DECEMBER 2, 2003 (Renton, Wash.) � After topping the charts in Japan, the hot property DUEL MASTERS™ is headed to the U.S. Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc., today announced it will release the DUEL MASTERS Trading Card Game (TCG) for English speaking markets in the first quarter of next year. A broad scope of DUEL MASTERS toys and games are in the works, as well as a comic book series, TV show and range of DUEL MASTERS consumer products through the Hasbro Properties Group.
"DUEL MASTERS is proving to be the most popular entertainment property for boys in Japan," said James Szubski, Wizards of the Coast�s Brand Manager for DUEL MASTERS. "We have exciting plans for DUEL MASTERS in the U.S. At the center will be the trading card game, fusing Wizards� great game design and the hottest fantasy art coming out of Japan. Kids will experience DUEL MASTERS through the trading card game, comic books, a TV show and more."
In Japan, the DUEL MASTERS Trading Card Game has ranked #1 in toy and game category sales for the past eight consecutive months, according to "Toy Weekly" magazine. Millions of kids in Japan have enjoyed watching the "Duel Masters" TV series and reading the DUEL MASTERS comics.
Kaijudo!
DUEL MASTERS is about battling monsters � or "Kaijudo!" � as players in the know exclaim. Coinciding with the trading card game's release in March, Wizards will launch a DUEL MASTERS mall tour. The tour will make stops in 15 cities, offering learn-to-play clinics and tournaments for all ages and levels of players.
The first DUEL MASTERS product to release in the U.S. will be a comic book series, due out before the end of this year. In addition to the DUEL MASTERS Trading Card Game in 2004, plans are underway for DUEL MASTERS action figures from Hasbro and a DUEL MASTERS Gameboy game from Atari, Inc. In addition, Wizards will launch an online DUEL MASTERS club on www.duelmasters.com, and more details about the DUEL MASTERS TV series will be announced shortly.
"DUEL MASTERS is a multi-faceted property offering many ways to get involved with the brand," explained Wizards' Szubski.
Wizards of the Coast, Inc., is a worldwide leader in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game categories, and a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products. The company holds an exclusive patent on trading card games (TCGs) and their method of play and produces the premier trading card game, Magic: The Gathering®, among many other trading card games and family card and board games. Wizards is also a leading publisher of roleplaying games, such as Dungeons & Dragons®, and publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast website at wizards.com.
The Hasbro Properties Group develops and expands Hasbro, Inc.'s core brands, such as G.I. JOE, TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, MONOPOLY and CANDY LAND, into a wide variety of entertainment and consumer categories.
DUEL MASTERS is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast, Mitsui/Kids Station and Shogakukan. �2003. Wizards/Mitsui-Kids/Shogakukan
Wizards of the Coast, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons, are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the United States and other countries.
�2003 Wizards.
