Category: Uncategorized

Manchester-based NERF Action Xperience (NAX) kick-starts UK rollout

Been sitting on this news for some time, but there’s still plenty to talk about! Nerf has a number of initiatives out there, from the mobile tour in North America, a Nerf theme park in Brazil, and a Nerf Action Xperience in Singapore, Nerf is putting another theme arena in Manchester!

This isn’t the first time that Nerf has had a UK based experience, there was/is a setup at Quest arena from years ago, but this is new and looks to be a more standardized setup as this would mark the second location called a “Nerf Action Xperience”. The full press release/article follows:


“Having successfully entered a licensing agreement with global branded entertainment company HASBRO, Rocafella Leisure have recently secured the investment to commence work on the first NERF Action Xperience family entertainment centre (FEC) in the UK.

Each NAX centre provides guests with a multitude of NERF fuelled indoor activities to explore, exhilarate and excite. It consists of three different zones to activate those ultimate NERF adventures in a purpose-built and immersive environment.

The competition zone allows groups to battle it out with different NERF blasters in three immersive themed arenas.

The sports zone features a huge atrium of NERF-related sports challenges including basketball and football volley. Finally, there is a dedicated training zone to hone players targeting skills, truly providing something for everyone.

The inaugural FEC will open in the recently rebranded Trafford Palazzo (Manchester) in Summer 2023, marking the start of a UK-wide rollout which will see two further locations added within the coming years.”

“The NERF Action Xperience in Manchester embodies Hasbro’s Brand Blueprint 2.0, our strategic approach to bringing Hasbro’s iconic brands to life, for fans of all ages,” said Matt Proulx, VP Location Based Entertainment at Hasbro, Inc. “As we expand the NERF franchise into new categories, we will continue to introduce innovative experiences for consumers – and we’re excited to partner with Rocafella Leisure to bring the NAX experience to fans throughout the UK.” 

Working alongside Peel L&P, who now own and successfully manage Trafford Palazzo, Rocafella Leisure shared the same vision to create a unique and rich blend of IP-led entertainment within the venue, which adjoins one of Europe’s largest retail and leisure destinations, the Trafford Centre.

The new Nerf FEC being introduced by Rocafella Leisure will join Trafford Palazzo’s growing tenant mix as it continues to elevate its offering whilst becoming a rivalled destination for retail, leisure and entertainment for families of all ages. The tenant mix currently includes Primark,

Merlin operated LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre and SEA LIFE, Silentnight, Homesense, Natuzzi, newly opened Italian restaurant, Matterello and the newly announced forthcoming addition, King Pins which is due to open in the Spring of 2023.

Work has already begun on altering the current layout and infrastructure of the ground-floor unit, located just inside the main entrance of Trafford Palazzo, installing a mezzanine floor and preparing the mechanical and electrical infrastructure in readiness for the main contractor to start the first phase of building works.

Mark Whittaker, Executive Director Property Investment & Management for Peel L&P said:

“We are really excited to welcome Nerf Action Experience to Trafford Palazzo. The brand aligns perfectly with all existing operators and will I’m sure be extremely popular with visitors, old and new.

“Over the past year, we have focused on developing an activations and events strategy within our mall space which has attracted significant interest and demonstrates the power of creating experiences for customers within a retail space. We are excited to develop our strategy and offering further to bring some spectacular collaborations to Trafford Palazzo.”

Rocafella Leisure have agreed an exclusive partnership with Archie’s, the Manchester based American-inspired diner to be the operator of the food and beverage (F&B) offer within the FEC.

The team–up with Archie’s seemed a logical fit, helping deliver a first-class F&B offering that is grounded in quality and service, and where both brands can use similar values and positioning to attract like-minded customers.

This relationship presents Rocafella Leisure with a trusted ready-made F&B proprietor with appropriate menus, that can organise and deliver children’s parties and have the added advantage of attracting passing footfall to boost their sales.  

