THQ and Nickelodeon Form Relationship To Create Original Videogame Titles
Companies to build tv, film, online and consumer product franchises based on videogame properties.
CALABASAS HILLS, CA, April 18, 2001 THQ (NASDAQ NMS: THQI), the number one kids’ videogame publisher, and Nickelodeon, the number one kids’ entertainment brand, today announced a new relationship dedicated to creating and publishing original videogames with multi-media franchise potential.
Nickelodeon and THQ will develop videogames based upon original characters and storylines with the potential to become television, film, online and consumer product franchises. The network’s continued success in movie and television property development coupled with THQ’s videogame development, marketing and distribution expertise creates a publishing relationship with a proven track record across all entertainment media.
Nickelodeon prides itself on being everywhere kids are -- including movies, TV, online and publishing, said Jeff Dunn, Chief Operating Officer, Nickelodeon, and President of Nickelodeon Enterprises. Videogames are becoming increasingly important to kids. As such, original videogames are the next step for Nick to deepen its relationship with our audience. By launching innovative, E-rated original titles, Nickelodeon hopes to attract gamers of all ages.
THQ has established itself as a top provider of game content on every game system, stated Jeff Lapin, vice chairman and COO, THQ. Working with Nickelodeon to build original properties across media including television and film adds a very exciting dynamic to our business.
While our main objective is to publish videogames based on original, fun and irreverent characters, the perfect property would transcend the world of videogames into TV, movies, online, magazine and consumer products, stated Albie Hecht, Nickelodeon’s President of Film and TV Entertainment. Nickelodeon will leverage the power of MTV Networks and Viacom to market and promote our original videogames like no one else can. We look forward to working with THQ to bring these original multi-media franchises to life.
THQ and Nickelodeon have risen to the top of the kids’ videogame market with their Rugrats releases for PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. THQ’s Rugrats videogame library boasts sales of more than 4 million units in the U.S. alone, with retail sales of over $125 million. This year, the companies will release their first adventures for several different Nickelodeon properties including Rocket Power, SpongeBob SquarePants and Wild Thornberrys. THQ will also create games for Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Nickelodeon’s newest franchise that will debut as a major motion picture in December and as a TV series in Fall 2002.
Under the new agreement, THQ will publish and distribute the videogames while Stephen Youngwood, Vice President of Nickelodeon Interactive and Book Publishing, will manage the relationship from the Nickelodeon side. Both companies are presently accepting and evaluating game submissions.
Nickelodeon, now in its 22nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in nearly 80 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than five consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
THQ Inc. develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software worldwide for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD-ROM, and those manufactured by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft. The THQ site is located at www.thq.com.
Nickelodeon and THQ will develop videogames based upon original characters and storylines with the potential to become television, film, online and consumer product franchises. The network’s continued success in movie and television property development coupled with THQ’s videogame development, marketing and distribution expertise creates a publishing relationship with a proven track record across all entertainment media.
Nickelodeon prides itself on being everywhere kids are -- including movies, TV, online and publishing, said Jeff Dunn, Chief Operating Officer, Nickelodeon, and President of Nickelodeon Enterprises. Videogames are becoming increasingly important to kids. As such, original videogames are the next step for Nick to deepen its relationship with our audience. By launching innovative, E-rated original titles, Nickelodeon hopes to attract gamers of all ages.
THQ has established itself as a top provider of game content on every game system, stated Jeff Lapin, vice chairman and COO, THQ. Working with Nickelodeon to build original properties across media including television and film adds a very exciting dynamic to our business.
While our main objective is to publish videogames based on original, fun and irreverent characters, the perfect property would transcend the world of videogames into TV, movies, online, magazine and consumer products, stated Albie Hecht, Nickelodeon’s President of Film and TV Entertainment. Nickelodeon will leverage the power of MTV Networks and Viacom to market and promote our original videogames like no one else can. We look forward to working with THQ to bring these original multi-media franchises to life.
THQ and Nickelodeon have risen to the top of the kids’ videogame market with their Rugrats releases for PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. THQ’s Rugrats videogame library boasts sales of more than 4 million units in the U.S. alone, with retail sales of over $125 million. This year, the companies will release their first adventures for several different Nickelodeon properties including Rocket Power, SpongeBob SquarePants and Wild Thornberrys. THQ will also create games for Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Nickelodeon’s newest franchise that will debut as a major motion picture in December and as a TV series in Fall 2002.
Under the new agreement, THQ will publish and distribute the videogames while Stephen Youngwood, Vice President of Nickelodeon Interactive and Book Publishing, will manage the relationship from the Nickelodeon side. Both companies are presently accepting and evaluating game submissions.
Nickelodeon, now in its 22nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in nearly 80 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than five consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
THQ Inc. develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software worldwide for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD-ROM, and those manufactured by Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft. The THQ site is located at www.thq.com.
Companies:
THQ
Read More Like This