News

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. – February 9, in the year of our Lord 2011 – The world’s smallest Russian stacking doll has the power to become a huge hero in Stacking, an all-new video game experience from THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and award-winning Double Fine Productions – the creators of Costume Quest.

Now available for download on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Stacking is a stunning combination of visual ingenuity and inspired storytelling from Tim Schafer’s award-winning studio Double Fine Productions, and was created by its project lead, Lee Petty. Stacking is rated E10+ and is available for the suggested download price of 1200 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE and $14.99 on PlayStation Network, respectively.

“Stacking looks and plays unlike any other downloadable game, and Double Fine’s unique approach to the puzzle-game genre has been executed brilliantly,” said Martin Good, THQ’s Executive Vice President of Kids, Family and Casual Games. “Players of all skill levels will be able to enjoy finding creative solutions to the huge array of challenges in a game filled with the vivid imagination of Tim Schafer, Lee Petty and Double Fine.”

Double Fine Productions founder and CEO Tim Schafer added, “Lee and his team have created something really special with Stacking, and I’m really excited about people finally being able to play with these dolls.”

In Stacking, players take on the role of Charlie Blackmore, the world’s smallest Russian stacking doll, who must save his family from an evil industrialist baron who has enslaved them. Against a lushly realized backdrop of a diorama world populated entirely by Russian stacking dolls, or “Matryoshka,” Stacking is an imaginative third-person puzzle adventure filled with references to classic silent, expressionist cinema and Dickensian heroes and villains.

Using only his special ability of stacking into other dolls – each of which has a special ability – Charlie must use his problem-solving skills to meet an array of challenges. With each, the story progresses as Charlie tracks down the evil baron to get his family back. Every challenge is unique, with multiple solutions, making Stacking an inventive experience. For instance, some challenges involve distracting guards, others involve breaking scenery, and each calls upon the special talents of the full cast of Matryoshka characters. Stacking features a robust, in-game hint system to guarantee that casual gamers as well as hard core players can enjoy Charlie Blackmore’s adventure from beginning to end.