"Hello Kitty(R) Roller Rescue" Goes Gold
First 3-D Hello Kitty Game Arrives on the GameCube(TM)
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (July 20, 2005) - Leading video games developer and publisher Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that "Hello Kitty® Roller Rescue" has gone gold. Exclusively for the Nintendo GameCubeTM, the game was developed by XPEC Entertainment Inc. and is the first 3D Hello Kitty interactive adventure, and follows Hello Kitty and her Sanrio friends as they work together to thwart Block-O - the ambitious menace from Block Planet who aspires to take over the world - and his horde of troublesome bullies.
"Hello Kitty Roller Rescue" features Hello Kitty and more than 20 of her lovable friends, including Badtz-Maru, Mimmy and Keroppi in a quest to save Sanriotown. Completing missions to overcome Block-O's clumsy forces, Hello Kitty and her friends will explore detailed and colorful environments, and utilize teamwork and special abilities to save the day. Hello Kitty can even select a partner to help her through the game's fifteen vibrant levels.
"Hello Kitty is recognized worldwide as an icon, synonymous with happiness, sweetness and cheer," said Jeff Lujan, business director at Namco Hometek. "'Hello Kitty Roller Rescue' is a game based around these enduring qualities, providing an exciting and entertaining game for fans of all ages."
Rated E for Everyone, "Hello Kitty Roller Rescue" will skate into stores in August 2005.
For more information on "Hello Kitty Roller Rescue," 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 WorldTM," "Ridge Racer®," "Time Crisis®" and "ACECOMBATTM." For more information about Namco and its products log onto www.namco.com.
About SANRIO
SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a unique collection of over 12,000 gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today there are over 300 SANRIO boutiques throughout the Western Hemisphere with 120 in the United States. In addition, SANRIO character-branded products are sold in over 10,000 U.S. locations including department, specialty stores and national chain stores. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.
About XPEC Entertainment Inc.
Established in 2000, XPEC Entertainment is the leading interactive entertainment software developer and publisher in Greater China. Recent released titles include "EX-Chaser" (2003, Xbox), "Daemon Vector" (2004, Xbox Live), "Neveland Saga Zero" (2004, PlayStation 2), "Hello Kitty - Mission Rescue" (2005, all platforms), and "Spectral Force Chronicle" (2005, PS2). More game software for various video game systems are scheduled to be released this year. More information can be found at www.xpec.com.tw.
"TEKKEN®," "SOULCALIBUR®," "PAC-MAN WORLDTM," "PAC-MAN®," "Ridge Racer®," "Time Crisis®" and "ACECOMBATTM" 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.
(C) 1976, 2005 SANRIO CO. LTD., Used Under License
TM, ® and Nintendo GameCube are trademarks of Nintendo. (C) 2001 Nintendo.
Contacts for Namco Hometek Inc.:
Kit Ellis
415-777-4000
-OR-
Kristin Calcagno
408-235-2132