AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Oct. 16: Leading independent publisher THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) today announced its robust launch line-up for Nintendo’s highly anticipated next-generation gaming system, the WiiTM home video game console. THQ’s Wii line-up features games based on some of the most popular television and movie properties, including Disney*Pixar’s Cars, as well as Avatar: The Last Airbender, Barnyard and SpongeBob SquarePantsTM: Creature from the Krusty Krab.
“Nintendo has a remarkable ability to inspire game developers to create compelling interactive experiences for their increasingly innovative game systems,” said Kelly Flock, executive vice president of worldwide publishing, THQ. “As the #1 third-party publisher of software across all Nintendo gaming systems, THQ’s library of popular mass-market brands aligns perfectly with Nintendo’s strategy of creating fun and accessible experiences for the new Wii system.”
“THQ’s proven brands have long resonated with Nintendo’s extremely dedicated audience,” says Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “Wii’s potential to bring gaming to the masses using the ground-breaking Wii Remote, presents a unique opportunity for THQ. We welcome the addition of their strong lineup to the best launch library ever for a Nintendo console.”
About the Avatar: The Last Airbender Video Game
Based on one of Nickelodeon’s hottest TV shows, the Avatar: The Last Airbender video game brings to life an adventure of intrigue, deceit and revelation. Players can play as all four main characters from the show: Aang, Katara, Haru and Sokka, as they mimic their martial arts movements from the show using the Wii remote and nunchuk. Players will be able to use the Wii’s controller to perform melee attacks in sweeping gestures to create combo-moves, draw symbols from the “Avatar world” in a time based series in order to generate special moves, and control the game camera through tilting action.
About the Barnyard Video Game
Players will enter the world of Nickelodeon’s newest adventure and bring the “Barnyard” movie to life in the Barnyard video game. The variety of gameplay suits the Wii controller perfectly in mini-games including golf, darts, billiards, and shooting tomatoes to defend the farm. Players will feel like they are actually swinging a club, throwing darts, aiming a pool cue, as well as pointing and shooting the tomato gun. In addition to taking full advantage of the new controller, Barnyard will also feature higher resolution graphics, new minigames, and customization options not seen in the previously released console versions.
About the Disney*Pixar’s Cars Video Game
The Cars video game challenges players to relive the excitement created by Lightning McQueen and his friends in the blockbuster film. Fans will interact with their favorite characters and environments from the film with more than 10 playable characters to choose from. Cars features a fully immersive re-creation of expansive worlds, such as Radiator Springs, and exciting gameplay – including use of the Wii controller as a steering wheel – in more than 30 races and minigames.
About the Sponge Bob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab Video Game
In a unique and creative twist, SpongeBob SquarePants explores the peculiar world of Bikini Bottom as it transforms through a series of unusual visual styles. The game offers fans different Wii gameplay mechanics through nine visually bizarre levels. Players can knock down buildings with the Wii nunchuk as they rampage as Giant Plankton, blast through space as Patrick using the Wii controller as an aircraft control stick, or turn the Wii controller on its side to use as a steering wheel for a virtual driving experience.
For more information about THQ’s Wii products, as well as other video games, please visitwww.thq.com.
