Skip to main content

En garde! MagneTag may be the Laser Tag of the future

laser tag is so last year play magnetag instead screen shot 2015 08 12 at 6 56 38 pm
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Laser tag may have felt like the game of the future a decade ago, but now that we’re 10 years older and in need of a new form of fun, a couple guys from Milwaukee have stepped in to fill the void. Meet MagneTag, effectively electronic tag with magnets, that leverages “an advanced system of wearable magnetic field sensors” to provide you with hours and hours of friendly fun, complete with an entire “arsenal of magnetically enhanced foam swords and ninja stars.”

Sound like your cup of tea? The enterprise has recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the necessary funds for launching MagneTag into the gaming ecosystem.

MagneTag

A survivor of the first round of the hit ABC show “Shark Tank,” MagneTag is looking to make it big with its dependence on magnetic sensors, weapons, and your sense of fun. Much like Laser Tag, the magnetic sensor, which you wear on your chest like a breast plate, keeps track anytime you’re struck or you strike an opponent. And with its optional “Bluetooth wireless link between [MagneTag’s] hardware and your smartphone,” eager players are introduced to “a world of gameplay possibilities,” including “access to] new game modes, find[ing] other players, track[ing] your stats, and more!”

Recommended Videos

Invented four years ago by Adam Cohen, the entrepreneur calls it “the smartest thing I will do in my entire life,” which is either high praise for the game, or a sign of modesty, or both. In an interview with Urban Milwaukee, Cohen explained that the inspiration for the game stemmed from his love/hate relationship with paintball. “I still love playing paintball,” he said. “It’s just not a very reliable scoring system. It’s expensive, it’s painful, and it’s messy so you can’t really play anywhere you want.”

Thus far, MagneTag has raised $11,341 of its $50,000 goal, but it still has nearly a month left to excite its community. And Cohen certainly has high hopes for his company’s future. “In my mind, I’m working back from the year 2032 and MagneTag is inducted into an Olympic sporting event,” he told Urban Milwaukee. “It’s challenging, but it’s so awesome to see people have fun with it and enjoy something that you made. I mean, the Romans loved it, right? Are we really that different?”

Point taken, Mr. Cohen. Point taken indeed.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
New Atari 50 DLC shows the Intellivision acquisition is already paying off
An Atari 2600+ sits on a table.

Digital Eclipse's Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration is an excellent and comprehensive look back at the company's now classic video game lineup, with games to play and extra content to interact with. So far, it's gotten one DLC: The Wider World of Atari, that added even more titles. Now, it's about to get its second, thanks to an acquisition it made earlier this year.

Atari announced The First Console War on Friday, and it's about, as you can guess, the company's first console war with the Intellivision, although it'll touch on a specific element of it. In the 1980s, Mattel was publishing games on the Intellivision. At some point, it decided to release versions of these console exclusives for its main competitor, the Atari 2600, under the M Network label. There are 19 of these games coming to Atari 50 with The First Console War, which is set to launch on November 8 for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4 Atari 50 owners.

Read more
Is Monster Hunter Wilds cross-platform?
Two hunters ride mounts in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Of all the genres that we think need to be on the list of cross-platform games, hunting games like Monster Hunter Wilds have to be near the top. These are a rather unique style of game compared to the likes of Fallout 76, Genshin Impact, or Stardew Valley. Each of those has cooperative or competitive elements to them that are enhanced by cross-platform support, but nothing like what Monster Hunter Wilds has going on. The game will allow you to call in NPCs to help you on the hunt, but these games are best when you get a group of real friends together and embark on an epic quest to slay a giant beast, scavenge it for parts, and return to camp victorious. Monster Hunter Rise eventually got cross-platform support once it was ported off the Switch, but will Monster Hunter Wilds launch with this feature? Here's what you need to know about cross-platform support in one of our most anticipated upcoming games.
Is Monster Hunter Wilds cross-platform?

Monster Hunter Wilds will only have partial cross-platform support. The good news is that the part that it will have is crossplay, meaning that you and friends on either PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or PC can all hunt together with no issues. This feature can be disabled if you wish, but will be enabled by default to make sure desperate hunters can always find some aid when in need.

Read more
Fortnite Chapter 2 Remix teams up with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and more
Snoop Dogg in Fortnite.

Fortnite’s new season, Chapter 2 Remix, is getting a star-studded event that will run through November. The music-focused event will see the battle royale partnering with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and more artists to remix the game’s map each week.

The new announcement is the next phase of Epic’s goal to turn Fortnite into the “ultimate hub for social entertainment experiences,” as a representative from Epic explained during a press event. The game has had several musical collaborations previously, including the Guitar Hero-like Fortnite Festival mode that launched last year. This update brings that idea to the next level by partnering with four musical superstars.

Read more