“WWF SmackDown! 2 Know Your Role” for PlayStation Debuts At Electronic Entertainment Expo — E3Expo
Business/Electronic Game Editors
E3Expo 2000
LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 12, 2000
THQ Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI) and JAKKS Pacific (Nasdaq:JAKK) today announced “WWF SmackDown! 2 Know Your Role(TM)” for PlayStation game console. A sequel to the original, immensely popular “WWF SmackDown!(TM),” based on World Wrestling Federation Entertainment’s top-rated UPN program and ranked the number one selling PlayStation title for the first quarter of 2000 according to NPD TRSTS Video Game Service, “WWF SmackDown! 2 Know Your Role” is scheduled to ship in fall 2000.
Developed by Yuke’s Co., Ltd. of Japan, “WWF SmackDown! 2 Know Your Role” boasts expanded features including all new storylines and gameplay modes such as the high-flying, hard-hitting Ladder Matches and havoc-wreaking Tornado Tag Team Matches. Players will have the opportunity to brawl not only in the ring, but also backstage, in the VIP room, in the parking lot, and even in the new World Wrestling Federation Entertainment complex.
A new, up-to-date roster allows players to select from one of 50 WWF Superstars, including The Rock, Triple H and Chyna, each with their own signature moves. By using Create-A-Superstar mode, players can build their own wrestlers with customized characteristics including height and weight, physical appearance, personality, and detailed move selection. Breathtaking graphics and effects such as lighting, shadows and skin textures, bring the “WWF SmackDown! 2 Know Your Role” set to life on PlayStation like never before.
“After THQ’s phenomenal success of the PlayStation chart-topping `WWF SmackDown!’ earlier this year, it is clear we expect to have another megahit with `WWF SmackDown! 2 Know Your Role,'” said Alison Locke, senior vice president of sales and marketing, THQ. “We have improved on a winning combination of the number one sports entertainment license and the top PlayStation wrestling game development team by adding exciting new modes and features to make this the must-have title for the 2000 holiday season.”
“From the success of the first THQ/JAKKS Pacific joint venture hit, `WWF Wrestlemania 2000′ for Nintendo 64, through this year’s `WWF SmackDown!,’ the popularity just keeps intensifying,” stated Jennifer Richmond, vice president of marketing, JAKKS Pacific Inc. “The World Wrestling Federation has become an icon of popular culture and makes for great synergy between the worlds of interactive entertainment and toys and action figures.”
“A major part of WWFE’s overall corporate strategy includes building extensions of our most popular brands. `WWF SmackDown! 2 Know Your Role’ will benefit from an extremely loyal following as well as tremendous brand recognition among WWF fans. THQ and JAKKS have again done an outstanding job at capturing the spirit of the show for PlayStation gamers. As with the original game, they have shown that they truly understand the unique personality and subtleties of our product and I believe our fans will be very excited with the end result,” said Jim Byrne, senior vice president of marketing, WWFE.
JAKKS Pacific is a multi-brand toy company that designs, develops, produces and markets toys and related products, including (1) action figures and accessories featuring licensed characters, principally from the World Wrestling Federation(R), (2) Flying Colors(R) molded plastic activity sets, clay compound playsets and lunch boxes, (3) Road Champs(R) die-cast collectible and toy vehicles and Remco(R) toy vehicles and role-playing toys and accessories, (4) Child Guidance(R) infant and pre-school electronic toys, toy foam puzzle mats and blocks, activity sets and outdoor products and (5) fashion and mini dolls and related accessories.
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 website is located at www.thq.com.
The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts may be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in such statements due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, demand and competition for the company’s products and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and as more specifically set forth in the company’s report on form 8-K, filed on March 21, 2000.
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