Namco America and United Media Announce Partnership
SNOOPY to Fly as the Flying Ace in New Mobile Game
SAN JOSE, Calif. & Digital Life Booth #844 (October 14, 2005) - Namco America, a leading publisher of wireless games and content, today announced plans to bring SNOOPY and other beloved PEANUTS characters to mobile phones through a partnership with United Media, a worldwide licensing and syndication company focused on building brand equity around a wide range of creative content.
"SNOOPY and the PEANUTS characters are entertainment icons, providing mass-market appeal and family-oriented fun for decades," said Scott Rubin, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Namco America's wireless division. "Whether they are five-, 35-, or 75-years-old, fans of all ages enjoy SNOOPY and the PEANUTS gang. We are excited to add these characters to our lineup of top-selling brand-based games, and we are sure they will make a great addition to our catalog of mobile hits such as PAC-MAN® and Dig Dug®."
PEANUTS is unparalleled in the entertainment industry and a unique force across all media - newspaper, television, video, music, books, web and theater. Over 70 television specials, 1,400 book titles and more than 18,000 PEANUTS strips celebrate numerous themes (holidays, school days, baseball, friendship), countless poses (Lucy holding the football, SNOOPY lying atop his doghouse), and well-known expressions ("Good Grief!," "happiness is a warm puppy," "security blanket") that have become part of the American - indeed global - vocabulary.
"Consumers have enjoyed SNOOPY across multiple mediums, but never before through mobile games," said Jean Sagendorph, Licensing Manager at United Media. "We believe combining SNOOPY, a classic icon, with Namco's proven record at developing top-selling and thoroughly entertaining mobile games is going to result in a mobile game loved by consumers of all ages."
In his first appearance in a mobile game, SNOOPY journeys through an imaginary war-torn landscape on a mission to capture the enemy's flag, Linus' security blanket! In the air, he evades as the Red Baron strikes back. Traveling as SNOOPY, players will be able to interact in the PEANUTS world in a way that is true to their experience with the comics.
SNOOPY's mobile game debut is scheduled to launch in spring 2006. For more information on other mobile games by Namco America, visit www.namcogames.com.
PAC-MAN® ®1980 2005 Namco Ltd., All Rights Reserved. Dig Dug® ®1982 2005 Namco Ltd., All Rights Reserved.
About Namco America
Namco America Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Namco Limited, a Tokyo-based world leader in the high-tech entertainment industry. Committed to providing the ultimate interactive entertainment experience, Namco uses cutting-edge technology and advanced electronics to take their wireless, coin-op, and home video games far beyond traditional entertainment. For more information about Namco mobile games, please visit: www.namcogames.com.
United Media (UM) is a worldwide licensing and syndication company that focuses on building brand equity around a wide range of creative content. The company recently signed Televisa, a leading Spanish speaking media company, to represent the US rights to the company's children's telenovelas, as well as its long-running hit television series "El Chavo." It also partnered with prolific artist Mary Engelbreit, as well as industry toy leader Bandai America, Inc. on brands including the incredibly popular Tamagotchi Connection. United Media licenses and/or syndicates other properties, including Precious Moments, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, Arthur, and Dilbert. United Media is an E.W. Scripps Company. For more information, visit www.unitedmedialicensing.com.
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