Puzzles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS:
Rebecca Woelfel
Hunter PR (212) 679-6600, ext. 222
bwoelfel@hunterpr.com
Pat Riso
Hasbro Games
(413) 526-2307
priso@hasbro.com
Scent and Strategy Enhance Puzzle Category
East Longmeadow, Mass. (February 13, 2009) – The 2009 Hasbro puzzle line-up is sure to entertain, and maybe even “puzzle”, those who appreciate piecing together images. Hasbro has invigorated the activity of puzzle building by adding fresh scents, lovable characters and unpredictable twists to its puzzles for aspiring to expert puzzlers.
Preschoolers can experience puzzles like never before with Hasbro’s Smellaroos, Little Book and Matchables puzzles. Smellaroos bring the sweet aromas of Candy Land and STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE to life as memorable scents are wrapped into the 24 puzzle pieces. Hasbro also enhances the storylines of MY LITTLE PONY, MR. POTATO HEAD and Sesame Street through Little Book and Playskool Matchables puzzles, which reveal new adventures as the puzzle comes together. And showcasing the wonderful world of TRANSFORMERS, LITTLEST PET SHOP, Marvel, Disney and Nickelodeon characters through traditional 24-piece and 100-piece puzzles.
For the first time ever, Hasbro introduces Yankee Candle Scented Puzzles, which feature landscapes of apple orchards, vanilla cupcakes and clean cotton infused with the fragrance of the world-famous Yankee Candles. And for puzzlers who enjoy savoring the sweet smell of victory and accomplishment, Hasbro offers Big Ben Collector Series Puzzle Plates, which allow the puzzles to be preserved as works of art.
For adult strategists who thought they had solved the ultimate mind-twisting puzzle, Hasbro introduces a new innovation to the Rubik’s Cube family. Rubik’s 360 will have players spinning in circles as they try to secure six colored balls trapped within the three-sphere strategy game.
Hasbro adult and children’s puzzles are highlighted below:
ADULT PUZZLES
RUBIK’S CUBE 360
(Approximate Retail Price: $14.99; Recommended Age: 8 & up; Available: Fall 2009; Players: 1)
The Rubik's Cube has been puzzling players around world for more than 30 years. This year “cubers” are faced with an intense challenge – manipulating a sphere. Rubik’s 360 is the latest spin on the popular Rubik’s strategy puzzle that offers a new way to test the mind. Made up of three clear spheres, players must rotate, twist and turn the outer sphere in order to align the holes of the inner spheres and allow each of the six small balls to lock into its corresponding colored pod to win.
BARACK OBAMA 44th U.S. PRESIDENT COMMEMORATIVE PUZZLE
(Approximate Retail Price: $4.49; Recommended Age: 12 & up; Available: January 2009; Pieces: 1,000)
Whether collecting historic memorabilia or just looking for a fun family activity, piece together a significant day in our nation’s history with the 1,000 piece Barack Obama 44th U.S. President Commemorative Puzzle. The completed puzzle bears a powerful, multilayered portrait of the 44th President, with the American flag and excerpts from his memorable election victory speech in the background. The words “Hope,” “Change,” “Dream” and “Yes We Can” appear prominently and capture the essence of Obama’s campaign message and promise for the future. This puzzle is made of recycled materials and printed with soy inks.
YANKEE CANDLE SCENTED PUZZLES
(Approximate Retail Price: $9.99; Recommended Age: Adult; Available: Fall 2009; Pieces: 300)
This Fall, puzzlers can share their love for piecing together jigsaw puzzles while enjoying a mild aroma of their favorite Yankee Candle fragrance. The new Yankee Candle Scented Puzzles depict serene scenes of Macintosh apple orchards, just-baked vanilla cupcakes and fresh fields of clean cotton. Each 300-piece puzzles features two photos that represent the essence of the fragrance.
BIG BEN COLLECTOR SERIES PUZZLE PLATES
(Approximate Retail Price: $9.99; Recommended Age: Adult; Available: Fall 2009; Pieces: 240)
Puzzlers get great joy out of saving their artwork, often buying glue and frames to preserve the completed puzzle. The Big Ben Collector Series Puzzle Plates contain an all-in-one solution to this challenge. After puzzlers piece together these 240-piece puzzles, which each come together in the shape of a 3D plate, they can easily glue together the pieces and display the completed plate. Plate stand and puzzle glue included.
