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Publishers of the Renowned WWE^® SmackDown^®/SmackDown^® vs. Raw^® Franchise To Establish New Property for Next Generation Systems

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - May 6, 2008 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) today announced that WWE® Legends of WrestleMania® is currently in development for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Joining the distinguished WWE® SmackDown®/SmackDown vs. Raw® franchise, which has shipped more than 37 million units worldwide since 2000, WWE Legends of WrestleMania is scheduled for release in March 2009 to coincide with the annual pinnacle of sports entertainment, WrestleMania® 25, in Houston, Texas.

“We have generated significant year-over-year growth in key global territories with WWE-licensed videogames, including tremendous success with the WWE SmackDown vs. Raw franchise,” said Peter Matiss, vice president, global brand management, THQ. “The development capabilities afforded by next generation hardware, combined with our established history and deep understanding of fighting videogames, allow us to leverage the strength of the WWE brand to further extend our leadership in the fighting videogame genre and bring this new property to market.”

“JAKKS Pacific is pleased to introduce a new WWE videogame property to the fighting genre,” said Nelo Lucich, senior vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. “The WWE SmackDown vs. Raw franchise has captured a collective audience of WWE fans, game enthusiasts and casual players, and we are confident that WWE Legends of WrestleMania will be poised for great success.”

THQ And DreamWorks Animation Announce Exclusive Video Game Licensing Agreement Based On Studio’s 2010 Fall Film
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., May 6, 2008 – THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NYSE: DWA) announced today that they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement to develop and publish video games based on the studio’s 2010 fall animated feature film. The film, acquired under the working title of Master Mind, is due in theatres on November 5, 2010. The new agreement grants THQ exclusive rights to publish interactive games based on the DreamWorks Animation property for all console and handheld systems, wireless devices and Windows PCs.

“The DreamWorks Animation brand is among the best in animation and storytelling,” said Brian Farrell, President and CEO, THQ. “The superhero theme of the fall 2010 film project lends itself seamlessly to an interactive gaming adventure. DreamWorks’ creative vision and humor will add another dimension to our portfolio, which we believe will help further distinguish both THQ and DreamWorks as leaders in our respective entertainment categories.”

The DreamWorks Animation film is a satirical send-up of the superhero genre, built around the story of a super villain who must find a new motivation after accidentally killing his archrival, Uberman, in the opening scene of the movie.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation SKG said, “We look forward to working with THQ, who has a tremendous legacy of success in creating games based on animated family films.”

Anne Globe, Head of Worldwide Marketing and Consumer Products, DreamWorks Animation, added, “Together with THQ, we are eager to extend the world we are creating behind this film into a broad line of console, interactive and wireless games.”

THQ And Marvel Enter Into Exclusive Licensing Agreement For Video Games Based On Marvel’s Super Hero Squad
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., May 8, 2008 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: MVL) announced today that they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement to create video games based on the burgeoning, kid-friendly Marvel Super Hero Squad franchise. Pursuant to the multi-year agreement, THQ has obtained the exclusive, worldwide rights to publish content for all current and next-generation consoles, handheld systems, as well as Windows PC. The initial Marvel Super Hero Squad game is scheduled for release in fall 2009.

The agreement fits perfectly in both THQ’s and Marvel’s growth strategies. For THQ, the addition of the Marvel brand further strengthens its position as the pre-eminent creator and publisher of kids video games. For Marvel, the relationship with THQ provides a premier interactive entertainment partner for its important Marvel Super Hero Squad franchise, which is designed to be an engaging introduction into the Marvel Universe for young kids.

“Marvel is one of the true crown jewels in the entertainment industry and we are thrilled at the prospect of both building the Marvel Super Hero Squad brand and further developing our relationship with Marvel,” said Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ. “We are dedicated to expanding our unmatched success story in the kids space and this agreement with Marvel is an excellent complement to our portfolio.”

Simon Phillips, President, Marvel International and Head of Worldwide Animation and Video Games, added, “Licensing of the Marvel Super Hero Squad brand is a priority for Marvel, as we see it as a great entry point for kids to experience our renowned characters. We are making a strong commitment to the brand across toys, television and other media and consumer product channels and developing Marvel Super Hero Squad as a video game will play an important role in the development of this brand. The platform is an incredibly powerful medium that enables kids to experience the excitement of our franchises, as well as extend our characters and storylines. With THQ, we are confident we have a partner with a best in class pedigree of building and extending licensed kid-friendly brands in the interactive space.”

