Console Digest

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The Ultimate Collection of Arcade Hits Comes Home

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., announced today that Namco Museum™: Virtual Arcade (*working title) will be available this fall for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. More than 30 classic Namco hits and new retro revivals come together for the ultimate arcade collection.

“Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade offers more than 25 years of classic Namco arcade hits in one convenient package,” said Todd Thorson, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at NAMCO BANDAI Games America. “Gamers of all generations will enjoy the addicting quality of these timeless arcade games and exciting new updates.”

Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade features hit games from NAMCO BANDAI Games’ Xbox LIVE® Arcade for Xbox 360 library including Ms. Pac-Man®, Galaga®, Dig Dug®, Pac-Man® Championship Edition™ and Mr. Driller® Online. Each Xbox LIVE enabled game features unique online leaderboards and artwork mimicking their original arcade cabinets. Post your high score online to see where you rank against the rest of the world. In addition to the Xbox LIVE Arcade titles, Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade features over 20 additional favorites. Play through newly arranged versions of Dig Dug, Pac-Man and Galaga never before seen on a home console, as well as arcade perfect renditions of Motos®, Pole Position®, Rolling Thunder®, and Galaga® ‘88, just to name a few.

More information about Pac-Man Championship Edition and Mr. Driller Online:

Pac-Man Championship Edition brings the first new set of mazes to the Pac-Man universe in over 26 years with funky retro neon graphics and innovative rules. Created exclusively for the Xbox 360 by Pac-Man’s original creator, Toru Iwatani, Pac-Man Championship Edition was met with critical acclaim when it was released in the summer of 2007 for Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360.

Mr. Driller Online takes the fun and fast paced gameplay of Mr. Driller and brings it online! Compete against friends in exciting multiplayer matches as you drill deep down into a vast well combining same colored blocks for big combos. The player with the highest score after three minutes wins the round.

Also included in Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade:

• Pac-Man – Released in 1980
Guide PAC-MAN though the original arcade classic. Avoid ghosts as you chomp away at pellets to clear each stage. Find the power pellets to turn the tables on the ensuing ghosts and take a bite out of them.

• Galaga – Released in 1981
Pilot an advanced space fighter and destroy an alien invasion. Shoot through their formations as they descend upon your ship.

• Galaxian® – Released in 1979
Defeat wave after wave of dragonfly-like enemies through this precursor to Galaga.

• Dig Dug - Released in 1982
Dig out tunnels and dislodge heavy rocks to defeat nefarious enemies. If all else fails, use your pump to inflate and blow up tricky monsters. The round is over when all the enemies have been destroyed.

• Xevious® - Released in 1982
This classic arcade shoot ‘em up enlists players to target air and ground units as they fight their way enemy territory.

• Pole Position – Released in 1982
Take first place in the premiere arcade racing classic.

• And much more!

For more information about Namco Museum: Virtual Arcade, please visit: http://www.namcobandaigames.com/

Relive the good old days of playgrounds and recess! Double D Dodgeball recreates the classic childhood sport in a new, futuristic setting with a retro arcade feel. Featuring frenetic eight person multiplayer action, “Double D Dodgeball” features a host of retro arcade-themed characters each with their own unique abilities, East or West rule sets, and a variety of playing surfaces. No need to risk injury anymore. Now you can blast your friends from the comfort of your couch.

Developed and published by YUKE’S Co., Ltd., “Double D Dodgeball” is available worldwide for 800 Microsoft Points and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

For more details on “Double D Dodgeball” please visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/livearcadexbox360.

Title Sings Its Way Into Stores For Holiday Shopping This November

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. and FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) today announce that Karaoke Revolution® Presents: American Idol® Encore 2 is in development on the Xbox 360® video game entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ home video game console, and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Slated for a 2008 Holiday launch, Karaoke Revolution® Presents: American Idol® Encore 2 lets players sing and perform through a full season of competition to claim the virtual winning title of “American Idol.” Featuring 40 all-new, smash-hit songs and several unique modes of play, Karaoke Revolution® Presents: American Idol® Encore 2 delivers an immersive experience as players sing their way to fame. Additionally, digital versions of Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson, and the always-entertaining Simon Cowell judge every performance.

“For the first time ever, a Karaoke Revolution® Presents: American Idol® Encore game will be available during the holiday shopping season, allowing Idol fans the opportunity to give their friends and family the ultimate gift - the chance to feel like they are competing for the real thing,” said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.

“This is a great franchise for American Idol fans and gamers alike,” said David Luner, Senior Vice President Interactive & Consumer Products FME, North America. “We felt the holiday launch timing was a perfect lead-in for the eighth season of the show, while providing yet another opportunity for Idol devotees to enjoy the series year round.”

Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 allows players to play the part of an American Idol contestant as they audition, earn an invitation to Hollywood and ultimately perform in front of the crowd on center stage. As they choose from 40 all-new songs, including hits from the show, they will receive verbal feedback on their performance from the judges. Just like the TV show, the evaluation by the game’s judges will affect whether or not they move on to the next round of competition. Additionally players will be able to personalize their own contestant with clothing, hair styles and accessories in the Character Customization mode, creating a specialized look that is sure to catch the attention of the judges and the crowd. Those using either the Xbox 360® or the PLAYSTATION®3 system can utilize the new online Co-Op head-to-head-mode to work together towards reaching their American Idol dream. In addition, Xbox 360® users can use Vision to bring them directly into the competition and also select and download from a catalog of over 120 songs via Xbox LIVE®.

Karaoke Revolution® Presents: American Idol® Encore 2 broadens FME’s presence in the interactive space. In addition to the company’s existing agreements with Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. for American Idol, it has introduced its global portfolio of gameshow brands and television properties across a variety of different platforms.

Now approaching the eighth season, American Idol continues to dominate television ratings and break viewership records, averaging more than 30 million viewers per episode. The latest record-breaking season of the nation’s most-watched television show laid claim to the most text messages ever received (78 million), as well as a mind-blowing 31.7 million viewers for its finale episode.

For more information on the game, please visit: www.konami.com.