Namco Bandai's "Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked" Strikes Gold

Santa Clara, CA - March 30, 2006 – Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that "Samurai Champlo: Sidetracked" for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system has gone gold. Drawing heavily from the brash, over-the-top aesthetics of the popular anime series currently airing on the Cartoon Network, "Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked" offers gamers a never-before-seen combination of hack-and-slash gameplay and tongue-in-cheek humor set to sterling hip-hop beats. The game is scheduled to be in retail stores April 11th.

Gamers can breathe life into a "lost episode" as one of three playable characters – Mugen, a reckless samurai with break-dancing fighting style, calculated Jin who abides by the decorum of Bushido and a mysterious new character exclusive to the video game. Stranded in the northern land of Ezo (current day Hokkaido) in search of the samurai who smells of sunflowers, the player must face foreign mercenaries, master swordsmen, diabolical assassins, mythical beasts and gangster monkeys.

The core of the game's unique combat system lies in the innovative integration of music and linked attacks. The players can choose an array of combos based on the different hip-hop grooves that they can swap at will. Music tracks become collectible, opening an extensive assortment of linked attacks that can be implemented tactically during combat.

The hard-edged, hip-hop, pulse-pounding blend of wry humor, hardcore samurai action and lush animation of "Samurai Champloo" can also be seen in the multi-episodic series on DVD from Geneon Entertainment.

About Geneon Entertainment A leading supplier of Japanese animation in North America, GENEON ENTERTAINMENT (USA) INC. (www.geneonanimation.com) is a full-service producer and distributor of entertainment content including film, music, animation and television shows on DVD and CD. Continually introducing new and classic anime and live-action programming, as well as anime CD soundtracks, the company also serves as a creative partner to many of Japan's top anime production companies. Additionally, Geneon Entertainment distributes critically acclaimed musical performances on DVD and CD from renowned artists. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Geneon Entertainment's parent company is Tokyo-based advertising giant Dentsu, Inc.

Dentsu Inc., founded in 1901, is the largest advertising agency brand and the fifth largest marketing and communications organization in the world. Based in Tokyo, Dentsu offers national, multinational and global clients the most comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services through its unique "Total Communications Services" approach. Dentsu has pioneered and set global standards for integrated communications, which in latter years have been adopted by a number of major international networks. Dentsu's consolidated revenues for fiscal term 03/04 were recorded at $16.1 billion. Dentsu is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

About NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. is an interactive entertainment software publisher and developer based in Santa Clara, CA. The company is a subsidiary of the newly formed NAMCO BANDAI Holdings (USA) Inc. based in Cypress, CA.On September 29, 2005, Bandai Co., Ltd. and NAMCO LIMITED implemented a management integration to form NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. This step was taken to compete more effectively on the global stage in the fast-changing entertainment industry and to deliver further growth.

The resulting BANDAI NAMCO Group is a global entertainment group involved in business fields ranging from toys, amusement facilities, video game software and visual software, to apparel, sundries and network content. As previous separate entities (Namco Hometek Inc. and Bandai Games Inc.) the companies were each known for creating some of the industry's top video game franchises including: Tamagotchi, Tekken, SOULCALIBUR, Dead to Rights, Pac-Man World, Digimon, Ridge Racer, Time Crisis and ACECOMBAT. For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. and its products log onto www.namcobandaigames.com.