Hasbro, the owners of Dungeons & Dragons through wholly-owned subsidiary Wizards of the Coast, alleges that Atari may have entered into an unauthorized sublicensing agreement with Namco Bandai Partners. Atari sold it PAL distribution arm to Namco Bandai partners earlier this year, which could very well be one of the causes for Hasbro's concern. Hasbro maintains that a sublicensing agreement with Namco Bandai, one of Hasbro's competitors, is strictly prohibited under the D&D licensing contract.

"While unfortunate that we had to take this action, it is crucial for us to protect the Dungeons & Dragons brand," said Greg Leeds, President of Wizards of the Coast. "We have been working for several months now to reach resolution with Atari, and they have left us with no other choice than to pursue legal action."

Hasbro seeks to terminate Atari's license as well as compensatory damages for economic losses.

Atari responds to these allegations in a statement sent to Kotaku this morning.

"Atari has had a long and rich history with the Dungeons and Dragons franchise, investing millions of dollars into numerous critically acclaimed and commercially successful games that have generated significant revenue for Hasbro. Hasbro has resorted to these meritless allegations, in an apparent attempt to unfairly take back rights granted to Atari. Atari has sought to resolve the matter without cooperation from Hasbro. We regret that our long-time partner has decided to pursue this action. Atari will respond appropriately through its legal counsel in court."

Atari signed a 10-year licensing contract with Hasbro in 2007, the future of which is now uncertain. Through the agreement Atari has produced Dungeons and Dragons Online, Neverwinter Nights II and its expansions, and Dungeons & Dragons Tactics for the PSP. Enjoy them while you can...they might not be around much longer.

Fraud and Breach Complaint Filed Against Atari Over Dungeons & Dragons License [CNN Money]

The Hasbro / EA partnership is fully realized today with the launch of Littlest Pet Shop Online, an immersive online world filled with animals desperately struggling to keep from being crushed under the weight of their own massive skulls. The game is all about decorating, customization, and of course, mini-games, offering fun for "girls" whether they opt to play for free or buy a subscription for $6.95 a month.

I'd give you my impressions, but all I get when I try to log in is the hourglass seen above, with an adorable little cat that keeps waving at me until I return to the login prompt. I am hoping that's not the full game. Perhaps it's server queues. Perhaps it's because I am a filthy, stinking boy.

"EA is at an exciting milestone, diving into the realm of virtual worlds for girls with the launch of LITTLEST PET SHOP ONLINE," said Chip Lange, General Manager of EA's Hasbro Division. "LITTLEST PET SHOP ONLINE is an incredible game and community destination, as well as an environment that parents know they can trust. We're delighted to offer LITTLEST PET SHOP fans a new and exciting way to connect online with friends through their favorite pets."

Littlest Pet Shop fans of both genders can also purchase LPSO Pets at participating retailers. LPSO Pets are plushies with sewn-in codes for 30-day premium memberships to the game and special in-game rewards. Maybe one of the rewards includes getting past this hourglass.

Or maybe I'll stick around. I still haven't decided. The point is now I have a great many more bags to carry around, and will need to borrow a great deal more money from my brother at the end of the month for rent.

Still, it's a triumph of the human spirit. Cue the Final Fantasy victory music while I pixel-dance.

NERF 2 is being developed partially in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the NERF brand, and perhaps mostly due to the amazing sales of the first game. Set for a fall release, the new game comes with a new blaster - the NERF Switch Shot EX-3. New to the weapon is a NERF decoder scope, which reveals hidden elements when the screen is viewed through its ruby-red lens. The game itself is your basic rail shooter with NERF elements, including the ability to configure your in-game blaster with "millions" of upgrade combinations, as well as enhanced co-op play.

Poke fun at it if you'd like, but if I were twelve-years-old this is exactly the sort of junk I'd go crazy for. A video game plus a cat terrorizing device? Sold. Looks for NERF 2 to hit store shelves this fall.

Speaking with some of the development team earlier this week they said that the already have four public service announcements built into the game which can be unlocked by players. They're the serious ones from Hasbro.

But they also love the silly PSAs that have appeared on the Internet over the years.

They like they so much they've actually recorded some voice over work for both Body Massage and Pork Chop Sandwich. They haven't, though, received permission from Hasbro to include them in the game.

Yeah, I wouldn't be waiting around for that phone call.

That means the board game is now on the Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Wii and Xbox 360. The PS2 version will sell for $30 and the rest will sell for $40. This is the latest title born of the deal cut between EA and Hasbro.

