.hack//ENEMY Now Launches in Europe!

[Anonymous]

NEWS RELEASE
DECIPHER TRADING CARD GAME STUDIO

(Norfolk, VA – February 6, 2004) Decipher is proud to announce it will now also be launching its popular .hack//ENEMY Trading Card Game in Europe. In 2003 Decipher acquired the license from Bandai Entertainment Inc. to produce an all-new trading card game based on the latest anime phenomenon to come out of Japan: Project .hack (pronounced "dot hack"). The TCG, .hack//ENEMY, was introduced in stores throughout North America in October 2003 and has been constantly outselling other recently released anime TCGs. Tournaments have been sweeping the continent due to the game's innovative Organized Play. The excitement and buzz around the .hack//ENEMY Trading Card Game quickly spread to Europe where gamers will now finally be able to get their hands on the game itself.

Stores across Europe will be unleashing Contagion, the first set of the .hack//ENEMY TCG, while Decipher readies the second set: Distortion, for North American and European release on February 18th.

On December 24th, 2007 at 0 hours and 0 minutes, The World went online... you entered to play, but something went wrong... Now, you are just trying to get out...

About the property

Conceived as a multimedia project from the start, the .hack phenomenon includes an anime series and a first-ever on PlayStation 2: an episodic video game series delivered in four double-disc parts, as well as a manga series, using the narrative abilities of each unique medium to tell a part of the entire .hack saga. All elements of the .hack narrative are hugely popular in Japan and are now laying claim to the rest of the world.

The anime TV series, .hack//SIGN, is telecast in the U.S. on Cartoon Network Saturday evenings during its popular block of action-adventure programming, and has quickly become one of the best-selling anime DVD releases of the year. The PlayStation 2 game has seen soaring sales and will see the release of the fourth episode – .hack//QUARANTINE in the U.S. in February 2004 while the first volume .hack//INFECTION will be debuting throughout Europe from March 11th 2004. The manga series – .hack//Legend of the Twilight Bracelet – is doing extremely well in U.S. pop culture shops since it debuted last September.

Bandai Entertainment Inc. also recently announced a partnership deal with Microsoft that will allow them to provide episodes of .hack//SIGN over the Internet. This means .hack enthusiasts across The World will be able to log on and enjoy their favourite anime series.

About the game

In recreating the .hack universe for the tabletop gaming community, Decipher introduced an exciting and fast-paced game system, combined with an organized play environment that immerses players in The World. Within The World, you try to beat your opponent from the perspective of the monsters attacking and killing your opponent's characters. Only in .hack//ENEMY will you experience The World from the point of view of the monsters and mysterious AI entities corrupting the system.

As you accumulate enough Victory Points to win the game, you are simultaneously trying to stop your opponent from beating you to the punch. And in an innovative feature that captures the feel of the massive online roleplaying game, the unique tournament structure allows players to collect experience points to "level up" their abilities and gameplay experiences. As you gain experience and levels through the organized play system, you increase your ability to gain access to exciting and exclusive gameplay. Decipher's 2004 tournament plans for .hack//ENEMY, which include Release Events, Territorial Open Championship, World Championship and a Premier Series, has players in a gaming frenzy.

As the graduation game for anime TCG players, the strategy is deep and challenging, while the rules are still simple and easy to learn. It's the perfect game for those who want more in an anime-based TCG, but are not looking for the complexity and rules of games such as The Lord of the Rings™ TCG and Star Trek® CCG Second Edition. The fun 'shuffle and play' aspect of the game means you can easily play a match of two or three games in less than an hour.

With dothackenemy.com Decipher has created a comprehensive forum for the vibrant .hack community: gamers can register Player Groups, take part in discussion on one of the many Message Boards and are kept up to date with .hack//ENEMY and other aspects of the .hack phenomenon through regular newsletters.

Decipher will be distributing .hack//ENEMY TCG in Europe exclusively through its distribution partners: Universal Cards GmbH in Germany and Hobbygames Ltd. in the United Kingdom.

Confront the world of .hack yourself by picking up this revolutionary TCG from Decipher. It will test you, captivate you and engulf you... but don't let it destroy you. Welcome to The World...