What does your copy of New Scientist have in common with a packet of
cornflakes? Simple—they both carry bar codes that can be used to create
new generations of aliens in hand-held games. Radica, a games-machine maker
based in Los Angeles, has developed a console with a bar code reader on the
back. You scan in any bar code you can find and the console uses it to “evolve”
a new alien monster. When two players link their consoles together, whatever
creatures are inside fight to the death. The challenge is to find the coolest
bar code that makes the best monster.
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