Wizards of the Coast 2004 Game Lineup

Wizards of the Coast, a subsidiary of Hasbro, was expected to unveil several new trading card games at the American International Toy Fair in New York today, including Duel Masters, currently the top game in Japan, and Star Sisterz, which features collectible charms.

According to a press release, Wizards will also preview new expansions for its popular Neopets and Magic: the Gathering games, a G.I. Joe trading card game, the MLB Showdown 2004 sports card game, and new Star Wars miniatures.

Following are descriptions of the games provided by Wizards of the Coast:

After topping the charts in Japan, Duel Masters is headed to the U.S. Duel Masters comic books have sold through their first printing in the U.S., and a Duel Masters TV show premiers this spring. Duel Masters is about battling monsters -- or "Kaijudo!," as players in the know exclaim. Wizards of the Coast will release the Duel Masters trading card game in early March 2004, and Hasbro is developing Duel Masters action figures and board games for release later this year.

Girls love to spend time with friends and keep up with the latest fashions and Star Sisterz is the hot new fashion-forward game they'll be talking about this year. Star Sisterz poses fun dares and crazy challenges -- e.g., sing in public for 30 seconds or go to the mall with all your clothes inside-out -- and then rewards girls with custom-made, silver, collectable charms they can keep on their very own Star Sisterz charm bracelet. The first collection, called Sunburst, features nearly 100 charms to collect, wear and trade. Charms and cards are random.

Coinciding with this year's 40th anniversary of Hasbro's original action figure, Wizards will release a G.I. Joe trading card game in the fall of 2004. Trading card game players will get to command their own G.I. Joe or Cobra team by building their decks with characters such as Duke, Snake Eyes, Agent Scarlett, Cobra Commander, Destro and Storm Shadow.

A land full of heroes and adventure lies ahead for the millions of Neopets fans in Battle for Meridell, the first expansion for Wizards' popular Neopets trading card game. This new card set features 10 new species of Neopets, among them Skeith, Draik, Ixi, and Usul, as well as a new item class called Plushies. And there are 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 their bank. Put 21 points of Items and Equipment in your bank and you win the game.

On the heels of a successful 10th anniversary year, Magic: the Gathering players can look forward to an exciting new expansion set, Darksteel. This latest expansion for one of the world's most widely played trading card games introduces all-new creatures and the "indestructible" game mechanic. Indesctructible cards are impossible to destroy. There are no Magic cards that can destroy these new Indestructible cards. 2004 also marks the return to the U.S. of the Magic: the Gathering World Championship. The Championship takes places this summer in San Francisco and is expected to attract players from more than 50 countries.

The MLB Showdown sports card game puts fans in control of their favorite players and very own major league franchise. The MLB Showdown 2004 base set, due out just in time for Opening Day '04, features the most current roster of players available and combines a challenging strategy game with the fun of collecting your favorite players' cards.

Now Star Wars fans can get in on the fun of prepainted, plastic miniatures. Star Wars Miniatures let players reenact their favorite battle scenes between the Rebel forces and the evil Empire with 60-unique figures, including Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, Jabba the Hutt and more. Wizards plans a second set of Star Wars Miniatures based on the Clone Wars (between Episodes II and III).