"Well blow me down" Popeye hits 100,000 comic downloads

May 28, 2008

Namco Networks Announces 100,000
Comic Downloads Through Popeye Mobile Game

Mobile gaming leader uses network
technology to offer a unique method for rewarding players

Namco Networks, a leading publisher
and developer of mobile games and entertainment for mass-market casual gamers,
today announced that more than 100,000 Popeye® comics have been downloaded by
consumers since the game launched in November of 2007.

Namco has created an innovative
method of rewarding players that incorporates a network component into a mobile
game that allows consumers to download comic strips as redeemable rewards.
Through this method, fans of the original Popeye comic now have access to the
original comics through easy viewing on-the-go. Comics are downloaded directly
to a player’s mobile phone in exchange for points earned by successfully playing
the game. As evident by the number of comic downloads, this has been a popular
feature for consumers.

Providing rewards through the
network is one of the many ways that Namco utilizes network technology to
enhance game play. Other examples include the availability of new content and
head-to-head play over the network.

“Players have added incentive to
continue playing a particular mobile title as they are continually rewarded with
new comics,” said Scott Rubin, vice president of sales and marketing, Namco
Networks. “This feature, distinctive to Namco Networks’ games, turns traditional
media on its head by digitally distributing a large library of pre-existing
content and redefining it as a reward. The impressive number of downloads
highlights how well consumers are responding to these rewards and enjoying the
opportunity to access the comics.”

Popeye is just one of Namcos’ titles
that offers this unique reward feature. Consumers are also rewarded with comic
strips in other Namco games.

Popeye is currently available on
most major carriers. To learn about Namco Networks’ other mobile games, please
visit www.NamcoGames.com