Dragonica Online Throws Down the Gauntlet

Dragonica Online developer THQ*ICE has issued a challenge to all players of free to play MMOs: Play Dragonica Online and your current side-scrolling MMO. Choose your favorite and win a $5.00 game credit regardless of your choice! Up to 10,000 players will score big. Check it out!

What's The Best Free-To-Play Side-Scrolling MMO? Get Paid To Play In The Dragonica Online "Side-Scroller Showdown"

THQ Inc. and THQ*ICE Call On All Free-To-Play MMO Players To Put Their Game To The Test and Claim Their Piece of $50,000 Toward Their Current Free-To-Play MMO

Agoura Hills, CA - February 23, 2010 - THQ Inc. and THQ*ICE LLC, the recently launched joint venture between THQ and ICE Entertainment focusing on free-to-play online games, announced today the launch of the Dragonica™ Online "Side-Scroller Showdown" - a challenge that calls on players of free-to-play MMO games to decide which title is more fun: Dragonica Online or the free-to-play MMO they're playing now. Participants who complete the challenge will be able to claim their piece of $50,000 redeemable for use toward their Side-Scroller Showdown winner.

"In order to even think about running an aggressive event like this you have to be very confident in the quality of your product," said Eddie Chen, CEO of THQ*ICE. "Whether they're playing MapleStory or any other free-to-play side-scrolling MMO, we are 100% confident that those who join the Side-Scroller Showdown will see that Dragonica Online offers gameplay, combat, visuals, community and plain simple fun you can't find anywhere else."

Interested players have until March 9, 2010 to register to participate in the Dragonica Online "Side-Scroller Showdown." The first 10,000 participants who complete the process according to the program's terms and conditions will be rewarded with a $5 game credit that can be used in Dragonica Online or, if they so choose, for various other games. Participants who choose Dragonica Online as the winner of the showdown will receive a special "Side-Scroller Showdown" gift pack in addition to the $5 game credit.

The Dragonica Online "Side-Scroller Showdown" is made up of three simple parts: exploring Dragonica Online, picking the showdown winner, and collecting the reward. Please see full details, instructions and rules by visiting http://go.thqice.com/sss/

The total value of all gifts is $50,000, available while supplies last. For a complete list of rules and eligibility requirements, please visit http://go.thqice.com/sss/

Developed by Barunson Interactive, Dragonica Online is set in a world of dragons and magic and takes adventurers across the windswept land of El Grego to the far reaches of the world. Gorgeous visuals complement lightning fast combat while 3D battlegrounds let you get the upper hand on opponents. Dragonica Online is the only fantasy action massively multiplayer game that merges innovative 3D side scrolling gameplay, arcade combat and a comical, yet devastating, skill system into a single MMO.

Dragonica Online is rated E10+ for Everyone over the age of 10.

For more information on THQ*ICE head here. For more information about THQ head here. Check out in-game footage of all character types at WarCry's Official Facebook Fan Page.

Be sure to read WarCry's interview with Executive Producer Chris Lena on the specifics and the why of this unusual and interesting campaign.