"TRIVIAL PURSUIT brings Hasbro's classic trivia board game to life with a fresh, innovative style coupled with a diverse assortment of classic categories and new questions that will appeal to every kind of trivia buff in the family," said Chip Lange, General Manager of EA's Hasbro Division. "We're also introducing new ways to play that will keep everyone engaged, competitive and on the edge of their seat. Players will need to bring their wealth of knowledge to the game, as well as a detailed understanding of what their opponents may or may not know in order to run the board to victory."

The game features three game modes:

Classic, which mimics traditional board game play.
Clear the Board, a single-player experience that challenges players to race against the clock to earn multipliers for the highest possible score.
Facts & Friends, a highly social multiplayer mode of play where scoring is based on team responses and guessing the opposing team's ability to answer their trivia question correctly.

The game's profile feature will also allow gamers to track and analyze their performance statistics and compare their strengths and weaknesses to their opponents. A ticker will also scroll across the bottom of the screen through-out game play to let players know how they compare to the competition.

"The TRIVIAL PURSUIT brand is celebrating 25 years of testing the knowledge of multiple generations based on the millions of families who have played the game over the years," said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. "EA's re-imagination of the time-honored classic for the digital consumer is nothing less than over-the-top fun that's expected to be a big hit with scores of long-time as well as new TRIVIAL PURSUIT fans."

"As Hasbro and Paramount Pictures reignite the G.I. Joe property this year with an all-new toy line and film, EA is excited to play a major role in bringing this icon of pop culture history to a new generation of enthusiasts through interactive gaming," said Chip Lange, General Manager and Vice President of EA Hasbro. "G.I. JOE offers exceptionally rich storylines and a cast of characters that lends itself incredibly well to creating an over-the-top action adventure video game that will thrill gamers as well as G.I. Joe fans."

The game will release this summer to coincide with the theatrical release of G.I. JOE; The Rise of Cobra live-action movie on Aug. 7. G.I. Joe will feature a storyline that picks up where the movie leaves off and includes a dozen G.I. Joe characters. It will also include a single-screen co-op mode.

According to the game's website you can:

* Assemble an elite JOE team and call in reinforcements when the mission gets down and dirty.
* Choose from 12 of your favorite JOEs, each with a unique set of skills and weapons.
* Gear up with the latest in high-tech gadgets.
* Jump into, steal or hijack powerful G.I. JOE or COBRA vehicles, then fire away!

EA is developing G.I. Joe for the Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Playstation Portable, DS, Xbox 360 and Wii. No word on a PC version or iPhone mini-game collection... yet.

OK, which 12 characters should be playable in the upcoming game, besides Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow.

G.I. Joe Game Site

Utilizing the cute and extremely collectible nature of the Littlest Pet Shop Brand, EA allows "girls" to add to their collection with the next seasonal installment, Littlest Pet Shop Spring, following up on the three other versions released last year, Winter, Jungle, and Garden. The new installment comes with six new pets, new playsets, four new mini-games, and 20 new accessories.

“The response to our LITTLEST PET SHOP video games has been overwhelmingly positive and shown that girls want quality games, too,” said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager of EA Hasbro. “The team has been barraged with fan mail and girls are already clamoring for the next version so they can keep expanding their LITTLEST PET SHOP digital collection. "

Okay! I get it! Littlest Pet Shop is not for me! *runs off crying into the living room, scooping tiny plastic animals into a trash bag*

EA TO LAUNCH LITTLEST PET SHOP SPRING BEFORE DAFFODILS BLOOM

Latest Nintendo DS Game for Girls Set to Expand Critically-Acclaimed LITTLEST PET SHOP Digital Collection
Guildford, UK, January 5, 2009 — Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that spring fever has arrived early with work underway to launch LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring for the Nintendo DS™ in March 2009. Targeting 6-10 year old girls, the game will be the sixth offering in the LITTLEST PET SHOP interactive gaming lineup following the highly successful Wii™, PC and three Nintendo DS (Winter, Garden, Jungle) releases in 2008.

Inspired by the Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) blockbuster toy line, LITTLEST PET SHOP Spring for the Nintendo DS will feature a festive and colorful spring environment for girls to explore alongside their favorite sidekicks, including six new, exclusive pets. The fun also gets turned up with all-new playsets as well as four new mini-games for a total of 20 including those from previous Nintendo DS versions. Accessory choices will also expand allowing pets to step into spring in high style. With the addition of 20 new accessories, girls will be able to select from well over 100 hats, glasses, scarves and other fun items.

“The response to our LITTLEST PET SHOP video games has been overwhelmingly positive and shown that girls want quality games, too,” said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager of EA Hasbro. “The team has been barraged with fan mail and girls are already clamoring for the next version so they can keep expanding their LITTLEST PET SHOP digital collection. We think they’ll be really excited about the Spring theme and it is scheduled to land at retail just in time to hop into Easter baskets.”

