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Namco Networks Partners with WGBH and BBC to Bring ANTIQUES ROADSHOW to PC

Following the popular PBS television series, the charming new Hidden Object game includes 30 visually stunning locations with hundreds of antique items. The player guides Julia, a history teacher hired at an antiques shop, through an adventure of lost items and photos as she pieces together the story behind the shop and its owner, Mr. Hinton. As Julia finds the objects, a backstory unfolds revealing its historical significance.

Each location features items in need of refurbishing that players can perform through five unique minigames. Players can then take the items to Antiques Roadshow for appraisal to determine their true value, further propelling the story. The treasure hunts throughout the distinct venues and minigames leave clues aiding her in her mysterious journey.

"We wanted to bring the thrill of discovering unexpectedly valuable items as seen on the show, directly to the player's home," commented Carlson Choi, vice president of marketing at Namco Networks. "Following the PC launch will be the iPad version early next year, making the game accessible to handheld devices."

The hit television show began in 1977 and currently generates almost 10 million weekly viewers in the U.S. Antiques Roadshow is the first game Namco has published through a licensing agreement with WGBH and BBC. "Namco's genius is in taking the most iconic elements of the ANTIQUES ROADSHOW TV format - narrative, exploration, discovery, and surprise - and using them to create something completely new and fresh," said ANTIQUES ROADSHOW executive producer Marsha Bemko.

A free 60-minute trial can be downloaded at namcogames.com/pc_games prior to the game being available on other casual PC game portals, including but not limited to Big Fish Games, Inc. and GameHouse.

About Antiques Roadshow

Part adventure, part history lesson, and part treasure hunt, eight-time Emmy-nominated ANTIQUES ROADSHOW marks its fourteenth season in 2010. In each hour-long ROADSHOW episode, specialists from the country's leading auction houses and independent dealers from across the nation offer free appraisals of antiques and collectibles. PBS's highest-rated series, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW is seen by almost ten million viewers each week. Veteran television personality Mark L. Walberg is series host.

About Namco Networks

Namco Networks America Inc., a subsidiary of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings (USA) Inc., is a global publisher and developer for interactive content across multiple platforms, including mobile, iOS, PC and Web-based casual games. More information about our products can be found on namcogames.com, Facebook or Twitter.

The Antiques Roadshow trunk design is a trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. Antiques Roadshow is a trademark of the BBC and is produced for PBS by WGBH/Boston under license from BBC Worldwide.

Namco and all related logos, designs, and elements are the trademarks and (c) of Namco Networks America Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

For Namco Networks:
Kelly Loughlin, 408-200-7717
kloughlin@namconetworks.com