Amer Rafiq, co-founder of Archie’s said: “We are hugely excited to be partnering with NAX on such a high-profile attraction coming to Manchester.

“The decision to work together was an easy one, as our overall brand proposition and american-inspired menu has great appeal with the intended audience coming to NAX.

“Working with NAX has enabled us to take a huge step in our growth plans, providing a route into new markets where entertainment and dining are possible under one roof. A sector that both organisations are well-equipped and eager to capitalise on through this successful partnership. 

“We look forward to opening our doors next summer as we welcome battle-ready NERFers to experience the high-quality food and drink from our menu as they refuel after a fun and energetic time at NAX.”

As the build takes shape, investments into local services to launch the new centre, provide a positive contribution to local economic growth. Once up and running, 45 new jobs will be created, offering opportunities to kick-start a career within the leisure and hospitality sector.

A curriculum is being developed to help schools and colleges utilise the facilities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning as key STEM topics can be demonstrated through the gameplay and operations within the venue.

Chris Hayes, Chief Executive of Rocafella Leisure Group said: “This is a momentous moment for Rocafella Leisure as we establish, what we believe, a world-renowned destination that personifies the brand values of NERF within an entertainment setting.

“HASBRO have been extremely supportive of the vision we have proposed and like us are extremely excited to bring this venue to life; continuing to enable and inspire the use of their IP in pioneering ways within the LBE (location based entertainment) sector.

“Not only are we creating a place for families and adults to experience NERF beyond their own homes, we will transport them to an immersive space where they can play with the freedom to challenge, compete, and take home bragging rights – if they wish!

“The industry needs new entrants, those that look to disrupt and strengthen the family entertainment offer, and through NAX we firmly believe we will do that. Creating an experience that is backed by long-standing and well regarded IP and brings together families under one roof, supported by forward-thinking landlords who share the same outlooks on the future of the sector.

“Through NAX we also blend fun-fuelled active play with learning, providing an interactive and innovative STEM focused programme that helps young people understand certain areas we offer. They may look at the trajectory of darts from a blaster; the mechanics of how the games work or the digital and technical complexities that run our venue.

“I can’t wait to finally get this open and provide a beacon destination that cements the North West as a leading light in family entertainment. I hope to see many of you there!”

Fit-out work is due to be completed in Summer 2023, with an official opening to follow soon after. To keep up to date with potential opening dates keep an eye on the NAX website www.nerfax.co.uk“

Notes:

●      Rocafella Leisure Group are the official licence holders for the delivery of the NERF Action Xperience in location-based entertainment within the UK

●      NERF is a trademark of Hasbro and is used with permission. © 2022 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. Licensed by Hasbro

NERF X LEAGUE OF LEGENDS COLLAB – JINX

League of Legends is one of the most-played competitive games in the world, played by more than 20 million people across 145 countries every day. In League of Legends, Jinx is an impulsive character, bringing her own chaotic brand of pandaemonium wherever she goes. With her iconic rocket launcher Fishbones, she unleashes the loudest blasts and brightest explosions, leaving a trail of mayhem and panic in her wake.

The NERF LMTD Jinx Fishbones features an 18-dart capacity drum with 6 clusters of 3 darts, so you can blast enemies with a 3-dart burst each time you pull the trigger!


The NERF LMTD X LEAGUE OF LEGENDS JINX FISHBONES is available for pre-order exclusively on Amazon from November 14, 2022 – January 3, 2023. See below for full details. You can download high-res images HERE.

(Text)

As you go off shopping for that blaster fiend you know, be ready for one of the largest selections of ammo out in stores, EVER!

In stores you’ll have your choice of Nerf, Dart Zone, Adventure Force, Buzz Bee, and XShot, and darts, round ball ammo (aka high impact rounds/Rival rounds), gel ammo, Ultra darts, pro darts, short darts, Mega darts, Mega XL darts, demolisher rockets, streamline darts, XL distance darts, and more. I aim to help you keep your stories straight and your ammo choices consistent. When buying a blaster, do make sure to get extra rounds to go past the initial blasting!