“EA has done a tremendous job of taking one of the most popular toy brands among young girls and bringing it to life on digital platforms,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. “The performance of the first wave of LITTLEST PET SHOP games launched in 2008 was amazing and we don’t expect the momentum behind this property to slow down anytime soon.”

# # #

Calling their Hasbro lineup "hot holiday must-haves", EA applauds the performance of games like Littlest Pet Shop, Nerf N-Strike, Monopoly, and Hasbro Family Game Night for their performance.

“By innovating with these family brands and delivering a quality, fun game experience our EA Hasbro video games are something parents and friends can gift with pride this holiday season,” said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager EA Hasbro. “Our focus on creating audience-appropriate games has paid off with the consumers we wanted to reach and made EA Hasbro titles THE gift to give this holiday.”

This partnership was really a win-win for both companies. Partnering recognizable family-friendly Hasbro brands with video games created some of the most worry-free video game buys a parent could find on retail shelves. Hell, even I bought Littlest Pet Shop, which is "teeming with adorably cute pets that girls can collect." *cries*

Family Gamers Choose EA Hasbro Games This Holiday
LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF “N-STRIKE”, MONOPOLY and HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT Video Games Prove Hot Holiday “Must-Haves”

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—A video game for girls, a game and NERF blaster combo for boys and two video games for everyone in the family to play prove hot holiday sellers for Electronic Arts, Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS). The first wave of console and handheld titles under the EA and Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) long-term agreement have combined to sell two million units globally since their respective fall launches, according to internal EA sell-thru data.

LITTLEST PET SHOP for the Wii™, Nintendo DS™, and PC reached store shelves in October and according to NPD aggregated DS skus were the #2 overall Nintendo DS title in the US for the month of November1 and the #1 Nintendo DS title in France in October.2 The game, inspired by the Hasbro blockbuster toy line, is teeming with adorably cute pets that girls can collect, take on adventures in four vibrant worlds, or play with via a myriad of mini-games.

NERF “N-Strike”, available on the Wii since October, was the #10 title according to NPD for the month of November. The game, inspired by the globally popular Hasbro franchise, features non-stop NERF-style pandemonium where players are faced with a series of challenging missions that put blasting strategies and skills to the ultimate test. NERF “N-Strike” also ships with a custom NERF SWITCH SHOT EX-3 blaster, the first ever 2-in-1 video game and toy peripheral bundle to hit the market.

HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT, available on the Wii and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, launched in November and was awarded a Toy Wishes 2008 All-Star Award. Featuring six games including: BATTLESHIP, YAHTZEE, BOGGLE, CONNECT FOUR, SORRY! and the all new, SORRY! Sliders. Both MONOPOLY which is available for the Wii, PlayStation2 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment systems and HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT had strong launches and continue to build momentum through the holiday.

“By innovating with these family brands and delivering a quality, fun game experience our EA Hasbro video games are something parents and friends can gift with pride this holiday season,” said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager EA Hasbro. “Our focus on creating audience-appropriate games has paid off with the consumers we wanted to reach and made EA Hasbro titles THE gift to give this holiday.”

The lawsuit came about after Hasbro's requests to Facebook to remove the Scrabble homage went unanswered back in January of this year. Days after the lawsuit hit, the creator's of Scrabulous removed the game themselves, replacing it soon after with a retooled version in the form of Wordscraper, removing the game's obvious Scrabble design influence.

While court documents didn't specify a reason for Hasbro's withdraw, it is most likely that the changes made did the trick. The massive popularity of their official Facebook Scrabble game probably helped. Now Facebook users can finally get back to worrying about more important things, like taking movie quizzes.

Hasbro drops suit over Scrabble-clone Scrabulous [Mobile News Network]

“We are thrilled to open a studio in Austin as there is such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable game development community,” said Andrew Pedersen, Pogo General Manager. “It’s great to be a part of that spirit and I feel privileged to be working with a team full of game makers who bring such tremendous talent and experience to the Pogo team.”

The Pogo Austin team will be sharing space with EA's BioWare studio in Austin.

EA Opens New Studio in Austin, Texas for Pogo.com Game Development
PICTUREKA! MUSEUM MAYHEM First Retail Title in Development

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced the opening of a new studio, Pogo Austin, which features a dynamite tight-knit ensemble of passionate game developers who have come together to build exciting new games as part of the Pogo.com team. The Pogo Austin team will be joining EA’s Bioware studio in Austin.

The new studio will focus on creating family-friendly titles based on Hasbro properties. The initial team of 12 features a strong foundation of Austin natives who boast more than 108 years of collective game experience and have shipped titles at companies such as LucasArts, Aspyr Media, Acclaim, Amaze Entertainment, Human Code, Origin Systems and Family Time Interactive.

The first title to be released from Pogo Austin is PICTUREKA! MUSEUM MAYHEM. This quirky seek and find game is based on the Hasbro game PICTUREKA! which debuted in 2007 and launched globally in 2008. In the digital version, a player becomes the new curator for a museum and investigates some odd things that are afoot. Someone has been breaking in and re-arranging the exhibits. The frantic director needs the player to restore items to their proper location and catch the person responsible. The game is set to launch online in November at Pogo.com for $19.95 (US) and £11.95 (UK); it will be available at retail in early winter.

“We are thrilled to open a studio in Austin as there is such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable game development community,” said Andrew Pedersen, Pogo General Manager. “It’s great to be a part of that spirit and I feel privileged to be working with a team full of game makers who bring such tremendous talent and experience to the Pogo team.”

“PICTUREKA! MUSEUM MAYHEM has incredibly broad appeal. The game is fun for the entire family, whether you’re six or 106. It brings everyone together and puts kids and adults on equal ground for laugh out-loud moments. We wanted to create an online PICTUREKA! experience that would be equally outrageous for players of all ages,” said Sean Clark, Pogo Austin Studio Director. “Many members of the Austin team have families and it’s exciting to be able to make a game that they can play and share with their children.”

Pogo Austin is the newest addition to the Pogo studio family. There are also studio locations in Redwood City, CA and Shanghai, China. Pogo studios are actively recruiting for: Feature Engineers, Game Engineers and a QA Lead. For any inquiries please visit http://jobs.ea.com.

For more information and to experience some of the best online games on the Internet, visit www.pogo.com.

Look for Trivial Pursuit to hit mobile phones this winter, with PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and PS2 versions showing up in the early spring.

EA to Deliver TRIVIAL PURSUIT across Pogo.Com, Console and Mobile Platforms

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Gather up your pies and wedges, round up friends and family and join in the fun with the Casual Entertainment Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) as it celebrates the 25th year of TRIVIAL PURSUIT by offering new ways and places to play one of America’s favorite board games. TRIVIAL PURSUIT will be released on multiple digital platforms including online at Pogo.com™, across several consoles and on mobile phones.

The first version released is TRIVIAL PURSUIT ® DAILY 20™ on Pogo.com. Players will enjoy showcasing their knowledge and skills with a daily dose of interactive online trivia. Answering the questions correctly will earn the player points toward acquiring wedges in pursuit of collecting all the pie pieces by the end of the week. Hop online and play now at www.pogo.com/games/trivial.

The console version of TRIVIAL PURSUIT brings the party to the living room TV allowing players to customize the experience with several ways to play. Players can connect with friends in classic TRIVIAL PURSUIT mode, hone their knowledge with the single player mode, and gather their buddies and bet on their brains with the high stakes mode where every answer counts. TRIVIAL PURSUIT will release on Xbox 360™, PlayStation®2, PLAYSTATION®3 and Wii™ in early spring 2009.

For even more fun, EA is bringing TRIVIAL PURSUIT to life on mobile phones from EA Mobile™. Fans will learn fun facts, discover odd answers and experience hours of thrills right on a phone. The mobile version has two fun ways to play – collect wedges and fill your pie in classic mode, or choose to race to the finish line in pursuit mode. Players will be dazzled by rich visuals, animations and sound effects. TRIVIAL PURSUIT from EA Mobile will be available for purchase in North America, Europe and Asia this winter. For more information on carrier availability and pricing, please visit www.eamobile.com.

”TRIVIAL PURSUIT is a beloved game of many families. We’re so excited to be able to bring daily bites of fresh new trivia to our Pogo.com players. We have thousands of questions to draw from ensuring every day delivers a new set of fun facts,” said Andrew Pedersen, Pogo General Manager. “EA‘s goal is to give people many ways to play TRIVIAL PURSUIT. Whether playing with family across the country online at Pogo.com, in your living room with friends or on your cell phone while waiting to pick up the kids from school, there’s a way for everyone to have fun.”

“It promises to be an incredibly exciting year for TRIVIAL PURSUIT fans around the world,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager, Digital Media and Gaming, Hasbro. “Often referred to as ‘a party in a box’, TRIVIAL PURSUIT will celebrate its 25th anniversary by breaking out of the box and landing on a variety of popular online, handheld and console formats allowing a test of wits showdown to unfold in the palm of your hand anytime, anyplace.”

The real question here is “Why the hell are so many people wasting their entire day playing games on a social networking site?” How is anything getting done, anywhere?

Scrabulous is Back! Its New Name is Wordscraper [Mashable via CNET]

In January when Hasbro first began to fuss about Scrabulous, many were perplexed — wasn't the prolific Facebook board game an homage to the original, arguably even a sort of viral marketing? But today's infringement suit announcement comes just after Electronic Arts, through its partnership with Hasbro, launched its own official Scrabble game on Facebook, a launch no doubt complicated by the existence of an unlicensed, competing game.

Hasbro says Scrabulous infringes on its intellectual property rights, and is suing creators Rajat Agarwalla and Jayant Agarwalla, while requesting that Facebook pull the application immediately.

Full announcement follows the jump.

Hasbro, Inc. Files Infringement Suit Against Creators of Scrabulous Game Application
Suit Filed in Southern District of New York Centers on Application’s Infringement of Hasbro’s SCRABBLE Intellectual Property Rights in the U.S. and Canada

PAWTUCKET, R.I.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) today filed suit against the creators of the Scrabulous game application, which infringes on the Company’s SCRABBLE intellectual property rights.

In addition, Hasbro has delivered to Facebook, which hosts the Scrabulous game, a notification of copyright infringement under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (or the “DMCA”) requesting that they remove the Scrabulous application in the U.S. and Canada as soon as possible.

“Hasbro has an obligation to act appropriately against infringement of our intellectual properties,” said Barry Nagler, Hasbro’s General Counsel. “We view the Scrabulous application as clear and blatant infringement of our SCRABBLE intellectual property, and we are pursuing this legal action in accordance with the interests of our shareholders, and the integrity of the SCRABBLE brand.”

The suit, which was filed in the Southern District of New York earlier today, names Scrabulous creators, Rajat Agarwalla and Jayant Agarwalla, and RJ Softwares as the defendants.

Hasbro has a strategic alliance with Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) to create digital games based on a huge array of Hasbro’s intellectual properties. As part of this alliance, Electronic Arts launched a legitimate version of SCRABBLE for Facebook earlier this month. This represents the first of many Hasbro game properties slated to launch on social networking sites later this year.

“Hasbro and Electronic Arts are very pleased to offer fans an authentic SCRABBLE experience on Facebook, which is complementary to EA’s full-range of SCRABBLE offerings — from the cell phone, to the iPod, and now, social networking,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager, Hasbro Digital Media and Gaming. “Hasbro and EA have worked diligently to provide a great game play experience on Facebook, and we are confident that fans of the game will welcome a genuine experience highlighted by top of the line graphics, strong technical support, and of course, classic SCRABBLE game play.”

“After playing with EA's version of SCRABBLE on Facebook, I have no doubt that SCRABBLE players in the U.S. and Canada will absolutely love the authentic game play and overall experience,” said John D. Williams Jr., Executive Director of the National SCRABBLE Association (NSA). “I am particularly pleased that EA's version of SCRABBLE offers such a simple and intuitive interface which will allow players to jump right in and start playing. Between the classic board game, Facebook, Pogo, the iPod and the iPhone, our members can now play their favorite game virtually anytime, anywhere.”

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, TIGER, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at www.hasbro.com. (C)2008 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The video game version seems to have added a bit more than just pulling out plastic organs from a precarious piece of human-shaped plastic machinery, though. You play as up-and-coming surgeon Dr. Humerus, who diagnoses patients with wacky illnesses at five different hospitals on his way to becoming an expert surgeon through microgames "reminiscent of the board game," but it's also got a story mode, upgradeable hospitals, and multiplayer.

EA's launching it on its casual Pogo site in North America and Europe in August, and in a retail box in North America in September. Full details after the jump.

EA Injects Zany Medical Mayhem With Operation Mania
Wednesday July 23, 8:11 am ET
Hasbro Family Favorite Goes Digital on Pogo.com and at Retail

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—What do you do when you are the doctor and someone comes into your hospital with butterflies in their stomach, water on the knee, and a frog in the throat? Operate of course! From EA’s (Nasdaq:ERTS - News) casual games site Pogo.comTM comes OPERATIONTM Mania - a new twist on the classic OPERATION board game from Hasbro. Become an expert surgeon as you admit, diagnose and treat patients with the zaniest ailments in healthcare history. Play as Dr. Humerus who is an up and coming surgeon as he builds his reputation and is called in to save the day at five different hospitals in fun and wacky locations.
Race against the clock to send a variety of patients including well-known and beloved Cavity Sam through a series of treatment stations. Perform surgery and become an expert surgeon by completing micro-games reminiscent of the board game. Be quick and effective with treatment before the patient’s nose starts flashing and time is up! OPERATION Mania will be available online at Pogo.com in North America and the U.K. in August and at retail in North America in September for $19.95.

Key features of OPERATION Mania include:

Hospital management: Diagnose and treat both standard and emergency patients, and run them through a gauntlet of medical procedures including admissions, x-ray and of course operations!
Unique hospital settings: Advance through 35 levels and five hospitals in different regions on a wacky continent.
Two game modes: Rise through the ranks in Story Mode or go for a challenge in Marathon Mode to care for patients as long as possible and experiment with endless upgrade combinations.
Micro-games: Show surgical finesse by completing micro-games with a steady hand. The bite sized challenges are reminiscent of the board game that people have come to know and love.
Upgrade the hospital: Spend money earned curing patients to buy upgrades for the hospital, including better equipment, faster service and additional staff.
Multiplayer: Overcrowded waiting rooms can be alleviated by referring patients to friends and family online.
Pogo General Manager Andrew Pedersen said, “We are delighted to bring Hasbro’s OPERATION to the digital medium for the first time ever. Our goal was to stay true to a game loved by so many while giving it its own unique heart beat. By blending the urgency of time management with fun OPERATION micro-games inspired by the board game, we’re giving people a new way to play and enjoy a timeless classic.”

“OPERATION Mania challenges virtual doctors of all ages to scrub in and test their operating room skills,” said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Hasbro Digital Media and Gaming. “The Pogo.com team has done a fantastic job of taking the popular 40-year old brand and digitally bringing it to life by animating Cavity Sam, introducing new characters and settings, and creating more ways to play.”

For more information and to experience some of the best online games on the Internet, visit www.pogo.com. For screenshots and assets, please visit info.ea.com.

"EA is taking MONOPOLY'S core gameplay and bringing it to life in a way never before imagined," said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager of EA's Casual Label. "With this dynamic take on Hasbro's classic board game, we've accelerated the pace of play, added new interactive mini-game sequences and integrated multi-player moments designed to make MONOPOLY a non-stop party for the whole family."

EAs finally openly admitted to creating a video game Monopoly.

(Many thanks to Fahey's wit.)

EA DEALS PRIME REAL ESTATE IN
MONOPOLY VIDEO GAME

Most Played Board Game in the World Reinvented
With a Party Twist For Next-Gen Video Game Platforms

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - April 23, 2008 - The Casual Entertainment Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today released additional details on MONOPOLY (working title), the first Hasbro-branded video game set to launch on next-generation consoles including Wii™ and the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system. MONOPOLY will also be appearing on the PLAYSTATION®2 computer entertainment system as well as mobile phones and Pogo.com™. The multiplatform video game is inspired by Hasbro's highly anticipated MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: The World Edition board game. Currently, the MONOPOLY video games are set to release this fall simultaneously with the global launch of the new board game.

The MONOPOLY video games promise a fresh take on the timeless classic with accessible gameplay for players of all ages and skill levels. The all-new digital gaming edition brings a party twist and features 4-player simultaneous play, ensuring that everyone is engaged and allowing the whole family to get involved in the fun and play together. Faster gameplay eliminates downtime freeing up players to wheel and deal their way through some of the most recognizable cities and landmarks from around the world. Families can fill up their passports as they try to unlock new and never-before-seen game boards or challenge each other to fun interactive mini-games like breaking out of the jail cell and running away with all the loot. Play in offline single or multi-player mode and compete to own it all and win!

"EA is taking MONOPOLY'S core gameplay and bringing it to life in a way never before imagined," said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager of EA's Casual Label. "With this dynamic take on Hasbro's classic board game, we've accelerated the pace of play, added new interactive mini-game sequences and integrated multi-player moments designed to make MONOPOLY a non-stop party for the whole family."

"It promises to be a very exciting fall for MONOPOLY fans worldwide," said Mark Blecher, General Manager of Digital Media and Gaming at Hasbro. "EA has done a tremendous job of re-imagining the world's most popular board game by remaining true to the traditional gameplay that millions of consumers have come to love while also creating new digital twists that can only be achieved in an interactive world. Rolling the dice and passing go will never be the same."

Hasbro Inc. (HAS) and Universal Pictures formed a six-year strategic partnership to produce at least four motion pictures based on brands such as Monopoly, Candy Land, Ouija, Battleship, Magic, the Gathering and Stretch Armstrong.

Hopefully, it won't just be relegated to mobile phones and Pogo.com, instead featuring billions of red lasers and blue lasers generating next-gen sparks, ultimately missing every single intended target. Sure, the G.I. Joe movie may have a few head-scratching choices, but that doesn't mean our inner eight year olds aren't wicked psyched.

EA develops Hasbro properties [Variety]

Electronic Arts today announced nine Hasbro games that will be hitting a variety of platforms over the next year.

Littlest Pet Shop and NERF "N-Strike" are both set to come to the Wii and DS this fall, with Littlest Pet Shop also making its way to the PC. Scrabble, Monopoly Here and Now and Yahtzee Adventures are all being developed for mobile phones. Electronic Arts is also developing Yahtzee, Monopoly Here and Now: World Edition, Trivial Pursuit and Operation for their online casual gaming service, Pogo.com.

"EA and Hasbro want to give families new ways to enjoy games; we want give them a new way to come together, connect, spend time and have fun around the TV or online," said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager of EA's Hasbro Studio. "Bringing the spirit of these games to life as video games has allowed us to create really unique and creative experiences for families and friends of all ages to enjoy together at home or online."

"We are thrilled that together we are bringing our great toys and games to life in the digital world and providing consumers with new and dynamic ways to enjoy our amazing brands," said Mark Blecher, Hasbro's Senior Vice President of Digital Media and Gaming.

EA will be showing off a number of the games at the upcoming Toy Fair in New York later this month. Hit the jump for the full release with game descriptions.

EA ANNOUNCES FIRST HASBRO TITLES IN DEVELOPMENT — PLAYERS CAN COLLECT, BLAST, DEAL OR SPELL THEIR WAY TO VIDEO GAME FUN!

LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, MONOPOLY and YAHTZEE among First Franchises to Hit a Variety of Game Systems, Online and Mobile under EA and Hasbro Agreement

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - February 11, 2008 - EA Casual Entertainment today announces its first step in transforming the interactive family entertainment landscape with its initial slate of Hasbro games in development on a variety of game consoles, mobile devices and for online play. These games provide new ways for families to build relationships through digital entertainment with some of world's greatest brands. The first Nintendo Wii and DS titles that will be available this fall are LITTLEST PET SHOP, and NERF "N-Strike," both in production at EA's Salt Lake Studio. EA also is developing new MONOPOLY and SCRABBLE ®(in North America) titles for multiple platforms, as well as other titles that will be announced later this year.

Mobile gamers can already experience the fun of SCRABBLE (in North America) and YAHTZEE DELUXE on their phones. Starting this spring, EA Mobile will introduce the next generation of classic Hasbro titles. The first games in this exciting new expansion include MONOPOLY HERE & NOW, TRIVIAL PURSUIT®, RISK, and YAHTZEE ADVENTURES, a re-invention of the classic dice game.

For online web play EA's Pogo.com is developing engaging, authentic online experiences for MONOPOLY and YAHTZEE as fun, multiplayer experiences. Trivia fans can look forward to the much anticipated launch of TRIVIAL PURSUIT this fall. Additionally, Pogo.com is launching two connected downloadable titles, OPERATION and PICTUREKA, which can be played offline or players can connect online on Pogo for bonus features and the social experience of playing the game with others. With more than 13 million visitors a month, the pogo.com community delivers a unique online experience for family and friends to connect and play these hugely popular Hasbro games together in the virtual world.

"EA and Hasbro want to give families new ways to enjoy games; we want give them a new way to come together, connect, spend time and have fun around the TV or online," said Chip Lange, Vice President and General Manager of EA's Hasbro Studio. "Bringing the spirit of these games to life as video games has allowed us to create really unique and creative experiences for families and friends of all ages to enjoy together at home or online."

"We are thrilled that together we are bringing our great toys and games to life in the digital world and providing consumers with new and dynamic ways to enjoy our amazing brands," said Mark Blecher, Hasbro's Senior Vice President of Digital Media and Gaming.

At Hasbro's Toy Fair showcase in New York February 17-19th, EA will unveil LITTLEST PET SHOP on the Wii and DS, NERF "N-Strike", and EA Mobile's SCRABBLE, YAHTZEE ADVENTURES and MONOPOLY HERE & NOW.

EA HASBRO TITLES IN DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE:
LITTLEST PET SHOP for Wii, DS and PC, scheduled to ship Fall 08
LITTLEST PET SHOP brings the magic of owning your own pet shop to your home. EA brings the quirkiness and cuteness of the popular Hasbro girl's brand to life in a new digital world. Players can explore three unique environments as they unlock new pets, playsets, accessories and more.
Players will discover magical moments of delight as they build relationships with their pets. This game is the next must-have addition to fans growing Littlest Pet Show collection. Add to the ultimate Littlest Pet Show collection with three different versions of the Nintendo DS game; each with unique pets.

NERF "N-Strike" for Wii and DS, scheduled to ship Fall 08
Become the master of mayhem in the first NERF blaster action game. In a world created to be the perfect landscape for NERF pandemonium, players can wreak havoc and perfect their blasting skills or challenge friends to clashes with both single and multi-player game modes. With the brand new custom NERF blaster, players can then take the action outside as their controller transforms to fire actual NERF darts!

EA MOBILE
SCRABBLE® for mobile phones, currently available in North America
This exciting update of the classic board game now includes flexible difficulty levels, built-in word list, dynamic animations, scrolling and full-board views. Easy-to-use controls allow for alone play, a challenge with computer in a phone, or enjoy pass 'n play with a friend. Easily keep track of game scores and statistics. Fun new features appeal to both wordplay mavens and casual gamers. Test word wits with SCRABBLE!

MONOPOLY HERE AND NOW for mobile phones, scheduled to ship in March 08
Monopoly Here and Now, a modern makeover of the world's most popular board game. Buy and sell destinations around the U.S. as you compete to own it all and win! Unique player icons, sound effects, vivid graphics and easy-to-use, one-button controls deliver all the excitement of the beloved game.

YAHTZEE ADVENTURES for mobile phones, scheduled to ship in April 08
Play the treasured dice game on your phone. Travel the globe, meet new characters and challenge them to a game, roll the colorful dice and be the first to score a YAHTZEE! Enjoy Classic, Duplicate, Rainbow and Battle modes. Pass 'n Play with your friends, or try your hand at a Yahtzee single-player adventure. Dynamic, exciting gameplay, easy controls, automatic scorekeeping deliver terrific mobile entertainment for you, your friends and family.

POGO.COM GAMES
YAHTZEE for online play: scheduled to release Summer 08
Shake, Score and Shout YAHTZEE with family and friends online! There are two ways to win in this fun and addictive game from Pogo.com. Compete for the top score on a real-time leader board as you and up to 19 people roll the dice in a series of timed rounds. Show your team spirit as you collaborate with other players to advance your team goal and earn bonuses for scoring YAHTZEE together. Take the YAHTZEE fun online!

MONOPOLY HERE & NOW: WORLD EDITION for online play: scheduled to release Fall 08
Risk it all to own it all online! Jet set across the globe and buy and sell property in the most desirable cities in the world. Play alone or wheel and deal with up to 3 people using one of three sets of rules or make the game more challenging by customizing your own game. The unique player icons, sound effects and graphics deliver all the excitement of the beloved game. Will you be the next the next online billionaire?

TRIVIAL PURSUIT for online play: scheduled to release Fall 08
Get your daily dose of trivia fun online! Challenge your daily trivia knowledge with an easy to access, interactive online trivia game. Answer the trivia questions correctly and earn points towards your wedges in pursuit of completing your pie collection by the end of the week. The player with a full pie wins! Not a trivia expert? Take a stab at it. There's something in it for everyone!

OPERATION downloadable game for the PC: scheduled to release Fall 08
The medicine is madcap and YOU are the M.D. as the ER goes arcade-crazy in OPERATION. Your role: emergency surgeon. Your challenge: diagnose and treat patients by successfully performing operations, each one a mini-game. Resources are limited and the clock is ticking, so you've got to heal 'em up and move 'em out.... Do well, and you earn points and upgrades for your hospital. Do poorly, and you'll face malpractice lawsuits from angry plaintiffs with glowing noses. Either way, OPERATION will have you — and your patients — in stitches!

EA's Hasbro games in development are part of the newly formed EA Casual Entertainment Label within Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ:ERTS). The Casual Entertainment Label is focused on creating and delivering fun and appealing casual entertainment experiences for a mass audience. With simple rules and engaging designs, these games are easy for a new player to learn but difficult to master. EA's casual games portfolio include such titles as recently announced BOOM BLOX, and currently available SmartyPants™ for the Wii™, Tetris® for mobile phones and the online gaming destination Pogo.com™.

Imagine all of the fun, strategy, and intrigue of a game of Risk without having to set aside an entire evening in order to play a game through to conclusion! It makes me want to break out my old copy of the game and make up my own objectives, though in my case they'd be more like, "Avoid landing on any soda stains", which is much trickier than it sounds.

So why is this important to the video gaming crowd? As Newsweek's N'Gai Croal reminds us, back in August EA signed a deal with Hasbro granting them the rights to create casual games based off of Hasbro intellectual properties. While the original Risk would never have worked via Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network, Risk: Black Ops would be simply sublime. We'll keep an eye out, but don't be surprised if EA jumps on this one in the near future.

Risk: Black Ops [Gamers With Jobs via Newsweek's Level Up]