Barcode Battler

[digitalpress]

Anyone have any experience with this? I busted mine out this weekend and discovered that it's a pretty interesting little electronic toy, kinda like a pre-Pokemon card battle system. I didn't have much luck with the barcodes that I found (as opposed to the ones that came with the game). A can of string beans produced a really weak character, and three other labels I had wouldn't even scan in properly. I've actually got two different Barcode Battler models (one by Tomy and one by Epoch).

If you own one or have played it, I'd like to hear your experiences.

[badinsults]

I can't say I have ever played one myself, but it seems like an interesting device. They actually made a game for the SFC that supported it:

http://snescentral.edgeemu.com/peripherals/BarcodeBattler/index.html

[chaoticjelly]

I have one..

Kwik save pasta... LOL teh 0wn

[Ed Oscuro]

A can of string beans produced a really weak character

LOL

Now that's just funny. Now this was Japanese-only, right? You mentioned you have two models, which I also find strange...it's strange enough that one company would make this, but two...

[Gamereviewgod]

Wow, I was just reeading an old issue of Gamefan which had an advertisement for one of them 5 minutes before this thread was posted....Talk about timing.....

[Jive3D]

I always wanted one of these things so Bad!

I remember seeing that advert for EB selling them a long time ago (or was it babedges?). Anyway, there was also an attachment for the original GB called Barcode Boy, same idea, just used the GB as the interface.

I still see them go on ebay for pretty cheap. came REAL close to getting one on myriad ocasions, but always missed the auction or wasnt in the impulse purchase mood.

Very cool idea. They actually updated the product within like the last year or so in the US, the product was called SCANNERZ, or something like that. It was much better b/c you didnt have to slide the bardcore a-la credit card machine, it had a red lazer reader that you could scan the code with, so you can use that can of Cow Tongue and not ruin the label for re-sell value! (ha).
But I passed up on those too. If they encorporated the thing into a watch and had infra-red communication between two watches for battles, then I would be all about battling my 12 year old bro.

[digitalpress]

Now this was Japanese-only, right? You mentioned you have two models, which I also find strange...it's strange enough that one company would make this, but two...

The two I own were both manufactured and distributed in the United States. I believe the Tomy brand came first (it cam in a darker blue box), as early as 1992. The Epoch one came later, my best guess is sometime around late 1994 since I was working part-time at EB that holiday season and they were new to the store. The units themselves appear identical.

There is also a Barcode Battler II, not exactly sure where that was manufactured as I don't own one, but I do know that it's clearly printed on the machine as Barcode Battler II.

[ianoid]

I have a spare GERMAN one that is complete in box. Someone please buy it from me. No reasonable offer over $10 refused (not including shipping, which will be at cost based on your location by USPS parcel or priority.)

I like handhelds and table tops, but I'm trying to stick to ones I'm kind of excited about, and ones that don't require me to hold cans of ravioli in one hand to play.

[Jorpho]

I read a long review of the Barcode Battler a while back. The reviewer was far from impressed, particularly with the lame "story" with which the game was to be used.

Here we are (http://www.jagaroth.freeserve.co.uk/articles/barcode/). Still the first hit on Google.

[anagrama]

Woah, that's pretty freaky!
Just this evening I was digging through some boxes of stuff, looking for non-essential bits to stick on eBay to help my dismal post-Christmas financial state, and my BB was one of the things I pulled out. First time I've seen it in years.

I bet I've got you all beat as far as rare variants go though - mine is a German version (also by Tomy), but each and every card has an English translation stuck over the top of it, as does the back of the box.
Obviously it was such a big hit in the UK that supplies ran out and emergency rations were flown in from the continent in case of rampant gamers rioting in the streets when couldn't get their barcode fix.
So, shall we start the bidding at £50? ;)

[chaoticjelly]

LOL anagrama mine is the same..

U can expect about £3 on ebay if that mate :P I already checked some time ago for mine..

[anagrama]

LOL anagrama mine is the same..

Curses... :)
It does seem odd though, because I know that standard all-English versions were also released here.



