An electronic update of an old mechanical classic, Creative Engineering created this projected-image target shooting game on a tight schedule, starting in February to ship in time for the holiday season. A dual optical system in the steerable head projects alternating moving images on the wall or ceiling for the player to shoot at with a “light gun.”

Initially asked to develop a toy with an improved cam-driven drive system based on the old classic game, Creative suggested that with onboard electronics for scoring, it would not be much of a stretch to go for full electronic control of the projector head, which would allow for a much greater variety of games.

To keep costs low, Creative developed a patented servo system. Custom gear drives were developed, with position feedback consisting of inexpensive limit switches. As a bonus, the horizontal axis limit switches were mounted to an adjustable knob to allow the player to control where to project the image, whether on the wall or ceiling. Tight coordination with the electronics and software developers allowed compelling gameplay to be created within the limitations of the mechanical system.

Other features of the product include a user interface for game selection and scoring, cartridge-based games, and changeable projector images. The gearing is protected from user damage by a clutch.

Applicable Patent: US6328651B1 - Projected image target shooting toy