New WWII Real-Time Strategy Game From THQ and Relic Entertainment to Set New
Standards for PC Gaming in 2006
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- THQ Inc.
(Nasdaq: THQI) and critically-acclaimed development studio Relic Entertainment
announced today that The Game Critics Awards has awarded Company of
Heroes(TM), the next revolution in action-strategy PC gaming, the distinction
of Best Strategy Game, based on evaluations made during last month's
Electronic Entertainment Expo.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041118/LATH093LOGO)
"We have been really excited to unveil Company of Heroes to the public and
are happy to see Relic's hard work has been validated by the industry's top
journalists," said Ron Moravek, general manager, Relic Entertainment.
"Company of Heroes is not only going to raise the bar for the real time
strategy genre, but for PC games in general."
The "Game Critics Awards: Best of E3" awards are presented annually by The
Game Critics Awards, an independent group of journalists from 33 leading North
American media outlets that cover the videogame industry. Now in its ninth
year, these awards recognize the games that will shape the future of
interactive entertainment. Games eligible for nomination were shown during
the May 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, the world's largest videogame
convention.
A real-time strategy (RTS) game set in World War II, Company of Heroes
brings to life, in full cinematic detail, the greatest war mankind has ever
known. The game is built on Relic's next-generation Essence Engine,
delivering cinematic visual detail in a world completely driven by realistic
physics. The game is scheduled to release worldwide in 2006.
Company of Heroes has also picked up a collection of awards from some of
the top online game web sites in the world, including:
* Winner, Best PC Game of Show; Winner, Best Strategy Game of Show;
Finalist, Best Overall Game of Show -- GameSpot.com
* Runner Up, Best Strategy Game (PC), Runner Up, Technological Excellence
(PC) -- IGN.com
* Best of E3 -- GameSpy.com
"We're pleased with the strong reaction our product line received at E3
across the board," said Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ. "In addition
to the overwhelming success by Company of Heroes, Saint's Row was awarded the
GameSpot People's Choice Award, and Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers was
recognized by IGN as the best Xbox strategy game of the show."
For more information, please visit http://www.companyofheroesgame.com. For more
information on the Game Critics Awards, please visit
http://www.gamecriticsawards.com.
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 PC and next-gen console projects in the RTS and action genres
including "Company of Heroes", "Warhammer(R): 40,000: Dawn of War(TM) --
Winter Assault(TM)" and "The Outfit(TM)".
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, Company of Heroes, The Outfit and their
respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
The statements contained in this press release which 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 Company
of Heroes 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. 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 Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period
ended March 31, 2005, and particularly the discussion of risk factors that may
affect results of operations 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.
Andrew Wong
GCI Group for THQ
415-974-7235
awong@gcigroup.com
Craig Mitchell
THQ/ Media Relations
818/871-8587
Julie MacMedan
THQ/ Investor Relations
818/871-5090
SOURCE THQ Inc.
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Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041118/LATH093LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Related links:
http://www.thq.com
CONTACT:
Andrew Wong of GCI Group, +1-415-974-7235,
awong@gcigroup.com, for THQ; or Craig Mitchell, Media Relations,
+1-818-871-8587, or Julie MacMedan, Investor Relations,
+1-818-871-5090, both of THQ
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