THQ and Relic Entertainment Unearth Second Dawn of War Expansion Title: Warhammer(R) 40,000(TM): Dawn of War - Dark Crusade(TM)
Necrons March Inexorably Against the Greater Good for Ultimate Dominion of Kronus
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., May 1, 2006: THQ Inc.
(Nasdaq: THQI) and internal development studio Relic
Entertainment today announced that the second expansion pack
in the Dawn of War franchise, Warhammer® 40,000TM: Dawn of War -- Dark
CrusadeTM, is
currently in development. The game will feature two new
playable races, the Tau Empire and the Necrons, bringing the
number of totally unique races to an unprecedented seven. The
game is expected to release in fall 2006.
In addition to the two new playable races, Dark Crusade will
feature an all-new single player campaign centering on the
conquest of a "meta-map," with each territory captured giving
tangible rewards to the occupying force. A greatly expanded
multiplayer component and a completely unique economy model
for the Necrons will present gamers with the most compelling
Dawn of War game to-date.
"With Dark Crusade we have taken a very different and
exciting route with the single player game, allowing the
player to conquer the globe as any of the seven unique
playable races," said Ron Moravek, vice president THQ,
general manager Relic Entertainment. "The Dawn of War
franchise has become synonymous with innovation and attention
to detail and we have drawn on the extensive knowledge base
that Games Workshop's exhaustive universe provides us with to
bring classic Tau and Necron combatants to the battlefield on
Kronos."
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War -- Dark Crusade is set in Games
Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe, where armies of
futuristic warriors, fighting machines and hordes of
implacable aliens wage constant war. For more information on
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War -- Dark Crusade, please visit
www.dawnofwargame.com, or come and see the
game at this year's E3 show in L.A. on the THQ stand
#1324.
About Dawn of War -- Dark Crusade
The bitter war for domination of the remote planet Kronus
rages between Tau, Orks, Space Marines, Eldar, Imperial Guard
and Chaos whilst deep in their tombs beneath the surface the
sinister Necrons are awakening after 60 million years in
stasis. Now, in the 41st millennium, they have found a galaxy
teeming with life; a galaxy ripe for harvesting.
About Games Workshop
Games Workshop is the world's largest tabletop wargames
company. Based in Nottingham, UK, it designs, manufactures
and distributes its range of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000
games, miniature soldiers, novels, collectible card games and
resin models through more than 340 of its own Hobby centers,
mail order, Internet and independent retail channels in more
than 50 countries worldwide. Further details on the company
can be obtained at www.games-workshop.com.
Games Workshop, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer
40,000: Dawn of War, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War -- Dark
Crusade and all images, races and characters from the
Warhammer 40,000 universe are either ®, TM and/or ®, Games Workshop
Ltd 2000-2006, variably registered in the UK and other
countries around the world. All rights reserved.
About Relic
Founded in 1997 and acquired by THQ in 2004, Relic
Entertainment is a leader in the development of innovative
real-time strategy games for the PC. Relic's first title,
"Homeworld" (1999), was received to widespread acclaim,
garnering several "Game of the Year" and "Strategy Game of
the Year" awards from major industry publications including
PC Gamer and Computer Gaming World. Since then, Relic has
released "Homeworld: Cataclysm" (2000, co-developed with
Barking Dog Studios), "Impossible Creatures" (2003), and
"Homeworld 2" (2003). The studio's most recent releases,
"Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War" (2004) and "Warhammer 40,000:
Dawn of War: Winter Assault," have won numerous accolades
including "Strategy Game of the Year" from Computer Gaming
World. Today, Relic is building on this legacy by developing
multiple ground-breaking projects in the RTS genre.
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
may be found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ Wireless, Relic
Entertainment and their respective logos are trademarks
and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
This press release may contain "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
features and release of the expansion pack to Warhammer
40,000: Dawn of War -- Dark Crusade, and are based upon
management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by
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