World Wrestling Entertainment(R) Hits the Road With WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. RAW(R) 2006, Set to Debut on the PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) System This December
New WWE Game Offers Wrestling Fans PSP Entertainment for the First Time
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Nov. 10: THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAKK) today announced that WWE® SmackDown® vs. RAW® 2006 for the PSPTM (PlayStation®Portable) is scheduled for worldwide release in December. Breaking new ground for the PSP system, WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 joins the highly successful line of WWE licensed video games, including last year's WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, which shipped more than two million units worldwide.
"THQ is the industry leader in handheld gaming, and taking the highly successful WWE SmackDown vs. RAW franchise to the PSP system was a natural move for us," said Kelly Flock, executive vice president of worldwide publishing, THQ. "The WWE SmackDown vs. RAW franchise is an ideal application for the PSP system, offering a great pick-up-and-play experience, along with numerous multiplayer options, a robust fighting system and an extensive Season Mode."
"It's exciting for us to give PSP system owners the chance to experience authentic WWE game play on the go for the very first time," said Nelo Lucich, vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. "With the PSP system edition of SmackDown vs. RAW 2006, players will be able to enjoy all of the excitement, attitude and fast-paced action of the game wherever and whenever they want to go."
WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 takes full advantage of the PSP system feature set, including wireless play for up to four players. The game also will sync up with the PlayStation 2 version to unlock exclusive content. In addition, WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 players will enjoy a roster of over 50 playable WWE Superstars and dozens of match type variations, along with a full Season Mode that will include all of the drama of current WWE storylines and a quest for the Championship. The PSP system version also will give players the freedom to design their own wrestlers with a Create-A-Superstar Mode as well as utilize the Create-A-Championship Mode to defend their belts.
For more information about WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 for the PSP system, THQ/JAKKS Pacific, World Wrestling Entertainment video game franchises, or THQ's complete 2005 lineup of games, please 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, Inc.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and consumer products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/ Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys, Electronics, Dolls and Pet Toys and Accessories. The products are sold under various brand names including JAKKS Pacific®, Play Along®, Flying Colors®, Road Champs®, Child Guidance®, Pentech®, Trendmasters®, Toymax®, Funnoodle®, Go Fly a Kite®, Color Workshop®, JPITM and Plug It In & Play TV GamesTM. JAKKS also participates with THQ Inc. in a joint venture that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment® video games. For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com or www.tvgames.com.
About THQ Inc.
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, Austria, France, Germany, Netherlands, 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.
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. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
"PSP" is a trademark and "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick DuoTM may be required (sold separately).
The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be "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 2006 for the PSP, 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. 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 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, and particularly the discussion of risk factors that may affect results of operations set forth therein. 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 are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.
This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS Pacific's business based partly on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance 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 statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above, changes in demand for JAKKS' products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and difficulties with integrating acquired businesses. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and JAKKS undertakes no obligation to update any of them to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.