THQ Ships Two SEGA Classics for Game Boy Advance

RPG Legend `Phantasy Star(TM)' and Fantasy Adventure `Altered Beast(TM): Guardian of the Realms(TM)' Deliver Retro Gaming for the Handheld Enthusiast

CALABASAS HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 26, 2002-- THQ® Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI - News) today shipped PHANTASY STAR COLLECTION(TM) and ALTERED BEAST(TM): GUARDIAN OF THE REALMS(TM) for Game Boy® Advance. PHANTASY STAR COLLECTION, a compilation of the first three Phantasy Star games released by SEGA, and ALTERED BEAST: GUARDIAN OF THE REALMS, are available now at major retail outlets nationwide.

"THQ continues to draw from SEGA's well of popular arcade and console titles for entertaining and engaging Game Boy Advance games," said Alison Locke, executive vice president, North American publishing, THQ. "Our multi-title publishing agreement with SEGA allows us to bring these hit franchises to the Game Boy Advance platform where they can be enjoyed by a new generation of video game fans."

"SEGA's massive library of classic content is unmatched in the video game industry," said Charles Bellfield, vice president of strategic planning and corporate affairs, SEGA of America, Inc. "Working with THQ, SEGA is bringing back two of its best known classics to the handheld gaming platform with PHANTASY STAR COLLECTION and ALTERED BEAST: GUARDIAN OF THE REALMS."

About Phantasy Star Collection

A compilation pack of the first three Phantasy Star products, Collection delivers 50+ hours of classic Sci-Fi RPG gaming in just one game pack. This RPG series revolutionized the genre with immersive 3-D dungeons, huge environments to explore and hours of gameplay.

Features:

Phantasy Star -- King Lassic has inflicted his evil reign on the galaxy and only Alis Landale can stop his tyranny. With a party of three, Alis will travel the vast Algo Solar System, doing battle against Lassic's minions with a myriad of weapons, magical spells, and armor.

Phantasy Star II -- An unknown evil is overtaking planet Mota and Rolf must unlock the mystery behind this dark force to restore peace. He will have to journey to a distant planet and battle monsters to save the world or all will be lost.

Phantasy Star III -- The adventure continues as the Dark Forces still remain. This adventure is so vast it spawns three generations, trekking through seven distant lands to reach one of four surprise endings.

About Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms

Zeus, creator and ruler of the Guardians of the Gates, raises Antonius to go forth and defeat a new, unknown evil that has destroyed the Guardians and ravaged the universe. To do so, he must collect the Keys and Essence of each land, transforming him into 13 distinctive beasts with unnatural powers and special abilities. ALTERED BEAST features 16 action-packed worlds inspired by Greek mythology, magical weapons and two multi-player modes: 2-player Co-op Story Mode and 4-player battle arenas.

For more information about THQ's holiday lineup please visit www.thq.com.