THQ Ships ``SpongeBob SquarePants: Employee of the Month'' for PC.

Business Editors/Entertainment Editors/High-Tech Writers

CALABASAS HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 20, 2002

THQ(R) Inc. (Nasdaq:THQI) and Nickelodeon today announced the release of "SpongeBob SquarePants(TM): Employee of the Month" for PC. Based on Nickelodeon's chart-topping animated television show, "SpongeBob SquarePants: Employee of the Month" is available this week at major retail outlets nationwide.

"`SpongeBob SquarePants' is the #1 show on all kids' TV with more than 57.4 million viewers each month," stated Peter Dille, Vice President, Marketing, THQ. "PC gamers everywhere will enjoy this underwater interactive adventure, based on one of the show's most recognizable themes -- SpongeBob's ongoing desire to be Krabby Patty's Employee of the Month, every month."

"This past year THQ and Nickelodeon released four `SpongeBob' games that were top performers at retail on Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color , PlayStation and PC," stated Steve Youngwood, Vice President, Nickelodeon Media Products Group. "With SpongeBob's popularity still on the rise, we look forward to further interactive success with `SpongeBob SquarePants: Employee of the Month for PC.'"

In "SpongeBob SquarePants: Employee of the Month," SpongeBob has just been named "Employee of the Month" for the 27th consecutive month! His prize includes a free pass for him and a guest to Neptune's paradise, an amusement park located outside of Bikini Bottom -- but he has no clue how to get there. Players will maneuver SpongeBob away from Bikini Bottom on a puzzling adventure that has them cooking Krabby Patties, exploring the caves of Marlin the Weather Wizard and shopping through the exclusive town of Waverly Hills. SpongeBob is joined by Sandy Cheeks, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Patrick Star, and new characters Cowfish Craig, Gary Gulper, and Marty the Chicken of the Sea in this underwater PC adventure. The game features three worlds to explore including Bikini Bottom, Rock Bottom and Bottoms Up, and includes 18 areas with tons of challenges.

For more information on "SpongeBob SquarePants: Employee of the Month" and THQ's upcoming "SpongeBob SquarePants" adventures for PlayStation and Game Boy Advance, please visit www.thq.com.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 23rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 84 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic-cable network for more than six consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

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.

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.