Line-up features best-selling franchises and new original content including the much-anticipated SOULCALIBUR®II

San Jose, Calif., May 9, 2003 – Leading video games publisher,  Namco Hometek Inc. announced today the company’s stellar line up of video games to be unveiled during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Los Angeles Convention Center, May 14-16, 2003.  At booth #946 in the South Hall, Namco will be showcasing the following new titles: SOULCALIBUR®II, R: Racing Evolution, Spawn® (tentative title), Breakdown, kill.switch, Time Crisis® 3, I-Ninja, Tales of Symphonia, and Extreme Force: Grant City Anti-Crime.

SOULCALIBUR®II is the ultimate sequel to one of the most revered weapons-based fighters of all time.  Set for release in August 2003, the game will be available on the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system,  the Nintendo GameCube and the Xbox® video game system from Microsoft.  More than 15 warriors, both familiar and new will battle each other in search of Soul Edge -- including a character named Necrid, created by Todd McFarlane exclusively for the home console versions.  Also, each console will have special guest characters exclusive to that platform, such as 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 will feature over ten exciting game modes: 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 for Namco in the racing genre is R: Racing Evolution, which is being created by the same team that developed the critically-acclaimed Ridge Racer and MotoGP franchises.  The game will be available on all three console platforms and will ship in Q4 2003.  Featuring licensed cars, 11 real-world and fantasy tracks, and 8 different race types (Circuit, Rally, Drag, etc…), R will showcase 4 game modes: the Racing Life Mode, Time Attack Mode, Arcade Mode and Vs.  The Racing Life Mode focuses on the human-natured competitiveness of racing and gives players a cinematic story of two female racers and their rivalry.  Also featured in R is the “New Interactive Driver AI System” that enhances realistic racing situations.

The system is indicative of the pressures that drivers feel during real races.  Races can be won or lost depending on how a driver reacts to pressure from other racers.  In-game communications allow for incoming transmissions from crew members and even in-race trash talk from rival drivers!

Spawn® (tentative title), based on Todd McFarlane’s best-selling comic book character, will make its debut at E3.  Scheduled for release on all three consoles in Q3 2003, Spawn is a 3D action/adventure game that will give 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.  Caught between the battle of Good vs. Evil, he struggles to break free from the controlling influences of Heaven and Hell.

Breakdown, exclusive to Xbox, is a sci-fi thriller that combines the best elements of shooters and fighters in a first-person action/adventure game.  The game’s intense storyline is told through high-quality real time rendered graphics that bring an unprecedented level of realism to the player.  The game features fierce weapon-based first-person shooter combat, challenging puzzles to solve, surreal dream sequences, advanced AI, and massive detailed environments for exploration.

kill.switch is Namco Hometek Inc.’s new internal development project for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox.  This 3rd person action/adventure game is scheduled for release in Q4 2003 and features a unique Offensive Cover System, allowing the player to engage the enemy from various cover positions.  The game also utilizes Blindfire, 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 deserts to an underground submarine base.

Time Crisis® 3, scheduled for the PlayStation 2 in Q4 2003, marks the return of Namco’s premier light-gun shooting franchise.  Compatible with the GUNCON 2 light-gun, this fast-paced 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) and 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 lethal sharp-shooting action, sure to be a winning combination for this popular franchise.

I-Ninja, scheduled for the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube in Q4 2003, is an adrenaline-charged adventure game.  An ultra-cool ninja with major attitude meets extreme sports game play, I-Ninja is the consummate warrior who has spent years mastering his weapons and honing his skills. In true gravity defying game play, I-Ninja can scale buildings, "shred" on extreme rails, hover great distances with a "sword copter", ride drifting roller spheres and utilize specialized manga-style ninja moves to navigate through each dynamic environment.

A multiple weapon control system allows the player to throw lethal shurikens, use deadly chain-whips, blowguns, rocket launchers and more. I-Ninja’s quest includes a variety of comical missions that span across five expansive environments, each uniquely designed to incite I-Ninja’s special abilities.   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.  I-Ninja is graceful in honor, but deadly in combat.

Tales of Symphonia, exclusive to the Nintendo GameCube with a release date yet to be determined, is Namco’s latest chapter in the Tales universe.  A fully immersive 3D experience comes to life as an adventure unfolds that will place the existence of two worlds in the balance.  Featuring high-quality Anime cutscenes and character designs by renowned artist, Kosuke Fujishima, the real-time 3D battles, formation attacks and combos, and customization of character abilities round out a fabulous epic.

Extreme Force: Grant City Anti-Crime, scheduled for the PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube in Q4 2003, is a 3rd person action/adventure game that takes place on the deadly streets of Grant City – a well-known setting from Namco’s blockbuster, Dead to Rights‘.  As a member of Grant City’s elite GAC Squad, the player will be submerged into the crime-fighting world of special weapons and covert tactics.  A diverse arsenal of weapons and equipment including night vision goggles, grenades and door charges can be utilized by the player to battle criminals. The player can also silently neutralize his opponents through stealth maneuvers and  “target rich” run-and-gun combat.

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. Committed to providing the ultimate entertainment experience, Namco uses cutting-edge technology and advanced electronics to take their theme parks, arcades, and home video games far beyond traditional entertainment.

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The Legend of Zelda: © 1986-2003 Nintendo. , ® 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 is developed by Namco Limited under license from Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc.
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.  The Character: © 2003 by Namco Limited. All rights reserved.  Illustration: ©  2003 by Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc. 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.
BREAKDOWN & © 2003 NAMCO LTD., 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.
EXTREME FORCE : Grant City Anti-Crime & © 2003 NAMCO HOMETEK INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
© Kosuke Fujishima
© NAMCO LTD.
Dead to Rights & © 2002 NAMCO HOMETEK INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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