Troubled Saints Row and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine publisher THQ received word today that it has regained compliance with Nasdaq's minimum bid price rule.
The Nasdaq stock exchange told THQ back in January that the Saints Row publisher had 180 days to raise its stock prices above the minimum threshold, or else it would be delisted.
In a move to say listed, the company and its stockholders approved a reverse split of its common stock earlier this month, with the aim to reduce the total number of THQ's issued and outstanding common shares, which would lead to an increase in the price per share.
The reverse stock split went into effect on July 5 with a fixed ratio of 1-for-10. Now the Nasdaq has notified THQ that its common stock has closed at $1.00 per share or greater for at least 10 consecutive business days, hence THQ has now regained compliance.
While this move has staved off the threatened delisting, it's just one step in a very long road to recovery for the publisher. CEO Brian Farrell told Gamasutra earlier this month that he plans to deliver better quality products to save the future of the company.
It's not just 'better' quality products that will help THQ, its controlling expectations of gamers. I remember back in 1988 about the teaser trailers that would show 30-60 seconds of a movie and then it would be shown for several months before the release month. Now both games and movies are releasing trailers 1-2 months before the movie, but showing 3-6 minutes worth... which kinda kills the anticipation from my PoV.
I think they're trying to avoid too much hype building about the game. Look at Twilight Princess for example: everyone waited for this game for like 3 or 4 years, and when it got released, the hype was so huge that it was a huge letdown for everybody. The more people wait, the more they expect.
Development times are also compressing, so mathematically your will end up showing what your final product will look like only a few months before release.
Development times are also compressing, so mathematically your will end up showing what your final product will look like only a few months before release.