U can expect about £3 on ebay if that mate :P I already checked some time ago for mine..

Yeah, I won't be expecting much. There's a recent completed one that went for £7.50, and I'd be happy with that. Times are lean indeed...

[digitalpress]

Interesting, I just double-checked my two units.

Looks like Tomy was a distributor/publisher. Epoch is the creator/developer. The later box style was distributed by Irwin.

*shrug*

[combatking0]

I used to own three of these (all the same model), but I managed to sell one.

Anyway, I am currently attempting to play through the game, and see what makes this machine tick, and how it converts barcodes into characters/power-ups.

In this way, I hope to create some sort of starting point for other BCB enthusiasts who wish to create their own barcode characters to beat the game.

I'll add a section for it on my website when I have beaten Era 1.

[roushimsx]

I remember blowing $50 on back in ~93 and playing the hell out of it, even though it was pretty cheesy.

I played enough over the course of a few months that my cards were starting to fray and get messed up, so i laminated them. Woops. Turns out the Barcode Battler wouldn't read them then. Ever since I just haven't touched it.

Wouldn't really call it one of the better game / system purchases I ever made :(

[googlefest1]

what kind of game do you actualy get to play?

is it a fighting game?

[snes_collector]

I always wanted one of these things so Bad!

I remember seeing that advert for EB selling them a long time ago (or was it babedges?). Anyway, there was also an attachment for the original GB called Barcode Boy, same idea, just used the GB as the interface.

I still see them go on ebay for pretty cheap. came REAL close to getting one on myriad ocasions, but always missed the auction or wasnt in the impulse purchase mood.

Very cool idea. They actually updated the product within like the last year or so in the US, the product was called SCANNERZ, or something like that. It was much better b/c you didnt have to slide the bardcore a-la credit card machine, it had a red lazer reader that you could scan the code with, so you can use that can of Cow Tongue and not ruin the label for re-sell value! (ha).
But I passed up on those too. If they encorporated the thing into a watch and had infra-red communication between two watches for battles, then I would be all about battling my 12 year old bro.


Back when those updated ones called Scannerz came out my parents got me one for Christmas. It was pretty cool, other than the fact that we never got anything scanned off it, not ONE thing. Pretty sad though, because I wanted it to work, even though i didn't ask for it. We ended up exchanging it for something else.

[roushimsx]

what kind of game do you actualy get to play?

is it a fighting game?

it was basically a number-based, turn-based, fighting game. The pokemon comparison is pretty good, but imagine if instead of pictures, you just had numbers.

Much like pokemon, a braindead aborted fetus could play it, but it was still addictive because of the "gotta steal all the UPCs I can!" syndrome.

[Jorpho]

There was a Jurassic Park-themed unit somewhat more recently, was there not?

[combatking0]

I have defeated Era 1 and started a new game without saving only to find the enemy stats change when a different combination of characters is used.

However, it appears that there are only four levels of difficulty, and nine combinations of characters.

My "game guide" won't go into the complexities of what happens if you use barcodes cut from other products until I understand the machine a bit better.

However, given the lack of presence of the BCB on the WWW, it looks like nobody cares.

[thehistorian]

The Epoch one came later, my best guess is sometime around late 1994 since I was working part-time at EB that holiday season and they were new to the store. The units themselves appear identical.

I have one of the EB demo units in storage. :evil:

I'ts pretty cool. I remember hearing that in Japan a certain soup produced an ungodly creature, and that the store began to sell out of it...

[snes_collector]

Talk about timeing. Just this morning I saw a commerica for a new racing themed Scannerz. Instead of monster, you get race cars! They should be out soon(if not yet), if someone gets one, please tell us if there any good.

[Nirvana]

Dude, my brother got one for Christmas about eight years ago. We remember how we'd use to take random bar codes and see who would get the better one. I think I destroyed him with a tissue box. :)

[combatking0]

I have created a barcode generator.

I'll put it online some time next week.

It creates UPC barcodes - just type in the number, copy into Word / Paint / your prefferred other program and print it off.