I’m sticking with what you’ll see in most major retailers, as Amazon ammo can be literally hit or miss on quality. When buying store brand, you can be sure that certain safety tests are performed and that the ammo you’re buying is safe in construction and materials.

Column A is all the Elite/streamline/ long style darts. You see these the most probably, and all the darts in this box should work with other brands that use similar darts. Your performance using mags may differ based on combination of brand dart/blaster, but they’ll work.

B contains different Rival/high impact round (HIR) ammo you may see in store or on store websites. Non Nerf brands from Adventure Force and XShot will work with Nerf blasters, and vice versa. I’ve heard plenty of not good things about round ammo on Amazon, so while it’s cheap I don’t recommend buying anything unless it’s one of the brands in this box.

C… this box has all the ammo types that don’t work with any blasters except the ones they’re designed for in their specific brand. Yep, Nerf has a diverse collection. Ultra, Mega XL, Mega, all have their own specific ammo type and won’t work with anything else recently released.

NERF LMTD X STAR TREK STARFLEET TYPE 3 PHASER BLASTER



(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $119.99/Available for pre-order starting September 7, 2022)

Celebrate the 35TH anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation with the NERF LMTD Star Trek Starfleet Type 3 Phaser and Starfleet Type 2 Phaser! They capture the look of the phasers used by Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The Type 3 motorized dart blaster has light-up effects that simulate the look of being assimilated by the Borg in homage to the film, Star Trek: First Contact, light-up phaser effects, phaser sounds, authentic First Contact movie sounds, an internal 5-dart clip, and fires 1 dart at a time. The Starfleet Type 2 Phaser fires 1 dart and has a pull-back priming handle.


With their premium design details, the blasters honor the iconic Star Trek, the universe that has sparked imaginations and engaged fans for more than 50 years. The blasters come in premium packaging that’s perfect for display. Eyewear recommended (not included). Includes 7 foam Nerf Elite darts. Type 3 phaser requires 4x 1.5v AA alkaline batteries (not included). The new NERF LMTD Star Trek Starfleet Type 3 Phaser is available now for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse and Amazon.

NERF LMTD SHARP92 BLASTER

(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $29.99/Available for pre-order starting September 9, 2022 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET) The NERF Retro line celebrates 30 years of dart blasting, paying tribute to iconic blasters from the past! The Sharp92 blaster brings back the NERF Sharp Shooter, which was released in 1992 and was the first Nerf blaster to fire the now iconic NERF foam darts, launching a whole new way to blast into adrenaline-pumping outdoor play. The blaster is a reproduction of the original Sharp Shooter dart blaster, so you can relive those first NERF battles and create new memories as you blast into new NERF games. The nostalgic blast from the past continues with the package itself, which captures the look of the original package. And like the Sharp Shooter blaster from 1992, the Nerf LMTD Sharp92 blaster includes suction-tip darts. Fire into fun in 3 easy steps. Pull back the handle, load a dart into the barrel, and squeeze the trigger. Includes blaster, 3 suction-tip NERF darts, and sticker sheet. Eyewear recommended (not included). Available for pre-order exclusively at Hasbro Pulse and Amazon on September 9, 2022 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET.

UnlocX V1 Review!

Thanks UnlocX for the sample! The v1 includes less but has JUST what you need to get started blasting RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX.

Find your own!

