China Toy Fair


Hasbro Games Go LIVE

February 23, 2011 By

This fall, Hasbro will introduce a new way to play some of its most popular games—LIVE. The first games to go LIVE are Hasbro’s Battleship and Monopoly, which were showcased during American International Toy Fair in New York City last week.

Each LIVE game features Motion Vision Play technology via the game’s electronic tower. The tower contains an infrared camera that scans the game board and pieces in order to keep track of the game play such as rules and score.

In Battleship LIVE, the tower detects all ship, cannon, and hand movements during the game. In Monopoly LIVE, the tower is the centerpiece of the game and identifies players, watches hand movements, tracks bank balances, and introduces unexpected events during the game. Other features of the games include the sound of missiles flying through the air in Battleship LIVE and the opportunity to earn tax breaks for “green” utilities in Monopoly LIVE.

Both games are recommended for ages 8 and up and will retail for approximately $49.99.

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Monopoly Gives Away the Bank

August 30, 2010 By

This summer, Hasbro is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Monopoly by giving away the bank, which totals $20,580. The contest, Monopoly “Money Makes it Real,” started on July 15 and runs through September 3. Fans can visit www.Monopoly.com and describe what they would do if the money in their Monopoly game were real. Entries are limited to 75 words or less and will be based on how they “demonstrate a commitment o the spirit of Monopoly, such as travel, home repair or any other activity inspired by the history of the game, the Community Chest and Chance cards, the tokens, or the game play.” After the entries are collected, participants invite friends and family to vote for their entry to be picked as one out of the 75 entrants with the most votes. The final 75 participants, picked on September 27, will be considered for the grand prize.

Additionally, Monopoly is giving away the bank to S.O.S. Children’s Villages, a charity organization that builds houses for abandoned and at risk children. For 75 hours starting at midnight GMT on September 27, fans can vote for which project they want to see funded. Projects include daycare, medical supplies, school fees, seeds for family farms, soccer balls, and more.

For more information, visit www.Monopoly.com.

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Strong Museum of Play Acquires Second-Oldest Known Monopoly Game

July 1, 2010 By

Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y., home of the National Toy Hall of Fame, has acquired an early version of Monopoly that was used as evidence in a 10-year legal copyright battle regarding the actual inventor of the game.

The folk-art Monopoly board game, created by a member of the Heap family between 1910 and 1917 in Pennsylvania, is the second-oldest known version of the game, and the oldest version with all of its pieces intact. This version was one of the games used in the defense of Ralph Anspach in a trademark infringement case that went to the Supreme Court. Anspach challenged the lawsuit brought against him by General Mills Fun Group by producing early versions of the game that proved that Charles Darrow, the credited inventor who originally sold the rights to the game, was not the actual inventor. Anspach won the case on this evidence.

Strong Museum of Play owns 65 Monopoly sets and related games, including an additional early version of the game by Charles Darrow. The museum is considering a special display of both the Heap and Darrow games during the National Toy Hall of Fame induction on November 4.

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Hasbro Revs Up Its Licensing Programs

June 9, 2010 By

The Entertainment & Licensing (E&L) division of Hasbro, Inc. has announced a slate of licensing programs to support its brands, including Transformers, Nerf, Littlest Pet Shop, My Little Pony, Monopoly, and Playskool.

Hasbro, in association with DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, will debut Transformers 3 on July 1, 2011. The company’s licensees for the Transformers brand include comic books from IDW (U.S.), digital games from Activision (worldwide), and more.

Hasbro is also teaming up with Universal Pictures to bring Stretch Armstrong and Battleship to the big screen in summer 2012. Universal will also produce films based on Hasbro’s Monopoly, Candy Land, and Ouija. Theater release dates have not been announced.

Hasbro recently reached an agreement with The Sports Licensed Division of the adidas Group for a NERF-inspired apparel and footwear line (deal is still subject to the companies negotiating and has yet to be signed into a binding license agreement). Additionally, Electronic Arts has signed on for NERF digital gaming (worldwide), SDI Technologies has inked a deal for NERF electronics (U.S.), and Performance Design Products will create NERF digital gaming hardware accessories (worldwide).

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Hasbro Unleashes a Bevy of New Video Games

June 8, 2010 By

Habsro, Inc., plans to release more than a dozen video games based on its brands throughout the world during the second half of the year. Electronic Arts (EA) and Activision are producing the video games, which will appear on multiple devices including game consoles and mobile devices.

EA is producing versions of Monopoly as well as a five-pack Nintendo DS game called Hasbro Family Game Night 3. RISK: Factions is set for release on Xbox Live! with iPhone and iPad versions of RISK in development. Activision is spearheading development of TRANSFORMERS: War for Cybertron, which is expected to be released this summer.

Information about both game companies can be found at this year’s Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, held June 15-17.

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Monopoly “The Office” to Hit Store Shelves This Summer

May 4, 2010 By

USAOPOLY is introducing a brand new Monopoly Collector’s Edition based on NBC’s hit television show The Office. Monopoly “The Office” Collector’s Edition pits players against one another to compete for control of their favorite “Office” location.

In The Office edition, the classic Monopoly game board properties transform into popular locations in the show such as Dunder Mifflin Scranton, Dunder Mifflin Corporate, Michael’s Condo, and the Scranton Art Center.  Players might also land on “RUDIT-DIT-D’DOO!” (Community Chest), “That’s what she said!” (Chance), Donation to Rabies Fun Run (Luxury Tax), or Buy a Hug from Phyllis at Crime Aid Auction (Income Tax).

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