WWE® WRESTLEMANIA® 21 SHIPS
EXCLUSIVELY FOR XBOX
Wrestling Fans Live the WWE Experience Like Never Before with New Online
Create-A-Belt Feature
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif., April 20, 2005 – THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and JAKKS
Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ NM: JAKK) today announced the release of their newest
World Wrestling Entertainment® (NYSE: WWE) licensed video game, WWE
WrestleMania 21. Available exclusively for the Xbox® video game system from
Microsoft, WWE WrestleMania 21 features for the first time ever Superstar
voice-over, authentic ringside commentary from SmackDown! ® and RAW
announcers, motion-capture technology and the ability to take a created
Championship Belt online to challenge others via Xbox Live. WWE WrestleMania
21 has shipped to major retail outlets throughout North America.
“We are thrilled to bring this next installment of the WWE to Xbox,” stated
Philip Holt, senior vice president, product development, THQ. “Defending a
Championship Belt online is something that the wrestling fans have been asking
for and we’re excited to deliver this feature that will create an online
wrestling community that’s above and beyond anything we’ve seen in the
wrestling genre before.”
“It is exciting to bring this great spectacle in sports entertainment to WWE
videogame fans,” said Nelo Lucich, Vice President of Interactive, JAKKS
Pacific, Inc. “WrestleMania 21 is the best looking wrestling game to date,
with Superstar moves and animations that really come to life because of the
amazing motion-capture technology that was utilized in the making of the
game.”
About WWE WrestleMania 21
WWE WrestleMania 21 for Xbox showcases 45 WWE Superstars including John Cena™,
Batista™, Rey Mysterio™ and Stacy Keibler™. The game includes a story mode
that allows players to create a Superstar and build his attributes from the
early stages of wrestling development, to the pinnacle of sports entertainment
– WrestleMania 21. WWE WrestleMania 21 is the first ever wrestling game with
complete motion capture technology, resulting in the best looking WWE models
and animations to ever grace a wrestling console game. Another feature that is
unique to WWE WrestleMania 21 is the Pro Reversal System – a mechanic that
adds a level of depth to the gameplay experience by allowing players to
counter any move in the game. Rounding out WWE
WrestleMania 21’s features is a wealth of online content, including a new
feature that allows players to build a championship belt and build prestige by
challenging opponents online. Players up for the challenge will also have the
ability to play multiple match types online via Xbox Live.
For more information about the THQ/JAKKS Pacific World Wrestling
Entertainment® videogame franchises and the rest of THQ’s 2005 line-up, visit
www.thq.com.
About World Wrestling
Entertainment, Inc.
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) is an integrated media and
entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New
York, Los Angeles, Toronto and London. Additional information on the company
can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. Information on television
ratings and community activities can be found at parents.wwe.com.
About JAKKS Pacific
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: JAKK) is a multi-brand company that designs
and markets a broad range of toys and leisure products. The product categories
include: Action Figures, Arts & Crafts Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing
Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles,
Infant/Pre-School, Plush and Dolls. The products are sold under various brand
names including Flying Colors®, Road Champs®, Remco®, Child Guidance®, Pentech®,
Toymax®, Funnoodle®, Go Fly a Kite® and JPI Color Workshop™. The Company also
participates in a joint venture with THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide
rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment video games. For
further information, visit
www.jakkspacific.com
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 in the United States, United Kingdom, France,
Germany, Spain, Korea and Australia. More information about THQ and its
products may be found at www.thq.com and
www.thqwireless.com.
THQ, THQ Wireless and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of THQ Inc.
About Xbox
Xbox ( http://www.xbox.com )
is the video game system from Microsoft that brings people together for the
most exhilarating game and entertainment experiences. Xbox delivers an
expansive collection of breakthrough games, powerful hardware and the unified
Xbox Live online service. The new tagline, "it’s good to play together,"
captures the spirit of Xbox as the social hub of the new digital entertainment
lifestyle. Xbox is now available in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia.
About Xbox Live
A new frontier in imagination and extraordinary interaction, Xbox Live offers
rich online gameplay. The world’s only unified global online console games
service, Xbox Live is continuously innovating to provide members with
unparalleled experiences. This unique service unites gamers together in a
dynamic community where they can experience the best online games, exclusive
programming and continuous downloadable content. Xbox Live launched in the
United States in November 2002 and is available in 24 countries. Please visit
http://www.xbox.com/live
for more information
Trademark Statement
The names of all World Wrestling Entertainment televised and live programming,
talent names, images, likenesses, slogans and wrestling moves and all World
Wrestling Entertainment logos are trademarks which are the exclusive property
of World Wrestling
Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective
owners.
Xbox is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other
countries.
