Sega Toys makes indoor fireworks infinitely safer, to Elvis Costello's dismay

Lovers of pyrotechnics everywhere have always struggled with the quandary: what to do on a rainy day? Well, firebugs, get a load of this: Sega Toys Japan has heard your prayers and answered 'em in the form of the Uchiage Hanabi. This is essentially a projector that displays "fireworks" on the walls and ceilings, with realistic movement and sound. And if that weren't enough, you can create your own fireworks and program your own shows. Now you can have Bastille Day, every day, in the privacy of your apartment! Out August 1, with a list price of $168. Video after the break.

[Via Japan Trend Shop]

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 4:49PM]

Does it come with acid, or is that sold seperately?

[Gibson Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:27PM]

I thought there would be no practical use for this. Then along came John.

[dangribbin Posted Jul 8th 2009 6:01PM]

included, definitely.

[PeterFnet Posted Jul 2nd 2009 4:52PM]

Lame

[Smart People Play Tuba Posted Jul 3rd 2009 8:45AM]

"Realistic sound?" Does that mean you can hear it from 10 miles away like real fireworks?

[Philippe Posted Jul 2nd 2009 4:52PM]

August 1... just in time for August 1st fireworks.

[Ninbrendo Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:56PM]

Is that when the Japanese celebrate July 4th?

[Hoobaloo Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:24PM]

Japanese don't celebrate 4th of July, it's a US Holiday.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:37PM]

Hey, that's my birthday.

[Smart People Play Tuba Posted Jul 3rd 2009 8:44AM]

I'm going to assume Ninbrendo was joking and give him +1.

With a name like Sentax (i.e. "syntax?") you should know better than to use a comma splice.

[Ninbrendo Posted Jul 3rd 2009 1:27PM]

And a +1 back atcha, SPPT!

[MarcusMaximus Posted Jul 2nd 2009 4:53PM]

Looks lame... Now, make it display holographic fireworks in mid-air and we'll talk.

[jeremymc7 Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:01PM]

Exactly my thought. It's a cheap option for those without a projector but pretty limited and lame looking in person I would imagine. If it was a 3D hologram floating in space now that would be something awesome. Would even pay a pretty penny for the pleasure. Oh well maybe next decade. Though Sega had 3D hologram videogames a decade aog. Why they can't figure out how to scale up i'll never understand.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:22PM]

I have to agree. It is as sad and pathetic as the virtual wall beach.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:23PM]

My sentiments exactly. A 3D fireworks display would be kickass for parties all year round. And programming it would be legit also. But I will go out on a limb and say that if I could have a 3D projector, there would probably be way more awesome things to project then fireworks....

[muzik 4 machines Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:48PM]

i guess using a lot of smoke in the room would make it cool, i'd probably grab one if they were available in canada just to let it run when i play live

[djbentley Posted Jul 2nd 2009 4:58PM]

Haha wonder how many people get the Elvis Costello reference.

[y3knik Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:08PM]

I sure dont

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:16PM]

Elvis Costello...Indoor Fireworks....Bing it for cryin out loud, show some fortitude, is it the entire world's job to give you all the answers?

[Zangetsu Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:16PM]

@y3k.nik Elvis Costello has a song named "Indoor Fireworks" including such lyrics as "Indoor fireworks, Can still burn your fingers..."

I wonder if there's a "Obscure Reference Maker" position at engadget.

[djbentley Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:21PM]

I guess this safe method of Indoor Fireworks with reduce the likelihood that Accidents Will Happen.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:02PM]

bing is not the new google.

[y3knik Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:39PM]

I did Bing it waggle... I just didnt get it when I read it

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2009 2:36PM]

@djbentley LOL!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 4:58PM]

There's a screensaver for OSX called Skyrocket that is more realistic and free to boot (considering that you have to already own a computer and projector)

[spamfree Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:44PM]

Totally agree! I run that on my 24" iMac and it's more entertaining than what you can get on TV. No commercial breaks and no crappy camera work.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:00PM]

without the risk of burning the house down or blowing off a finger, where's the fun?

[benahad Posted Jul 4th 2009 4:18PM]

If we could just couple this with the Large Hadron Collider...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:02PM]

Hah! Hilarious.
The (incomplete?) website suggests custom (or pre-set?) messages and graphics being displayed too. Like Happy Birthday, etc. At least that's the impression I get from the graphics.

[Anatidae Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:13PM]

Lame. Like the blue firework on the bottom left that just sort of blinks on and off. Wheee.

If it was a true computer generated particle simulation of fireworks that created nearly infinite combination, then maybe it would be cooler.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:17PM]

I really only enjoy fireworks because of the loud bangs that shake your body, without that they just are not fun.

[Slappy Wag Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:19PM]

That's what she said.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:04PM]

"that's what she said" is now pretty much just as lame as "will it blend"

[LAY Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:20PM]

Seeing how many locals had to cancel their displays due to budget problems, we may be looking at the future of July 4th.

At least rain outs will be a thing of the past.

[trunksy Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:35PM]

Can the lame sound effects be turned off? They're so 1980's cheesy game noise-like.

[Vintagecondom Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:26PM]

It doesn't look realistic at all...

[Joylove Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:42PM]

Fireworks are cool because you have to tilt your head back in the freezing sky to see enormous and smoke obsucred spectacles of light. This product is like viewing someone elses' holiday photos of the Grand Canyon.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 5:54PM]

Wow this is dumb, I wouldve been so pissed if my parents wouldve bought this over real fireworks.

Why not just watch fireworks on tv if youre gonna get to this point

[maty Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:02PM]

Is that a... floppy drive... ?! o____O

[rodneyha Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:48PM]

But it doesn't have the same magic as watching real fireworks and hearing real explosions with the ones you love :'-) lol

[skylined Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:49PM]

I will be in S Korea and Japan in November, I will not be picking this up...

[skylined Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:51PM]

also... nothing like sitting in a dark corner of a small room to bring the family together, man a ceiling fan would really fuck that thing up.

[Cyantre Posted Jul 2nd 2009 6:57PM]

I could spend $168 on that or I could you know, just watch this video on YouTube for free... or any other televised fireworks show.

[pvito Posted Jul 2nd 2009 7:15PM]

C'mon that looks so lame. And what's up with the Atari 2600 sound effects?! I guess I was expecting more before watching the video...

[LastError Posted Jul 2nd 2009 7:44PM]

Pushbutton fireworks show.

Wow, one more reason for kids to never, ever go outside.

[DigitalCrypt Posted Jul 2nd 2009 8:26PM]

I agree.

It sounds lame, but I am amazed at how great it is just to go to a barbecue or to spend a day at the lake.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 2nd 2009 10:09PM]

I love this -- don't have to beat the rush on the way out of the parking lot. Once took me three hours to exit Jones Beach after the Fourth of July fireworks!

[wrsu1996gmailcom Posted Jul 3rd 2009 12:18AM]

lol we could probably make it become a projector to play movies but this is awsome and nice if you can see the fire works or miss it, but it wont be as loud

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 3rd 2009 7:58AM]

Needs a dome-shaped room badly.

[Vagn Henning Posted Jul 3rd 2009 8:26AM]

You should have saved this for the next round of CrapGadget, but you just couldn't control yourselves, could you?!