Big Idea Productions and ValuSoft Release The Mystery of Veggie Island; First VeggieTales PC Game Ships to Retailers Nationwide

Business Wire, August 22, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2002

Big Idea Productions, creators of the best-selling direct-to-video VeggieTales(R) children's series, and ValuSoft(R), a division of THQ(R) Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI) and leading global publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and productivity software, have teamed up to bring the trademark silliness and original stories of VeggieTales to children of all ages with the release today of The Mystery of Veggie Island(TM) interactive PC game.

Assisted by Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and the rest of the VeggieTales characters, players will join the veggie kids on a Cub Sprout camping trip on Veggie Island. Kids will explore the island, completing 11 fun, challenging activities, help Junior Asparagus earn his Achievement Certificate and even sing along with 10 brand new "Silly Campfire Songs with Larry." But that's just the beginning! When the Veggies find themselves stranded without a boat, the mystery of Veggie Island unfolds. In a crazy turn of events, kids will be faced with a dilemma that teaches them a valuable lesson in helping others.

The Mystery of Veggie Island also incorporates a unique feature called Parental Controls. Parents can now determine how long their kids play with Bob, Larry and the Cub Sprouts by setting the game play timer in the start-up menu. When time's up, the game automatically saves and ends the VeggieTales fun until next time.

"There are many entertainment options today, but few that help make kids better kids," states Phil Vischer, CEO and Chief Creative Officer at Big Idea Productions. "We are giving parents new, creative ways to pass values on to their kids--and entertain them in the process!"

The Mystery of Veggie Island, the first VeggieTales interactive game, will be available at computer software retailers and mass merchants for $19.99 SRP. The second game, Jonah: A VeggieTales Game(TM), based on Big Idea's all-new theatrical feature film Jonah - A VeggieTales Movie(TM), will be available for $19.99 and release on October 1, 2002, surrounding the film's premier. The third VeggieTales CD-ROM game, VeggieTales Carnival(TM), will ship October 5, 2002 for a suggested retail price of $9.99.

"We're bringing the hottest children's video series to the interactive software marketplace," says Doug Clemmer, President of ValuSoft. "The holiday season is the perfect time to debut these delightfully wacky characters and their healthy messages on the PC."

About Big Idea Productions

Big Idea Productions is a family media company committed to providing entertaining stories that help parents teach children important life lessons in a delightfully wacky way. Based in the Chicago area, Big Idea Productions is best known for its award-winning VeggieTales animated series which has sold over 30 million videos and over 3 million albums of chart-topping audio since 1993. In addition to extending the property into licensing, publishing and live entertainment arenas, the Company is currently in production on their first-ever feature film, Jonah - A VeggieTales Movie. Big Idea is recognized as the leading producer and creator of values-based product grounded in a Judeo-Christian worldview in the family entertainment industry.

About ValuSoft

ValuSoft, a division of THQ Inc., is a leading global publisher and distributor of consumer-priced software. Based in suburban Minneapolis, MN, ValuSoft markets a wide variety of interactive entertainment and productivity software to the mass-market audience. ValuSoft can be found on online at http://www.valusoft.com.

About THQ

THQ Inc. is a leading, worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD-ROM, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Nintendo and Microsoft. The THQ web site is located at www.thq.com. The THQ Wireless site is located at www.thqwireless.com.

All brand and product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about THQ's business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of THQ's future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including, but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for THQ's products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. In addition, such statements could be affected by growth rates and market conditions relating to the interactive software industry and general domestic and international economic conditions. Specific information concerning these and other such factors is contained in THQ's Prospectus dated March 26, 2002 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2002. A copy of this filing may be obtained by contacting THQ or the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and THQ does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.