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EINDHOVEN, THE NETHERLANDS – DECEMBER 1st 2009 – As of the growth and new strategy of Namco Bandai Partners Benelux, especially the growth of the GBooster accessories, Stanley Gaspersz will join the Namco Bandai Benelux sales team as Key Account Manager Accessories for the region Benelux.

Before working for several computer manufacturers in senior sales and purchase manager functions, Stanley worked for 5 years at Gameworld Distribution in the Netherlands as Key Account and Sales Manager. He has over 10 years experience with the Benelux retail. Next to this he has got a lot of experience in non-traditional concepts, corporate accounts and markets with gaming products.

The successful growth of Gbooster accessories is due to the high quality of the product and good priced products. Behind the Gbooster accessories, which contains a complete line-up for all game-platforms like Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC, stands a high value manufacturer which manufacturers products for OEM-brands like Microsoft Xbox 360, Playstation, Trust, Philips.

Next to the existing line-up, Gbooster will soon unveil an additional generic line-up of accessories under a different brand name. On top of this complete Gbooster line-up of accessories, Namco Bandai Partners Benelux holds exclusive European licenses for game-accessories for all platforms from Studio 100© and Cartoon Network©. This line-up includes accessories with K3, Huis Anubis, Mega Mindy, Ben 10 and Disney brands. Namco Bandai Partners and Gbooster are also capable of making exclusive custom made gaming products for retail and non traditional channels.

Stanley will work closely with Stefan Koppers – Sales Manager Namco Bandai Benelux – and Head of the manufacturer situated in London UK. Stanley will be fully responsible for the Gbooster accessories line-up, the generic accessory line-up and all licensed accessories involving retail, non-retail in special deals, business to business, trade and new business in all possible concepts on a daily bases.

NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S announced today Enslaved™ for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Developed by Ninja Theory Ltd., Enslaved takes players on a gripping, surprise-filled journey as two dissimilar characters form an uneasy union in order to survive their way through a perilous, post-apocalyptic America. A tactical action-adventure game, Enslaved centers on the complex relationship between the two main characters and challenges players to employ a mix of combat, strategy and environment traversal. With influences and contributions from top music and film industry talent, Enslaved combines beautifully rendered graphics and captivating music with seamless animation and engrossing gameplay. Enslaved is planned for release in 2010.

More than 150 years in the future, the world has transformed into an unrecognizable state where all that remains are a dwindling human population and merciless robots left over from wars long past. In Enslaved, players take on the role of Monkey, a strong and brutish loner, and his AI partner Trip, a technologically savvy but sheltered young woman from a peaceful community. Both become captured by a mysterious slave ship, which are rumored to harvest people and take them out west never to return. As they each attempt to escape, Trip realizes quickly that Monkey, with his raw strength and power, is the only hope she has of making the perilous journey back home. She hacks into a slave headband to enslave Monkey and link them together – if she dies, he dies. Her journey has now become his.

Players must make sure both Monkey and Trip work together as they skillfully navigate through the world and survive against the dangerous enemy obstacles that lie in wait. Monkey will deftly wield his trusty staff weapon to attack and defend against enemies, using a combination of melee attacks, blocks and counters. He will also be able to perform spectacular takedown moves, allowing him to rip an enemy apart piece by piece, take its weapon for his own use or destroy it in one final blow.

Ninja Theory has raised the standards for video game development by enlisting highly talented professionals from other entertainment industries. Emmy, Golden Globe and Bafta nominee actor and director Andy Serkis, renowned for his roles in film as “Gollum” in The Lord of the Rings and the title role “Kong” in King Kong, and villain King Bohan in Heavenly Sword has been tapped to not only direct, but portray the lead character of Monkey. Considered to be the “go-to” talent for performance capture acting, Serkis continues his work with Ninja Theory for Enslaved. As with Heavenly Sword, Serkis is a major contributor to the character and script development, casting and directing for the title. Likewise, world-class musician and composer Nitin Sawhney, whose versatility and talent have helped him score more than 40 films and release eight studio albums, has returned to create the riveting score for Enslaved. Adding to the cavalcade of talented professionals is Alex Garland, novelist and screenwriter who has penned works including the novel The Beach and the movie screenplay for 28 Days Later. Enslaved is Garland’s first video game specific project. He serves as a co-writer and has been heavily involved with creating the script and in-game dialogue.

