PAC-MAN Celebrates 25 Years in America; Verizon Wireless and Namco America to Give Away 80 Limited Edition PAC-MAN Arcade Machines in Celebration of PAC-MAN's Journey to the U.S

Business Wire, Oct 4, 2005

BEDMINSTER, N.J. & SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Like many Americans, PAC-MAN's heritage includes a tale of successful immigration to the United States. Throughout 2005, Namco America, a leading publisher of wireless games and content, is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of PAC-MAN, the '80s most popular game. In October, Verizon Wireless, the nation's leading wireless service provider, will join the celebration of PAC-MAN's debut in America by giving away eighty 25th Anniversary Limited Edition PAC-MAN arcade machines.

Through November 12, PAC-MAN fans can enter to win one of the arcade machines by downloading PAC-MAN(R), Ms. PAC-MAN(R), Galaga(R) or PAC-MANIA(TM) through Get It Now(R), Verizon Wireless' virtual store. The 25th Anniversary Limited Edition PAC-MAN arcade machines feature PAC-MAN, Ms. PAC-MAN and Galaga in a cabinet complete with the original 1980s art and Namco's PAC-MAN 25th anniversary logo.

Contestants choosing to download PAC-MAN onto their Verizon Wireless phones will rediscover a true gaming classic as they munch away PAC-dots and power-pills while avoiding the pesky ghosts. If Ms. PAC-MAN is the choice download, players can reacquaint themselves with the video game super diva that keeps the action fresh and exciting with varying mazes and bouncing fruit. Games are optimized for today's wireless phones, giving gamers the opportunity to re-live the excitement of the original arcade game on their phones.

True PAC-MAN fans can celebrate PAC-MAN's 25th Anniversary with PAC-MANIA, where PAC-MAN enters the third dimension as Namco's 3D sequel to the ultimate classic arcade game. Players can guide PAC-MAN through the vast, scrolling 3D mazes of Block Town, Jungle Steps and more while chomping dots and evading ghosts. Use PAC-MAN's new 3D abilities to jump over the ghosts and chomp down special bonus targets to unlock special skills.

Fans of these arcade classics can start with the basics by downloading PAC-MAN, Ms. PAC-MAN or PAC-MANIA from the getGAMES shopping aisle of the Get It Now virtual store for $2.99 monthly access or $6.49 for unlimited use purchase.

Gamers looking to hone their firing skills can download Galaga -- one of the longest running games in arcade history. Players can board their fighter to defend against alien fire and escape collision-course formation attacks as they try to retrieve captured fighters from the boss alien's tractor-beam. Galaga is available in the getGAMES shopping aisle of the Get It Now virtual store for $2.99 monthly access or $5.99 for unlimited use purchase.

Scott Rubin, vice president of sales and marketing for Namco America's wireless division, said: "This is a great opportunity for us to work with Verizon Wireless to offer PAC-MAN fans the opportunity to play the mobile and arcade games side-by-side. Fans of the arcade games are often surprised to find the mobile versions are almost identical to playing the originals in the arcade, and now millions of Verizon Wireless customers can play them on the go."

At the BREW Developers Conference earlier this year, Verizon Wireless announced that from January to June, PAC-MAN and Ms. PAC-MAN were included in Verizon Wireless's list of Top Ten Get It Now overall games and in the Top Five Get It Now classic games. Recently, Galaga joined the dot-chomping pair on the top games list as well.

Bill Stone, vice president of marketing for Verizon Wireless, said: "PAC-MAN is the most successful coin-operated arcade game in history, and we are excited to give away these record-breaking arcade machines to eighty lucky winners. By downloading the modern and mobile version of PAC-MAN on their phones, Verizon Wireless Get It Now customers can now relive the '80s arcade experience while on the go."

Regardless of which game contestants choose, all PAC-Maniacs will find themselves hooked on these timeless arcade games. All four games are available on a wide variety of Verizon Wireless Get It Now-enabled handsets. Download charges for Get It Now applications vary and airtime charges apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.

For more information on the sweepstakes, including how to enter, visit www.verizonwireless.com/pacman. To learn more about PAC-MAN, Ms. PAC-MAN, Pac-mania, Galaga and other mobile versions of arcade classics by Namco, visit www.NamcoGames.com. For more information on Get It Now from Verizon Wireless, visit www.verizonwireless.com/getitnow.> The Sweepstakes is open only to Verizon Wireless customers as of October 1, 2005, who are legal residents of the United States (excluding U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. military bases outside the U.S.), 18 years of age or older as of the date of entry. Void in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. Military installations in foreign countries, anywhere outside of the U.S. and where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. For complete rules, including a free method of entry, visit www.verizonwireless.com/pacman.>