MALIBU, Calif., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAKK) announced today that the Company has signed a worldwide license with Lucasfilm Ltd. to produce TV Games(TM) products based on the blockbuster, Star Wars saga.
TV Games(TM) products are slated to be developed based on all films in the Star Wars saga -- A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and the upcoming Star Wars: Episode III.
TV Games(TM) products are plug and play gaming systems that contain multiple classic games in one single controller. All that is needed are batteries and a TV -- No videogame consoles and no gaming cartridges are required. Simply plug the TV Games(TM) unit into the A/V jacks of any standard television set, turn on and play. The lightweight, compact, all-inclusive controller, houses a combination of videogames with all of the hardware built right into the controller. This technology allows gaming fans to enjoy a number of videogames with just one single purchase.
"We are pleased to be working with Lucasfilm on such an exciting franchise. Star Wars is firmly entrenched in American pop culture while having worldwide appeal," said Stephen Berman, president and COO, JAKKS Pacific, Inc. "The incredible longevity of the brand fits perfectly with JAKKS' strategy of aligning the TV Games(TM) line with brands with staying power."
"We are very pleased that JAKKS Pacific has chosen Star Wars to expand its enormously popular TV Games(TM) line," said Howard Roffman, President, Lucas Licensing Ltd. "We hope that the Star Wars TV Games(TM) products will bring Star Wars gaming to an even broader audience of kids."
The Star Wars TV Games(TM) line-up is slated to launch in Fall 2005, and are expected to retail for approximately $20.00. For more information on JAKKS Pacific's TV Games(TM) line, please visit
www.jakkstvgames.com.
About Lucasfilm Ltd.:
Lucas Licensing, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, manages all the global merchandising activities in the fields of publishing, toys, games, collectibles, apparel, and home furnishings for Lucasfilm's entertainment properties.
Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the world's leading film and entertainment companies. Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment company. In addition to its motion picture and television production operations, the company's global businesses include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound; LucasArts Entertainment; Lucas Licensing and Lucas Online. Lucasfilm's feature films have won 19 Academy Awards and its television projects have won 12 Emmy Awards.
About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.:
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and leisure products. The product categories include: Action Figures, Arts & Crafts Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush and Dolls. The products are sold under various brand names including Flying Colors(R), Road Champs(R), Remco(R), Child Guidance(R), Pentech(R), Trendmasters(R), Toymax(R), Funnoodle(R), Go Fly a Kite(R) and JPI Color Workshop(R). The Company also participates in a joint venture with THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment(TM) video games. For further information, visit
www.jakkspacific.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 JAKKS' business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management. These statements are not guarantees of JAKKS' 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 JAKKS' 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. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which they are made, and JAKKS does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.
