THQ Introduces Innovative New 'Dual Packs' Program for Game Boy(R) Advance
Two Top-Selling Video Game Titles Ship Together on One Game Pak; Available for One Low Price
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., March 8: THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) today announced a new program that offers consumers a great entertainment value -- two top-selling games on one Game Boy® Advance Game Pak. Dual packs featuring popular kids' characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants and the Power Rangers will be available for suggested retail price of $29.99 at retail outlets throughout North America, beginning this month. The Scooby-Doo dual pack will be available for $19.99.
"As the long-standing leader of the handheld gaming market, THQ is pleased to be the first company to release these innovative dual packs for the Game Boy Advance," said Tiffany Ternan, senior vice president of North American sales and distribution, THQ. "The compilation Game Paks present a tremendous value to consumers allowing kids to interact with their favorite characters from top-rated TV shows in multiple adventures."
"We're thrilled to be working with THQ on the introduction of their three upcoming dual pack releases for the Game Boy Advance," said George Harrison, senior vice president, marketing and corporate communications, Nintendo of America. "These compilations represent just one of the many innovative approaches THQ has taken with our systems over the years as they continue to build on their leadership position in the handheld space."
About the SpongeBob SquarePants Dual Pack:
The adventure starts with SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman, in which our hero discovers a magic bottle and unwillingly unleashes the Flying Dutchman. The Dutchman places a curse on SpongeBob, who then must seek out 10 lost treasures that have been scattered throughout Bikini Bottom. Players can explore 11 exciting levels within five oceanic-sized chapters including: Bikini Bottom, Jellyfish Fields, Outer Town, Goo Lagoon and Dutchman's Underworld, as well as multiple mini-games.
The fun continues in SpongeBob SquarePants: SuperSponge in which players take SpongeBob on a quest to secure the autographs of his heroes, Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, for Patrick's Birthday present. Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy make him complete silly errands like retrieving beauty products from the bottom of the world and bringing them Kelp Kandy Bars in exchange for their signatures. SpongeBob even has to borrow a time machine to travel to Prehistoric Bikini Bottom for a Shell Bra outfit made of rare clams. The SpongeBob Dual Pack is currently available for $29.99.
About the Scooby-Doo Dual Pack:
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Mayhem brings Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy and Scooby-Doo into an outrageous adventure based on the classic cartoon series. Players can lead Scooby-Doo and Shaggy through five huge episodes and try to solve a mystery of supernatural proportions. Gamers must explore to find The Tome of Doom, capture monsters and solve the mystery, scarfing up Scooby SnacksTM along the way. Platform-style game play includes puzzle solving, searching for clues, capturing and outrunning monsters. Creepy environments include an abandoned movie set, a ghoulish Wild West theme park, a bayou, and a cobweb-covered laboratory.
The adventures continue in Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase, which follows the story line and characters from the successful direct-to-video release. After inadvertently beaming themselves and a Phantom Virus into a videogame, Scooby-Doo and his friends are trapped and must fend off a variety of villains in their search for the culprit behind the Phantom Virus. Mirroring the humor of the classic cartoon, the game is action-packed with mystery, puzzles, clues, plenty of Scooby SnacksTM, and a surprise encounter with the Scooby gang's own virtual counterparts. The Scooby-Doo Dual Pack is currently available for $19.99.
About the Power Rangers Dual Pack:
Power Rangers Time Force allows players to assume the role of their favorite Power Rangers hero in a quest to find and battle the evil Ransik through time and multiple theme-based levels including the Wild West, Ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire and the 21st Century. Players must stop Ransik's evil minions, the Cyclobots, from manipulating the time line.
Power Rangers Ninja Storm features game play based on the 2003-2004 television series, "Power Rangers Ninja Storm." The game features traditional side-scrolling game play allowing gamers to take on challenges in six levels in order to complete their training as a ninja. Players must defeat the minions of the evil ninja master who is threatening the earth. Each Power Ranger features special moves and gadgets and when joined together form a powerful Megazord with which to enter the final battle. The Power Rangers Dual will be available in late March for $29.99.
For more information about SpongeBob SquarePants, Scooby-Doo and Power Rangers video games, or the rest of THQ's 2005 video game lineup, please visit the THQ website at www.thq.com.
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 in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Korea and Australia. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ Wireless and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
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 dual pack releases for the Game Boy Advance handheld platform, 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.