Pokemon, Net (8/12/99) - See if you're a true PokΘmon master at The Name that PokΘmon Contest.

It's your chance to win cool Hasbro PokΘmon stuff...just by knowing the names of the PokΘmon characters!

Sure, every PokΘmon fan can reel off "Pikachu, Jigglypuff and Snorlax." But what about the other 147 quirky characters? As any kid can tell you, there are 150 PokΘmon in all. And now, kids in the Denver area will get a chance to prove their PokΘmon prowess in Hasbro's Name that PokΘmon contest, Saturday August 14, from 10am to 2pm at the Toys 'R Us Store at 13790 East Mississippi Avenue in Aurora.

The Grand Prize winner gets his or her very own "Super Hasbro PokΘmon Toy Pack." But Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) will see to it that there are lots of winners. All contest participants will get a Hasbro PokΘmon toy and all attendees are eligible for random PokΘmon toy prize drawings that Hasbro will be conducting throughout the event.

The PokΘmon Name that PokΘmon challenge will consist of two rounds. In the first, contestants ages 5-12 will be asked to identify 32 PokΘmon characters, in random order. The top scorers will then go head to head to see who is the true PokΘmon Master by trying to name all 150. Complete rules will be available at the event site. Whomever identifies the most characters, within the allotted sixty seconds, will win the Grand Prize.

"PokΘmon is one of the hottest toy crazes of 1999. Based on it's huge popularity, we anticipate a great turnout," said Perry Drosos, VP Boys Toys, Hasbro, Inc. "It's amazing how kids know so many of these PokΘmon characters' names. We think this event will give kids yet another fun way to prove that they are true PokΘmon master trainers."

Dozens of PokΘmon characters are currently being offered in a variety of Hasbro toy assortments, from the popular collectible action figures and electronic PokΘmon toys to Power BouncerÖ balls and plush bean-filled items. Stamper sets and micro playsets are also now available from Hasbro. Even more items will be added to the Hasbro PokΘmon toy line in the Fall, including an interactive Pikachu, a trainer's figure assortment of characters from the PokΘmon cartoon, and new figure assortments of characters from the upcoming PokΘmon movie. Look for currently available and upcoming PokΘmon toys at toy retailers nationwide.

Hasbro's PokΘmon toy line is based on the Nintendo« Game Boy« video game and popular animated television show that involves finding, capturing, collecting and training fanciful characters with names like SquirtleÖ, MeowthÖ and GeodudeÖ. Learn more about Hasbro's PokΘmon toy line on the official PokΘmon Web site at http://www.pokemon.com.

The PokΘmon craze began in Japan as a Nintendo« Game Boy« and Nintendo« 64 cartridge and quickly spread to America. Its huge popularity was fueled by the debut of the "PokΘmon" animated television series, which is ranked as the number one kids program in syndication. In addition to being a wildly popular Game Boy cartridge and television program, PokΘmon is also a hot-selling Hasbro toy and merchandise line for both kids and collectors. The interest and fervor for PokΘmon will extend to the big screen on November 12, 1999 with the North American release of "PokΘmon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back" -- the first animated PokΘmon feature film in the U.S.

Hasbro is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of toys, games, interactive software, puzzles and infant products. Both internationally and in the U.S., its Playskool«, Kenner«, Tonka«, OddzOn«, Super Soaker«, Milton Bradley«, Parker Brothers«, TigerÖ, Hasbro InteractiveÖ, and Galoob« products provide children and families with the highest quality and most recognizable toys and games in the world. For additional information about Hasbro, visit the company's Web site at www.hasbro.com.

Toys 'R Us - The world's leading resource on kids, families and fun, currently operates 1,473 stores; 705 toy stores in the United States, 439 international toy stores, including franchise stores, 212 Kids 'R Us children's clothing stores and 118 Babies 'R Us stores. The company also sells merchandise through it's Internet site at www.toysrus.com and through mail order catalogues.