Fancy a Lazer Tag gun with an iPod Touch HUD mounted on it? How about a glow-in-the-dark football that works with wearable light-up goggles? Or board games that use the iPad as an accessory?
Nerf Firevision football, coming mid-year for night ball players.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Nerf, Star Wars and Marvel gear were everywhere at Hasbro's showcase at the Toy Fair in New York City.
Hasbro's Toy Fair showcase was housed several blocks away from the rest of Toy Fair 2012, in a two-level set of showrooms that was easily one of the most elaborate set-ups.
Hasbro also showed off a fair amount of tech: not only the inevitable iPad-linked board games, but some clever new Nerf sports gear and a weird wall-crawling RC Spider-Man timed for the movie reboot. The Luddite parent might cringe at the ways in which iOS devices are being shamelessly infused into classic games, but I'll reserve judgment until I can play with the final versions of the toys. Meanwhile, plenty of old-school action figures were on display across the Transformers, Marvel and Star Wars licences.
Super Soakers, a music game variant on Twister, and, yes, even a robotic pony were at the fair: click through the gallery below to read about the highlights, including price and availability. Also, check out the other highlights from Toy Fair 2012.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Game of Life Zapped Edition
Just released in stores, this latest version of Life makes room for an iPad in the centre that acts as your virtual spinner and source of random wacky comedy videos. iPad not included, of course. It'll sell for US$24.99.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Monopoly Zapper Edition
Hasbro has a whole line of iPad and iPhone "app-enhanced" games. Monopoly Zapped Edition uses an iOS device as a virtual bank that interacts with little credit cards instead of standard cash. Yes, it's come to that. Available in June.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Bop It! Smash
See those two end pieces? Hold them, wait for the LED lights to reach the centre and smash them together. The simple arcade-game-like idea behind Bop It! Smash is a different spin on the reflex-driven Bop It! games. It comes out in Q3 for US$19.99.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Lazer Tag Blaster
Lazer Tag gets reborn this year in a new iPhone/iPod-compatible form. An iPhone or iPod Touch docks in the top viewfinder, acting as a HUD with augmented reality: a downloadable app will indicate fire and target explosions. The Lazer Tag Blaster will cost US$39.99 per gun, or US$69.99 for a set of two, and comes out 1 August.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Lazer Tag Blaster
A closer look at how an iPod Touch docks in the Lazer Tag Blaster.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Lazer Tag Blaster
Docking an iPod Touch in the Lazer Tag Blaster.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Lazer Tag Blaster
Hasbro wouldn't let us show the app in a photo — it's still pending approval by Apple.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Twister Dance
Bearing little resemblance to the classic limb-twisting party game, this is basically a music player dock that applies a series of colour-coded beats to whatever song you play on it. Place coloured spots on the floor, and you can dance to your own music in a game that feels a little like Dance Dance Revolution. Twister Dance generates non-random colour patterns for each song, so you could theoretically coordinate a dance party with a friend who has the same They Might Be Giants song as you do. It also comes with its own built-in pop tunes. Arriving Q3 for US$34.99.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Battleship Zapped
One of many, many Battleship-themed toys targeted for this spring, this iPad-enhancing accessory uses physical pieces in tandem with the digital Battleship game. Available in September.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Furreal Friends Baby Butterscotch
It's hard to believe, but the Furreal line of electronic plush toys is 10 years old (then again, 2002 doesn't seem so long ago). This year's Baby Butterscotch: My Magical Show Pony has sensors that calm it down or get it excited, and it eats a carrot with gusto. Butterscotch comes out this year for US$119, to the delight of robot pony lovers everywhere.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Darth Maul Electronic Helmet
Hasbro's impressive audio-enhanced Darth Vader Electronic Helmet gets a sibling with the new Darth Maul mask. So good, you'll wonder why he was killed off in the first film. It's available now, for US$19.99.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Double-edged lightsaber fun
Darth Maul's double-bladed lightsaber is entirely too big to entrust to a wild kid in a small apartment. It's available now, for US$19.99.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Star Wars Class III MTT Vehicle
Yes, that's the official name for this version of the droid-charging tank from The Phantom Menace. Available in Q3 for US$139.99, this mega-toy comes with 20 battle droids that slowly emerge from the middle via a motor. Battle droids were never more numerous.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Remote control Spidey goes up a wall
The Amazing Spider-Man R/C Speed Climbing Spider-Man makes its wall-crawling magic happen thanks to a hidden vacuum. It's much weirder to see in person. Available Q3, US$34.99.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Nerf Firevision Sports Frames
For US$5.99, these little light-up glasses work with a whole new line of Nerf Firevision sports gear that glows in the dark up to 30 metres away when you look through the glasses. Available on 1 August along with Firevision football, Nerfoop basketball and Hyper Bounce Ball toys.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Nerf Firevision football
For US$19.99, this reflective football glowed green for me when my Firevision Sports Frames were aimed at it. You can't see it in the picture, but it's a neat effect. The ball comes with two pairs of glasses frames, which fit over regular glasses like mine. Available on 1 August.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Nerf Firevision football
With the glasses perched over our camera, we got a picture of the ball glowing green.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Nerf Super Soaker Lightning Storm
If you see one of these guns this year, run: its power-enhanced pumper launches a litre of water 7.6 metres. Available in Q2 for US$24.99.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Nerf Super Soaker Electrostorm
For the lazy water gun enthusiast: no pumping required, and this 73-gram little guy is easy to pocket. Available Q2 for US$9.99.
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(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Nerf Vortex Lumitron
Too many plastic guns? Nonsense, says Nerf: the Vortex Lumitron coming later this year for US$29.99 has glow-in-the-dark discs that it can hold 10 at a time. And, it looks formidable.
Via CNET
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