Foam From Above

Nerf X Overwatch News @ BlizzCon - Pricing, availability, PREORDERS

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 03:54:00 +0000

Big Day at BlizzCon! Nerf announced McCree's Rival Blaster, Ashe is a new hero, and pricing and preorders are live at GameStop!

See photos here:

Nerf Rival Overwatch D.Va Blaster by Hasbro | Collectibles
New
Pre-Order
$29.99
PRE-ORDER
Platform:    Collectibles
Category:    Replicas & Vehicles
Publisher:    Hasbro
Developer:    Hasbro
Release Date:    01/01/2019
Details

Overwatch fans can play to win with this blaster designed in the style of D.Va's signature accessory in Blizzard Entertainment's internationally acclaimed team-based action game. It features recoil action on trigger pull, a trigger lock that prevents accidental firing, and D.Va's signature bunny charm attached to the handle. This breech-load, spring-action Nerf Rival blaster holds 3 rounds and fires them 1 at a time at a velocity of up to 90 feet per second (27 meters per second). Comes with 3 Overwatch Nerf Rival rounds.

This blaster is designed in the style of Overwatch character D.Va's signature accessory from Blizzard Entertainment's internationally acclaimed team-based action game
Comes with bunny chain attached to the blaster handle
Activate the blaster's recoil action every time you pull the trigger
Breech-load blaster holds 3 rounds and comes with 3 high-impact Nerf Rival rounds that it fires at a velocity of up to 90 feet per second (27 meters per second)
Has a spring-action mechanism, trigger lock, and ready indicator

Includes:
Includes: blaster, 3 rounds, and instructions.

Ages 14 and up
For use with Nerf Rival products only.

Nerf Rival Overwatch Reaper Collector Pack (Wight Edition)

Designed for the ultimate Overwatch fan, this Collector Pack includes 2 Reaper (Wight Edition) blasters designed in the style of Reaper's signature accessories in Blizzard Entertainment's internationally acclaimed team-based action game. It also features a replica Reaper face mask, with adjustable strap, for Ovewatch fans to wear and display. Each of these 2 breech-load Overwatch Nerf Rival blasters holds 8 rounds and fires them at a velocity of 90 feet per second (27 meters per second). They also feature spring-action mechanisms, ready indicators, and trigger locks to prevent them from firing accidentally. Includes 16 high-impact Overwatch Nerf Rival rounds.

Includes 2 blasters designed in the style of accessories used by Overwatch hero Reaper (Wight Edition) in Blizzard Entertainment's internationally acclaimed team-based action game
Comes with a replica Reaper face mask, with adjustable strap, for Overwatch fans to wear and display
Each blaster holds 8 rounds and fires them at a velocity of 90 feet per second (27 meters per second)
Includes 16 high-impact Overwatch Nerf Rival rounds
These breech-load blasters have spring-action mechanisms, trigger locks, and ready indicators

Includes:
Includes: 2 blasters, 16 rounds, face mask, and instructions.

Ages 14 and up
For use with Nerf Rival products only.

Overwatch McCree Nerf Rival Peacekeeper

Overwatch fans can now take on the role of McCree with this blaster designed in the style of his signature accessory in Blizzard Entertainment's internationally acclaimed team-based action game. This Nerf Rival Overwatch blaster also includes a collectible die cast badge like the one worn by McCree in the game. The blaster features a spinning spur on the handle, a swing-open barrel, a hammer that moves when the trigger is pulled, a spring-action mechanism, and a trigger lock to prevent it from firing accidentally. It fires 1 round at a velocity of up to 90 feet per second (27 meters per second). Comes with 6 Overwatch Nerf Rival rounds.

Includes one blaster designed in the style of Overwatch hero McCree's signature accessory from Blizzard Entertainment's internationally acclaimed team-based action game Overwatch
Comes with a collectible die cast replica McCree badge
Holds 1 round and comes with 6 high-impact Overwatch Nerf Rival rounds
Fires rounds at a velocity of up to 90 feet per second (27 meters per second)
Has a swing-open barrel, reactive hammer, spinning spur on the end of the handle, spring-action mechanism, trigger lock, and ready indicator

Includes:
Includes: blaster, 6 rounds, die cast badge, and instructions.

Ages 14 and up
For use with Nerf Rival products only.

Nerf Overwatch microshot 3 pack

Experience the excitement, energy, and attitude of the Nerf brand, and find out why It's Nerf or Nothin'. Nerf blasters from Hasbro deliver the ultimate in blaster performance for Nerf battles. The Nerf MicroShots series combines collectibility and blaster play and includes mini versions of favorite Nerf blasters. The Overwatch series features mini blasters (each sold separately) that capture the distinctive style of Overwatch characters.

Ages 8 and up
CAUTION: Do not aim at eyes or face. TO AVOID INJURY: Use only with official NERF darts. Other darts may not meet safety standards. Do not modify darts or dart blaster.
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts may be generated. Not for children under 3 years.

Info grabbed from the Nerf instagram feed and GameStop site. All releasing 2019.

So there you have it. Big weekend of reveals for Nerf and a big licensing move for 2019. The D.Va and Reaper Nerf Rival blasters are similarly functional to the Nerf Kronos; breech-loading, trigger pull, internal magazine. McCree looks neat but it's a little disappointing that it is only a single shot blaster. I wasn't expecting a Snapfire style toy but hammer priming and hammerfire would have been nice. D.Va is a 3 shot Kronos, Reaper is an 8. The Micro Shots aren't Rival but still look fun.

The additions are really neat. Reaper's mask, D.Va's bunny charm, and the die cast badge with McCree's blaster seem like cool accessories, and I can't wait to see them in person.

Naturally, the big issue here lies in the cost. The Reaper kit tops out at $129.99 USD, and the Microshots are $9.99 each with D.Va and McCree in the middle. Considering the Nerf blasters due out around the same time next year, the Fortnite AR-L (and probably others due to announce later), the rumored Hypnos, Nailbiter, Mega Bulldog, the new Ghost Ops pistol, the Rukkus, repaints, the new Demolisher kit, the new Modulus, and more additions after that, prepare your wallets. With Nerf making grand sport of $200 blasters now, casual and hardcore players may be hard-pressed about what blasters in the lineup to get. Completionists beware.

On one hand, seeing licensed quality performance product that will attract larger audiences could be a really beneficial partnership for Hasbro since other blasters haven't quite landed licenses on that level yet (not to take away from Buzz Bee and Skybound/The Walking Dead.) On the other, the licensing certainly pumps up the price and functionally speaking these aren't disimilar to existing product. Sales numbers will be interesting.

Will you pick these up? Do you play Overwatch? Would you now? Let me know!

Nerf NEWS: Fortnite X Nerf! AR-L blaster announced!

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 01:21:00 +0000

"NERF FORTNITE AR-L Blaster

(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/ Available: June 1, 2019)

When it comes to creating epic Fortnite battles in real life, it’s NERF OR NOTHIN’! Inspired by the iconic weapon used in the popular Fortnite video game, the NERF FORTNITE AR-L blaster boasts rapid-fire motorized blasting and flip-up sights that allow players to focus their aim as they eliminate opponents and attempt to survive the “Storm.” The NERF FORTNITE AR-L blaster features a 10-dart clip and comes with 20 ELITE darts, so Fortnite fans can play with power and precision no matter where the battle is building. Requires 4 AA Batteries, not included. Available June 1, 2019 at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com."

Info released earlier today on Fortnite blasters from Nerf. When first reports came out, I thought (maybe hoped a little) that Nerf would use their new Nerf Laser Ops Pro as the basis. Not the case, as they went with Elite.

It makes sense, since Nerf Rival gets Overwatch that the other big license goes to the standard. If the current slew of Fortnite themed parties, games, and arena events is any indication, kids and Twitch streamers will love it and the rest that comes out. Darn shame these won't be out until June 2019.

Licensed blasters! That (should) perform on par with the usual! And yes, this blaster is semiauto (like a Nerf Stryfe) and supposed to accommodate current Nerf magazines. Keep your eyes open, and Drop In.

Nerf Fest 2018 - Tour visit in Hodgkins, IL

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 01:36:00 +0000

Nerf Fest rolled out of Illinois over the weekend, and last I heard they were near Indiana! I stopped by the Hodgkins, IL stop and went to see what was up.

The staff was friendly, but if you are expecting to see anyone who works for the Nerf offices, they aren't on this tour. You won't get a lot of info on upcoming releases or talk shop, the road teams aren't prepped for that.

They are familiar with the new product (in this case I saw a Hades, the Nerf blaster rack, Evader, battle camo stryfe, split strike, Infinus, Apollo, and Surgefire), have small freebies, including a blaster poster of Nerf releases through the years, darts, a button, and I even got some sunglasses. You can also sign up for Nerf Perks (and there's a code for more points), see Nerf Dog toys, the Laser Ops pro, some licensed party supplies, and I think a charging station.

All that being said, I have questions.

Where was the press release? Apparently one was made but myself and other fan sites would have loved to learn about this ahead of time to push it. But only the local news apparently was made aware for each stop. I guess it boils down to what the goal of the tour was, brand awareness and demos for People of Walmart as opposed to straight up attendance numbers that could be brought in from fan sources. Missed opportunity to get large crowds and compelling images.

No free blaster giveaways? Even a spinning prizw wheel or raffle would have been nice to give away a Jolt or Triad. You got darts sure, but the thinly-veiled push to buy blasters was a bit awkward. For a free shirt you go into Walmart and buy over $24.88 of Nerf goodies, show your receipt, and pick your shirt from 8 different syles. Staff remained engaged and took pics, talked to the crowd, they did a fine job. I don't think they had enough backing, prepping, and supplies.

The fandom is a small population sure, but NerfNation could do better. Ultimately, each stop is only a few hours so they couldn't have a huge setup but after years of seeing things like this I really wish the fandom would be involved or represented somehow on events like this.

Still, I am glad I went and hope they do this again. As for the $14.88 I spent on a BattleCamo Firestrike.... That's a rant for a different day.

Nerf Fest Mobile Tour dates through Select Parts of the United States

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 17:00:00 +0000

NerfFest is a thing! 500 Walmarts around America to be Visited by Nerf Mobile Tour. The tour is already underway, but here are the remaining dates and stops.

Just what the title says! Walmart and Nerf are partnering up to bring Nerf Fest at various locations (see the images above.) They don't hit every state, but maybe you'll be near one? They'll bring the new blasters (not sure which ones) to try out, definitely Rival from what I heard. Be ready to see the Prometheus I would guess! There will be some promo items (while supplies last) it sounds like, such as a promo shirt after you spend $25. The stops in Illinois are coming up, I'll be checking it out I hope!

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Nerf News: New Nerf Ghost Ops, Nerf Mega, Nerf Zombie Strike! Nerfers101 with the pics!

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 08:30:00 +0000

Nerfers101 sent these over! Images of new blasters - the Nerf Zombie Strike Quadrot, the Nerf Mega Bulldog, and the Nerf Modulus Ghost Ops Shadow.

