Namco Europe Embarks on Major Exhibition Drive
With the Namco brand currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, the London-based European subsidiary enters the 2004/05 season with a formidable line-up of new product launches and an exhaustive schedule of exhibition appearances. Namco Europe will exhibit or have major representation by appointed sub-distributors at no fewer than 15 domestic and international exhibitions taking place across the continent, including the Kiev show, Gamexpo (Budapest), FER-Interazar (Madrid), Surexpo (Wroclaw), Enada (Rome), Forbes (Prague), Preview (London), Eelex (Moscow), IMA (Nuremburg), ATEI (London), Enada Primavera (Rimini), AmEX (Dublin), Amuse UK (Blackpool), Feria (Torremolinos) and Theme Parks & Fun Centres Show (Dubai). "Reaching 50 years is a significant milestone for any business, let alone one which has such global recognition as Namco," said John McKenzie, Namco Europe's Sales and Commercial Director. "With a series of celebrations already underway in the Far East, it's now our turn to make sure we have a strong and proud corporate presence at every major event taking place within the territory we cover." In addition to its own brand products, Namco Europe holds a number of exclusive distributorships for ten other manufacturers and a portfolio of over 30 games spanning the coin-op amusements spectrum including videos, simulators, pushers, cranes, redemption, AWP, SWP, bowling, photo-booths, kiddie rides, air hockey and other sports-themed games. Namco Europe is planning to launch more than 15 brand new games over the next few months, with at least seven straight out of the top drawer making an early exhibition debut in October.
Spearheading the new portfolio are three games from parent company Namco: the eagerly awaited Tekken 5 (combat video); Maximum Tune (twin video driver - pictured), whose phenomenal test figures prompted the official launch to be brought forward by three months; and Aim For Cash (shooting SWP), first shown in prototype format at January's ATEI. Also being unveiled for the first time in October is a quartet of games for which Namco Europe holds exclusive distribution rights. These include a driving game - Re Volt from Tsunami Visual Entertainment, and a pair of cranes: Dinograb from Innovative Concepts in Entertainment and Instance Leisure's Monster Crane. More new equipment from Namco, Gaelco, Global VR, Raw Thrills and others is expected to brought online by the end of the year. "Sales of our current range remain very strong," said Sales & Commercial Director John McKenzie. "A prime example is Pac-Man Ball where the recent release of a complementary change machine has spurred additional income, prompting increased demand for both the video/SWP game and the changer. We have been successful in securing many new and exciting lines and particularly fortunate to have such a strong collection of Namco combat, driving and shooting games come to market at this time. Visitors to our stand at the various shows this season will, I am certain after having seen what we have to offer, return to their businesses in a very confident frame of mind, knowing that a new breed of income generators has arrived."
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