CHILDREN’S PUZZLES
SMELLAROOS 24-PIECE SCENTED PUZZLE ASSORTMENT
(Approximate Retail Price: $3.99; Recommended Age: 3 & up; Available: Fall 2009; Pieces: 24)
Children will be in for a treat with the Smellaroos Scented Puzzles. Beloved characters from the Candy Land game and the world of STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE will come to life with vibrant colors – and sweet scents as children piece together the puzzles. Celebrate Candy Land’s 60th birthday with scenes of Princess Frostine, Mr. Mint and King Kandy. Trace the delightful strawberry scent to find out what Strawberry Shortcake and her friends are up to with the Smellaroos scented puzzles.
LITTLE BOOK PUZZLES
(Approximate Retail Price: $4.99; Recommended Age: 2 to 4; Available: Fall 2009; Pieces: 9)
Read about the adventures of My Little Pony and Mr. Potato Head inside each LITTLE BOOK puzzle. When the story is finished, children can put together the 9-piece puzzles and unlock the rest of the story.
PLAYSKOOL MATCHABLES PUZZLE ASSORTMENT
(Approximate Retail Price: $6.99; Recommended Age: 3 & up; Available: Fall 2009; Pieces: 4)
The Playskool Matchables Puzzles are fun and help preschoolers learn colors and shapes. Based on the traditional “lift and look” puzzles, Matchables Puzzles include four snap-together plastic puzzle pieces with knobs for easy placement. With six double-sided puzzle scenes, a toddler can move the different shapes to fit into the various scenes. For extra fun, mom can place a picture of her little on inside the puzzle piece to enhance the child’s personal experience of the puzzle. Try the Matchables: Sesame Street Edition and learn along with your favorite Sesame Street pals!
PUZZLE ADVENTURES ASSORTMENT
(Approximate Retail Price: $8.99; Recommended Age: 5 & up; Available: Fall 2009; Pieces: 84)
Go on a wild ride across history and into space with the new Puzzle Adventures Assortment. These 84-piece educational puzzles can be pieced together during an afternoon of fun. Once assembled, players can use the fun fact cards and pawns included in the puzzle to go on an adventure and learn more about the United States of America. Look out for more educational themes in the near future about the Solar System, dinosaurs and even international countries. The first person to get the most answers right is deemed the “greatest adventurer.”
HALLOWEEN MINI PUZZLE ASSORTMENT
(Approximate Retail Price: $5.99; Recommended Age: 5 & up; Available: Fall 2009; Pieces: 50)
Surprise the little ghosts, pint-sized superheroes and make-believe princesses that cross your path this Halloween with a fun treat that will keep their hands busier than their mouths – puzzles! This festive bag includes twelve 50-piece puzzles that feature your favorite TRANSFORMERS, Marvel, Disney, SpongeBob SquarePants and LITTLEST PET SHOP characters. After returning from a night of mischief, trick-or-treaters can look forward to piecing together these small puzzles while watching spooky movies.
PICTUREKA! 300-PIECE PUZZLE ASSORTMENT
(Approximate Retail Price: $3.50; Recommended Age: 6 & up; Available: Fall 2009; Pieces: 300)
Find the puzzle piece fast, and find it first! Players who love the wacky drawings of the Pictureka! game will be excited as the penguin, farting donkey and caveman come to life in this 300-piece puzzle. When the puzzle is put together, what characters will appear? Three quirky puzzle scenes are included in the assortment. The puzzle is uniquely cut to have one half of the children’s sized (big) puzzle pieces and the other half adult sized (small) puzzle pieces to make it a true family puzzle.
PUZZ 3-D Star Wars: Clone Wars Vehicles
(Approximate Retail Price: $14.99; Recommended Age: 7 & up; Available: Fall 2009; Pieces: 60)
Watch the transformation as 60 panel-piece puzzles come together to create the ATTE and Cruiser vehicles known from the Star Wars: Clone Wars animated movie and television series. These 3-D puzzles offer new challenges and lasting rewards to young puzzlers and Star Wars enthusiasts.
LICENSED PUZZLES WITH FIGURE
(Approximate Retail Price: $6.99; Recommended Age: 5 & up; Available: Spring 2009; Pieces: 24 and 100)
Collect the exclusive figures contained in the Licensed Puzzle Assortments to add a new element to game play. LITTLEST PET SHOP fans will have fun uncovering which exclusive pet they received in their puzzle and MY LITTLE PONY fans can play with the Pinky Pie figure while putting together the 24-piece puzzle. Boys can collect them can collect their favorite action figures with the series of puzzles that includes figures from TRANSFORMERS and Star Wars: Clone Wars.
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.
