Entertech
Encyclopedia
Entertech was a brand of battery-powered motorized water gun
s sold in the United States
from 1986 to 1990 by the now-defunct LJN Toys. Unlike the colorful designs of many of the simple hand powered pump water guns of that time, most of the Entertech water guns were manufactured from black plastics with a matte finish to resemble actual firearms. Marketing materials and television spots would tout, "The look! The feel! The sound! So real! Entertech!" These water guns were revolutionary at a time when most children were purchasing inexpensive clear colored plastic squirt guns that were hand powered, had poor effective range and looked like toys. The Entertech line boasted realistic looks and water storage in the form of detachable magazines (in most models) like their real firearm counterparts. In addition, the motorized water pumps made noises that, while not realistic, added an extra level of sensation. Finally, the guns all boasted full automatic rate of fire (approx. 60 rpm) and a 30-foot effective range.
After Acclaim Entertainment
purchased LJN in April 1990, they began phasing out toy manufacturing. Using LJN to make video games instead of toys increased the limit of titles Acclaim could produce for the Nintendo Entertainment System
. In September 1990, Acclaim sold the Entertech brand for $1.7 million.
Water gun
A water gun is a type of toy designed to shoot water. Similar to water balloons, the primary purpose of the toy is to soak another person in a game such as water warfare....
s sold in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1986 to 1990 by the now-defunct LJN Toys. Unlike the colorful designs of many of the simple hand powered pump water guns of that time, most of the Entertech water guns were manufactured from black plastics with a matte finish to resemble actual firearms. Marketing materials and television spots would tout, "The look! The feel! The sound! So real! Entertech!" These water guns were revolutionary at a time when most children were purchasing inexpensive clear colored plastic squirt guns that were hand powered, had poor effective range and looked like toys. The Entertech line boasted realistic looks and water storage in the form of detachable magazines (in most models) like their real firearm counterparts. In addition, the motorized water pumps made noises that, while not realistic, added an extra level of sensation. Finally, the guns all boasted full automatic rate of fire (approx. 60 rpm) and a 30-foot effective range.
First generation
- Side Kick Pistol (Product design based on the Colt M1911 pistol, it was connected via a vinyl tube enclosing a water feed tube and trigger actuation wires to a separate pack fashioned to look like an ammo box that was slung over the user's shoulder which also held a 1 quart water supply )
- M-16 (Product design based on the Colt M16A2M16 rifleThe M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
.) - R.P.G. Water Rocket Launcher (Product design loosely based on the rocket propelled grenade launcher RPG-7RPG-7The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
.) - AK Centerfire (A submachine gun with a number of design features from the Intratec TEC-22Intratec TEC-22The Intratec TEC-22 is a semi-automatic handgun chambered in .22 Long Rifle. It was also marketed as the Scorpion and Sport-22. Like most firearms of this caliber the TEC-22 operates using a straight blow-back action....
) - Double Clip Baretta (A submachine gun design loosely based on the Beretta M12 also supplied with two magazines.)
- Water Laser (A futuristic looking laser gun with the same power and water delivery mechanism as the Side Kick Pistol, except with a 2 quart capacity and designed to be worn as a backpack.)
- Water Hawk (A large machine pistol based on the Interdynamic AB KG-9.)
- Uzi Cap Repeater (This was the only item that was not a water gun. It was simply a cap gun designed to look like a Micro Uzi.)
Second generation
- Water Grenade Set (A portable water balloon filling device. The unit was designed to resemble a detonator device. It includes a plastic storage unit for unfilled balloons, and was shaped like an actual hand grenade.)
- Defender Shotgun (A pump action shotgun with a detachable magazine for the water supply and powered by an air pressure discharge system similar to Larami Corporation'sLaramiLarami Corp. was founded in 1947 and was a toy company whose products usually ranged from the cost of .39 to .99. Larami Corp. was eventually acquired by Hasbro Inc., becoming Larami Inc. in 1995. The Larami company name was finally retired in 2002....
Super SoakerSuper SoakerSuper Soaker is a brand of recreational water gun, first sold in 1990 by Larami and now produced by Hasbro under the Nerf brand. Invented by Lonnie Johnson on November 13, 1989, the first Super Soaker, the Super Soaker 50, was originally called the Power Drencher...
guns.) - M-60 Rambo Edition (A re-branded M-16 with a Rambo logo sticker on the gun and a red Rambo headband. This product was released as licensed merchandise after the release of Rambo: First Blood Part IIRambo: First Blood Part IIRambo: First Blood Part II is a 1985 action film. A sequel to 1982's First Blood, it is the second installment in the Rambo series starring Sylvester Stallone, who reprises his role as Vietnam veteran John Rambo...
.) - R.P.G. Water Rocket Launcher Rambo Edition (Same as above.)
- Baretta (A copy of the Beretta 92Beretta 92The Beretta 92 is a series of semi-automatic pistols designed and manufactured by Beretta of Italy. The model 92 was designed in 1972 and production of many variants in different calibers continues today...
pistol, released in stainless steel or all black versions.)
Other products
- Photon: The Ultimate Game on Planet EarthPhoton: The Ultimate Game on Planet EarthPhoton was the name of the first commercial lasertag arenas. The company also came out with a home lasertag game, and there were various media tie-ins: a TV show also called Photon and a series of novels by Peter David.- History :...
: A laser tag system. - Gotcha! The Sport!: Non-motorized guns which fired ink-covered soft plastic pellets, a combination of paintballPaintballPaintball is a sport in which players compete, in teams or individually, to eliminate opponents by tagging them with capsules containing water soluble dye and gelatin shell outside propelled from a device called a paintball marker . Paintballs have a non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble...
and airsoftAirsoftAirsoft is a sport in which participants shoot round non-metallic pellets launched via replica firearms.Gameplay varies in style and composition but often range from short-term skirmishes, organized scenarios, military simulations, historical reenactments, to competition target shooting events...
. The toys were released in conjunction with the video game Gotcha! The Sport!, also by LJN.
Company closure
The short-lived success of Entertech was due to law enforcement officers who claimed to have mistaken toy guns to be actual firearms, killing children toting toy guns. In addition, there were report incidents of criminals utilizing toy guns in robberies of retail establishments and even banks. In the midst of these highly-publicized incidents, Entertech voluntarily began manufacturing their guns with blaze orange-colored caps in 1987, and began a line of less-realistic neon-colored guns later that year.After Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment
Acclaim Entertainment was an American video game developer and publisher. It developed, published, marketed and distributed interactive entertainment software for a variety of hardware platforms, including Sega's Mega Drive/Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and Game Gear, Nintendo's NES, SNES, Nintendo...
purchased LJN in April 1990, they began phasing out toy manufacturing. Using LJN to make video games instead of toys increased the limit of titles Acclaim could produce for the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
. In September 1990, Acclaim sold the Entertech brand for $1.7 million.
See also
- Super SoakerSuper SoakerSuper Soaker is a brand of recreational water gun, first sold in 1990 by Larami and now produced by Hasbro under the Nerf brand. Invented by Lonnie Johnson on November 13, 1989, the first Super Soaker, the Super Soaker 50, was originally called the Power Drencher...
- A current line of water guns sold by HasbroHasbroHasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
under the NerfNerfNerf is a toy brand created by Parker Brothers and currently owned by Hasbro. The acronym NERF stands for "Non-Expanding Recreational Foam". Most of the toys are a variety of foam-based weaponry, but there are also several different types of Nerf toys, such as balls for sports like football,...
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