THQ is to buy Catan and Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties developer, Big Huge Games, for the good old 'undisclosed fee'.

Just once it would good for someone to disclose that fee, wouldn't it?

Anyway, the move firmly into role-playing games indicates that the genre - despite its less than 'cool' image - is seen as a money maker by a publisher with a solid reputation for steady profit.

Big Huge - which developed the Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties add-on pack in cahoots with Microsoft Games Studios and Ensemble - turns into a wholly owned subsidiary of THQ in a deal that is expected to 'close shortly'. All management and the 100 staff are expected to stay onboard.

The developer is also working with THQ on a Ken Rolston-developed (creator of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion among others) RPG. This is due for release on the Xbox 360, PS3 and Windows PC in 2009.