WWE(R)Day of Reckoning 2(TM) Announced as Next in Series Exclusively for Nintendo GameCube(TM)
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., May 3: THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAKK) today announced WWE Day of Reckoning 2 based on the World Wrestling EntertainmentTM (NYSE: WWE) license. WWE Day of Reckoning 2 continues the Day of Reckoning series with all the action, excitement and attitude of World Wrestling Entertainment and is designed exclusively for the Nintendo GameCubeTM. WWE Day of Reckoning 2 is scheduled for release in fall 2005.
"In designing WWE DoR2, we wanted to pick up the game's storyline right where we left off in the last installment, just as WWE's programming continues its storylines night after night," said Philip Holt, senior vice president of product development, THQ. "With its improved graphics, as well as enhanced fighting system for more realistic matches, WWE Day of Reckoning 2 is going to offer gamers another installment of top-notch wrestling action.
"We are thrilled to give WWE fans a solid follow-up to WWE Day of Reckoning," commented Nelo Lucich, vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. "With new legends, a longer story mode and improved animation, we're expecting WWE Day of Reckoning 2 to be the most comprehensive WWE experience to date for the Nintendo GameCube."
About WWE Day of Reckoning 2
Developed by Yuke's Co., Ltd. of Japan, WWE Day of Reckoning 2 features 45 WWE Superstars, giving the game a massive stable of overall talent. WWE Day of Reckoning 2 includes a new and longer original story mode filled with deception and betrayal, as well as plot lines that tie back to the original WWE Day of Reckoning. Players can create a Superstar and take him on a completely original journey, featuring the highest quality cut scenes ever offered in the series. Additional features include a new rendering style for improved graphics, an enhanced fighting system and new WWE Legends, some which will be playable for the first time ever. WWE Day of Reckoning 2 also features multiple levels of pain and limb damage, new finishing moves, specialty grapples and better AI differentiation between characters, bringing a new level of realism to the series.
For more information about the THQ/JAKKS Pacific World Wrestling Entertainment videogame franchises and the rest of THQ's 2005 line-up, 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
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: 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 www.jakkspacific.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.
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.
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") and may include, but are not limited to, statements related to the release and features of WWE Day of Reckoning 2 as well as the videogame license with World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. Such statements are based upon management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by management and 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, services 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.