Companies Will Co-Publish Hellgate: London
in Europe and North America
SANTA CLARA, Calif. & REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov.
7, 2006--Global video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games
America Inc. has entered into a strategic relationship with Electronic
Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), in which the two companies will co-publish
the highly-anticipated PC game, Hellgate: London in Europe and North
America. As part of the agreement, EA will handle marketing, sales and
distribution of the game, while NAMCO BANDAI will continue to work
with Flagship Studios on the development of the game and numerous
ancillary partnerships including novels, toys, manga, comics and more.
The new agreement does not affect Flagship Studio's granting of rights
to NAMCO BANDAI to publish future Hellgate: London products.
"Hellgate: London is more than just a highly-anticipated PC game.
It is the cornerstone of a franchise and that requires a different
approach than the average product," said Makoto Iwai, Senior Vice
President of the Development Group at NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
"With an industry-leading marketing and sales network, our
co-publisher EA brings expert knowledge and resources to our
partnership that will ensure this AAA title will reach the largest
market possible."
"We are thrilled that NAMCO BANDAI chose EA as its partner on this
highly-anticipated game," said David DeMartini, Vice President &
General Manager, EA Partners. "We are very excited to be involved with
Flagship Studios' first title. The talent at Flagship Studios and
NAMCO BANDAI, combined with EA's marketing expertise and publishing
resources sets the stage for a blockbuster worldwide launch."
"This partnership assures the best possible outcome for Hellgate:
London from both a development and customer-reach standpoint," said
Bill Roper, CEO of Flagship Studios. "By working with both companies
in their undisputable areas of strength and expertise, we can bring
the game to as many people as possible while maintaining our
development focus and schedule at Flagship Studios."
Hellgate: London is the first original title from premier
developer Flagship Studios. Since the game was announced in 2004, it
has received an overwhelming amount of attention including its
appearance on more than 30 magazines covers worldwide in addition to
multiple industry nominations and awards. Hellgate: London is an
action-driven role-playing game that offers infinite playability with
dynamically generated levels, items, enemies and events. The player
creates a heroic character, completes quests and battles through
innumerable hordes of demons to advance through experience levels and
branching skill paths. A robust, flexible skill and spell system,
highly customizable appearances and a massive variety of randomly
generated equipment allow players to create their own unique heroes.
For more information about the game, log onto www.hellgatelondon.com.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City,
California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software
company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and
distributes interactive software worldwide for videogame systems,
personal computers and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its
products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS
BIG™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2006, EA posted revenue of $2.95
billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's
homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about
EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the
Internet at http://info.ea.com.
About NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. is an interactive entertainment
software publisher and developer based in Santa Clara, CA. The company
is a subsidiary of the newly formed NAMCO BANDAI Holdings (USA) Inc.
based in Cypress, CA.
On September 29, 2005, Bandai Co., Ltd. and NAMCO LIMITED
implemented a management integration to form NAMCO BANDAI Holdings
Inc. This step was taken to compete more effectively on the global
stage in the fast-changing entertainment industry and to deliver
further growth.
The resulting BANDAI NAMCO Group is a global entertainment group
involved in business fields ranging from toys, amusement facilities,
video game software and visual software, to apparel, sundries and
network content.
As previous separate entities (Namco Hometek Inc. and Bandai Games
Inc.) the companies were each known for creating some of the
industry's top video game franchises including: Tamagotchi®,
Tekken®, SOULCALIBUR®, Dead to Rights®, Pac-Man® World™,
Digimon®, Ridge Racer®, Time Crisis® and ACECOMBAT®. For more
information about NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. and its products log
onto www.namcobandaigames.com.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Press Release © 2006 NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
SOURCE: Electronic Arts Inc./NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.