LADYDRAGON.COM - THQ Ships `Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It?' for PC and `Bob the Builder: Fix It Fun!' for Game Boy Color Based on Popular Nick Jr. Animated Preschool Show

Tuesday August 28, 2001

THQ Ships `Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It?' for PC and `Bob the Builder: Fix It Fun!' for Game Boy Color Based on Popular Nick Jr. Animated Preschool Show

THQ Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI) today announced the release of its "Bob the Builder(TM)" line of video games for PC and Game Boy(R) Color.

The animated show "Bob the Builder" launched in January 2001 in the U.S. on Nick Jr.(R), Nickelodeon's preschool programming block, to record-breaking ratings. The show features classic and timeless stories focusing on teamwork and problem-solving themes appealing to the 2- to 6-year-old audience.

Based on THQ's agreement with BBC Worldwide Limited and HIT(TM) Entertainment, "Bob the Builder(TM): Can We Fix it?(TM)" for PC, and "Bob the Builder(TM): Fix it Fun!(TM)" for Game Boy 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 to interactive software throughout North America."

"Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It?" for PC is based on the popular animated television show adventures of Bob, his business partner Wendy, and crew of fun-loving, all-action building machines including 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 to play from as young as 3 years old to engage them in more than eight activities including Hedgehog Rescue, Travis' Race Day, Can We Build It? and Wendy's Birthday.

In "Bob the Builder: Fix it Fun!" for Game Boy Color players must help Bob and his friends complete certain jobs before going to a picnic in the countryside. Wendy's job sheet will direct players to 10 exciting activities such as finding the pieces to Mrs. Pott's fence, repairing the tiles from the Town Hall roof, flattening out gravel to create new roads, and much more.

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.