Watercraft Racing Meets Theme Park Thrill Rides in Splashdown Rides Gone Wild First THQ Title Developed by Rainbow Studios Ships Exclusively for PlayStation 2 CALABASAS HILLS, Calif. - Aug. 4, 2003 - THQ® Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI - News) today announced the release of Rainbow Studios' Splashdown® Rides Gone Wild(TM), the sequel to the critically acclaimed, top-selling Splashdown. The game marks the first Rainbow Studios' title published by THQ since the company acquired Rainbow in 2002. Splashdown Rides Gone Wild is garnering high praise from the game enthusiast press with early reviews including a five out of five from Official PlayStation Magazine and a 9.25 out of ten from Game Informer. The game is now available exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system at retail outlets throughout North America for the suggested retail price of $39.99. "Creating the highest quality original content is a strategic imperative for THQ and Rainbow Studios," said Jack Sorensen, executive vice president of worldwide studios, THQ. "We are delighted with the critical response to Splashdown Rides Gone Wild and believe that consumers can look forward to a fun and truly innovative racing game unlike any they've experienced." "We're thrilled to be working with THQ," said Scott Novis, President, Rainbow Studios. "The freedom they allowed us as an internal studio, along with the direct feedback, made the whole process of developing a high quality game easier and ultimately more satisfying." About Splashdown Rides Gone Wild Splashdown Rides Gone Wild, the sequel to the critically acclaimed and top-selling Splashdown racing game of 2001, brings racing fans the next wave in watercraft racing. Inspired by the spectacle and excitement of theme parks and thrill rides, Splashdown Rides Gone Wild delivers a cinematic racing experience that evolves with every lap. The game boasts a depth of modes and tracks including four main events and 45 various courses. Players can compete in eight outdoor worlds, 12 indoor stadium courses, a technical time-trials mode and freestyle mode to unlock tons of extra content including characters, equipment and more. The brand's famously beautiful water and physics technology has evolved as well -- bigger waves, faster currents, and even more treacherous downhill rivers. Splashdown Rides Gone Wild combines larger-than-life arcade fun with Rainbow Studios' signature realistic physics and controls. The game includes licensed tracks from popular bands including the Donnas and Audiovent, as well as eight original scores created by Rainbow Studios internal composer giving Splashdown Rides Gone Wild an eclectic array of music styles.