Konami and TOKYOPOP Announce Mobile Gaming Partnership

Critically Acclaimed TOKYOPOP Manga East Coast Rising Goes Mobile Fall 2006

Los Angeles – July 19, 2006 – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced the company is joining forces with TOKYOPOP, the number one manga company in the U.S., to launch a series of mobile games starting with the popular manga East Coast Rising, a rollicking tale of pirates and high seas adventure. The game is expected to be available in early Fall.

"Transforming a hot manga property like East Coast Rising into a mobile game demonstrates the kind of synergy that’s now possible between traditional forms of entertainment and mobile content," commented Joe Morris, vice president, mobile content, Konami Digital Entertainment. "As the leaders of the global manga revolution, TOKYOPOP reaches a teen audience that wants cool stuff to play on their cell phones."

"We are very excited to be partnering with Konami to move TOKYOPOP's creative juice into the white-hot area of mobile gaming. Our two brands both stand for an East-meets-West aesthetic that really speaks out to fans worldwide, so working together is a natural fit that will truly push the envelope," said Stu Levy, CEO TOKYOPOP.

The mobile gaming adaptation of East Coast Rising invites users to defend New York from hostile New Jersey pirates and evil monsters in an exciting new mobile game set in the compelling world of TOKYOPOP's critically-acclaimed East Coast Rising manga. Sail the seas in the search of high adventure but beware the pirate ship Hoboken ...and the Creeping Death. Visit the ragtag denizens of various destroyed and flooded East Coast cities using Map Mode. Enter Battle Mode and fight a host of enemies on every voyage. Earn gold through successful battles to buy the repairs and supplies you need for keeping your ship and crew in top fighting trim. Strategy and planning are crucial if you hope to triumph over the villains at the end of each level. Choose from several difficulty settings. Once you master the basic game, download more playable levels for new challenges in the East Coast Rising world.

Konami Corporation is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of digital entertainment properties, specializing in the home video game market. Konami Corporation’s action and adventure titles include the popular franchises Metal Gear Solid®, Silent Hill®, Castlevania® and Dance Dance Revolution, among other top sellers. The latest information about Konami can be found on the Web at konami.com