An all-new Marvel brand, Marvel Super Hero Squad features an exciting, super-stylized look of the greatest Marvel Super Heroes, serving to expand the traditional Marvel audience to a core 4-10 year-old audience. Fun and humor are waiting around every corner in Marvel Super Hero Squad where popular characters including Iron-Man, Hulk, Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Thor, The Fantastic Four, and many more are thrust into adventures in a single caricatured Super Hero City. Along the way, they will have to thwart the plans of popular Marvel villains Doctor Doom, Magneto, Iron Monger, Loki, the Abomination and countless other infamous baddies.

Marvel is launching a major multi-media campaign for the brand. Marvel Animation is currently in production on an animated television series that is expected to debut on air in 2009. Additionally, Marvel Comics is now featuring Marvel Super Hero Squad comic strips within several of its all ages books and will be introducing a dedicated Marvel Super Hero Squad comic book series in fall 2008. Marvel has already secured deals with Hasbro as master toy partner, Disguise/Cesar for dress-up and Mega Bloks for construction toys and continues to seek deals with industry leading partners to develop merchandise based on the unique look of the Marvel Super Hero Squad property.

Free Fantasy Board Game Available For Download At Shrapnel Games!

Hampstead, NC, 08 May 2008

As everyone is well aware dwarves and goblins hate each other. This deep rooted hatred is believed to have begun when the dwarf Karl Bergerkingstein and the goblin Smellslikeoldpeople were roommates, and Smellslikeoldpeople washed Karl’s favorite white tunic with the goblin’s beloved red smock with predictable results. From that time forward dwarf and goblin have been mortal enemies.

While there have been plenty of role-playing games to acknowledge the enmity between the races board games on the subject have been few and far between. But no longer will gamers have to go without thanks to Digital Eel’s latest FREE offering, Goblin Slayer!

Deep in Snarlsbad Cavern lurk an endless legion of terrible goblins. Also someplace down there, amidst the darkness and stench, resides a magical object beloved by dwarves:
the Shimmering Widget. Once thought safe from the envy of the world it has been taken by the goblin hordes. One dwarf, Stormbeard, armed with his axe, “Death’s Whisper”, must now descend into the depths, slay many goblins, and find the Shimmering Widget.

This is Goblin Slayer.

Goblin Slayer (which could also double as the name of a German power metal band) is a fantasy board game for two players. One player controls Stormbeard the dwarf on his quest for the Shimmering Widget, while the other leads the throngs of goblins in hopes of striking the dwarf down and then possibly eating him; dwarf kidneys are sometimes considered a delicacy in the underdark and their skulls make great hats.

The Snarlsbad Cavern complex consists of a series of geomorphic tiles that are used to create the gameboard, allowing for a different combination of tiles each play. Gameplay is easy to learn, with a heavy focus on killing things! It is called Goblin Slayer and not Goblin Let’s Meet For Tea And Discuss Long Term Mutual Growth Plans after all!

As mentioned earlier this is a totally FREE complete board game offered up as a digital print and play file. In order to make use of Goblin Slayer you will need access to a printer and some sort of device to cut out the map sections once printed. While a battleaxe may be in the spirit of the game we recommend scissors. Please note that the game does not come with any counters, you will have to provide the playing pieces yourself. If you’re a fantasy gamer chances are you have plenty of miniatures laying around that could be used, otherwise any number of objects may be used to represent Stormbeard and the goblins. Pennies, beads, dice. Come on, ya gotta at least have some dice laying around!

Follow the link to download Goblin Slayer today! Learn the game, print it out, and be playing within minutes!

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/freegames2.htm

Goblin Slayer also makes the perfect game to play while waiting for the release of Digital Eel’s upcoming tactical space combat board game, Eat Electric Death!. Available
soon(ish) from Shrapnel Games, Eat Electric Death! is a gorgeous fast playing game of stellar battles set in the Infinite Space universe. Featuring seven races, all with unique ships, and over twenty-five scenarios (and it’s easy enough to create your own), secret weapons, and more, Eat Electric Death! packs a lot of gameplay in one box.

Spacetime Studios Acquires Blackstar IP from NCsoft®

Blackstar is a highly stylized science-fantasy universe from developers of Wing Commander, Privateer, and Star Wars: Galaxies

AUSTIN, Texas – May 8, 2008 - Spacetime Studios, LLC announced today it has acquired the rights to the Blackstar IP from its previous publisher NCsoft. Spacetime Studios, an independent game development studio made up of industry veterans, now fully owns all the tools, technology and intellectual property from their previous publishing deal.

Set in the far future, Blackstar is a fresh universe full of wildly original space fighters, horrifying demonic enemies and epic drama. “The IP lends itself to almost any kind of gameplay that one could ask for, and was specifically designed to be a long-term franchise,” said Cinco Barnes, creative director and co-founder of Spacetime Studios. “It’s a nice sweet spot when you own all the puzzle pieces and we now have extraordinary flexibility in where to take the game universe next.”

