Laser Sharks

Jasman Toys will release the coolest non-game Halo-related product ever made this Fall.  Jasman is launching a life-size laser tag game featuring the Covenant Plasma Pistol and Plasma Rifle, two weapons featured in every iteration of Halo so far.  Bungie has discussed a Halo laser tag set before, and is finally releasing details with just two months left until the launch of Halo 3.

The prototypes are currently on display at Comic Con.  There is currently no price set.

Plasma Pistol

Plasma Rifle

A Bungie interview with Jasman Toys:

Q: Can you tell us a little about the faithful-to-the-game Features in the Halo 3replica weapons?

A: First off, would be the realism. The detail on these guns is amazing! We are still in development on the final pieces, so there may be some slight variation to some of the features, but the plasma rifle will have lights and recoil similar to those in the game. It will also have the real sound effects from the game as well as some of the special features including the “overheating” when shot too many times in a row. The plasma pistol will also have the lights and sounds as well as a recoil vibration when shooting and a “super shot mode” when holding down the trigger that will do more damage.

Q: How does Laser Pursuit differ from other, similar games?

A: Our Halo Laser Pursuit differs in the way that it is trying to replicate the game instead of just having your basic laser tag game. The target will represent the shields similar to the game. When you are shot the target will show the damage to your shield, if you can get away the shields will recharge back to full power.

Q: Where and when can we buy these things?

A: The Covenant Plasma Rifle and Pistol will be available at your local Hot Topics and other fine retailers starting October 2007. The Covenant Energy Sword will be available sometime in 2008.

Q: Why aren’t the UNSC weapons such as the BR and AR represented here?

A: Our Halo 3 Laser Pursuit replica weapons are going to be available at toy stores and we wanted to keep the detail as realistic as possible. The human weapons look too real and would need to be made in bright orange or green to be sold at retail. Depending on the success of the alien weapons, however, who knows what could happen.

Q: A little bird tells us these aren’t precisely the correct scale – now why would that be?

A: We originally made them at the correct scale, but they were huge! The Master Chief is something like 7 feet tall and when you held the weapons at that scale they were way too big. We scaled them down slightly so that they work for an average sized adult.

Q: Where can folks see these weapons at ComiCon?

A: The prototypes will be on display at the Tor booth (#1116)

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Remember a decade ago when music was good and there was almost peace in the Middle East? I remember it well, even through all that grain-effect nostalgia takes on (well, in movies, anyway.) I remember all the hot new toys and hot new gadgets and hot new bricks (cell phones) that were “only for emergencies.” I also remember that one video game that nearly everyone had, or at least knew someone that had, and no, I’m not talking about Pokémon. I’m talking about that little electronic gadget you kept in your pocket and checked on all the time. I’m talking about Tamagotchi.

For all you younger readers, Tamagotchi was a little digital pet you interacted with through an LED screen, and it was all the rage. You could feed it, pet it, play with it, and take care of it when it got sick. You just had to remember to do all of this regularly, because if you forgot, your pet would get sad and maybe even die. Of course, this led to every kid constantly checking and playing with his little gadget-friend. And when it inevitably broke, the kid would whine to his parents until they got him a new one (with even more features.) Ah, those were the days.

Tamagotchi toys are a rarity these days. But I’ll tell you what’s not. Cell phones. Every kid has one and every kid plays with it constantly. They download the latest songs, surf the web, share files with friends, create ring tones, play games, instant message, text, take photos and movies. Oh yeah, sometimes they even call people with it, even if it is just to say, “Hey, did you get that text I just sent?” Most importantly, though, when they inevitably break it, or the latest version with all new features comes out, they whine to the parents until they get a new one.

The point is, I saw two different kids today, no more than 13 years old and both had iPhones. I want an iPhone, and if I can tear myself away from Pokémon long enough, I might just call Mom up and see what I can do about that.

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