Attack butterflies win gaming award

The Flutternator 300, designed by Christchurch man Darrin Hurd.

Christchurch man Darrin Hurd has won a weapon-creating competition with a gun that fires attack butterflies at foes.

He has seen his weapon immortalised by Weta Workshops. The challenge was to create a weapon that well-known video game characters Ratchet and Clank might use in a game.

Hurd, who has a background in game and multimedia development, says the winning design was a collaboration between himself and his three children. "The kids came up with one that shot bumble bees but I wanted something a little less deadly," he says.

Hurd describes the "Flutternator 300" as a "rapid butterfly deployment unit" that fires three types of shot, and works in conjunction with "BF1C explosive attack-trained killer butterfly ammunition".

Shot type one rapid-fires 60 butterflies (BFs) per second. Shot type two is tracer (ignites a BF round, shoots it at great speed and it explodes on impact). Shot type three is a pod launcher (a single explosive pod containing 30 BFs.)

Weta Workshop has made a full- sized replica of the handgun, which Hurd will house in his Halswell home's media and gaming room.

Hurd said Weta had a single image of the Flutternator 300 to work from and had done a remarkable job creating the prototype.

"It's pretty much spot on. I have a one-off, Weta-designed thing. I'm quite happy about it."

The nationwide weapon competition was judged by Brian Allgier, the head of video game maker Insomniac, creator of the Ratchet and Clank series of games, and Weta Workshop.

There were about 200 entries and the competition was run in conjunction with TVNZ.

It transpires that Allgier has a fear of butterflies. "The Flutternator 300 gives my spine the shivers," Allgier says.

"I have a particular dislike for butterflies, especially killer butterflies fired from a gun. This weapon is definitely unique and is strategic with a funny twist."

- © Fairfax NZ News