Bandai's Gun O'clock: shoot the target or you'll never snooze again

We've seen no shortage of unorthodox alarm clocks, but Bandai's latest creation is nothing short of spectacular. Rather than making users defuse a bomb or catch a runaway helicopter, the appropriately named Gun O'clock actually forces heavy sleepers to aim a gun and successfully strike the bullseye to shut the undoubtedly obnoxious alarm up. Best of all, those who enjoy challenges can set it to "Hard" mode, requiring them to blast the center target no fewer than five times in order to hush it; after you're satisfactorily awake, you can utilize the game mode to work on your aim. This magnificent wonder is all set to launch in Japan next month for ¥4,095 ($41), but we don't see any obvious signs of it ever coming Stateside. Anyone feeling an online petition? We hear those work really well.

[Via UberReview]

[kevin @ Oct 21st 2008 9:06PM]

I haven't had a clock (other than on my computer) in my room for years, but I think I'd change that if this hit the States. Wow.

[XenoX101 @ Oct 22nd 2008 3:53AM]

I've had an alarm clock for ages but I haven't had a gun in years. This might change that.

[Sudo @ Oct 21st 2008 9:06PM]

What if I use a real gun? Will it shut up then?

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 21st 2008 9:37PM]

@ Sudo

Yes, but then you will have to buy a new clock ; if instead you use the gun that you'll find in the box you can keep shooting at it morning after morning and save the real bullets for the assholes who crowd the streets of all our major cities.

[scott @ Oct 21st 2008 10:33PM]

@Kilgore

Why are you so angry?

peaccceeee mannnnnnnn

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Oct 22nd 2008 8:49AM]

@Trout

Yes, clearly anyone who uses a gun is an asshole.

Hunters, the police, the military, etc.

Way to make broad generalizations there, toolbar.

[ken @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:16AM]

If you want to buy something similar in the USA check out this laser target alarm clock:
http://www.baronbob.com/lasertarget-alarmclock.htm

[Godfail @ Oct 22nd 2008 10:13AM]

@Tuba: You might want to work on your reading comprehension...then halt the nerd rage.

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:45PM]

@Godfail

Huh? Oh . . . KilgoreTrout means shooting bullets at a$$holes. I get it now. Busted. Sorry for the hasty post. And for not censoring myself the first time with the whole "a$$holes" thing. Low ranking deserved.

Also, Godfail, I'm guessing you must've liked Bill Maher's latest flick, given your handle.

[absurdio @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:53PM]

@ Sudo:
Actually, I think with an avatar like yours, you owe it to Hunter S. Thompson to shoot your alarm clock (or blow it up) as often as possible. :)

@ Kilgore Trout:
I think you oughtta consider becoming an embittered recluse (like kilgore trout) rather than an mass murderer. That'll likely work out better for you and certainly for the assholes you'd like to have murdered. You should try to kill as few people as you can.

@Tuba:
Wow. An admission of fault and a polite retraction?! If there were more posters like you out there, the internet (and the engadget comments pages) would be a whole lot more pleasant. Cheers.

[zealeus @ Oct 21st 2008 9:10PM]

As a heavy sleeper with 3 different alarm clocks, that thing would be broken the first morning I can't shut it off. Which would be the first morning I use it.

[Jessica @ Oct 21st 2008 9:22PM]

There is something similar at Urban Outfitters

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&navAction=jump&id=14815757&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=SEARCH+RESULTS&color=01

but I don't think the UO one has the hard option or anything..

[Mike @ Oct 21st 2008 9:32PM]

nice find, but its sorta weaksauce compared to the pistol in the bandai one

maybe we should tell UO that so they'll get this one instead...no doubt the one you found also came from japan lol

[jason @ Oct 21st 2008 9:12PM]

This could be interesting. Just when you thought you couldn't possibly be proficient with a weapon in your sleep...

[Dan @ Oct 21st 2008 9:16PM]

I'd hit that.

[lorddshadow @ Oct 21st 2008 11:50PM]

In Soviet Russia, Gun Clock Hit You!

[Smart People Play Tuba @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:49PM]

Funny how the "I'd hit that" comment comes right after a Sarah Palin post.

[Ryan @ Oct 21st 2008 9:16PM]

I hear that Sarah Palin can hit the bullseye in her sleep without even waking up...

[Matthew C @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:17AM]

good palin jokes are always appreciated. nice one.

[Shea @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:48PM]

so sarah palin is the new chuck norris?

[Connor @ Oct 21st 2008 9:17PM]

It better not have an off alignment like all those similar games at the arcade.
Aim straight, but way right. Pisses me off! Actually, that would be helpful to get you awake/angry.

[Ian @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:36AM]

This will be a must buy when in Japan for a wedding next month. Thanks for the heads-up Engadget.

