THQ
ANNOUNCES WIRELESS ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION
Doug Dyer
Named General Manager of THQ Wireless THQ
and Siemens Announce New Wireless Gaming Engine
CALABASAS
HILLS, CA, May 10, 2001 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ
NMS: THQI) today announced a new division, THQ
Wireless, dedicated to developing content
exclusively for the emerging mobile entertainment
arena. THQ also named Doug Dyer general manager
of the new division. THQ Wireless currently has
several games in development for upcoming
Java-based mobile phones, the first of which is
scheduled to release in fall 2001, and will be
demonstrating games at the Electronic
Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Los Angeles
Convention Center May 17-19.
THQ intends to
become a leading supplier of content for mobile
devices and is currently exploring business
opportunities with major operators, handset
manufacturers and mobile network equipment
manufacturers worldwide. THQ Wireless will be
based in Calabasas, CA, but will have an
international focus with much of its business
conducted through its offices in Europe.
Additionally, THQ
announced an expansion to its previously
announced publishing agreement with Siemens
AG’s Information and Communication Mobile
division. The two companies are currently
developing an advanced mobile gaming engine for
use on next-generation Java phones. This new
engine will provide game developers with a
universal game Application Programming Interface
(API) for Java-based mobile phone development.
This API will simplify the process of developing
and maintaining game software on evolving
wireless devices.
“We
anticipate the wireless gaming market growth to
mirror that of the console gaming market over the
next few years with wireless gaming revenues
expected to reach 6 billion worldwide by
2005,” stated Tim Walsh, senior vice
president, International Publishing, THQ.
“THQ’s proven ability to create
compelling game content on every platform,
particularly handheld systems, positions us as
the natural leader in making the move into
wireless game publishing.”
“Our
expanded partnership with THQ furthers our
commitment to leading the mobile entertainment
world,” stated Peter Zapf, president, Mobile
Phones, Siemens Information and Mobile Group.
“The future of wireless gaming is dependent
on a common application platform for game
developers. Siemens' strong experience with
Wireless Java-based mobile phone development will
ensure that, together with THQ, mobile customers
will see exciting games on Siemens’
handsets.”
“I look
forward to helping establish THQ as a leader in
wireless entertainment,” stated Doug Dyer,
general manager, THQ Wireless. “We plan to
extend our leadership position in handheld gaming
to all wireless platforms by creating a broad
range of original and branded mobile games that
can be licensed and distributed across the
globe.”
THQ will be
providing live demonstrations of their games on
the prototype of Siemens’ Java-based mobile
phone and on Motorola’s Java phone, the I50
SX at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) May
17-19 at the LA Convention Center. THQ’s
booth, #4001, is located in Petree Hall.
About
Siemens ICM
The Siemens Information and
Communication Mobile Group (IC Mobile) offers
the complete range of mobile solutions including
mobile devices, infrastructure and applications.
Devices include mobile phones, wireless modules,
mobile organizers and cordless phones as well as
products for wireless home networks. The
infrastructure portfolio includes the complete
range of GSM, GPRS and UMTS mobile network
technologies from base stations and switching
systems to intelligent networks, e.g. for prepaid
services. Applications cover mobile services for
Unified Messaging, Location Based Services, and
Mobile Payment. For the fiscal year 2000 (which
ended September 30, 2000), IC Mobile recorded
sales of EUR 9 billion and EBIT of EUR 758
million. The group employs 27,700 employees
worldwide.
For further
information about Siemens IC Mobile, please visit
our homepage: http://www.siemens.com/mobile
About THQ
Inc.
THQ Inc. develops, publishes and
distributes interactive entertainment software
worldwide for a variety of platforms including PC
CD-ROM, wireless devices and those manufactured
by Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony. For more
information, visit www.thq.com
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