TAITO LEGENDS THE ‘ESSENTIAL’ SITE FOR RETRO GAMERS

Press release

Retro game fans are in for a real gaming flashback this autumn with the release of Taito Legends from Xplosiv on October 14th. Taito Legends will rewind gamers right back to their youth with titles such as Space Invaders, Operation Wolf, Bubble Bobble, Continental Circus and many more. To tease fans and give them a taster of what's to come from the title the dedicated Taito Legends website www.taitolegends.com has now launched. The website aims to give hardcore retro gamers everything in a site they could want, as well as acting as the first point of reference for gamers new to the world of retro.

If you're looking for Taito retro knowledge to impress your friends with then look no further. From the www.taitolegends.com home page you can access extensive game information on all the 29-featured Taito Legends titles, including screenshots and retro-cool images of the classic arcade machines that launched these titles back in the day. A selection of mini movies are featured to provide a real audio-visual blast from the past.

If this has served to wet your appetite then you are a few clicks away from the 'Interviews' section, which features exclusive interviews with Space Invaders creator Mr. Tomohiro Nishikado and Bubble Bobble/ Rainbow Islands creator Mr. Fukio Mitsuji. A video interview with Mr. Tomohiro Nishikado is also available in the downloads section, where you will also find screensavers, artwork and much more.

To have your own input then simply click over to the fan art section, where you can submit your own Taito inspired artwork, or browse the forum, where you are free to discuss anything and everything from Space Invaders to New Zealand Story.

"Taitolegends.com is a one stop site for retro gamers," said Paul Benjamin, Xplosiv UK Marketing Manager. "The site gives you endless information on all the Taito classics, downloads, competitions, hints and tips and much more. Retro gaming lovers can also join our forum and become part of our retro gaming community"

For further information, please contact:

Laura West

Tel: +44 (0) 208 492 1056

PR Manager

Email: laura.west@xplosiv.net

Robert Lightbody

Tel: +44 (0) 208 492 1066

PR and Marketing Assistant

Email: robert.lightbody@xplosiv.net

About Taito Legends

Taito Legends is a retro collection of classic games consisting of 29 of the best loved classics, including Bubble Bobble, Space Invaders, Rainbow Island, Operation Wolf, New Zealand Story to name but a few. Taito Legends will be available from 14th October on PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC.

Empire launched Xplosiv as a value brand selling PC software in mid 2000 and PlayStation2 in 2004, proving a great success in the UK and overseas due to the group's license wins with, Sega, Ubisoft, Taito, Activision, Microsoft, Vivendi and CDV. Further information on Xplosiv products can be found at www.xplosiv.net

Empire Interactive is a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software that has been established for 17 years. The company floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange in July 2000. Headquartered in the UK, Empire Interactive also has offices in the US, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The company develops and publishes a varied range of titles across all platforms in the US, Europe and Asia. Further information about Empire Interactive and its products can be found at: www.empireinteractive.com

Since its inception in 1953, TAITO has led the way for interactive entertainment. With the release of "Space Invaders" in 1978, a new form of entertainment was born - computer games. Leading the way for what is now a multi-billion dollar industry that has on occasion surpassed the film industry in popularity, TAITO continues to further expand its array of product and create and distribute games that will open the eyes, excite the mind (and fingers), and of course live up to the company motto, "Catch the Heart". Further information about the TAITO Corporation and its products can be found at: www.taito.co.jp/eng/.