“After two years of development, the Blackstar universe is quite near and dear to our hearts” said Gary Gattis, executive producer and co-founder of Spacetime Studios. “Owning the IP as well as the engine and tool set puts a tremendous amount of potential in our hands. With all the developed components under the Spacetime team’s control, the options for the IP are diversified.”

The new “Blackstar Chronicles” development underway is a space fantasy combat game based on the single-player traditions of “Wing Commander” and the multiplayer feel of “Descent.” “The Blackstar Chronicles is a very powerful product,” said Jake Rodgers, art director and co-founder of Spacetime Studios. “The Blackstar universe has the potential to be something special and it’s great that we are able to bring the IP to fruition.”

Mike Tyson Featured in First Boxing Videogame in Nearly a Decade

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – May 7, 2008 – Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq: ERTS) announced today that EA SPORTS™Fight Night Round 4 is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver under the EA SPORTS brand. EA SPORTS Fight Night is back with the most realistic “in the ring” experience to date, featuring some of the greatest boxers in history fighting in their prime.

“The EA SPORTS Fight Night franchise has always been synonymous with quality and innovation that raised the bar for the sports videogame genre”, said Kevin Wilkinson, Executive Producer, EA SPORTS. “EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 3 was a platform defining game as the industry transitioned to next generation consoles. EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will change how boxing games are played and measured in the future.”

Featuring a re-written gameplay engine, EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will add a variety of fighting styles and boxer differentiation to authentically emulate the greatest fighters of all time. Pressure your opponent with the brawling inside style of young Mike Tyson, bobbing and weaving to set up powerful hooks and uppercuts. Capitalize on Muhammad Ali’s reach, hand speed and fleetness of foot to bewilder your opponent with lightning fast jabs and straights from the outside. For the first time in history, EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 gives you the opportunity to pit these legendary heavyweights against one another and name a true champ.

No fight will be the same with an all-new physics-based animation system that recreates the full spectrum of true-to-life punch impacts, giving boxers a devastating arsenal of punches, blocks and ring movement. The new physics system allows for missed punches, glancing punches, knockout blows and for the first time ever, rough and tumble inside fighting. Fatigue, adrenaline, footwork and timing all come into play as you hammer away at your opponents.

EA SPORTS Fight Night Round 4 will be available for the Xbox 360™ system and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and ships to retailers in 2009. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAA® Football, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® and NASCAR® racing.

North America’s most popular free-to-play MMORPG delivers new areas, monsters, events and bosses to help players celebrate

Los Angeles, CA – May 7, 2008 – Nexon America Inc. celebrates the third anniversary of its free-to-play blockbuster, MapleStory, by unveiling new areas, contests and events for its Maple players. A worldwide sensation with more than 85 million members, MapleStory has already amassed 5.9 million users in North America in only three years.

To date Maplers have unleashed abundant guilds, created hilarious online video knockoffs of Nexon’s MapleStory commercials and invigorated the game’s forum with lively discussions. The anniversary events give the devoted community more ways to have fun in an already compelling and deep world of game play.

Among the many in-game events, users will be introduced to Showa, a major enhancement to the colossal Maple World. This new Yakuza-themed region features over 70 quests, areas and a challenging Boss fight. Additionally, Nexon will unveil the cake-themed monster, Big Puff Daddy, who pounds his way through several towns. GM events are planned throughout the month-long celebration, which features a Nexon Cash Shop sale just in time for summer. These anniversary events only add to the fun Maplers are already having in the Monster Carnival, fighting the Horntail or working the Maple Trading System, all added earlier this year.

The party extends beyond Maple World borders. Players who upload videos celebrating MapleStory’s anniversary could win one of five prizes, including a new computer worth $1,500. Learn how to make your video eligible at http://maplestory.nexon.net.

Take-Two Interactive Announces Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto IV Breaks Entertainment Launch Records

Retail Sales of Grand Theft Auto IV Top $500 Million in First Week

New York, NY – May 7, 2008 – Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), said today that Grand Theft Auto IV has surpassed all-time entertainment records for day one and week one sales by dollar value. Released on Tuesday, April 29th, Grand Theft Auto IV, the critically acclaimed video game, has sold through to consumers approximately 6 million units globally with an estimated retail value of more than $500 million in the first week. Grand Theft Auto IV sold approximately 3.6 million units on its opening day with a retail value of approximately $310 million globally.

“We knew Grand Theft Auto IV would break new ground in terms of the player’s experience, with its compelling story line, extraordinary gameplay and action that ranges over a broad urban canvas. Now, it has broken sales and rating records as well. Grand Theft Auto IV’s first week performance represents the largest launch in the history of interactive entertainment, and we believe these retail sales levels surpass any movie or music launch to date. We congratulate the entire Rockstar team on creating a must-have experience that takes the legendary Grand Theft Auto franchise to a new level,” said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two.

