Initial D: Mountain Vengeance PC Game
TOKYOPOP INC. & VALUSOFT RACE INTO STORES WITH INITIAL D: MOUNTAIN VENGEANCE
Game Brings the Intense Drifting Action of Top-Selling Anime Series to the PC
LOS ANGELES (February 24, 2004)--TokyoPop Inc. and ValuSoft(R), a division of THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and leading global publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software, today announced the release of Initial D(R): Mountain Vengeance. Through a licensing agreement with TOKYOPOP, ValuSoft brings the high-speed racing action of smash anime hit Initial D to PC gamers everywhere. This game is rated "E" for Everyone and will be available at retailers throughout North America for $19.99.
"Initial D: Mountain Vengeance offers gamers in the U.S. the first opportunity to race as or against Tak, Initial D's unlikely racing superstar," states Maury McIntyre, TOKYOPOP's Director of Brand Marketing. "ValuSoft has transformed the white-knuckle drifts and gutsy maneuvers of Initial D into an intense racing experience where players must drive to survive through treacherous mountain curves."
In Initial D: Mountain Vengeance, players must choose their allegiance and then pick their opponents, as one of eight racing speedsters including Tak, the Akina Speed Stars, Night Kids, Red Suns or Impact Blue teams, to prove their racing prowess. Defending their turf, gamers race to win by outmaneuvering and outwitting their opponents with super-charged drifts through the winding roads of Japan's Mount Akina, Myogi, Akagi and Usui. Behind the wheel, players must accelerate through multiple races to unlock bonus tracks and music from the Initial D anime.
"Initial D has stormed the American marketplace, generating passionate fans both in North America and throughout the world," states Doug Clemmer, President of ValuSoft. "Now, for the first time, ValuSoft is giving fans the chance to live the world of Initial D one race at a time."
Initial D: Mountain Vengeance is the latest in a growing collection of merchandise tied into the high-octane anime series. Radio Shack has introduced a line of Initial D ZipZaps, AEG offers an Initial D trading card game, and Jada Toys is gearing up to launch collectible Initial D die-cast cars and action figures.
About TokyoPop Inc.
TokyoPop Inc. is the leading North American publisher of manga, the fastest growing segment within the publishing industry. With exclusive rights to hundreds of licensed and original book, video and music properties, the company has rapidly become a media convergence leader. TOKYOPOP has millions of books in print and publishes many hit manga series, including Love Hina, Chobits, Rave Master, Initial D, GTO, Battle Royale and Cowboy Bebop. The company pioneered Cine-Manga(TM), releasing such titles as Finding Nemo, SpongeBob SquarePants, Lizzie McGuire, Astro Boy and Transformers: Armada. TOKYOPOP television properties include Rave Master, GTO and Reign: The Conqueror. The company has also expanded its presence as a licensor, representing merchandising rights for Rave Master, Initial D, Stray Sheep and others. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information.
About ValuSoft(R)
ValuSoft, a division of THQ Inc., is a leading global publisher and distributor of consumer-priced software. Based in suburban Minneapolis, MN, ValuSoft markets a wide variety of interactive entertainment and productivity software to the mass-market audience. ValuSoft can be found on the World Wide Web at www.valusoft.com.
About THQ(R) 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 including the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system from Sony Computer Entertainment, the Xbox(TM) videogame system from Microsoft(R), Nintendo(R) GameCube(TM) and Game Boy(R) Advance, personal computers as well as wireless devices. The THQ web site is located at www.thq.com. The THQ Wireless site is located at www.thqwireless.com. THQ is a registered trademark of THQ Inc.
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about THQ's business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of THQ's future performance or the performance of Initial D(R): Mountain Vengeance game 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 forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for ValuSoft and/or THQ's products, including Initial D(R): Mountain Vengeance, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. In addition, such statements could be affected by growth rates and market conditions relating to the interactive software industry and general domestic and international economic conditions. Specific information concerning these and other such factors is contained in the company's transition report on Form 10-KT for the period ended March 31, 2003. A copy of this filing may be obtained by contacting THQ or the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made and THQ does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
Contact:
ValuSoft
Nicole Yolitz Armstrong
(952) 442-7000 Ext. 122
THQ Media Relations
Liz Pieri
(818) 871-5061
THQ Investor Relations
Julie MacMedan
(818) 871-5095
Game Brings the Intense Drifting Action of Top-Selling Anime Series to the PC
LOS ANGELES (February 24, 2004)--TokyoPop Inc. and ValuSoft(R), a division of THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and leading global publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment software, today announced the release of Initial D(R): Mountain Vengeance. Through a licensing agreement with TOKYOPOP, ValuSoft brings the high-speed racing action of smash anime hit Initial D to PC gamers everywhere. This game is rated "E" for Everyone and will be available at retailers throughout North America for $19.99.
