Namco and J2Play Bring PAC-MAN and DIG DUG to Facebook^® Platform

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Namco Networks, a leading publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for mass-market casual gamers, and J2Play, today announced the availability of NAMCO ALL-STARS: PAC-MAN^TM and NAMCO ALL-STARS: DIG DUG^TM on Facebook Platform. The Casual Games Association estimates that the casual games industry has grown 20 percent year on year for the last four years, fueled by the simple and entertaining nature of casual games. As a leading casual game developer and publisher, Namco is dedicated to bringing games to casual game players, including those playing games on social networking communities, such as Facebook.

“PC and Online gaming is becoming increasingly popular among casual gamers. Our relationship with J2Play helps us to bring the first official versions of PAC-MAN and DIG DUG to Facebook and illustrates our commitment to driving growth in the casual gaming industry,” said David Schwartz, general manager for PC games at Namco Networks. “These games utilize the social elements inherent to Facebook – making it seem as though you’re gaming in person with your friends. We’re very excited to see the response they receive from Facebook users.”

The games are the first versions of PAC-MAN and DIG DUG that are enhanced for social networking sites to include features, such as chat and real-time challenges. Unlike other applications on Facebook Platform, the NAMCO ALL-STARS games can be downloaded to a user’s desktop and played at anytime. The first two levels of both games are free and offer unlimited play. Players can pay $9.99 to own PAC-MAN or DIG DUG and enjoy all 256 PAC-MAN mazes or 256 levels of DIG DUG’s frantic digging action.

Facebook users can download the games to their computers at the NAMCO ALL-STARS: PAC-MAN and NAMCO ALL-STARS: DIG DUG application pages. Once downloaded from Facebook to a user’s desktop, the games can be played offline or launched via Facebook Connect, which enables gamers to play online while chatting and sharing scores with their friends.

The games allow users to play against their friends, chat and include news feeds that tell player’s friends about the gaming action and scores. For example, if Jackson Woodhollow is playing the feeds might say:

• Jackson Woodhollow is chomping his way to a new high score on PAC-MAN. Play now and out-chomp the champion!
• Jackson Woodhollow is eating dots on PAC-MAN like there's no tomorrow! Join in on the dot chomping delight!
• Jackson Woodhollow is showing no mercy on DIG DUG having defeated many an underground foe! Join in on the pest popping party now!
• Did you eat your veggies today? Jackson Woodhollow is having his fill on DIG DUG! Care to join in the culinary delight?

For more information, please visit www.namcogames.com or become a fan of PAC-MAN, DIG DUG and NAMCO NETWORKS.

Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

Namco All-Stars™ © 2008 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc., PAC-MAN^® ©1980-2008 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.

Namco All-Stars™ © 2008 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc., Dig Dug^® ©1980-2008 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.

About Namco Networks

Namco Networks America, Inc., a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings (USA) Inc., is a worldwide leader in cutting-edge, digitally distributed casual entertainment for the mass-market consumer. More information about Namco Networks products, including press releases, can be found at www.namcogames.com or at www.twitter.com/namconetworks.

About J2Play

The company was founded with the focus of enabling web, mobile and PC casual game companies to extend their business to the social web. J2Play has a complete back-end solution that helps casual game developers socialize their games, and virally self publish their Web, Mobile, or PC titles to all social sites around the world. J2Play has deployed installations serving millions of users while working with top casual games companies. J2Play has the most robust solution for building rich cross-platform, cross-social sites social games.