Hasbro has signed a 6-year deal that gives Universal Pictures exclusive film rights to its brands, including a number of popular board and card games.  Universal plans to release at least 4 films based on Hasbro licenses, including the previously-announced Monopoly movie.  No word on how many of these movies will be based on games, but it would be interesting to watch them try to fit Risk into an hour and a half. Still, based on the way Hasbro treats its lower-tier properties, it’s probably safe to say that we won’t be seeing RoboRally 2: Electronic Bugaloo any time soon.

 (Variety, via New York Times)

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Rajat and Jayant Agarwalla, creators of the popular (and embattled) Facebook application Scrabulous, have announced a new program, Chess Pro.  Like Scrabulous, Chess Pro allows Facebook users to play a classic board game online in a turn-based format.  Unlike Scrabulous, however, Chess Pro is based on a public domain game, so the creators should be able to sidestep the legal complications that have plagued their previous application.

 (Chess Pro, via Gaming Target)

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I made a list of the top ten most expensive board games ever, but it’s rapidly becoming outdated.

Renault has come out with Chess, Backgammon, and Solitaire sets made from parts of Formula One race cars. The Solitaire set, made from a disc brake and ball bearings, is only £600. The Backgammon set, from the underfloor of the chassis, is only £14,000. The Chess set, made from suspension, hubs, uprights, wings, and cockpit, runs a cool £21,000.

View the complete collection.

(Hat tip)

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Hasbro is introducing a line of games that are supposed to teach manners to small children called Noodleboro. They include games set in a park, a pizza parlor, and with a picnic basket.

(source)

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