[Ryan @ Oct 21st 2008 9:18PM]

Didn't someone already write about this?...I swear engadget already covered this...

[Peter @ Oct 21st 2008 9:18PM]

I've always wanted to shoot my alarm clock! I cracked the screen on my last one after shooting it with my airsoft.

[Peter @ Oct 21st 2008 9:19PM]

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of an alarm clock?

[Peter @ Oct 21st 2008 9:19PM]

*Intended for Ryan's first comment

[computer.dude28 @ Oct 21st 2008 10:07PM]

I still think the best alarm clock would be one attached to a paint mixer under your mattress. You wouldn't fall back asleep after that.

[Richard @ Oct 21st 2008 9:20PM]

Come on Engadget... Thinkgeek has something similar. This isn't the first target alarm clock...

http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/a28d/

[Deeznuts420 @ Oct 22nd 2008 8:22AM]

set phasers to yawn.

[Richard @ Oct 22nd 2008 10:09PM]

Set phasers to posting more accurate articles about new, innovative products.

[Cheami90 @ Oct 21st 2008 9:46PM]

im sure jack bauer will always hit bulls eye

[Boards of Canada @ Oct 21st 2008 9:52PM]

Gandalf kick Bauer ass

[iEye @ Oct 21st 2008 9:25PM]

"So tell me James, do you still sleep with a gun under your pillow?"

"Yes but it is only so that I can sleep in"

[Peter @ Oct 21st 2008 9:25PM]

Wow; this story is via UberReview, via Crave, via Crave Asia, via Impress Japan, via Bandai.

[Matthew C @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:19AM]

I've noticed the 5+ source string in a lot of articles. Why not just refer to the original?

[Twitchy @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:04AM]

Wow - it's like Academia, only in blog form!

[Alex @ Oct 21st 2008 9:29PM]

Check out the Google translation.

"Weight ： : 【本体】約290ｇ [Body] about 290g
【専用ガン】約110ｇ [Only] about 110g of cancer"

110g of cancer come with the Gun O'clock for only $41? Where's the online petition so I can sign it already?

[aidan @ Oct 21st 2008 9:30PM]

this is accidental genius--if you're awake enough to hit the bullseye, you won't fall asleep again after a minute of sitting there staring at the ceiling. though i'm sure it was only designed with the fun of shooting the target in mind.

[KilgoreTrout @ Oct 21st 2008 9:45PM]

You are very very wrong.
I'm absolutely sure that it's born to satisfy the instinct that most of us have to shoot at whomever or whatever wake us up when we want to sleep.

I wander also if Engadget got the name wrong: is this the "bandai" gun o' clock or the "Banzai! clock"?
The latter would seem more appropriate.

[MyHeadisFed @ Oct 21st 2008 9:38PM]

I dunno...I've made it past level 40 in Duck Hunt when extremely intoxicated. I might be too good at shooting for this clock to really work out for me.

[derX @ Oct 21st 2008 11:47PM]

....Ryan, I think we've found Ms. Palin....

[pat1202003 @ Oct 21st 2008 10:02PM]

LOL! What if your batteries go dead in the gun? I guess then it would be time to pull out the real gun. XD

[Timmy P. @ Oct 21st 2008 10:08PM]

So the target is Spring loaded to pop when the alarm goes of, right? Lets place objects on the board to fling at you, then have to shoot at the bulls-eye! You will never over sleep again!!!! So you get an alarm, a Bulls-Eye game, and Catch-the-Bean-Bag game ALL IN ONE. CALL NOW AND WE WILL GIVE YOU NOT ONE BUT TWO, FOR ONE EASY PAYMENT OF $41.99. Shiping&Handeling not included

[yavs @ Oct 21st 2008 10:29PM]

the Target needs to move around (LED projection anyone?) for me to wake up.

If it could be a physical moving target, I would staple my boss' head to the top.
I guess I could do that to this non-moving target version. :p

Seriously though this is an AWESOME ALARM CLACK CLOCK

[Gman @ Oct 21st 2008 10:46PM]

Thinkgeek beat them to it: http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/gear/a28d/

[Sam @ Oct 21st 2008 10:48PM]

WANT SO BADLY.

Who will start this petition, I volunteer to host it on my website (Habosa,com) if I think it will have support.

[SmartedPanda @ Oct 21st 2008 11:32PM]

What if you lose the gun....in like a move or something...

[Pikl @ Oct 22nd 2008 10:18AM]

I've just got my PC 5.1 speaker system rigged to blow my neighbor's apartment off of the building every morning at 7:00 AM. :P

Actually, they're just Logitech Z-540's. Nothing super special, but I won't sleep through them.

[klew @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:17AM]

You know the supergeek will just attach it to a tripod.

[Matt @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:31AM]

do want!