Highlights of the line that will be showcased at PlayDate, a one-day exhibition of the industry's hottest toys, games and entertainment products, at the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, in New York City from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., include:

BOYS

For nearly four decades, the G.I. JOE brand has stood for patriotism, honor and courage. Now, a whole new generation of kids is discovering the original action figure and Hasbro introduced the G.I. JOE DOUBLE DUTY line -- new, cool mission-themed figures. Each figure comes fully equipped with all the gear to complete not one, but two pulse-pounding missions -- giving kids twice the fantasy, twice the gear, and twice the fun! The G.I. JOE DOUBLE DUTY line includes four 12-inch figures, each with different action-packed themes - GATOR BLAST, TIGER HAWK, MOUNTAIN EYE and JUNGLE SHIELD.

(Approximate retail price: $9.99-$19.99; Ages 5 & up)

Children love construction and trucks, and no one does them better than the TONKA brand! For more than 50 years, TONKA trucks have put children in the driver's seat of real "roll up your sleeves" construction play. The TONKA 2001 product line builds on the brand's success of adding personality and electronics for an enhanced "tough" play experience. This year's lead item is Dusty My Talkin' Tool Bench, a fun and friendly hands-on tool bench that reacts to all the activity around him, responding enthusiastically to kids' hard work and hard play. Featuring over 25 different phrases, Dusty My Talkin' Tool Bench is ready to get to work right out of the box.

(Approximate Retail Price $34.99; Recommended age: 3 and up.)

There are robots and then there are ROBOTS IN DISGUISE! Hasbro has brought back the original theme that launched the TRANSFORMERS brand in the early 1980s through television programming on Fox Kids and an exciting product line now available on store shelves. This year's line is reminiscent of the original '80s figures and a must-have for any fan that is ready to face the challenge of vehicles that transform to awesome robots! Included in the line are basic and deluxe vehicles, and "mega," "ultra" and "super electronic" figures. (Approximate retail prices of the line range from $4.99 for the basic figures to $29.99 for the electronic super figures.)

HASBRO GAMES

The POX game redefines traditional electronic play. By utilizing Radio Frequency (RF) wireless technology, game play can take place in a way never before experienced. POX game players can battle one another almost anywhere up to 30-feet, through most walls and floors. The game unit - portable with sound shut-off - allows for stealth play anytime and anywhere, without anyone knowing except those who have battled. Only the name of the winning POX character in the POX Containment Unit (PCU) of the defeated players will offer a clue as to the victor's identity. Players can also build and battle enemy characters in 17 levels of the solo game play.

(Approximate Retail: $24.99/Availability: now/Ages: 8 & up)

The favorite children's song is the theme for this fun and unique memory game, WHEELS ON THE BUS. The electronic musical bus is moved around the board from player to player. The bus "tells" the player what part it needs, such as "wipers" or "wheels." The player draws two cards to attempt a match with the needed part, and the first to collect four matches wins! At the end of the game, the bus plays the entire "Wheels on the Bus" song for everyone to sing along.

(Approximate Retail: $19.99/Availability: now/Ages: 3 to 6)

MONOPOLY: THE DISNEY EDITION combines the ultimate fantasy of wealth and success with the magical world of Disney. Standard MONOPOLY rules apply and the object of the game is to collect Disney films to build color groups and acquire Disney dollars. The gameboard spaces and corresponding Title Deed cards contain vintage films like STEAMBOAT WILLIE and 101 DALMATIONS to modern classics such as THE LION KING and TOY STORY.

(Approximate Retail: $29.99/Availability: now/Ages: 8 & up)

Even the most confident of puzzler fans will be intrigued by the challenge of NEMESIS FACTOR. NEMESIS FACTOR, the electronic talking puzzler, shaped innocently enough as a pyramid with five colored buttons, tests a player's undefined skills such as, familiar musical sequences, the order of the planets and using a healthy dose of logic and guessing. The biggest challenge of NEMESIS FACTOR may be trying to put it down.

(Approximate Retail: $19.99/Availability: now/Ages: 10 & up)

At a time when families are constantly on the go, board games have become an escape from the daily grind. Board games provide a fun way to spend fun, quality time together. In a 1997 study, Hasbro learned from both kids and parents that if given the opportunity, they would love to play games as a family. As a result of these findings, Hasbro Games introduced Family Game Night in 1998. Hasbro's Family Game Night is a suggestion to parents to set aside one night each week and use games as a fun and effective conduit to create family contact. Familiar classics such as the MONOPOLY game, SCRABBLE Brand Crossword Game, and THE GAME OF LIFE are included Hasbro's line of family games. Other titles included in Family Game Night are: CLUE, SORRY!, YAHTZEE, PAYDAY and BOGGLE.

