From the Toysit archive
Skannerz Barcode Game
Skannerz turns ordinary barcodes into creature-game discoveries, with an original expedition notebook for remembered finds and imagined habitats.
The play at a glance
An everyday package becomes a discovery
The green handheld has a small screen above bright orange controls. Beside it, the original photograph shows printed game materials and a battery bundle. Its play idea gives ordinary packaging a new role: a barcode becomes the starting point for a creature encounter inside the game.
Scan, discover and choose a team
The manufacturer’s guide describes scanning UPC-A codes to encounter monsters or game items. The green, blue and red controllers collect different tribes. A successful scan can reveal something useful, an opposing creature or an empty result; the screen supplies the outcome.
Collected creatures have attributes and can be arranged in teams of three. Two compatible controllers can also connect for a head-to-head game. For a quiet discovery session, let an adult choose a few clean, empty packages with flat barcode panels and follow the scanning guide.
Keep a barcode expedition notebook
Fold a sheet of paper into a little field notebook. Give each chosen package a stop on your route: the cereal-box canyon, the tea-box tower or the cardboard harbor. These are names for your imaginary expedition, not places stored in the toy.
After each scan, record what the screen actually showed. Sketch the creature or item if there was one, or leave a small “No discovery this time” space. Alongside that record, invent a habitat for a favorite find. Would it shelter under a paper bridge, collect shiny pebbles or sleep in the tower?
Invite a companion to add one question about the imagined habitat. Answer it with a drawing, then compare the two pages: one records the game’s result, and the other tells your creature’s extra story. Reuse the same small set of packages when you want to revisit the expedition.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The complete earlier product account and commentary are preserved below as historical coverage.
Scannerz UPC Game with Batteries.
Unleash the world of monsters, magic and mayhem with Skannerz from Radica. Creatures from a distant planet are trapped in UPC bar codes. Begin scanning any consumer product for signs of life and start collecting. Unleash hundreds of monsters, weapons and magic. Use these to battle alone or connect with a friends Skannerz for head to head competition. Colors may vary. Four AAA batteries required, these are included in this special bundle pack.
A barcode scanning game brings a modern twist to playtime, seamlessly integrating technology with traditional game elements. These games often involve scanning barcodes from real or virtual items to unlock characters, levels, or tools within the game. This adds a tangible, scavenger hunt-like aspect to the gaming experience, encouraging players to explore their environment and interact with everyday items in new ways. The real-world scanning adds an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability, as players never know exactly what new element a freshly scanned barcode might introduce. It's like combining the joy of opening a mystery gift with the interactive nature of video games. Whether playing solo or with friends, a barcode scanning game offers a unique blend of physical and digital play that captivates players of all ages.
Sources and editorial notes
The complete Radica 71051/71027/71028 manual matches the pictured controller family and identifies green as Pataak. It specifies three AAA cells, while the original bundle account says four; follow the actual unit’s instructions. The I1027 support catalog’s vehicle description conflicts with this creature manual and was not used. The notebook’s invented habitats are an original Toysit addition. No physical testing was performed.
- Original Toysit image — Existing same-site image reviewed and retained unchanged.
- Radica Skannerz instructions (PDF) — Complete four-page creature-game guide, P/N 82358200 Rev. A; controls, scanning, team play and diagrams reviewed.
- Original Toysit coverage — Complete historical account retained, including its original claims and wording.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.