Macworld/iWorld 2013: The BowBlade is an Archery Accessory for the iPhone

At Macworld/iWorld this afternoon, one company was demonstrating an archery-based iPhone accessory, the BowBlade, which was inspired by movies like The Hunger Games.

The BowBlade is designed to look and feel like a traditional bow and arrow with one caveat - there's an iPhone attached. The iPhone goes at the front of the device, the bow is extended, and a trigger at the back fires a shot. When the trigger is fired, a stylus tip touches the screen.

BowBlade works with 35 different apps, including titles like Star Battalion, Final Space, Real Shooter, and Nerf Blaster Challenge.

Various games incorporate extra features like the iPhone's camera and augmented reality to create real world targets, or the iPhone's gyroscope and accelerometer for aiming and firing. Our sister site TouchArcade has a video of the BowBlade in action:

The four pound version of the BowBlade being demonstrated at Macworld was a prototype, but the company has pre-orders available for $185. Shipping will begin in April.

Top Rated Comments

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CylonGlitch

88 months ago

For $185, go buy yourself a real bow and arrow, some bales of hay and go out and learn how to really shoot a bow and arrow. You know, like learning a skill in the outdoors. Amazing what crap people think will sell.

Rating: 5 Votes

mrsir2009

88 months ago

Maybe I'm not getting it right... But since this is to be used as a bow n' arrow accessory for games, wouldn't the iPhone's screen be far too small to see anything on it when you're using the bow and arrow?

Rating: 4 Votes

Oohara

88 months ago

Not buying it until it actually flings my iPhone at the target.

Rating: 4 Votes

nagromme

88 months ago

"The BowBlade is designed to look and feel like a traditional bow and arrow"

It seems to achieve neither... but oh well, at least it's fun to see entrepreneurs get creative!

(The idea of playing sci-fi Star Battalion on a little screen stuck on the tip of a simulated stone-age bow is surreal. So is the release mechanism.... looks like you don't actually let go of the string, but do something with the hand next to the phone. And the action is not via Bluetooth if there's that little "stylus" that mechanically touches the screen! This is some mad science here. I don't see the "blade" part yet, but nothing would surprise me!)

Rating: 3 Votes

macsrcool1234

88 months ago

+10000000

Interesting idea, but terrible execution. This was not thought out properly at all.

Rating: 3 Votes

0098386

88 months ago

Bowblade? That sounds like a real weapon. A very dangerous weapon. Like a knifegun, or a bombfork.

Rating: 3 Votes

AngerDanger

88 months ago

Jeez, it's like somebody superglued my palm to my face. I could barely see the video from between my fingers. Typing is harder too.

Rating: 2 Votes

iPhysicist

88 months ago

185US$ for THAT? Not even for overpriced medical use.

Someone should give him 20$ for the idea and slap another 20$ in his face for not hiring engineers and people who actually do archery to do the prototyping.

Rating: 2 Votes

GenesisST

88 months ago

Meh... looks cool now, but will waste storage space, next to those Guitar Hero and Rock Band instruments...

Rating: 2 Votes

Bandit27

88 months ago

Buying one for sure

I can't wait for this. It will definitely make my morning commute on the subway more fun! Probably good on a flight as well to pass the time.

Rating: 1 Votes

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