THQ Confirms Four For Wii Launch

With the launch of Nintendo's new Wii next-generation console set to take place in November, officials from publisher THQ have confirmed four titles to be released alongside the new platform. THQ's Wii launch day line up includes games based on popular television and movie properties, such as SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab, as well as Disney Pixar's Cars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Barnyard. SpongeBob SquarePants will take advantage of the Wii's unique remote-style controller by allowing players to knock down buildings with the Wii nunchuk while playing as the Giant Plankton, fly an airplane using the controller as an aircraft control stick, as well as turn the Wii controller on its side to use as a steering wheel. Other titles will make similar use of the console's controls. In Avatar: The Last Airbender, players will use the control and nunchuck attachment to perform melee attacks, as well as draw symbols in midair to initiate special moves. Barnyard, based on the CG animated film, will play host to a number of minigames such as throwing darts or aiming a pool cue, each of which THQ claims will make use of the Wii remote in some fashion. Finally Cars, also based upon a popular CG film, will allow players to use the Wii controller as a steering wheel in more than 30 different races and minigames. "Nintendo has a remarkable ability to inspire game developers to create compelling interactive experiences for their increasingly innovative game systems," said Kelly Flock, THQ's executive vice president of worldwide publishing. "As the #1 third-party publisher of software across all Nintendo gaming systems, THQ's library of popular mass-market brands aligns perfectly with Nintendo's strategy of creating fun and accessible experiences for the new Wii system."