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THQ
THQ
Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) (Toy Headquarters) is a global
American developer and publisher of video games.
The company develops products for video game consoles,
handheld game systems, as well as for personal
computers and wireless devices. THQ's titles span
most major interactive entertainment software
genres, including action, adventure, racing, fighting
and wrestling, first person shooter, puzzle, role-playing,
simulation, sports, and strategy.
The
company maintains a balance of internally created
and externally licensed content in its product
portfolio. THQ's internally created franchises
include Saints Row, Stuntman, Frontlines: Fuel
of War, Red Faction, MX vs ATV, Juiced, Company
of Heroes and others. The company also holds exclusive,
long-term licensing agreements with leading sports
and entertainment content creators including World
Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Games Workshop
(Warhammer 40,000), Ultimate Fighting Championship
(UFC), Nickelodeon and Disney·Pixar.
History
The
company began building out its internal product
development capabilities in 2001 with the acquisition
of Volition, Inc. located in Champaign, IL. Since
then, THQ's internal studio system has grown to
16 studios across the globe with distinct capabilities
across all viable gaming platforms. Studios such
as Relic Entertainment, Paradigm Entertainment,
Juice Games, Kaos Studios, and Volition, Inc.,
who are working on games for next generation of
consoles as well as PCs.
THQ's
global distribution network includes offices in
North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific as follows:
United States, Canada and Mexico; Austria, Denmark,
France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the
Netherlands and the United Kingdom; Australia,
Korea, and Japan. Key THQ Wireless brands include
Star Wars, WWE and certain Disney-Pixar properties.
THQ Wireless serves content via all major carriers
worldwide including Sprint, Motorola, Nokia (N-gage),
AT&T, Sony-Ericsson, Orange in Europe and
others.
The
company has several titles in development for
next-generation console systems and personal computers,
including Frontlines: Fuel of War, Saints Row
2, Destroy All Humans!, Company of Heroes and
Stuntman. Major franchises include games based
on THQ's long standing licensing relationships
with WWE, Disney/Pixar and Nickelodeon. In addition,
the company holds long-term rights to Bratz from
MGA Entertainment and Warhammer 40,000 from Games
Workshop.
On
May 10, 2007, THQ reported its highest annual
sales figures and net profits ever for the fiscal
year which ended March 31. THQ's revenues reached
over $1 billion.
Studios
Big
Huge Games
Founded in 2000 by four veteran game developers
and acquired by THQ in 2008, Big Huge Games is
a video game studio focused on cutting-edge technology
and aimed at mass-market game development. Big
Huge Games founders Brian Reynolds, Jason Coleman,
David Inscore and Tim Train continue in the tradition
of creating inspired and innovative games for
PC and next-generation consoles. Creating games
that have received numerous "Game of the
Year" awards and accolades, Big Huge Games
is headquartered in Timonium, Maryland.
Blue
Tongue Entertainment
Founded in 1995 and acquired by THQ in 2004, Blue
Tongue Entertainment Pty. Ltd. is located in Melbourne,
Australia. Blue Tongue has released titles in
many genres, from Windows PC simulations to console
platforms. Blue Tongue's most recent games include
Barnyard for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube,
Wii and Windows PC; and Nicktoons Battle for Volcano
Island for PlayStation 2 and GameCube. Today,
Blue Tongue is developing original and licensed
titles for current and next-generation consoles.
Concrete
Games
Located in Carlsbad, CA, Concrete Games was established
by THQ in 2004 and has an expanding team of highly
talented individuals bringing years of game development
experience to the THQ Studio System. Team members
have contributed to titles such as Halo: Combat
Evolved and Halo 2, Medal of Honor, and Everquest.
Concrete Games is focusing on next-generation
game consoles technology and original titles.
On January 23rd, 2008, THQ announced that it would
be shutting down Concrete Games. A "substantial
number of the studio's employees" will be
offered positions at other studios.
