San Jose, Ca., (November 24, 2003) – Naughty or nice, Namco has something for everyone on your holiday list this year! This holiday season, leading video games publisher and developer, Namco Hometek Inc., offers a blockbuster lineup of new video game releases, from the number one fighting game available to romping platformer adventures to classic arcade favorites.  With titles offered for every major gaming platform, Namco’s lineup includes SOULCALIBUR®II, R: Racing Evolution, Spawn®: Armageddon, kill.switch, Time Crisis® 3, I-Ninja and Pac-Man® vs.

Named one of the top ten games of 2003 by TIME magazine (Nov. 2003) and winner of multiple awards and accolades, SOULCALIBUR II is the ultimate sequel to one of the most revered weapons-based fighters of all time. Available on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the Nintendo GameCube and the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, the game includes more than 15 warriors, both familiar and new -- including a character named Necrid, created by Todd McFarlane exclusively for the home console versions.  Battling each other in search of Soul Edge, each console has special guest characters exclusive to that specific platform, including Tekken’s Heihachi for PlayStation 2, The Legend of Zelda’s Link for the Nintendo GameCube, and Todd McFarlane’s Spawn for Xbox.  The game features over ten exciting game modes, including the all-new Weapon Master Mode, Time Attack Mode, Survival Mode, VS. Mode and Team Battle Mode.  In the Weapon Master Mode players can collect and utilize over 200 different weapons, thus adding a deeper level of strategy to every new battle.  

New to the racing genre is the eagerly anticipated R: Racing Evolution.  Created by the same team that developed the critically acclaimed Ridge Racer® and MotoGP franchises, R: Racing Evolution combines awesome graphical quality and high performance driving physics. The game chronicles the intense competition and deep rivalries found within the professional racing circuit. Shipping for all three home-console platforms on December 9th, the game features licensed real-world vehicles, 14 real-world and fantasy tracks, 8 different racing styles and 5 game modes. Also featured in R: Racing Evolution is the “New Interactive Driver AI System” that enhances realistic racing situations and a reward point system, which allows for power-ups and unlocking new cars.  Official PlayStation magazine says of R: Racing Evolution “Namco proves GT4 isn’t the only racer in town.”

Spawn: Armageddon, based on Todd McFarlane’s best-selling comic book character is scheduled for release on all three consoles later this month. Spawn: Armageddon is a 3D action/adventure game that gives players access to all of his distinctive abilities – his superhuman strength, hand-to-hand combat techniques, his arsenal of weaponry, his Hell Powers and, of course, his living symbiotic costume.  
According to Gamepro.com, “The twisted settings and macabre creature design add tremendously to Spawn’s atmosphere.”  With over 23 levels of game play and stunning graphics, players are caught between the battle of Good vs. Evil, as Spawn struggles to break free from the controlling influences of Heaven and Hell.

kill.switch, Namco Hometek Inc.’s new internal development project available for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, is an intense and innovative tactical military shooter.  Heralded by IGN.com as “one hell of a fun ride,” kill.switch allows for the ultimate experience in combat game play by combining realistic cover tactics with highly explosive firepower. Featuring a unique Offensive Cover System, the game allows the player to engage the enemy from various cover positions. The game also utilizes lethal Blindfire gunplay, enabling the player to launch a frontal assault technique against the enemy without being exposed to counter-fire.  This feature encourages the use of warfare tactics, forcing players to strategically plan their moves and quickly adjust on the fly through each intense and challenging mission.  Enemies work together in teams and not only seek out and engage the player, but also thrive in team-based tactics and attacks.  Six war-themed missions are spread out across 18 different levels and feature environments from Middle Eastern-inspired deserts to an underground submarine base.

Time Crisis 3, available on the PlayStation 2, marks the return of Namco’s premier light gun shooting franchise.  Compatible with the GUNCON®2 light gun, this fast-paced first-person shooter delivers superior shooting action and supreme excitement.  A new weapon select system enables players to chose from 4 weapons (machine gun, hand gun, shotgun and grenade) to optimize their game play strategy.  Time Crisis 3 includes the original arcade game as well as console-exclusive game modes.  Sniper combat provides intense and immersive sharp-shooting action, sure to be a winning combination for this popular franchise.  Gamepro magazine says of Time Crisis 3, “This is one crisis that all pistol enthusiasts should make time for.”