Futuristic Racing Game Developed by UK-Based Awesome Play
Boosts Onto Wii This Autumn

LONDON, UK – 4th AUGUST, 2009 – ZeniMax® Europe Ltd today announced that Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, will publish WHEELSPIN™, a futuristic racing game developed by Archer Maclean’s studio, Awesome Play, for Wii™. Due out in autumn 2009, WHEELSPIN is a high-energy racing, high-impact game spread across a wide range of inter-planetary tracks and features three engaging modes as well as robust multiplayer options.

Whether you play in Solo, Race, or Battle Mode, you will find yourself racing around unpredictable race tracks at exhilarating speeds of up to 650kph! While Solo mode challenges you to beat times to unlock stages, discover short cuts, and find secret spanners dotted throughout the levels, Race mode throws you into a frenzied race against seven other cars across tracks that twist, turn, and launch cars through the stratosphere. Battle mode is an all out test of aggression versus mobility as you use an arsenal of weapons at your disposal in an all-against-all battle.

WHEELSPIN also features impressive split-screen multiplayer Race and Battle modes that allows for up to eight players to compete concurrently. The game supports a combination of Wii RemoteTM, Classic Controllers, NunchukTM, Nintendo GameCubeTM controllers, and force feedback racing wheels.

“WHEELSPIN is a frantically fast-paced game which pushes the Wii to its maximum capabilities. With nothing but your own reactions and the tilt of the Wii Remote between you and victory, this game is a truly thrilling experience”, said Sean Brennan, Managing Director, ZeniMax Europe Ltd. “Archer Maclean and Awesome Play have delivered a great game which we believe gamers will relish the chance to get to grips with. WHEELSPIN makes great use of the controllers supported by the Wii and players will find that there’s the perfect control set up for their individual gaming styles”.

“WHEELSPIN was designed exclusively for the Wii – with the intention of pushing the hardware further than any other Wii racing game to date. You have to see the graphics moving to believe its coming out of a Wii – the visuals rush past smoothly at 60 FPS all in widescreen 480P mode”, said Archer Maclean, Managing Director of Awesome Play. “We are very pleased to be working with Sean and his team at Bethesda, many of whom have been involved with my previous titles going back 20 years”.

WHEELSPIN will be released for Wii across Europe in autumn 2009. For more information on Bethesda Softworks

NAMCO BANDAI GAMES EUROPE ANNOUNCES NEW GLOBAL PAL DISTRIBUTION ENTITY ‘NAMCO BANDAI PARTNERS’
- NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe Completes Purchase of Worldwide PAL Distribution Operation from Atari -

LYON, FRANCE – 7 July 2009 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S. today announced the completion of its purchase of Atari’s global PAL distribution operation, with the entity re-named NAMCO BANDAI Partners with immediate effect. The company distributes titles worldwide, excluding Japan and North America, from NAMCO BANDAI Games, Atari and other major international video game publishers, representing one of the industry’s strongest international retail distribution networks.

“We are very excited about working with all our valued partners in retail, media and publishing to grow what is already a successful distribution business even further as part of the NAMCO BANDAI Games family,” said Jackie Fromion, CEO of NAMCO BANDAI Partners. “With our committed and experienced teams of professionals around the world we provide a first class distribution solution, and we very much hope to see a growing number of publishers taking advantage of this. Our vision is to be a successful, attractive and profitable company as well as a great place to work.”

“We are very proud to have a greatly increased international presence following the creation of NAMCO BANDAI Partners. The goal of the new organization is to make our products appeal to a wider audience, and also provide an effective distribution service which reaches the widest possible international market,” said Shu Takahara, President and CEO of NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe. “We are bringing a fantastic international team into the global NAMCO BANDAI group and together we are looking forward to a bright and profitable future with many hit games.”

Operating in 50 countries with 17 dedicated offices including UK, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Nordic, Benelux, Greece, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, NAMCO BANDAI Partners is one of the world’s strongest and most comprehensive video game retail distribution networks.

In the Benelux the company will operate as NAMCO BANDAI Partners Benelux, working with its partners in publishing, media and retail to bring a wide range of original, entertaining and high quality video games to market for all audiences from hardcore gamers to families and casual gamers.

De ministerraad heeft op voorstel van minister Van der Laan voor Wonen, Wijken en Integratie besloten de stijging van de uitgaven van de huurtoeslag als gevolg van de verslechterde economische vooruitzichten voor een deel te compenseren via versobering van de huurtoeslag. De eigen bijdrage (opslag op de normhuur) wordt per januari 2010 verhoogd met 1,25 euro per maand voor alle huishoudens die huurtoeslag ontvangen.

In 2011 en 2012 volgen nog twee kleinere stappen: de eigen bijdrage wordt in 2011 verhoogd met 0,86 euro per maand en een jaar later met nog eens 0,73 euro per maand.

