Tag: tek

BREAKING NEWS: NERF TEK STRIKE STORMSHIELD (New York Toy Fair)

Nerf Tek Strike! Stormshield & App from Eyespy Toys Uses Bluetooth Tech to score hits, track power ups, and more. First shown at New York Toy Fair!

Say Hello to… Nerf Tek Strike. A shield/LCD readout attachment for your tactical rail on Nerf blasters to track hits/scoring, and apparently upgrade weapons/darts. I saw this during Day 1 of New York Toy Fair, and I was really intrigued. There was a prototype available, but these folks are on a good track to figuring out a new way to play. More details after the break.


What sorcery is this? RFID signals, bluetooth connectivity (the demo I saw was running off an iPod’s bluetooth) smart darts (darts specific for this game style, a pack of 10 for $9.99 for instance). (edit) However, a smart device is NOT NECESSARY to play. You can also see hits/lives on the LCD readout of the device that faces you.

Have an EXCLUSIVE gallery –

https://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/picasaweb.googleusercontent.com/slideshow.swf

It’s still in the early stages of functioning, but from what I could see they have some great plans. It incorporates the natural habit of a player to pick up their opponent’s ammo (using the smart darts) and then firing them back. If the darts hit the shield, you score a point. If the opponent tries to be cute and hold their blaster downward, they time out and lose a life (at least that was one measure that is in the works.) To calibrate the darts to your signal, swipe them over your screen to affix them so they hit and score on your opponents.

Does not need a device in the cradle to operate. A device is necessary to act as a “base” or home for the game, but it would not have to be placed in the cradle. The model I saw had its base unit kept in a cabinet nearby.

This system is still very new, but it’s a very intriguing idea. While it would require purchasing new specific darts, I think there’s a definite place for this type of game, especially if it leads to being able to track hits without using velcro. In an FPS, you run forward and around with your barrel pointed forward, right? Maybe the same principle could be conceptualized here. I myself have a lot of nerf darts already, but being able to track hits and have power ups (like increased damage, and… some other settings I can’t mention but they’re thinking of) may just be worth the cost of a few extra darts, and maybe even if my friends and I split a few
packs.


 I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the developments of this system, but it is a licensed Nerf (meaning, with their blessing) product, they’re working with Nerf on how it works, and there is some serious thought going into the mechanics. I do have a video of successfully tracking hits using the screen, but I have get home first to edit it (my main computer is at home.)

My blog post and the pictures don’t really do this system justice and it’s really very early to say anything definite, but I’m excited for the promise of what it might mean for playing Nerf Tag and the cool people I met talking about it trying to bring this to fruition. Yes, you need to get new darts. But, it could be for a very good reason 🙂

What do you think?  Is the idea of a Nerf-developed app/tag tracking device interesting for you, whether you play stock, modded, or HvZ?

Tek Recon’s 2nd Effort! – Appeal to Kickstarter!

Tek Recon’s already a little over HALFWAY to their goal, but that was the easy part.  Now comes the real effort, to finish the race and bring the total home.

To make it happen, we need to make our voices heard to Kickstarter.  Whether it is through their Facebook, Twitter Feed, or emailing them at press@kickstarter.com, we need to let them know about Tek Recon running on their own site, that it has such a great following, and to highlight Tek Recon on their weekly email blast.

This might be the effort that pushes Tek Recon over the top, and as great and welcoming the reception has been so far, the work is only 50% done.  All the great perks and effort put out there so far can’t stop unfinished, we’ve all done great now let’s finish the job.

Let Kickstarter know!  Reach out to them and ask them to support Tek Recon with placement in their email blast!

Not sure what to say?  Here’s an EXAMPLE of what you can say –

“Dear Kickstarter, 

As a recent first time project backer and avid blaster fan I am writing you to ask your help to get TEK RECON the visibility needed to hit it’s funding goal.
I love this concept and product and believe there are many others blaster and gaming fans like me that would love to get their hands on TEK RECON.

Please help us see this project funded so that we can experience the next level of Live Action Online Gaming. On behalf of the very large blaster community I request that you include TEK RECON in your next Weekly Email blast and help us see this project funded.

