With ToyFair 2012 a week away and the latest Lazer Tag system revealed, there's a lot of question marks over many of my diehard LT fans heads. In the limited view we get of this new breed of Lazer Tag fused with the iPhone and iPod Touch, the promo image pretty much tells a story of an App Blaster meets Lazer Tag, but there's more to it than that. First of all, the image we get of the two blasters is a mirror image. There are no screw holes for the shell, and the dead giveaway is that tab on the side of the iDevice holder being mirrored on each blaster. They've simply been recolored for this press release. I've done a visual analyzation of the Orange Blaster to point out obvious and not-so-obvious features.I direct you to Figure A (or just the image above). The basics are all there, including the dual lens setup that TagFerret told us about earlier. But there are a few mysteries that this image gives us. There's no clear function to the buttons on the side of the blaster or that trigger-esque looking feature underneath the main barrel. Also, I believe I've identified a folding hinge or, at the very least, a mounting point for the iDevice Holder. The black button at the bottom of the holder where it meets with the tagger body could be a point where the device could even be removed. Perhaps the blaster can function without the iDevice Holder or there may even be a basic LCD screen display that you can attach to the unit to play without the need for the iPod Touch or iPhone.
The fact that the blaster IS backwards compatible with the Lazer Tag Team Ops and Phoenix LTX systems means that either the iDevice and the App for this are also backwards compatible or that it can be removed/disabled for use with them. Because there's only a front Iron Sight and no way to see it in the current image of the blaster, I think that the screen either folds down or can be removed. If it does fold down to reveal the other side of the iron sight, than I would doubt the iDevice would need to be active when it's facing down. Either way, I think this fact strengthens the fact that this blaster isn't completely dependent on the iDevice for functionality, but rather is an enhancement for being used with other blasters that use the iDevice. This fact is also driven home by part of the press release:
Players can also play LAZER TAG without a device using the blaster's classic multi-player mode.So iPhone or not, you'll be able to enjoy a new breed of Lazer Tag this summer!!
I'm not into lazer tag but that looks cool!
ReplyDeleteHere's what I think: When Endgadget says that inserting an iPhone or iPod will provide you with an AUGMENTED HUD, then that could mean there is also a REGULAR HUD incorporated in the device holder as well. This would make sense because we don't see a hard "iron sight" in the rear. Perhaps the regular HUD functions simply as a rear reticle in the absence of an iDevice.
ReplyDeleteCheapest iPod Touches are $200 new and about $120 for older refurbished units. I hope the new tagger is fully functional without the iDevice unit AND an LCD screen somewhere. To get a full arsenal of these, and NEED an iPod Touch would be way too expensive.
ReplyDelete'jammer
The iDevice system is neat. It's good you don't absolutely NEED the system but now is a good time to start incorporating it so it can become dependent. If the Lord tarries,I am sure there will be a day and age where everyone or almost everyone will have an iDevice. It's good that they're incoroporrating it and it's looking great but I think it should never become fully dependent.
ReplyDeleteThe horizontal slot on the barrel also looks to be an accessory fitting - I would not be surprised to see add-ons similar to the LTX accessories. It's weird that the front of the gun / sight is so high, relative to the iDevice holder. Seems like that would block a lot of the HUD area.
ReplyDeleteI love the design of it but i'm not really a big fan of running around with a 200 dollar plus gadget on the side. If a person were to trip or fall there is a good chance that your smart phone will most likely be broken.
ReplyDeleteIf you manage to fall hard enough to break your iPod Touch or iPhone, you'd also have to have enough force to smash the blaster/the case that's around the iDevice. You'll have a higher chance of breaking the blaster than your expensive mobile device. I suppose if you're a clumsy ox, this would be a major concern. I haven't had any of my 20 LTXs damaged in games and people have fallen a few times during games.
DeleteZook is right. I've run mobile lazer tag with 20+ LTX's for almost a year now. Those guns have seen so much abuse from young kids and they hold up great. The only thing that really wears out is the reload mech, but that's fixable.
DeleteHowever, I can't see outfitting 20+ of new guns with iPod touches - need more info.
The LTTO stuff is very robust, but once in a while they do take a real hard fall and break.
ReplyDeleteThere is no obvious display, or even indicator LEDs so I suspect that there will be LCD display to either fit in the holder or replace it.
Now if a iPhone/iPod equipped tagger can act as a host for LTTO we definitely have a winner!
I don't lazer tag at all, but from a purely aesthetic standpoint these remind me extremely strongly of the type one pistol from Mass Effect 1 and both submachine guns from Mass Effect 2. The trigger guards and overall dimensions really lend a strong vibe to it. Cosplay bait, anyone?
ReplyDeleteWell my first impressions on this were WHY??? but after i heard that you do not need an Ipod/I touch to use this system i quickly jumped out of my seat AND HIGH FIVED MY PC!!! But in my head first things first, The Mods, YOU DONT NEED ANY! if this system is as throwable and as durable as the ltx (which it seems to be the ltx in SMG forum) all you would need to do to this tagger is put a retractable stock on the back! but i have a feeling that the ipod, iphone is going to really bring out these taggers "function wise". cause i remember tag ferret talking about a feature that alows you to change your rate of fire from single, burst, full on this system, and i think that this would be the only only thing you have holding you back with this system(if i am correct that is).He also mentioned Manually reloading the tagger(HALLELUJAH!) On the Tagger, AND AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO REALIZES THE GIANT RELOAD PULLY(like on the deluxe)ON THE FRONT OF THIS SYSTEM!
ReplyDelete> >Am i also the only person here who took a serious look at this tagger and realized, O WAIT A MINUTE thats a deluxe crossed with a Phoenix. (sorry for the forum spam)