AUSTIN, Texas--Jan. 2002.

THQ(R) Inc. and Nickelodeon today announced the release of SpongeBob SquarePants(TM): Revenge of the Flying Dutchman for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. This underwater adventure is based on Nickelodeon's pop culture phenomenon, SpongeBob SquarePants -- the highest rated program on kids' TV, which draws 61.5 million viewers per month, more than 21 million of them aged 18-49. SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman is now available at retailers nationwide.

"SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the entertainment world's hottest

licenses and one of the few true cross-over properties in that the show
has the number one Q-score for kids 6-11 as well as a rabid adult following," stated Peter Dille, Vice President, Marketing, THQ. "We're excited to be shipping SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman for PlayStation®2 in time for the holiday buying season."

"SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman for Game Boy Advance has been a top selling Game Boy Advance game for the past month," stated Steve Youngwood, Vice President, Nickelodeon Media Products Group. "With such a proven videogame property and wildly popular character, we can't wait to see how SpongeBob SquarePants does on the PlayStation®2 and GameCube this holiday."

In SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman for PlayStation®2, players assume the role of SpongeBob as he discovers a magic bottle and unwillingly unleashes the Flying Dutchman. Furious that he was disturbed, the Dutchman places a curse on SpongeBob and his friends. To lift the curse, SpongeBob must seek out lost treasures that have been scattered throughout Bikini Bottom. The game features authentic voice talent and all of the favorite characters from the television show including Sandy Cheeks, Squidward, Patrick Star and more. Players can explore six worlds with multiple challenges per level. Bonus content includes original sketches of the SpongeBob character and a hints and tips video.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman for GameCube™ is scheduled for release this December. SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman for Game Boy® Advance and SpongeBob SquarePants™: Employee of the Month for PC are available at retailers nationwide.
For more information on SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman or the rest of the THQ holiday lineup, please visit www.thq.com.

Critical Mass Interactive delivers a wide variety of services, including full game production from concept to completion on any platform, any type of outsourcing including concept sketches and storyboards, 3 dimensional models for in-game or marketing materials, design documents, and more. Recent clients include: Electronic Arts, Majesco, THQ/relic, and the United States Air Force. Visit them on the Web at http://www.criticalmassinteractive.com