THQ Announces The Punisher For Playstation 2 & XBox

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announces The Punisher for the Sony PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Microsoft Xbox™. Developed by THQ’s internal studio, Volition Inc.®, The Punisher, based on the popular Marvel vigilante, is scheduled to make its interactive debut in fall of 2004.

“The Punisher is one of Marvel’s grittiest heroes delivering a unique brand of vigilante justice that is a perfect fit for the video game universe,” said Germaine Gioia, Vice President of Licensing, THQ. “We look forward to working with Marvel in bringing a perfect blend of classic comic book and filmed franchise versions of The Punisher to console gamers across the globe.”

Tim Rothwell, President of Marvel’s Worldwide Consumer Products Group, said: “The Marvel Universe and all of its characters continue to provide engaging content in the interactive arena and THQ is doing a great job translating this popular vigilante to the major consoles. This is a game that will satisfy long-time Punisher fans of the Marvel Comics’ series as well as any new fans turned on to the character after his feature film adaptation this April.”

About The Punisher
Driven by a hatred of crime bordering on insanity, Frank Castle became The Punisher, a one-man army whose mission goes far beyond revenge. Taking on the city’s high-powered crime lords, he wreaks havoc on the corrupt with methods reserved for those on the wrong side of the law. The Punisher video game represents the best of over 30 years of Punisher comic books and depicts some of the grittiest storylines in the Marvel Universe.

The Punisher film starring Thomas Jane, John Travolta and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos is a production of Marvel Studios and Artisan Entertainment and will hit theatres this April.

For more information about The Punisher and other THQ products visit www.thq.com.

About Marvel Enterprises, Inc.

With a library of over 4,700 proprietary characters, Marvel Enterprises, Inc. (MVL: NYSE) is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel's operations are focused in five divisions: entertainment (Marvel Studios), licensing, toys (Toy Biz), comic book publishing and Internet/New Media. Marvel facilitates the creation of entertainment projects, including feature films, television, home video and the Internet, based on its characters and also licenses its characters for use in a wide range of consumer products and services including video and computer games, apparel, collectibles, snack foods and promotions. Marvel's characters and plot lines are created by its comic book division which continues to maintain a leadership position in the U.S. and worldwide while also serving as an invaluable source of intellectual property. For additional information visit the Marvel Web site at https://www.marvel.com.

About THQ

THQ Inc. is a leading, worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD-ROM, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Nintendo and Microsoft. The THQ web site is located at www.thq.com. The THQ Wireless site is located at www.thqwireless.com. THQ is a registered trademark of THQ Inc.


This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about THQ’s business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of THQ’s future performance or the performance of The Punisher video game, and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for THQ’s products, including The Punisher product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. In addition, such statements could be affected by growth rates and market conditions relating to the interactive software industry and general domestic and international economic conditions. Specific information concerning these and other such factors is contained in THQ’s March 31, 2003 Form 10-KT filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of this filing may be obtained by contacting THQ or the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and THQ does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.