FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Liz Bell/Kathy Mendoza Mary Nelson Garrett Stephen Berman |
THQ/JAKKS PACIFIC SHIP WWF WRESTLEMANIA 2000 FOR NINTENDO 64 AND GAME BOY COLOR
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CALABASAS HILLS, Calif. � November 18, 1999 � THQ/JAKKS Pacific, LLC, a limited liability company consisting of THQ Inc. (NASDAQ NMS: THQI) and JAKKS Pacific (NASDAQ NMS: JAKK) announced today the release of WWF WrestleMania� 2000 for the Nintendo� 64 and Game Boy� Color systems. The games are the first to be released under the 10 year THQ/Jakks video game license with the World Wrestling Federation� and will be available at major retail outlets nationwide for the suggested retail prices of $59.99 (Nintendo 64) and $29.99 (Game Boy Color).
"THQ is excited to be a part of the team bringing the highly anticipated WrestleMania 2000 to WWF and Nintendo enthusiasts," said Brian Farrell, president and CEO of THQ. "With the WWF as the number one license in Sports-Entertainment and THQ's proven development expertise, THQ is poised to maintain its lead in this highly competitive genre with its WWF debut on the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color."
"Jakks Pacific is delighted to be a part of the team introducing these outstanding WWF videogames," said Stephen Berman, President and COO of JAKKS Pacific, Inc. "The World Wrestling Federation is one of the hottest names in the game and toy industries. Our success with WWF toys, action figures and accessories coupled with THQ's proven development skills and the great WWF media content lead us to believe that WrestleMania 2000 for Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color are certain to be hits."
"WWFE is proud of the partnership that has been created between WWFE, JAKKS Pacific and THQ," said Jim Bell, senior vice president licensing and merchandising, World Wrestling Federation Entertainment. "This partnership maximizes the strength of each, individual company and sets new standards in licensing, product development and marketing that currently is unequalled in the market place."
Developed by top-selling, critically acclaimed wrestling game developer AKI Corporation in conjunction with Asmik Ace Entertainment Inc, and licensed from World Wrestling Federation, WWF WrestleMania 2000 for the Nintendo 64 offers enthusiasts a comprehensive list of features and WWF Superstars including The Rock
�, The Undertaker� and Stone Cold Steve Austin�. Intricate create-a-wrestler and edit modes will give players the chance to design new characters with specific appearances and mannerisms. Several game modes, including cage and weapons matches are also featured in WWF WrestleMania 2000, including the biggest Pay-Per-View events in the world and all-new wrestler entrances complete with authentic Titantron� clips and pyrotechnics.With more than 15 of the World Wrestling Federation's top Superstars, game developer Natsume brings WWF WrestleMania 2000 to the Game Boy Color offering enthusiasts on the go the thrill of competing as and against the biggest names in the WWF. Game Boy Color owners will be able to play against friends for the first time with the Game Boy Color's Link cable support. With over 100 moves, including signature maneuvers, trademark finishers, and pre-match entrances and taunts, WWF WrestleMania 2000 for the Game Boy Color packs all the great features of a home console game for fans of the hand-held system. WWF WrestleMania 2000 for Game Boy Color is also compatible with Super Game Boy and Game Boy.
JAKKS Pacific is a multi-brand toy company that designs, develops, produces and markets toys and related products, including (1) actions figures and accessories featuring licensed characters, principally from the World Wrestling Federation
�, (2) Flying Colors� molded plastic activity sets, clay compound playsets and lunch boxes, (3) Road Champs� die-cast collectible and toy vehicles and Remco� toy vehicles and role-play toys and accessories, (4) Child Guidance� infant and pre-school electronic toys, toy foam puzzle mats and block, activity sets and outdoor products and (5) fashion and mini dolls and related accessories.World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. is a publicly owned marketing and communications company with its corporate offices located at its world headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. The WWF's goal has always been to provide quality family entertainment both live in arenas and on television around the world. Under the guidance and creative force of Vince McMahon, WWF's chairman, the WWF has grown from a northeastern regional business to an international television and marketing enterprise. The business structure in place to create, market and manage this global WWF sports-entertainment property consists of both national and international sales, marketing, promotions, television distribution, properties (domestic and international), publishing, pay-per-view and public relations, making the WWF the leader in sports-entertainment for over 50 years.
THQ Inc. develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software worldwide for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD-ROM, and those manufactured by Sega, Nintendo and Sony. The THQ Web site is located at www.thq.com.
