THQ Ships Video Game Based on the Nitro Burning Thrills of NHRA Drag Racing

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- THQ Inc. today announced that NHRA(TM) Championship Drag Racing(TM) for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system has begun shipping to retailers throughout North America. This intensely competitive racing game developed by Lucky Chicken Games is the first console title published by VSE Games, part of THQ Inc.'s ValuSoft division.

NHRA(TM) Championship Drag Racing(TM) launches players into the ultimate drag racing experience, putting them in control of an incredible 7,000 horsepower of pure speed. Racing NHRA tracks from Pomona to Gainesville, gamers will go head-to-head against world champions like John Force, Tony Schumacher, Greg Anderson and many more. With adrenaline-charged vehicles including Top Fuel Dragsters, Funny Cars and Pro Stock Cars, players will get behind the wheel of some of the most powerful dragsters to hit the asphalt.

Ron Capps, driver of the Don Schumacher Racing Brut Dodge Stratus Funny Car in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series Funny Car category, assisted in the development of the game. His input helped refine the game to most accurately reflect the true NHRA racing experience. Capps has even used the game to improve his own racing performance -- both on and off the track.

"From the beginning, the VSE Games and Lucky Chicken teams have been unwavering in their vision to create the most accurate drag racing game ever," stated Ron Capps. "Having been involved in the development from the beginning, and with input from several of my racing colleagues, including Jeg Coughin and Del Worsham, I believe no other game gets players as close to the real thing."

"Racing fans have been asking for this game," stated Doug Clemmer, President of THQ's VSE Games division. "With a variety of cars, uncomplicated game play and eye-popping special effects that push the PlayStation 2 to its limits, we are giving players the chance to live their dreams from the virtual cockpit of the world's most powerful dragsters."

Players will tear down the track, competing at NHRA events for the most coveted racing title in the world -- the NHRA world championship. Players can even hire and fire their crew chief and tune their own cars for the perfect combination of power and speed.

"For more than 50 years, the NHRA has delivered the most exciting motorsports entertainment in the world," said Gary Darcy, Senior Vice President of Marketing at NHRA. "THQ knows racing and they know what gamers seek. We are proud to be premiering the action of the NHRA on the PlayStation 2, which now gives gamers the opportunity to participate in this intensely competitive sport in a whole new way."

  NHRA(TM) Championship Drag Racing(TM) will retail for $14.99 SRP.

  About the National Hot Rod Association

Headquartered in Glendora, Calif., the NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. It presents 23 national events through its NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. The NHRA has 80,000 members and 140 member tracks. The NHRA-sanctioned sportsman and bracket racing series' provide competition opportunities for drivers of all levels. The NHRA develops the stars of tomorrow by offering the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Summit Racing Series, NHRA XPlod Sport Compact Racing Series and the NHRA Street Legal Program. The NHRA also offers the NHRA O'Reilly Auto Parts Jr. Drag Racing League for youths ages 8 to 17.

About VSE Games/ValuSoft

VSE Games is ValuSoft's publishing label for games developed for popular game systems including the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system from Sony Computer Entertainment and Nintendo(R) Game Boy(R) Advance. VSE Games can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.vsegames.com/ .

ValuSoft, a division of THQ Inc., is a leading global publisher and distributor of consumer-priced software. Based in suburban Minneapolis, ValuSoft markets a wide variety of interactive entertainment and productivity software to the mass-market audience. ValuSoft can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.valusoft.com/ .

About THQ Inc.

THQ Inc. 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 in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Korea and Australia. More information about THQ and its products may be found at http://www.thq.com/ and http://www.thqwireless.com/ . THQ, THQ Wireless, ValuSoft, VSE Games and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.

This press release may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the release and features of VSE Games' NHRA Championship Drag Racing. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as "THQ") and are based upon management's 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 economic, competitive and technological factors affecting the operations, markets, products, and pricing of THQ. 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 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 Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, and particularly the discussion of risk factors that may affect results of operations set forth therein. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

All other brand and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Michael Geylin of VSE Games-ValuSoft, +1-201-750-3533, mgeylin@kgpr.com , or Liz Pieri of THQ-Media Relations, +1-818-871-5061, or Julie MacMedan of THQ Investor-Relations, +1-818-871-5095, or Jerry Archambeault of NHRA, +1-626-914-4761

Web site: http://www.valusoft.com/ http://www.vsegames.com/ http://www.thq.com/ http://www.thqwireless.com/

COPYRIGHT 2005 PR Newswire Association LLC
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group