Press Release

A REMARKABLE JOURNEY BEGINS AS "ARC THE LAD(R): END OF DARKNESS(TM)" ARRIVES ON STORE SHELVES

Real-Time Action RPG Featuring Online Adventures Now Available
 

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (June 15, 2005) –Namco Hometek Inc. today announced that "Arc The Lad(R): End of Darkness(TM)" has shipped to retail outlets throughout North America for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. Featuring the series' first real-time combat system and cooperative and competitive online gameplay, "Arc The Lad: End of Darkness" is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

"Arc The Lad: End of Darkness" follows the young warrior Edda as he fulfills his destiny as a hunter and comes to realize a sense of responsibility to save civilization from a terrible unnatural threat. Players are able to assume the role of Edda and 24 other characters from the "Arc The Lad" series, utilizing melee strikes and powerful magic attacks through a real-time combat system to restore peace to the weakened world. As they overcome enemies, players will acquire cards which will impart new skills and abilities.

For the first time in the "Arc The Lad" series, players can take the adventure online and play cooperatively with up to four players through regular and online-exclusive missions, taking on powerful enemies and acquiring rare cards. Player vs. player gameplay has also been included, with up to eight players fighting alone or in teams to test their mastery in battle.

'“Arc The Lad: End of Darkness' marks a huge leap for this beloved RPG series with intense real-time combat and online gameplay,” said Jeff Lujan, Business Director at Namco Hometek Inc. “The game's massive selection of playable characters, wide array of rare items and well-crafted storyline will have players reliving the adventure again and again, either alone or with friends online.”

For more information on "Arc The Lad: End of Darkness," 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.

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.