Queensland-based developers Evolution are making a GameCube game based on the Nickelodeon Rocket Power characters.
THQ SIGNS AUSSIE DEVELOPMENT TEAM
- Rocket Power Beach Bandits for PlayStation2 and GameCube
MELBOURNE, Vic - July 15, 2002, - THQ Asia Pacific (NASDAQ NMS:THQI in America) has announced a worldwide agreement with Australian games developer, Evolution Games. The Queensland-based company are in the final stages of developing Rocket Power Beach Bandits, a 3D Platform Action/Adventure game for both PlayStation2 and GameCube.
"This is the first time we have contracted next-generation console development out of Australia," said Martin Good, Managing Director, THQ Asia Pacific. "We have great confidence in the Evolution team and their core development skills."
This agreement puts Evolution at the forefront of Australian console game development, according to Evolution CEO, Justin Green.
"This will be the first GameCube title released by an Australian developer, and represents a significant milestone for Evolution Games. Three years on from our inception, we are now in a position where we can grow our team and consider new and exciting prospects.
"With the recent acquisition of our own studio, and plans to further our relationship with THQ, the next 2 to 3 years will see us firmly established as a quality video games developer on a worldwide scale."
THQ's Nickelodeon videogame releases have a proven track record including 30 products with total sales in excess of $500 million at retail worldwide since December 1998.
Steve Youngwood, Vice President, Media Products Group, Nickelodeon Consumer Products said, "THQ has demonstrated that they are perfectly suited to take Nickelodeon's kids' content and turn it into quality interactive entertainment."
According to Mr Good, that success has allowed THQ to expand the Nickelodeon videogame portfolio in 2002, "debuting the hottest properties on both PlayStation 2 and GameCube."
"When Rocket Power Beach Bandits debuts on GameCube in October, with a simultaneous PlayStation 2 launch, we will inevitably be extending our reach to the expanding all-ages gaming audience," Mr Good said.
Rocket Power Beach Bandits will also be available on GameBoy Advance this December.
# # #
About Rocket Power Beach Bandits:
Right on - it's summertime! Our favorite kids from Ocean Shores are looking forward to the best summer yet and, more importantly, to the Annual Ocean Shores Surf Contest. But as Otto, Reggie, Twister and Sam finally reach the beach they make a startling discovery - most of the sand is missing, and the surf contest has been postponed . . . Indefinitely! Local town officials announce there is nothing to fret. The head of a mysterious new robotics company, Mr Eric Golem, vows to get to the bottom of the missing sand. However something's amiss and the kids aren't buying into Golem Industries' generosity. It's now up to our sand sleuths to figure out who's stealing the sand from Ocean Shore's beach!
Features:
* More than 50 challenging levels with hours of game play in the first Rocket Power video game available on PS2 & GameCube
* Play as one of the four Rocket Power members: Otto, Reggie, Twister or Sam in this 3D platform/adventure game
* Make your way through four areas including, Ocean Shores, The Lakes, The Robot Factory and Mondo Mountain
* Extreme action game play styles with the introduction of the wave runner and the zip-line glide! Plus - all of your favorite extreme sports including skateboarding, inline skating, and mountain boarding.
* Unlock six outrageous multi-player games as you progress through the story, and play a variety of mini-games including a bumper car demolition derby and carnival style shooting gallery.
* Introducing Eddie, Prince of the Netherworld, and Mackenzie in their Rocket Power videogame debut and other characters from the TV show including Lars, Tito, Ray and Officer Shirley
* Extra features include two Rocket Power television episodes, a SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman for PS2 trailer, and a sneak peek of Tak and the Power of JuJu, the 2003 THQ/NICK original videogame release.
About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 23rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 84 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic-cable network for more than six consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
About THQ:
THQ Inc. develops and publishes interactive entertainment software worldwide for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD-ROM, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Nintendo and Microsoft. The THQ web site is located at www.thq.com. The THQ Wireless site is located at www.thqwireless.com .
About Evolution Games:
Evolution Games was founded in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane in May 1999 as a games development company. Since then they have developed technology for PlayStation2, GameCube, and Xbox, and are in the process of making games for these platforms. For further information please contact Justin Green, CEO. Phone: +61(0)7 3252 2321
email: jgreen@evolutiongames.com. The Evolution Games website is located at www.evolutiongames.com .