Heavy
Iron Studios
Heavy Iron Studios was founded as a THQ studio
in 1999. Heavy Iron has worked in close partnership
with creators of high profile, animated feature
film properties, including Disney•Pixar's
The Incredibles and The SpongeBob SquarePants
Movie video game. Heavy Iron's previous hit titles
include Scooby-Doo!: Night of 100 Frights and
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom.
Both of these titles were nominated in consecutive
years by the Academy of Interactive Arts &
Sciences for "Children's Title of the Year."
Heavy Iron is working on next-generation console
games within the character action and platform
genres. Heavy Iron Studios is located in Los Angeles,
CA.
Helixe
Games
Founded in July 2000, Helixe Games specializes
in innovative game development for Nintendo handheld
gaming platforms. The studio has produced games
for the Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy® Advance
including top-selling Disney•Pixar's The
Incredibles and Cars, as well as games based on
the Star Wars and Scooby-Doo franchises and numerous
titles based on popular Nickelodeon brands. Today,
Helixe is focused on high profile licensed games
for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. Helixe
is located just outside of Boston, MA.
Incinerator
Studios
Established by THQ in 2005, Incinerator Studios
was founded by industry veterans with development
experience in the NFL GameDay game, Twisted Metal,
and MLB: The Show franchises from Sony, as well
as the Midnight Club franchise from Rockstar Games.
Incinerator produced Disney•Pixar's Cars
for the Wii console, and it now creating multiple
genre-leading projects for all of the next-generation
consoles. Incinerator Studios is located in Carlsbad,
CA.
Juice
Games
Founded in 2003 and acquired by THQ in 2006, Juice
Games released the 1.5 million-unit selling Juiced
in June 2005. and so far, 1.5 millions sales for
Juiced 2. The game won the best New UK/European
Studio in the 2005 Develop Industry Excellence
Awards. Juice Games also develops titles for popular
handheld and mobile gaming devices. Juice Games
is located in Warrington, UK.
Kaos
Studios
Established by THQ in 2005, Kaos Studios was formed
by industry veterans of the first person shooter
genre. The group's core team had key roles in
Trauma Studios' Desert Combat, the multi-million
download modification for the original Battlefield
1942, and includes members of the R&D team
for DICE's Battlefield 2. Additional members of
the 50-person team contributed to the development
of shooters that include FEAR, Medal of Honor,
and Doom 3. Kaos is currently developing Frontlines:
Fuel of War, a large-scale FPS title for Windows
PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. Kaos Studios
is based in New York, NY.
Locomotive
Games
Formerly Pacific Coast Power & Light, Locomotive
Games was founded in 1997 and acquired by THQ
in 1999. Locomotive Games has developed racing,
arcade, and action titles for the PSP system and
Wii video game console, including Disney•Pixar's
Cars for the PSP. Locomotive first partnered with
THQ on titles such as Nuclear Strike and Road
Rash for the Nintendo 64. After becoming an official
THQ studio, Locomotive developed the motor cross
title, MX Superfly. Currently, Locomotive is working
on several titles for both the PSP system and
Wii platform. The studio is located in Santa Clara,
CA.
Mass
Media
The core group of Mass Media came together in
the late 1980s at Cinemaware. In 1995, Mass Media
became an exclusive developer for Time Warner
Interactive. Since then and before being acquired
by THQ, Mass Media was an independent developer.
The company is based in Moorpark, CA, and has
worked on such titles as Full Spectrum Warrior
and Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers for THQ.
Paradigm
Entertainment
Founded by industry veterans in 1997, and acquired
by THQ in 2006, Paradigm Entertainment has multiple
projects for next-generation consoles, including
the next Stuntman driving game. Paradigm has created
a variety of well-known action games including
Pilot Wings 64, Beetle Adventure Racing, and SpyHunter.
The studio is located near Dallas, TX.