She had a big day filming content with Nerf at the Nerfnation Show, so watch for that soon!

Let's look at the new blasters.

Nerf Ghost Ops Shadow (Springer!)

Nerf Mega Bulldog

Some things to note....

The Shadow looks like it has a ton of tactical rails. Springer, internal clip?
The focus of the Mega line seems to be additional little slides/clicks/transformations. The Tri-Break needed it's break, the Thunderhawk has that barrel shroud, and now the Deploy-ability of the Bulldog.
The quadrot looks cool...? At least it looks easy to holster.

The holidays will definitely make for an interesting buying season, with all the blasters on shelves and no Toys R Us. Happy hunting!

More info as it comes out, but check out Nerfers101 if you haven't already!

NERF NEWS: Epic Games/Fortnite to Partner with Hasbro/Nerf to make blasters!

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 23:57:00 +0000

Epic Games/Fortnite X Nerf teamup!

Hi Friends! Been awhile. Make sure to check me out on Facebook and Instagram.

Got this from my Inbox:

Hasbro will be announcing the news via press release next week, here is some further information about the partnership:

· Hasbro has partnered with Epic Games to introduce NERF Fortnite blasters and MONOPOLY Fortnite.

· The MONOPOLY Fortnite game, which brings a battle-building twist to the iconic Fast-Dealing Property Trading game, will debut at most major retailers globally Oct. 1, 2018.

· The NERF Fortnite blasters (avail. Spring 2019) will immerse fans into the player-versus-player action of the game, letting them play out the Battle Royale in real world settings with blasters and accessories that emulate the onscreen battles Fortnite is known for.

So it's crazy enough that Nerf landed the Overwatch blaster license for Rival but now they have Fortnite too? And don't forget, G.I. Joe is due for a revival soon if I heard some whispers at Toy Fair right.

So the big question for me is that some of the phrasing up above doesn't have me sold entirely on the blasters for Fortnite being darts or Rival. Key points being:

They would have said Rival. Also, Overwatch is already there.

They don't mention blasting power or any mention of darts either.

"Real world settings" tells me Augmented Reality. A la Laser Ops Pro.

HERE'S WHY:

Laser Ops Pro is the new hotness. During the call earlier this summer, they had plans to support Laser Ops Pro through 2019 at LEAST.

Again with the real world settings. It sounds like there's a lot of programming to do, or it's already in an app waiting to go. Fortnite has a mobile app already, Nerf has their matching system and network all set to go with Laser Ops Pro. Complete with in-game power ups. Might want to keep an eye on your apps to see if any patches/updates are coming.

"Emulate the onscreen battles" they say. Again between power ups and abilities of an app, maybe putting together a defense house, collecting materials, and getting that potion aren't so off the mark for gameplay.

The single player light on the blaster is purple. LIKE THE STORM! #illuminati

That's all I got here for this, we'll see maybe by Toy Fair or hopefully later this year. Thanks for visiting!

Nerf News: Overwatch Nerf Rival D.Va Blaster revealed!

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 15:44:00 +0000

BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT UNVEILS NERF RIVAL OVERWATCH® D.VA BLASTER AT CHINAJOY IN SHANGHAI

Blizzard and Hasbro to Bring Gear from Overwatch’s Iconic Characters to Life through

NERF RIVAL Brand Blasters

SHANGHAI – August 3, 2018 – Blizzard Entertainment arrived at ChinaJoy, China’s Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference, with a special reveal for fans of Overwatch^®: a sneak peek at theNERF RIVAL OVERWATCH D.VA blaster. Designed in the style of D.VA’s signature accessory in Overwatch, the blaster is not only true to the game, but also a fully functional NERF blaster.

The D.VA Blaster is the second in the series developed in a collaboration between Blizzard Entertainment and the NERF Rival brand to bring iconic Overwatch accessories to life. Fans of the team-based action game will enjoy custom NERF RIVAL rounds with the Overwatch logo that are specifically colored for each blaster. The blaster holds three NERF RIVAL rounds, and blasts at a velocity of up to 80 feet per second. It will come equipped with a spring-action mechanism, a ready indicator, and a safety lock, and it even features D.VA’s signature bunny charm.

The NERF RIVAL OVERWATCH D.VA blaster will launch in 2019.

With a player base of 40 million, Overwatch’s wide appeal continues to drive a robust merchandising program with brands like NERF. Blizzard Entertainment first teased this collaboration on Twitter on May 16; further details were unveiled during a panel discussion at Comic-Con International: San Diego by members of the Overwatch development team, including a look at the first blaster in the series: the NERF RIVAL OVERWATCH REAPER WIGHT EDITION blaster.

REVIEW AND TEST: NERF MODULUS CHRONOBARREL (Extensive testing)

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 06:22:00 +0000

NERF MODULUS CHRONOBARREL:
MSRP: $14.99
Range: NONE (but it does go to three digit FPS readings)
Attaches to Modulus barrel points, not usable with Nerf Rival ammo or Nerf Mega ammo (or 3rd party ammo that matches those dimensions - darts only.
Nerf Perks value: 0 (not listed as a product for points, yet.)

HOWEVER, it's not just a device that reads FPS. It also functions as an ammo counter, a feature long-used in mods and 3rd party accessories. Nerf now has their own plus a chronograph for $15, and the reliability is pretty neat. The shortcomings are simple; the device can only be used in stock form on Nerf Modulus blasters. A Nerf Rampage or Slingfire couldn't use it (which now makes the creation of the Scravenger a bit more obvious). Despite that, the device reads reliably, is reasonably low profile, and does what it's supposed to do. The red screen isn't the easiest to read like a blue digit on a black readout, but you make do when the price is right.

There doesn't (nor should there be) any range benefits to having the barrel on, just information for a player when they have to swap a magazine. Again it is a shame the device only works with darts, because it goes to three digit counts on the ammo side as well. It would be a bit handy for the Nemesis or Prometheus, too. For $15 one can't really be too picky though as there are already a number of bigger, more feature rich products. If you want those, they're out there. For cost-effective, quick solution, this is available as well, limits and all. Considering Nerf's penchant for dribbling out improvements or design tweaks in future builds, maybe a Rival and Mega sized dart counter is ready for the future, we just might not be ready for it yet. If you need a chrony and just can't afford a big kit, this is for you. If you want a quick ammo counter, this will also take care of you one way or another.

Thanks for reading!

NERF Rival x OVERWATCH Reaper Wight Edition blaster revealed! (SDCC 2018)

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 00:59:00 +0000

Blizzard Entertainment arrived at Comic-Con International: San Diego with a surprise reveal for fans of Overwatch^®: a sneak preview of the NERF RIVAL OVERWATCH REAPER WIGHT EDITION blaster. Designed in the style of Reaper’s signature accessory in Overwatch, the blaster is not only true to the game, but also a fully functional NERF toy.

The Wight Reaper Blaster is the first in the series developed in a collaboration between Blizzard Entertainment and the NERF Rival brand to bring the iconic Overwatch accessories to life. Fans of the team-based action game will enjoy custom NERF RIVAL rounds with the Overwatch logo that are specifically colored for each blaster. The blaster will hold eight NERF RIVAL rounds, which it can propel at up to 90 feet per second. It will be equipped with a spring-action mechanism, a ready indicator, and a safety lock.

The NERF RIVAL OVERWATCH REAPER WIGHT EDITON blaster will launch in 2019.

Discuss! Image direct from Hasbro, not a screencap from the video!

To compare (taken from this site - https://www.artstation.com/artwork/44V84)-

Nerf's made a pretty big move at working on Overwatch styled blasters. The game is still running strong in eSports circles, has a large user base, a large cosplay community, and a continually growing entity on all fronts. Just recently, a new hero was announced so the game continues to provide content, and the constant "nerfs". It took a lot

Overwatch logo'd ammo? Color-specific? Could be collectible, if that's what you like. No telling still on the price, but here's hoping it avoids the price of some licensed goods as the Boba Fett or Deadpool Nerf Rival sets were at first.

Functionality wise, some folks are hoping for a hammer style prime. My guess is sliding pump-action under the barrel. There's a chance that hammer could be a pull handle for a priming arm, but I hope that isn't the case. It says 8 round magazine, and I'm thinking it loads from a door by the hammer, where that little piece sticks up.

Another theory (but maybe the least likely, considering the performance) is the blaster shoots two rounds simultaneously like the Nerf Rival Atlas. The barrels could be the indicator, but considering the performance of the Atlas on the second shot, I hope that's not the case. Give me 8 good shots at 90 fps and don't worry about multishot lackluster madness.

Ultimately, we won't know until it hits prototyping, and by then it will hopefully be February if something hasn't leaked by then. I don't have much hope for the price to be reasonable, BUT there's a good chance (as with the Deadpool blasters) that these blasters will be released in non-Overwatch skins for a bit lower price as well, that will just take time. What do you think? Play of the Game or utter Defeat?

Nerf Zombie Strike Scravenger Video Review and Writeup is live!

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 14:25:00 +0000

Taking a look at the new Nerf Zombie Strike Scravenger! (And a bit of a trick shot in there) Please make sure to like and subscribe for more videos! Going to a Nerf war this weekend, so there'll be plenty to post. (Sample provided, but opinions remain my own)

BASIC STATISTICS:

Cost: $49.99
Includes: Blaster, 2 magazines, barrel attachment, tactical rail light, sight/magazine holder attachment, stock attachment, and double jolt blaster that fits into stock. My blaster also came with 26 elite streamline darts.
Available: Now
Ammo: Darts (Elite Streamlines and similar ammo)
Range: About 30-40' flat, maybe 50' angled. Nothing earth shattering here.
Special features: The slamfire switch! Set it, and the lever fires the blaster, you don't have a 2-step motion of priming with the lever and then using the trigger. Triggerless firing as an option, not the rule. The blaster storage on the stock is pretty awesome too, and should make a nice addition as an option to any other stock/blaster out there.

The Nerf Zombie Strike Scravenger is a $50 upgrade from the Slingfire in a couple of ways. The slamfire switch is one additional feature, while tactical rails and additional accessories to add onto your blaster is an overall addition to the Zombie Strike line. Make room for the Chop Stock and the Twin Slice accessory packs, due out later this year.

Firing Observations:
Right out of the box, there's no noticeable uptick in range from this or any Zombie Strike blaster I've seen before. It fired pretty reliably though, so no complaints there. The darts it comes with are Nerf elite streamlines, and those are notorious for flying any which way they want.

Design Notes:
The blaster really does need a stock on there, otherwise it feels super unbalanced and is a bit awkward to hold in the hand. I would like a larger lever, and maybe a thicker arm for the lever too. As with the Slingfire, the arm is rather thin and feels a little wobbly. The design on the Buzz Bee Sentinel is currently remarked as being superior by a few other players I've asked. If Nerf continues to make lever blasters like this (and I hope they do), I hope that's one change they make.

