Category: contest

Detroit Dart Club Needs your Votes! (Nerf Arena in Detroit, MI)

Vote for the Detroit Dart Club – a Top 10 Semifinalist 

Hatch Detroit is hosting a contest for a savvy entrepreneur to win $50,000, and Detroit Dart Club is in the running! Go to the link here (or the Hatch Detroit link at the beginning) to cast your vote for the Detroit Dart Club. I visited the place last summer, and the owner, Connor, has a really good grasp on the place and about accessible gametypes for newcomers and vets alike. Currently, they can fit about 40 people in the club at a time, and there are lockers (one of which is adorned with a sticker from yours truly), a party area for food, and foam…. so much foam. This is just the semifinals so the contest is far from over, but let’s help get them to the next round and vote, keep the Nerf Arenas growing in the U.S.!

Here’s a shot from last year, but it hardly does them any justice. See more action shots at their instagram feed

Thanks a lot in advance, community! Please let’s help them out and get them growing! (Hatching? Incubating?)

BatMonday – Air Hogs Batmobile Toy Review (something completely different)

Air Hogs Batmobile Review 
VasTheStampede

Thanks to Spin Master for the sample of this product, as always my opinions remain my own.

Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice opened this weekend! And with that, comes the merchandise. This review isn’t of a blaster, but another type of action toy, the R/C car. Air Hogs, a brand under Spin Master toys, did the honors for this version of the Batmobile.

https://photos.gstatic.com/media/slideshow.swf

First, let’s talk stats:
– MSRP: $59.99
– Includes:
  Batmobile x 1
  USB Charging cable x 1
– Range: 2.4 GHz signal = 200′ of control radius
– Features: Front LED lights, rear thruster lights
– Needs 2 x AA batteries
– The Batmobile itself has an integrated battery (the Batmobile uses the USB charge cord), and the drive time may vary, it depends on the batteries used and the driving style implemented (going full blast with the car the whole time driving vs. a few times at full speed or using the lower speeds).

The Batmobile itself drives way better than I thought it would. The handling is tight, making pretty decent tight turns than I thought to expect. The LED lights on the front and the rear thruster are nice accents in low light, and add to the feel of the Batmobile. The car is super light too though, and I notice after some collisions with the curb there the bumpers are a bit scratched and some scrapes, so just be ready to know your Batmobile will show battle damage early. It’s super light and compact though, very easy to transport so taking this indoors or outdoors is a simple matter, unlike larger RC cars.

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(driving video from my instagram feed)

Now, I am not by any stretch an RC car hobbyist, and I do acknowledge that this is a basic, low remote range vehicle. BUT, it’s a sweet looking replica-level Batmobile in its latest incarnation. It also drives well I think, some nice additional touches to add to the Batman feel, and is a nice diversion indoors or out. $60 might be a little much, but when you account that this car can offer a lot in the way of playability (the size allows it to be driven indoors with little issue, and less material would be necessary to build an obstacle course, for instance) it might balance out the expense. I do have some questions about durability, but I think marks like those add character to my own Batmobile.

One oddity I encountered was if I left the batteries in the controller after turning off the Batmobile, they would keep going once I turned the car and remote back on again. This was remedied by removing the batteries from the remote as well between driving sessions. Not a terribly big deal and easily remedied, but still a weird thing to encounter. Now this didn’t change the fact that I had a good time driving the Batmobile at all, and that zipping it under cars and inches from the curb was a lot of fun all the same. All in all, a pretty fun purchase if you can get past the price. If you’re a little late on a present for Easter, or you know a Batman fan who really likes tearing up the streets of Gotham in their mind, you wouldn’t be wrong going with this Air Hogs R/C Batmobile.


Don’t miss out, Air Hogs has a pretty awesome contest (Grand Prize is a trip to L.A.!) going on right now. Ends April 30, don’t miss your chance to enter!

K’Nex wants YOU for the K-Force Squad! See how you can win your spot!

