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Wanna harvest souls? There's an app for that.

by: Nathaniel -
More On: Darksiders II
I have a theory that the marketing departments at big videogame publishers are made up of lunatics, for whom no idea is too shoes-then-socks crazy to turn into a national marketing campaign.

App-store cross-promotions like this one do nothing to disavow me of such a notion.

THQ announced today that there is now a free "soul-harvesting" app aptly titled Soul Harvest tied into Darksiders II available for free right now.  You compete with other soul-harvesters on a North American leader board by harvesting the souls of those who check into nearby location via Facebook.  It's all the more reason to not check into locations via Facebook if you ask me.

Anyway, as you hit various soul-harvesting thresholds you'll be able to unlock items for use in Darksiders II.  Users are also eligible for daily prizes with a chance to win a "trip to the end of the world," whatever that means.  

Wanna learn more?  Follow the jump.

DARKSIDERS® II “SUMMER OF DEATH” CONTINUES WITH APOCALYPSE-THEMED SWEEPSTAKES AND THE RELEASE OF iOS APP

Location-Based App Offers Unlockables in Advance of Highly-Anticipated Game

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. July 18, 2012 – With Darksiders II just weeks from its August 14, 2012 release, THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) launched the Darksiders® II Soul Harvest™ app on the App StoreTM for iOS devices in the U.S. and Canada. The free app allows users to “harvest the souls” of others who check into nearby locations on Facebook. App users also can enter to win daily Darksiders II prizes with a chance to win a “Trip to the End of the World.”

Soul Harvest users will compete with their friends within North America to be the top harvester via an in-app leaderboard. Fans also will collect reward tokens as they reach new soul-harvesting thresholds, unlocking bonuses such as an in-game weapon, the first issue of the Darksiders digital comic, mobile backgrounds and access to trailers and other footage from the game. In addition to the exclusive in-app items, users have the chance to win daily prizes, such as a full-sized replica of Death’s scythe from the game.  Daily winners are automatically entered into the grand prize drawing for a trip to the Yucatan Peninsula, the seat of Mayan civilization and home to the Chicxculub crater, purportedly where the asteroid struck that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.

The Soul Harvest app has been released in partnership with Best Buy, which is supporting it with in-store and online marketing activity.  As part of the partnership, players who “reap” souls that have checked into Best Buys receive a bonus to their score.

“The Soul Harvest app is a great way for Darksiders fans to connect with the game’s fiction and interact with each other,” said Jim Huntley, vice president of global brand marketing, THQ, Inc. “The app offers some awesome rewards for fans as they reap their way through the last few weeks before Darksiders II launches.”

Darksiders II follows the exploits of Death, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, in an action-packed tale that runs parallel to the events in the original Darksiders game. This epic journey propels Death through various light and dark realms as he tries to redeem his brother WAR, the horseman blamed for prematurely starting the Apocalypse in Darksiders.

Darksiders II launches for Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and PC on Aug. 14, 2012 in the United States. For more information, check out www.Darksiders.com.

About Darksiders II

Awakened by the End of Days, Death, the most feared of the legendary Four Horsemen embarks on a quest to redeem his brother's name. Become the terrifying force which everything fears but nothing can escape.

Darksiders II was heralded by many top outlets as one of the best games at E3 2012, including the “Best Action Game” award from Neoseeker.com and nominations for “Best Action Game” from IGN, “Readers Choice” from GameSpot and “Best Action Adventure Game” from Gaming Excellence.

The original Darksiders®, released in January 2010, received critical acclaim including the Best Fantasy Game 2010 award from IGN. Darksiders followed the story of WAR, wrongly accused of starting the apocalypse, on a quest to reclaim lost honor and take revenge on those who wronged him.

About THQ

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ, Darksiders and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.

Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, the Xbox logos, and the Xbox LIVE logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.

"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Darksiders II © 2012 THQ Inc.  Developed by Vigil Games.  Darksiders, Vigil Games, THQ and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.  All rights reserved.

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “THQ”), including, but not limited to, expectations and projections related to the Darksiders II video game and are based upon management’s current beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ’s financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2012, and particularly the discussion of trends and risk factors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.