WIN A TRIP TO WRESTLEMANIA 21
THQ to offer an “all expenses paid” trip to Wrestlemania 21 with the release of WWE™ SmackDown!® vs. RAW®
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Woking, Surrey. November 9, 2004 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ NM: THQI) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ NM: JAKK) today announced the release of the newest edition to the critically acclaimed SmackDown! franchise, WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW, will ship in the UK with an exclusive offer to win a trip to Wrestlemania 21 in April 2005. Consumers who register their game through the website www.thq.co.uk/wrestlemania21 will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a trip to the Wrestlemania 21 event on the 3rd April 2005. This ultimate prize for WWE fans is only open to UK and Eire residents and is an exclusive offer for the UK version of the game.
Available for the PlayStation? 2 computer entertainment system, WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW features a number of game enhancements new to the wrestling genre - including online play, the addition of superstar voice over and several new gameplay mechanics. WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW has will ship to major retail outlets throughout the UK on the 5th November for a 12th November release date.
"The SmackDown! franchise is the mostly highly regarded wrestling series of all time," stated Philip Holt, Senior Vice President of Product Development, THQ. "We know SmackDown! fans have been waiting a long time for the ability to battle it out online, now they finally can go head to head with fellow wrestling fans from near and far."
"WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW is set to make video game history, with all the big-time action, excitement and attitude from WWE programming," said Nelo Lucich, Vice President of Interactive, JAKKS Pacific, Inc. "WWE videogame fans will have the most comprehensive WWE experience on any system to date."
What the press is saying about WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW:
"Another year, another SmackDown! extravaganza." - P2
"as simple and enjoyable as ever" - PSW
"this game is going to spank your ass!" - Games Master
About WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW
Developed by Yuke's Co., Ltd. of Japan, WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW features more than 50 WWE Superstars including John CenaTM, Rey MysterioTM and Randy OrtonTM. In WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW, players will have the ability to compete in head-to-head online play, a first for any wrestling game. The evolution of the SmackDown! season mode culminates with the addition of authentic Superstar voice over - including non-playables like Vince McMahon? and Erik Bischoff?, adding authenticity to the massive open-ended season mode. In addition to the season mode, WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW features in-game commentary, new WWE legends, create a pay-per-view/create-
a-championship and the option to play a match using clean or dirty match tactics.
Boasting significant graphical upgrades and all new gameplay mechanics, including a chop battle, pre-match stare down, new grappling position, test of strength and submission reversal system, WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW is poised to become the deepest WWE videogame to date.
For more information about WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW for PlayStation 2, please visit www.thq.com. For more information on World Wrestling Entertainment please contact Michael Smith at 203-352-8657 or michael.smith@wwecorp.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 WorkshopTM. 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 For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com or www.jakkstvgames.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. 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. 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 release and features of WWE SmackDown! Vs. RAW, 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.
Contact:
Helen Myers
THQ/Media Relations
+44 (0)1483 227 264