THQ Announces 2000 Product Line-Up -- Strongest Product Line in Company History
Business/Electronic Games Editors
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2000--
THQ Marks the End of its Phenomenal 1999 Holiday Selling Season
With a Promising Release Schedule for 2000
THQ Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI) today announced its 2000 product line --
the strongest release schedule in company history.
On the heels of the company's best holiday selling season, THQ
has assembled the biggest names in interactive game development and
some of the biggest brands in entertainment to usher in the new
millennium. The 2000 release schedule, which can be found at
www.thq.com/ReleaseSchedule, crosses every viable platform including
PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, PC, Mac and Game
Boy Color, as well as a slate of online games.
"Reports from retail indicate that 1999 marks the biggest holiday
selling season ever for THQ," said Brian Farrell, president and CEO,
THQ. "We topped the charts with WWF WrestleMania 2000 for N64,
Disney/Pixar's Toy Story 2 for Game Boy Color, our Rugrats releases,
and launched our first MTV Sports release, MTV Sports: Snowboarding.
We anticipate record sales and earnings for the fourth quarter of
1999, and we continue to believe that we will exceed final analyst
expectations for the quarter. We are excited to unveil our 2000
line-up, which includes our first online product, our first Dreamcast
release, as well as launch support of the highly anticipated
PlayStation 2. This schedule promises another great year for THQ."
Farrell also noted that the top-selling WWF WrestleMania 2000 for
the Nintendo 64, which has been sold out in many locations across the
country, will be back on retail shelves in mid-January to meet high
consumer demand.
"We've been thrilled with the success of our initial WWF release
and have been working very closely with Nintendo to keep up with the
huge demand for this best selling game," Farrell added.
New Brands for the New Millennium
THQ's year 2000 line-up will continue to leverage many of its
existing brands and franchises. Additionally, the company is preparing
to introduce new titles to the interactive gaming industry following
the formation of new alliances with major players in entertainment
including Saban and Renaissance Pictures.
Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue(TM)
Power Rangers enjoys a tremendous following as a top kids'
television series and action figure line. Current Power Rangers
programming, Power Rangers Lost Galaxy, delivers the top rating of all
weekday kid strip programs. This February, Power Rangers launches its
seventh season of programming with Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue.
THQ will be there this fall with a rollout of interactive adventures
on PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color allowing millions of
Power Rangers fans to experience the all-new series.
Evil Dead
This fall, THQ subsidiary Heavy Iron Studios, a development group
composed primarily of members of the acclaimed Parasite Eve(TM) team,
will bring gaming and horror fans their first interactive foray into
Renaissance Pictures' dark Evil Dead universe with Evil Dead for
PlayStation, Dreamcast and PC. THQ's Evil Dead will meld original
creative content with a high-powered brand to deliver a bone-chilling
Evil Dead experience that plays off the characters and environments of
the cult-classic film.
Original Franchises Debuting in 2000
Summoner(TM)
Volition, famous for the commercial and critical Descent and
Freespace franchise successes, is working on their next original
property, Summoner. A uniquely immersive role-playing game experience,
Summoner is scheduled for release on PlayStation 2, PC and Mac.
Felony Pursuit(TM)
Players take on both sides of the law in Felony Pursuit, an
action-packed, urban driving thrill ride of the near future. Developed
by Polygon Studio of Paris, this fast-paced car-chase adventure
transforms players into police officers on the beat or criminals on
the lam in a thrilling cat-and-mouse car chase. Felony Pursuit for
Dreamcast and PC is scheduled for spring 2000 release.
Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage(TM)
Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage offers the first traditional
Nintendo 64 role-playing game experience complete with a deep
storyline, sinister characters and an arsenal of unique weapons and
magic. Developed by H2O Entertainment, Aidyn Chronicles: The First
Mage is scheduled for release in summer 2000.
Expansions of Proven THQ Properties
World Wrestling Federation(R)
WWF SmackDown! for PlayStation game console, scheduled for Q1,
2000 release, is only the next in THQ/JAKKS Pacific line of WWF games,
but far from the last of the year. THQ will continue to work with the
top wrestling game development talent in the world to ensure that the
millions of WWF fans enjoy the best Sports-Entertainment experiences
for PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color and a
second PlayStation release in fall 2000.
Nickelodeon's Rugrats
Rugrats remains the No. 1 rated kids' television show on
Nickelodeon. THQ's spring 2000 release, Rugrats(TM): Totally
Angelica(TM) for Game Boy Color is a brand new game specifically
targeting the girl gamer. In Rugrats: Totally Angelica, players assume
the role of Angelica Pickles where her main objective is to collect
various items including clothes, shoes and accessories. THQ's 2000
Rugrats line also includes all new adventures on PlayStation, Nintendo
64 and Game Boy Color including Holiday 2000 support in conjunction
with the release of "Rugrats in Paris - The Movie," the highly
anticipated sequel to the $160 million grossing "The Rugrats Movie."
MTV Sports
The MTV Sports action sports product line expansions include MTV
Sports: Skateboarding (working title), a skateboarding experience
replete with killer tricks, hot bands and the biggest names in the
sport, scheduled to release this summer. An MTV Sports branded
BMX-style racing game is also in development for fall 2000 release.
THQ's MTV Sports products will release for Dreamcast, PlayStation, PC
and Game Boy Color. Additionally, THQ will sequel MTV Sports:
Snowboarding on PlayStation in fall of 2000.
Championship Motocross Featuring Ricky Carmichael(TM)
Last fall's Championship Motocross Featuring Ricky Carmichael(TM)
for PlayStation was widely heralded as the best motocross racer in the
very competitive motocross category. THQ's sequel to that title, a
fall 2000 release, will raise the bar for motocross racing games on
both PlayStation and Game Boy Color with all the licenses, riders,
tracks, tricks and gritty realism of one of racing's most popular
sports.
Online Products in 2000
WWF Online (working title)
THQ/JAKKS Pacific WWF online strategy game, developed by newly
acquired THQ subsidiary Genetic Anomalies and scheduled for a spring
2000 release, offers fans head-to-head and multi-player matches where
players can direct the moves and counter-moves of their favorite
online Superstars in a quest to achieve the ultimate goal -- the
online WWF championship.
Together with Genetic Anomalies, THQ will explore development of
other online products featuring both THQ and non-THQ intellectual
properties.
THQ develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment
software worldwide for a variety of hardware platforms including PC
CD-ROM, Mac, and those manufactured by Sega, Nintendo and Sony. The
THQ Web site is located at www.thq.com.
The statements contained in this release, which are not
historical facts, may be deemed to constitute forward-looking
statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected
in such statements due to a number of risks and uncertainties,
including, without limitation, demand and competition for the
company's products, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the
company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
--30--mk/la* jc/la
CONTACT: THQ Inc.
Liz Bell, 818/871-5061 (Media Relations)
Mary Nelson Garrett, 818/871-5090 (Investor Relations)
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: ENTERTAINMENT ELECTRONIC GAMES/MULTIMEDIA
PRODUCT
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Jan-07-2000 14:46 GMT
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