It's times like this that I wish I still worked for a videogame retailer, if only to stand around waiting for a customer to ask about THQ's new off-road racer, "Bah-jah." It's going to happen, and I'm not going to be there, but mark my words ...

Developed by 2XL Games (which employs founding members of the popular MX vs. ATV franchise), BAJA will feature more than 100 square miles of tough, 'unpredictable' terrain that players will traverse using 40 different Trophy Trucks, 4x4s and buggies. Vehicles will be fully upgradeable with hundreds of authentic parts that will affect performance across the game's mountains, mud, and canyons. In addition to the expected features and modes (four-player split-screen, 12-player online), the game wil also support a fancy multiple-screen panoramic view.

BAJA will be available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 come August.

Dominate the Desert in the Most Realistic off-Road Experience to Date in THQ's BAJA(TM)

Explore More Than 100 Square Miles of Unpredictable Terrain in the Largest off-Road Landscapes Ever Created

AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2008--THQ Inc. (NASDAQ:THQI), the leading publisher of off-road racing games, today announced the most realistic off-road racing experience to date. BAJA(TM) is scheduled to bring revolutionary physics and vast open racing worlds to the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system in August 2008. Developed by the founding members of the MX vs. ATV(TM) franchise, BAJA combines the best elements of the real-world sport with the right balance of arcade fun as it challenges players to build the ultimate off-road machine and conquer vast, unforgiving terrain.

"As the long-standing off-road racing leader, THQ is thrilled to bring something completely new to the off-road racing genre," said Richard Browne, vice president of product development, THQ. "With the level of detail in each vehicle, the vast open vistas and the most realistic off-road physics to date, BAJA will provide an unparalleled racing experience."

About BAJA

In BAJA, players will conquer more than 100 square miles of the toughest terrain Mother Nature has to offer, including the steepest mountains, thickest mud and deepest canyons ever created. With more than 40 vehicles in eight classes, including Trophy Trucks, 4x4s and buggies, BAJA features a full array of upgradeable options with hundreds of authentic parts that affect each vehicle's performance. Players will put their off-road machines to the test in near-vertical Hill Climb challenges, head-to-head Open Class races, circuit races and the ultimate off-road endurance challenge: the Baja. BAJA's open worlds extend thousands of miles across all landscapes in races that can last up to four hours. The game's revolutionary vehicle physics deliver unprecedented life-like handling, and a support management system allows gamers to monitor and repair realistic vehicle damage as fenders fly, tires are blown, suspension is stressed and engines overheat. BAJA will support four-player split screen multiplayer capability, 12-player online and LAN as well as multiple-screen panoramic view.

BAJA is developed by 2XL Games in Phoenix, Ariz. For more information on this game, as well as additional THQ titles, please visit www.thq.com and www.bajagame.com.