I-Ninja, currently available for the PlayStation 2 and coming to the Nintendo GameCube and Xbox in early December, is an adrenaline-charged adventure game featuring this year’s biggest little ninja. With a small, earthlike planet called “The World” as his stage, Ninja travels from beaches to mountains and beyond earning new ninja belts, recovering lost relics and facing his ultimate nemesis. Challenging the powers of gravity, Ninja grinds rails, hovers long distances with a sword-copter, utilizes powerful chains and tiger claws, runs on walls and performs other smart-aleck ninja moves to navigate through any situation. A multiple weapon control system allows the player to use his deadly sword, throw lethal shuriken, fire hi-explosive darts, use blowguns, rocket launchers and more. The game features challenging enemies and ruthless bosses that must be defeated, ranging from foot soldiers of the Ranx Army to a menacing 150-foot giant robot.  Play magazine says of I-Ninja “Quite possibly the purest, most polished and innovative platformer of the year (or any other for that matter)..." Ninja is graceful in honor, but deadly in combat.

Namco celebrates a classic with Pac-Man vs.  Shipping in early December for the Nintendo GameCube, Pac-Man vs. uses the special Game Boy connectivity feature to link the two systems.  For the first time in a Pac-Man game, players take on the role of either the Ghosts or Pac-Man, competing against each other for high points. As Pac-Man, players will view the full screen via the Game Boy® Advance, while as the Ghost players will view a partial maze via the Nintendo GameCube. Called “The epitome of connectivity” by IGN.com, Pac-Man vs. will be packaged with other Nintendo GameCube titles including R: Racing Evolution, Pac-Man World2 (as a “Player’s Choice Bundle”) and as a free gift with purchase with I-Ninja for Nintendo GameCube.

About Namco Hometek Inc.
Namco Hometek Inc. is the U.S. consumer division of Namco Limited, a Tokyo-based world leader in the high-tech entertainment industry. Based in San Jose, CA, Namco Hometek Inc. is an award-winning video games publisher for the next generation game consoles. Namco has created some of the industry's greatest video game franchises: Tekken®, SOULCALIBUR®, Dead to Rights®, Pac-Man World(tm), Ridge Racer®, Time Crisis® and Ace Combat®. For more information about Namco and its products log onto www.namco.com.

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The Legend of Zelda: © 1986-2003 Nintendo. , ®, Game Boy Advance and  Nintendo GameCube are trademarks of Nintendo. ” 2001 Nintendo.
Xbox is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
“PlayStation” and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
GUNCON 2 & © 2000 Namco Ltd., All Rights Reserved.    
Spawn®, and its logo are registered trademarks of Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc., as are many of its characters and symbols.
Comic Spawn ©2003 Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Video Game Spawn © 2003 Namco Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The Character named “Necrid” is created and designed by NAMCO as the derivative work of the Illustration drawn by Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc.  

TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, PAC-MAN WORLD(tm), Ridge Racer®, Time Crisis® and ACECOMBAT® are the trademarks or registered trademarks of Namco Limited in the United States and/or other countries.

Dead to Rights® is the registered trademark of Namco Hometek Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
© NAMCO LTD.Video Game Spawn is developed by Namco Limited under license from Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc.
The Character: © 2003 by Namco Limited. All rights reserved.  Illustration: ©  2003 by Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc. All rights reserved.  
MotoGP© NAMCO LTD., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Licensed by Dorna. MotoGP and related logos, characters, names, and distinctive likenesses thereof are the exclusive property of DORNA and used under license. All Rights Reserved

SOULCALIBUR®II & © 1995 1998 2002 2003 Namco Ltd., All Rights Reserved.

R: RACING EVOLUTION & ©2003 NAMCO LTD., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. All trademarks and copyrights associated with the manufacturers, cars, models, trade names, brands and visual images depicted in this game are the property of their respective owners.  All rights reserved.

TIMECRISIS® 3 & © 1995 1997 2001 2002 2003 NAMCO LTD., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

I-Ninja & © 2003 Argonaut Games PLC.  Licensed exclusively to Namco Hometek Inc.

kill.switch & © 2003 Namco Hometek Inc., All rights reserved.

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