Skannerz is a series of electronic toys made by Radica Games[1] that use barcode technology to create an interactive battle game. Radica brand barcodes have the additional feature of being able to act as a healing code in the first two iterations of the game.
Models
Skannerz
The original Skannerz came in three versions which represented the three tribes: If a player scans a barcode containing a rival tribe's monster, a battle would be initiated. Also, items could be gathered from Universal Product Code barcodes. Another feature is the two player battle system where two versions could be linked together and battle. There are 126 monsters to collect and control between the 3 controllers. Additionally, the monsters also each possessed a special 'type' or 'class' - these types are: Released in 2000.
- Zendra (blue)
- Pataak (green)
- Ujalu (red)
- Magic
- Tech
- Power
Skannerz Commander
The Skannerz Commander is second in the series. There are no "tribes" in this version nor are there different models. With this model the user that scans can get the opponent's monster by winning, but this means that therefore they will lose a monster with a loss. The Skannerz Commander game is incompatible with the original Skannerz models.
Monsters
There are 126 monsters to collect divided evenly between the first three consoles and 12 secret monsters (commonly known as the "Exiles") that any console can get. The Skannerz Commander console has another 126 monsters and 12 secret monsters that are unobtainable on the other models.
Monsters can be obtained through scanning a product barcode, and made to fight other monsters through a battle with another controller, or a battle with a NPC when a barcode belonging to another console is scanned.
Each monster has up to three attacks that can be learned when it gains enough HP. Generally, each attack is more powerful than the last, and the player may choose which one to use to fight.
See also
- Barcode Battler
- List of barcode games
External links
- Unofficial site (contains links to buying the product and has published books about the product)
References
- Michel Marriott. Behind That Banal Bar Code, Monsters and Dinosaur DNA The New York Times, 2001-07-26, retrieved 2024-01-15^