Namco Nabs GW

Namco has signed up the Games Workshop franchise.

Announced on March 8th, the long-term deal covers the production of PC games as well as console and handheld games. This could mean that well see other types of games rather than the normal RTS ones.

Grantly Day, director of PC development for Namco Hometek inc commented, "Warhammer is considered among the greatest fantasy gaming brands in the world." He added, "We plan to extend its rich characters, environments and lore to the video game arena, with some blockbuster titles for the PC."

Official Press Release is below:

Namco Hometek Inc. Awarded Interactive Game Publishing Rights to Games Workshop® Warhammer® Fantasy License

Namco to Develop PC Titles Based on the Popular Fantasy Wargames Brand
03/08/2005

Santa Clara, Ca., (March 8, 2005) Global video games publisher, Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that the company has signed a licensing agreement with Nottingham, UK-based Games Workshop Group PLC, to create interactive games based on the dark, medieval fantasy world of Warhammer. The exclusive, long-term deal will allow Namco to publish multiple games for the PC and also allows for future console and handheld gaming versions.

"Warhammer is considered among the greatest fantasy gaming brands in the world," said Grantley Day, Director of PC Development for Namco Hometek Inc. "We plan to extend its rich characters, environments and lore to the video game arena, with some blockbuster titles for the PC."

Games Workshop created the Warhammer world more than 22 years ago, as the setting for its wildly successful tabletop fantasy wargame of the same name. Since then the game has been released in 6 editions, had dozens of supplements, and been the basis for tens of thousands of unique model soldier designs, making it one of the most well documented and detailed fantasy settings in existence. The world itself is a dark and forbidding fantasy realm, where Elves, Orcs, Dwarfs, Undead, and many other races clash constantly in mighty battles seeking domination over each other. Meanwhile, the insidious forces of Chaos strive to undermine the basic fabric of society both from within and by the direct invasion of its legions of daemons, beastmen and warped human champions.

The Warhammer community stretches across the world, supported by Games Workshops 300+ stores, 4000+ independent retailers, and many games clubs, tournaments and events such as the annual Games Days in the UK, USA, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Australia. There is also a thriving web community based around the official website and many thousands of fan sites.

"We feel sure the legions of Warhammer fans will be excited at the prospect of this partnership with such a distinguished company as Namco," said Jon Gillard, Business Development Manager for Games Workshop. "Namco has created some of the greatest video game franchises of all time, and we are confident they will make some incredible games set in Warhammer's rich and engaging world."

For more information about Warhammer and Games Workshop, please visit http://www.games-workshop.com/. For more information about Namco and its games 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 industrys greatest video game franchises: Tekken®, SOULCALIBUR®, Dead to Rights®, Pac-Man World, Ridge Racer®, Time Crisis® and ACECOMBAT.

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

About Games Workshop

Games Workshop Group PLC is the worlds largest tabletop wargames company. Based in Nottingham, UK, it designs, manufactures and distributes its range of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 games, model soldiers, novels, collectible card games, and role-playing games through more than 300 of its own Hobby centers, mail order, Internet and more than 4,000 independent retailers in more than 50 countries worldwide. Games Workshop, Warhammer, and all images, races and characters from the Warhammer universe are either, TM and/or © Games Workshop Ltd 2000-2005, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world. All rights reserved.

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TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, PAC-MAN WORLD, Ridge Racer®, Time Crisis® and ACECOMBAT are trademarks or registered trademarks of Namco Limited in the United States and/or other countries.

Dead to Rights is a trademark or registered trademark of Namco Hometek Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Contacts for Namco Hometek Inc.:

Mika Kelly
408-235-2133
mkelly@namco.com

-OR-

Kristin Calcagno
408-235-2132
kcalcagno@namco.com

Contacts for Games Workshop Group PLC:
Julia Woodall, Public Relations Manager
+44 (0)115 900 4006

Wade Pryce, Assistant Public Relations Manager
+44 (0)115 900 4010