Masasuke Yasumoto from Tokyo University of Technology has created an archery video game based around a full sized bow with integrated digital sensors. The Light Shooter game features a strain gauge in the bow to sense whether you have drawn back the string, plus accelerometers and magnetic sensors to detect where the virtual arrow is headed.

The enterprising developer wants to take the concept one stage further by incorporating smartphone and projector technology into the grip of the bow, to allow for full 360 degree shooting, which along with 3D data could make a day in Sherwood Forest hunting wild boar in your living room, something of an exciting proposition.

We’re thinking it won’t be long before some clever manufacturer builds something like this for an existing game console like the XBox or Playstation. At which point we’ll no doubt do away with swords and sorcery and have a flood of Middle Age archery based frolics.