Hasbro subsidiary Wizards of the Coast announces unveiling of new Star Wars Trading Card Game at Toy Fair 2002.


RENTON, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2002--From the far reaches of the Star Wars(R) universe to the world of the legendary Pokemon(R) battles and the magical halls of Hogwarts(TM) School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Wizards of the Coast Inc. delivers a gamut of games to be unveiled at the 2002 American International Toy Fair, opening February 10, in New York City.

Both loyal and new Star Wars fans will relish the Star Wars trading card game (TCG). This game's innovative game mechanic enhances the rich Star Wars experience by allowing players to plan and execute the high-stakes gambits and intense action of a climactic Star Wars battle. Card sets for the Star Wars TCG will draw content from every Star Wars era, including the Star Wars movies and the popular Star Wars expanded universe. The first Star Wars trading card game release, which includes content from the highly anticipated Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, will be available in stores in April. Two more releases are scheduled for the third and fourth quarters of 2002.

Another highly anticipated release is a new kind of Pokemon set, Card E, which will deliver a new generation of cards to the millions of Pokemon(R) Trading Card Game players and fans by combining the traditional trading card game play with the handheld technology of Game Boy Advance. The Pokemon Trading Card Game Card-E game cards maintain their playability in the existing trading card game format, but the cards are revolutionized with electronic strips that give the game an added dimension. With a swipe of a game card, sound effects, graphics or data will appear on the Game Boy Advance screen. Select cards will produce a simple game when scanned with a series of other cards. A special reader will be available exclusively for the Game Boy Advance and Card-E cards, allowing players to experience the added bonus of electronic gaming. Card-E releases will offer creature game cards featuring familiar and popular Pokemon with brand new give players more options in the game; and, a new mechanic called Supporters designed to aid Pokemon. In addition, the Neo Destiny(TM) expansion, the latest expansion for the ever-popular Pokemon TCG, will release this month, offering new game-play elements.

And who can resist the appeal of everyone's favorite wizard, Harry Potter(TM)? Building on the success of last year's debut, the Diagon Alley(TM) expansion for the Harry Potter TCG allows players to take on the roles of apprentice wizards and witches as they test their wizardry skills at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Each player tries to win the game by being the first to eliminate his or her opponent's cards. The Diagon Alley expansion features more than 70 new cards and introduces a new type of card called Location cards, which illustrate popular settings from Diagon Alley; new magical Item and Character cards; and new game strategies. Two more expansions for the Harry Potter TCG, the Adventures at Hogwarts and Chamber of Secrets expansions, will be available later this year.

Wizards of the Coast continues to expand its core brand, the Magic: The Gathering(R) trading card game, with the introduction of Magic: The Gathering Online. In the Magic(R) Online game, players can purchase digital cards, trade digital cards with other players, build and customize decks and organize their card collections right on their PCs. Players new to the Magic game can observe games, and built-in tutorials and practice rooms help get game play underway quickly. The game also features 24-hour access to opponents and events. Wizards of the Coast plans to release the Magic: Online game in spring 2002, and will also begin hosting official Magic: Online leagues and tournaments at that time.

For those already immersed in the Magic TCG, the Torment(TM) expansion, which releases this month, and the upcoming Judgment(TM) expansion will satisfy the needs of the advanced- and expert-level players. Additionally, bringing cards from the Magic game to life, realistic Magic Action Figures will depict eight popular iconic characters from the game, such as Kamahl(TM) and Serra Angel(TM). Each figure will come with one randomly inserted Seventh Edition(TM) card.

For sports fans young and old, Wizards of the Coast has a winning lineup with Showdown(TM) sports card games. These games feature the fun of TCGs, the collectability of traditional sports cards and the strategic elements of fantasy sports and actual sports games. The NBA Showdown 2002 sports card game releases this month, with MLB(TM) Showdown 2002 and NFL Showdown 2003 games set to release later this year.

Wizards of the Coast Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc. (NYSE:HAS), is the worldwide market share leader in the TCG and tabletop roleplaying game categories. A leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products, as well as the owner and operator of one of the nation's largest specialty game retail chains, the company holds an exclusive patent on the play mechanic of TCGs and produces the world's best-selling Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering TCGs. Headquartered near Seattle, Wash., Wizards of the Coast has international offices in Antwerp, Paris, Milan, London, Beijing and Sydney. For more information on Wizards of the Coast, visit the company's website and electronic retail store at wizards.com.

HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and (c) Warner Bros. (s02)

Star Wars (c) 2002 Lucasfilm Ltd. & (R) or TM where indicated. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.

Pokemon, Neo Destiny and Game Boy Advance are trademarks of Nintendo.

Major League Baseball trademarks and copyrights are used with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. (c) MLBPA Official Licensee -- Major League Baseball Players Association.

(c) 2002 NFL Properties Inc.

(c) 2002 NBA Properties Inc.

Wizards of the Coast, Magic: The Gathering, Magic, Seventh Edition, Torment, Judgment, Showdown and all character names are property of Wizards of the Coast Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc. (c) 2002 Wizards.