Rainbow
Studios
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Rainbow Studios was
founded in 1996 and acquired by THQ in 2001. In
2006, Rainbow developed Disney•Pixar's Cars,
a racing title based on the hit film and released
on all major gaming platforms. Rainbow also developed
the "MX" franchise, including MX Unleashed
and MX vs. ATV Unleashed, both of which achieved
"Greatest Hits" and "Platinum Hits"
status from Sony and Microsoft. During its fifteen-year
video game history, Rainbow's racing and technological
expertise gained success with titles such as:
Motocross Madness, Motocross Madness 2 (winner
of Best Sports Computer Game of 2000 by the Academy
of Interactive Arts and Sciences), Splashdown,
ATV Off-Road Fury, ATV Off-Road Fury 2, and Mat
Hoffman Pro BMX 2.Rainbow studios two new games
releasing October, and December are Cars 2 and
MX vs ATV, untamed, According to their main site,
Rainbow Studios is currently developing a new
action/adventure game exclusively for the Wii.
Relic
Entertainment
Based in Vancouver, BC, Relic Entertainment was
founded in 1997 and acquired by THQ in 2004. Relic
Entertainment develops real-time strategy games,
such as Company of Heroes, which is one of the
highest rated Windows PC games. Relic's history
of critically acclaimed titles began with Homeworld,
which received several Game of the Year and Strategy
Game of the Year awards from PC Gamer and Computer
Gaming World. Since then, Relic has released Homeworld:
Cataclysm (co-developed with Barking Dog Studios),
Impossible Creatures, Homeworld 2, Warhammer 40,000:
Dawn of War with its expansions Winter Assault,
Dark Crusade and the upcoming Soulstorm, The Outfit,
and Company of Heroes with its expansion Opposing
Fronts.
Sandblast
Games
Formerly Cranky Pants Games. Formed by THQ in
2002, Sandblast Games brought together veteran
industry talent from Electronic Arts, Nintendo
to focus on cutting-edge design for current and
next-generation gaming platforms. Sandblast Games
developed Evil Dead: Regeneration for the Sony
PlayStation 2 and Xbox video game system, based
on the cult horror film by director Sam Raimi.
Sandblast Games also created versions of the critically
acclaimed Red Faction II and Summoner: A Goddess
Reborn for the Nintendo GameCube. Sandblast Games
is currently working on Destroy All Humans! Path
of the Furon for next-generation consoles. Sandblast
Games is located near Seattle, WA.
THQ
Studio Australia
Founded in January 2003, THQ Studio Australia
most recently shipped Avatar The Last Airbender:
The Burning Earth, on PlayStation®2, Wii,
and Xbox 360®. Previously, the studio created
the hit Nickelodeon titles Avatar: The Last Airbender,
SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights, Camera, PANTS!
and Jimmy Neutron: Attack of the Twonkies on the
Wii, PlayStation2, Nintendo GameCube and Xbox®.
With a staff of around 90 and a strong internal
technology group, the studio is currently building
titles on sixth and seventh generation video games
consoles. More information about THQ Studio Australia
can be found at www.thqstudioaustralia.com.
Vigil
Games
Vigil Games was founded in 2005, most notably
by comic legend Joe Madureira, and acquired by
THQ in 2006. The team's combined game credits
include Unreal Tournament, Tom Clancy's Ghost
Recon, Dark Age of Camelot, Daxter, Elder Scrolls
III: Morrowind, and others. Vigil Games is working
on blending unique visual style with innovative
gameplay to create next-generation console titles.
Vigil Games is located in Austin, TX.
Volition,
Inc.
Volition, Inc. was acquired by THQ in 2000 to
develop original titles for all major gaming consoles.
The company was created when Parallax Software
(the developer of the Descent series) was split.
(The other half was the now-defunct Outrage Entertainment
who developed Descent 3 and Alter Echo.) Volition,
Inc. developed the FreeSpace series of space simulation
computer games, and other titles including: Red
Faction, Red Faction II, Summoner, The Punisher.
In August 2006, THQ and Volition released Saints
Row, the first next generation open-world title
for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment
system from Microsoft. Among other innovative
features, Saints Row combines extensive character
and vehicle customization with multiplayer gameplay
over the Xbox Live network. Saints Row was the
number one selling game following its release
and received Editor's Choice accolades from IGN.com
and GamePro. They are currently working on a follow-up,
Saints Row 2, scheduled to be released in 2008
for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Volition is located
in Champaign, IL.
