Line-up Includes First-Looks at Company of Heroes, Titan Quest, Full Spectrum
Warrior(TM): Ten Hammers(TM) and Original Content for Microsoft's Next
Generation Xbox Videogame System from Internal Studios Relic Entertainment and
Volition, Inc.
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., May 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Leading
independent video game publisher THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) today announced plans
to unveil high-profile upcoming releases for current and next-generation
console systems, Windows PC and handheld/wireless devices at the Electronic
Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles from May 18 - May 20.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041118/LATH093LOGO)
THQ will showcase titles aimed at core gamers for Microsoft's
next-generation Xbox(R) video game system on the show floor and will be
demonstrating several Windows PC exclusive titles including Company of Heroes
and Titan Quest. In addition to these never-before-seen core gaming titles,
THQ will be featuring three other highly acclaimed original properties,
including Juiced, Destroy All Humans!(TM) and the sequel to its critically
acclaimed franchise Full Spectrum Warrior(TM).
THQ will also present its current generation system product portfolio
geared at the mass market, one of the most expansive in the industry,
including Disney Presents a Pixar film The Incredibles: Rise of the
Underminer, Tak(TM): The Great Juju Challenge, SpongeBob SquarePants(TM):
Lights, Camera, PANTS!, Scooby-Doo!(TM) Unmasked and Bratz(TM): Rock Angelz.
These titles and many others will be available for hands-on demonstrations in
the THQ booth, #1046, in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center
May 18-20.
"THQ comes to E3 2005 with an extremely diverse and well rounded line-up
highlighted by internally developed titles for next generation console systems
and sequels to several of our top-selling licensed and original franchises for
current generation systems. Titles like Company of Heroes and Warhammer
40,000: Dawn of War - Winter Assault are already winning critical praise from
game enthusiast media, furthering our emergence as a leader in the PC space,"
said Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ. "At the same time, our continued
dominance of the mass-market segment is evidenced by the strong performance of
our market leading licensed brands."
In addition to showing products that will establish their position as a
leader in development for the new next-generation Xbox video game system, THQ
will also demonstrate their commitment to establishing new brands in the
high-end PC marketplace by showcasing a number of Windows PC titles including:
Company of Heroes: Developed by acclaimed internal THQ studio Relic
Entertainment, Company of Heroes redefines the RTS genre, delivering a
visceral WWII gaming experience and bringing to life the sacrifice of heroic
soldiers across war-ravaged, dynamic battlefields. Through a rich single
player campaign, players experience the cinematic intensity, courage and
bravery of ordinary soldiers thrust into extraordinary events. Players can
also compete in 2-8 player multi-play experiences via LAN or internet.
Company of Heroes is scheduled to release in 2006.
Titan Quest: Developed by Iron Lore, lead by Age of Empires co-creator
Brian Sullivan, Titan Quest is an all-new action RPG set in the mythical
worlds of ancient Greece and Egypt. Titan Quest takes players on an epic
adventure of good versus evil where they will battle mythical monsters on a
journey to save mankind from the Titans, parents of the Olympian gods Zeus and
Poseidon, who have escaped captivity and are wreaking havoc on the world.
Titan Quest is scheduled to release in 2006.
Warhammer 40,000(R) Dawn of War(TM) -- Winter Assault: The highly
anticipated expansion pack to internal THQ studio Relic Entertainment's
critically acclaimed real-time strategy hit Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War,
features a deeper single-player experience, a brand new fifth race -- The
Imperial Guard - and even more intense Dawn of War action. Warhammer 40,000:
Dawn of War -- Winter Assault is based on the world of Warhammer 40,000 -- the
dark, futuristic, fantasy universe from Games Workshop, and is scheduled to
release in fall 2005.
In addition, THQ will showcase titles for the huge installed base of
current-gen console systems including:
Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers: Pandemic Studios' Full Spectrum
Warrior: Ten Hammers, sequel to the award winning Full Spectrum Warrior, takes
the tactical action genre to the next level, delivering the most innovative
and authentic military gaming experience to date. Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten
Hammers combines squad-based combat and real-time tactical action, thrusting
players into hostile urban war zones in which your team's new mission is to
capture and control the northern city of Khardiman, a city besieged by warring
factions. Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers is scheduled to release for the
Xbox video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment
system and Windows PC in early 2006.
MotoGP 3: The MotoGP franchise has established itself as the definitive
motorcycle racing game for the Xbox and PC. MotoGP 3 has taken the thrill of
the first two titles and doubled it, extending the franchise beyond the realms
of Grand Prix racing through the introduction of street racing in Extreme
Mode. Extreme Mode will feature 16 new tracks, 16 new bikes, a currency
system and full bike customization. The MotoGP circuit racing will include
17 official MotoGP tracks and 24 official riders. Multiplayer features
include up to 16 players online for both Xbox Live and PC. MotoGP 3 is
scheduled to release for Xbox and Windows PC this summer.