TIGER ELECTRONICS

HITCLIPS Micro Music System changed the way kids collect and listen to their favorite artists, such as Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Destiny's Child, Backstreet Boys, Dream and more. These postage-stamp sized chips are played on innovative players. HITCLIPS have become the rage and a new lifestyle product for kids. To date over 12 million HITCLIPS have sold. Kids can choose from an extensive music library with over 50 titles and new hardware that will keep the line fresh.

(Approximate retail: $3.99 - 24.99; Ages 5 & up.)

Tiger is top dog once again with the introduction of I-CYBIE. I-CYBIE is the ultimate robotic pet packed with artificial intelligence. This is a fully motorized and trainable dog. I-CYBIE responds to the owner's voice, clap and remote commands and reacts to light, touch and sound. He has full range of movement with 16 computer-controlled motors. He can walk, sit, stand and can even do a headstand, push-ups and swim. I-CYBIE can sense movement and determine where sounds are coming from. He will also interact with all of Tiger's ROBO-CHI pets. Owners will be amazed by the amount of interaction, movement and advanced robotic technology.

(Approximate retail price: $199.99. Ages 14 & up.)

Tiger brings the excitement of BATTLEBOTS to the toy world! BATTLEBOTS is the emerging sport of live robotic combat seen on Comedy Central and pay-per-view events. BATTLEBOTS contestants design and build radio-controlled robots that employ an array of destructive weaponry such as hammers, saws and spikes. This is the ultimate robot fighting contest where the goal is survival! Tiger's CUSTOM SERIES BATTLEBOTS allow you to take control of four of the toughest competitors ever seen on BattleBots: Vlad the Impaler, Minion, Killerhurtz and El Diablo. These Bots feature full-function tabletop radio control, and each Custom Series Bot comes with additional parts to allow you to further customize the weapons and armor. Every Bot is compatible with all the others.

(Approximate retail: $24.99-44.99; Ages 5 & up.)

Tiger's popular ROBO-CHI line continues in 2001! POO-CHI was the #1 toy and #1 robotic dog in 2000; MEOW-CHI the interactive cat and CHIRPY-CHI the interactive bird later joined the ROBO-CHI family, which soon became "The" brand for robotic toys. This year, each will interact with a full line of fellow ROBO-CHI robotic toy offerings, including DINO-CHI, ROBO BABY and PETAL CHI flowers have an LED face that changes expression and responds when you talk and "water" it. All ROBO-CHI robotic toys contain advanced bio-rhythmic technology to create realistic emotional responses that adapt and change as you play.

(Approximate retail: $19.99-29.99; Ages: 4 & up.)

WOW WEE

B.I.O. MECHANICAL BUGS are the first toy line to incorporate advanced 'nervous network' technology. 'Nervous net' technology was developed more than ten years ago and has been used by the U.S. government to create robotic creatures. So, rather than think about the task at hand, they react to the stimuli they confront. A new breed of artificial intelligence, B.I.O. MECHANICAL BUGS can autonomously act by themselves, identify friend or foe and have the ability to avoid or climb over obstacles in their path -- they mimic real insect behavior.

(Approximate Retail Price: $ 39.99; Age: 6 years and up)

PLAYSKOOL

Electronic Talking Scoop with Bob the Builder figure comes alive with an expressive face and 20 different phrases from the show. When kids press SCOOP's smokestack, he'll lift his bucket high in the air, rear up on his back wheels and say the show's signature phrase "Can we fix it? Yes we can!" There are five ways to activate SCOOP's voice, sounds and motion: lift the front bucket, move the backhoe, roll the vehicle back and forth, press the smokestack and snap Bob onto SCOOP.

(Recommended for ages 3 and up; Approximate retail price: $29.99.)

Developed with a child educational specialist, THE MAGIC SCREEN LEARNING DESK is an interactive learning toy that has a unique animated, light-up screen and three fun play and learn keyboards. Children can discover letters, numbers, shapes and colors in the "Learning Lab", create songs and musical instrument sounds in the "Music Studio", and explore animal sounds, favorite foods and more in the "Animal Academy"...all while the objects come to life on the screen. Children can also test their memory with "Professor Mouse".

(For ages 12 months and up. Approximate retail price $49.99.)

GIRLS

With Hasbro's e-kara(TM) REAL KARAOKE, it's easy to live the fantasy of being one of today's hottest pop stars. Plug e-kara into any standard TV or VCR and perform to your heart's content. e-kara fits easily into a backpack, book bag or duffle. Just connect the e-kara microphone into the audio and video plugs of any standard TV, press the button and sing! Each main microphone unit comes with a music cartridge featuring five different songs made famous by today's top pop artists. And, up to ten individual duet microphones can be linked together - daisy-chain style - for group karaoke-ing.