As I said in the video, the grips on the lever are nice, but they made flipping the blaster a bit more difficult. I would say the grips weren't necessary, and a smooth handle for the lever would be preferred. Otherwise, the trigger and lever all work accordingly, and despite those nitpicks the functioned, though I feel it could be improved.

It's interesting too that Nerf left the slamfire switch on the right side of the blaster only, making a little bit less of a fluid motion for a lefty user. I don't know the internals to see how feasible that would be, but users take note that this may not be the most lefty-friendly blaster. The Jolt maintained it's simple pulldown design, so that has no such issues.

The stock attachment point is also placed in such a way that Modulus accessories will lock on upside down. It's interesting that this worked out that way, and for whatever reason just be aware of bit of info.

Otherwise, the junk aesthetic and everything that's come to be the trademark of the Zombie Strike line remains intact. This line introduces a Modulus-style accessory/roleplay element to the Zombie Strike world that wasn't there previous, being able to take a blaster and customize it (through play, not modifications like the Nerf community) to an extensive level physically. With the Twin Slice and Chop Stock (DISCUSSED HERE) coming later this year, there will definitely be some accessories to try out on the new tactical rails.

BOTTOM LINE:

Is it worth the $50? Of all the new releases, this is probably middle of the road compared to the other blasters out there. If you really want the Slingfire but wish it had slamfire, then this is your blaster. If you wanted to add on more lights or accessories to your Slingfire but can't, this is for you. The fact is Nerf is definitely going for the wallet with their pricing this year, and depending on your interest in this hobby I can say a few things:

Nerfers - wait. Save it unless you really want a slamfire blaster. There's the Hades out there too.
Parents - Again, this isn't a cheap blaster. It's aged for 8+ unlike the Rival lines, it has an extra blaster (for added value), the extra magazines, and overall works as a good starter kit/gift for a Nerf blaster and if you haven't bought any before this covers a lot of extras you might have bought along with it anyway if you're giving this as a gift.

All that being said, it's a solid blaster with a function that adds a new dimension to an older blaster. It would be a different kind of dual-wielding, and the slam fire does make firing a little faster, at least for me. Even if you have a Slingfire, this could be worth checking out just so you have additional Stock Options for a backup blaster and so you have that slamfire in a pinch. Hope this helps!

Zach King's #NERFNATION SHOW: Super Soakers, Jamie Costa, and CtF (Oh my!)

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Sat, 07 Jul 2018 18:49:00 +0000

These little rundowns of The #NerfNationShow are kinda fun, it's a good reminder that while yes there's a huge fan base of Nerf modders and other special interest play groups out there, there's always the larger population of casual players who just want to have fun.

So this week's episode involves Zach King and Co. getting a shipment of Nerf Super Soaker blasters, and Jamie Costa as a ref, there isn't much in the way of skits really (unlike last week) but definitely a lot more actual gameplay, sort of. Two teams use Super Soakers to tag each other out, and ultimately capture the other team's flag. Maybe a Super Soaker group can chime in on how they do Capture the Flag?

We see a lot of new Super Soakers in the video, and the Nerf Splashmouth seems to get the most looks in the video, especially showing the dump feature. They don't name or price any blasters in the video itself, and Zach King does some of his usual magic, but it's definitely another structure and format different from the previous episode, and the episode before that. The new Laser Tag system was recently announced and should be coming out soon, I would expect that to show up in an episode in the near near future.

#NerfNationShow Episode 2 rundown! Zach King Tours the NERF FORTRESS

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Zach King teased it earlier, but episode 2 of the Nerf Nation Show rolled out last week! It looks like they're trying to do a video every Friday, and there was just a bit more structure to the episode. This episode ran about 5 minutes, and it looks like there will be blaster features (obviously, it's a marketing tool and commercial. Kind of like an episode of Transformers back in the 80s), Zach mentions challenges (possibly in future episodes), and a running sketch about a robber being foiled.

Zach does the grand tour of the "Nerf Fortress" as they're calling it, and it is a pretty sweet setup. Some highlights are the panic room, the fireman's pole, and a zipline. There are a number of portals to blast from and multiple routes to get around, so how they battle in it will be interesting. No inflatables that I saw yet, like the ones from the initial preview videos.

According to Nerf's Instagram, if you tag #NerfnationShow to a pic of your own Nerf Headquarters/Fortress, you'll get a chance to be featured. Not quite the scale of Zach King's but it's a nice touch to think they'll give you a shoutout. But how are you liking "The Nerfnation Show?" As the product is financed by Nerf, mods will most likely never be part of the programming. It'll be skits, glitz, and commercial, but Zach King's illusion and "magic" setups keep it neat and entertaining. Another episode could be out Friday, guess we will see what happens next.

SHÜ - Covert Dart blaster on Kickstarter

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 12:00:00 +0000

Nerf-Compatible Covert blaster in the works on Kickstarter!

Shu's the brainchild of Jericho game and Foxhound Urban Adventures owner Shannon Bruzelius, who runs Foxhound Urban Adventures out in California:

Many years ago I ran across Foxhound and Jericho as an interesting gametype, and connected with Shannon over email. I am glad to see they are still going strong. The Shu blaster does serve a very practical need, as running around public streets with Nerf blasters or other conspicuous action props draws unnecessary attention and can very much jeopardize a game and the safety of players. Shu at first glance just looks like an oversized cell phone, which is considerably less visible than most Nerf blasters. The power seems comparable with a Jolt, and considering the gameplay, the range is perfectly geared to what they do. Additional development could lead to 60-70 FPS, but only at the success of the Kickstarter. With money from their campaign, they hope to produce more and hopefully fulfill a need that Assassin, Elimination, and any other clandestine game type demands.

They have 18 days to go, and a few prototypes are out there but the goal still has much work to be done. Make sure to please check out their page, and hope you can support this design! Good luck to them!

Nerf Prometheus Unboxed (and with 100% more firing demo!)

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 18:24:00 +0000

Opening up the Nerf Prometheus, firing/range video coming soon (the outdoors isn't terribly cooperative today.)

Sample provided by Nerf! Opinions remain my own!

NERF RIVAL PROMETHEUS MXVIII-20K Blaster (Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $199.99/Available: Fall 2018) Head into battle blazing to take on the competition with the NERF RIVAL PROMETHEUS MXVIII-20K blaster! This blaster features the new ADVANCED ACCELERATION SYSTEM which allows it to fire at a rate of 8 high-impact rounds per second! This blaster also holds a whopping 200 high-impact rounds in its easy-load hopper. The PROMETHEUS MXVIII20K blaster is fully motorized with a rechargeable NiMh battery for endless fun. Package includes blaster, 200 highimpact rounds, rechargeable NiMh battery, charger, two flags, shoulder strap and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

Enjoy! Make sure to like and subscribe!

Zach King's NerfNation Show Goes live! (#NerfnationShow)

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 06:05:00 +0000

YouTuber/Magician Zach King announced some time ago that he would be producing "The Nerf Nation Show" and here it is:

And.... there you have it.

- This particular episode was a little over 4 mins. long.
- Covered Jared's Epic Nerf Battle
- Showed off the Judge and the Nerf N-Strike Elite Infinus
- Running. So much running.
- Preview of the set they'll be using.

In previous videos, eagle-eyed commenters noted the Delta Trooper was in the arsenal and he shows off other new blasters in the series preview. There were a few good shots, it was nice to see JT in there, and Zach King is good on camera (not surprising considering his own channel and history) so it's a decent start of sorts? I would have liked more of an idea of what they're going to do with each segment but at least the production values are there and as I caught myself watching his magic videos for extended time future videos could be just as compelling. I'm not quite sure what the format of the show is going to be, but there's only one way to find out! Are you going to tune in again for the next episode?

And some actual Nerf news:

Nerf Perks

· Be one of the FIRST to get the Nerf brand’s newest blasters. Starting July 1^st, Nerf Perks members can use their points to redeem for any of the Nerf brand’s NEW blasters. Go to NerfPerks.com to redeem! Not a member? No problem! Sign up for free at nerfperks.com and start earning points! Open to US Residents 18+.

· Members and non-members can use code NERF18 to get an extra 200 points to help you on your way to earning some awesome rewards.

· Eligible Blasters include: Modulus Evader, Mega Thunderhawk, Elite Infinus, Elite Delta Trooper, Zombie Ripchain, Zombie Scravenger, Rival Prometheus, and Rival Hades

Nerf Fest

· Get ready, because Nerf Fest is coming! All of the fall Nerf products will be hitting shelves on Monday, July 16^th!

Street date for the new blasters is July 16th. New releases been spotted in Mexico and elsewhere (and the Delta Trooper is in the hands of some people already) but the samples should be coming out soon.

The Prometheus and the Hades by far were favorites, but I am really curious how the Mega Thunderhawk is going to be. It underperformed in my opinion at New York Toy Fair, so hopefully they made some adjustments since then and it's going to fly! The harmonica clip on that blaster isn't my favorite feature but the build itself was super solid, and the sliding barrel sheath(?) feature was pretty neat.

Nerf Mega Thunderhawk

Nerf Rival Prometheus

Nerf Rival Hades

Make sure to keep tabs for the next entry! By then it should be something from Buzz Bee. Or Zuru. Or maybe Nerf! And don't forget to keep tabs on my social channels as well.

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Zuru: Flying Bug Attack Review (Clipfed, target shooting goes insect)

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 13:46:00 +0000

Zuru Launches new Flying Bugs with Flying Bug Attack kit
(Samples provided, but opinions remain my own)

Flying Bug Attack Single Pack

X-Shot Flying Bugs
Take down REAL flying targets with the NEW X-Shot Flying Bugs range! The latest addition to
ZURU’s hugely successful dart blaster range X-Shot Bug Attack which takes the action to the next
level with real moving targets. To get your bugs flying, simply place the bugs onto the motorized
launcher, press the pedal down with your foot and release to see the bugs soar in the air as you try
and take them down before they land! Featuring the exclusive new X-Shot Swarm-Seeker blaster - a
rapid fire blaster that can shoot 10 darts in rapid succession with an innovative side-loading clip
system! The X-Shot Flying Bugs Single Pack includes 1 Swarm Seeker blaster, launcher, 2 flying
bugs, and 12 darts (SRP $19.99). The Double Pack includes 2 Swarm Seeker blasters, launcher,
3 flying bugs and 24 darts (SRP $29.99). Ages 8+, Available July 2018.

STATS:

Includes: 12 zuru darts, 1 clip, Swarm Seeker blaster (aka Predator, according to the Zuru site), 2 flying bug targets, and 1 launcher.
Batteries: Requires 4 AA batteries (for bug launcher)
Range Claims: 90 ft
Other notes: Clip is compatible with the Zuru XShot Regenerator blaster, and those clips work with this pistol.

And Zuru is hot off to the races with their newest addition to the Bug Attack line, this time incorporating a helicopter/flying bug target to use with their blasters. The target is easy enough to use; you step on the pedal (video is still being worked on, that will be added in later), rev the rotors on the bug, release, and it flies off so you can shoot it down. The bugs banged into walls and the flying pattern isn't the easiest to follow, so maybe this will be great fun for target shooting, and higher in difficulty level.

