THQ Confirms Top Brands Slated for Nintendo DS Portable Video Game System

CALABASAS HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 2004--THQ(R) Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI), the leading independent publisher of handheld games, today announced that it plans to bring several of its key brands to the Nintendo(R) DS portable game system.

Games based on the holiday 2005 theatrical release of a Walt Disney Pictures presentation of a Pixar Animation Studios film Cars, as well as several Nickelodeon properties including SpongeBob SquarePants(TM) and Tak are among THQ titles slated for development for the new system. Other THQ brands scheduled for release on Nintendo DS include Disney/ Pixar's The Incredibles and Zoo Tycoon.

Additionally, THQ announced Ping Pals, a game that takes advantage of the highly anticipated two-way messaging feature in the DS system by allowing players to chat and play games with up to 16 of their friends. Each player will be able to create and customize their own avatar identity by choosing from thousands of items. Additional items can be bought by winning Ping Points during game play, as well as trading with friends. Ping Pals is currently scheduled to be a launch title for the new platform.

"Nintendo DS features like the dual screen, stylus and two-way messaging will enable our developers to create deeper, more compelling game play experiences for handheld gamers," said Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ. "We look forward to the launch of Ping Pals this fall, as well as bringing many of our most popular brands to the system in 2005."