Namco Hometek has announced a publishing deal with Flagship Studios, under which the US division of one of Japan's leading 3rd party companies will publish the newly established development studio's first PC title. The developing company was only founded last year, but is staffed with industry veterans who formerly worked for Blizzard on titles such as Diablo. Flagship Studios is headed by CEO Bill Roper, formerly vice-president at Blizzard. Roper, along with Blizzard North co-founders Eric and Max Schaefer as well David Brevik left the Diablo maker in July 2003. Disputes with Blizzard's parent company Vivendi Universal have repeatedly been cited as the main reason for a series of high profile resignations from the development studio last year.

For Namco, the agreement marks the company's first forray into the publishing business of PC titles.

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