"Initial D: Mountain Vengeance offers gamers in the U.S. the first opportunity to race as or against Tak, Initial D's unlikely racing superstar," states Maury McIntyre, TOKYOPOP's Director of Brand Marketing. "ValuSoft has transformed the white-knuckle drifts and gutsy maneuvers of Initial D into an intense racing experience where players must drive to survive through treacherous mountain curves."
In Initial D: Mountain Vengeance, players must choose their allegiance and then pick their opponents, as one of eight racing speedsters including Tak, the Akina Speed Stars, Night Kids, Red Suns or Impact Blue teams, to prove their racing prowess. Defending their turf, gamers race to win by outmaneuvering and outwitting their opponents with super-charged drifts through the winding roads of Japan's Mount Akina, Myogi, Akagi and Usui. Behind the wheel, players must accelerate through multiple races to unlock bonus tracks and music from the Initial D anime.
"Initial D has stormed the American marketplace, generating passionate fans both in North America and throughout the world," states Doug Clemmer, President of ValuSoft. "Now, for the first time, ValuSoft is giving fans the chance to live the world of Initial D one race at a time."
Initial D: Mountain Vengeance is the latest in a growing collection of merchandise tied into the high-octane anime series. Radio Shack has introduced a line of Initial D ZipZaps, AEG offers an Initial D trading card game, and Jada Toys is gearing up to launch collectible Initial D die-cast cars and action figures.
About TokyoPop Inc.
TokyoPop Inc. is the leading North American publisher of manga, the fastest growing segment within the publishing industry. With exclusive rights to hundreds of licensed and original book, video and music properties, the company has rapidly become a media convergence leader. TOKYOPOP has millions of books in print and publishes many hit manga series, including Love Hina, Chobits, Rave Master, Initial D, GTO, Battle Royale and Cowboy Bebop. The company pioneered Cine-Manga(TM), releasing such titles as Finding Nemo, SpongeBob SquarePants, Lizzie McGuire, Astro Boy and Transformers: Armada. TOKYOPOP television properties include Rave Master, GTO and Reign: The Conqueror. The company has also expanded its presence as a licensor, representing merchandising rights for Rave Master, Initial D, Stray Sheep and others. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information.
About ValuSoft(R)
ValuSoft, a division of THQ Inc., is a leading global publisher and distributor of consumer-priced software. Based in suburban Minneapolis, MN, ValuSoft markets a wide variety of interactive entertainment and productivity software to the mass-market audience. ValuSoft can be found on the World Wide Web at www.valusoft.com.
About THQ(R) 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 including the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system from Sony Computer Entertainment, the Xbox(TM) videogame system from Microsoft(R), Nintendo(R) GameCube(TM) and Game Boy(R) Advance, personal computers as well as wireless devices. The THQ web site is located at www.thq.com. The THQ Wireless site is located at www.thqwireless.com. THQ is a registered trademark of THQ Inc.
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about THQ's business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of THQ's future performance or the performance of Initial D(R): Mountain Vengeance game 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 forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for ValuSoft and/or THQ's products, including Initial D(R): Mountain Vengeance, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. In addition, such statements could be affected by growth rates and market conditions relating to the interactive software industry and general domestic and international economic conditions. Specific information concerning these and other such factors is contained in the company's transition report on Form 10-KT for the period ended March 31, 2003. A copy of this filing may be obtained by contacting THQ or the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made and THQ does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
Contact:
ValuSoft
Nicole Yolitz Armstrong
(952) 442-7000 Ext. 122
THQ Media Relations
Liz Pieri
(818) 871-5061
THQ Investor Relations
Julie MacMedan
(818) 871-5095
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