Action Max

Manufactured by Worlds of Wonder
Released in 1987
Wikipedia Entry

VCR games that used light-gun technology were actually quite commonplace in the eighties.

According to Wikipedia, "The system required its owner to also have a VHS player, as the console did not have a way to play tapes itself. Using a light gun (or two for 2-player games) players would shoot at the screen. To make this work a red sensor first had to be connected to the television screen, which would flash a circle when something on the screen was targetable. The gaming was strictly point-based and dependent on shot accuracy. Players could not truly "lose" or "win" a game. This, along with the fact that the only real genre on the system were light gun games that played exactly the same way every time, greatly limited the system's appeal and led to its quick downfall."

Action Max commercial -

Below are some videos from the "Sonic Fury" game boxed with Action Max.

Action Jack (Toyline)

Manufactured by Star Toys
First released in late 1970's (unknown)
via Mego Museum and In the Eighties

A pretty rare find with very limited info online. From a defunct Geocities page, I found the following: "ACTION JACK were released by Star Toys in the late seventies through to the very early nineties, likely from the same molds as the very similar Matchbox Mobile Action Command toys from the early seventies. None of the boxes or toys have dates on them. Sets were released boxed and on blister cards..."

In The Eighties has the following: "These were small pre - G.I Joe-type action figures. They varied in style, e.g. divers. Each figure came in a small white box with a picture of the figure and it's accessories. Only swivel shoulders and hips. Each colour (orange, yellow, blue etc) denoted the type of figure. Masks, snorkels, flippers or shoes would fit the figure. Around 2-3 inches high."