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THQ JUMPS INTO NINTENDO 64 SQUARED CIRCLE WITH RELEASE OF 'WCW VS. NWO: WORLD TOUR™'
Aimee Greenholtz
THQ/Media Relations
818/223-3116
Deborah Lake
THQ/Investor Relations
(818) 591-1310
Company Also Ships Two Sony PlayStation Games, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis Titles in Time for Holidays
CALABASAS, Calif., December 2, 1997 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ NMS:THQI) has made a grand entrance into the Nintendo 64 (N64) ring with the launch of the first wrestling game for the N64, "WCW vs. NWO: World Tour." Additionally, THQ has just shipped two 32-bit games for the Sony PlayStation, "Ghost in the Shell"," based on the popular Japanese "anime" science fiction movie of the same name, and "Vs. ä," the company's first original lightening-fast fighting game. THQ has also released two popular Electronic Arts titles, "Madden NFL" 98," for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and "NBA" Live 98," for Sega Genesis.
All games are available now in North America. "WCW vs. NWO: World Tour" and "Vs." are scheduled for launch in Europe in the first quarter of 1998.
"We are excited to be delivering the red hot World Championship Wrestling license on one of the most sought-after game systems, the Nintendo 64, in time for the holidays," said Brian J. Farrell, president and CEO, THQ. "With 'Ghost in the Shell,' 'Vs.' and the Electronic Arts titles, THQ is making sure that enthusiasts, no matter what type of game system they have, are getting cutting-edge games and innovative content."
Featuring the superstars of World Championship Wrestling and New World Order, including "Hollywood" Hogan, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair and many more characters, up to four players can body slam their favorite opponent in and out of the ring using authentic pile drivers, flying knee drops, neck breakers, reversals and rope tosses in "WCW vs. NWO: World Tour," developed by Asmik of Japan. With more than 45 wrestlers in all, each brawler possesses 30 moves, including their own signature moves and taunts from the weekly top-syndicated WCW Monday Nitro program.
In "WCW vs. NWO: World Tour," gamers can choose from five different modes of play. WCW vs. NWO lets players assemble an all-star team of up to five wrestling superstars. In Exhibition Match, brawlers can bash heads against the computer or a friend in a single, tag team, handicap tag team and four-player battle royal match. League Challenge dares gamers to beat all the wrestlers in each organization while League lets each player create and compete in an eight team (16 man) round robin tournament. Tournament also lets enthusiasts compete in a 16-man round robin except players are eliminated without a second chance.
The innovative 3-D action shooter "Ghost in the Shell," developed by Exact, takes place in a futuristic cyber-world where technology has gone wild and man and machine have become one. With a tough cyborg-cop heroine, players go head-to-head against evil high-tech forces and learn how to pilot a "Fukochima," a one-man tank that climbs any surface.
The game is based on the Masamune Shurow's highly successful animated feature film and comic book by Dark Horse and features 10 minutes of original animation from the creators of the movie.
Players navigate through 12 high-intensity mission-based levels where they must search and destroy enemies in a true 3-D world which incorporates never-before-seen full vertical and horizontal rotating action, enabling gamers to avoid enemy fire. Players can also practice game play in a separate training mode.
In THQ's first original fighting game, "Vs.," developed by Polygon Magic of Japan, gamers take on one of 20 modern-day fighters split into four groups: Campus, Beach, Hoods and Streets. Enthusiasts build their skills as they take on each character, including each gang's boss.
"Vs." incorporates breakthrough 3-D motion capture technology with fast-paced, electrifying fighting action featuring karate, jujitsu, kung fu, wrestling, taekwondo and street fighting. The game also brings emerging alternative rock to gameplay, featuring Razed in Black, Los Infernos, Suicide Machines and Pigs in Space.
"Madden NFL 98" brings every NFL player and team, a play book of more than 500 plays, updated team rosters and stats, new music and enhanced audibles to the SNES platform. Features include a new "Rookie" mode for beginners to learn the game, a "hot and cold streak" option which takes into account a team's recent performance and three difficulty settings.
In "NBA Live 98," enthusiasts can play as either one of 29 official NBA teams or two all-star teams. The game, which is the newest in the line of NBA titles for the 16-bit systems, features updated team rosters, stats, and an all-new practice mode for novices to play as their favorite team or individual without the other team or players on the court. The game also includes a realistic "Trading" mode, which uses player ratings, just like the NBA.
"WCW vs. NWO: World Tour" is compatible with Nintendo's Rumble Pak and Controller Pak accessories and is available in all major retail outlet stores for a suggested retail price of between $59.95 - $69.95. "Ghost in the Shell," "Vs," "Madden NFL 98" and "NBA Live 98" are available at all major retail outlets for a suggested retail price of $49.95.
THQ Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software worldwide for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD ROM and those manufactured by Nintendo, Sony and Sega. THQ is headquartered in Calabasas, California, and is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol THQI.
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