Electric Shocks for Amusement

The company Jumpin' Banana was on hand at the 2004 American International Toy Fair to showcase games which promise "shocking good fun." Lightning Reaction is a game for up to four players in which each player holds onto a joystick-like piece of metal with a plastic red button on top. All of the joysticks are connected to the central game computer. When the game begins, a noise sounds and a red light comes on. When the noise ends and the light turns green, everyone presses their button. The last player to do so receives a mild electric shock. If you press your button too early, you get the electric shock.

In addition to Lightning Reaction, Jumpin' Banana sells other electric shock products including Shocking Roulette, in which a random player is chosen to receive a shock; the Shocking Wire Game, in which one player tries to slide a metal loop around a bent wire without touching it; the Shocking Pen; and the Shocking Lighter.

Um... wow.