The Lazer Tag battle system from Hasbro comes with an app that turns the iPhone into a view screen when it's secured in the rugged blaster.As it seeks more ways to build digital features into its physical products, Hasbro has updated its Lazer Tag battle system with so-called augmented reality via the iPhone.
The new Lazer Tag works with an app (free from Apple's App Store) that turns the iPhone into a view screen when it's secured in the rugged blaster. The screen locks on targets, warns when an enemy is near and shields the player from attack.
Before heading into battle, players can train wit h the app's single-player mode, which lets them practice on flying drones called cephalids. In each round, the cephalids become more numerous and smarter, testing your skills. Players can accumulate points with each victory that can be used to unlock more weapons, add attacks or increase shields.
Once you're ready, you can switch to the multiplayer mode and engage your friends in battle. The Lazer Tag blasters can accommodate teams of up to 24 people, turning your backyard into a battleground. The app allows players to change weapons and send out their own airstrikes and drone swarms. The screen simulates explosions when you hit an opponent and “cracks†when you are hit.
After playing a few solo rounds, I invited my neighbor over for a battle. Fortunately, he had an iPhone 4, which fit snugly in the blaster's cradle (it is also compatible with the iPod Touch). I have an iPhone 5, which was too long, so I had to use a loaner. The blasters have a firing range o f up to 250 feet, but my apartment is too tiny for much maneuvering. Still, we had a good time engaging in virtual combat, trying different weapons and attacks as we stumbled around my living room.
Hasbro released a single blaster in August for $40, but you can save a few bucks by getting the two-pack, which is available starting this month for $75. Hasbro also has an online component intended to get fans to “enlist†for more weapons. The more people who enlist, the sooner a unique weapon is unlocked within the game.
