RENTON, Wash., Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- 2005 marked a historic year in
cryptozoology (the study of unknown animals), highlighted by the rediscovery
of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, the first-ever filming of a live Giant Squid,
and the discovery of homo floresiensis (a hobbit-like human population) on the
island of Flores in Indonesia.
DUEL MASTERS(TM)Trading Card Game, created by Wizards of the Coast, a
subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), wants to make 2006 an equally stellar
year for cryptozoological discoveries.
The trading card game, which features many awesome mythical creatures, is
asking the public to submit personal photos that perpetuate the mystique
surrounding creatures such as Bigfoot, the Yeti (aka the Abominable Snowman)
and the Loch Ness Monster. It is hoped that these photos will help trained
cryptozoologists finally track down some of the world's most sought-after
creatures.
The photo contest, which is sponsored by Wizards of the Coast, will award
one $5,000 top prize for the photo that best perpetuates the mystique
surrounding these mysterious creatures. A second prize winner will receive
$2,500, and three runners-up will receive $500.
"This contest allows cryptozoologists-in-training to join me in the
thrilling pursuit of these legendary creatures," said Loren Coleman, one of
the world's leading authorities in cryptozoology. "The collecting of these
photo entries will demonstrate to a skeptical public that unknown species and
creatures live all around us."
The trading card game announced the photo contest as part of the
first-ever Creature Appreciation Week celebration, which ran Oct. 24 to 30,
2005. The full set of contest rules is currently available at Creature
Appreciation Week's official website, which is http://www.caw2005.com.
Entries will be accepted until Feb. 3, 2006.
"While Hollywood regularly spotlights a few famous creatures like King
Kong in movies, most real but still unknown creature species live an anonymous
and, most often, unappreciated existence," said Coleman, who has been a
cryptozoologist for 45 years and has authored more than 20 books about the
field. "DUEL MASTERS Trading Card Game has allowed us to honor and enjoy
those unheralded creatures while encouraging the public to learn more about
zoology, anthropology and natural history."
Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), is a
worldwide leader in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game
categories, and a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment
products. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast website at
http://www.wizards.com.
DUEL MASTERS is a trademark of Wizards/Shogakukan/Mitsui-Kids.
2006 Wizards/ Shogakukan/Mitsui-Kids.