Sega's Sonic the Hedgehog Tops the Charts On Its Nintendo GameCube Debut; ''Sonic Adventure 2 Battle'' is the #1 Selling Title on Nintendo GameCube In its First Week of Availability

Business Wire, Feb 25, 2002

Entertainment Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Feb. 25, 2002

Sega(R) of America today announced that its recently launched "Sonic Adventure(tm) 2 Battle" for the Nintendo GameCube was the #1 selling game for the system in its first week of sales according to independent retail data from NPD TRSTS (week ending 2/16/02). Selling five times more than the #2 title and as much as the next 12 titles combined, "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" marks the debut of Sega's mascot, Sonic The Hedgehog(R), on a new next-generation video game system.

"The strong sales numbers off the mark for 'Sonic Adventure 2 Battle' for Nintendo GameCube are a true testament to the star power of our legendary mascot, Sonic The Hedgehog, and to the strength of Sega as a third-party developer and publisher," said Peter Moore, president and COO, Sega of America. "With a 40-year heritage of incredible content and franchises, Sega's goal is to compete for the position of leading global publisher of interactive entertainment."

Selling through more than 70,000 units in its debut week -- which represented 44 percent of total Nintendo GameCube software sales -- "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" is Sega's second Nintendo GameCube game, and its second success on the platform. Sega's Nintendo GameCube launch title "Super Monkey Ball(tm)" has consistently ranked among the top ten selling titles for Nintendo GameCube since its release.

Demonstrating Sega's long-standing commitment to innovation and creativity in game development, "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" is the first U.S. game to take advantage of the Nintendo GameCube Game Boy(R) Advance Cable. Via the cable, gamers can transport Chao, the lovable artificial life forms, from the "Chao Garden" in "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" to the Tiny Chao Garden in "Sonic Advance(tm)" for the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, co-published by THQ Inc.

Featuring more than 150 missions spread over 30-plus frenetic, action-packed stages, "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" challenges gamers to either save the world or conquer it, in an action-packed showdown between Hero and Dark characters. With all-new two-player battle levels and expanded Chao-raising fun, "Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" delivers a high-energy Sonic experience to Nintendo GameCube fans.

"Sonic Adventure 2 Battle" is available now at a MSRP of $49.99. The game is rated "E" for everyone. For screenshots and artwork, please visit the following link: ftp://ftp.accesspr.com/public/Sega/Sega_Games/Nintendo_Gamecube/

About Sega

SEGA(R) of America is the American arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA Corporation, a $3.5 billion corporation by market capitalization, recognized as a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. SEGA of America's Web site is located at www.sega.com.

About Nintendo

As the worldwide leader and innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co. Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its popular home video game systems. The systems include Game Boy(R), Nintendo(R) 64, Game Boy Advance and NINTENDO GAMECUBE. Since the release of its first home video game system in 1983, Nintendo has sold more than 1.4 billion video games worldwide, creating enduring industry icons such as Mario(tm) and Donkey Kong(R) and launching such franchises as Zelda(tm) and Pokemon(R). As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America, Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operation in the Western Hemisphere.

About THQ

THQ Inc. develops and publishes interactive entertainment software worldwide for a variety of hardware platforms including PC CD-ROM, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Sony Computer Entertainment, Nintendo and Microsoft. The THQ Web site is located at www.thq.com.