Additional Developers/Divisions
*
Blitz Games
* Game Workshop
* Gas Powered Games
* SimBin Development Team AB
* Team17
* Slingdot
* ValuSoft
* Universomo
* THQ Wireless
* Genetic Anomalies (Acquired in 1999, no longer
in operation)
Upcoming
games
2008
*
Darksider: Wrath of War (Xbox 360, PlayStation
3)
* Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed (PSP,
Wii)
* Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon (Xbox
360, PlayStation 3)
* de Blob (Wii,DS)
* Frontlines: Fuel of War (Xbox 360, PC)
* Saints Row 2 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
* WALL-E (Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PC/Mac,
PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PSP)
* Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War MMO (PC)
* Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War: Soulstorm (PC)
* Worms: A Space Oddity (Wii)
* UFC 2009 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
* Zoo Tycoon DS 2 (Nintendo DS)
(Credit:
Wikipedia)
Website
THQ
News
THQ WIRELESS INC. AND PLAYBOY ENTERPRISES SIGN
GLOBAL AGREEMENT FOR NEW MOBILE GAMES LAUNCH
First
Release, "Playboy Games: Pool Party,"
Scheduled to Launch Worldwide In Summer 2008
AGOURA
HILLS, Calif. - January 28, 2008 - THQ Wireless
Inc., a subsidiary of THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI),
today announced that it has signed a worldwide
agreement with Playboy Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:
PLA, PLAA) to exclusively develop Playboy-branded
mobile games. The multi-year Playboy agreement
covers the development and publishing rights to
multiple Playboy-branded, lifestyle themed, non-nude
mobile games featuring bikini-clad Playmates to
be released worldwide. The first title, Playboy
Games: Pool Party, is scheduled to launch in summer
2008.
"Given
the extensive appeal and popularity of the Playboy
brand, mobile games based on this license are
sure to provide a fun and entertaining experience,"
said Adam Comiskey, vice president, international,
THQ Wireless. "THQ Wireless is ideally positioned
to provide engaging games with the hallmark of
the Playboy lifestyle."
"The
number of Playboy fans around the world has never
been greater and that popularity is reflected
in the growing sales of Playboy-branded products
and services," said Ed Lang, senior vice
president of mobile, Playboy Media Group. "Given
the growth of the mobile industry, we're excited
to join THQ Wireless in offering this next-generation
form of entertainment to consumers."
Playboy
Games: Pool Party will include a set of mini-games
depicting animated, bikini-clad Playmates at the
famous Playboy Mansion engaged in "pool party
sports" including poolside water balloon
fights, waterslide slaloms and aquatic mechanical
bull riding. Developed by THQ Wireless internal
studio Universomo, Playboy Games: Pool Party is
based on actual events held at the Playboy Mansion
and immortalized in the Playboy Home Entertainment
DVD release, Playmate Playoffs, hosted by Chuck
Woolery.
About
Playboy Enterprises Inc.
Playboy Enterprises is a brand-driven, international
multimedia entertainment company that publishes
editions of Playboy magazine around the world;
operates television networks and distributes programming
globally; owns Playboy.com, a leading men's lifestyle
and entertainment website; and licenses the Playboy
trademark internationally for a range of consumer
products and services.
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 throughout
North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information
about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com
and www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ Wireless, Universomo
and their respective logos are trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
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 agreement with Playboy.com,
Inc. and the Playboy Games: Pool Party mobile
video game, and are based upon management's current
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, business, competitive,
economic, legal, political and technological factors
affecting our industry, operations, markets, products
or pricing. 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, 2007, and particularly the discussion
of risk factors 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. (Credit:
Playboy Enterprises).
Playboy Enterprises Inc.
Public Relations
Matt Kalinowski
323-276-4214
mkalinowski@playboy.com
THQ
Wireless
Public Relations
Louise Norton
44-77-47-488-198
louise.norton@thq.com
THQ
Wireless
Investor Relations
Julie MacMedan
818-871-5125
investor@thq.com
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