The blaster itself is called the Swarm Seeker. It's a 10 shot clipfed blaster, and the clip is a typewriter/harmonica sideways orientation. Not my favorite placement on a pistol (as I would want to holster it) but the grip is comfortable for me and I didn't have any jams after firing 3 clips full of ammo. I also launched a few proper Nerf Accustrike rounds from the blaster, and didn't experience any jams using another brand of ammo. Accuracy from the blaster was pretty decent too, and while some Zuru darts did veer off from a straight line that was the exception more than the rule. As with all Zuru/XShot darts, these are also shorter darts than Nerf or most other brands.

The range I got from the Swarm Seeker (video coming later) went anywhere from 40-60 feet. Some of my shots were angled as well, but for a pistol that's not too bad and for a stock blaster fresh out of the box that's about what you would expect. The most telling thing about the blaster was that it had some decent accuracy.

Zuru dart is second from the left.

If I had any strikes against this blaster it's about the choice to orient the clip sideways. As previously stated, holstering it with the clip loaded is tricky, and the other option is to keep them separated while running around and THEN loading the blaster when you use it (if you decide to keep it as a sidearm). That seems inefficient. I also didn't notice a slamfire feature on the blaster, and while that's not a dealbreaker, I wouldn't have minded having it there.

The clip does make loading faster though (as opposed to one chamber at a time on a front-loading blaster) but only as long as you have loaded clips. Currently the only way to get any additional clips is thrifting, trading, or buying a Regenerator/another Flying Bug Attack kit. Zuru currently does not sell these clips (or the magazines for the Bug Attack Crossbow) separately.

Considering Zuru's past prices, $19.99 for the single kit itself is a deal. If you consider that a Strongarm on Amazon or most other pistols are about $12 for something that has less shots on a turret, that's an even better price. If you want to consider the Nerf Recon Mk II, which is a small (when no attachments used) clipfed blaster, it is certainly a lower price but you don't get the additional value of the launchpad and target, especially if you lack Nerf wars near you regularly. This is certainly a good set for a parent to get their kid(s) with the additional targets, which may keep the darts from flying at siblings and/or furniture. Even more intense players may dig the pistol, which I found comfortable to grip and fire, if not keep as a sidearm. Definitely worth a look once these are widely available later this Fall. Big thanks to Zuru for getting me these samples, and looking forward to more!

Overwatch X Nerf press release! Nerf this, #Nerfnation

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Tue, 22 May 2018 18:05:00 +0000

Everyone loving the Nerf Vortex releases? How about this news?

HASBRO JOINS BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT’S OVERWATCH® IN THE FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE AS MASTER TOY LICENSEE

Hasbro to Create Wide Range of Overwatch®Play Experiences

PAWTUCKET, R.I. & SANTA MONICA, CA – MAY 21, 2018 – Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) today announced that they have signed a licensing agreement with Blizzard Entertainment to become the global master toy licensee for the Overwatch® franchise. Hasbro will create a wide range of play experiences including NERF products, games and more, based on the growing Overwatch® universe and its characters.

Overwatch is a highly-stylized team-based action game set in Earth’s near future. Featuring 27 playable heroes with unique powers and abilities, Overwatch immerses players in intense multiplayer showdowns where they must band together to keep the world safe from rising conflict. Overwatch is also the basis for the Overwatch League®, the first major global city-based esports league, featuring teams from Asia, Europe, and North America.

“We are thrilled to announce this partnership with Blizzard for the Overwatch franchise,” said Samantha Lomow, senior vice president, Hasbro. “The roster of bold, diverse characters, and a passionate following of more than 40 million players have inspired our teams to create an amazing product line that will not only appeal to the passionate Overwatch fan base, but also attract new fans into the Overwatch universe.”

“Overwatch has really taken on a life of its own with our global community, so it’s been important to us to work with partners who share our passion and commitment to quality when it comes to translating the spirit of the game into new real-world play experiences,” said Matthew Beecher, VP, Blizzard Consumer Products. “With Hasbro's rich history of innovation and a long track record of bringing amazing worlds to life for new audiences, we couldn’t imagine a better or more appropriate teammate.”

The fight for the future will reach a new stage in January 2019, when Hasbro releases Overwatch® blasters in its NERF Rival line. Additional product categories will be launched Fall 2019 in the US and international markets.

I have a slew of questions out to Nerf, stay tuned!

Adventure Force 200 Dart Pack - Walmart Exclusive, Quality Blasting on a Budget!

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Tue, 08 May 2018 07:56:00 +0000

Adventure Force from Walmart $9.97 USD 200 round dart refill pack, "waffle darts" compatible with Nerf and other brand, available August 2018

Walmart steps up HUGE for the coming year, offering up a 200 dart pack under their "Adventure Force" brand, already filled to the brim with dart blasters. The darts take cues from the K'Nex K-Force blasters, and compare in shape to other "waffle" style darts available on Amazon. This is only the first product of the blaster related items for 2018 from Adventure Force, and if last year was any indicator there are big things coming for this year. Dart Zone, through Walmart's Adventure Force label look to push a quality blasting experience without the premium cost. And with the incoming prices for the next year in other brands, a little relief on the wallet might be just what parents are going to want when it comes time for gift-giving. Big thanks to Dart Zone for sending along a sample of the ammo, really looking forward to using these in play! My judgments are based on cursory testing of the darts from a few shots, naturally as I get to use these more I'll have a stronger opinion (opinions also remain my own, even with a provided sample). From what I've seen so far though, it's good, it's pretty good.

The Adventure Force waffle darts are in the center, green with blue tip. Zuru darts, while slightly cheaper, are still shorter than most darts.

A closer look to compare the dart heads: the KForce is on the left, EKind (I think), Dart Zone, and Ekind)

A quick search on Amazon.com shows some of the first results are 200 darts of various 3rd parties for $10+, Walmart will sell these 200 dart packs for less at the $9.97 USD mark they set. The Dart Zone Sureshot package for sale on Amazon is 100 darts for $14.99, not the same value as the Walmart pack. Make sure to shop "Adventure Force" at Walmart and you can be confident that you are buying darts safe from an established company that will ship appropriately and promptly for one of the best prices out there. Zuru makes a slightly cheaper 500 pack for $24.99, but those darts are shorter (shown in the first pic above) which can be a problem for some players (depending on the type of blaster they're using). So yes, the value is close but the dart length makes it a gamble on whether your blasters will work (if your blasters use magazines, this could affect reliability feeding. Front-loaded blasters obviously are less troubled by dart length than blasters that use magazines.

As I stated before, the bonus of buying through Adventure Force is that one of the companies making the products for the Adventure Force line, Dart Zone, is an experienced and established blaster/toy company, not just a listing on the internet. You know the BallistixOps line, the Dart Zone chain blasters (Enforcer, Dart Storm, Light Command) in recent history, and their dart making has hit some leaps and bounds since they first appeared. Some people know the third party brands they trust but this pack remains competitive even with some of those. If you need to make a run on ammo in a pinch, just run out to the store and not have to worry about waiting for shipping.

The foam of the Adventure Zone waffle darts are on par with anything else I've used as far as foam dart ammo is concerned. It did feel a bit too squishy trying out the front loading of a Tri-Fire, but ultimately the darts fired just fine, they loaded well. Durability will really test during summer play, or hopefully in an arena somewhere. Definitely no complaints from me regarding the shape, the feel, or the flight path of the darts. The video above illustrates some of my findings firing these out of stock blasters.
The darts were impressive! I had maybe one ricochet off a wall, but for the most part the darts all stayed within the center and grouped in the middle of the hallway. That's a far cry from some other darts that fly every which way; maybe far distances but definitely nowhere near what you want to tag sometimes. It's a promising start for the first item of Adventure Force for 2018, coming from Dart Zone. Looking forward to what the summer reveals will bring!

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Nerf VORTEX New (Again?) For 2018! - Nerf News

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Thu, 03 May 2018 13:19:00 +0000

Nerf Vortex Returns in Fall 2018

Vas The Stampede

UPDATED: Unboxing video posted 5/8/2018 and Nerf Vortex Vigilon 2011 vs Nerf Vortex Vigilon 2018

And my old firing video of the original release of the Pyragon -

NERF VORTEX VTX PYRAGON Blaster

(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $59.99/Available: Fall 2018)

Take battling to the next level with the NERF VORTEX VTX PYRAGON blaster! With a 40-disc drum, this blaster is the highest-capacity VORTEX blaster yet. Battlers can take aim to swamp the competition with a fast-flying barrage of discs. Fire one disc at a time or fire all 40 darts rapidly with slam-fire action. With discs that can bank, curve, and ricochet, the competition will have to stay alert to keep track of their trajectory. Package includes blaster and 40 discs. Available exclusively at Target.

NERF VORTEX VTX PRAXIS Blaster

(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $34.99/Available: Fall 2018)

Get ready for awesome free-style blasting with the NERF VORTEX VTX PRAXIS blaster! Pump-action power and removable clips allow battlers go the distance, keeping the competition on their toes.Load one clip into the blaster and keep the second nearby for quick reloading. Blast fast and create trick shots with discs that can bank, curve, and ricochet. The competition will never see them coming! Package includes blaster, two 10-disc clips and 20 discs. Available exclusively at Target.

And the first shot I fired out of the Vigilon as soon as I received samples way back when.

NERF VORTEX VTX VIGILON Blaster

(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99/Available: Fall 2018)

Bend the rules of battle to create all kinds of trick shots with the NERF VORTEX VTX VILIGON blaster! The VORTEX VTX VIGILON blaster sends discs soaring through the air for rule bending bombardment. Open the drop-down door to access the internal clip, load five discs inside, then take aim and send one disc at a time. Re-load the clip for minimum reloading time and maximum blasting. The battle is on! Package includes blaster and 10 discs. Available exclusively at Target.

NERF VORTEX VTX DISC REFILL

(Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018)

Blast discs that soar and ricochet with the NERF VORTEX VTX blasters! Create all kinds of trick shots with these soft, flexible discs. Stock up for rule-bending battles with this refill pack that includes 20 NERF VORTEX VTX discs! Includes: 20 discs. Available exclusively at Target.

The initial leaked images were true! Nerf Vortex, after a few years of non-releases and hearing that lessons were learned from the line, is back! Coming out this fall (in addition to all the other huge releases) Nerf Vortex blasters are going to be exclusive to Target and having new colors with some of the old blasters of yore. No Nitron or Proton so far, but everything old is new again. The ranges were ok when compared to Nerf blasters pre-Elite but the real bonus (to some folks) was that the discs could be fired just right to hook around an obstacle someone may be hiding behind. Mr. S at Nerd Drop figured it was Nerf's "trick shot" line, and that was pretty true considering some of the marketing that followed after. Another story that came out was that it was going to be a whole "Vortex Vs Elite" theme between the two lines, but was deemed too aggressive for the 8+ crowd (so I heard).

