THQ Announces Big Mutha Truckers 2 the Sequel to the Million-Unit Selling Big Mutha Truckers
Keep on Trucking this Summer When Big Mutha Truckers 2 Rolls onto Major Game Systems
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., Dec 6, 2004 - THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) today announced Big Mutha Truckers 2, the sequel to the million-unit selling Big Mutha Truckers. Developed by Eutechnyx out of the United Kingdom, Big Mutha Truckers 2 is scheduled to release in Summer 2005 and will be available on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and Xbox® videogame system from Microsoft.
"With sales of the original Big Mutha Truckers exceeding one million units, we are excited to bring more down home fun to the major consoles with this second installment to the top-selling brand," said Tiffany Ternan, senior vice president North American sales and distribution, THQ. "Big Mutha Truckers 2: Truck Me Harder! is sure to provide a fun-filled experience with comedic characters, on-road action and strategic wheeling and dealing."
In the original Big Mutha Truckers, players were introduced to Ma Jackson, the proprietor of Big Mutha Truckers Haulage, Inc., who had decided she was going to retire. Ma encouraged her four children to compete against each other in making as much money as possible in 60 days in order to inherit the company. Players bought and sold goods from one of five cities, each with their own levels of supply and demand.
Big Mutha Truckers 2 begins with Ma Jackson being taken into police custody for tax evasion. The only way she can win her case is by hiring Cousin Jacob, the most "fancy-talkin' legal fella" this side of Booger's Canyon. Players will be challenged to raise the cash needed to bribe jurors to let Ma off by trucking, trading, wheeling and dealing.
The go-anywhere, any-time philosophy that was utilized in the original Big Mutha Truckers will be expanded for Big Mutha Truckers 2 with additional routes, hidden shortcuts, and the ability to drive numerous vehicles. Players have the freedom to deviate from their route and explore the highways and back roads to whichever city they decide to visit. In addition, the trading process will be extremely streamlined, with more focus on the on-road action.
About THQ
THQ Inc. is a leading, worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms including those manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Nintendo and Microsoft as well as PC CD-ROM and wireless devices. The THQ web site is located at http://www.thq.com. THQ, THQ Wireless and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
About Empire Interactive
Founded in 1987, Empire Interactive (London: EMP) is a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company is publicly traded on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. Headquartered in the UK, Empire Interactive also has offices in the Germany, Italy, France, Spain and headquartered in the US in San Francisco, California. The company develops and publishes a varied range of titles for the PlayStation® game console, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, and other next generation console systems, handheld systems, and multimedia PC markets in the US, Europe and Asia. Further information about Empire Interactive and its products can be found at: http://us.empireinteractive.com.
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. 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"), including but not limited to expectations and projections related to the Big Mutha Truckers brand, 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, including its and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2004, and particularly the discussion of risk factors that may affect results of operations set forth therein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
Gretchen Armerding
THQ/Media Relations
818/871-5188
Julie MacMedan
THQ/Investor Relations
818/871-5095
Tricia Gray
Empire Interactive
415/439-4854