Families Spending More Time Together at Home Playing Classic Board Games

The family is home for the holidays and its time to pull out a board game to liven things up. But which game? Following the success of last year's THE SIMPSONS, SCOOBY-DOO and I LOVE LUCY Editions of the MONOPOLY game, USAOPOLY, a licensee of Hasbro, Inc., promises more fun family entertainment in 2002 with the PEANUTS and SPIDER-MAN Editions of the MONOPOLY game, as well as the award-winning CLUE: SCOOBY-DOO Edition.

This holiday, families are going back to what they know. Familiar MONOPOLY and CLUE game play together with beloved characters such as Scooby-Doo, PEANUTS and Spider-Man, make it easy for both new and older generations to enjoy Hasbro's classic board games with a twist, said Dane Chapin, CEO of USAOPOLY. Specialty versions of the MONOPOLY and CLUE games are sure to add sparkle to annual get-togethers this holiday season, Chapin said.

Licensed games are hot this year, said Ellen Heaney-Mizer, Gift Buyer with Barnes & Noble and B. Dalton. How do I know? Were actually selling games in the middle of the year thanks in part to USAOPOLY and their line of classic board games. And, my weekly focus groups tell me whats hot and whats not. Heaney-Mizer commutes 21/2 hours to and from work every day. Shes found the train to be a great place to evaluate new board games. My commuter friends enjoy Game Day and I get instant feedback that I factor into my buying decisions, she said. From the PEANUTS and Spider-Man Editions of the MONOPOLY game, to the Scooby-Doo Edition of the CLUE game, USAOPOLY offers a strong line of licensed board games that cross-merchandises well with our other product. This holiday, its the best brand name games tied to the hottest entertainment licenses that will appeal to consumers.

MONOPOLY®: PEANUTS® COLLECTOR'S EDITION

You've Come A Long Way, Charlie Brown! America's favorite board game and the worlds most popular comic strip team up to bring fans the MONOPOLY: PEANUTS COLLECTORS Edition. Commemorating over fifty years of PEANUTS, this Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal award-winning game honors Charles Schulzs remarkable artistic and storytelling legacy in a way PEANUTS fans of all ages can enjoy. Employing classic MONOPOLY game strategy, players vie to own the entire PEANUTS neighborhood, including the Brick Wall, Pumpkin Patch, Schroeder's piano and Bus Stop. Properties on the game board showcase original illustrations of the entire PEANUTS gang, with Snoopy featured in two classic poses on the traditional Boardwalk and Park Place spaces. This customized game comes complete with six collectible pewter playing pieces, including Snoopy’s supper dish, Lucys psychiatric booth and Charlie Brown’s football.

MONOPOLY: SPIDER-MAN COLLECTORS EDITION

Spider-Man fans now have the chance to help good prevail over evil in the new MONOPOLY: SPIDER-MAN COLLECTOR'S Edition. In classic MONOPOLY fashion, players take risks and make deals web-slinging around a completely customized game board showcasing classic Marvel Comics' comic book artwork. Using super spider sense, strength, spider speed and agility, players must wheel and deal for 22 of the baddest villains including Doctor Octopus, Mysterio, Sandman, Scorpion, Electro and Jackal, to name a few. Players can choose to be one of six collectible pewter playing pieces such as Peter Parker, Spider-Man, Spider Buggy, Spidey's web shooter, Green Goblin and Venom. Classic Spider-Man artwork is also showcased on the title deed cards, as well as on the Spider-Man and Peter Parker cards, which replace Chance and Community Chest cards, respectively. Fans can now get $200 in web crawler cash (instead of traditional MONOPOLY game money) for selling photos to the Daily Bugle.

Officially licensed by Marvel Enterprises, Inc. and Hasbro. Available at Barnes & Noble and other specialty outlets such as FAO Schwarz, Spencer Gifts, Dapy, Tower Records, Sam Goody, Suncoast, Virgin Entertainment, Wizards of the Coast, Game Keeper, Hastings Entertainment, The Lighter Side Catalog (800-232-0963), Spilsbury Catalog (800-772-1760).

CLUE: SCOOBY-DOO EDITION

Was it Scooby-Doo as Colonel Mustard in the Kitchen with Redbeards Sword? For generations, the CLUE game has been Americas favorite mystery game. Now fans can enjoy playing the CLUE game with Scooby-Doo, one of the world's best loved canines, along with the rest of the mystery solving gang. The object is still the same: collect the right clues, make the right deductions, solve the mystery and win the game. However, in the CLUE: SCOOBY-DOO Edition theres a twist; players must investigate an abduction. Selected by Dr. Toy as one of the Best Classic Products for 2002, the CLUE: SCOOBY-DOO Edition comes complete with collectible pewter characters such as Scooby-Doo as Colonel Mustard, Daphne as Miss Scarlet, Shaggy as Professor Plum, Fred as Mr. Green, Velma as Mrs. Peacock, as well as custom pewter pieces of evidence like Funland Robots ray gun, the Witch Doctors staff and Frankensteins chain.

Also see: Video Games

About The Author:

Britt Hale is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-toys.com. Find all the toys you wish you had as a kid. Fun and educational toys found here.

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Families Spending More Time Together at Home Playing Classic Board Games