Tradition? They haven't got a clue.

Anyone who grew up in the last 50 years will instantly recognize a phrase like “Colonel Mustard in the billiard room with the lead pipe” or “Miss Scarlet in the conservatory with the wrench.”

This is the classic board game CLUE, created in 1949 and a staple of most of our childhoods.

The idea of the game is to guess who did it - which of six characters, using one of six weapons, in one of a number of rooms, committed a murder in the mansion.

Now, however, Hasbro Inc. has announced a change that affects all aspects of the game. The idea, they contend, is to modernize the game to make it more relevant to today’s generation. Thus, although the last names of the six suspects remain the same, their first names and identities will change. Colonel Mustard will become Jack Mustard, a former football player. Professor Plum will be Victor Plum, a billionaire video game designer; Miss Scarlet, Kasandra Scarlet, a famous actress; Mr. Green, Jacob Green, an African-American “with all the ins.” Rounding out the group will be Eleanor Peacock and Diane White.

Of the six original weapons, only three remain unchanged: the candlestick, knife and rope. Gone are the classic lead pipe, revolver and wrench. Six new weapons include a dumbbell, a trophy, a pistol, a baseball bat, an ax and poison. Finally, rooms in the house have been changed to add a theater, spa and a guest house nearby.

This will not simply be another version of the classic, like the Simpsons version produced earlier, but rather a total replacement of the original version.

So, who did it? Who committed the murder, with what weapon and where?

The answer is clear: Hasbro, with new ideas, in the marketplace.

Tradition be damned.