Juiced: Juiced immerses gamers in the lifestyle and culture of the street
racing scene. Showing off modding and driving skills will earn respect from
rival crew chiefs, granting players access to high-profile race events where
they will bet against other drivers for cash and race them for pink slips. As
notoriety grows, players will form racing teams, opening up never-before-seen
crew races where managing your drivers is key to beating rival crews. The
game's extensive online options include six-player crew racing and pink slip
races where someone will lose their car. Juiced is scheduled to release for
Xbox, PlayStation 2 and Windows PC on June 13, 2005.
Destroy All Humans!: The plot for world domination by extraterrestrial
life begins as developer Pandemic Studios transforms conventional expectations
of playing the human defending against an alien invasion to allow them to act
as the alien hell bent on infiltrating and taking over all of humanity.
Packed with non-stop action, advanced alien weaponry and abilities, and
humorous science-fiction mythology, Destroy All Humans! uncovers an open ended
world where the player can unleash massive destruction from a UFO or land at
any point to walk among humans as the 3rd person alien. Destroy All Humans
is scheduled to release for Xbox and PlayStation 2 on June 21, 2005.
Also at E3, THQ highlights its catalog appealing to the mass-market
audience by delivering exciting adventures appropriate for gamers of all ages:
Tak: The Great Juju Challenge: With the Tak franchise having shipped more
than 2 million units worldwide, Tak is back with another highly anticipated
adventure as the top teams from Tak's world come to compete in The Great Juju
Challenge. Representing the Pupanunu tribe are Tak and Lok who, for the first
time in cooperative gameplay, face great adversity in the form of wild animals
and menacing new tribes. This exciting adventure combines unique puzzles,
time-based strategies, and a robust combat system allowing players to hone
their skills to rise against the toughest competitors and receive the grandest
reward ever given by the Great Jujus! Tak: The Great Juju Challenge is
scheduled to release for PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox, Nintendo DS
and GameBoy Advance this fall.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, PANTS!: In the first multiplayer
game based on SpongeBob SquarePants, up to four players can engage in classic
SpongeBob-style madness. Fans play in both competitive and cooperative gaming
environments to win the ultimate chance to become a cast member as one of 10
different character roles in a special episode of "The Adventures of Mermaid
Man & Barnacle Boy." SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, PANTS! is
scheduled to release for PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Windows PC and GameBoy
Advance this fall. An additional SpongeBob SquarePants adventure, SpongeBob
SquarePants: The Yellow Avenger, will be available for Sony PSP and DS this
fall.
The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer: Following The Incredibles' defeat
of Syndrome in the Walt Disney Pictures presentation of the Pixar Animation
Studios film, a new threat emerges beneath the ground with a diabolical plot
to pollute the major cities of the world and rule over humanity from below.
Fans will be able to pick up from where the film left off and relive the glory
days as Mr. Incredible and Frozone, superhero best friends who team up to
tackle a new villain, The Underminer. The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer
is scheduled to release for PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, DS, GameBoy
Advance, and Windows PC/Mac this fall.
Wireless: THQ Wireless Inc., a subsidiary of THQ, will be also be
showcasing a huge line-up of titles that will launch on mobile handsets in the
2005 calendar year, including games and other applications based on Full
Spectrum Warrior, Warhammer 40,000, Evil Dead, Destroy All Humans!, MotoGP,
Juiced, WWE and MX vs ATV. The company will also offer a sneak peek of NFL
Football 2006, the sequel to THQ's highest selling sports title, NFL Football
2005. The full suite of Star Wars-themed products for mobile phones will also
be featured at the THQ booth.
THQ's market-leading handheld lineup will include new titles for PSP
system, GameBoy Advance and Nintendo DS. These and other titles will be on
display at the THQ booth.
About Pandemic Studios:
Pandemic Studios, LLC is a premier developer of entertainment for
PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and the PC. Over the last six years, industry
veterans Josh Resnick and Andrew Goldman have built the company into one of
the largest independent developers in the world, with studios in Los Angeles,
California and in Brisbane, Australia. Pandemic games have won numerous
awards and have sold millions of copies worldwide. More information about
Pandemic is available at http://www.pandemicstudios.com.
About Pixar Animation Studios
Pixar Animation Studios combines creative and technical artistry to create
original stories in the medium of computer animation. Pixar has created six
of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time: Toy Story, A
Bug's Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo and The Incredibles.
Pixar has won 18 Academy Awards(R) and its six films have grossed more than
$3.2 billion at the worldwide box office to date. The Northern California
studio will release its next film, Cars, on June 9, 2006.
About Buena Vista Games
Buena Vista Games, Inc. (BVG) is the interactive entertainment arm of The
Walt Disney Company. The division publishes, markets and distributes a broad
portfolio of multi-platform video games and interactive entertainment
worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with
third-party interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to
market. For more information, please log on to http://www.buenavistagames.com.
About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc., a Warner Bros. Entertainment
Company, is a premier licensor and a publisher of entertainment content for
the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including
consoles, PC-based gaming and wireless applications.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, which is in its 26th year, is the number-one entertainment
brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first
in everything it does. The company includes television programming and
production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products,
online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S.
television network is seen in 88 million households and has been the
number-one-rated basic cable network for more than nine consecutive years.
Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of
Viacom International Inc.
