NEWS

NAMCO BANDAI GAMES ANNOUNCES FREE DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT FOR NARUTO™: ULTIMATE NINJA® STORM

New Support Characters and Single Player Missions Highlight Five Months of Original Content for Naruto’s PLAYSTATION®3 System Debut

Santa Clara, Calif., (October 29, 2008) – Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., today announced plans for free downloadable content for NARUTO™: Ultimate Ninja® STORM (based on the popular NARUTO™ animated series from VIZ Media), exclusively for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. From the week of the game’s retail launch on November 4, 2008 through March 2009, new support characters such as the infamous Sound Four and original single player missions will be made available for download on a regular basis, giving players even more ways to fight and explore in the world of ninja.

The following support characters, each accompanied by an additional single player mission, will be available for free download from the PLAYSTATION®Network for the PLAYSTATION 3 system on the dates below:

  • November 6, 2008: Shizune
  • December 4, 2008: Asuma
  • December 18, 2008: Kurenai
  • January 8, 2009: Anko
  • January 22, 2009: Jirobo
  • February 5, 2009: Kidoumaru
  • February 19 2009: Tayuya
  • March 5, 2009: Sakon

“With the huge cast of characters and massively detailed storyline offered by the NARUTO franchise, NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM is perfect for downloadable content, giving us the opportunity to continue to build upon the core of the game long after it is released in stores,” said Todd Thorson, director of marketing and public relations at NAMCO BANDAI Games America, Inc. “Packed with fan-favorite characters and fun new single player missions, this content will always be free and will further add to the depth and scope of this already impressive title.”

Evolving the head-to-head fighting action of the Ultimate Ninja series, NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM introduces full 3D ninja combat across huge environments and all-new free-roaming gameplay in Naruto’s Hidden Leaf Village. Taking advantage of an original next-generation graphics engine, NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM utilizes fluid animation and incredible high-definition visual detail that allow gamers to become a part of the world of NARUTO like never before.

Developed by CyberConnect2, NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on the game, please visit www.ultimateninjastorm.com and www.hokagesroom.com. For more information on NARUTO, please visit www.naruto.com.

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 About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga (graphic novel) publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and South Africa and is a global ex-Asia licensor of Japanese manga and animation. The company offers an integrated product line including magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, and DVDs, and develops, markets, licenses, and distributes animated entertainment for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.


About NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. is a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer based in Santa Clara, CA.  The company is a part of the NAMCO BANDAI group of companies known for creating and publishing many of the industry's top video game franchises including the PAC-MAN®, SOULCALIBUR®, NARUTO™ and Tekken® brands.  For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., and our products log onto http://www.namcobandaigames.com/. 

 
NARUTO™: Ultimate Ninja®: STORM software © 2004-2008 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. All Rights Reserved. NAMCO BANDAI Games logo is a trademark of NAMCO BANDAI. NARUTO artwork and elements © 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO.  All Rights Reserved.  SHONEN JUMP and NARUTO are trademarks of Shueisha, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other countries. This product is manufactured, distributed and sold in North, South and Central American territories under license from VIZ Media, LLC.

 “PlayStation”, “PLAYSTATION” and “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

 Press Release © 2008 NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.

Contacts:

Kit Ellis
Namco Bandai Games America                                
(408) 235-2131                                                          
kellis@namcobandaigames.com                  

Julia Layman
Weber Shandwick
(310) 854-8259
jlayman@webershandwick.com

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