THQ Announces Partners Division

Electronic Arts' EA Partners program has allowed it to publish some high-profile third-party titles, and in turn helped those developers reach a wider distribution network -- now THQ is getting on board with a similar strategy, announcing its own partner program. The new division is titled THQ Partners, and the company says it's dedicated to "providing select developers and publishers access to THQ’s global retail and online publishing network." THQ, which has North American, European and Asia-Pacific offices, says it will start meeting with interested potential partners during E3 next month. THQ Partners will be led by Tim Walsh as president -- Walsh most recently served as VP of publisher relations for IGA Worldwide, and he has worked in interactive entertainment, music and the in-game ad space for some 20 years. THQ Global Publishing executive VP Ian Curran notes that adding games from other developers and publishers to its distribution network also enhances the company's own product offering. "I’m looking forward to working with a select number of world-class developers and publishers to distribute their great games through our global network," Walsh says.