[rbudrick]

I certainly remember the Barcode Battler craze....seems a lot of companies back in the day wanted in on this short-lived fad. I remember abuddy of mine in high school had one, but I don't remember ever having seen the item itself...

-Rob

[combatking0]

I've opened one up over the weekend. It seems to be quite a simple device, but I'll need to research the CPU.

All I know is it was manufactured by NEC, and it looks like a custom job, as there is only one other IC.

After many hours, I have managed to produce an almost complete electronic diagram, which I will put on my website this week.

I have also noticed a pattern with the enemy stats. More details on my website when I finally update it.

[combatking0]

I have worked out that the enemy stats are derived from a look-up table of up to 32 entries.

On each world, the first and third enemies are wizards, the rest are warriors.

I'll be putting up a custom barcodes section where you can email me with your best barcodes. All I need are the numbers at the bottom of the barcodes.

[combatking0]

I have completed Era 4! :D

But I haven't written all the codes down. x_x

I'll have to play through it again.

[MattyXB]

One short question about the Barcode Battler.

Are the two versions are full compatible with all Barcode cards?
I ask, because I see some cards where stand Barcode Battler II, but on eBay I find only the Barcode Battler (1).

So can I play Barcode Battler II cards on the normal Barcode Battler?

[combatking0]

Sorry it's taken so long to reply. Access problems and all.

The BCB which was realeased world-wide is a modified version (different screen) of the Japanese BCBII.

The original Japanese BCB was much the same, and all 8/10/12/13 digit barcodes should work on both devices, though possibly in different ways.

If anybody would like to know more about this machine, I have set-up an English language website at http://barcodebattler.co.uk

There's also the official page, but it's in Japanese, at http://www.barcodebattler.net

Take your pick.

[combatking0]

Sorry it's taken so long to reply. Access problems and all.

The BCB which was realeased world-wide is a modified version (different screen) of the Japanese BCBII.

The original Japanese BCB was much the same, and all 8/10/12/13 digit barcodes should work on both devices, though possibly in different ways.

If anybody would like to know more about this machine, I have set-up an English language website at http://barcodebattler.co.uk

There's also the official page, but it's in Japanese, at http://www.barcodebattler.net

Take your pick.

[tom]

Very strange, just tonight I put mine up in my RoD:

http://videogamecollectors.com/gallery/album125

UK version, actually from Germany with second booklets in English and pasted information in English over the battle cards

[tom]

Very strange, just tonight I put mine up in my RoD:

http://videogamecollectors.com/gallery/album125

UK version, actually from Germany with second booklets in English and pasted information in English over the battle cards

[combatking0]

With the low popularity, it amazes me how they needed to import extra units from anywhere.

[combatking0]

With the low popularity, it amazes me how they needed to import extra units from anywhere.

[rbudrick]

With the low popularity, it amazes me how they needed to import extra units from anywhere.

Well they were pretty popular for a season or two, then no one really cared. But basically it was one of those fads that went BOOM, and then nothing.

-Rob

[rbudrick]

With the low popularity, it amazes me how they needed to import extra units from anywhere.

Well they were pretty popular for a season or two, then no one really cared. But basically it was one of those fads that went BOOM, and then nothing.

-Rob

[combatking0]

Hopefully, my game will see some sort of short-lived revival.

[50TBRD]

I remembered the unit right away. But it wasn't until I gave it a little proding that I remembered that it had a Streetfighter version. I wanted it but didn't even get a SNES until High School.

[combatking0]

Jurassic Park and Street Fighter versions?
:D

I'll have to look into these.

[combatking0]

Jurassic Park and Street Fighter versions?
:D

I'll have to look into these.

[combatking0]

Jurassic Park and Street Fighter versions?
:D

I'll have to look into these.

[combatking0]

Sorry about that repeat post - I kept getting an error message.

[Porksta]

I used to have a SCANNERZ. What I decided worked best were the barcodes on tampons (yes, I know), and kids movies (i.e. Lion King). Just take the sleeve out from behind the plastic case.

[combatking0]

Was it fun to use?