Neopets Trading Card Game: Excitement Continues with All-New Card Set

Business Wire, Jan 19, 2004

Entertainment Editors/Business Editors

RENTON, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 2004

Wizards of the Coast will release Neopets:

Battle for Meridell(TM) January 26

A land of heroes and adventure lies ahead for millions of Neopets(R) fans. Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) announced today its release of the first expansion for the Neopets Trading Card Game: Battle for Meridell(TM). Based on the Neopian(R) land of Meridell, the first expansion for the popular Neopets Trading Card Game (TCG) will introduce new species of pets and a total of 140 new cards with exclusive artwork created by Neopets' artists.

In Battle for Meridell, Lord Darigan returns to threaten Neopia(R). As players explore the land of Meridell(TM) (a land forgotten by the rest of Neopia), they must brave Darigan's citadel and try to distinguish hero from villain. The Battle for Meridell expansion will consist of 9-card booster packs that include a Virtual Prize Code(TM) card (redeemable at www.neopets.com) and two 50-card theme decks, which include an advance rulebook. The Meridell expansion will also contain 10 new species of Neopets, among them Skeith, Draik, Ixi, and Usul, as well as a new Item class called Plushies and new location cards that put players in the world of Meridell.

In the Neopets TCG, players use their Neopets to compete in contests of strength, agility, magic and intelligence. When they win a contest, they get to put an Item or Equipment card in their bank. Put 21 points of Items and Equipment in your bank and you win the game.

The Neopets TCG ranks high with players and critics alike. Toy Wishes magazine recognized the Neopets TCG as a "Holiday All-Star," and the game received "Toy of the Year" nominations from the Toy Industry Association and Kidzworld.com. In addition, the Neopets TCG was selected as an "Editor's Pick" by Playthings magazine.

Neopets: Battle for Meridell At-a-Glance

Battle for Meridell Booster Packs ($3.49 MSRP)

Contents:

-- 8 game cards (1 rare, 2 uncommons, 4 commons, 1 basic pet

card)

-- 1 Virtual Prize Code Card (redeemable once at www.neopets.com)

Battle for Meridell Theme Decks ($9.99 MSRP)

Two-different decks:

Deck A: Meridell themed

Deck B: Darigan themed

Contents:

-- (1) 50 card deck (40 card deck, 10 pet cards)

-- (1) Advanced Rulebook

Look for Neopets: Battle for Meridell in stores beginning January 26.

Neopets.com, consistently ranked among the top-10 "stickiest" sites on the Web by Nielsen/NetRatings, generates over 2.5 billion U.S. page views per month. NeoPets, Inc. created Immersive Advertising(R), the innovative advertising concept that integrates advertisers' products, brands, and services into the site's content in a highly interactive and engaging manner. Numerous Fortune-1000 and other prominent advertisers, such as General Mills, McDonald's, Warner Bros., Hasbro, Kraft Foods, Thinkway Toys, and Hershey's have embraced Immersive Advertising on the www.neopets.com website as a means of reaching the youth market. NeoPets, Inc. is a privately held corporation based in Glendale, California. For additional information, visit the Neopets website at www.neopets.com, or go to info.neopets.com/aboutus.

Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), is a worldwide leader in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game categories, and a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products. The company holds an exclusive patent on a method of playing trading card games (TCGs) and produces the premier trading card game, Magic: The Gathering, among many other trading card games and family card and board games. Wizards is also a leading publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast website at wizards.com.

Virtual Items and Neopoints(R) have no cash value.

Wizards of the Coast and Magic: The Gathering, are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast Inc., in the United States and other countries. (C)2004 Wizards.

Neopets, Neopia, Neopian, Neopoints, and Immersive Advertising are U.S. registered trademarks of NeoPets, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.