The New iWhatever for Fishin’?
Can’t get enough catchin’ and reelin’? Always wished you could do more than read on the terlet? Now you can, thanks to Japanese toy manufacturer Tomy.
The company just announced that “a palm-sized rod with an antenna-like tip equipped with a reeling handle and small screen will go on sale in Japan in July for 6,279 yen.”
That’s $76. Seventy six.
Some dang toy. But wait, there’s more:
“The rod’s camera uses special technology to augment any location shown on the screen with ‘fishing opportunities,’ potentially giving offices, streets and shopping malls the refined air of a relaxing day by the lakeside. [That actually does sound cool.]
“A whirring sound accompanies the simulated casting of the line, as well as a satisfying ‘plunk” when the sinker hits the water [sinker? no bait?]. The harder the user casts out, the further the line flies on the screen.
“A bite on the line is conveyed by a vibrating reel with the ‘weight’ on the line changing in accordance with the size of the fish, it said. If the fish is successfully hooked, the reel will shake as users work to reel in the virtual beast. The line will go limp if the fish is allowed to escape.”
(All that plus the pic from Yahoo.com here.)
It’s called “Virtual Masters Real,” and Tomy figures it can sell 300,000 units in year 1 “as it looks to cash in on the rising popularity of outdoor leisure activities, including fishing, in Japan.”
Leisure? What leisure? In the bathroom I can see the leisure, but fishing?
Bass Pundit
January 27, 2011 at 7:58 am
Hand held fishing games been there, done that in the mid 90’s. Sheesh
BobbyJ
January 27, 2011 at 10:38 am
Yeah, I would hope the difference is much better graphics on that little screen. The old fishing games were just LCD.
3Times
January 27, 2011 at 12:39 pm
There’s an ap for that.