Fresh from the folks at K’Nex, they’re looking for members of the K-Force! Do you have what it takes? See the announcement below:

K’NEX Seeks Members To Join The K-FORCE(TM) Squad

Nationwide Search Will Reward 20 Enthusiastic Blaster Fans! 
Hatfield, PA – March, 2015 – K’NEX, the only US construction toy company focused on Building Worlds Kids Love®, is seeking 20 enthusiastic blaster fans to join its K-FORCE Squad! The members of the squad will be the first to get their hands on the new K- FORCE Build and Blast(TM) line; the only line of blasters that you build then blast! 
The K-FORCE Build and Blast line invites kids ages 8+ to construct customized blasters, big or small, single or multi-shot, with endless possibilities — the only limit is your imagination! The introductory line includes 8 different kinds of blasters, buildable targets, and foam dart packs. 
 
The nationwide search runs through March 22, 2015 and challenges blaster fans ages 13+ to submit a video, up to 60 seconds in length, explaining why they deserve to be chosen as a member of the K-FORCE Squad. The first 1,000 video entries received will be reviewed by a panel of K’NEX judges, and 20 K-FORCE Squad members will be chosen from among those entries. 
Upon confirmation of eligibility, the 20 K-FORCE Squad members will each receive exclusive access to the K-FORCE Build and Blast product line before it hits store shelves, and a chance to become the Grand Prize winner. All the Squad members have to do is build one or more K-FORCE blasters using the K-FORCE products they receive (and any other genuine K’NEX parts they may already have at home), and then create a short video that shows the Squad member using the blaster(s) he or she created to execute his or her best “trick shot”. 
K-FORCE Squad members will be required to submit their video to K’NEX by May 8, 2015 and, upon review and confirmation of qualification, will be asked to post their Best Trick Shot Video to YouTube by May 15, 2015. These videos will then be featured on the K’NEX Facebook page, and the public will be given the opportunity to vote for their favorite video. The K-FORCE Squad member whose video receives the most votes will be awarded the Grand Prize, a $500 shopping spree on knex.com, and a GoPro HERO4 Camera. 
The K-FORCE Squad contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada, except those of Puerto Rico, U.S. territories or possessions, the Province of Quebec, and where
prohibited, who are 13 years or older at the time of entry, and no purchase is necessary. For more information on K’NEX, K-FORCE, or the contest, visithttp://www.knex.com/photos-and-videos/kforce-squad/.

Look for my take on the K-Force brand later this week. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out my GALLERY!

Tek Recon: Final Stand Contest

Saw this teaser on Facebook for Tek Recon –

5 PM!  I think EST (their HQ in Toronto, Canada, after all) so plan accordingly!

They’re at 41k now, so the kickstarter campaign with 10 days to go is ALMOST THERE!  Here’s hoping this contests puts it over the top.

EDIT:

THE RULES  

“Tek Recon Troops, we’ve raised over $42K which means we’re 82% funded on Kickstarter (http://kck.st/ZLhk9x). If we reach $50K by Sunday night (11:59PM). We’re going to GIVEAWAY 2 FREE Limited Edition Black Chrome Havoks! These are worth $250 each!

All you have to do to enter is:
1) Share this post on your wall and encourage your friends to check us out and buy a blaster. Tag a friend you think would like our page!
2) Tell Kickstarter on Facebook or email (press@kickstarter.com) what you love most about Tek Recon (be sure to tag us).

Monday morning we’ll announce the 2 random winners so make sure we know you’ve entered and done the above!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av4m1fKSd0M“

So head on over there and get entered! Don’t forget to tag Tek Recon!

WIN A SUPER SOAKER HOUSE PARTY! (Sponsored by Nerf and Cheetos)

Just like the title says. I ran across this promo on twitter, and thanks to houseparty.com it looks like entrants can have a chance to win a Nerf and Cheetos sponsored summer house party.

Taken from their site, here’s the prize:

“Host a NERF SUPER SOAKER Block Party

Kick off Father’s Day Weekend with the entire neighborhood at your own NERF SUPER SOAKER Block Party. NERF SUPER SOAKER blasters will set the stage for an exciting summer for kids of all ages as they soak each other for the ultimate outdoor fun. Bring out the family fun and snack on your Simply CHEETOS® White Cheddar Puffed Corn. Fire up the BBQ and soak up summer with your neighbors at your NERF SUPER SOAKER Block Party.
Your exclusive Party Pack will contain:

  • NERF SUPER SOAKER blasters
  • Simply CHEETOS® White Cheddar Puffed Corn
  • Special Host Coupons”

Read the full rules HERE: now sign up and good luck!