Playboy related Press Releases

THQ Wireless Inc. and Playboy Enterprises Sign Global Agreement for New Mobile Games Launch

Jim O'Neill — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:26:58 -0500

AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--THQ Wireless Inc., a subsidiary of THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI), today announced that it has signed a worldwide agreement with Playboy Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:PLA)(NYSE:PLAA) to exclusively develop Playboy-branded mobile games. The multi-year Playboy agreement covers the development and publishing rights to multiple Playboy-branded, lifestyle themed, non-nude mobile games featuring bikini-clad Playmates to be released worldwide. The first title, Playboy Games: Pool Party, is scheduled to launch in summer 2008.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“Given the extensive appeal and popularity of the Playboy brand, mobile games based on this license are sure to provide a fun and entertaining experience,Ã¢â‚¬Â said Adam Comiskey, vice president, international, THQ Wireless. Ã¢â‚¬Å“THQ Wireless is ideally positioned to provide engaging games with the hallmark of the Playboy lifestyle.Ã¢â‚¬Â

Ã¢â‚¬Å“The number of Playboy fans around the world has never been greater and that popularity is reflected in the growing sales of Playboy-branded products and services,Ã¢â‚¬Â said Ed Lang, senior vice president of mobile, Playboy Media Group. Ã¢â‚¬ÂGiven the growth of the mobile industry, weÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re excited to join THQ Wireless in offering this next-generation form of entertainment to consumers."

Playboy Games: Pool Party will include a set of mini-games depicting animated, bikini-clad Playmates at the famous Playboy Mansion engaged in Ã¢â‚¬Å“pool party sportsÃ¢â‚¬Â including poolside water balloon fights, waterslide slaloms and aquatic mechanical bull riding. Developed by THQ Wireless internal studio Universomo, Playboy Games: Pool Party is based on actual events held at the Playboy Mansion and immortalized in the Playboy Home Entertainment DVD release, Playmate Playoffs, hosted by Chuck Woolery.

About Playboy Enterprises Inc.

Playboy Enterprises is a brand-driven, international multimedia entertainment company that publishes editions of Playboy magazine around the world; operates television networks and distributes programming globally; owns Playboy.com, a leading men's lifestyle and entertainment website; and licenses the Playboy trademark internationally for a range of consumer products and services.

About THQ

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software.Ã‚Â The company develops its products for all popular game systems, personal computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles County, California, THQ sells product through its global network of offices located throughout North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ Wireless, Universomo and their respective logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of THQ Inc.

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be Ã¢â‚¬Å“forward-looking statementsÃ¢â‚¬Â within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as Ã¢â‚¬Å“THQÃ¢â‚¬Â), including, but not limited to, expectations and projections related to the agreement with Playboy Enterprises and the Playboy Games: Pool Party mobile video game, and are based upon managementÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s current beliefs and certain assumptions made by management. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, business, competitive, economic, legal, political and technological factors affecting our industry, operations, markets, products or pricing. Readers should carefully review the risk factors and the information that could materially affect THQÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s financial results, described in other documents that THQ files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2007, and particularly the discussion of risk factors set forth therein. Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any obligation to update its view on any such risks or uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release.

Playboy Announces Pan-European Partnership with Leading Mobile Service Provider Minick

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:42:44 -0500

LOS ANGELES, and ZOLLIKON, Switzerland, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Playboy Enterprises (NYSE: PLA, PLAA) announced today that it has selected MINICK AG, a pioneer in wireless infrastructure solutions and interactive applications, to help expand its mobile business throughout Europe. The multi-year partnership is designed to expand Playboy's distribution of branded products and services to consumers throughout the region.

"Because Playboy is one of the world's most recognized brands, we want to make sure that we continue to deliver a superior experience for our customers who want to interact with our brand and our content through mobile devices," said Ed Lang, SVP & GM of Playboy Mobile. "Minick's impressive track record with major entertainment and media brands, as well as their massive reach, make them a perfect choice for Playboy. We are excited to be working with them in this key area of our digital distribution strategy."

Playboy and Minick will work together to launch visually rich and compelling interactive mobile products including video clips, mobile TV, games and other services. European consumers soon will be able to both view and participate in Playboy programs and social communities.

Tero Turunen, Minick's CEO, added: "The possibilities of using mobile as part of an integrated digital content distribution strategy are endless. Given the iconic nature of the Playboy brand, our goal is to enhance their content offerings and expand their reach, both through traditional portals as well as on a direct-to-consumer basis. Over the coming years, the increased convergence of mobile and online will create significant opportunities for companies like Playboy."

