Entertech

Entertech was a brand of battery powered motorized water guns sold in the United States from 1986 to 1990 by the now-defunct LJN Toys. [cite news|title=Today's Toy Gun: It's Not a Plastic Water Pistol Anymore|publisher=San Jose Mercury News|date=May 3, 1986] 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 where hand powered, had poor effective range and looked like toys. [cite news|title=Long-Range Water Pistols, Light-Beam Weapons Toy Gun Makers See a New Hit|publisher=The Los Angeles Times|date=June 16, 1986] 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.cite web|title=AK Centerfire TV commercial|url=http://www.stumbleupon.com/demo/#url=http://video.stumbleupon.com/?p=jnbwzk21vf]

Models

First generation

#Side Kick Pistol (based on the M1911 pistol, connected to a battery and a 1 quart water supply pack that was slung over the user's shoulder)
#M-16 (based on the M16A2.)
#R.P.G. Water Rocket Launcher (based on the RPG-7.)
#AK Centerfire (A small submachine gun with some features of a Heckler & Koch MP-5)
#Double Clip Baretta (Submachine gun 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 in backpack form.)
#Water Hawk (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.)Fact|date=September 2008

econd generation

#Water Grenade Set (A detonator device that was used to pump up water balloons. It include a plastic storage unit for unfilled balloons, and was shaped like an actual hand grenade.)cite web|title=Water Grenade Set TV commercial|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmqz3GqGDuI&feature=related]
#Defender Shotgun (A pump action shotgun with a detachable magazine, with the same air pressure operation as the Larami Corporation's Super Soaker 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 .)
#R.P.G. Water Rocket Launcher Rambo Edition (Same as above.)
#Baretta (A copy of the Beretta 92 pistol, released in stainless steel or all black versions.)

Other products

#: A laser tag system.
#Gotcha! The Sport!: Non-motorized guns which fired ink-covered soft plastic pellets, a combination of paintball and airsoft. 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 multiple unrelated occurrences in which inner city law enforcement officers had mistaken toy guns to be actual firearms, which resulted in the fatalities of young children.cite news|title=After 3 Deaths, Realistic Toys Are Under Fire|publisher=The New York Times|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE6D61130F935A25755C0A96E948260|date=June 16, 1988] In addition, there were report incidents of criminals utilizing toy guns in robberies of retail establishments and even banks. [cite news|title=Toy gun used in bank robbery|publisher=The Los Angeles Times|date=January 15, 1988] [cite news|title=Court says armed robbery is possible with a fake gun|publisher=The Boston Globe|date=January 5, 1989] 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. [cite news|title=Burbank bans sale of realistic toy guns after victim's plea|publisher=San Jose Mercury News|date=October 1, 1987]

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.cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Acclaim-Entertainment-Inc-Company-History.html|publisher=Funding Universe|title=Acclaim Entertainment Inc. Company History]

References