De ministerraad heeft ermee ingestemd dat het ontwerpbesluit voor advies aan de Raad van State zal worden gezonden. De tekst van het besluit wordt openbaar bij publicatie in het Staatsblad.

It’s time to take some tough decisions with the news that Atari’s PC real-time strategy title Codename Panzers: Cold War is available now at retailers across Europe. The latest title in the acclaimed Codename Panzers series from developers Stormregion and InnoGlow features highly detailed visuals, deep tactical gameplay and 8 player online play, while inviting players to re-shape the chilling history of the Cold War, and decide for themselves whether or not to push the big red button labelled ‘nuke’. 

At the height of the Cold War, nerves are stretched to breaking point on both sides, when a deadly accident involving Russian and American planes at Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport threatens to turn the uneasy stalemate into a full-blown military conflict.  It proves to be the final straw for Stalin’s Red Army who begin to advance against the NATO forces with the intention of bringing the war to a bloody conclusion.

Representing the height of Cold War era conventional warfare, Codename Panzers: Cold War features heavy armour battles between real-world heavy tanks like the American M103 and the Russian Troyanov.  The Point of Interest system takes the gameplay beyond build-and-rush tactics, with structures on the map that must be occupied to gain Prestige Points which can then be used to call in special attacks like napalm or helicopter support, or to produce additional units.  Special urban warfare tactics like building and taking cover, constructing fortifications or tunnelling are available to infantry units, while the dynamic weather conditions affect unit behaviour and limit sight range creating even more tactical gameplay depth. 

The game features enormous customization options allowing entire armies to bear their own unique livery and every single unit, including tanks, to be customized with extra equipment including flamethrowers, amphibian devices, camouflage nets and more.  Codename Panzers: Cold War features extensive online multiplayer gameplay options for up to 8 players including co-op, deathmatch and domination modes, allowing players to test their Cold War mettle against players around the globe. 

Bringing endless alternate Cold War scenarios to RTS fans, presented in painstaking detail by Stormregion’s next-generation game engine, Codename Panzers: Cold War is available now at retailers across Europe.

For more information about the game, forthcoming downloadable content, forum support and to download the single and multiplayer demos, please visit the official website at www.codenamepanzerscoldwar.com. For review samples, please contact your local PR manager.

Players can get a taste of life as the galaxy’s most notorious criminal, Riddick, with the playable demo of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena available now for download on Xbox Live^®.

Featuring the Athena Main Decks level, the demo showcases the evocative art style and breadth of gameplay contained in The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, including brutal melee combat, nerve-rattling stealth, and high-powered gunplay. Among other gameplay elements, the demo also lets players try one of the game’s unique features, controlling a Drone, while classic Riddick cut-scenes bring the harsh Riddick universe into sharp focus.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena will ship for Xbox 360^®, PLAYSTATION^®3 and PC on April 7 in North America and April 24 in Europe.  The PS3 demo will be available on PLAYSTATION^® Network in March

 March 2009 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe announced today that Klonoa^® will be available in Europe for Wii™ in 2009.  Klonoa’s long-awaited return offers vibrant graphics, motion control and new secrets to discover in this update to the series’ debut adventure.  Highly revered as one of the best platform games of the past 10 years, Klonoa will ignite Wii owners’ imaginations with addictive gameplay, exciting stages and a memorable story.

Help Klonoa save Phantomile, a land formed by the dreams of its inhabitants, and recently besieged by an unknown evil.  Klonoa’s breathtaking journey takes him through a series of increasingly difficult stages across multiple kingdoms as he strives to save his friends and homeland.  Throughout his quest, Klonoa is aided by his friend Hewpoe, a benevolent spirit who resides in the ring from which Klonoa is able to fire his Wind Bullet.  The Wind Bullet gives Klonoa the ability to grab and inflate his enemies and use them to his advantage.

With a simple move of the Wii Remote™ Klonoa can throw captured enemies to break obstacles, uncover hidden items or defeat other enemies.  Klonoa can also use any enemy he is holding to perform a double jump which allows him to reach high ledges or jump across large pits.  By moving the Nunchuk™, Klonoa can use his whirlwind to slowdown approaching enemies.  In addition to the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controls, Klonoa offers a wide range of control options for any style of play, including Wii Remote only, Classic Controller and the Nintendo GameCube™ controller. 

Atari today announced that RACE Pro has reached the chequered flag as it races into retail stores.  Developed by renowned award-winning game developer SimBin, a leading creator of PC racing simulators, RACE Pro brings SimBin’s formidable skill and know-how exclusively to the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for the very first time. 

