“DIG DUG(R) DIGGING STRIKE” TUNNELS TO GOLD

All-New Underground Adventure Arrives on the Nintendo DS(TM) this Fall

News by GamesIndustry International Contributor

Published on Oct. 6, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (October 5, 2005) - Global video games publisher, Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that "Dig Dug^® Digging Strike" has gone gold and is scheduled to launch this October exclusively for the Nintendo DS^TM. "Dig Dug Digging Strike" marks the return of classic arcade hero Dig Dug in an all-new adventure to foil a collection of troublesome foes - both above the surface and below ground. "Dig Dug Digging Strike" offers players original environments, gameplay mechanics and wireless multiplayer support.

The tireless underground hero Dig Dug returns in "Dig Dug Digging Strike" as a group of nasty monsters have infested his home island. Using the top screen of the Nintendo DS, players will navigate a series of islands above ground, avoiding enemies while seeking out tunnels to head below the surface. Once underground, the action heads to the lower screen, where Dig Dug must activate a series of fault lines to break apart the islands and send his enemies to the bottom of the sea.

"'Dig Dug Digging Strike' combines the best elements from both 'Dig Dug' and 'Dig Dug II' as well as a host of all new features for the most in-depth Dig Dug adventure yet," said Yoshi Niki, business unit director at Namco Hometek Inc. "The classic arcade action is enhanced by new features, mini-games and multiplayer support, and the dual screens of the Nintendo DS are the optimal setting to depict the game's two-fold action."

As he progresses through the game's more than 80 areas, Dig Dug will discover a selection of new powerful weapons and useful items that will make short work of his foes and even unlock additional game content such as new areas and abilities. Dig Dug will also partake in mini-game parodies of classic Namco games such as Hori-X and Horivalou that will help him sink the islands and defeat his enemies once and for all. Players can even enjoy all the game's digging action with a friend in wireless multiplayer adventures.

For more information about "Dig Dug Digging Strike," 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^®, SOUL CALIBUR^®, Dead to Rights^®, Pac-Man World^TM, Ridge Racer^®, Time Crisis^® and ACE COMBAT^TM.

For more information about Namco and its products log onto www.namco.com.

TEKKEN^®, SOUL CALIBUR^®, PAC-MAN WORLD^TM, Ridge Racer^®, Time Crisis^® and ACE COMBAT^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.

^TM,^® and Nintendo DS are trademarks of Nintendo. ® 2004 Nintendo

Contacts:

Kit Ellis

Kohnke Communications

415-777-4000

kit@kohnkecomm.com

-OR-

Robert Cogburn

Namco Hometek Inc.

408-235-2138

rcogburn@namco.com