“Rockstar’s goal is to make each new title in the Grand Theft Auto franchise even better than those that preceded it, and Grand Theft Auto IV is a smashing success on that score. Grand Theft Auto IV makes full use of the power of next generation technology, and offers players an experience unique in the interactive entertainment medium. This game sets a new standard in the industry, with critics hailing it as both an artistic and technological masterpiece,” said Ben Feder, Take-Two’s Chief Executive Officer.

Developed by series creator Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system is rated “M” for Mature. For more information, log onto www.rockstargames.com/IV.

Shrapnel Games Invites You To Join The Navy!

Open Call For War Plan Pacific Beta Testers!

Hampstead, NC, 07 May 2008

War is coming to your PC! Vast flotillas of warships under an umbrella of air power will soon be striking at bases across the Pacific ocean in a bid for total regional domination in KE Studios’ debut strategy title, War Plan Pacific. Shrapnel Games is looking for a few good men (or women, but really, how many women are into grand strategic wargames?) to ensure smooth sailing. If you’re interested in enlisting in the USN and IJN for a brief tour of duty before the rest of the world gets in on the action please read on.

We are looking for additional beta testers for War Plan Pacific. Interested parties should meet the following requirements:

Possess a computer with at least the following minimum specifications: Windows XP/Vista, Celeron 1.6 MHz, 512 MB RAM, 100 MB free hard drive space, a DirectX 9.0c compatible video card capable of rendering at 1024×768x24 bit. Even your grandmother probably has a computer capable of participating in the beta test.
Have an interest in a Pacific theater game that can completed from Pearl Harbor to the bombing of Nagasaki in a single evening.
Be able to fully participate in the beta test for approximately three months. Ideally you’ll talk, laugh, and cry in the beta forum about the game. Be prepared to vocalize your opinions, communicate ideas, and most of all give feedback. Beta testing isn’t all glitz and glamour ya know, you’re going to have to work. Of course work being playing the game, so it’s definitely not the worst job you’ve ever had.

If you meet the above and want to give it a shot please write to Annette at annette@shrapnelgames.com and put in the subject line “WPP Beta Tester” and acknowledge in the message body that you meet the requirements. We only have a select number of open slots so please be aware that participants will be chosen on a first come basis.

If you are chosen as a beta participant expect the testing period to begin quite soon (as early as within a week) and you’ll be expected to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. At the end of testing not only will you have the satisfaction of helping bring to market a great title, but you’ll also earn yourself a copy when the game ships.

And remember: Beta testing. It’s not just a job, it’s an adventure.

War Plan Pacific is a grand strategic wargame on the Pacific campaign during WWII for the PC. With roots firmly entrenched in the world of board games, War Plan Pacific is turn-based, highly playable, and easy to get into. It also just so happens to be playable in a single setting, something which can’t be said for your average PTO game.

Blending just the right amount of abstraction with reality, players fight for control of twenty-nine bases, seeking to achieve victory in either a quick, knock out punch or the long death of your opponent. Focusing on historical air and naval units (ground control is represented by sea control) play against the cunning AI or against a live opponent.

No release date or price point has been set yet, but stay tuned at www.shrapnelgames.com for all the latest news on War Plan Pacific. While there be sure to check out our complete catalog of award-winning independent titles spanning multiple genres, some of which are completely free! Shrapnel Games has been entertaining the world since 1999 and will soon be bringing War Plan Pacific, Eat Electric Death!, ETO:
European Theatre of Operations, and many more titles to you in the near future!

SAGA Available For FREE From FileFront.com

Silverlode Interactive has partnered with Ziff Davis to give away 50,000 registered copies of SAGA the world’s first collectible MMO RTS.

Provo, UT - MAY 7, 2008 - For the first time in FileFront history, the Ziff Davis site is offering a full copy of a released game: SAGA, the world’s first collectible MMO RTS. Players have until May 11th to secure one of 50,000 Retail Keys available at http://www.filefront.com. SAGA can normally be purchased for $19.95 from the official SAGA website and at many hobby stores across America.

SAGA uses an innovative collectible revenue model first implemented by the THQ studio Genetic Anomalies in 1997 and now seen in over 120 online collectible games, such as the upcoming EA collectible RTS BattleForge.

SAGA has no subscription fees. Players pay as little or as much as they decide, by purchasing ‘booster packs’ of random troops and spells, which are traded and customized to create the strategic army of choice for each player.

SAGA can be played for free; however, the unregistered free version disables many of the features that players find most attractive in a collectible game. Using the Retail Key from http://www.filefront.com unlocks trading, guilds, espionage and PvP combat.