When you've got a business going, it's a wise idea to keep track of your cashflow. THQ has been doing precisely that. In fact, the company has recently reported the fourth quarter results of the fiscal year, which ended last March 31, 2008. More financial statistics in the full article after the jump.

  

Dreamworks and Hasbro are rushing full throttle towards the completion of the anticipated game tie-in of the Transformers movie for the PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, DS and PlayStation Portable. Aptly titled Transformers: The Game, the developers are bannering gameplay mechanics that will re-live the glory days of the immortal cartoon series all the while introducing it to the younger generation using a next-gen mantle.

For starters, players will get to choose whether they want to play as the heroic Autobots or the nefarious Decepticons. Both sides have a wide array of Transformers icons such as Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Starscream and many more. Switching from vehicle to robot form will be almost seamless in order to adapt to whatever the situation calls for.

Environments, as expected, will be fully destructible to up the sense of sheer, mindless mayhem. For those who would like to play with more of a thinking style, they can pretend to use on-screen objects to their advantage and be very proud.
 

   

Hasbro and Dreamworks also revealed that the PSP version will have 20 playable characters with unique stats, abilities, personalities and more.

The last time we heard from our favorite ogre was last year. As the third movie nears release in May so does the game's release. Today we have new info on the multi platform title - Shrek the Third from Activision.

In this newest Shrek title, players would be able to play as Shrek, Donkey, Puss-in-Boots, Fiona, Arthur (Fiona's rebellious cousin), and Sleeping Beauty. The game will take players on another adventure to Far Far Away, visiting movie locations plus some exclusive game content. In the game, Prince Charming attacks the city with his merry band of fairy tale villains. Challenges include fighting Charming's evil henchmen, gathering collectibles, numerous boss fights, and single player and multiplayer mini games.

Shrek the Third also features 20 movie-based and game exclusive levels like the Academy Grounds, Pirate Ship, and Evil Queen's Castle (exclusive). And what would a Shrek game be without the signature twisted humor? Each character has a special ability: Shrek’s Ogre Power, Fiona’s Flying Kick, Puss N’ Boots Cute Puss, Sleeping Beauty’s sleeping Swoon attack, and Artie’s Power of Excalibur.

The game also includes puzzle and platform challenges (including three Princess challenges with Fiona and Sleeping Beauty). Six multiplayer minigames also include Castle Attack, Shrekleboard, Frog Herder, Shooting Gallery, Catacombs Leap, and Ships Ahoy.

Shrek the Third's release would coincide with the movie - May 2007. It has a rating of E10+ and would retail at US$ 49.99 (Xbox 360, Wii), US$ 39.99 (PS2, PSP), US$ 29.99 (GBA, NDS), and US$ 19.99 (PC). Here are some screens for the Wii, PSP, and DS versions.

See the rest of the screens after the jump!

 

We've already informed you folks that Transformers: The Game will be available for the PSP this summer and is set to be heavily based on the upcoming movie by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures. Given that the poster for the DreamWorks flick has Michael Bay prominently displayed as the movie's director, we're not entirely sure how loyal the film will be to the cartoon that we all love.

PSP World reports that the good news is that the PSP version (being developed by Savage) will allow you to select from 20 playable Autobots and Decepticons, including fan favourites such as: Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream, Bumblebee, and "I die from one blast to the chest" Ironhide.

Other gameplay features for the PSP version are not clear at present but reports say that there are ad hoc/infrastructure multiplayer elements and bot customization features included. Reports also say that the key features will be similar to the PS3 version that will be out at the same time frame.

Will the game be great? We're certainly hoping for it. We'll keep you updated as soon as more details about the game are made public.

Better graphics isn't enough. If you just increase the polygons, you will end up with better-looking characters, but that doesn't mean they'll look more "realistic." You need to improve the motion physics. And you also need to improve gameplay.

This is the point made by Glenn Entis, Academy-Award-winning senior VP and chief visual and technical officer for EA games (he was formerly CEO from Dreamworks Interactive). At the Montreal Games Summit, he used Final Fantasy as an example:

In Final Fantasy, the modelling fidelity was really better than the motion fidelity. In other words, when you looked at the models, they signalled an expectation to the audience that the motion couldn't deliver upon.

Alert the Final Fantasy fandom...
...and let the carnage commence.

