THQ Signs Travellers Tales to Develop Video Games Based on Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo

THQ Signs Travellers Tales to Develop Video Games Based on Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo

THQ Signs Travellers Tales to Develop Video Games Based on Disney/Pixar's ``Finding Nemo''
Games Scheduled for Simultaneous PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox Release in Summer 2003

THQ Inc. today announced that leading video game creator Travellers Tales is currently in development on Disney/Pixar's "Finding Nemo" for PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox. The games, which have been in development for several months, are scheduled for release day and date with the "Finding Nemo" theatrical debut in summer 2003.

THQ's interactive adventures based on "Finding Nemo" are the first under the Company's exclusive, multi-property publishing agreement with award-winning interactive entertainment publisher Disney Interactive and the Academy Award(R)-winning Pixar Animation Studios.

Travellers Tales' 15-year history includes work across nearly every game system for nearly every major game publisher including Nintendo, Sega, Sony Computer Entertainment and most recently, Activision and Universal Studios Interactive. The studio's acclaimed portfolio boasts top-selling games based on many of the popular Disney/Pixar animated theatrical releases including "Toy Story," "Toy Story 2" and "A Bug's Life." The Travellers Tales Web site is at www.t-tales.com.

"Travellers Tales' unparalleled experience both in developing compelling gaming experiences and working directly with the creative teams at Disney and Pixar make them the best possible studio to bring `Finding Nemo' to PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox," said Mike Rubinelli, vice president, product development, THQ. "With more than a year left in development, we are already seeing the underwater world of `Finding Nemo' come to life on the new systems in rich detail."

"We are delighted to be combining our development expertise with THQ's global publishing powerhouse," said Jon Burton, Travellers Tales. "It is an honor to be working with the gifted teams at Pixar and Disney once again on what promises to be another blockbuster animated feature film release."

Written and directed by Academy Award(R)-nominee Andrew Stanton, "Finding Nemo" is a visually stunning underwater adventure, following the comedic and eventful journeys of two fish -- a father and his son Nemo -- who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef.

About Pixar Animation Studios

Pixar Animation Studios (Nasdaq:PIXR) (www.pixar.com) combines creative and technical artistry to create original stories in the medium of computer animation. In partnership with Disney, Pixar has created four of the most successful and beloved animated films of all time: Academy Award(R)-winning "Toy Story" (1995), "A Bug's Life" (1998), Golden Globe-winner "Toy Story 2" (1999) and the Academy Award(R)-winning "Monsters, Inc." (2001). Pixar's four films have earned more than $1.7 billion at the worldwide box office to date. The Northern California studios' next three film releases are "Finding Nemo" (summer 2003), "The Incredibles" (holiday 2004) and "Cars" (holiday 2005).

About Disney Interactive

Disney Interactive, Inc., a worldwide leader in the creation of innovative interactive entertainment, develops, markets and globally distributes a wide variety of interactive family-oriented entertainment, educational and sports CD-ROMs and video games. Disney Interactive is the multimedia arm of The Walt Disney Company's Consumer Products business unit. For more information on Disney Interactive's products, visit www.disneyinteractive.com.

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, Nintendo and Microsoft. The THQ Web site is located at www.thq.com.

Note: ACADEMY AWARD(R) is the registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about THQ's business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of THQ's future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for THQ's products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. In addition, such statements could be affected by growth rates and market conditions relating to the interactive software industry and general domestic and international economic conditions. Specific information concerning these and other such factors is contained in THQ's Registration Statement on Form S-3 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2002. A copy of this filing may be obtained by contacting THQ or the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and THQ does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

--Posted June 11, 2002
Source: THQ, Pixar Animation Studios