Lazer Tag
 Original Lazer Tag Logo | |
| Type | Game |
|---|---|
| Inventor(s) | Worlds of Wonder |
| Company |
|
| Country | United States |
| Availability | 1986– |
| Materials | Plastic with electronics |
Lazer Tag is a brand name for the infrared pursuit game generically known as "laser tag," "lasertag," or "lazertag."[1][2] First introduced by Worlds of Wonder in 1986, the toy was exclusively sold through high tech catalog The Sharper Image for the fist three months of it's release before being purchaseable through retail outlets.The Lazer Tag brand is currently a subsidiary of Hasbro's Nerf toy line.
History
Lazer Tag was created by the toy company Worlds Of Wonder in 1986, appearing at approximately the same time as the home version of Entertech's Photon brand.[3] Like Photon, Worlds of Wonder's Lazer Tag brand also inspired a TV series. The animated series Lazer Tag Academy was produced by Ruby-Spears Productions, with one season airing on NBC from 1986-1987.[4] Two Game idea books and t hree Choose Your Own Adventure-style books were released by Role Playing Game company TSR based on the game as well. A boy is briefly shown playing Lazer Tag in the 1988 film Married to the Mob and the toy was also features in episodes of Kate and Allie and Mr. Belvedere. A Lazer Tag video game was released in the late 1980s for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64.[5]Recently the toy was part of an episode of the 80‘s themed show The Goldbergs.
The toy, however, was not without controversy. In April 1987, 19-year old Leonard Falcon was shot and killed in Rancho Cucamonga, CA by a sheriffs deputy after witnesses saw him and several friends playing with it, mistaking the toys for real guns.[6] The deputy who shot him quit his job soon afterwards. Shortly afterward Worlds Of Wonder modified all new Lazer Tag Starlytes without the muzzle flash feature. As well they began making white versions of the Starlyte and Star Sensor but the company began to go bankrupt thus causing the line to be discontinued and all existing for sale products to be drastically marked down for guick sale with the once expensive and hard to get game kits being priced as low as ten dollars.
The Lazer Tag brand name was acquired by Shoot The Moon Products[7] of Pleasanton, CA, after Worlds Of Wonder ceased operations in late 1990. Since then, the brand name has been licensed to Tiger Electronics from 1996–1998 and to Hasbro from 2004–present under the Nerf banner.[8][9]
In August 2012, Hasbro released an all-new Lazer Tag line, which allows users to integrate their iPhone or iPod Touch units with the blasters. The provided apps convert the smartphones into HUD units, which display power levels and update players' gaming progress on an online leaderboard. Gaming experience is further enhanced with unlockable attacks and gear.[10]
Current models
Lazer Tag Single Blaster Pack
The individual pack comes with one orange-colored blaster that is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPod Touch 4th generation. The free apps enable up to 24 players to engage in battle.[11]
Laser Tag 2 Blaster Battle Pack
This set comes with two blasters (one in orange and the other in white), giving users instant one-on-one or dual-wielding action out of the box.[11]
References
- ^ "You Call These Toys?". Time. 1987-12-07. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
- ^ Cuff, Daniel F. (1988-04-04). "BUSINESS PEOPLE; Worlds of Wonder Loses Its Chairman". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ Zonana, Victor F. (1987-12-22). "Cash-Strapped Toy Maker Worlds of Wonder Petitions for Chapter 11 Protection". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-08-07.
- ^ "Saturday Morning: Good And Bad". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
- ^ "Sinclair Infoseek". World of Spectrum. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
- ^ "Student Killed by Deputy Is Remembered as 'Neat Kid'", April 10, 1987, Associated Press in the LA Times. Retrieved 2013-04-08.
- ^ "fuzzycouch.com". fuzzycouch.com. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
- ^ "History of the Lazer Tag Brand - Worlds Of Wonder (WOW), Tiger (TLT), and Team Ops (LTTO)". Home.comcast.net. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
- ^ "Sports Are Always More Fun in the Dark". Bleacher Report. 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
- ^ "Hasbro reinvents Lazer Tag for the smartphone generation, lets you live out your Doom-fueled fantasies". Engadget. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
- ^ a b "LAZER TAG Armory | LAZER TAG Equipment & Set | Hasbro". Lazertag.com. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