Regular version –

UnlocX Gel Ball Blaster Kit – Electric Detachable Fully Automatic Long Range Water Bead Blaster with Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Gel Bullets, able to Shoot 11 Rounds per Second https://a.co/d/gxjlt5t

V1 – 

UnlocX Gel Ball Blaster Kit – Fully Automatic Rechargeable Battery Powered 200fps Water Bead Blaster with 3500 Gel Balls, Large Capacity Clip, able to Shoot 11 Rounds per Second, Blue https://a.co/d/b5NPpJo

Fair warning, these blasters hit harder than any other gel pellet shooting toys I’ve tried. Definitely use the included eye protection! That being said, this was great to try out and I hope there’s more coming from UnlocX in the future.

Find Me on Social!

tiktok.com/@foamfromabove
facebook.com/foamfromabove
instagram.com/foamfromabove
http://www.foamfromabove.com

Hasbro/SpinMaster Vs All Other Gel Blasters

Toy Water Bead Blasters at Center of U.S. International Trade Commission Investigation

The article above is to the Toy Book, and James over there is infinitely more qualified about sounding off on this than I am.

HOWEVER, I did work on Razor Vapor years ago, so I do have some background on encountering some of the patents that Maya Group held and are now owned by Spin Master.

To be honest, I’m piecing a lot of this together and especially since I was tagged on an inflammatory Twitter account that has a lot of other information on this situation. Check the Toy Book article first, and I’ll update this page when I feel I have it complete.

K’Nex comes back to Blasters – CyberX

Well, didn’t see this coming – K’Nex Released K-Force awhile back, and while it was fun the builds were a little time consuming for folks used to a “tear the box open and blast” experience.

It looks like they’re trying again with CyberX? I don’t know much about this line yet, but hopefully I’ll hear something in the coming months.

Nerf Gelfire – Nerf goes Gelball!

NERF just posted a video of it firing on TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRBsVKFX/?k=1

pretty sure you might know who she is, but that’s Sophie Lightning – find her TikTok at http://www.tiktok.com@sophie.lightning

Burst into battle with Nerf Pro Gelfire blasters featuring hydrated rounds that burst on impact! These massive-capacity blasters deliver high-performance blasting to ignite your competitive advantage. Nerf Pro Gelfire rounds that come dehydrated in the box, giving you a huge amount of rounds for multiple refills. Add water to hydrate the rounds to prepare them for use. The hydrated rounds fire from the blaster at a high velocity and burst when they hit a target. No need to pick up rounds! The Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic fully automatic blaster includes a high-capacity 800-round hopper and 10,000 dehydrated Nerf Pro Gelfire soft super absorbent polymer projectiles. The gel blaster’s innovative design combines exceptional quality and style. It has full-auto and semi-auto modes, removable barrel, extendable stock, protective eyewear, easy slide-in slide-out rechargeable battery, and universal USB-A to USB-C charging cable. Requires USB-A wall charger, not included. For ages 14 and up. Nerf and all related properties are trademarks of Hasbro.

Features & details

  • BURST INTO BATTLE WITH NERF PRO GELFIRE BLASTERS: The blasters fire hydrated rounds that burst on impact and deliver high-performance blasting to ignite your competitive advantage. Ages 14 and up
  • 10,000 NERF PRO GELFIRE DEHYDRATED ROUNDS: Add water to hydrate the soft super absorbent polymer projectiles. They fire at a high velocity and burst when they hit a target. No pick-up needed
  • NERF PRO GELFIRE FULLY AUTOMATIC MYTHIC BLASTER: Has full auto and semi auto modes, high-capacity 800-round quick-swap hopper, and removable rechargeable battery with easy slide-in, slide-out feature
  • FIRES UP TO 10 ROUNDS PER SECOND*: Select full auto or semi auto mode and fires up to 10 rounds per second for extreme rate of fire and maximum battle overload in outdoor games
  • INCLUDES EXTENDABLE STOCK, REMOVABLE BARREL ATTACHMENT, PROTECTIVE EYEWEAR, TRIGGER LOCK, AND TACTICAL RAILS: Includes universal USB-A to USB-C charging cable for the rechargeable battery

Available on Amazon for preorder – it’s $79.99 and expected to fully drop by November.