An EA VP has dissed Final Fantasy for having unrealistic graphics. We can just imagine the chaos this is causing in RPG forums everywhere.

EA, on the other hand, has been hard at work to not only make characters photo-realistic, they're also making them move realistically. An example of how EA is achieving realism, according to Entis, is Tiger Woods PGA Tour (for the PC, Wii, Xbox 360, PSP, and PS3). Entis has proof that Tiger Woods PGA Tour has achieved realism: Tiger Woods couldn't tell he was looking at computer graphics.

The cast of nutty characters are at it again! In this new Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts!  trailer for the PSP, Hammy and his gang display the kind of over-the-top energy that characterizes the game. Interestingly, Over the Hedge wasn't always this sugar-buzzed. It started as a comic strip, by Michael Fry and T. Lewis, about con-artist RJ the raccoon, Verne the philosophical turtle and Hammy, the squirrel.

In the recent film adaptation by Dreamworks, RJ tricks a group of woodlanders into venturing into suburbia. His motive was to help him get some food which he needs to pay back the supply he stole from a bear. Providing voices to the characters were Bruce Willis (RJ), Garry Shandling (Verne) and Steve Carrel (Hammy).

While the movie top-billed RJ the raccoon, the game is Hammy's territory and he runs away with it like a critter that forgot to take its ADHD medication. In fact, in "Hammy Time" Hammy turns into greased lightning overcoming his opponents in the blink of an eye. Fur will fly once the game starts.

In Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! gamers can also play against up to three friends in wireless multiplayer mode and unlock secret features like comic strips, film stills and special gameplay modes. The PSP version of this title from Activision has eight playable arenas of multiplayer and several multiplayer modes.

Download: [Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts! Trailer #2]

Oops! QJ reader meh pointed out a boo-boo we committed in this article. Nick Nolte, in fact, did not provide the voice for Hammy the squirrel. It was Steve Carrel (the zany boss in The Office) who gave life to Hammy. Sorry about that and thanks meh.

The furry group of adventurers that are made up of Hammy, RJ, and Verne are coming to the PSP, DS and GBA as gaming legends Activision announce the shipping date their undisputed furry adventure title for the portable consoles, Over The Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts. You may well be thinking that the game itself is nuts, but it provides fun for the family and received a reasonable reception when we reported on this game last week.

Over The Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts actually begins shipping today for the GameBoy Advance, but won't come to the next generation portable consoles, with the Nintendo DS getting the game on October 24th and PSP owners having the chance to play the game in November this year. The PSP and DS version of the game will both have an RRP of $39.99 and like a true family game have been rated 'E' for everyone.

Over The Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts has been made to build on the success of the Over the Hedge film and Activision have worked with DreamWorks Animation to create an all-new movie-inspired adventure. If you own both a PSP and a DS you may be hard pushed in which version to buy because the game has a different tint for each platform.

In the Nintendo DS game, players set out on an adventure to help Hammy and their favorite woodland creatures explore neighborhood homes for items that will help them get revenge on 'Dwayne the Exterminator' (aka the bad guy). Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts for the Nintendo DS features an enhanced dual-screen display and lets fans re-live moments from the game via a replay feature.

In the PSP version, fans get the chance to interact with new characters, explore 3D environments and experience a concept which goes by the name of "Hammy Time". This involves Hammy racing around and defeating opponents in the blink of an eye. Players will also experience wireless multiplayer gameplay, 3D and interactive environments and new characters in the PSP version.

Pre-order: [Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts PSP]
Pre-order: [Over the Hedge Hammy Goes Nuts DS]

There are two types of gamers here. One of which would find the phrase "Over the Hedge is furry" rather disturbing (we'd rather not explain why), while the other type wouldn't get the pun at all. But kidding aside, yes, Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts is a furry game.

Based on the film produced by Dreamworks, this game from Activision follows Hammy, RJ, and Verne after the events of the movie. A new menace has arrived in their suburbia and it's up to you to win back the peace. Together with some old and new friends, you'd be able to explore new areas of suburbia: ponds, sewers, backyards, and all. Now whether you're going to be playing alone or in multiplayer mode, there's going to be tons of secrets to unlock.

Furry as it might be, the kids (both young and old) would definitely find the greener side of the fence here.

Pre-order: [Over the Hedge: Hammy Goes Nuts]