Press Release Source: THQ(R) Inc.
``WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW'' Scheduled to Ship November 2
Tuesday October 26, 8:30 am ET
First Ever PlayStation 2 WWE Wrestling Game Featuring Online Play Supported by Multi-Million Dollar Marketing Campaign
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2004-- THQ® Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI - News) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK - News) today announced their newest World Wrestling Entertainment® (NYSE:WWE - News) licensed video game, "WWE(TM) SmackDown!(TM) Vs. RAW(TM)" for the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system, is in the final steps of manufacturing and will begin shipping to retailers throughout North America on November 2, 2004.
"WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW" will be the first WWE videogame to feature online play and authentic WWE Superstar voice over. Additionally, THQ and JAKKS Pacific announced that "WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW" will be supported by a multi-million dollar marketing campaign including TV, print, online, exclusive in-program features during WWE programming and promotions with key retail partners.
"The 'SmackDown!' franchise is the best selling wrestling series of all-time and we're backing it with a comprehensive marketing campaign targeting both core wrestling fans and mass-market gamers alike," said Peter Dille, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, THQ. "We worked closely with the WWE creative team to insure that our TV creative delivers the action, attitude and excitement that fans expect from WWE programming."
"'WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW' is a huge step forward for the franchise, said Nelo Lucich, vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. "With the top superstars from both RAW and SmackDown!, in addition to online play, this game is sure to be a hit this holiday season."
For more information about "WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW" for PlayStation 2, please visit
www.thq.com
About World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:WWE - News) is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. Information on television ratings and community activities can be found at parents.wwe.com.
About JAKKS Pacific
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and leisure products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Arts & Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys and Dolls. The products are sold under various brand names including Flying Colors®, Play Along®, Road Champs®, Remco®, Child Guidance®, Pentech®, Trendmasters®, Toymax®, Funnoodle®, Go Fly a Kite® and ColorWorkshop(TM). The Company also participates in a joint venture with THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment(TM) video games. For further information, visit
www.jakkspacific.com
About THQ
THQ® Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI - News) 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. THQ and the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
Trademarks
The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks, product names, company names and logos cited herein are the property of their respective owners. All other trademarks, product names, company names and logos cited herein are the property of their respective owners.
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, the release and features of "WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW." 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") 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. 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 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.
