Turn Video Games Into Real-Life Games With This Foam Sword From Sabertron
A real fake light saber that takes pretending to be a Jedi to whole new levels. (Your kid will enjoy it, too.)
The makers of the recently-Kickstarter-funded Sabertron claim they created their foam sword with electronic scoring to “bring the interactivity of a video game into the real world.” That’s a noble mission given the ever-present question of how much screen time is too much for your kids, but Sabertron’s truly heroic achievement is that they now have a more accurate (and less expensive) way of keeping score in their swordfights than, “Last one to the ER wins.”
RELATED: The Best Video Games for Kids Under the Age of 10
The toy itself is an “indestructible” polycarbonate core wrapped in a light, tough, easily replaceable foam (because kids always go for the face) attached to an accelerometer that detects impact. It comes in three models — Apprentice ($100), Master ($150), and Grandmaster ($220) — with features like illuminated blades, touch screen menu, and bluetooth sync added on as you climb the price ladder. All three are sold in pairs, weigh under a pound, and come in lightsaber and medieval styles — so kids can start wailing on each other right out of the box, whether they’re young Jedis, Gladiators, Avengers, whatever.
There are 5 game modes ranging from ‘One Hit To Win,’ which is self-explanatory, up to ‘Hopeless,’ which is probably best left to the hardcore LARPers. (And if you’re wondering what a hardcore LARPer is, look no further than team Sabertron.) Scoring feedback is given by light and sound cues, and wireless communication between swords determines whether you’ve been blocked or Ned Starked your opponent into oblivion — all of which is much more entertaining in the backyard than on the couch.
Buy it here:
This article was originally published on
