Some of you older gamers may remember a classic NES game, Tank (or Battle City as it was called in Japan), where you would control a tank around a battlefield map (with various obstacles) with your friends and fire shots at one another until someone won. Now, take that basic concept and apply it to the real world with remote controlled takes with light gun ‘lasers’, and you have Galaxy Zega.
The new toy is launching now, where it’s most basic set comes with a couple tanks (which are controlled via a mobile app) and a battlefield you can customize to your satisfaction. There’s much more to it than that, as you can use different “weapons” that have real affects on the tanks (slowing them down, making them harder to control, freezing them, etc.). Check out all the details below:
It has become a well-documented and studied problem: with kids’ noses stuck on the screens of their devices, getting families together to play in real life is harder than ever. Today, a new toy combining the strategy and engaging aspects of mobile games with the excitement and competition of a realistic tank fighting toy is launching, bringing the best of both worlds together. Galaxy ZEGA from SmartX lets parents and kids of all ages remotely control small tanks with a Bluetooth-connected smart device app and fight each other on or off the Galaxy ZEGA battlefield to gain points, skills, longer ‘lives’ and other treasures.
“I wanted to find a way to play with my young son and not let him be isolated behind his smartphone and tablet,” said Tango Yang, CEO and founder, SmartX. “I started my company SmartX to solve that problem, developing toys that combined the appeal of online mobile games with the interaction of a real-world toy. We think Galaxy ZEGA is a new form of recreation that appeals to young kids like my son, their parents, and even big kids who have always loved the strategy and competition of mobile games.”
In Galaxy ZEGA, the real and virtual worlds collide to create an exciting, engaging experience that appeals to many audiences. A tank battle toy, Galaxy ZEGA is played with individuals and teams on a real-world battlefield using palm-sized tanks (called ZEGAs). Players shoot their opponents with lights to gain points and eventually earn up to 30 more skills so they can disable other ZEGAs with virtual ‘oil spills,’ freeze opponent’s speed and more to win battles.
The Galaxy ZEGA game comprises four ZEGA tanks (two come in the Galaxy ZEGA Starter Kit), each with a name, personality, unique strengths, and weaknesses. The ZEGAs are controlled via Bluetooth through the iOS or Android app. A magnetically-connected, snapped-together battlefield is included with the Starter Kit, though ZEGAs can run on any surface to make the experience even more exciting. An accessory, the X-base, adds an extra level of excitement so when a ZEGA drives over the lighted X-base the player gains points, skills or treasures.
“We wanted to make Galaxy ZEGA a fully-developed game that is different every time you play it. We’ve built in more than two dozen special skills that make ZEGAs powerful and unique. We created as many different powers as we could think of to add more variety and bring the best of the mobile games to life,” Tango said.
The Galaxy ZEGA app-based remote control tank game features:
Starter Kit: 2 different ZEGAs and the magnetic battlefield. Optional add-ons include two other ZEGAs, an X-base; ramps and other parts to expand the battlefield
ZEGAs have names and personalities, different skill sets, challenges.
ZEGAs battle on the ZEGA battlefield or any surface inside or out
ZEGAs are a ‘ready-to-fight’ toy, operating out of the box with no set up time (charges quickly with 2-in-1 USB charger, easy app download, quick battlefield assembly)
Game can be played in survival or flag capture modes (battling ZEGAs or for points)
ZEGAs can be upgraded through the app with treasures won in battle, enhancing abilities
Pricing and Availability
The Galaxy ZEGA Starter Kit which includes two ZEGAs, battlefield and chargers costs $149.99. Additional products include individual ZEGAs, X-bases and other accessories.
You can check out more information (including purchasing details) and screenshots over on their official website. What do you guys think of this new gizmo?
-Jordan