Most of the feedback from other players were the discs were too expensive considering the disposable nature of Nerf wars, or the discs were inaccurate. Some players loved it but sales didn't seem to translate well, especially after the Elite line was released. It was another ammo type to buy and when you combine the cost of ammo, that's not a good mix. But the line is back (and for a more expensive price, but that's the cost of inflation over years, maybe.)

Either way, looking forward to the samples, and now it looks like the Vortex side of my collection gets new life breathed into it! Lock and Load, Nerf Nation.

"GIANT NERF BATTLE" - Illinois -The Write Up

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 14:00:00 +0000

Giant Nerf Battle takes place in Illinois - Around 200 Fling Foam in the Avanti's Dome in Pekin, IL

A look at the field they set up for this event

With Click Click BAMF and some of his Iowa crew

I heard about the "Giant Nerf Battle" in Pekin, IL from the Internet (maybe CJ from ClickClickBamf tipped me off...) about a month ago, so naturally I kept tabs on it. I reached out to the host, followed the Facebook event, CJ was coming in with a few people from his crew out there so naturally, I made preparations to attend.

There's an event in Dallas called "Jared's Epic Nerf Battle" and it just wrapped up its 3rd year. I haven't made it there, so given the proximity (2.5 hours) to go to Pekin vs. the much larger (and costly) trip of going to Dallas, I at least had to try to go to the Giant Nerf Battle.

What I knew was it was going to be in the Avantis Dome (pictured above), an inflatable dome somewhere in near Morton, IL. This was a first year event (the host, Mike, had held paintball events before, but this was the first time he was running a "Nerf" type event.) Knowing it was a first time thing, my expectations were low. With any convention, fan event, anything, if it's a year One, I don't expect much. Also, the rules, some promo material, were strangely reminiscent of the materials/videos/rules affiliated with Jared's Epic Nerf Battle. Keeping all this in mind, I didn't really know what to expect but any expectations had to be realistic.

There were a few rules right off the bat -

The main theme for the games were "Cubs vs Cards" which was basically Red vs Blue... if you showed up with Cubs gear/blue clothing you were assigned to the Cubs side of the field, Red/Cards gear meant the opposite side. A winner was declared at the end of each game, a point given to the Cubs or Cards accordingly. For those who may be scratching your head, Cubs is for "Chicago Cubs" and "Cards" is "St. Louis Cardinals", eternal enemies in Major League Baseball's National League.

Each game was going to be 6:00 - the first 3 minutes allowed respawning (run back to your "base" and tag in) and the last 3 minutes meant no more respawns. You couldn't cross the midfield line until the last 1-2 minutes of each game. What that meant to me was to sit in the back until the last 3 minutes, and start then. There was no real incentive/rule to do anything before elimination. People would shoot at me, but all that meant was more ammo on our side of the field.

Games would be different themes, different age groups, different blaster types (all Rival, all Dart, I heard there was an HvZ round too) but same time limits each time, with a 10 minute or so break to collect ammo/reload.

The crowd looked just under 200 to me, (maybe close to 120 or so, including staff) and games had maybe upwards of 80 people on the field at one time. Final estimates look to be closer to 200 according to the field employees.

THE RUNDOWN:

Having been at the game, I have thoughts/opinions. I drove my own way there, I paid my own ticket in, if I got anything out of it it was CJ covering my food (thanks, man!)

The Field:

- Getting inside, the Avantis Dome was a single field with a few bleachers on the side for staging. It was nice enough and the field was big enough to accommodate the crowd. No real complaints there. I'm fielding opinions still on the field itself though... there was turf I think but the ground wasn't very forgiving. I avoided sliding too much or doing any rolling as I had a near 3 hour drive back and didn't want to increase chances of bringing an injury home. According to some folks, turf is supposed to be a bit squishy and soft, definitely not what I think I felt in this case.

- There were bunkers, and a lot of them! There was still a lot of space and lines to get your foam through, but the fun part happened when you could finally cross over to the other side. Otherwise I saw people finding favorite obstacles to stay behind or just standing in the open if they were farther back. I think I would have preferred having things a little tighter considering the size of the crowd. It did get intense the closer you got to midfield but the back rows were safe havens practically.

- Because it was in a stadium, the "rules" to the event included using only clear/transparent bags on the field. I had reached out to Mike (the host) if this meant we could bring in tubs or other lockable storage so long as we used transparent bags during play, but probably due to the hectic run-up to the event he hadn't responded. I ended up purchasing new transparent bags to bring, but after arriving there it looked like that didn't matter. I saw players showing up in military harnesses and running onto the field and no officials said anything. People were staging out of opaque tubs and no one got stopped there either. I ended up switching out for my usual belt/pouch combo and carried on in spite of the posted rules. 18 under had to keep eye protection on when on the field, and 18+ had it optional. For the most part, I didn't hear about any serious eye injuries.

- Side note, they had various blasters and ammo for purchase as I found out, and along with that some ammo. I did find full vinyl jacket (FVJ) darts on those tables, as well as on the field. Not my favorite decision to sell that ammo as it's banned at numerous meetups I know of, but I wonder if they researched ammo types available. (Again, this was a first time Nerf-style event for Mike.)

The Crowd:

- Lots of families (not surprising) and thus the younger side of 8+, unsurprising for an event like this. Parents would sometimes just be there to help their kid reload or track down ammo, but weren't shooting blasters themselves. Props to them for bringing their kid to something unique like this.

- Honor system was... a guideline at best. I recall at least one moment that I had to stare at a kid to get him to respawn after tagging him out. Other players were crossing the 50 yard line before we were "allowed" to do so, referees were apparently not enforcing hits/rules too well (according to the folks I spoke with) and if you tried to tell people yourself I know at least one instance someone got a rude hand gesture for it. Nevermind some of the profanity I heard from adults yelling at kids, or other people just looking to talk garbage to others. Sure, it happens in large crowds but still doesn't make it right.

- For the most part the attendees were there to play and burn off some energy/have a good time. Hits weren't super serious to count, and the only real detractor was any rude/off color behavior. We're already getting together to shoot Nerf toys, that's inherently silly as it is. Let's not be jerks while we're at it. I suppose the issue I have with some of lack of enforcement is that there was an actual exchange of money involved here, a ticket purchased. If I wanted to horse around with blasters in a freeform scenario for a few hours I didn't have to drive almost 3 hours to get there and pony up the money for a ticket. I could have gotten some friends together and did that closer to home.

The Game:

- As I mentioned, the rules were loosely enforced so with that in mind it was a loose gameplay experience. The uncrossable line seemed to catch some people off-guard and it didn't matter to other players anyway, as I saw. The problem here seemed to be communication before the event in order to give players ample notice. Again, not that serious to keep to a strict play pattern but if you're going in and paying money you almost want some structured game types to differentiate from what you can do at home.
- There was only elimination played, really. I would not have minded an attempt at few different game types like capture the flag or attack and defend variants. Again, this is where communication ahead of time would have been good. At a paintball event, Living Legends, the midfield area has scoring pods (on a hill) and people have to run foam bricks from their side into these pods. I don't know how it would have worked here but something like that might have been a lot of fun with that much foam flying through the air. In a way to just have one game type (and maybe there was a zombies round) constantly played for 3 hours smacks of lack of planning and insight. Sure, it works for the majority of the crowd to have elimination but there is more out there to try out just for fun as well.
- No water fountains or stations available. Maybe I can be corrected in the comments, and yes there were in/out privileges for the arena, but if you weren't buying water/refreshments at the concession stand. I think you just had to go thirsty. A concession stand was made available and I appreciate that food and drinks were there, but it seemed off to not even have the option to take a quick drink if you needed it, you had to leave and wait in line. Just seemed odd to me if that was the case.

ClickClickBAMF has a whole video on our chat after the event, keep an eye out for that! While it was great that a stadium game happened in Illinois, we weren't sure this was the best foot forward. It was a first year event and had some definite issues, but maybe if they do more events they'll put on a better show. I would like to say I am all ready to get back onto their field for the next game in June, but to be honest, I am neutral to going again. I wish them well on future games though, and hope to see more from Pekin Paintball in the future. For now though, it's just not a good fit for what I want out of paying money to Nerf vs what was presented.

REVIEW: Mukikim X Roll-In Voice Bomb Recorder with Motion Alarm Toy

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 13:31:00 +0000

REVIEW: Mukikim X Roll-In Voice Bomb Recorder with Motion Alarm Toy

BUY YOURS ($16.99 at Amazon.com, not an affiliate link)

Big thanks to Mukikim for the sample! Super fun toy to distract your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the opposition. Takes 2 AA batteries to get moving, and the super effective microphone is great for picking up your voice. Plastic construction means no throwing and I wouldn't advise dropping it into position, but like the name says, "Roll" is recommended.

It's motion-activated, so whether you roll it in place or position it, push red to record, speak, and place, and watch shenanigans happen. It's a robust build of a toy, and could find a home in many blaster games or just for some good old wacky hijinks. Definitely a recommend, fun for all ages and not a bad cost either (and for just under $20 definitely worth it for the amount of jokes you can pull off, just ask my wife and coworkers).

Collect all SpyX toys for the ultimate spy play experience.
Voice Recording Ball with Motion Alarm to Alert any Intruders of Your Spy Message. Fun for unlimited play situations and hours of laughs!
360 Degree Automatic Motion Alarm Activation, so Intruders Won't Make it Through Unseen.
Record up to 10 seconds - this ball has a loudspeaker with a protective speaker grill to Play Back Your Recorded Message.
Innovative Ball Design Helps You Easily Roll-in Your Secret Spy Message.

Toy Nerf Grenade? NFStrike's Water Ball Grenade-Compatible with Nerf Rival

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 13:50:00 +0000

Big thank you to NFStrike.com for sending over a sample of their "Water Ball Grenade" - a toy that at first glance uses water ball beads (akin to Xploderz and Vapor ammo) to spray out on impact. Fun fact, their "grenade" also works well with Rival ammo (and apparently Mega darts too?)

It's of a serious quality plastic build, the springs that flip the launch doors out are pretty beefy, and it looks like these can take a drop on a concrete floor (seen a video by Jodo Cast also that looks inside a warehouse and the thing didn't break, either way these things are supposedly built pretty tough.)

It works like you would think a "grenade" would work - after loading, you insert the pin to keep everything together. When going to throw, pull the pin, toss, and watch the fun. There's a piece inside that moves around to release the doors, and flip everything out every which way. For best results you really do need a strong impact, soft tosses didn't seem to have as much magic as tosses (high lobs) that allowed more speed and impact.

The price nowadays seems pretty reasonable, and I think from the moment they said they would ship the product arrived in about two weeks (feel free to chime in in the comments if your shipping experience is different!)

