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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!”

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.

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