PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- April 9, 2003 -- Spring is here and many parents have started the hunt for those special treats to fill Easter Baskets and free time during school vacations. In many instances, parents are in search of things that won't lead to an extra trip to the dentist, yet will still bring a smile to their kids' faces. This year, Hasbro, Inc. fills baskets and vacations of any size, interest or budget with its line of new toys and games - toothbrush and dental floss not required.
Whether filling a basket for a 10 year-old girl or finding a fun activity to keep a teenage son and his friends busy during vacation, there's a host of new Hasbro toys and games available.
- For Cool Tweens - NAKNAK, HITCLIPS, NEOPETS
- For Sports Fanatics & Competitors - PROJAX, BEYBLADE, NAKNAK, MLB(TM) SHOWDOWN
- For Music-Mavens and Fashionistas - HITCLIPS
- For Nostalgic & Classic Gamers - PROJAX, HAND-HELD ELECTRONIC SIMON(R), TRANSFORMERS
- For Pet Lovers - FURREAL FRIENDS, PLAY-DOH DOH DOH ISLAND, NEOPETS
- For Philanthropists - WISHLINGS
- For Collectors of All Levels - PROJAX, BEYBLADE, NAKNAK, MLB(TM) SHOWDOWN
- For Little Ones - FURREAL FRIENDS, PLAY-DOH DOH DOH ISLAND, WISHLINGS
BEYBLADE
This phenomenon spun swiftly across the globe, winning fans, awards and rave reviews, with more than two million BEYBLADE tops having been sold in the U.S. alone! Kids everywhere are playing with these customizable, high-performance tops that battle in BEYSTADIUMS. Clearly the number-one, authentic high performance top, the BEYBLADE action in 2003 gets even more exciting with new feature-based BEYBLADE tops coming out throughout the year, new deluxe launchers to enhance strategic play, and unique BEYSTADIUM arenas for new twists in the competition. Ages: 5 & up. Approximate retail price: Electronic BEYBLADE Assortment $9.99, Basic Starter Set Assortment $6.99, Deluxe Launcher Assortment $6.99, Electronic Launcher Assortment $24.99, Medium BEYSTADIUM $5.99.
FURREAL FRIENDS KITTEN
It all started last Holiday with the FURREAL FRIENDS CATS. Now this Easter, kids can have the FURREAL FRIENDS KITTEN, a magical electronic plush animal that, when stimulated by touch, convincingly mimic the mannerisms unique to "real" household kitten through life-like organic movements and sounds. Kids will have hours of fun playing with and loving their new family "pet" that features sensors on their backs, which trigger realistic "padding" and "kneading" movements. They come complete with a special milk bottle that they love to be "fed" with! Just hold the bottle up to their mouths and listen to their eating sounds and watch the kneading motion of their paws. Ages: 6 & up. Approximate retail price: $19.99.
HAND-HELD ELECTRONIC SIMON(R)
Offering a new look - bright yellow casing and sleek, oval shape - while retaining the same sounds and lights that everyone knows and loves, HAND-HELD ELECTRONIC SIMON is a stylish addition to any car trip, beach outing or even schoolyard. Its compact size fits great in backpacks, purses and pockets and offers a fun and fresh experience every time it's played. Game play remains the same as the classic SIMON game where players mimic the computer's lighted pattern to win. The game features four skill levels and three ways to play.
Ages: 7 & up. Approximate Retail Price: $12.99
HITCLIPS
HITCLIPS Micro Music System continues to 'climb the charts' as the 'must have' music accessory for today's pop music aficionados and has redefined how kids collect and listen to their favorite recording artists. The compact, portable and affordable music source is designed for kids 'in the know' and 'on-the-go.' The fun and funky HITCLIPS Themed Deluxe Personal Player Assortment offers twelve fashionable styles to choose from - making it's easy to stay cool and color coordinated while you're rockin' out! Make a fashion statement - choose from The Cat, The Butterfly, The Cell Phone, The Heart with Wings, The Guitar that come with a neck cord, wrist strap or keychain.
Ages: 5 & up. Approximate retail price: $9.99.
MLB(TM) SHOWDOWN
This sports card game offers players an immersive baseball experience consisting of fun and challenging gameplay while giving baseball fans a chance to showoff and increase their baseball knowledge. The game combines the strategy of baseball with the collectability of sports cards and the competition of fantasy baseball. Players of all ages and skill levels can go card-to-card against other MLB(TM) Showdown players in official tournaments held throughout the United States. Approximate retail price: $9.99.