(Approximate retail price is $60; each additional duet microphone is $20. To keep the fun going, additional cartridges, each with 10 of the hottest songs will be available for $20 each. Ages 6 & up.)

Destiny's Child is one of the best-selling female groups of all time. They have sold more than 25 million albums and singles worldwide. Now, Beyonce, Kelly and Michelle - a.k.a. Destiny's Child - are topping girls' toy wish lists everywhere, with their new DESTINY'S CHILD DOLLS. DESTINY'S CHILD DOLLS cost approximately $12.99 each, and are available at retailers nationwide.

MONSTERS, INC.

While holiday shopping can sometimes be a scary experience, this year the scares are a huge part of the fun with Hasbro's new Monsters, Inc. toy and game line. Featuring everything from action figures and plush toys to board games and candy for both boys and girls, this line allows children to bring home the excitement of Disney/Pixar's Monsters, Inc., slated for release on November 2, 2001.
Key items in Monsters, Inc. product line, that are available now, include:

GLOWING BEDTIME SULLEY, a soft lovable monster with a nighttime glow feature to protect kids and calm their fears.

(Approximate Retail Price: $29.99; Age: 3 & up)

When kids give BABBLIN' BOO a hug or squeeze her belly, she babbles, laughs and says fun phrases from the movie.

(Approximate Retail Price: $24.99; Age: 3 & Up)

ACTION EYE MIKE Wazowski is a one-eyed monster is a soft plush version of Sulley's sidekick in the movie, and he has funny electronic sayings and an eye-opening feature! Move his arm and his eyeball moves, too, so he can keep his eye on you.

(Approximate Retail Price: $19.99; Recommended Age: 3 & Up)

THE GAME OF LIFE IN MONSTROPOLIS immerses players into the world and daily life of monsters in Monstropolis. This marks the first time the GAME OF LIFE has featured a licensed property.

(Approximate Retail Price: $29.99; Age: 7 & Up)

HARRY POTTER

Hasbro is thrilled to offer exciting games and toys based on the worldwide literary phenomenon, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE. The line includes electronic handheld games from TIGER such as the HARRY POTTER BOOK OF SPELLS and ELECTRONIC QUIDDITCH GAME, BERTIE BOTTS EVERY FLAVOR BEANS from CAP CANDY and a trading card game from WIZARDS OF THE COAST that captures the favorite characters, spells and situations from the world of Harry Potter.

Highlights from Hasbro's HARRY POTTER line include:

HARRY POTTER BOOK OF SPELLS: A personalized electronic encyclopedia on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the ultimate tool for fans! Children can even learn all about the rules of Quidditch and see how it is played. Also includes a quiz game and built-in organizer functions.

(Approximate retail: $24.99; Ages 7 & up.)

HARRY POTTER ELECTRONIC QUIDDITCH GAME: The game is sculpted like a Nimbus Two Thousand Quidditch broom, that extends to 48 inches in length so that kids can actually "fly" around the field with Harry Potter!

(Approximate retail: $34.99; Ages 5 & up.)

Welcome to HOGWARTS! With the HARRY POTTER trading card game, you join the other new wizards at school in a duel. Then you summon creatures, use magic potions and cast spells to make their cards disappear first. If you do that you win!

(Approximate Retail: $3.29-$9.99/Availability: Now/Ages: 9 & up)

The wizards at CAP Candy have conjured up a line of interactive candy based on J.K. Rowling's book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Leading the line are BERTIE BOTT'S EVERY FLAVOR BEANS, a true artifact from the book and a treasure hunt of unusual flavors like sardine, black pepper and booger in every pouch.

(Approximate retail price: $1.99-$7.99; Ages 3 & up)

WIZARDS OF THE COAST

MLB SHOWDOWN 2001 - MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL is more than a spectator sport now! With the MLB SHOWDOWN 2001 sports card game, every pitch is yours to make. Every swing is yours to take. And every victory is yours to savor as the team owner and manager. If it's on the diamond, it's in this game. Base stealing, sacrifice flies and much more.

(Approximate Retail: $3.29-$9.99/Availability: Now/Ages: 10 & up)

NFL SHOWDOWN 2002 sports card game - The NFL SHOWDOWN 2002 sports card game simulates actual football games and allows players to act as NFL owners, coaches and players by drafting and building teams, calling plays and developing overall game strategy.

(Approximate Retail: $3.29-$19.99/Availability: Now/Ages: 10 & up)

Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.