Facebook is so popular and its gaming scene is so profitable that even known video game publishers are now releasing applications in the Social Networking site.

Namco Bandai is a Japan-based developer and publisher of arcade and home video games. Its most popular games include Pac-Man™, Tekken, Dragon Ball, Time Crisis, and Naruto.

With social networking discovery experts, Mplayit, Namco Bandai Networks Europe recently released a new Facebook app called Namco Arcade (http://apps.facebook.com/namcoarcade/). Mainly for mobile phone users, this app allows the user to play for 5 minutes. Eventually, players can decide to purchase the game and have it sent to their mobile phones through Facebook. It also lets users write mini-reviews, become a fan of their favorite games, and share these through Facebook, Twitter, Digg and email.

Available games in Namco Arcade are Pac-Man™ CE, Rolling with Katamari, Namco Arcade Golf, Pac-Man Pinball 2, and Time Crisis Elite. Pac-Man™ CE has six games modes and different mazes for the character to run around in. Unfortunately, the Namco Arcade application is currently available only to Facebook users in Europe.

According to Barry O’Neill, president of Namco Bandai Networks Europe, including Facebook in their distribution channel is an excellent move for the company because it will allow them to gradually reach the social networking site’s 350 million users.