Namco's SOULCALIBUR(R) III Adopts THX Certification Standards

Namco's SOULCALIBUR(R) III Adopts THX Certification Standards

Third Installment of Highly Anticipated Game Franchise Being Developed According to THX Audio and Visual Standards

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. and LOS ANGELES, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- THX Ltd., the leading provider of technologies, certification programs and quality assurance standards for the entertainment industry, today announced at E3 2005 that Namco Ltd.'s SOULCALIBUR(R) III, the latest installment of the company's popular fighting game franchise, is being developed to the THX Certified Game specification. By achieving THX certification, SOULCALIBUR III promises to accurately translate the game's content from the studio to the console, delivering a heart-pumping audio and visual presentation. SOULCALIBUR III will be available on the PlayStation(R) 2 platform this fall.

"We're excited to be working with Namco's talented team of developers to produce what promises to be one of the year's most anticipated game titles," said Mark Tuffy, director of game systems architecture at THX. "The THX Certified Games program raises the bar for quality in game production by providing the developer community with the highest standards for creating audio and visuals. As this content moves closer to cinematic quality and advancements in consumer playback technology continues to improve, more and more game publishers and developers are looking to incorporate THX certification into their premium titles."

The THX Certified Games program provides specifications for the way a developer's post-production and mixing studios are designed, set up and maintained during the critical stages of a title's development. This includes strict standards for the studio's acoustics, background noise levels and production equipment performance. The result is a game experience that translates game soundtracks, color palettes and visuals from the studio to home playback systems. In addition, when combined with THX Certified Home Theater products, such as audio-video receivers and speakers, THX Certified Games deliver a truly immersive entertainment experience.

"THX brings decades of audio and visual post-production and consumer playback expertise to the games business," said Hiroaki Yotoriyama, the Producer of SOULCALIBUR III from Namco. "SOULCALIBUR fans have grown accustomed to experiencing high performance visuals and epic soundtracks in our fighting franchise. Working closely with THX, we are providing our sound and visual artists with a means to continue to push the limits of creativity, and deliver a game experience that exceeds player expectations."

For more information about THX Certified Games or to see a list of THX Certified products, visit www.thx.com.

About NAMCO Ltd.

NAMCO Ltd. is the Tokyo-based world leader in the high-tech entertainment industry expanding its philosophy of providing "play" to amusement parks, education, ecological technologies and environmental products. Namco continues to develop a wide variety of original entertainment contents, constantly striving to incorporate the concept of "play" to new realms and proposing new entertainment possibilities to the world. Namco is also an award-winning video games developer for next generation game consoles. Namco has created some of the industry's greatest video game franchises: "SOULCALIBUR(R)," "Tekken(R)," "Ridge Racer(R)," "Time Crisis(R)," and "ACECOMBAT(TM)." For more information about Namco and its products log onto www.namco.com.

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.

About THX Ltd.

As consumers seek entertainment experiences with greater sensation and sensory immersion, using precision science to invent new technologies has become paramount. THX Ltd. is continually enhancing these consumer experiences by enabling the creation, delivery and presentation of digital content through more efficient, more powerful, and more enjoyable methods. With structured certification programs and innovative technology development, THX is embedding the science of sensation in diverse entertainment venues and influential products. Today, the world's premier commercial cinemas, post-production studios and home entertainment products incorporate THX technologies and have achieved the coveted THX Certification. The company is headquartered in San Rafael, Calif. Its Digital Works office, offering movie and DVD mastering and post-production services, is based in Burbank, Calif. For more information, visit www.thx.com.

NOTE: TEKKEN(R), SOULCALIBUR(R), PAC-MAN WORLD(TM), Ridge Racer(R), Time Crisis(R) and ACECOMBAT(TM) are trademarks or registered trademarks of Namco Limited in the United States and/or other countries. Dead to Rights(TM) is a trademark or registered trademark of Namco Hometek Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

THX is a trademark of THX Ltd., which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All rights reserved.

Source: THX Ltd.

CONTACT: Chris Kukshtel, Director, Marketing, of THX Ltd.,
+1-415-492-3929, or pr@thx.com; or Graham McKenna of Pacifico Integrated
Marketing Communications, +1-408-293-8600, ext. 335, or gmckenna@pacifico.com,
for THX Ltd.; or Kristin Calcagno of Namco Hometek Inc., +1-408-235-2132, or
kcalcagno@namco.com; or Kit Ellis of Kohnke Communications, +1-415-777-4000,
or kit@kohnkecomm.com, for Namco Hometek Inc.

Web site: http://www.namco.com/

Web site: http://www.thx.com/

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