As part of a new analyst note, Janco Partners' Mike Hickey has referenced the latest
Grand Theft Auto IV-satirizing trailer for THQ's
Saint's Row 2, suggesting the move is "unusually pompous" and reiterating "conservative" sales expectations for THQ's urban open-world title.
Commenting within an entertainment business round-up sent out to clients and selective press, Hickey noted specifically:
"A new
Saint’s Row 2 trailer can be found through the following hyperlink -
http://www.thq-games.com/uk/thqtv/index/1516.
The trailer directly attacks
Grand Theft Auto IV in game content, an unusually pompous position in our view, considering
GTA IV is estimated to be the highest grossing 1st week entertainment release of all time - and is currently the highest quality scored game on both the Xbox 360 and PS3 according to Metacritic.com.
We remain conservative on our sales expectations for
Saint’s Row 2, in light of mediocre game previews and a delayed release in-part from quality concerns."
The game's delay,
originally announced on May 29th, meant that
Saint's Row 2, developed by original series creators Volition and due to debut on August 26th, will be released on October 14th in the U.S.
Saint's Row 2 is a key franchise title for THQ, which
recently 'realigned' following a loss in fiscal 2008, and is concentrating on a mix of original IP and licensed family titles "to take advantage of the expanding demographic on the growing installed base of new gaming systems."