About World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and
entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New
York, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company
can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. Information on television
ratings and community activities can be found at parents.wwe.com.
About JAKKS Pacific
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAKK) is a multi-brand company that designs
and markets a broad range of toys and leisure products. The product
categories include: Action Figures, Arts & Crafts Activity Kits, Stationery,
Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys,
Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush and Dolls. The products are sold under
various brand names including Flying Colors(R), Road Champs(R), Remco(R),
Child Guidance(R), Pentech(R), Toymax(R), Funnoodle(R), Laser Challenge(TM)
and Go Fly a Kite(TM). The Company also participates in a joint venture with
THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World
Wrestling Entertainment video(R) games. For further information, visit
http://www.jakkspacific.com
About Games Workshop
Games Workshop is the world's largest hobby war games company. Based in
Nottingham, UK, it designs, manufacturers and distributes its range of
Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 games, miniature soldiers, novels, comics and
resin models through more than 296 of its own Hobby centres, mail order,
Internet and independent retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide.
Further details on the company can be obtained at http://www.games-workshop.com
About Bratz
Since the first Bratz dolls made their debut in 2001, the brand has
evolved to encompass everything from electronics to fashion clothing. Awards
include Best Overall License and Character Brand License of the Year from
Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association (LIMA), as well as several Toy of
the Year and other awards from Family Fun and the Toy Industry Association
(TIA). Available in more than 65 countries, Bratz has become a lifestyle
brand and remains a consistent top-seller at retail across numerous product
categories. Recently, Bratz made its home entertainment debut, ranking #2 on
the VHS and #6 on the DVD charts. The first Bratz feature film is in
development and scheduled for release in 2006.
About MGA
MGA Entertainment, a consumer entertainment products company with
headquarters in Los Angeles, California, manufactures innovative lines of
proprietary and licensed products, ranging from fashion and mini-dolls to
radio-controlled vehicles. Bratz was introduced in June 2001, and has since
become one of the world's premier toy lines and girls lifestyle brands. The
brand is also noted for having won a Family Fun magazine's Toy of the Year
Award three years in a row. With over 200 licenses worldwide, Bratz brings
together innovative companies and cutting-edge fashion styles to create
exciting new products in apparel, footwear, fashion accessories and so much
more. Early this fall, MGA will introduce its first boy's intellectual toy
property ALIEN RACERS(TM) to market.
About Xbox
Xbox (http://www.xbox.com) is the video game system from Microsoft that
brings people together for the most exhilarating game and entertainment
experiences. Xbox delivers an expansive collection of breakthrough games,
powerful hardware and the unified Xbox Live online service. The new tagline,
"it's good to play together," captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of
the new digital entertainment lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North
America, Asia, Europe and Australia.
Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries.
About Relic Entertainment
Founded in 1997 and acquired by THQ in 2004, Relic Entertainment is a
leader in the development of innovative real-time strategy games for the PC.
Relic's first title, "Homeworld" (1999), was received to widespread acclaim,
garnering several "Game of the Year" and "Strategy Game of the Year" awards
from major industry publications including PC Gamer and Computer Gaming World.
Since then, Relic has released "Homeworld: Cataclysm" (2000, co-developed with
Barking Dog Studios), "Impossible Creatures" (2003), and "Homeworld 2" (2003).
The studio's most recent release, "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War" (2004), won
numerous accolades including "Strategy Game of the Year" from Computer Gaming
World. Today, Relic is building on this legacy by developing multiple
groundbreaking projects in the RTS genre.
About Volition
Located in Champaign, Illinois, Volition is one of THQ's premier internal
game development studios responsible for high-end creations on next generation
systems and PC. Its credits include the best-selling The Punisher, Red Faction
and Red Faction 2, Summoner, the acclaimed Freespace and Freespace 2, as well
as the award-winning Descent and Descent 2 as a part of Parallax Software.
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 in the United States, United Kingdom, France,
Germany, Spain, Korea and Australia. More information about THQ and its
products may be found at http://www.thq.com and http://www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ
Wireless, Relic Entertainment, Volition, Inc. and their respective logos are
trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
This press release may contain "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 performance and features of our video games and
wireless applications, and are based upon management's 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 economic, competitive and technological factors
affecting the operations, markets, products, and pricing of THQ. 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 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 and Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period
ended March 31, 2004, and particularly the discussion of risk factors that may
affect results of operations set forth therein. Readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date of this press release.
(C) Copyright Games Workshop Limited 2004. Dawn of War, Dawn of War logo,
GWI, GWI logo, Games Workshop, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000 Device, and all
associated names, insignia, marks, and images are either (R), TM and/or (C)
Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2004, variably registered in countries around the
world. Used under license. All Rights Reserved.
SCOOBY-DOO and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and
(C) Hanna-Barbera.
Liz Pieri
THQ/Media Relations
818/871-5061
Julie MacMedan
THQ/Investor Relations
818/ 871-5095
SOURCE THQ
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.thq.com
Photo Notes:http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041118/LATH093LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Media Relations, Liz Pieri, +1-818-871-5061,
or Investor Relations, Julie MacMedan, +1-818-871-5095, both of
THQ
|
