Red Faction II Ship In March 2003
Posted by Ben on Monday, January 13 2003

January 2003 (Newstream) -- THQ® Inc. (NASDAQ NMS: THQI) today announced that its critically acclaimed action game Red Faction® II will be coming to Nintendo® GamecubeTM, the XboxTM video game system from Microsoft and PC in March. Featuring an enhanced Geo-ModTM engine that allows players to strategically alter and destroy the game environment in real-time, Red Faction II expands and builds upon the experience and technology of the original game with blistering action, an engaging storyline, highly detailed graphics and a number of multi-player options.

Originally developed for the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system by THQ's Volition® studio, these new versions of Red Faction II will feature a number of enhancements and improvements. The Gamecube version, being developed by THQ's Cranky Pants GamesTM studio, will feature custom animations, improved texture resolution and color as well as enhanced lighting specific to the Gamecube hardware. The Xbox and PC versions, being developed by THQ's Outrage® Games studio, will include increased texture resolution, and exclusive multiplayer maps and character models.

"We are very pleased to be bringing an original, internally developed brand like Red Faction II to Gamecube, Xbox and PC," said Alison Locke, executive vice president, North American publishing, THQ. "In addition to groundbreaking Geo-Mod technology, Red Faction II offers gamers a complete entertainment experience with new enhancements and improvements that take advantage of each system's respective hardware."

About Red Faction II

Featuring an enhanced Geo-Mod engine that allows players to strategically alter and destroy the game environment in real-time, Red Faction II builds upon the experience and technology of the original game. Players will defend their country as Alias, a demolitions expert, with the help of five elite squad members, each specialized in their own means of destruction. Tasked with completing multiple mission objectives in a number of diverse levels, players will have a number of vehicles and an arsenal of powerful weapons at their disposal in a rampage to overthrow the government. Red Faction II features actor Lance Henriksen (The Terminator, Aliens, Millennium) as the voice of squad leader Molov. Refined graphics, enhanced enemy AI and dynamic environments are also featured in Red Faction II along with four-player split screen action including customizable computer opponents.

For more information, artwork and to view weekly updates on the game's development please visit www.redfaction2.com.

About Cranky Pants Games

Located in Seattle, Washington, Cranky Pants Games is one of THQ's internal game development studios focusing exclusively on next generation console systems. The studio recently finished work on Summoner®: A Goddess Reborn for Nintendo Gamecube and is currently working on the soon-to-be-released Red Faction® II, also for Nintendo Gamecube.

About Outrage Games

Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Outrage Games is one of THQ's premier internal game development studios responsible for high-end creations on next generation systems and PC. Its credits include the best-selling and award-winning Descent series as part of Parallax Software. The studio's first original title for THQ, Alter EchoTM, is scheduled for release in May 2003.

About Volition

Located in Champaign, Illinois, Volition is one of THQ's premier internal game development studios responsible for high-end creations on next generation systems and PC. Its credits include the best-selling Red Faction, Summoner, the acclaimed Freespace and Freespace 2, as well as the award-winning Descent and Descent 2 as a part of Parallax Software.

About THQ

THQ Inc. is a leading, worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software 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.

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 the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 16, 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.