. Many of its big-budget games sold poorly, despite having favorable reviews, as [[2008β2012 global recession|the recession]] hit. Its hold on kids' games based on Nickelodeon television shows and Pixar movies slipped as kids turned to free online games playable on the Internet. With shares down 86% from the previous year and a market value of only $173 million, THQ had the possibility of being acquired by other companies.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pham |first=Alex |title=Video game maker THQ plays defense|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-mar-05-fi-cotown-thq5-story.html |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=May 1, 2022 |date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110081330/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/05/business/fi-cotown-thq5 |url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2009, THQ spun off [[Heavy Iron Studios]] and [[Incinerator Studios]] as independent companies, and announced it was looking to sell [[Big Huge Games]]. Two months later in May 2009, THQ agreed to sell [[Big Huge Games]] to [[38 Studios]]. In August 2009, THQ acquired Midway Studios San Diego for $200,000. The sale of the studio included all assets, except for the ''[[TNA Impact! (video game)|TNA Impact!]]'' video game.<ref>{{cite web |title=THQ To Obtain Midway's San Diego Studio |url=http://www.gamersdailynews.com/story-12644-THQ-To-Obtain-Midways-San-Diego-Studio.html |website=Gamer Daily News |access-date=August 10, 2009 |date=August 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813143501/http://www.gamersdailynews.com/story-12644-THQ-To-Obtain-Midways-San-Diego-Studio.html |archive-date=August 13, 2009}}</ref> In December 2009, following many lawsuits between the three companies, THQ signed a standalone eight-year deal with the [[WWE]], replacing the THQ/Jakks Pacific joint-venture deal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://corporate.wwe.com/news/company-news/2009/12-23-2009 | title=THQ, WWE AND Jakks Pacific Announce Settlement of Long-Standing Litigation }}</ref>
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