DefCon Ninja Badges Let Hackers Do Battle

eecue writes "The folks at DefCon, the world's largest hacker convention [previously on Slashdot], have been making awesome badges for years. Last year along with the convention badge, a group of hackers known as the Ninjas created an electronic badge for their exclusive party. This year the Ninjas have taken the whole electronic badge thing to the next level with an interactive, wireless, encrypted ninja battle video game badge. I convinced the Ninjas to give Wired.com an exclusive sneak peek, and let me tell you, this thing is awesome."

Comments

oblig

[demonbug]

Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!

oh the irony

[Shanrak]

Anyone else enjoying the irony that Facebook, with tons of known holes where private information can be leaked, is sponsoring the Ninja group at DefCon.

Re:Just Tell Me One Thing... Is it Awesome?

[revlayle]

adulthood is a bit overrated... FORFEIT AWAY!

Wired...

[Anonymous Coward]

I convinved the Ninjas to give Wired.com an exclusive sneak peek, and let me tell you, this thing is awesome."

Yeah, but if you write for Wired, you probably think being able to tie your shoes is awesome.

Re:Just Tell Me One Thing... Is it Awesome?

[Monkeedude1212]

just a bit overrated?

Bills, less vacation time, consequences for failure... I'd say adulthood bytes!

Wireless is cheap, why so unpopular?

[gravos]

Now that wireless hardware is so cheap I'm surprised we don't see more of these made commercially. Why are there so few of those little handheld electronic games that have wireless connectivity? They could sell like 4 of em together in one package.

Re:Wireless is cheap, why so unpopular?

[tlhIngan]

Now that wireless hardware is so cheap I'm surprised we don't see more of these made commercially. Why are there so few of those little handheld electronic games that have wireless connectivity? They could sell like 4 of em together in one package.

They're too expensive.

If we take a BOM cost of maybe $15 for all those parts and assembly and such, you're looking at a toy that'll sell for $60+. Which is a super-expensive toy - parents balk at paying that much. The ideal toy price is around $20 - $10 is great, $30 is tops, and $50 is expensive.

Those little electronic handheld games that sell for $10 probably cost $1 in total cost to the manufacturer, and the retailer probably paid $5 for it (probably $6-7 after warehouse and shipping and such). $20 game may probably cost $3 to manufacture.

If the manufacturer was making low margins, that $15 badge would probably sell for $25 wholesale and maybe $50 MSRP.

If you think those margins are high, remember they include store overhead, defect overhead (many of these things are just thrown away if a customer returns it as defective, and the manufacturer and retailer look at those return rates to determine how much will be paid), plus shipping from manufacturer to retailer warehouse to retailer. Plus, when the retailer starts discounting as well...

Re:Wireless is cheap, why so unpopular?

[SleazyRidr]

They exist, they just weren't hugely popular. The ones I saw were an extension of the Tamagotchi idea. Build up your little guy, the make him fight with anyone who comes within 20 feet of you.

Probably also a bit of a critical mass thing too, if not enough people have one, then running into someone else with one is going to be pretty rare, so it won't be as much fun, so less people will buy one, so you'll never get enough people with one to make it worthwhile.

Take this public!!! NINJA BATTLE

[L3370]

Imagine you are in a restaurant minding your own business and enjoying a meal with your family. Your ninja alert beeps of as an enemy approaches the dinner table. An adversary (random stranger) has received the same alert...and at this point there is only one thing you both can do.

Jump up on the table. Stomp your bread roll and kick off the lobster bisque. Out from your guts you scream NINJAAAAA BATTTLLLLLLLLE!!!!
At the end one enjoys victory, the other tastes defeat. But both of you will share a chuckle.

It's the Ninja from Bruce Lee!

[beej]

It's from the game Bruce Lee for the C64. That I recognized it has to be worth at least one geek point. ;-)

http://www.c64-wiki.com/index.php/Bruce_Lee

Re:childish toys.

[junk]

children? are you serious? ninja networks has been a part of defcon since inception. we've been attending, participating and throwing parties (yay, minibosses!) for years. the FB sponsorship just allows us to one up ourselves from last year. sit on it.

Re:Somebody give these guys a job

[JackCroww]

So, just because *you* don't have time for this in your life, anyone else must be criticized/condemned because they do? Buddy, you're the one who either decided to have a wife and kids, or you let the little woman browbeat you into your present situation. Your attitude and that of anyone who agrees with you just sounds like sour grapes.

I'm 43 too; I get up at 5AM, out the door at 5:30, at work by 7, out the door at 3PM, home by 4:30, pretty much the same sort of evening chores, so you're neither the first person nor the last to have a busy schedule.

On a kinder note, let me assure you that your current schedule will get easier. I have 4 girls, so I've been there. It gets easier.

In the meantime, try not to be too jealous of those who have chosen to live their life in a manner that doesn't match yours.