THQ AND JAKKS PACIFIC CELEBRATE WRESTLEMANIA XX
WITH SECOND ANNUAL THQ SUPERSTAR CHALLENGE
Top WWE® Superstars Square off in Exclusive Videogame Tournament
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif. March 11, 2003 THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) today announced the second annual THQ Superstar Challenge tonight at Planet Hollywood in Times Square, New York. The Superstar Challenge will pit 16 of WWE’s top Superstars in a videogame tournament showcasing critically acclaimed WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system.
“We work closely with the WWE to create the most authentic wrestling titles on the market, including significant involvement from the Superstars themselves” stated Peter Dille, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, THQ. “Now WWE Superstars like John Cena™ and Torrie Wilson™ will have an opportunity to participate in a no-holds barred tournament and play the videogame they helped create.”
“The stellar line-up for this year’s Superstar Challenge makes the event THE ultimate experience leading up to WrestleMania XX for WWE fans in New York City,” said Nelo Lucich, director of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. “Top WWE Superstars like Rey Mysterio™, Kane® and Christian® will once again compete to become the THQ Superstar Challenge champion.”
About the THQ Superstar Challenge
The THQ Superstar Challenge is scheduled to take place at Planet Hollywood in Times Square at approximately 9:00 p.m. A total of 16 WWE Superstars will compete in a bracketed tournament to decide who will become the videogame champion. Winners will be awarded the coveted THQ Superstar Challenge trophy along with bragging rights until next years challenge. THQ videogames, WWE and JAKKS Pacific donated prizes will also be made available.
Superstars Competing in the Challenge:
Booker T®
Shelton Benjamin™
Trish Stratus®
Torrie Wilson™
Victoria™
Nidia™
Rey Mysterio™
Billy Kidman™
Kane®
The Hurricane®
Matt Morgan John Cena™
D-Von Dudley™
Christian®
Bubba Ray Dudley™
A-Train™
About WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain showcases 65 WWE Superstars including, Brock Lesnar®, John Cena™, Rey Mysterio™ and Goldberg™. The game includes an all-new season mode depicting the best of classic WWE moments and original storylines. Players will also have access to additional match types including Bra & Panties Match™, First Blood and Elimination Chamber. The overall gameplay has been enhanced and features real-life attributes of strength, submission, technique, speed and stamina. These new attributes will allow players to wear down their opponents and take advantage of each Superstar’s unique abilities and extensive move sets. An all-new grappling and countering system has been added which also opens up the controls providing more move possibilities. WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain’s TV-style presentation will also be enhanced with new dynamic camera angles, realistic animations and improved arena and crowd elements.
For more information about the THQ/JAKKS Pacific World Wrestling Entertainment® videogame franchises and the rest of THQ’s 2004 line-up, visit
www.thq.com.
About World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) 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. (Nasdaq NM: JAKK) is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and leisure products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Arts & Crafts Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush and Dolls. The products are sold under various brand names including Flying Colors®, Road Champs®, Remco®, Child Guidance®, Pentech®, Toymax®, Funnoodle®, Go Fly a Kite® and JPI Color Workshop™. The Company also participates in a joint venture with THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment video games. For further information, visit
www.jakkspacific.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.
Trademark Statement
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.
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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 WWE Day of Reckoning video games, 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 WWE Day of Reckoning, 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.
