Naughty Dog founder Jason Rubin appointed THQ president

**Nitey** · 05-30-2012

Jason Rubin, one of Uncharted studio Naughty Dog's founders, is the new president of THQ.

He takes on the role with immediate effect and will be responsible for all product development, marketing and publishing operations.

While at Naughty Dog, which he set up out of high school in 1984 with chum Andy Gavin, Rubin co-created Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter among other franchises. He left the studio in 2004 to set up "media mashup tool" Flektor, which was later sold to Fox.

"Jason's proven track record in the industry speaks for itself, and he is one of the brightest minds in the business," commented CEO Brian Farrell.

"We believe he can be a game changer and can contribute immensely to executing on our strategy of delivering quality connected core game experiences."

Rubin inherits a streamlined slate that includes Darksiders 2, Saint's Row: The Third - Enter the Dominatrix, Company of Heroes 2, Metro: Last Light, South Park: The Game and WWE '13.

THQ recently announced that it had dropped Tomonobu Itagaki actioner Devil's Third, while its planned Warhammer MMO is being scaled back to a more traditional affair.

In other THQ HR news, Rubin's entrance coincides with Danny Bilson's exit. The publisher's lively core games boss is leaving to "pursue other interests". Boo, we liked him.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-thq-president

**HellsJester** · 05-30-2012

THQ needs all the help it can get.
Really looking forward to
-Darksiders II
-Metro: Last Light
-South Park: The Stick of Truth

**Kauldron** · 05-30-2012

That is a very bitter dude. Especially after he left Naughty Dog, then they blew up big.

You ever heard that dude talk about it?

**Two4DaMoney** · 05-30-2012

mehh, he can't help all those teams dev the game. I see nothing changing for thq

**Blacksite** · 05-30-2012

Jason Rubin, one of Uncharted studio Naughty Dog's founders, is the new president of THQ.

He takes on the role with immediate effect and will be responsible for all product development, marketing and publishing operations.

While at Naughty Dog, which he set up out of high school in 1984 with chum Andy Gavin, Rubin co-created Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter among other franchises. He left the studio in 2004 to set up "media mashup tool" Flektor, which was later sold to Fox.

"Jason's proven track record in the industry speaks for itself, and he is one of the brightest minds in the business," commented CEO Brian Farrell.

"We believe he can be a game changer and can contribute immensely to executing on our strategy of delivering quality connected core game experiences."

Rubin inherits a streamlined slate that includes Darksiders 2, Saint's Row: The Third - Enter the Dominatrix, Company of Heroes 2, Metro: Last Light, South Park: The Game and WWE '13.

THQ recently announced that it had dropped Tomonobu Itagaki actioner Devil's Third, while its planned Warhammer MMO is being scaled back to a more traditional affair.

In other THQ HR news, Rubin's entrance coincides with Danny Bilson's exit. The publisher's lively core games boss is leaving to "pursue other interests". Boo, we liked him.

Source

**Vulgotha** · 05-30-2012

Jason, you're from ND so I trust you. But I swear to God I will come after you if you touch Relic studios or their Warhammer 40k games!

**AaronSOLDIER** · 05-30-2012

Odd move.

**Kuro** · 05-30-2012

Hey Blacksite Nitey posted this earlier bro
http://www.psu.com/forums/showthread...-THQ-president

**Blacksite** · 05-30-2012

Originally Posted by zzKurozz

Hey Blacksite Nitey posted this earlier bro
http://www.psu.com/forums/showthread...-THQ-president

Wow, my bad. Haha. I'll just merge this thread with Nitey's.

**TDbank24** · 05-30-2012

I'm sure Jason will bring THQ to new heights. He's the founder of Naughty Dog after all. The most talented studio in the business.

**Fenix** · 05-30-2012

Originally Posted by TDbank24

I'm sure Jason will bring THQ to new heights. He's the founder of Naughty Dog after all. The most talented studio in the business.

ND isnt good cause of one man, its a team of talent. Also doesnt help THQ doesnt really have that many "must have" titles. I dont see this helping THQ much, if at all.

**Typical guy** · 05-30-2012

Originally Posted by Fenix

ND isnt good cause of one man, its a team of talent. Also doesnt help THQ doesnt really have that many "must have" titles. I dont see this helping THQ much, if at all.

Many people disagree with you. South Park the game, Metro: Last Light, Darksiders 2, Saint's Row 3/expansion, Company of Heroes 2 (sequel to the highest ever rated RTS).

BTW, Saints Row 3 has currently sold over 4.5 million copies but I'm sure you're right that everyone agrees that all their games suck.

**Dave-The-Rave** · 05-30-2012

I would not want to dip my foot in that toxic pond. Can't remember the last time I had any interest in a THQ game.

**Nitey** · 05-30-2012

Hopefully he does a good job.

**Two4DaMoney** · 05-30-2012

Originally Posted by Nitey

Hopefully he does a good job.

If not, I pray that Saints Row is somehow sold to Rock Star.

**TAZ427** · 05-30-2012

Originally Posted by TDbank24

I'm sure Jason will bring THQ to new heights. He's the founder of Naughty Dog after all. The most talented studio in the business.

Uhm, sure, but was has he done for me lately? He wasn't part of what put ND on the map, which is undoubtedly the Uncharted franchise. Not to say that Crash Bandicoot and J & D weren't decent franchises, they just weren't Uncharted type franchises IMHO.

So since 2004 he did what, Well him and Andy created Flektor. I'm sorry, but who in the gaming word gives a rats ass about Flektor.

Maybe he does have it, maybe he doesn't, but I'm not going to credit him as being a super genius of ND which is now famous for Uncharted when he had nothing to do with Uncharted's success, and he's been out of the gaming industry for 8yrs.

Good luck to him though.

**Typical guy** · 05-30-2012

Originally Posted by TAZ427

Uhm, sure, but was has he done for me lately? He wasn't part of what put ND on the map, which is undoubtedly the Uncharted franchise. Not to say that Crash Bandicoot and J & D weren't decent franchises, they just weren't Uncharted type franchises IMHO.

So since 2004 he did what, Well him and Andy created Flektor. I'm sorry, but who in the gaming word gives a rats ass about Flektor.

Maybe he does have it, maybe he doesn't, but I'm not going to credit him as being a super genius of ND which is now famous for Uncharted when he had nothing to do with Uncharted's success, and he's been out of the gaming industry for 8yrs.

Good luck to him though.

I'm thinking they brought him on board to sell the company. See the links and excerpts below.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...29-713904.html

Notable parts of the Wall Street Journal article that support my supposition:

"Rubin also co-founded Flektor, a media-mashup tool, which was acquired in 2007 by Fox Interactive Media, a division of News Corp."

"THQ said it also appointed Jason Kay, who co-founded Flektor with Rubin, as its new chief strategy officer. "

http://www.kay2ventures.com/about.htm

"Kay2 Ventures is a business consulting and investment firm based in Los Angeles, California. Its two principals, Jason and Philip Kay, are passionate entrepreneurs, investors and advisors with over 40 years of combined experience starting, growing and selling companies."