Hasbro: Simon 25th Anniversary

SIMON SAYS... CELEBRATE! - SIMON: "The Electronic Game That Started It All" Turns 25

EAST LONGMEADOW, MA (February 16, 2003) Well before video and online games, the world enjoyed trying their hand at SIMON -- the first electronic game. The pioneer of electronic gaming, SIMON "came to life" unlike almost any game seen before and won the hearts of millions. The red, yellow, green and blue flashing lights along with the distinguished beeps became forever synonymous with SIMON and remain a memorable part of childhood (and adulthood) for many today.

This year, SIMON reaches a milestone -- 25 years of unending fun for the millions of fans who have tested their reflexes as they attempt to complete the sequence of lights to beat the machine. In 2001, the SIMON2 game came to market and offered consumers not only the original SIMON game, but also an added two-player, head-to-head challenge on the reverse side of the game unit. Today, SIMON has a different look and adds several different game play options, but the game continues to entertain consumers, while many of its competitors have gone away.

"Simon is tremendously significant in at least two ways in the context of the modern toy industry," says toy and children's lifestyle expert Chris Byrne, also know as The Toy Guy™. "Simon opened the door for electronic games, by marrying classic play with then-revolutionary computer capabilities. It inspired a whole new category within the game industry. Second, Simon helped revitalize the board game category overall, getting adults and families to play games again. It paved the way for the boom in adult and family board games -- both electronic and tradition -- that exploded throughout the 1980s -- and beyond. The game remains virtually unchanged since its launch and has secured its place as a consistent classic."

SIMON: A Look Back

The year was 1978. Disco was in its heyday and SIMON, the electronic game of "Simon Says," was the "must have" sensation. Introduced to the world and to society's most hip celebs at an ultrachic New York discotheque, SIMON immediately earned features in People, Money, Esquire, GQ, Newsweek and on the Today Show. Some truly dedicated fans even made their way to FAO Schwarz stores before work each morning to get their daily fix of SIMON game play. Not surprisingly, the game went on to sell out before the end of the 1978 Christmas season and continued its run for years to come.

SIMON: Today's Product Line

Though the basic game play has remained unchanged for over two decades, today's fans can enjoy an updated version of the game. Two-sided SIMON2, the newest evolution in SIMON gaming, offers twice the fun of the original with classic SIMON on one side and head-to-head play on the other.

SIMON2's streamlined design features four new two-player, head-to-head challenges with eight lenses, music, sound and speech. Players can play alone or compete with friends and family in this game of rapid recall to remember sequences of light and sounds. SIMON2 is for ages 7 and up and is available where toys and games are sold for an approximate retail price of $22.99.

Can't get enough of SIMON? Take it with you! While small enough to fit in your pocket, Hand-held SIMON offers big fun for those on the go. This miniature version is perfect portable entertainment for car trips, train rides or summer fun at the beach. Hand-held electronic SIMON has a new look for 2003, much like that of its parent SIMON game, and is for ages 7 and up and available for an approximate retail price of $12.99.

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