Namco to Publish Afro Samurai Video Games

Groundbreaking Manga Series to Make Video Game Debut


Santa Clara, Calif., (August 30, 2005) – Global video games publisher,
Namco Hometek Inc. and leading Japanese animation studio, GDH K.K.
announced today that GDH has granted Namco the exclusive interactive
Entertainment Rights to "Afro Samurai," the gritty manga series created by
Takashi Okazaki. The agreement gives Namco rights to publish two
different "Afro Samurai" video games over the next five years.

“'Afro Samurai' is a visually striking and rich story.” said Jeff
Lujan, business director at Namco Hometek Inc. “With its gritty and unique
mix of hip-hop and samurai styling, 'Afro Samurai' is perfectly suited
for video games. We are looking forward to working with GDH in bringing
this exciting new property to life.”

"Afro Samurai" follows the story of one man's journey of bloody
hardship and pain. After witnessing the cold blooded murder of his father,
Afro devotes himself to the path of revenge. He sheds no tears, knows no
love and stops at nothing to achieve his goal. Forever chased by
powerful enemies in a lawless technology-speckled dystopia, he evades
bullets and blades to reach his final prey: a man who will not die...
Created by acclaimed visualist Takashi Okazaki, and originally told in comic
book form, "Afro Samurai" is currently in pre-production by GDH group
company GONZO and Japan's largest TV network and motion picture
production company, FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK as an animated mini-series which
Academy Award Nominee Samuel L. Jackson has joined as both co-producer
and lead voice actor. Also, "Afro Samurai" will be adapted into a
live-action feature film with Samuel L. Jackson to star as the title
character and co-producer.

“Namco is uniquely qualified to publish games based on 'Afro Samurai,'
Gonzo is just ecstatic to work with a company that is so passionate
about the vision of the franchise and who has produced so many
outstanding, award-winning games” said Eric Calderon, Vice President of Creative
Affairs at GDH. “We're all really excited about working together to
break new ground - creatively and technologically. I can't wait to play
it! We're psyched that it's going to arrive around the same time as our
animated series, comics, and then there's the upcoming live-action
movie. The timing is just perfect."


About GDH K.K.:
GDH (Security code: TSE Mothers 3755) is a globally-focused Japanese
media company founded in February 2000. The group produces cutting edge
entertainment for teens and young adults including the famous GONZO
animation brand and for kids and family under the recently launched Gonzo
Films and Gonzino brands. GDH is a world leader in content development
that actively targets both domestic and international audiences with
Japan's trend-setting animation culture and, usually, GDH controls
licensing management and international distribution for the content it
produces. For additional information, visit www.gdh.co.jp (for GDH) and
http://www.gonzo.co.jp/index.html (for GONZO). Contact for GDH K.K.,
Hiroko Kimura, +81.3.5358.1923, [email protected].


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(R),"
"SOULCALIBUR(R)," "Dead to Rights(R)," "Pac-Man World(TM)," "Ridge Racer(R),"
"Time Crisis(R)" and "ACECOMBAT(TM)." For more information about Namco and
its products log onto www.Namco.com.