The only real misgivings I have about the toy are at how at a quick glance (even with the orange trim) these might be mistaken for something more realistic if left behind. If I were to use these it would be in an arena, an indoor scenario, something that would reduce the need to pitch overhand and reduce probability of losing the toy. And even then, I still wouldn't feel too comfortable throwing these without being careful, or trust people to not get caught in the moment and accidentally throw the toy at someone and not near them for blast radius results. The pin is a small piece of metal and may also get lost, including a spare would go a long way, otherwise make sure to find some way to flag yours in case you throw it or drop it.

HOWEVER, considering the previous available incarnation of foam dart grenades was lackluster at best, this is a serious improvement over time! If anything, these are hilarious to keep around and fun to toss, just be careful of the people and players around you. The pricing is pretty reasonable with other accessories and blasters so definitely a "worth a try".

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Buzz Bee Toys 2018 Toy Fair Roundup - Bolt-action cometh, and the return of an old pattern

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 15:01:00 +0000

Buzz Bee Toys came out swinging last year with a number of great items; the Thermal Hunter, the Zenith, and the Thermal Sensor were standouts for me. The Monorail was a good idea but it had some reliability issues when I tried it and that kept it off my favorites list. There were other blasters that had Overall though, the creation of Precision Darts, Long Distance Darts, and sucker darts was some great stuff that came out of Buzz Bee last year.

This year, Buzz Bee seems to have gone the other way. I saw a lot of bolt-action style blasters in their room, such as a new Snipe and their walkie-talkie blasters. Most telling though is that their headlining item, the Mutator - is going to be bolt-action. I can't blame them either, the tactile feedback from sliding a bolt handle into firing is pretty cool, and plays heavily into the roleplay aspect of the blaster.

The Buzz Bee Mutator

Buzz Bee Covert Squad - walkie talkies and single shot blasters

There are some exceptions, such as the new Demolisher for The Walking Dead line of blasters, and the PowerMech 20, but otherwise the majority of the blasters I saw on display were either out or bolt-action. Interesting how that works out given Nerf continuing to use flywheels, pump-action, or the traditional pullback slide.

The Mutator gets its name from the quick change it can pull off in the middle of a blaster fight. There are two magazines because you can load each one with a different type of ammo. One magazine is loaded with the precision darts, and the other loaded with the long distance ammo for farther targets. Pull the barrel forward on The Mutator to shift between either ammo type, bolt-action, and fire. The prototype was still very early, so I didn't fire it but I did carry it a bit and manipulate the barrel. Interested to see the final product, for sure.

What I like about the Mutator is it's a big show-me blaster and the reloading without needing to pop a magazine out and slap a new one in is a time-saving and efficient idea. I believe I heard a few more tweaks are needed and the blaster may not be out til 2019 to make sure it's firing on all cylinders. I hope that's not the case and we'll see it sooner, to figure out more tricks to do with a blaster that reloads as the Mutator does.

The Covert Squad blasters were single-shot bolt action blasters, but the walkie-talkie action is a nice little twist. The blasters are compact enough to not be a bulky unit to hold up, and it's just a neat gimmick feature for a simple blaster. If you remember the old Nerf Commlink, this is similar but a much greater range (300'), much more streamlined form, earbud connection, and more streamlined unit. For $24.99 (in a two-pack) I'll go ahead and put this on my Gift Ideas list for the holidays.

The Demolisher was a flywheel unit, and then the PowerMech 20, but the real gem of the room was the Velocity X chronograph.

Velocity X

The big notes on the Velocity X are that it's a chronograph, AND accommodates Nerf Rival and Mega ammo as well. The unit could be held in hand against the muzzle, or set up to stand on its own via tripod, but this will have a home with maybe arena owners and general users. One concern so far is if the device will be able to read higher (modded) velocities, but I don't think anyone's tried yet. All the same, a really good idea.

I got a few readings off it, and it was easy enough to use, but it's a prototype as far as I'm concerned so when I see the production model I'll chip in my 2 cents for a full, honest review. What was really cool was the range estimates; it would give distance estimates at an angle vs parallel to the ground. While the Nerf chronobarrel attaches to the barrel of the blaster and functions as an ammo counter, the distance reading, ammo diversity, and price ($14.99 MSRP!) get the edge here for Buzz Bee. At this stage in the game it's too early in my opinion to really give my own review about anything, the Monorail was hyped last year but changed quite a bit before production. The Demolisher was a bit wonky from what I heard, so I didn't really give that a try either, as prototypes tend to be. Prototypes from Toy Fair (if they work at all) may get altered en route to release. And that's what could happen here. What we see at release may even be better, but you never can be sure. Is it great to know these things are coming out, however? You bet!

Buzz Bee had their thermal sensor packaged separately now and their own version of a red dot sight. That means more accessories for your tactical rails, and with the Buzz Bee adapter these will work on your Nerf blasters too, if you need to change things up on your loadout. New light-up swords that attach at the handle (think Darth Maul's double-sided lightsaber) are coming out as well, but I didn't notice anything like Michonne's sword. Still, if you run games with melee weapons the Buzz Bee swords are not only some of the most budget friendly items out there but also pretty durable for the cost. There were some other items that I think were not released for full info yet (though I think they made it out of Nuremburg, if you search the right videos you may see them) so there will still be a few different releases past the press release. I think I can say though, just keep an eye out for these items in Walmart's "Adventure Force" line.

Overall though, the Buzz Bee showroom showed that Buzz Bee continues to work their own place in the community with continued power increases and innovations from the brand. The Walking Dead license (for the comic, not the show!) and some different gimmicks and tech are on the way, which is a huge step for them to build on last year's showing. Interestingly enough, they haven't gone the Rival compatible route, opting to stick with the foam dart category and focusing on making some sweet blasters for dart users. The Demolisher's aesthetic isn't a Prometheus but I got a kick out of getting a feel for a gatling-styled blaster (Captain Xavier's mod notwithstanding!) Definitely looking forward to more, and can't wait to see the full form of the Mutator at release. Big thanks to Buzz Bee for having me, and see you on the shelves later this year.

Nerf Fall 2018 Press Kit (From Toy Fair 2018)

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 23:07:00 +0000

Just to make it easier to find, here's the press info from Toy Fair 2018 Nerf blasters, Nerf Nitro, Super Soaker, and more are all posted here.

The Fall 2018 N-STRIKE ELITE line includes:

NERF N-STRIKE ELITE INFINUS Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $69.99/Available: Fall 2018) Load and fire fast with the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE INFINUS blaster! The INFINUS blaster features motorized Quick-Load Technology; as kids feed darts into the blaster, the darts are automatically loaded into the 30-dart removable drum. With motorized, rapid-fire blasting, kids can quickly unleash a barrage of darts on their targets. Hold down the acceleration button to power up the blaster, then pull the trigger to fire. The INFINUS blaster includes 30 Elite darts. Requires x batteries, not included. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF N-STRIKE ELITE DELTATROOPER Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $29.99/Available: Fall 2018) Be prepared for any battle with the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE DELTATROOPER blaster. With four ways to configure, this blaster gives kids epic possibilities with each removable accessory. No matter where the battle takes fans, the DELTATROOPER has you covered. Take along the core blaster when in action, attach the stock to stabilize shots, or attach the barrel extension for distance targeting. The DELTATROOPER blaster comes with a 12-dart clip and 12 ELITE darts allowing kids to unleash a dozen darts in a row. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF N-STRIKE ELITE ACCUSTRIKE QUADRANT Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Take on targets with intense accuracy with the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE QUADRANT blaster! This single-shot blaster features a 4-dart rotating drum so players can sweep through the battlefield. Load the darts into the drum, pull the handle back to prime, then pull the trigger to fire one dart. Small and compact, the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE QUADRANT blaster is great for high-intensity, on the move battles. Package includes blaster, four ELITE darts, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF ACCUSTRIKE MEGA THUNDERHAWK Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2018) Introducing Nerf’s first ever MEGA ACCUSTRIKE blaster! Blast with power and precision with the NERF MEGA THUNDERHAWK blaster. The barrel extension slides back and forth on the top of the blaster for custom performance allowing for distance targeting or a more compact blaster. The THUNDERHAWK allows for steady shots with the flip-down bipod for MEGA performance with ACCUSTRIKE accuracy. The THUNDERHAWK blaster includes a 10-dart, side-loading indexing clip and 10 NERF MEGA ACCUSTRIKE darts. Also compatible with NERF MEGA darts. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Fall 2018 MODULUS line includes:

NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS EVADER Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2018) Stay in stealth mode or light the way with the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS EVADER blaster! Part of the GHOST OPS series, the MODULUS EVADER is completely clear to keep players undetected on any mission. Illuminate the blaster to guide the way in low-light situations by pressing the light activator. Customize the blaster with the barrel extension which lights up when attached to the blaster. Load the 12-dart clip into the Evader blaster, take aim, and unleash 12 darts in a row with rapid-fire motorized blasting. Enemies will never see you coming! Package includes blaster, clip housing cover, barrel extension, 12-dart clip 12 darts, and instructions. Requires 4 “AA” alkaline batteries (demo batteries included). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF MODULUS ULTIMATE CUSTOMIZER PACK (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $99.99/Available: Fall 2018) Upgrade any NERF MODULUS blaster with the NERF MODULUS ULTIMATE CUSTOMIZER pack for the ultimate in Nerf Modulus blaster building and customization! The motorized blaster comes with 7 tactical accessories to prepare for any mission or battle. The NERF MODULUS ULTIMATE CUSTOMIZER pack gives player the power to switch on the tactical light to illuminate targets for practice, power up the blaster’s motor with the acceleration button for rapid-fire dart blasting, focus their aim with the flip-up sight, and so much more. Package includes seven tactical accessories, two 10-dart banana clips, 40 darts, and four missiles. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS REFLECTIVE TARGETING KIT (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99/Available: Fall 2018) Battlers can practice their skills day or night with the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS REFLECTIVE TARGETING kit. The two Reflective targets feature LED lights, so no matter the time of day, targets are visible and ready for target practice! Attach the adjustable sight to the tactical rail of the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS EVADER blaster, sold separately, to send a beam of light allowing players to perfect their accuracy skill. The REFLECTIVE TARGETING kit includes adjustable sight and two reflective targets; blaster sold separately. Requires two “AAA” alkaline batteries (not included). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS CHRONOBARREL (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99/Available: Fall 2018) Players can upgrade their NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS EVADER blaster (sold separately) with the dart counting accessory, of the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS CHRONOBARREL attachment. Attach the NERF MODULUS GHOST OPS CHRONOBARREL to the front of the blaster then program the barrel to see how many darts have already been fired or the number of darts remaining in the blaster. With a built-in memory, the accessory keeps players updated in real time on remaining darts in the barrel! For additional intel, the NERF MODULUD GHOST OPS CHRONOBARREL attachment measures the velocity of the darts being fired in either feet or meters per second to keep track of all shots! The CHRONOBARREL attachment includes six darts; blaster sold separately. Requires two “AAA” alkaline batteries (not included). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Fall 2018 RIVAL line includes:

