THQ Inc. is helping fans of Disney/Pixar film CARS continue the ride with a videogame, based upon the animated feature. The game, released for play on PlayStation2, Xbox GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PSP, Windows PC and Mac, is available at retail outlets in the U.S. It will also be available worldwide in 18 languages, and in more than 40 countries, including China, Thailand, Japan, Russia and Poland. Also this fall, the CARS videogame is expected to release for Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.
"As a leading publisher of videogames for all ages, THQ is excited to bring CARS to every major gaming platform, including the next generation game systems," said Kelly Flock, evp, worldwide publishing, THQ. "Disney and Pixar have a legacy of creating blockbuster animated motion pictures with classics such as THE INCREDIBLES, FINDING NEMO and MONSTERS, INC. THQ's videogame adaptations of each of these properties have been top-performers at retail, including games based on THE INCREDIBLES film, which shipped more than 7 million units worldwide, and FINDING NEMO, which shipped more than 8 million units worldwide. "
"Combining the creative minds at Pixar Animation Studios and the game development talents at THQ helped to translate CARS into one of this year's most exciting videogames for fans of all ages," said CARS story artist, Dan Scanlon. "Fans of both the movie and the videogames will interact and explore the world of Radiator Springs and the Piston Cup races as we envisioned."
"Disney/Pixar videogame properties have experienced tremendous success on a variety of game platforms over the years, and we will continue the brand's tradition of offering high-quality family entertainment to game players worldwide," said Graham Hopper, svp/gm of Disney's Buena Vista Games.
The game is a high performance interactive experience in the open world created in the film, challenging players to relive the excitement created by Lightning McQueen and his friends. Fans will discover unique characters and environments, inspired by the film, with more than 10 playable characters and 30 races and minigames to choose from. The game features a fully immersive re-creation of all major environments introduced in the movie, including Radiator Springs and Ornament Valley, which offer distinctive racing experiences to players while maintaining the artistic style of the film.
The videogame was developed within THQ's Studio System, which includes 14 owned studios and more than 25 of the best independent development teams. THQ's critically-acclaimed videogame developer, Rainbow Studios, developed the PlayStation2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube versions. THQ's Locomotive Games Inc. developed the PSP version, while THQ's Helixe studio developed the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance versions.
THQ develops products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information may be found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com.
