THQ and Games Workshop Group PLC Announce Exclusive Warhammer(R) 40,000(TM) Licensing Agreement

1 Mar 2007 10:30

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) today announced that it has entered into anexclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Games Workshop (LSE:GAW)for the Warhammer(R) 40,000(TM) franchise through 2013. The agreementserves to both extend and expand upon THQ's previous agreement withGames Workshop for the Warhammer 40,000 license, which encompassedinteractive rights to console and handheld systems, as well as WindowsPC. Additional rights under the newly announced agreement includewireless devices and all online rights, including massivelymultiplayer (MMO) games. It also includes the same rights to GamesWorkshop's Gorkamorka and Necromunda properties. £ THQ also announced that its Austin, Texas based studio, VigilGames, is in development on the first MMO based on the Warhammer40,000 franchise. £ THQ's critically acclaimed Warhammer(R) 40,000(TM): Dawn ofWar(TM) franchise now boasts more than 2 million units in salesworldwide with the release of hybrid expansion Warhammer(R)40,000(TM): Dawn of War(TM) - Dark Crusade(TM) last fall. Thefranchise has received numerous accolades since its 2004 debut,including Game of the Year and Editor's Choice Awards, in addition toselection as an Official World Cyber Games title in 2005 and 2006. £ "Our success in creating Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War as acategory leading Real-Time Strategy experience for PC gamers is justthe beginning," said Kelly Flock, executive vice president ofworldwide publishing, THQ. "The Warhammer 40,000 universe provides arichness of worlds, characters and stories and level of depth thattranslates perfectly to interactive experiences across multiple genresand systems. We see a lot of opportunity to build new and differentgames based on Games Workshop's fantastic property in the comingyears, beginning with our newly announced MMO." £ "We are delighted to be able to announce the extension of our verysuccessful partnership with THQ," said Andy Jones, Head of Group Legaland Licensing for Games Workshop. "By creating such vibrant andground-breaking games based on our long-established worlds, storiesand characters, THQ can introduce the Warhammer 40,000 IntellectualProperty to a whole new audience, while providing our existingHobbyists with an exciting new way to interact with the dark andgothic universe which they already know and love." £ More information about Vigil Games can be found atwww.vigilgames.com. £ About Games Workshop £ Games Workshop is the world's largest tabletop wargames company.Based in Nottingham, UK, it designs, manufactures and distributes itsrange of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 games, miniature soldiers,novels, collectible card games and resin models through more than 340of its own Hobby centers, mail order, Internet and independent retailchannels in more than 50 countries worldwide. Further details on thecompany can be obtained at www.games-workshop.com. Dawn of War, Dawnof War: Dark Crusade, Games Workshop, Warhammer, the foregoing marks'respective logos, and all associated marks, logos, places, names,creatures, races and race insignia/devices/logos/symbols, vehicles,locations, weapons, units and unit insignia, characters, products,illustrations and images are either (R), (TM) and/or (C). GamesWorkshop Ltd. 2000-2007. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. £ About THQ £ THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer andpublisher of interactive entertainment software. The company developsits products for all popular game systems, personal computers andwireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQsells product through its global network of offices located throughoutNorth America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ andits products may be found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com. THQ,THQ Wireless, Vigil Games and their respective logos are trademarksand/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc. £ The statements contained in this press release that are nothistorical facts may be "forward-looking statements" within themeaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Theseforward-looking statements are based on current expectations,estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and itssubsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ"), including, but notlimited to, expectations and projections related to games based on theWarhammer 40,000 universe, and are based upon management's currentbeliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Suchforward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties thatcould cause actual results to differ materially from those expressedor implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but notlimited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political andtechnological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets,products or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factorsand the information that could materially affect THQ's financialresults, described in other documents that THQ files from time to timewith the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its QuarterlyReports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscalperiod ended March 31, 2006, and particularly the discussion of riskfactors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQdisclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks oruncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of anyrevision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautionednot to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, whichspeak only as of the date of this press release. Copyright Business Wire 2007