(Applies to: THQI JAKK WWFE SNE)
(JAKK) ``WWF SmackDown!' for PlayStation Backed by Extensive Marketing
Campaign; SmackDown! Hotel Commercial Featuring The Rock Premieres
Tonight on UPN
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., Mar 2, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- THQ Inc.
(Nasdaq:THQI)
and JAKKS Pacific (Nasdaq:JAKK) today launched an extensive marketing
campaign
for "WWF SmackDown!"(TM) for PlayStation game console.
The" WWF SmackDown!" TV commercial will premier tonight during World
Wrestling
Federation Entertainment's (Nasdaq:WWFE) "WWF SmackDown!" -- the No. 1
rated
program on UPN. The highly anticipated "WWF SmackDown!" PlayStation game
hits
store shelves nationwide today.
The "WWF SmackDown!" PlayStation game commercial was filmed in South Beach,
Miami, and stars The Rock coming home to the infamous SmackDown! Hotel. The
commercial also features special guest appearances by WWF Superstars Kane,
D'Lo
Brown and Edge.
The 15- and 30- second spots were created by WWFE's in-house production
department -- the same team responsible for producing, among other things,
WWFE's last two Super Bowl ad campaigns. Additional marketing highlights
for the
"WWF SmackDown!" game include:
-- A 4-week television ad campaign on UPN, FOX, ESPN, MTV, Comedy
Central and other networks.
-- Two-page spread advertisements in lifestyle, major gaming and
wrestling publications, including WWFE's RAW Magazine and WWF
Magazine.
-- Exclusive coverage on www.wwf.com, as well as banners and
promotions on major gaming and wrestling sites and at the official
"WWF SmackDown!" PlayStation game Web site at www.thq.com/smackdown
-- Posters, oversized boxes and counter displays at major PlayStation
game retailers nationwide.
-- A video trailer of the game in the Sony Computer Entertainment
America (SCEA) merchandising video at retail outlets nationwide.
-- A playable demo on Official PlayStation Magazine (OPM) and
PlayStation Underground. PlayStation Underground is also featuring
"WWF SmackDown!" as its current cover story.
-- A strong presence at THQ's booth at WWF Axxess: The Fan Fest,
from March 31-April 2, at the Anaheim Convention Center during
WrestleMania weekend. The Sony PlayStation truck will also be in
THQ's booth throughout the event.
-- An aggressive licensing and merchandising effort with WWF
action figures and toys, comic books, trading cards and the
official "WWF SmackDown!" video game strategy guide.
About "WWF SmackDown!":
Developed by Yuke's Co. Ltd., "WWF SmackDown!" is the first WWF branded
video
game to integrate the in-depth backstage storylines, including the ability
to
make and break alliances, that have made the WWF television programs so
successful.
The game features an extensive list of game play options and an up-to-date
line-up of WWF Superstars, including The Rock, Triple H and Chyna. "WWF
SmackDown!'s" robust season mode includes tag team partners, rivalries and
TV
and Pay-Per-View events. Players can brawl in the ring or behind the scenes
in
detailed environments, including the boiler room, loading dock, kitchen and
parking lot.
Also, using the Create-A-Wrestler mode, players can build their own
wrestlers
and customize their height and weight, detailed move selection and
personality
and mentality variables. Unsurpassed graphics and effects, including skin
textures and realistic lighting and shadows bring the "WWF SmackDown!"
venue to
life on PlayStation like never before.
"Together with the WWF and JAKKS Pacific, we're laying the SmackDown on the
gaming industry with this campaign," stated Peter Dille, vice president of
marketing, THQ.
"WWF has contributed to the game's marketing efforts on many levels,
including
using their own production team in creating the game's commercial. This
kind of
unique licensor/licensee relationship insures that our product is in lock
step
with the WWF brand, and it's one more reason why the WWF is so far ahead of
its
competition."
"The WWF has once again pushed the envelope of ingenuity by enhancing their
television programming with a commercial that takes the millions and
millions of
'WWF SmackDown!' fans on a sneak peak trip through the SmackDown! Hotel
tonight," stated Jennifer Richmond, vice president of marketing, JAKKS
Pacific
Inc. "We're pleased to launch THQ/JAKKS Pacific's first PlayStation release
with
such a breakthrough commercial."
"Our proven track record of successful video game releases, combined with
strong
brand recognition of 'WWF SmackDown!' and a creative multi-tiered marketing
campaign suggests this game may very well be headed towards the largest WWF
video game launch to date," said Jim Byrne, senior vice president of
marketing,
WWFE.
JAKKS Pacific is a multi-brand 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(R); 2. Flying Colors(R) molded plastic activity sets, clay
compound
playsets and lunch boxes; 3. Road Champs(R) die-cast collectible and toy
vehicles and Remco(R) toy vehicles and role-play toys and accessories; 4.
Child
Guidance(R) 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.
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.
Distributed via COMTEX.
Copyright (C) 2000 Business Wire. All rights reserved.
-0-
CONTACT: THQ Inc.
Liz Bell Pieri, 818/871-5061 (media relations)
Mary Nelson Garrett, 818/871-5090 (investor relations)
or
JAKKS Pacific Inc.
Stephen Berman, 310/456-7799 |
