October 26^th, 2004 (12:29pm) - Namco Hometek Inc. announced today its new rhythm-based drum game, TAIKO: Drum Master, has shipped to North American retail outlets. Developed by Namco Ltd. in Japan, TAIKO: Drum Master is available exclusively for the PlayStation 2.

"With whimsical graphics, interactive gameplay, recognizable licensed music and all around excitement, TAIKO: Drum Master provides fun for players of all ages," said Garry Cole, executive vice president at Namco Hometek Inc. "We are delighted to offer TAIKO: Drum Master to consumers this fall."

TAIKO: Drum Master invites players to learn the art of the Japanese drum ­ the taiko ­ through use of a miniature Taiko Controller attachable to a PlayStation 2 console. 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 entertaining 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.

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

TAIKO: Drum Master will be sold at North American retailer outlets in a premium bundle, including a copy of the game and a Taiko Controller, for $59.99.