Hasbro at the 2009 American International Toy Fair

For 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up. Available fall 2009, about $35.
This version of Monopoly adds entirely new strategies to the game, with more than 80 plastic structures available to players, including industrial blocks, stadiums, skyscrapers and parks. Hasbro says that Monopoly City "represents one of the most radical game developments in Monopoly history." One of the new twists is that you can negatively impact other players' property values by building undesirable structures nearby. An online game, Monopoly City Streets, is scheduled to debut several weeks before the board game is released.

For 2 to 5 players, ages 9 and up. Available fall 2009, about $25.
In Clue: Secrets & Spies, players must infiltrate the Criminal League for Ultimate Espionage (C.L.U.E.) and stop its plan for world domination by intercepting Agent Black. As the game begins, players can call C.L.U.E. headquarters to receive text messages during the game which will impact gameplay. According to a Hasbro press release, the "true identities of Agent Mustard, Agent Scarlet and crew are kept secret as players work independently to complete missions by using clues from the game and real-time tips sent via optional cell phone text messages. The agent who completes the most missions before being discovered ... wins the game." The game board is a map of the world.

For 2 to 4 players, ages 6 and up. Available early 2010.
This is a streamlined version of a game that was first released in 2002 (also titled Star Wars Epic Duels). I absolutely adore the original version, so I'm thrilled that its getting another chance with characters from the Clone Wars universe. More information about the gameplay was not immediately available.

For 2 or more players, ages 6 and up. Available fall 2009, about $25.
The party game Pictureka was a hit for Hasbro in 2008, and fans of the game should enjoy the 2009 offerings including this motorized, penguin-powered version. The penguin is placed in the middle of the table and flips small game tiles onto the table in a circular pattern. Players race to find a drawing on one of the tiles that matches the mission cards before the penguin starts adding more tiles. As with the original game, the appealingly quirky artwork is a big part of the draw. My friends and I really enjoyed Pictureka!, so I'm looking forward to this. Also scheduled for release are smaller, seasonally-themed (e.g. Halloween, Easter) editions of Pictureka!.

For 2 to 6 players, ages 8 and up. Available spring 2009, about $7 each.
These six new card games all seem like they will hold appeal to families for whom time is short, and in the current economy you can't beat the low cost. The games are: Monopoly Deal, Scrabble Slam (for 2 to 4 players), Crazy Old Fish War (ages 7 and up), Rook, Littlest Pet Shop Go Fish (ages 5 and up), and the Pictureka! Card Game (ages 7 and up, available fall 2009). Deluxe versions of these card games (three of which are pictured here) will also be available.

For 4 or more players, ages 12 and up. Available fall 2009, about $30.
Team members are encouraged to work together in this new version of Trivial Pursuit. The traditional "right or wrong" style of question has been reaplced with six types of questions: Multiple Choice, Name Six, Go for Broke, Reference, More or Less, and "Are You the Expert?". And, for the first time in a Trivial Pursuit game, partial credit can be earned. The game is played over four rounds, with six questions per round. A team can earn from 1 to 6 points for each question, and the team farthest ahead at the end of the game wins.

For 2 players, ages 7 and up. Available spring 2009, about $20.
This is a completely reworked version of the original Battleship game, and it will replace classic Battleship on store shelves. The grid has been redesigned and new game play elements have been introduced, including the challenge of trying to save a crewmember stuck on an island -- and being able to place your ships with a diagonal orientation.

For 1 or more players, ages 8 and up. Available fall 2009, about $20.
This new dexterity game uses the Jenga brand name, but is really an entirely new game. Players use interlocking plastic pieces to build on top of a tower, trying not to put on a piece that causes it to topple over.

For 2 players, ages 7 and up. Available August 2009, about $20.
This themed edition of Battleship is scheduled to be released in conjunction with the film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, starring Dennis Quaid, Marlon Wayans and Sienna Miller.

For 2 or more players, ages 9 and up. Available fall 2009, about $20.
This edition of the classic Game of Life gives players the chance to confront radical scenarios, such as having sextuplets and getting married while skydiving. Players can also own an extreme home, such as a castle, and assume an extreme career, such as a stunt car driver. Much of the game content was derived from real-life submissions by people around the world, and a web site will allow players to design and print their own cards.