Namco Announces Ace Combat™ Zero: The Belkan War For The PlayStation®2

Take to the Skies with the Latest Adventure in the High-Flying Air Combat Franchise

News by GamesIndustry International Contributor

Published on Sept. 26, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (September 23, 2005) - Leading video games developer and publisher Namco Hometek Inc. today announced Ace Combat^TM Zero: The Belkan War for the PlayStation^®2 computer entertainment system. The latest addition to the Ace Combat franchise, Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War challenges players to develop their high-flying reputations while facing off against rival pilots in white-knuckled dog fights. Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War is developed by Namco Ltd. and is scheduled for North American release in 2006, and will also be released in PAL format for the European market.

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War thrusts players back in time, 15 years before the events of Ace Combat^TM 5, and reveals the events that led up to the last chapter of the franchise. Players will take on the role of a mercenary hired to fly for Ustio, a small country bordering Belka, and face off against rival pilots throughout the game.

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War introduces rival pilots to the series' traditional dogfighting action. Players will encounter highly skilled enemy pilots that they will engage throughout the course of the story. Adding even more tension to the game's dramatic air battles, these rival pilots will utilize advanced battle tactics to attack the player while directing their own squadron.

"Players can once again be ace pilots in Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War by flying authentic aircraft against rival pilots that are more cunning than ever," said Yoshi Niki, Business Unit Director at Namco Hometek Inc. "The game's storyline will add insight into some of the series' greatest mysteries and the new gameplay elements will keep players strapped into their virtual cockpits for hours."

For more information on Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, 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^®, SOULCALIBUR^®, Dead to Rights^®, Pac-Man World^TM, Ridge Racer^®, Time Crisis^® and ACECOMBAT^TM. For more information about Namco and its products log onto www.namco.com.

TEKKEN^®, SOULCALIBUR^®, PAC-MAN WORLD^TM, PAC-MAN^®, Ridge Racer^®, Time Crisis^® 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.

ACE COMBAT^TMZero The Belkan War &®2005 NAMCO LTD., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. All trademarks and copyrights associated with the manufacturers, aircraft, models, trade names, brands and visual images depicted in this game are the property of their respective owners, and used with such permissions./ Copyright and other rights owned by BAE SYSTEMS PLC and its partners and are not to be reprodcued without the prior written consent of BAE SYSTEMS PLC./ Produced under license from Boeing Management Company./ MIRAGE and RAFALE are aircraft and registered trademarks of DASSAULT AVIATION./ Produced in cooperation with Japan Air Self-Defense Force./ Lockheed Martin Trademarks used under license to Namco Ltd./Produced under a license from Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation.

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

Contacts:

Kit Ellis

Kohnke Communications

415-777-4000

kit@kohnkecomm.com

-OR-

Kristin Calcagno

Namco Hometek Inc.

408-235-2132

kcalcagno@namco.com

For inquiries on the European release: