Nerf unveiled a new laser tag set that will not require players to wear clunky vests, but will instead have to be hooked up to smartphones.
Named the Nerf Laser Ops Pro, the new Nerf guns are looking to revive laser tag as a popular group activity upon their launch in August, after drone maker Skyrocket's attempt to do the same thing with the Recoil augmented reality blasters last year.
Nerf Laser Ops Pro: Laser Tag At Home
The Nerf Laser Ops Pro is a laser tag system that, like Skyrocket's Recoil, trades the clunky vest in favor of more modern technology.
The hit detectors are hidden in the translucent, plastic dome located near the end of the new Nerf blasters. According to Nerf, this makes it harder to cheat by covering the sensors, as players will also not be able to shoot lasers when they try to hide the sensors.
With the vest out of the way, the Nerf Laser Ops Pro uses smartphones as the accessory of choice for players. Each gun comes with an armband that will be able to hold a smartphone, in which players can install an iOS or Android app that will allow them to customize their Nerf blasters, track their performance, access real-time match statistics, claim power-ups, and track enemies.
The Nerf Laser Ops Pro comes in two models. The Pro Deltaburst variant, which is capable of firing a three-shot burst and comes with an LCD screen, will be sold for $50. The Alphapoint Pro variant, meanwhile, will be $30 each and $45 for two of them, trading the LCD screen for lights and sounds when the player is hit, plus status and ammo indicators.
In addition, the Alphapoint Pro version comes with an attachment to let players play in solo mode using the Nerf app.
Nerf Laser Ops Pro vs Skyrocket Recoil
Comparing them as laser tag systems, the Nerf Laser Ops Pro is not as sophisticated as the Skyrocket Recoil, which requires players to walk back to respawn zones upon being hit and offers GPS-tracked power-ups.
However, the Nerf Laser Ops Pro system is cheaper, with the Skyrocket Recoil being sold at $130 for a starter kit with two pistols and a base station, $50 per additional pistol, $80 per rifle, and $15 per grenade.
For simple games of laser tag at home, the Nerf Laser Ops Pro looks like a better choice, but the Skyrocket Recoil offers more features and options for hardcore players.
