Press Release

PAC-PIX(TM)" SHIPS TO NORTH AMERICAN RETAIL OUTLETS

The Legendary Pac-Man Makes His Nintendo DS(TM) System Debut
 

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (April 26, 2005) – Leading video games developer and publisher Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that "PAC-PIX(TM)" has shipped to retail outlets throughout North America for the Nintendo DS™ system.  Combining classic Pac-Man gameplay and the unique technology of the DS system, "PAC-PIX" lets players draw and control their very own Pac-Man as he chases down Ghosts in this innovative adventure.

Pac-Man is about to embark on his most heroic quest yet and face off against his perpetual foes, the Ghosts.  One day, a mischievous wizard created something called “Ghost Ink.” Everything drawn with this ink turned into Ghosts.  Up to their old tricks, the Ghosts started to cause chaos throughout the world.  Pac-Man rushed to trap the Ghosts in a book using his trusty Magic Pen, but in the process of turning them back into Ghost Ink, our hero finds himself trapped inside.  Now, it’s up to the player to pick up Pac-Man’s Magic Pen – using the DS stylus – and finish off the Ghosts once and for all.

"PAC-PIX" literally puts Pac-Man’s fate into the hands of the player by utilizing the DS system’s stylus and touch screen to draw Pac-Man, shooting arrows and exploding bombs to reach Ghosts ripe for the chomping.  Bigger Ghost Bosses call for a bigger Pac-Man, and larger bombs cause larger blasts.  Pac-Man can even travel between the upper and lower DS screens, collecting items to maintain a steady diet of fruit and Ghosts.  If one’s not enough, draw up to three Pac-Mans on screen at once.

“'PAC-PIX' lets players express their creativity through the DS’s stylus and touch screen by drawing Pac-Man and a variety of items to track down pesky Ghosts,” said Yoshi Niki, Business Unit Director at Namco Hometek Inc.  “People have been drawing Pac-Man for 25 years, and we now have the capability to let players bring these drawings to life in an all-new adventure.”

For more information on "PAC-PIX" for the Nintendo DS, please visit www.namco.com.

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 Santa Clara, CA, Namco Hometek Inc. is an award-winning video games publisher for next generation game consoles. Namco has created some of the industry's greatest video game franchises: "Tekken(R)," "SOULCALIBUR(R)," "Dead to Rights(R)," "Pac-Man World(TM)," "Ridge Racer(R)," "Time Crisis(R)" and "ACECOMBAT(TM)."  For more information about Namco and its products log onto www.namco.com.

"TEKKEN(R)," "SOULCALIBUR(R)," "PAC-MAN WORLD(TM)," "PAC-MAN(R)," "Ridge Racer(R)," "Time Crisis(R)" and "ACECOMBAT(TM)" are trademarks or registered trademarks of Namco Limited in the United States and/or other countries.  "Dead to Rights(TM)" is a trademark or registered trademark of Namco Hometek Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

"PAC-PIX"(TM) &(C)1980 2004 NAMCO LTD., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

(TM), (R) and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. (C) 2004 Nintendo.