I appreciate your helping bring this product to life!!!

Thanks!” 
Don’t forget to sign it 😉
You’ve got your orders, let’s go to work.

Tek Recon goes to E3! Press Release received!

“TEK RECON: E3 BOUND AND BRINGING LIVE ACTION ONLINE GAMING TO LIFE!

FOLLOWING A VERY EXCITING KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED NEW GAMES TO BE SAMPLED FOR THE FIRST TIME AT E3 JUNE 11-13 IN LOS ANGELES



TORONTO, May 21, 2013 – TEK RECON, one of the most anticipated new product launches of 2013 will be available for demonstration and sampling by fans and consumers for the first time at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, California June 11-13, 2013.
E3 will immediately follow a crowd funding campaign hosted on Kickstarter that began May 9th.  The response to TEK RECON from gamers, tech enthusiasts, and blaster fans has been exceptional as backers and players from all over the world have reached out to provide valuable feedback, insight and support. The campaign is currently more than 50% funded and tracking to exceed the kickstarter goal of $50,000.
Gamers, adventure seekers and fans of technology, get off the couch and into the game as we need your help to create a revolutionary new way to connect and play! TEK RECON Blasters feature a first of its kind design with real trigger action, authentic recoil and specially designed reusable “NRG Rounds”.
To optimize the battle and team experience TEK RECON developed a free “Live Action Online Gaming” app to enhance blaster battles. Simply connect your mobile device to the blaster to bring video game styled play to life through mobile and GPS technology.  The free TEK RECON App will be available for iOS and Android devices, enhancing real battle experience through an interactive heads up display, live chat, vision modes, and more.
“Bringing TEK RECON to market is the most ambitious and exciting launch in our company history,” stated Brad Pedersen CEO of TEK RECON Inc. “Two years ago we set out on a mission to bring video games, online connectivity and social interactive play together through innovation and great product design. The outcome, TEK RECON has come to life and created a phenomenal play experience that has exceeded our expectations.”
The time is now to be one of the first to experience Live Action Online Gaming and change the way you play. For more information on this product and the KICKSTARTER campaign please visit TekRecon.com.
Take a live look at the Tek Recon Blasters during the E3 2013 Show in Los Angeles, CA at Booth #5636 in the West Hall.”
And the buzz just keeps on going for Tek Recon! From Toy Fair now to E3… who knows what’s next?

Tek Recon: Update #4! – (New video and info uploaded to the Kickstarter page!)

Update from Tek Recon after the break – I’ll put my 2 cents in a little later when I have a bit more time.  But… wow.  The movie start pledges got picked up, and there will be some new products possibly by 2014!

To view the latest vid, head over to their kickstarter – http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/graemebissett/tek-recon-the-first-real-life-video-game/posts 

“We are excited to know that we recently had 2 of the 5 “Movie Star” pledges get scooped up by fans. These 2 people are in for a real treat, and timing is perfect as we have just finished our first commercial shoot and we want to share with all of you a “sizzle” that we have produced.  This spot has many of of the key shots that will be used in the final commercial that we intend to air later this year.

We think you are going to love the sizzle reel as it really helps demonstrate the product performance and convey how we envision team play and collaboration could work.  You should note the following features in the spot:

Magazine swap out. Check out the flip and clip action on the Havok. We had much feedback from the community that you want more ammo and you want it fast.  We are happy to to offer you up this, in a slick system that has quick access.  Per the video, simply un-clip, flip and lock in the opposite end of magazine and you are good to go with another 36 rounds. Based on additional feedback we are planning on developing more ways to get ammo fast, in future developments of the project.
Communication via the app. One of the coolest features in the app is the walkie talkies. Your team is all linked via a comm system and when you press the screen icon, you are instantly connected and sharing intel. HINT – When used in game play, you will need to be careful as there are some power ups that the opposing team can acquire and when deployed “hack” into the comm system to listen in on your teams plans.

Distance of the ammo. In the video you will see a point where there is a 2 way battle over a concrete barracade. This should give you an idea of the distance that the blaster can achieve. In a recent blog post; one of our fans described Tek Recon as “friendly airsoft for the masses”.  We are confident you will be very happy with the performance but also knowing that it is safe to use and play with.
Bank Shots. Another key advantage of the NRG rounds vs other projectiles is that they are dynamic and as a result you can “ricochet” the ammo to strike your target.  We think that is a big idea and helps separate the men from the boyz!

Recoil. For those of you who have not had a clear look at what the recoil looks like there is some nice close ups of the product in action. We have just got to say it feels awesome and you cannot help but have a smile on your face every round you squeeze out!

Dynamic Targets. Yes we already had a video on this but thought we would give you a couple angles to look at it from. There is a “big” pay-off when you hit the target that we are pretty sure you will think is cool.  These are included in our battle packs, squad leader and envoy pledges.
Girls! We love the fact that we have both genders featured in the forthcoming spot. Yes this is a shout out to all the ladies who hate the stereo type that girls are not interested in blaster play.  We know there are a bunch fo you who believe they can outwit and outplay their male counter parts and do not need a special pink or purple blaster to do it.  [Unless you really like pink….in which case you can make a custom metallic pink blaster as part of our “Custom Havok” pledge:)]

We aspire to create a product we are proud of and deliver “wow” with Tek Recon and the play experience it will offer. We hope by now that we have demonstrated that we in fact are breathing life into this project and doing so by taking feedback from you, our fans, to shape what we finally produce.

We have had a lot of questions about the app and different operating systems etc that can be supported. What is important to note is that the blaster on it’s own is an incredible product; it has a unique design with features that are truly stand out and will provide the best performance on the market. That said we have taken Tek Recon from “good to great” by creating a “digital layer” that enhances the play experience.  The Tek Recon app on an IOS or Android smart device will give you a first of its kind FPS video game experience in live action play!

Thanks to those who have supported us thus far. The “movie star” still has 3 of the 5 positions available and if after seeing the sizzle you want to be part of the next commercial then you can either change your pledge or let your network know there are a limited number still available. The plan is to film the next spot with our top secret new Tek Recon blaster design in January of 2014.   Thanks for helping us spread the word and for your efforts in making Tek Recon a reality!”

So…. it happened.  some enterprising individuals picked among the biggest prize packs on Tek Recon’s kickstarter (the E3 pass as a spokesperson, and now 2 of the 5 “movie star” commercial spots) and are going to benefit HUGE.  Exposure, lots of product and in the case of the movie stars, advance product.  Here’s are the exact details of those prizes:

  • Pledge $3,500 or more
    1 backer All gone!
    ATTEND E3! Flight and Hotel included to attend E3 in LA June 11-13, 2013 to help present Tek Recon at its premier launch event! As well as a MASSIVE Tek Recon prize pack, to ship Aug 2013. (US/Canada Only)
    Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
    • Pledge $5,000 or more
      2 backers Limited (3 of 5 left)
      MOVIE STAR Receive 1 Flight and Hotel room for anyone under 18 to fly to our film set so you can appear in the next Tek Recon commercial! Oh, and you’ll get a ton of free product. The perfect gift for the blaster fanatic or aspiring actor in your family (US/Canada Only – Anyone under 14 requires chaperone). MASSIVE Tek Recon starter pack to ship Aug 2013. Commercial set to film Jan 2014.
      Estimated delivery: Aug 2013

     
    These are some great packages, for sure!  And they helped get Tek Recon over the 50% funding mark with a good amount of time left.  It’s almost a guarantee we’re going to see a whole lot more news and features before the kickstarter is over.

    As for the video, you kind of get a feel for the action pace they expect with Tek Recon, and the one feature not ready at Toy Fair was the recoil.  But it’s the little touches that matter like the flip clip, the recoil, and the semi auto.   Either way, this is exciting!  Can’t wait to see everything.

TEK RECON: KICKSTARTER IS LIVE (UPDATE) – Hammer Head, Havok

KICKSTARTER LINK IS HERE:

Got word of this from the fine folks at Tek Recon – they’re launching a little early, and ON KICKSTARTER.  I’ll let them explain in the press release below.

“TEK RECON: BRINGING VIDEO GAMES TO LIFE!
One of the most anticipated product launches of 2013 hits KICKSTARTER on May 9th

TORONTO, May 8, 2013 – TEK RECON, one of the most anticipated new product launches of 2013 will be available for the first time through KICKSTARTER.COM on May 9th @ 8am eastern standard time.

The goal of the KICKSTARTER campaign is designed to further enhance the development of the TEK RECON blaster and free app, and to get the product into the hands of early adopters and key influencers helping to create the first real life online video game. Through the course of 31 days fans will be able to fund the project through purchasing product, exclusive rewards, and bid on great prizes that include appearances in the television commercial and an all expense paid trip to present at E3; all contributing towards our KICKSTARTER funding goal of raising $50,000.

“Bringing TEK RECON to market through this KICKSTARTER project is the most ambitious and exciting launch in our company history,” stated Brad Pedersen President and CEO of TEK RECON Inc. “Two years ago we set out on a mission to bring video games, online connectivity and social interactive play together through innovation and great product design. The outcome, TEK RECON has come to life and created a phenomenal play experience that has exceeded our expectations.”

Gamers, adventure seekers and fans of technology, we need your help to create a revolutionary new way to connect and play video games with your friends IN REAL LIFE! Get off the couch and into the game with the newest and most realistic way to blast away on the field or anywhere. TEK RECON Blasters feature a first of its kind design with real trigger action and specially designed reusable “NRG Rounds” that blast up to 75 feet.

To optimize the battle and team experience TEK RECON developed a free “Real-Life Online Gaming” app to enhance blaster battles. Simply connect your mobile device to the blaster to bring video game styled play to life through mobile and GPS technology.  The free TEK RECON App will be available for iOS and Android devices, enhancing real battle experience through an interactive heads up display, live chat, vision modes, and more.

The time is now to be one of the first to experience Real Life Online Gaming and change the way you play. For more information on this product and KICKSTARTER campaign please visit TekRecon.com.”

A look at the OS of the Tek Recon app
The Tek Recon Hammer Head. Approx. $19.99, 30 round capacity in a mag in the handle.

The Tek Recon Havok blaster, pump-action.  Approx. $34.99 as of the listing I saw at Toy Fair.  90 round capacity last I saw.

So there you have it.  On May 9th Tech4Kids (makers of Tek Recon) is willing to let fans endorse the product, assist in the development, and in return you can get the blaster early, or any number of other bonuses, including possibly a trip to E3?  Interesting, indeed!

Tek Recon wants to make sure they get the blasters done properly, so here they are opening up to the wonderful world of crowdfunding.  Their kickstarter page launches May 9th, so if you’ve been yelling “TAKE MY MONEY” since news on Tek Recon first came out, here’s your chance. 

Between the interactivity of the mobile app, the new ammo type, and some of the neatest touches when it comes to aesthetics and user experience, I’m intrigued to try it out and see how it all works.  I’ve been itching to get a more in-depth look at this since New York Toy Fair, and it looks close, so, so close. 

I’ll post the link once the kickstarter goes live and definitely keep an eye on Tek Recon’s Facebook Page.

Onward, to May 9th!  And good luck to Tek Recon in making this work!

Preview Review: Zing Toys Z-Tek Crossbow

Just some advance pics of a review I’ll be working on soon enough.  Latest air drop from the fine folks at Zing Toys, makers of the ZCurve Bow And Arrow, Hunter Crossbow, and others sent along a sample of their latest offering in the Air Storm line, the Z-Tek Crossbow.  Don’t have time to do a full range test, but it’s a definite improvement over the ZX Hunter Crossbow (which was pretty solid itself). 

For now, some pics.  You folks like pics, right?

Z-Tek Crossbow!  Flip-out bow arms, but the body is EXTENDABLE for a longer stretch!

Before opening

Z-Tek Crossbow
Released!  And comes with a target, too.  Note:  NOT extended as in the above photo.