Namco announced today the current lineup to be released from its newly created internal handheld games division. The first releases from the division will hit the market beginning this Fall and continue through early 2005 and will include Ace Combat Advance, Pac-Man Pinball, Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament, Mr. DRILLER 2 for Game Boy Advance and Mr. DRILLER Drill Spirits and Ridge Racer DS for the Nintendo DS.

Namco announced today the hiring of Grantley Day as Director of PC Development, reinforcing the company's commitment to its expansion into the PC games market. Day brings to Namco more than eleven years of experience in developing entertainment software for the PC, including most notably his online game development work for The Sims franchise at Electronic Arts.

Namco announced today that it is supporting the launch of the Nintendo DS with two of its cherished franchises, Mr. DRILLER Drill Spirits and Ridge Racer DS. Taking advantage of the technology the new platform has to offer, both titles will utilize dual screen support and wireless connectivity to the fullest -- providing players with the ultimate Nintendo DS gaming experience.

Valve has selected Japan-based Namco, Ltd. as its representative to distribute its already famous games, including Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Day of Defeat, to the cyber cafe community in Japan. Namco is currently the only authorized cyber cafe reseller in Japan for Valve games.

Today we have more screens for Namco's 2004 E3 lineup. Check the following new screens for :

• Dead to Rights II (PS2/Xbox)
• Death by Degrees (PS2)
• Time Crisis: Crisis Zone (PS2)
• Tekken 5 (All)
• Tales of Symphonia (NGC)
• Baten Kaitos (NGC)
• Ace Combat 5 (PS2)
• Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2 (PS2)
• I-Ninja (GBA)
• kill.switch (GBA)
• Ms Pac-Man Maze Madness (GBA)
• Pac-Man World (GBA)
• Xenosaga Episode II (PS2)

Namco recently had its pre-E3 event showing off their lineup of upcoming titles on display at this year's E3 media convention. Some new titles are still to be announced in the coming days, but in the meantime we have screens of the following titles :

• Dead To Rights II (PS2/Xbox)
• Ghost Hunter (PS2)
• Death By Degrees (PS2)
• Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2 (PS2)
• Ace Combat 5 (PS2)
• Street Racing Syndicate (NGC/PS2/Xbox)
• Baten Kaitos (NGC)
• Xenosaga II (PS2)
• Time Crisis: Crisis Zone (PS2)
• Tales of Symphonia (NGC)

Namco Hometek Inc. and recently formed game developer, Flagship Studios, announced today that the two companies have entered a publishing agreement to bring Flagship's first PC game to market. Flagship Studios was founded in July 2003, by the creators of Diablo, one of the best-selling PC game franchises of all time.

Electronic Arts today announced plans to publish BREAKDOWN from Namco Limited for the Xbox. Breakdown is the hotly anticipated first-person action adventure title that combines Namco's legendary fighting game experience with the best elements of traditional shooters. A thrilling science fiction storyline is revealed through its high-end, real-time rendered graphics, bringing an unprecedented level of realism to the gameplay experience. The game features intense hand-to-hand and weapons-based combat, challenging puzzles, surreal dream sequences, advanced A.I and massive, detailed environments for exploration.

kill.switch promises an intense combat experience by combining highly explosive firepower with realistic cover tactics. The game's lethal combination of Blindfire gunplay allows frontal assaults against enemies without exposing the player to counter fire. Powered by the game's Offensive Cover System, kill.switch sets a new standard in the action shooter genre by demanding the use of realistic cover tactics while requiring players to take advantage of their surroundings. Throughout the course of action, players must skilfully manage their environments while quickly adjusting on the fly through six action-packed combat missions spanning 18 different levels.

As we already revealed last week ambitious French publisher L.S.P. is looking towards 2004 with great anticipation. Two titles: kill.switch and Pac-Man World 2 from games legend NAMCO, are due for release on the PC in early 2004. L.S.P. will also be announcing further titles in the near future. Both games are published by L.S.P. Across Europe and through HIP Games in North America.

Earlier today we got invited to check out Namco's upcoming titles during their Gamers Day. We saw quite a few interesting titles from which we will have preview in the coming days, but in the meantime check out new screens for the follow games :

• Breakdown
• I-Ninja
• Kill.Switch
• Spawn: Armageddon
• First Strike: Grant City Anti-Crime
• R-Racing Evolution

Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that it has expanded its relationship with Hip Interactive Corp to license several of Namco's key video-game properties for the PC. Hip Interactive will develop and distribute PC versions of "kill.switch," "Extreme Force: Grant City Anti-Crime" (working title) and "PAC-MAN WORLD 2" in North America and Europe in 2004. As previously announced, Hip Interactive will be releasing another top Namco franchise, "Dead to Rights" for PC in North America and Europe in fall 2003.

