Team Rocket of Pokemon Fame Narrowly Avoids Capture in Texas.

Entertainment Writers

RENTON, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 2000

Newest Pokemon Trading Card Game Cards Stolen from Wizards of the

Coast's Seattle Warehouse Spotted Today at the Alamo 

The hot new Pokemon(TM)(a) trading card game cards that were stolen on Tuesday from the Wizards of the Coast(R) warehouse in Seattle were spotted in Texas at the Alamo early this morning in the possession of none other than the members of the nasty no-gooders Team Rocket.

The fabled law officers of the south, the Texas Rangers, prevented Team Rocket from disturbing the peace at the Lone Star state's best-known landmark: the Alamo. "Remember the Alamo" is a common saying in Texas, but the only thing Team Rocket will remember from the third stop is how they almost got busted.

Determined to steal legendary frontiersman Davy Crockett's trademark coonskin cap -- and change their name to Team Crockett -- Team Rocket landed at the Alamo this morning for an unscheduled tour.

Ranger Dale Druthers had his eye on the trio the moment they set foot on Texas soil. "I knew there was something suspicious about them, so I followed them in. I got close enough to overhear them," recalled Ranger Druthers. "They were trying to figure out where old Crockett's cap was. Well, any fool knows it isn't here, so I just let them have their fun."

After several hours, the frustrated gang entered the gift shop where they found an entire rack of Davy Crockett caps. Grabbing a cap, they ran to their getaway balloon only to find a surprise: Roy Givens, Texas Ranger, was standing by the Meowth Balloon writing out a ticket for illegally parking in front of the Alamo.

"You should've seen the look on their faces. They tossed that cap into the air, and when I went to get it, they were off like a rocket."

As Team Rocket flew over the Alamo, they dropped a note. It read: "We may have lost face at the Alamo, but we'll gain one back on a Dakota mountain, you know."

Where will Team Rocket end up next? Help us track down Team Rocket and get the cards back, and you could win a reward. Check out Team Rocket's clues at www.wizards.com/pokemon.

Team Rocket is on the loose and they've challenged every Master Trainer to a big showdown at the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on April 22. Master Trainers are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Pokemon to give Team Rocket a real scare. Master Trainers not in the vicinity of the Mall of America can still be a part of the action by going to their local Pokemon Trading Card Game League store on the big day (April 22). Master Trainers rallying to defeat Team Rocket by showing up will receive a free Dark Gyarados game card!

Since the Pokemon trading card game's debut in January 1999, millions of kids have taken up the game worldwide. The goal of the trading card game is to collect, trade, train and battle various monsters in an effort to become the world's greatest Pokemon trainer. The trading card game is the latest addition to the Pokemon phenomenon that includes Game Boy(R) cartridge games, the number-one rated children's television program, comic books and an assortment of toys.

Nintendo originally launched Pokemon in Japan for the world's best-selling Game Boy(R) hand-held video game system, and watched the 150 creatures evolve into a cultural phenomenon. The franchise arrived in North America in September 1998 with the release of the Pokemon Blue and Red Game Boy(R) games and has grown into a $5 billion dollar industry worldwide. Nintendo and its licensing agency, Leisure Concepts Inc. (a division of 4Kids Entertainment), have licensed the franchise to more than 100 U.S.-based companies, whose products entertain millions of fans all over North America.

Wizards of the Coast Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc. (NYSE:HAS), is the worldwide market share leader in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game categories. Wizards of the Coast is a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products as well as the owner and operator of one of the nation's largest specialty game retail chains. The company holds an exclusive patent on the play mechanics of trading card games (TCGs) and produces the world's best-selling Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering(R) TCGs. Wizards of the Coast is also one of the world's leading fantasy and science fiction book publishers, and is a publisher of adventure games such as the classic Dungeons & Dragons(R) games, family card and board games and electronic media products. The company's retail locations, many of which provide game-play areas, include a growing number of Wizards of the Coast specialty game retail stores as well as 53 The Game Keeper(R) stores. Headquartered near Seattle, Washington, Wizards of the Coast has international offices in Antwerp, Paris, Milan, London and Beijing. For more information on Wizards of the Coast, visit the company's website and electronic retail store at www.wizards.com.

(a) (c)1995, 1996 and 1998 Nintendo, Creatures, GAMEFREAK. Pokemon and

Game Boy(R)are trademarks of Nintendo.

WIZARDS OF THE COAST, THE GAME KEEPER, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast Inc. (c) 2000 Wizards.