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Friday, September 19, 2008

The Number One Fighting Videogame Franchise To Make Its Online Debut With WWE(R) SmackDown(R) Vs. Raw(R) Online

Courtesy of THQ Inc.:

Agreement with Vertigo Games Announced to Develop First-Ever, PC-Online SmackDown vs. Raw Experience

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. & SEOUL, South Korea -- Sept. 18, 2008 -- THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK) today announced an agreement with PC-Online game developer Vertigo Games for WWE(R) SmackDown(R) vs. Raw(R) Online (working title). Scheduled for release in Asia in late 2010, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw Online will mark the debut of the popular SmackDown vs. Raw franchise in the PC-online space.

"We are pleased to bring the #1 fighting franchise, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw, to an online format, offering gamers an immersive online experience based on the world of the WWE," said Brian Farrell, president and CEO of THQ. "We view the online game market as an important driver of future growth and this new title further expands our portfolio of great games for this exciting market."

"Now more than ever, fans can become their favorite Superstar in a WWE virtual world of their own creation," said Nelo Lucich, senior vice president of interactive, JAKKS Pacific. "Our entry into the online arena allows us to reach sophisticated gamers with unique and compelling content, engrossing fans in their own personalized WWE world."

"We are very excited about the opportunity to work with THQ, one of the world's leading videogame publishers, to develop the first PC-online version of the blockbuster WWE SmackDown vs. Raw franchise," said Junk Kim, CEO, Vertigo Games. "We plan to deploy our deep online technology and development experience to deliver a highly successful SmackDown vs. Raw game in the online space."

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw Online marks THQ's fourth game in development exclusively for the growing PC online market, following an MMO game based on the popular Warhammer 40,000 universe, Company of Heroes Online, and Dragonica, a casual MMO.

About WWE SmackDown vs. RAW Online

WWE SmackDown vs. RAW Online is a fighting action game that allows players to enter the world of the WWE and play as their favorite Superstar. Players can create their own Superstar to compete and seek virtual wealth and fame in order to achieve the ultimate ranking in the Hall of Fame. Offering single player and multi-player modes, players can earn respect and points to unlock special features, items and level up their rankings. Players can purchase additional items, abilities and themes to enhance and personalize their Superstar in this exciting head-to-head online wrestling experience. The game will offer ongoing content updates and features to enhance the players' experience as they progress through the ranks, as well as season mode. Players will also be able to enter the lobby to challenge opponents, shop or interact with other connected players. WWE SmackDown vs. RAW Online provides the ultimate wrestling experience appealing to both beginner and advanced PC-online players.

About World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

Additional information on World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. (NYSE:WWE), can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

About Vertigo

Established by experienced veterans of online game industry in Korea, Vertigo Games, Inc. has been developing PC-online games from 2006 starting from their first title, Black Shot, a military FPS massively online game. After merging Radio Games of the world 1st online martial arts fighting online game, Kwonho, in 2007, Vertigo Games has been growing with three projects including a co-development with Chinese Our Games. Vertigo's core technology is called "Magellan Engine" which is a proven strong platform consists of efficient and flexible modules that can be easily integrated into an massively online game. SmackDown vs Raw Online will be their 4th project to date. You can visit www.vertigogames.co.kr for more detail.

About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.

JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ:JAKK) is a leading designer and marketer of toys and consumer products, with a wide range of products that feature some of the most popular children's toy licenses in the world. JAKKS' diverse portfolio includes Action Figures, Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush, Construction Toys, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, and Pet Toys and Accessories, sold under various proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific(R), Play Along(R), Flying Colors(R), Creative Designs International(TM), Road Champs(R), Child Guidance(R), Pentech(TM), Trendmasters(R), Toymax(R), Funnoodle(R), Go Fly a Kite(R), Color Workshop(R), JAKKS Pets(TM), EyeClops(TM) and Plug It In & Play TV Games(TM). JAKKS is an award-winning licensee of several hundred nationally and internationally known trademarks including Disney(R), Nickelodeon(R), Warner Bros.(R), World Wrestling Entertainment(R), Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) and Cabbage Patch Kids(R). JAKKS and THQ Inc. participate in a joint venture that has worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment video games. For further information, visit www.jakks.com.

About THQ

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ Wireless and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.

All World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ"), including, but not limited to, expectations and projections related to the WWE SmackDown vs. RAW Online video game, and are based upon management's current beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQ's financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2008, and particularly the discussion of risk factors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS Pacific's business based partly on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of 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 statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above, changes in demand for JAKKS' products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and difficulties with integrating acquired businesses. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and JAKKS undertakes no obligation to update any of them to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

CONTACT:
THQ/Media Relations
Jaime Jensen, 818-871-5111
jaime.jensen@thq.com
or
THQ Asia/Media Relations
Sam Park, 82 2 561 4081
sam.park@thq.com
or
THQ/Investor Relations
Julie MacMedan, 818-871-5125
investor@thq.com
or
JAKKS Pacific/Media Relations
Genna Rosenberg, 310-455-6235
gennar@jakks.net
or
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Kevin Hennessy, 203-352-8657
kevin.hennessy@wwecorp.com