AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and the Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization today announced that Dutch heavyweight sensation Alistair Overeem will join the official roster for UFC® Undisputed® 3, the forthcoming installment in the critically acclaimed mixed martial arts (MMA) videogame franchise based on the UFC®. Through a limited time offer on facebook.com/UFCUndisputed, the official Facebook page for UFC Undisputed 3, players who “like” the page and share it with two friends will receive a free token, enabling them to include “The Reem” on the in-game roster. The limited time offer commences today and is scheduled to conclude on January 20, 2012. For a complete list of offer rules, please visit www.facebook.com/UFCUndisputed.
Perhaps the most devastating striker in the heavyweight division, Overeem – a famed world champion kickboxer and former undefeated STRIKEFORCE® heavyweight champion – is scheduled to make his UFC debut against former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 141, live on pay-per-view December 30, 2011 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. The winner will become the number one contender to challenge current UFC heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos for the title in 2012.
“Social media is an invaluable tool for us to share information, generate interest and grow our thriving UFC Undisputed 3 community,” said Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President, Core Games, THQ. “Rewarding this key demographic with free access to a fighter like Alistair Overeem is an invaluable opportunity for everyone involved.”
“We are always looking for new ways to connect with our fans on Facebook and are excited to offer them Alistair Overeem in UFC Undisputed 3,” UFC President Dana White said. “Overeem is a huge addition to the UFC’s heavyweight division, and now he’s a huge addition to the videogame roster.”
“I’m very excited to be part of the new Undisputed videogame,” Alistair Overeem said. “I know a lot of my fans have wanted to play as me ever since the first game, and I’m as happy to be part of the new Undisputed as I am to finally be in the UFC to complete my quest to become UFC Heavyweight Champion.”
About UFC Undisputed 3
UFC Undisputed 3 will take players inside the virtual Octagon® with focus on intense toe-to-toe combat, impressive visual presentation and significantly increased accessibility, including the debut of PRIDE® Mode, two new weight classes and an impressive playable roster of more than 150 UFC fighters. PRIDE Mode will enable players to fight for the first time in the renowned Japanese MMA organization and include official commentators Bas Rutten and Stephen Quadros, authentic environments and notorious MMA rules, including the ability to execute soccer-style kicks, head stomps and ground knees to the head. Finishing an opponent will be more important than ever through devastating new moves, responsive striking controls, refined visual presentation and the introduction of a brand new, graphics-based submission system. In addition, players will now enter the Octagon with a choice between traditional and simplified gameplay control options, enabling them, regardless of skill level, to experience the intensity of UFC and nuances of MMA combat while executing simple standing strikes or more complex ground and transition mechanics.
Players will also experience the excitement of a live UFC event through significant visual improvements, including the introduction of much-anticipated fighter entrances, new camera positions, improved facial animations and a gritty, high contrast appearance. They will enter into battle with an unparalleled choice of more than 150 playable UFC fighters, including talent from the newly added featherweight and bantamweight divisions. Rounding out the virtual UFC experience with a revamped online experience, as well as a variety of new and returning gameplay modes, UFC Undisputed 3 lets players have their fights – their way – to deliver the most intense, competitive and engaging experience to date for the franchise.
UFC Undisputed 3 is currently in development for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, with a scheduled release date of February 14, 2012. For more information on UFC Undisputed 3, please visit www.ufcundisputed.com, facebook.com/UFCUndisputed and twitter.com/UFC_Undisputed.
About Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® is the world’s premier MMA organization and produces over 12 UFC live Pay-Per-View events annually around the globe. In 2012, FOX will broadcast four fights annually. In spring 2012, The Ultimate Fighter®, UFC’s signature weekly reality TV show, debuts on FX. UFC content is also distributed commercially to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions in the U.S. Globally, UFC programming is broadcast in over 149 countries and territories, reaching a half a billion homes worldwide, in 20 different languages.
UFC® also boasts a powerful presence online, with UFC.com attracting over seven million unique visitors per month, while also possessing one of the most powerful social media followings in all of professional sports. To date, UFC has over six million fans on Facebook and over 400,000 followers on Twitter. In addition, UFC President Dana White is one of the most accessible and most followed executives in sports with more than 1.7 million followers on Twitter. On January 22, 2011, UFC continued to set trends in social media, becoming the first major sports league to stream live, broadcast quality action on Facebook.
Ancillary businesses include best-selling DVDs, a magazine, the best-selling UFC “Undisputed” videogame franchise distributed by THQ, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel, trading cards, and articulated action figures.
About THQ Inc.
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com. THQ and the THQ logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and all logos are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies in the U.S. and/or other countries.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa®, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions. PRIDE®, PRIDE FC™, PRIDE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS® and BUSHIDO® are trademarks of Pride FC Worldwide Holdings, LLC registered in the United States and other countries. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
THQ Forward-Looking Statements: The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as “THQ”), including, but not limited to, expectations and projections related to the release and expected features of UFC Undisputed 3 are based upon management’s current 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, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or pricing. 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2011 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and particularly the discussion of trends and risk factors set forth therein. 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 are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.