D3Publisher of America Announces Fan Favorite Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords(tm) to Debut on Wii(tm), PlayStation®2, PC and Mobile
Rights for PC and Mobile Awarded to THQ Inc.
LOS ANGELES: D3Publisher of America (D3PA), a publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software, is slated to release its wildly popular game Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords TM for Wii TM , PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Windows PC this fall along with a mobile version in early 2008, opening the experience up to an entirely new audience of fans who have been clamoring for additional platform releases since the game's debut on handheld consoles. Puzzle Quest-the #1 selling puzzle game for Nintendo DS TM in 2007 according to NPD-will also become available in the coming months on the Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360 TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, as previously announced.
"The lightning quick acceptance and praise we received from fans and press for the fun, deeply immersive gaming experience we created by mixing RPG elements with puzzle gameplay were a dream come true when Puzzle Quest launched," said Steve Fawkner, lead designer and chief executive officer of Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd., creators of Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords. "The gaming community has offered such warm support and we are elated to open the game up to more fans by offering new ways to play."
D3PA's recently acquired development studio, Vicious Cycle Software, co-developer of Puzzle Quest for the PSP system, will develop Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords for PlayStation 2 and Wii consoles, while the PC and mobile publishing and distribution rights were awarded by the publisher to THQ Inc.'s ValuSoft and THQ Wireless divisions.
"It has been tremendously exciting for us to see Puzzle Quest find such a wide-ranging audience," said Yoji Takenaka, executive vice president and chief operating officer, D3PA. "We look forward to growing the fanbase even further through what we are confident will be successful relationships with such highly regarded allies as Infinite Interactive, THQ and Vicious Cycle."
Designed specifically to entertain both casual and hardcore gamers with its deep immersion, five to fifteen minute play sessions and turn-based play style, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords incorporates strategy, role-playing elements and a persistent storyline in a puzzle board setting. Set in the Warlords universe, the game challenges players to create, develop and customize the ultimate hero in order to save the land of Etheria from evil Lord Bane. To advance their character, players battle in turn-based, head-to-head "match-three" style puzzle games in one of three distinct gameplay modes: Single-player allows gamers to battle against the AI as they embark on over 150 challenging quests, Instant Action allows gamers to jump in and immediately play continuous battles to level-up characters without participating in quests, and Multiplayer allows gamers to battle live opponents. Victory will advance the player's hero, magical arsenal, creature companions and more-ultimately rewarding gamers at nearly every turn and providing endless hours of replayability.
Puzzle Quest is available now on store shelves across North America for the Nintendo DS handheld system and the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords for Windows PC and Xbox LIVE Arcade are developed by Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd. The PlayStation 2, Wii and PSP system versions are co-developed by Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd. and Vicious Cycle Software, Inc. The DS version is co-developed by Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd. and 1st Playable Productions, LLC. The mobile version is co-developed by Infinite Interactive Pty. Ltd. and THQ's Universomo Ltd. mobile game development studio.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is rated "E 10+" (Everyone 10 and older-suggestive themes) for all platforms by the ESRB.
About THQ
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ Wireless, ValuSoft, Universomo and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
About D3Publisher of America, Inc.
D3Publisher of America, Inc. is a subsidiary of D3, Inc. with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. D3Publisher of America's strategic focus is on licensed and original titles from leading third-party developers that appeal to mass-market consumers or gaming enthusiasts. Based in Los Angeles, D3Publisher of America distributes and publishes software for personal computers, major console platforms and handheld systems including Wii TM , Nintendo GameCube TM , Nintendo DS TM Game Boy® Advance, PlayStation® game console, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, the Xbox® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the Xbox 360 TM video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. For additional information on D3Publisher of America and its products, visit the website at http://www.d3publisher.us.