LADYDRAGON.COM - THQ Ships ''Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It?'' for the PlayStation Game Console

Monday September 10, 2001

THQ Ships ''Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It?'' for the PlayStation Game Console

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) today announced the release of "Bob the Builder(TM): Can We Fix it?(TM)" for PlayStation(R).

BBC Worldwide Limited and HIT(TM) Entertainment's animated TV show, "Bob the Builder(TM)" launched in January 2001 in the U.S. on Nick Jr.(R) to record breaking ratings. The show features classic and timeless stories focusing on teamwork and problem solving themes appealing to the 2-6 year old audience. Based on THQ's agreement with BBC Worldwide Limited and HIT(TM) Entertainment, "Bob the Builder: Can We Fix it?" for PlayStation, PC, and "Bob the Builder(TM): Fix it Fun!(TM)" for Game Boy(R) Color are now available in the U.S. and Canada.

"The 'Bob the Builder' line of games is a great addition to our growing division of quality software for young kids," said Germaine Gioia, vice president, licensing, THQ. "We're thrilled to be working with BBC Multimedia and HIT Entertainment in bringing the property throughout North America."

"'Bob the Builder' TV show has proven its popularity among young children in the UK having topped the UK ratings charts and earned numerous awards for its positive content," comments Drew Kaza, Managing Director of BBC Worldwide's Internet and Interactive division. "THQ's knowledge in the children's category make them a great North American publisher for 'Bob the Builder' software."

"Bob the Builder: Can We Fix it?" for PlayStation is based on the popular animated TV show adventures of Bob, his business partner Wendy, and their crew of fun-loving, all-action building machines. These machines include Scoop, the backhoe; Muck, the eager dump truck; Roley, the enthusiastic steamroller; Lofty, the nervous crane; and Dizzy, the energetic cement mixer. "Bob the Builder: Can We Fix it?" features varied difficulty settings for kids from as young as three years old and more than eight activities including Hedgehog Rescue, Travis' Race Day, Can We Build it? and Wendy's Birthday.

BBC Multimedia, part of BBC Worldwide, creates interactive products with an emphasis on fun, learning, creativity and the quality the BBC is renowned for. BBC Multimedia produces entertainment, children's and reference CD-ROMs, and PlayStation and Game Boy Color titles for the whole family. You can find out more about its catalogue of titles on the BBC Multimedia Web site located at http://www.bbcmultimedia.com.

Established in 1989, the U.K.-based HIT Entertainment PLC is one of the world's leaders in quality family entertainment. HIT Entertainment acquired the U.S.-based Lyrick Studios in 2001, creating a preschool powerhouse whose children's programming includes "Barney(R) the Dinosaur," "Bob the Builder(TM)," "Angelina Ballerina(TM)" and "Kipper(TM)." HIT Entertainment also distributes such acclaimed children's branded properties as "The Wiggles(R)" and "VeggieTales(R)." HIT Entertainment is a fully integrated global studio, which incorporates production, distribution, publishing, licensing and merchandising.

THQ Inc. develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software worldwide for a variety of hardware platforms, including PC CD-ROM, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft. The THQ Web site is located at www.thq.com.

BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, generates income to support the UK licence fee by marketing programme-related products and services around the world. It is self-funding and exists to provide supplementary funding for the BBC's public services. In 2000/01, BBC Worldwide provided cashflow to the BBC of 96 million pounds. Its ambition is to quadruple cashflow to the BBC during the current Charter period. BBC Worldwide is financially separate from the rest of the BBC and receives no public funding.