AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The revolutionary uDraw GameTablet® from THQ (NASDAQ: THQI), which has defined an entirely new category of gaming by offering unbridled creativity on a video game console, will come to the Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3 consoles this fall, it was announced today by Brian Farrell, THQ’s President and CEO.
For its planned November debut worldwide on the Xbox 360 and PS®3, uDraw™ will adopt an entirely new look: a sleek, contemporary design that incorporates console controls directly into the uDraw GameTablet. Enhanced capabilities add to the uDraw’s dramatic new appearance, including high-definition art creation and gameplay; a stylus with greater sensitivity for more detailed results; motion features; longer drawing time; plus direct touch-screen control that incorporates pinch-and-stretch and rotation features.
THQ will display its new uDraw GameTablet for Xbox 360 and PS3 during the upcoming E3 Expo from June 7-9 in Los Angeles, alongside the enormously popular uDraw for Wii™. THQ has shipped 1.7 million units of uDraw for Wii to retailers worldwide since its launch in November.
“As soon as we introduced uDraw last year, Xbox 360 and PS3 fans began asking when they could experience it, too – and beginning this fall, they can,” Farrell said. “The uDraw offers amazing innovation and opens new doors of artistic possibility. There’s no console-based artistic tool like it.”
A new version of uDraw Studio™ software – called uDraw Studio: Instant Artist™ – will bring the core functions of the uDraw GameTablet to life on your television. It is also scheduled to be available this fall, and will come bundled with the new uDraws. This enhanced artistic software package offers expansive guided tutorials to teach many of the basics of art and design, as well as a more intuitive interface that keeps art tools right on screen at all times. Using the new uDraw Studio: Instant Artist on uDraw for Xbox 360 and PS3, artists will be able to more easily send and share images online.
THQ is also in production on a number of new uDraw titles planned for the next six months, both for the new HD-capable uDraw as well as the uDraw GameTablet for Wii. The games all take advantage of the device’s unique play patterns and functionality.
Before the end of the year, the fast-growing library of uDraw titles will include Pictionary: Ultimate Edition, a new, high-tech version of the classic game of quick sketches and crazy guesses, which will feature new clues – and new functionality – exclusively created for the uDraw on Xbox 360 and PS3 platforms. For Wii, Pictionary has been one of uDraw’s most popular games.
Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation’s The Penguins of Madagascar™ will start up an all new, super-secret operation that brings their inimitable brand of humor to the uDraw GameTablet for Wii. Players will lead “Team Penguin” on a zany adventure through the zoo and beyond in a brand-new story that brings them face to face with a nemesis who’s making a surprise return.
The new titles are scheduled to join SpongeBob SquigglePants, Kung Fu Panda 2, Dood’s Big Adventure™ and the original Pictionary in an ever-growing lineup that spotlights the virtually unlimited creative and play power of the uDraw GameTablet. THQ plans to introduce additional titles for uDraw throughout 2011 and 2012.
Already, thousands of uDraw artists from around the world have contributed to a growing collection of inspired artwork that can be seen online at www.worldofudraw.com/art-spotlight.
The uDraw GameTablet for Xbox 360 and PS3 is scheduled to be available in time for the holiday season, joining the uDraw for Wii – which is now available worldwide – as the ultimate creative device for video game consoles. Discover more about the uDraw GameTablet online at http://www.WorldofUDraw.com or by visiting the World of uDraw Facebook page.
About THQ
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 and wireless devices. 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 can be found at www.thq.com.
THQ, uDraw, uDraw GameTablet and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc. PICTIONARY and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by, and used under license from, Pictionary Incorporated and Mattel, Inc. © 2011 Mattel, Inc. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
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 uDraw GameTablet and associated video games is 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 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2010, 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.
© 2010 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Nickelodeon and all related logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Based on characters from the feature films “Madagascar”, © 2005 DreamWorks Animation LLC, and “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”, © 2008 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved. Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of DreamWorks Animation LLC.
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