UPDATE: Thnx for the comments pointing to Mattel's clarification -- there's a new version of Scrabble on the way, not new rules for the classic game. Now about that basketball tourney...

As if bastardizing the NCAA tournament isn't enough: "The rules of word game Scrabble are being changed for the first time in its history to allow the use of proper nouns."

Thnx to PLN for the pointer.

Comments

[Dave Dobson]

I think that ain't real, Ed. See here.

If it were, it would be Mattel's New Coke. It would never work.

[T.B.]

Luckily, Slate has our backs, and confirms that proper nouns will NOT be making their Scrabble debut:

Here's what's actually happening. Mattel, which owns the rights to Scrabble outside of North America, is introducing a game this summer called Scrabble Trickster. The game will include cards that allow players to spell words backward, use proper nouns, and steal letters from opponents, among other nontraditional moves. The game will not be available in North America, where rival toy company Hasbro owns Scrabble. Hasbro, I'm told, has no plans for a similar variation.