“Atari is committed to working with the industry’s finest developers, and SimBin is at the top of the game when it comes to racing simulations.  RACE Pro is the first time SimBin has brought its incredible expertise to console and we’re proud to be launching it with them,” said Phil Harrison, President of Infogrames, the parent company of Atari.  “RACE Pro is the most realistic racing game available on console, and is accessible to newcomers while having the depth to satisfy the most demanding petrol-head.”

RACE Pro has already received impressive review score

“When it comes to handling, Race Pro features one of the most rewarding – and possibly the most accurate – car physics model on current console hardware. 8/10″ – Edge magazine, UK

“The illusion of driving a real racing car is almost perfect. 1.41 (93%)” – Computer Bild Spiele magazine, Germany

“There is no other game right now that has the same sense of racing as Race Pro. 9/10” – Superplay magazine, Sweden

“One of the best race games on the 360, period” – Games Guide magazine, Benelux

“Atari and Simbin succeed with Race Pro in delivering a master stroke on console. 17/20” – Joypad magazine, France

RACE Pro recreates a breathtaking reality giving gamers the ultimate racing simulation experience, all powered by Lizard, SimBin’s own physics engine. With precision physics and handling, racers will feel every bend and burst of acceleration along with every emotion from pre-race tension in the pit lanes to the exhilaration of capturing the checker flag.  RACE Pro provides unrivalled realism and deep immersion into the racing world through ultra realistic car models and official FIA championships and tracks. Putting players in the driving seats of their simulated racing careers, racers will have the opportunity to work their way up the leader boards through intense training and winning key races. 

The wealth of cars in RACE Pro ranges from 200 to over 1000 horse power, encompassing a host of championships including WTCC (World Touring Car Championship), Formula 3000 and Formula BMW. GT cars from manufacturers including Aston Martin and Saleen take their place on the grid as well as production cars such as the Audi R8 and Dodge Viper SRT10.  In addition, RACE Pro is exclusively bringing all the WTCC cars from manufacturers BMW, Chevrolet and Seat to Xbox 360 for the very first time.  For a blast of accessible fun, the Mini Cooper Challenge invites players of all abilities to take the wheel. 

Gamers and racing fans alike will experience the thrill of racing these powerful cars on 13 real life tracks covering all continents, of which Macau, Porto and Pau are exclusive to RACE Pro, and US tracks Laguna Seca and Road America are brand new to SimBin fans.

 Online play via Xbox LIVE® online game service and System Link support lets up to 12 players take on equally high-powered opponents and test their skills to the limit to reach the finish line ahead of the pack.  For friends closer to home, the brand new ‘Hot Seat’ feature puts players in the driving seat for a limited amount of time before passing the controller to the next player and so on, demanding exceptionally quick reactions and precision racing from even the most seasoned drivers.RACE Pro provides deep immersion into the racing world through ultra realistic car models and official FIA championships and tracks.  Smell the burning rubber of tyres on a hairpin bend and feel the vibrations of a revved-up engine on the grid … Nothing gets closer than RACE Pro, available in stores now.

NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe today announced NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja 4, the first video game based on the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime series. Featuring the series’ trademark one-on-one ninja battles, the game debuts a number of new and exciting characters as well as several new modes of play for the most comprehensive NARUTO video game experience ever.

Set two and a half years after Naruto left the Hidden Leaf Village to undergo a strict training regiment with his mentor Jiraiya, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN : Ultimate Ninja 4 lets players experience this exciting new storyline for the first time. Returning to help save his rival Sasuke from the evil Orochimaru, Naruto is reunited with all his old friends, only to find that a mysterious organization known as Akatsuki now poses an even more ominous threat to the Village.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN : Ultimate Ninja 4 features several unique game modes that offer different play experiences as players immerse themselves in the world of ninja. The new Master Mode combines role-playing and action platforming elements, telling the story of how Naruto came to return to the Hidden Leaf Village after his training with Jiraiya. Players can collect items in this mode to unlock characters in Free Battle Mode, featuring the series’ trademark one-on-one ninja battles for one or two players. Packed with new NARUTO SHIPPUDEN characters such as Deidara, Sasori and Chiyo as well as updated versions of fan favorites such as Gaara, Kakashi and Sakura, the game features 52 total playable characters to take into battle.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN : Ultimate Ninja 4 will be the first video game based on NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, giving players their first look at how Naruto’s world has changed in the two and a half years since he left his friends to refine his ninja training. Featuring the biggest roster of playable characters ever in the Ultimate Ninja franchise and a variety of new and engaging game modes, it’s everything Naruto fans need to immerse themselves in the characters and storyline of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN.