Pojo's Friday News Page
April 1st - 2005

PRESS RELEASE: WIZKIDS RELEASES 2005 MLB SPORTSCLIX
WizKids Releases 2005 MLB™ SportsClix™

March 30, 2005 (SEATTLE) — WizKids Inc., makers of the popular Mage Knight™, HeroClix® and MechWarrior® collectible miniatures games (CMGs), is proud to announce the release of 2005 MLB™ SportsClix, the baseball CMG.

“The 2005 MLB™ SportsClix set offers more options for collectors and players alike,” said Mike Samora, WizKids® vice president of Sales and Marketing. “Everything about this great game has been expanded, improved and tweaked for this exciting release.”

The game plays faster, with everything two people need to get into the dugout packaged in one low-priced Starter Set (MSRP $9.99). Booster Packs (MSRP $4.99) expand collections with rare National Baseball Hall of Fame™ players like Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, and they also include the elusive Master Piece Babe Ruth figure, one of which recently brought in $1,325 at a charity auction.

Each Starter Set contains four preselected figures, enough tokens to fill a dugout, complete rules, special dice, a playmat and a collector’s list. Each Booster Pack contains two randomly selected figures. Learn more about MLB™ SportsClix online at www.wizkidsgames.com/sportsclix/mlb.

Founded by 20-year game-industry veteran Jordan Weisman, WizKids is a Seattle-based game developer and publisher dedicated to creating tabletop games driven by imagination. Its Mage Knight, MechWarrior and HeroClix CMGs are among the most successful games on the market today, and the company has sold hundreds of millions of figures worldwide. For additional information, visit www.wizkidsgames.com.

PRESS RELEASE
ROLAND WELLINGTON WINS FIRST WIZARD WORLD HEROCLIX CHAMPIONSHIP INVITATIONAL SERIES OF 2005

Roland Wellington Wins First Wizard World HeroClix Championship Invitational Series of 2005

April 1, 2005 (SEATTLE) — WizKids Inc., makers of the popular Mage Knight™, HeroClix® and MechWarrior® collectable miniatures games (CMGs), is proud to announce that Roland Wellington of Las Vegas, Nev., won the winter cycle of the 2005 Wizard World HeroClix Championship Invitational Series, held March 20 in Long Beach, Calif.

“Roland’s spectacular victory is the culmination of months of competition,” said Mike Samora, WizKids® vice president of Sales and Marketing. The Wizard World HeroClix Championship Invitational Series occurs in four cycles each year, with players beginning competition at their local comic stores and fighting their way toward championship events at four Wizard World comic and gaming conventions throughout the year.

Wellington beat out 6,000 other participants in the 2005 winter Championship Series cycle to claim the prize in Long Beach. Part of his prize package is a HeroClix figure of Roland’s choice, professionally painted by Chris Hart, WizKids’ award-winning artist.

The second 2005 Wizard World HeroClix Championship Invitational Series is already underway; it will culminate in the spring in Philadelphia.

MILTON BRADLEY and DC COMICS ask, 'If you wrote the ending to a comic book...what would it be?'

CALLING ALL YOUNG STORYTELLERS AND HEROSCAPE FANS!
- Devise the best story ending and work with DC COMICS to create the
next HEROSCAPE comic book -

In celebration of its successful building and battling board game, HEROSCAPE, Hasbro's (NYSE: HAS) Milton Bradley brand invites America's young writers to define a mysterious figure, who schemes from the shadows at the end of the third HEROSCAPE comic book. Through a second-year relationship with DC Comics, Milton Bradley uses comics to help tell the back story of its 3-D tabletop game, where heroes and warriors vie in the mythical world of Valhalla. Now, in this third issue, young fans can submit their own ideas on the next chapter in Valhalla's history.

Beginning March 22 and running through June 15, 2005, children ages 8 through 12 can offer their answers to questions like, "Who is this mystery character?"; "What is his or her name?"; and "Does he or she have any special features or powers?" The comic will be online March 22 and available at retail on April 13, as an insert into popular DC Comics titles, including The Batman Strikes!, Teen Titans Go!, and Justice League Unlimited. Children should visit www.heroscape.com for contest details, official rules and online entry. All entries must be 250 words or less.

Writers at DC Comics and designers of HEROSCAPE will judge entries on quality and creativity, choosing one grand-prize winner at the end of July. This winner will adapt his or her winning story to develop the next HEROSCAPE comic book and mini movie, working alongside DC Comics writers and HEROSCAPE designers. The comic book is scheduled for release in November 2005. The grand prize also includes a three-day, two-night stay in New York City for a tour of the DC Comics office as well as a $250 toy store gift certificate. Twenty five second-place winners will each be awarded one HEROSCAPE poster signed by the DC Comics art team. 

Yu-Gi-Oh contestants engage in battle of wits

"I like games that keep your mind busy planning and calculating what you think the opponent might do," Gallegos said.

He said playing Yu-Gi-Oh is better than chess for strategy, better than Risk for battle and more fun than typical card games such as poker or bridge.

Those who play such games are serious, dedicated and consider it their primary source of recreation.  FullStory

Star Wars Miniatures

Wizards of the Coast updated with four sneak previews of Yuzzem, Boba Fett, Gotal Fringer, and Dark Side Adept from the upcoming Revenge of the Sith set in the Star Wars Miniatures collection.  FullStory




 

Hasbro's Highly Anticipated Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith Toys and Games Available on April 2 at a Galaxy Not Far Away

Most Diverse and Innovative Star Wars Line-up Yet from Hasbro Takes Saga to New Heights with Exciting Role Play Toys, Innovative Action Figure Battle Game --

The Force is strong with Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) as its most diverse and highly innovative line ever of Star Wars toys and games, based on Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, hits store shelves worldwide on April 2, 2005. Kids and Star Wars fans of all ages eagerly awaiting the film's May 19 release can take home a piece of the Star Wars fantasy as early as 12:01 a.m. on April 2 at "Midnight Madness" events at select retailers nationwide. The celebration will continue all weekend long with a host of exciting Star Wars events at hundreds of Wal-Mart stores and other retailers nationwide. Creating a Force-filled atmosphere, Wal-Mart stores will present interactive toy & game demonstrations and free Star Wars prize giveaways (while supplies last).  FullStory

DEVIL'S DUE TO ACQUIRE "DUNGEONS & DRAGONS" LICENSE

Devil’s Due Publishing (DDP) is finalizing negotiations to acquire the license to the entire D&D® library from the Hasbro Properties Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS). The proposed agreement will allow DDP to develop comic book and graphic novel properties based on D&D and its various universes, including Forgotten Realms®, Dragonlance®, Ravenloft™, Eberron™ and Spell Jammers™. When the agreement is entered into, beginning this summer, the rich world of Wizards of the Coast’s Dungeons & Dragons ® property will come to life through the efforts of DDP.  FullStory
 

Turbine Secures Publishing Rights for Dungeons & Dragons Online in Asia

Turbine, Inc., a premier publisher of online subscription entertainment, announced today that it has taken over the exclusive Asian language publishing rights from Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) to sublicense the distribution, localization and operation of the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online game Dungeons & Dragons(R) Online in Asia. As a result, Turbine is currently looking for partners in a number of Asian markets to distribute, launch and operate D&D(R) Online locally.

"Dungeons & Dragons is a worldwide phenomenon that knows no boundaries," said Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO, Turbine, Inc. "Asian markets are excited to bring the game to their players, but each country requires local game support and distribution. Consequently, we are actively signing up the best partners to bring D&D Online to the entire world."  FullStory

Upper Deck and AFL Success is in the Cards

When Upper Deck releases its 2005 Arena Football League trading card set this April it will mark a first for the 19-year-old league. The pending release marks the culmination of an agreement that started to come together early in 2004 and will bear fruit in the next few weeks. FullStory

Tekken 5 Review

The latest in a long series of fighting games, Tekken 5 is the apex of this series. Blending fighting styles from previous games, Tekken 5 is a fast paced fighting game that will keep you on your toes. Introducing three new characters to its already decent line up, Tekken 5's combatants are varied and fun to play. FullStory

God Of War's Sonic Fury
Composer interview and soundtrack review.

With it's sweeping mythological undertones it's no wonder that God Of War has become one of the hottest action/adventure games released for the PS2 in the Winter/Spring interlude of 2005. FullStory

Burnout 3: Takedown

Are you bored with averagely "pretty" racing games? Do you want your cars to crush as they smash into a building at 200 mph? Or do you just want to screw the racing and just cause as much damage as you can? Well the demands have been met. Burnout 3 has finally arrived. FullStory

SUBWAY Restaurants, Pokemon USA and 4Kids Entertainment Team Up for Pokemon Promotion

SUBWAY(R) Restaurants, Pokemon USA and 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE) have launched a promotion now offering one of four new Pokemon(R) action toy premiums with the purchase of SUBWAY(R) Restaurant's popular Kids' Pak(R) meals.

The Pokemon promotion runs through May 8, 2005 at participating SUBWAY(R) Restaurant locations in the United States and Canada, while supplies last. In keeping with the SUBWAY(R) chain's commitment to its F.R.E.S.H. Steps program, which encourages children to eat healthy and keep active, these familiar, action-oriented Pokemon toy premiums promote energetic playtime activity. The toy premiums available include:

-- "Crazy Poke Ball"
-- "Deoxys(TM) Whirl"
-- "Pokemon Lacrosse Stick"
-- "Rayquaza(TM) Disc"

FullStory

Hoax or Hey You, Pikachu 2?

Although nothing has yet been confirmed, a recent Pokemon flyer on Filb.de suggests that a new Pokemon game featuring Pikachu is in development for the Nintendo DS. From what can be inferred, the game is very similar to Hey You! Pikachu released several years ago on the Nintendo 64. Source

Nintendo will be releasing five games in June 2005.

Nintendo of America today announced its forecast for a flurry of five new games in the month of June.

The flurries are expected to move in on June 13th, with Yoshi Topsy-Turvy for the Game Boy Advance, Pennant Chase Baseball for the Nintendo GameCube, and Kirby: Canvas Curse for the Nintendo DS.

Another round of flurry activity is forecast for June 27, with Geist for the Nintendo GameCube and Meteos for the Nintendo DS. Source