The Minick Service Platform including its video encoding and streaming capabilities offer carrier-grade solutions, which run mobile services globally. It is available to customers either as a managed or as a packaged solution. Carriers, entertainment companies and mobile marketing players alike, choose Minick for its long track record of successfully managed mobile projects and Minick's platform for its efficiency, reliability and flexibility.

About Playboy Enterprises, Inc.

Playboy Enterprises is a brand-driven, international multi-media entertainment company that publishes editions of Playboy magazine around the world; operates television networks and distributes programming globally; owns Playboy.com, a leading men's lifestyle and entertainment Web site; and licenses the Playboy trademark internationally for a range of consumer products and services.

For more information please visit http://www.playboyenterprises.com.

About Minick

MINICK is the pioneer of interactive mobile applications and infrastructure solutions. Founded in 1994, MINICK develops and operates mobile services for network operators such as Vodafone, T-Mobile, Telefonica and Orange for media and entertainment companies such as MTV, Endemol, Warner Bros., Universal Pictures and SonyBMG as well as for corporate clients in mobile marketing/advertising. The company has built one of the largest mobile service delivery networks in Europe, Africa and the Americas, and operates its own messaging and mobile Internet hosting centers. MINICK is powering more than 400 mobile internet portals for network operators around the world. The company has offices in Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain. More information can be found at http://www.minick.net. MINICK is part of Swisscom Group since December 2006.

Quattro and Playboy Partner to Put a Playmate in Your Pocket

Jason Ankeny — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:04:54 -0400

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Playboy.com, a leading menÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s lifestyle and entertainment Web site, has partnered with Quattro Wireless to bring the Playboy.com experience to the mobile consumer. Using QuattroÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s GetMobileÃ¢â€žÂ¢ platform, Playboy.com will offer access to the world of Playboy in a mobile-friendly format, combining its compelling lifestyle content with targeted, relevant advertisements from premium sponsors such as AXE Vice body spray and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Whether at work or on the go, Playboy enthusiasts can browse non-nude photos of their favorite Playboy models and get to know turn-ons and turn-offs in their personal interviews. Readers can get their own burning questions answered by the Playboy Advisor, PlayboyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s solutions to your most vexing problems. Users can also access trusted reviews of music, games, and books from their mobile phone. For those looking for a quick laugh, the Playboy Joke of the Day serves up irreverent humor with a sexy twist. All of PlayboyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s content was adapted by Quattro using its GetMobileÃ¢â€žÂ¢ Platform, ensuring that must-have content is kept fresh and in sync with the wired Web version. In addition, as a part of its Premier Services, Quattro Wireless generates incremental revenues for Playboy by selling and serving rich advertising matched to the interests of Playboy.comÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s audience.

Ã¢â‚¬Å“Playboy is one of the worldÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s most recognized brands and, as our customers increasingly turn to their mobile devices for content, we now can reach them whenever and wherever they are,Ã¢â‚¬Â said Chris Petrovic, VP of Digital Media for Playboy Media Group. Ã¢â‚¬Å“Quattro enables Playboy to extend its reach into the mobile Internet while maintaining brand consistency with our wired Web site and print publication.Ã¢â‚¬Â

Ã¢â‚¬Å“Playboy is always on the forefront of technological innovation, and they realize the mobile Internet is an important, growing channel to reach their consumers,Ã¢â‚¬Â said Lars Albright, Vice President of Business Development for Quattro Wireless. Ã¢â‚¬Å“By combining their high caliber lifestyle content with relevant ad inventory via the mobile Internet, Playboy continues to blaze a trail into new media, extending its brand recognition and leadership position to a new generation of mobile-savvy consumers.Ã¢â‚¬Â

About Playboy Enterprises, Inc.

Playboy Enterprises is a brand-driven, international multimedia entertainment company that publishes editions of Playboy magazine around the world; operates television networks and distributes programming globally; owns Playboy.com, a leading men's lifestyle and entertainment Web site; and licenses the Playboy trademark internationally for a range of consumer products and services.

For more information please visit www.playboyenterprises.com.

About Quattro Wireless

Quattro Wireless brings publishers, advertisers, and wireless operators together to embrace the mobile Web. The company matches global advertisers with its network of exclusive publisher inventory. Through its GetMobileÃ¢â€žÂ¢ platform, Quattro empowers advertisers and publishers to quickly build, manage and extend their brand to the mobile channel. The result is device-optimized, dynamic mobile Web sites and mobile advertisements that provide a superior user experience and high advertising yield. Quattro Wireless was founded in 2006 by proven mobile pioneers and is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more information, please visit http://www.quattrowireless.com.