NAKNAK
The first ever STACKING BATTLE action figures, combines creativity, coordination, competition, collectability and coolness into one great brand. Kids' creativity will shine through while competing with others in captivating stacking contests called "NAKNAK Challenges," or engaging in a solo stacking challenge. Each NAKNAK character can be posed into 80 different positions and belongs to groups called NAKNAK CLIKS, such as ROBO-NAKS, HUMANAKS, ALIENAKS figures and more. A range of NAKNAK items will also be available such as a carrying case, play sets, an Ultimate Stacking Competition set and NAK-CESSORIES so kids can find new ways to collect, stack and challenge. Ages: 5 & up. Approximate retail price: NAKNAK 5-PACK $6.99, NAKNAK PLAY-SETS $14.99.
NEOPETS(R)
NeoPets fans can now take their favorite online experience with them wherever they go with the new portable NEOPETS(R) PERSONAL POCKET NEOPETS, offering electronic game play (via a digital LCD screen) with hand-held 3-D Pocket NeoPets. Each Pocket NeoPet comes complete with a 3-D NeoPets figure, four games with sound effects, and a collectable Bio Card. Earn and spend Neopoints as you care for your 3-D pet, which can be placed in any of the three active ports to access different modes of electronic play, or in one of the three additional non-electronic ports for fantasy game play. Through electronic game play, users can unlock secret imbedded NeoPets Rare Item Codes(TM) that can be used on the NeoPets web site to obtain unique NeoPets items. Ages: 6 & up. Approximate retail price: $14.99.
PLAY-DOH DOH DOH ISLAND
The classic play of PLAY-DOH comes alive on DOH DOH ISLAND, where the official past time is Tiki Bowling and 3 of the characters are named Mot, Twango and Zlok. Children can mold different Tiki statues and then roll a PLAY-DOH bowling ball down the island volcano. Watch out because at any time you can make the all-powerful volcano could erupt with more PLAY-DOH compound adding to the fun. There is a secret hiding spot in the island. And the PLAY-DOH play continues with the extruding Palm Tree that also acts as a roller and the Tiki Torch knife. Ages: 3 & up. Approximate Retail Price: $9.99.
PROJAX
This is not your parents' game of Jacks. In the PROJAX game, players throw the ball in the air, collect their jack from the playing arena and catch the ball (with the same throwing hand) all before the ball bounces. Special power play cards are included in each of the PROJAX sets that when unlocked can be used to reduce an opponent's moves or even add extra moves. The first player to retrieve all five of his/her jacks from the arena wins. Ages: 8 & up. Approximate retail price: Starter Set $4.99, Arena Set $9.99, Booster Set $2.99.
THIN-TRONIX
This revolutionary new line of fun, ultra-thin products sure to be a hit with tweens and teens alike - especially its watches and slap messenger bands. THIN-TRONIX LCD Watches are super-thin and come in a variety of stylish designs and colors. The LCD screen provides date and time functions, and the watch battery lasts one year. The watches feature a snap plastic closure that fits any size wrist. Approximate retail price: $9.99. THIN-TRONIX Slap Messenger Bands are perfect for kids who will love passing these nifty, colorful, ultra-thin wristbands off to one another. But the multiple, colorful designs do more than look good. You can record a message of up to 10 seconds in length on the unit, then "slap" it onto your friend's wrist so they can hear the playback. Kids will have a blast sending secret messages back and forth to one another. Approximate retail price: $12.99.
TRANSFORMERS
This year the battle rages on between the AUTOBOTS and the DECEPTICONS for control of the universe and the power source provided by the MINI-CON TRANSFORMERS vehicles. The MINI-CONS, a lost race of TRANSFORMERS, unlock hidden features and activate new ways to play with TRANSFORMERS figures. A universal connector system allows for any MINI-CON figure to attach to larger TRANSFORMERS ARMADA figures, to create new play patterns by unlocking new features such as lights, sounds or projectiles. Ages: 5 & up. Approximate retail price: $6.99.
WISHLINGS
This whimsical collection of soft, huggable plush characters was created from the imagination of a child associated with one of four international charities. The charitable organizations - OPERATION SMILE, SAVE THE CHILDREN, STARLIGHT CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION and WORLD VISION - will benefit from a $1 donation from the purchase of each WISHLINGS plush character. These cuddly companions will be sold exclusively at CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide and on www.cvs.com.
Approximate retail price: $7.99.
ABOUT HASBRO, INC.
Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.