NERF RIVAL PROMETHEUS MXVIII-20K Blaster (Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $199.99/Available: Fall 2018) Head into battle blazing to take on the competition with the NERF RIVAL PROMETHEUS MXVIII-20K blaster! This blaster features the new ADVANCED ACCELERATION SYSTEM which allows it to fire at a rate of 8 high-impact rounds per second! This blaster also holds a whopping 200 high-impact rounds in its easy-load hopper. The PROMETHEUS MXVIII20K blaster is fully motorized with a rechargeable NiMh battery for endless fun. Package includes blaster, 200 highimpact rounds, rechargeable NiMh battery, charger, two flags, shoulder strap and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF RIVAL PHANTOM CORPS HADES XVIII-6000 Blaster (Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $69.99/Available: Fall 2018) Experience intense head-to-head competition with the NERF RIVAL HADES XVIII-6000 blaster! Load 60 high-impact rounds into the easy-load integrated magazine, prime, and pull the trigger to fire a barrage at your enemies. Whether Team Red, Team Blue, or Phantom Corps, Rival battles will never be the same. Package includes blaster, 60 high-impact rounds, two flags and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Fall 2018 ZOMBIE STRIKE line includes:

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM SCRAVENGER Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2018) Zombie survivors are prepared for anything with the NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM SCRAVENGER blaster! This essential zombie defense kit keeps battlers ready for any zombifying challenge that comes their way. Load a 12-dart clip into the SCRAVENGER and unleash a dozen darts in a row. Grab the extra clip from the holder and slam-fire the zombies away with the on/off slam-fire button, or stabilize shots with the stock/blaster attachment to never miss a target. The 2- dart back-up blaster allows battlers to surprise oncoming zombies who will never see it coming. Package includes blaster, stock with blaster, scope, tactical light, barrel extension, two 12-dart clips, 26 ZOMBIE STRIKE ELITE darts, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE RIPCHAIN Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2018) Rip into action against the zombies with the NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE RIPCHAIN blaster! The 25-dart chain allows battlers to defend their turf against a zombie incursion. Fire one ZOMBIE STRIKE dart at a time, or slam-fire all 25 darts to swarm the targets. Load the darts onto the chain, place the chain on the blaster, then pump the handle to prime the blaster and pull the trigger to fire a dart. The NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE RIPCHAIN blaster is ready to take on any zombie, any time. Package includes blaster, dart chain, 25 ZOMBIE STRIKE ELITE darts, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM CHOPSTOCK Attachment (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $12.99/Available: Fall 2018) Part of the new NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM, the CHOPSTOCK attachment gives battlers a new way to strike back at the zombies! The CHOPSTOCK attachment doubles as a foam axe and stock attachment. Simply attach to any NERF blaster with compatible stock attachment point to use as a stock, or extend handle to use as an axe. Package includes foam axe stock. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM TWINSLICE Attachment (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $12.99/Available: Fall 2018) The zombie survivors are prepared for anything- with the new NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE SURVIVAL SYSTEM TWINSLICE attachment! Attach holder to any NERF blaster with a tactical rail and remove the stars to send them flying at oncoming zombies. The zombies won’t know what hit them! Package includes two foam stars and holder. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HabsroToyShop.com.

NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE WRATHBOLT Blaster (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99/Available: Spring 2018) When zombie fighters need to strike back at the zombies, they use the NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE WRATHBOLT Crossbow! Take aim at zombie hordes and release soft-tipped arrows at the targets. To fight back against oncoming zombies, pull back the string and hook it in place, load an arrow into the crossbow, and pull the trigger to send the arrow slicing through the air. Package includes crossbow, bow arms, two whistler arrows, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Fall 2018 MICROSHOTS line includes:

NERF MICROSHOTS SERIES Assortment (Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $6.99/Available: Fall 2018) Battle opponents like never before with the NERF MICROSHOTS SERIES 2 Assortment! MICROSHOTS blasters capture the iconic look of the original NERF blasters fans know and love, but in a micro, super-deformed fun size. Simply load, prime, and pull the trigger for big fun in a small package. This one-shot blaster is as fun to collect as it is to blast! Series 2 includes one micro-sized version of the NERF N-STRIKE ELITE ROUGH CUT 4X4 blaster, NERF N-STRIKE ELITE STRYFE blaster, and NERF ZOMBIE STRIKE CROSSFIRE bow. Each package includes one blaster and two ELITE darts. Each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Fall 2018 NITRO line includes:

NERF NITRO DOUBLECLUTCH INFERNO Blaster (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2018) Fire up an inferno of double action blasting with the DOUBLECLUTCH INFERNO blaster! This 2-barrel blaster allows kids to launch two cars at the same time. Set up targets, ramps, and obstacles and send cars flying through the air. Challenge friends to see who can take on the ultimate obstacle, whose car will soar the highest, or go the farthest. Package includes blaster, four NERF NITRO foam cars with plastic wheels, double ramp, eight obstacles, double pop-up target and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO SPEEDLOOP Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2018) Create 360-degree stunts with the NERF NITRO SPEEDLOOP Stunt Set! Featuring a 2-piece loop with FLEXWAY technology, the SPEEDLOOP sends cars zooming up the ramp, around the vertical loop, and out the other end to complete the stunt. Create distance jumps and stunt challenges like never before with this epic set. Kids will have a blast zooming and looping through the SPEEDLOOP all day long. Package includes NITRO THROTTLESHOT BLITZ blaster, two NERF NITRO foam cars, loop, ramp, and instructions. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO ZAPBLAST Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Build bigger, epic stunt courses with the NERF NITRO ZAPBLAST Stunt Set! Use the spinning barrier with any NERF NITRO blaster to add an exciting twist to stunts and obstacles. Fire a car through the barrier and watch as the center spins! Package includes foam car and stunt. Blasters and sets each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO BARREL KNOCKOUT Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Have barrels of fun with the NERF NITRO BARREL KNOCKOUT stunt set! Use the BARREL KNOCKOUT with any NERF NITRO blaster to fire the car up the ramp, knocking down the barrels! Create countless combinations of barrel obstacles and watch as the NERF NITRO foam car demolishes them all. Package includes foam car and stunt. Blasters and sets each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO DOUBLE ACTION Stunt Set Assortment (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Double the stunt excitement with the NERF NITRO DOUBLE ACTION stunt set! Featuring 2-in-1 stunt action, kids can build big stunt courses for their NERF NITRO world. Drop down the ramp and blast the car up the ramp to soar in the air with the Slammin’ Soar Stunt Set or, blast the car up the ramp and smash through the ring with The Bullseye Blast Stunt Set. Put both stunts together for crazy stunt-action fun! Package includes one foam care and two stunts. Blasters and sets each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO SLIMESTREAM Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $3.99/Available: Fall 2018) Slime is no match for NERF NITRO with the NERF NITRO SLIMESTREAM stunt set! Use the SLIMESTREAM with any NERF NITRO blaster and watch the car fly up the ramp and through the slime ring. Get ready for slimetastic fun all day long as NERF NITRO foam cars break through the slime time after time. Package includes one foam car and one stunt. Blasters and sets each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO FOAM CAR 16 Pack Ast. (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99Available: Fall 2018) Blast into overdrive! Kids can create awesome stunts as they fire foam cars from blasters that feature the power and performance of Nerf! Blast into stunts to go high, go far, go fast! This set includes 16 foam cars for use with Nerf Nitro blasters (each sold separately). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO SLAMMIN’ SOAR Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Send cars slammin’ and soaring with the NERF NITRO SLAMMIN’ SOAR Stunt Set! Featuring 2-in-1 stunt action. Smash into the first stunt challenge, and trigger the second stunt challenge into position! Once both targets are hit, the bucket drops down to create the second stunt. Blast into a double challenge and watch as the NERF NITRO vehicle soars into the air! This set includes one foam body car for use with NERF NITRO blasters (each sold separately). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO BULLSEYE BLAST Stunt Set (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Fall 2018) Launch cars right into the BullsEye with the NERF NITRO BULLSEYE BLAST Stunt Set! This stunt set features 2-in-1 stunt action designed for kids to blast into a double challenge with each launch of a foam body car. Take aim at the first stunt challenge, and when it’s smashed, the bullseye ring swings up, creating a second stunt. Kids can fire the car up the ramp to fly through the ring! This set includes one foam car for use with NERF NITRO blasters (each sold separately). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF NITRO TRANSFORMERS BUMBLEBEE SPEEDBLAST Blaster (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $29.99Available: Fall 2018) Blast into overdrive with the NERF NITRO TRANSFORMERS BUMBLEBEE SPEEDBLAST blaster! Featuring Transformers Bumblebee character deco, kids can design daring stunts for the Bumblebee, Cliff jumper, and Barricade foam body cars. Blast the cars up the ground bridge and through the barrier! Place the blaster on the floor, pull the handle back to prime, load a car into the blaster, and pull the trigger to send cars flying through the air. Includes blaster, three foam body cars and two stunts. Available exclusively at Toys “R” Us and Toys “R” Us.com.

The Fall 2018 NERF SPORTS DUDE PERFECT line includes:

NERF SPORTS DUDE PERFECT HOVERKUP Game (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2018) Take trick shots to the next level with the challenging NERF SPORTS DUDE PERFECT HOVERKUP game! The NERF SPORTS DUDE PERFECT HOVERKUP game features two battery-powered cups that glide and hover across flat surfaces while players try to bounce the balls into the moving cups! Practice trick shots in solo mode, challenge a friend in 1-on-1 competitions, or have a group split into teams to compete for the highest score or outdo each other’s trick shots. With a customizable play arena, players can adjust the size and shape of the arena to fit any space! Package includes arena, two cups, six balls, four suction cups, cord, and a cord tensioner. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF DUDE PERFECT MINI PERFECT SHOT HOOP (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99/Available: Fall 2018) Practice the perfect shot with the NERF SPORTS DUDE PERFECT MINI PERFECTSHOT HOOP. Hang the hoop almost anywhere and use the innovative clip and ball joint to create the best trick shots at almost any angle. Perfect solo shots or challenge some friends indoors or outdoors. The MINI PERFECT SHOT HOOP includes backboard, rim, net and three foam balls. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF SPORTS VORTEX HOWLER ACCELERATOR (Ages 5 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $12.99/Available: Fall 2018) Kids can amp up every throw with the NERF SPORTS VORTEX HOWLER ACCELERATOR. The easy throw design allows kids to accelerate their throw while achieving a greater distance! Place the VORTEX AERO HOWLER ball in the scoop and then fling the VORTEX HOWLER ACCELERATOR launcher forward to send the ball flying. Includes two VORTEX HOWLER ACCELERATOR launchers and one VORTEX AERO HOWLER ball. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

The Summer 2018 SUPER SOAKER line includes:

