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K'NEX TO SHOWCASE NEXT GENERATION OF CYBERK'NEX AT PLAYDATE 2001

New Additions Include Three Phenomenal Cyber Building Sets With Programmable Personalities and Interactive Attitudes

PlayDate 2001 - New York, NY - October 16, 2001 - K'NEX Industries, one of the world's leading construction toy manufacturers, will showcase its next generation of CyberK'NEX building sets; CyberK'NEX 2.0 at PlayDate 2001 in New York City today. The three new CyberK'NEX sets introduce enhanced product features and new packaging to K'NEX's phenomenally popular line of first-ever robotic models that come to life with realism, personality and attitude!

Among the technologically-advanced features offered by the new CyberK'NEX models is the option for kids to actually record their own voices and download them onto the individual CyberK'NEX models from www.cyberknex.com, to perform in the individual CyberK'NEX models. The key to these amazing innovations is called a Cyber Key, which enables each model to act and react to stimuli such as sound, impact and the controls of an ordinary household remote. While all of the CyberK'NEX Version 2.0 models can be constructed and brought to life without a PC, CyberK'NEX also offers the ability to add your own voice -- all by going to the CyberK'NEX website.

"The enhanced products expand upon the CyberK'NEX concept, offering features that no other toy has ever offered before--the opportunity to not only build a robot, but actually shape its personality," said Chris Campbell, Vice President of Marketing for K'NEX. "The ability to control the robot's behavior through sensors and sounds will provide kids with countless hours of fun and excitement. The entire CyberK'NEX line is like no other product line in the toy market!"

The next generation of CyberK'NEX includes three technologically-advanced building sets: Ultra 2.0, Cybots 2.0, and Hyper Wheels 2.0.

Ultra 2.0
This futuristic set lets kids create five fantastic Cyber models--Woof, Mectron, Drax, Sarge and Zap--with increased programming capabilities, allowing kids to create their own Cyber programs, record, assign and play their own voices, and download their newly-created Cyber personalities and behaviors onto the Programmable CyberKey. Children will be thrilled to make Woof's jaw growl, Mectron's missiles fire, Drax's feet stomp, Sarge's detectors send warnings and Zap's alarm sound. Designed for kids aged 10 and up, the Ultra 2.0 set comes complete with K'NEX building components, special Cyber programming components, and a complete color-illustrated CyberK'NEX manual for building, controlling and self-programming the Ultra 2.0 creations. Kids can use the Internet interface to download new Cyber personalities from www.cyberknex.com. Ultra 2.0 carries a suggested retail price of $129.99 was made available nationally in summer 2001.

Cybots 2.0
Every kid who purchases this set can now obtain a free programming port and programmable Cyber Key (a combined $15 retail value), enabling them to program and download new Cyber personalities, including the option of downloading their own voices. Cybots 2.0 offers the ability to build and control four different robots with unique personalities and responding to a wide range of features including motion, sound and sensors. Each set includes complete color-coded, step-by-step instructions in a manual which covers both the construction and the controlling of the models. Recommended for kids aged nine and up, Cybots 2.0 carry a suggested retail price of $79.99 was made available nationally in summer 2001.

Hyper Wheels 2.0
Kids can bring to life three different cyber vehicles--Flash, Salsa and Thunder Hog--and control and alter their behaviors in this enhanced vehicle set which features easier builds and comprehensive building tips. Through a range of future forward features including motion, sound and sensors, kids interact with each radical vehicle as "Flash" spins 360-degree turns, "Salsa" grooves to a beat, and "Thunder Hog" burns rubber! Designed for kids aged nine and up, the Hyper Wheels 2.0 set comes complete with K'NEX building components, special Cyber programming components and a comprehensive color illustrated manual for building and controlling each creation. Hyper Wheels 2.0 carry a suggested retail price of $49.99 was made available nationally in summer 2001.

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Contact:
Melissa Fogarty/Beth Mosher
LITZKY PUBLIC RELATIONS
(201) 222-9118
email: mfogarty@litzkypr.com

About K’NEX Brands

Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the world’s leading integrated construction systems for children. Winner of over 200 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX is America’s building toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love, and encourages youngsters to “imagine, build and play.”  For more information, please visit www.knex.com.