Namco Bandai Games Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles Battles Onto Retail Shelves

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (November 14, 2006) – Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that "NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles" is now available in retail stores throughout North America. Based on the hit animated TV series NARUTO from VIZ Media, "NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles" is available exclusively for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system. Locked deep inside Naruto, a rambunctious orphan, is the powerful Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit. By harnessing the power of this demon through rigorous training and intense challenges, Naruto aspires to become Hokage, the most powerful ninja of all.

"Numerous customization options provide players the opportunity to harness the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit in a way never before seen in a Naruto video game," said Naruo Uchida, Vice President of Localization at NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. "Fans have been clamoring for even more intense Naruto action, and the original storyline of 'NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles' delivers a unique playing experience within the familiar world of Naruto."

Exploring intricately detailed 3D environments, Naruto must embark on a journey to save the Hidden Leaf Village, from an impending threat. By utilizing a unique partner system with familiar characters such as Sasuke, Choji and Kakashi, players must work as a team with the other Leaf Ninja to complete story-driven missions. By collecting special chips and plates that affect speed, strength and stamina, players can customize Naruto's fighting abilities in virtually limitless ways -- each one unlocking new skills and abilities. Players can fight through hordes of enemies up-close with lethal ninjutsu, or rely on long-range weapons, such as exploding cards, to complete missions and unravel the enemies' secret plots. Mini-games, countless fighting abilities for Naruto and various unlockable abilities will leave aspiring ninja thirsting for more.

First introduced into the Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine in Japan in 1999, NARUTO -- by revered creator Masashi Kishimoto -- quickly became Japan's most popular ninja manga. In 2000, NARUTO was expanded into a series of graphic novels with more than 66 million copies sold in Japan. NARUTO consistently ranks as one of the most popular titles serialized in VIZ Media's SHONEN JUMP monthly manga anthology and one of the top graphic novel titles (also published by VIZ Media) in the United States. VIZ Media was named the Master Licensor in February 2005, obtaining the television, home video and merchandising rights to NARUTO for North America and Latin America.

For more information about "NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles," please visit http://Uzumaki.namcobandaigames.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.

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.