From Erik Arneson,
Your Guide to Board / Card Games.
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Beyblades, Hasbro's battling tops, were one of the hottest toys of 2002, with more than 2 million Beyblades sold in the U.S. alone. In 2003, Hasbro announced plans to manufacture many new Beyblades, including a new remote-controlled top.

Beyblade fans will also be able to start tracking their collection of Beyblade tops to see which ones are "retiring" to make way for the newest sets of tops each month. By visiting Hasbro's web site or using the product guide to be included with each top beginning late spring, players can record which tops they've already collected, find out which are retired, and see which ones they want to collect.

The following Beyblade games were were featured by Hasbro at the 2003 American International Toy Fair in New York City:

New Beyblade Tops

Remote Control Top with Launcher (Approximate retail price: $34.99) -- This new electronic assortment of four different tops, available in August 2003, offers a remote control launcher and ripcord that allows players to control and design their own battle strategy by choosing to make the top spin clockwise or counterclockwise around the Beystadium arena. It's easy to master and operate -- just move the trigger forward or backward on the radio control launcher to set the radio control Beyblade top (included) in motion. This action-packed new set also includes a ripcord, Bit Chip, label sheet and instructions.

Electronic Beyblade Assortment (Approximate retail price: $9.99) -- Several new colors and characters like Dragoon Phantom 2 and Dranzer S 2 will join the electronic high-performance tops collection in 2003. The lights on these tops flash while the tops are spinning and battle sounds engage when the tops collide. They come pre-assembled and in larger scale than the starter set tops. The new tops are scheduled to be available as follows:

• January: Dragoon Storm Yellow and Dragoon Storm Green
• May: Dragoon Phantom 2 Blue Green and Dragoon Phantom 2 Dark Red
• June: Dranzer S 2 Purple and Dranzer S 2 Yellow

Hidden Spirits Assortment (Approximate retail price: $7.99) -- New spirit characters bring a collection of dragon figures directly from the television programming to these tops that feature the same competitive battling action as the starter sets. Players can build their dragon figure separately, or wrap the extra dragon pieces around the Beyblade top to hide the spirit within the top. New characters include:

• May: Giffoloyon 2 and Hayate 2
• June: Zinrai 2 and Salamayon 2

Basic Starter Set Assortment (Approximate retail price: $6.99) -- Every month players can add new basic Beyblade high-performance tops to their collections. Each starter set gives players all the basics they need to start their collection of Beyblade tops, including an unassembled top, stickers, launcher and ripcord. Five customizable and interchangeable parts convert the top into one of four collectible types: defense, attack, endurance or combination. Twenty-five new versions will be available in 2003, including:

• January: Dranzer F, Auto Change Balance / Kai Special, Draciel with EZ Shooter-Defense Type, Trygle-Attack Type and Dragoon Storm-Attack Type
• February: Wolborg 2 and Seaborg 2
• March: Wyborg Attack/Defense Type -- Switchable, Wing Attacker with EZ Shooter-Attack Type
• April: Master Driger and Roller Defense Type
• May: Bump King-Endurance, Knight Dranzer-Combination Type
• June: Draciel Fortress-Defense Type
• July: Jumping Base-Attack Type
• August: Kids Dragoon-Attack Type
• September: Kids Draciel-Defense
• October: Polta
• November: Bistool
• December: Makendo

Beyblade Launchers

Deluxe Launcher Assortment (Approximate retail price: $6.99) -- Deluxe top launchers help give Beyblade Top competitors more control to strategize each launch perfectly. With its sensor aiming light beam, the new Marksmen Grip (January) is just right for left- and right-handers! The Dranzer Grip (April) and Dragoon Grip (June) launchers allow players to customize and personalize their launcher with the same fun and strategy of customizing tops. New in the fall is the Double Launcher (August), the perfect deluxe launcher that allows players to let two tops "rip" at one time, meaning solo action is also possible.

Electronic Launcher Assortment (Approximate retail price: $24.99) -- The ultimate Beyblade triple battling action launching device, the electronic version not only launches with precision, but allows the Beyblade competitor to play virtual battles alone on the LCD computer screen, or to connect launchers with a friend for two-player battles. Dragoon Shooter, Dranzer Shooter and Driger Shooter are available. Each has five electronic modes: Bit Chip Mode, which scans and records up to 59 Bit Chip numbers; Shoot Mode, which measures launching power; Battle Mode, which lets players wage virtual battles against the computer; Status Mode, which allows players to check the current battle level, number of Bit Chips scanned, and the three highest rip scores; and 2-Player Mode, which allows two-player battles by connecting two electronic launchers with the included tether. The electronic launchers also come with a ripcord.

Beystadium Arenas

Medium Beystadium (Approximate retail price: $5.99) -- The key to complete a Beyblade battle is the Beystadium , a lightweight competition arena. In 2003, four medium Beystadium arena will have a new spirit look, and each will have unique slopes to enhance strategic battling action, as well as new themes, shapes and colorful printed graphics. New medium Beystadium arenas are scheduled to be available as follows:

• January: Dragoon Hurricane
• April: Dranzer Flame Field
• August: Draciel Fortress
• September: Driger Den

Super Beystadium (Approximate retail price: $12.99; Recommended age: 8 and up; Availability: July) -- When you and your friends are ready for the ultimate battle try The Vortex. This arena is larger in scale allowing you and several friends to join in on head-to-head battles.

Note: Hasbro did not have a booth at the Javits Convention Center; they displayed their toys and games off-site. I was unable to visit their showroom, so this information is culled from press releases.

This article was originally published in February 2003.