Leading video games publisher, Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that 'Soulcalibur II', the sequel to one of the most revered weapons-based fighter video games of all-time, shipped over 1.6 million units on its first day, the largest day one release in the history of Namco’s U.S. division.

Namco Ltd. announced today that its franchise title, SOULCALIBURII, has shipped to stores nationwide. The highly anticipated sequel to one of the most revered 3D weapons-based fighting games of all time, SOULCALIBURII is now available on the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the Nintendo GameCube and the Xbox video game system from Microsoft.

Further strengthening its racing games legacy, Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that it has purchased Street Racing Syndicate (SRS) out of video game publisher 3DO's bankruptcy court proceedings. Currently in development at UK-based studio, Eutechnyx Ltd., Street Racing Syndicate puts players behind the wheel in the fast-paced world of underground motorsports. Under Namco's new charge, the title will release in Q3 2004 on the next generation game consoles.

Soul Calibur II is set to make its highly anticipated debut at midnight on Monday, August 25th. The events begin at 10 P.M. with game sales beginning at 12:01 AM Tuesday morning. Crowds of excited video game fans will be lined up to be the first to get their hands on this renowned game. As the first retail outlet in the country to unveil Soul Calibur II, EB Games will feature interactive demos and an exclusive pre-sale at the New York event. Read more for details ...

C&VG has a little article on some interesting/upcoming Namco games. Perhaps recognising a greater global strategy is now in order, Namco has pledged to focus on overseas markets in the coming months - that means Europe and the US. 18 titles are expected for European release this year, doubling last year's total of nine releases. But what games can we expect from the venerable developer? Hit after cash-seeking hit, by the sounds of things. New games in the Soul Calibur and Ridge Racer series will appear more regularly, with Namco aiming to release new episodes every two years. Specifically pencilled in for 2004 are new games in the Tekken and Ace Combat series, as well as a sequel to Dead To Rights.

Electronic Arts today officially announced plans to publish the hugely successful game Dead to Rights on the PS2 and GameCube. Both versions will be released next August in all PAL territories. Dead To Rights is an intense, hard-hitting, action-thriller game in which police officer, Jack Slate, discovers and unravels a conspiracy that threatens not only himself, but the city he’s sworn to protect, Grant City. Jack Slate’s adventure has him progressing through various game chapters by taking out hostile threats, solving challenging puzzles and mini-games, and defeating sinister bosses. Check out the screens ..

Namco announced today the company’s stellar line up of video games to be unveiled during the E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, May 14-16, 2003. At booth #946 in the South Hall, Namco will be showcasing the following new titles:

• Soul Calibur II
• R: Racing Evolution
• Spawn
• Breakdown
• kill.switch
• Time Crisis 3
• I-Ninja
• Tales of Symphonia
• Extreme Force: Grant City Anti-Crime
• 
  
  Of course the Worthplaying screen junkies that we are, we have screens for each and every title. Read more and check out the goodies!

The Baltimore Sun reports that Game maker Sega Corp. has received a merger offer from rival Namco, a proposal that would create Japan's biggest video game company, both companies said yesterday. Sega, famous for Sonic the Hedgehog, said the offer was being studied along with a proposal announced in February to integrate its operations with Sammy Corp., a Japanese pinball machine company. Sega wouldn't say when a decision could be expected.

Electronic Arts the world’s leading interactive entertainment software company, today officially announced plans to publish a number of top franchises for Namco Limited on the NINTENDO GAMECUBE and the Xbox video game system from Microsoft across PAL territories. Amongst the titles included in the agreement are the eagerly awaited Dead to Rights exclusive to the Xbox platform and the return of the successful Pac-Man and Soul Calibur franchises. The first games are to be released for the upcoming Christmas season.

Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Namco Limited announced today they have joined forces to bring multiple Namco software titles to the GameCube and Game Boy Advance.

INFOGRAMES is proud to announce that it has signed an agreement with Namco, one of Japan’s leading videogames players to release a Game Boy Advance line-up across Europe and Australia. This includes Namco Museum™ and Pac-Man Collection™ (two classic compilations released for Christmas), Tekken Advance™ (based on the hugely popular fighting franchise), Klonoa™ -Empire of Dreams- (high potential platform game) and Mr.Driller™2 (addictive puzzle gaming).

Together in your pocket at last: Ms Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Galaga, Galaxian and Pole Position. A buncha GameBoy Advance screens .. old skool .. brings back good old Commodore 64 memories .. *sigh*

Companies Announce Four Titles Under Development, Including Two New Games Exclusively for Xbox. Microsoft Corp. and Namco Ltd. today formally announced that Namco is developing four titles for the Microsoft® Xbox™ video game system. Namco is the latest Japanese developer to announce its support for Microsoft’s powerful new video game console.