NERF SUPER SOAKER ZOMBIE STRIKE RIPSTORM Water Blaster (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Summer 2018) Shred or stream water with the NERF SUPER SOAKER ZOMBIE STRIKE RIPSTORM water blaster! This pump-to-fire action blaster holds up to 50 fluid ounces to keep the zombies at bay. Lower the blade into the stream of water and send water spattering wildly onto the oncoming zombie herds. Switch up the attack by raising the blade to drench zombies in a soaking stream of water. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF SUPER SOAKER SOAKZOOKA Water Blaster (Ages 7 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Summer 2018) Drench the competition with the NERF SUPER SOAKER SOAKZOOKA water blaster! The SOAKZOOKA holds up to 55 fluid ounces so battlers can keep pouring on the soakage. Soak battlers with a floodtastic blast! Move the handle back and forth to swamp anyone in range with a massive blast of water. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF SUPER SOAKER TWIN TIDE Water Blaster (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $12.99/Available: Summer 2018) The tide is coming in – prepared to be soaked with the NERF SUPER SOAKER TWIN TIDE water blaster! The NERF SUPER SOAKER TWIN TIDE has two barrels to deliver twin streams of drenchifying fun with every shot. Fill the tank with up to 33 fluid ounces, pump the handle, and watch as opponents get drenched with a double shot of soakage. Soak and get soaked with this twin tidal wave of water-blasting action. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF SUPER SOAKER SPLASH MOUTH Water Blaster (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Summer 2018) Blast it or dump it – either way, the competition will get soaked with the NERF SUPER SOAKER SPLASH MOUTH water blaster! With two modes for unleashing water, kids can pump to fire a stream of water at opponents or take them by surprise and dup all the water at once! The SPLASH MOUTH holds up to 20 fluid ounces allowing kids to experience a deluge of splashtastic fun all day long. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF SUPER SOAKER ZOMBIE STRIKE DREADSIGHT Water Blaster (Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $9.99/Available: Summer 2018) Nothing soaks like a NERF SUPER SOAKER water blaster, and now battlers can take down the zombie with the NERF SUPER SOAKER ZOMBIE STRIKE DREADSIGHT water blaster! This pump-to-fire action blaster holds up to 20 fluid ounces to deliver a deluge of dread upon the zombie herds. Use the targeting scope to focus aim while blasting a stream of water onto the zombies. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

New York Toy Fair Nerf Showroom 2018 - A Blogger Story

noreply@blogger.com (F2A) — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 00:21:00 +0000

The Nerf Wall at New York Toy Fair

Big thanks to Michael Ritchie for taking the time to speak with me while I was visiting today. If you want to see the full gallery, for now please check out Foam From Above on Facebook.

It was quite the visit! I spoke with Michael about a lot of the new developments over the coming year, and not a lot that I can really substantiate (because they have a lot of ongoing discussions.) What these discussions I can't say, but one key element is the Kingsman agreement with Nerf to open an arena in Asia. I likened this to the Paragon/UK situation a few years ago, but that was very limited in scope to the UK. The arrangement with Asia isn't. I've been messaged by a comrade in Singapore who has some insight to this, and it's interesting, is all I'll say. Hasbro's Singapore branch better pay attention though, there's a very stout community out there and it would be nice to see that fandom involved somehow in the development of this plan.

I did ask the U.S. side of things and... it's ongoing. One key thing I think I picked up was that Hasbro is a much larger experience than Nerf. As fans we have to remember that there's a lot going on at there that's more than the community. Transformers, Power Rangers now, and Gaming. Hasbro Gaming accounted for one of the top branches of performance in Hasbro's Business. What does this mean for us? That while yes, maybe arenas will happen, but they will be so much more. As for existing arenas, well, that's another conversation for another day.

Having spoken to a few arena owners in the past, I brought up the subject of possible industrial-grade supplies and ammo. While the feedback was something unique, who knows if the demand is high enough for them to consider it. The stresses of blasters in arena-level usage might match the stress testing at HQ? Still, it was an interesting point to bring up. One new bit of info I heard was the preference of the pump-action grip vs a handle, as while I was here I heard apparently the Artemis handle has a habit of cracking. Bringing this up to the Nerf reps, they were intrigued about how it happened.

There are a few other subjects we broached, but I'll leave those to the walls of the showroom.

Let's talk blasters.

This little surprise is the Delta Trooper. The information wasn't fully given to me in a press kit, so I don't have the price on the Delta Trooper right now (I can't speak for anyone else) but I'll get it as soon as I can. What I can tell you is it is spiritually like a Retaliator (they say the design is a bit modernized, and I can see that with some of the smoother lines on the blaster) and it has slamfire. Even better that this has slamfire and A STOCK. Maybe someone in the comments can remind me, but slamfire on a Recon was a mod at one point, wasn't it? Either way, at first glance and a little bit of usage, it felt pretty cool. I like it.

Next up, Nerf Zombie Strike Scravenger. I believe everyone figured this was the Modulus for Zombie Strike, and they were right. You have the attachments and everything to start off the Scravenger main body, and, and then there will be follow up accessory packs. In addition to the first-ever switch for Slamfire/lever blasting action, the accessories included are a smart-AR two shot jolt, barrel extension, magazine holder, scope, and red sight. The Twinslice (buzz saw blades) and Chop Stock (Axe-tension) are going to be future accessory kits to add-on to the Scravenger, sold separately. The fun part about the Twinslice is it's not the bayonet people initially thought; it's a holster for throwable buzz saw blades. Caught me by surprise, for sure. The Chop Stock is adjustable, and has foam edges. The main construction is plastic, but the edges are foam.

Evader

Chronograph/Ammo counter

The Nerf Ghost Ops Evader is basically a stryfe; stock attach point, single trigger pull per shot, but obviously the grip and feel is a little different. The big features are the light-up aspects of the blaster, but the additional accessory functions as an ammo counter and chronograph. You can start the count at a certain number (say a 35 round drum) and have it count down, or start counting from 0 to count up. The community has been using chronys for testing for years, and Nerf's picked up on the pattern. Additionally, they now have their own ammo counter design out now, but anyone who's been around also knows there's a third party Ammo Counter, who makes a similar (but with significant differences) product. The blaster was a low enough profile that it didn't feel awkward to use, so at this point I think it's pretty neat. Definitely looking forward to seeing it again later this year.

Oh, the Hades. Sweet, sweet, Hades. Huge capacity, slamfire, decent accuracy. At least from what I could tell since the range was full at the time I took the picture and tried the blaster out. The reload is similar to the Artemis, surprising no one. But having the blaster long enough to rest against the shoulder, along with sighting down the barrel, it was super comfortable to use. I recently heard that Artemis handles might break, at the point where it attaches to the blaster, just because of the direction of the force on the handle, versus a shotgun pump grip. I did mention this to Nerf, and they seemed receptive to at least knowing that this happens (and I saw it for myself). Whether that damage happens from inordinate levels of use (necessitating industrial grade plastic or something close) or just super unfortunate user error, or a little of both, I'm not sure. Either way, definitely a really solid feeling and cool blaster for the line. Also, loud. Had to ease up on the slamfire since another group was nearby ;)

The Nerf Mega Thunderhawk.... imposing, aesthetically very interesting, and it feels like a solid and powerful rifle. I'll have video eventually but I think this was still a very prototype model, as the darts drooped a bit for some shots. Maybe it was the ammo, but I'd give this another look at release. One interesting design note is that the magazine is integrated. It starts on the left, and progresses to the right, then when you empty the mag you push it back to the left, like a typewriter. On the one hand, it spares you buying new magazines, but on the other I don't know how left-handed users will receive this. Additionally, the mag sticks out so far I'd be wary of using it indoors just in case there's a narrow doorway and accidents happen. As established the blaster's barrel extension moves manually, no spring-loaded action when moving the bipod. Even the sliding motion feels robust and powerful, there's no other way to describe it. Whether you use the snub nose configuration or extend the barrel, the blaster has weight and a feel of transforming it that really makes a significant noise and feel. As for the Accustrike Mega darts, there's no groove like regular size accustrike darts, and the head is basically solid just flush with the foam body and holes to make a whistle. Worth another look at release definitely.

The Nerf Infinus - what a design. The Quickload technology is new, and pretty freaking awesome. Supposedly works with any mag, and if it jams it knows to shift two times in a row. The door jam is also on the side, so there is a way to get in. You don't have to hold down the accelerator trigger to activate the Quickload either, it's basically "always on." Definitely feels a little heavy in the back, but the blaster is a robust build and feels pretty solid. The blaster is full auto, so you definitely need to reload on the move with something like this. The rate of fire didn't feel as fast as a Hyperfire I think, but given the early state at Toy Fair, I'll give it a pass on that for now. But the new feature worked perfectly, and I am heavily encouraged at seeing that. Definitely something to give a look when it's released as well.

Oh, the PROMETHEUS.

It has its own type of rechargeable battery pack, $199.99 MSRP. So, it's big, expensive, heavy, and LOUD.

But so neat, to put it lightly.

Right off, as shown in the video, the Prometheus stalled at loading. Like the Nemesis, as the hoppers are gravity fed, sometimes the blaster needs to be shaken. While using this akimbo, that gets a little difficult to do consistently. On the handle, there's a safety, accelerator trigger, and firing trigger. In a way, it almost feels like what I would imagine a flightstick on a jet would be with all the switches. It has tactical rails, attach points, a slightly higher rate of fire than most other blasters, and super high capacity. You can also hear that it packs a bit of a punch for a stock blaster. Loading issues aside, it's Nerf's "shock and awe" level blaster and say what you want, but the strategy works. A blaster that's $200, 200 shots, and Rival speeds, what's not to notice about it? The way the blaster is held, at the waist with the strap, almost reminds of seeing Sigourney Weaver as Ripley with a flamethrower in Aliens. The handgrip is different but the stream of ammo and the posture to fire it is satisfying tactile experience. Clearly the blaster won't be for everybody (because cost) but if you manage to get one, it's definitely a good blaster to have, even looking at it this early. The loading is easily solved with a little shaking, and with that much ammo to shoot losing accuracy due to shaking isn't necessarily a concern. ;)

The Nerf Ripchain was different... I didn't expect to see Nerf going with chains again on any blaster any time soon but it looks like they did here. It opens up like a Vulcan, and the belts looks similar to Vulcan chains (so I think that stack of chains I have from the past are going to come back like a pair of retro bellbottoms). One note is that the plastic on the Ripchain chains feels a bit stronger than the old Vulcan chains, interpret that as you will. As for the blaster itself, it has slamfire, is pump-action, and decorated as Zombie Strike is. It felt comfortable enough to shoot, the chains obviously swing around so it's not a blaster you can be sneaky with or run without sounding an alarm. But what's old (chains) is new again here. Much like the zombies in the Zombie Strike universe chains are rising up in Nerf blasters with the Ripchain.

EDIT: The Vulcan chains are not going to be compatible with the Ripchain, per a source from Nerf. In fact, it's recommended to not even attempt. (March 5, 2018)

There were also new goggles for Rival, Series 2 of microshots (all still one barrel, Roughcut microshot is still one dart), some new licensed bags and things, and then some new store exclusives, including a Phasma Rival blaster like the Deadpool and Boba Fett sets that were out last year. Deadpool is also going to get an Apollo colored version, so plenty more in store exclusives (Best Buy, Gamestop, and so on) with the Nerf line as well.