WWF WrestleMania 2000 For Nintendo 64 Ranked No. 1 Seller Among Leading Videogame Retailers
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 30, 1999--JAKKS Pacific/THQ LLC, a limited liability company consisting of JAKKS Pacific Inc. (Nasdaq:JAKK - news) and THQ Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI - news), today announced record sales for WWF WrestleMania® 2000 for the Nintendo® 64 game console.
The game launched Thursday, Nov. 18 with a national television launch event on UPN's ''WWF SmackDown!'' and has ranked as the top-selling console game among major software retailers for the past two weeks, even topping the charts over the busy post-Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
''WWF WrestleMania 2000 jumped to the No. 1 position among all videogames the day it was released and really kicked off the N64 holiday season,'' said Pete Roithmayr, vice president merchandising/video games, Electronics Boutique. ''We're selling it out as quickly as we can get it back in stock, and we anticipate that it will maintain its place at the top of the charts throughout the holiday season.''
''We're delighted that major retailers are able to confirm the tremendous success of WWF WrestleMania 2000 for N64,'' said Stephen Berman, president and chief operating officer of Jakks Pacific. ''The release of the WWF videogames on all platforms over the 10 year WWF videogame license, beginning with this one for N64, should continue to stimulate consumer interest and excitement for JAKKS Pacific's already popular WWF action figures and toys.''
''We are thrilled with the initial response to WWF WrestleMania 2000,'' said Brian Farrell, president and chief executive officer of THQ. ''Even at this early date, signs indicate that WWF WrestleMania 2000 is going to be one of the biggest hits of the holiday season.''
''From the onset, we believed that our partnership with JAKKS Pacific and THQ would bring millions of fans the best game in sports-entertainment,'' said Jim Bell, senior vice president of licensing, World Wrestling Federation Entertainment. ''It's great to see that consumers agree.''
WWF WrestleMania 2000 sales are being fueled by an extensive marketing campaign crossing every medium. The six-week national TV campaign features WWF Superstar The Rock(tm) in 15- and 30-second spots created and produced by WWF's own internal television producers.
''We have crafted a marketing campaign to accurately support what numerous critics have deemed 'the best wrestling game ever,''' said Peter Dille, vice president of marketing, THQ. ''The WWF's involvement in creating the WWF WrestleMania 2000 TV campaign is unprecedented. Their long-standing position at the top of the sports-entertainment industry is further solidified by their unfailing commitment to building the WWF brand across every medium.''
WWF WrestleMania 2000 for the Nintendo 64 offers enthusiasts a comprehensive list of features and WWF Superstars including The Rock (tm), The Undertaker® and Stone Cold Steve Austin(tm). Intricate create-a-wrestler and edit modes will give players the chance to design new characters with specific appearances and mannerisms. Several game modes including cage matches are also featured in WWF WrestleMania 2000, including the biggest Pay-Per-View events in the world and all new wrestler entrances complete with authentic Titantron(tm) clips and pyrotechnics. For more information on WWF WrestleMania 2000, visit www.thq.com/wwf.
JAKKS Pacific is a multibrand toy company that designs, develops, produces and markets toys and related products, including (1) action figures and accessories featuring licensed characters, principally from the World Wrestling Federation®, (2) Flying Colors® molded plastic activity sets, clay compound playsets and lunch boxes, (3) Road Champs® die-cast collectible and toy vehicles and Remco® toy vehicles and role-play toys and accessories, (4) Child Guidance® infant and preschool electronic toys, toy foam puzzle mats and blocks and activity sets and outdoor products, and (5) fashion and mini dolls and related accessories.
World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Inc. (Nasdaq:WWFE - news) is an integrated media and entertainment company, principally engaged in the development, production and marketing of television programming, Pay-Per-View programming and live events, and the licensing and sale of branded consumer products. The company also distributes news and information about its programming and products through its main Internet site, www.wwf.com.
THQ Inc. develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software worldwide for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD-ROM, and those manufactured by Sega, Nintendo and Sony. The THQ Web site is located at www.thq.com.
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Contact:
JAKKS Pacific Inc.
Stephen Berman, 310/456-7799
or
THQ/Media Relations
Liz Bell or Kathy Mendoza, 818/871-5061
818/871-5059
THQ/Investor Relations
Mary Nelson Garrett, 818/871-5090 |
