Card Games

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

CONTACTS:   
Donetta Allen
Hunter PR (212) 679-6600, ext. 229
dallen@hunterpr.com

Pat Riso
Hasbro Games
(413) 526-2307
priso@hasbro.com   

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS. (January 29, 2009) – Hasbro has the cards stacked in their favor in 2009. With new titles based on iconic brands such as MONOPOLY, SCRABBLE and LITTLEST PET SHOP, as well as updates to favorite card games of the past, Hasbro is bringing new life and innovation to the card game category.

“As a leader in the board games industry, Hasbro is expanding into card games and making them relevant and engaging for families of today,” said Christy Newton, Director of Global Brand Marketing for Hasbro Games. “Our 2009 line revitalizes card games of yesteryear and introduces new games based on well-known board game icons. The new card games require quick thinking, swift moves and deal making to involve all players in fast-paced fun.”

Card games pack small spurts of competition and fun for families. The compact decks can be taken anywhere and played at any time, so you can play whether you’re on the go or at the kitchen table. And, at an affordable price point, card games provide an economic and entertaining activity for all.

Six Hasbro Card Games for kids, families and adults are being introduced to the card game aisle in 2009. Make deals and build words in a flash with MONOPOLY DEAL and SCRABBLE SLAM Card Games. Experience four favorite card games shuffled into one with CRAZY OLD FISH WAR Card Game. Keep younger players engaged round after around with LITTLEST PET SHOP GO FISH and PICTUREKA! Card Games, and gather adult teams to try and gain the most points in the mysterious ROOK Card Game.

New Hasbro Card Games in 2009 include:

MONOPOLY DEAL CARD GAME
(Approximate Retail Price: $6.99; Recommended Age: 8 & up; Available: Spring; Players: 2 to 6)
The MONOPOLY DEAL Card Game introduces all the fun of owning and building the iconic properties of the classic MONOPOLY board game – from Baltic to Boardwalk – but emphasizes on-the-fly real estate negotiations to game play. Beware of the Debt Collector, Forced Deal and Deal Breaker cards, which allow players to “steal” cards and can reverse a player’s fortune in an instant. Be sure to “bank” money in personal accounts to buy up properties and collect three complete color property sets to win the game.

SCRABBLE SLAM CARD GAME
(Approximate Retail Price: $6.99; Recommended Age: 8 & up; Available: Spring; Players: 2 to 4)
SCRABBLE SLAM is the fastest SCRABBLE game yet. In this game filled with loud, boisterous fun, players are locked in a high-speed race to build a chain of four-letter words and be the first to get rid of the cards in their hand. Starting with a word such as “G-A-M-E,” players slam a letter card on the table to create new words, such as “S-A-M-E.” Think fast, act fast -- SLAM!

CRAZY OLD FISH WAR CARD GAME
(Approximate Retail Price: $5.99; Recommended Age: 7 & up; Available: Spring; Players: 2 to 6)
CRAZY OLD FISH WAR Card Game combines the best parts of four favorite card games – Crazy Eights, Old Maid, Go Fish and War – into one fast, exciting card game for families. Be the first player to get rid of all of the cards in your hand by matching, going “fish” or declaring “war” on each turn. Use the “crazy eight” cards to switch the color of the card sequence, but watch out for Old Mermaids (similar to Old Maids) as these cards have special powers. Kids will have fun playing this new game that shuffles four card game classics into one deck.

ROOK CARD GAME
(Approximate Retail Price: $5.99; Recommended Age: 8 & up/Adult; Available: Spring; Players: 2 to 6)
In the original ROOK Partnership Card Game, players deal out the entire deck and place the "ROOK" card in the center of the table. Each card in the deck is assigned a point value. Players and teams bid to see how many points they think they will accumulate by the end of the hand. Win “tricks” to pick up cards and rack up the points. Just be sure to bid wisely, not making your bid can give your opponent a big advantage. The game ends when a certain amount of points has been accumulated.

LITTLEST PET SHOP GO FISH CARD GAME
(Approximate Retail Price: $5.99; Recommended Age: 5 & up; Available: Spring; Players: 2 to 6)
“Do you have any dogs?” “Go fish!” The classic card-matching game GO FISH can now be played with 13 of your favorite LITTLEST PET SHOP friends, including fishes, monkeys, rabbits, and more. Players ask each other questions to find matching pairs of pets. If the player doesn’t have the pet that was asked for they “go fish” in the card deck. The player with the most matching LITTLEST PET SHOP friends wins!

PICTUREKA! CARD GAME
(Approximate Retail Price: $5.99; Recommended Age: 7 & up; Available: Fall 2009; Players: 2 to 6)
Quick, find the stinky things! Coming in Fall 2009, families can experience their favorite PICTUREKA! characters including the penguin, donkey and cavemen in a whole new way with the PICTUREKA! Card Game. With the same zany find it fast, find it fun of the board game, the card game has players searching at an even faster pace. Whether on-the-go or for Family Game Night, PICTUREKA! Card Game takes players on wacky missions they’ll never expect.

Hasbro, Inc. is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time products and services with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at http://www.hasbro.com. SCRABBLE is a trademark of Hasbro in the United States and Canada.  © 2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.