October 7^th, 2004 (12:00am) - Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that its much anticipated rhythmic drum game, TAIKO: Drum Master, has gone gold and will ship to North American retail outlets at the end of October. Developed by Namco Limited in Japan, TAIKO: Drum Master will be available exclusively for the PlayStation 2.

"Get ready to rock because TAIKO: Drum Master is nearly here," said Garry Cole, executive vice president at Namco Hometek Inc. "With its diverse song catalog and whimsical graphics, TAIKO: Drum Master will establish a new standard of fun for players of all ages when it ships later this month."

TAIKO: Drum Master invites players to learn the art of the Japanese drum ­ the taiko ­ through the use of a miniature TAIKO Controller which attaches to the PS2. Players earn points to clear stages by correctly tapping to the rhythm of a selected song on the surface and edge of the Taiko Controller. With amusing graphics and well-orchestrated music, TAIKO: Drum Master allows players to perfect their drumming skills alone or go head-to-head in two-player mode.

TAIKO: Drum Master offers more than 30 songs in its catalog, including well-known hits from today¹s current chart-toppers and yesterday¹s favorites. The game also incorporates a variety of orchestral classics and original music from the Namco library of video games. With its diverse offering of music and variety of game play skill levels, TAIKO: Drum Master delivers a unique experience filled with flexibility and fun for players of all ages.