New 'Avatar' & 'El Tigre' Games from Nick & THQ, Inc.

Nickelodeon and THQ Inc. have announced their plans to produce a variety of videogame titles for the latter 2007-year, which will incorporate some of the cable television network's most identifiable franchises and properties into the interactive medium like never before. Nickelodeon continues to capitalizing on the success of animated television programming such as the spicy, Saturday morning cartoon El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera as well as the season three pending action/adventure title Avatar: The Last Airbender. These titles and others--some animated and some live-action--will see interactive gameplay based on the intriguing and oftentimes hilarious storylines from which these properties derive their popularity. THQ Inc. is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software headquartered in Los Angeles County, California.

New animated will to make their debut as videogames while others will be seeing all-new installments. Animation fans interested in keeping track of everything to do with their favorite Nickelodeon television animation need pay close attention. In particular, videogames based on El Tigre, the Avatar series and of course, the effervescent SpongeBob SquarePants. (Additional videogames will be produced based on the live-action titles Drake & Josh and Zoey 101) Working closely with THQ to create interactive, challenging and exciting videogames for every new and next generation console, with the exception of the SonyPlastation3 Computer Entertainment System, Nickelodeon looks to have products shipped across multiple gaming systems that will include: Nintendo's Wii system, the Sony PlayStation2 console, Xbox 360, and the handhelds in Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance.

"We're excited to expand our relationship with THQ in 2007 as we introduce our first El Tigre videogame, along with all new games based on Nick's biggest hits," Shaul Olmert, vice president of digital products, Nickelodeon commented. "Nickelodeon is the number one entertainment brand for kids and the innovation that THQ brings to our gaming lineup continues to elevate us to new creative heights."

Based on the incredibly popular action and adventure saga of a group of youngsters whose desire to stay true to legend and pursue the peace of all nations, Avatar: The Last Airbender -- The Burning Earth will be able to recall many of the television series' greatest and most breathtaking moments, in videogame form. Based on the storyline of the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender, this particular videogame will allow gamers to follow the storyline as Aang teams with his reliable friends to defend the greatest city of the Earth Kingdom against the deadly attacks of the Fire Nation. Avatar: The Last Airbender -- The Burning Earth is scheduled to release for the Xbox 360 platform in addition to launching for the Sony PlayStation2 system, the Nintendo Wii platform, Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance in Fall 2007.

"Our Nickelodeon videogame portfolio continues to lead the kids market with more than 45 million units sold-in to date," Bob Aniello, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, THQ stated in a recent press article. "We expect a continued robust Nickelodeon business in 2007 with an even greater presence on the popular Wii, our first title slated for release on Xbox 360, and additional titles in our new series of games based on Nickelodeon's live-action properties."