Video game publisher THQ Inc. has opened a new office in Shanghai to take advantage of the growing Chinese market. The office will lead efforts by the Agoura Hills-based company to expand its partnerships in China for development and distribution of online and packaged games in that country and around the world. The company’s first offering specifically for the Asian market will be a free online version of “Company of Heroes” to be released later in the year. Tim Page has been tapped to lead efforts to expand online gaming offerings, with assistance from Kevin Chu, corporate director of THQ’s External Development Group, who will run THQ’s global outsourcing operations and assist in local product development initiatives from Shanghai.