Happy Monday gamers! I hope you have recovered from your weekend shenanigans because it is time to return to the real world. You know, the one where you have to drive to work in the freezing cold, while listening to the radio’s dreadful economic reports. Luckily, the entire world hasn’t gone to hell in a hand basket. Yet.

Today’s beacon of light comes from THQ. The company has had its share of financial troubles over the past year, but that hasn’t stopped its employees from being enthusiastic about the future. The publisher plans to release “WWE Legends of Wrestlemania” in March and might be looking into a sequel to Blue Tongue’s colorful 3D platformer, “de Blob.”

“We’re pleased with de Blob’s performance worldwide,” a THQ employee recently told IGN. “It’s a great intellectual property and you can tell your readers to expect to see more of de Blob in the future.”

An ambiguous comment to say the least. For instance, he/she could have been foreshadowing a sequel, a completely new game based on the IP or a future cameo by Blob. A sequel certainly seems more likely than “de Blob Poker Night,” but a guest appearance in a future “Super Smash Bros.” game doesn’t seem out of the question. That is, if there is another sequel to the popular brawler.

There was also no mention of a specific platform. Though, the article was published under the site’s Wii section. The home console version of “de Blob” is exclusive to the Wii, but there is a portable version available on the iTunes App Store. According to IGN, a DS version of “de Blob” is scheduled to ship later this year. There is no such listing on either the game’s official site or THQ’s site.

According to NPD data obtained by IGN, the Wii game, which released last Sept. 22, managed to shift 230,000 copies in the U.S. during 2008. That number is respectable for an original, console-specific game, but I am distressed that so many Wii owners are ignoring yet another quality, third-party title.

Despite its shortcomings (repetitive missions, waggle combat), “de Blob” is definitely one of the most creative third-party titles currently available for the Wii. The game’s presentation is fantastic; most gamers will love its amusing cutscenes and delightful soundtrack. If you haven’t rolled around Chroma City yet, I highly recommend you give the game a spin.

While many studios simply release crappy mini-game collections, Blue Tongue developed a unique experience that Nintendo fans can be proud to call their own. THQ’s plans could always change, but I am glad that the company is looking to expand the “de Blob” IP.

According to a recent Gamasutra report, the company’s most recent  “Smackdown vs. Raw” and “SpongeBob” games didn’t exactly scorch the software charts. Perhaps THQ is looking to inject some new life into its aging portfolio.

Source: IGN

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