Zing Toys – Huntress, Zombie Slayerz, Sky Ripperz, Zomp Rocketz, and more!

Overview of Zing Toys
Vas The Stampede

Zing Toys – Reviewing and taking a closer look at the Zing zCurve Huntress Bow, the Zombie Slayerz Bow, Air Storm Z-Tek Bow, Legends Longbow, Zoom (Zomp) Rocketz, and Sky Ripperz.  Thank you to Zing for all the samples!

This is probably going to be a HUGE post, so how about some pictures?

zCurve bow: Zombie Slayerz, Huntress, Air Storm, and the original green.

Zoom (zomp) rocket

Zartz of various types.

Zing Sky Ripperz

HUNTRESS & ZOMBIE SLAYERZ (zCURVE BOW VARIANTS)



Zing Huntress

STATS:
Price: $24.99
Includes: zCurve Bow, 3 Zartz (the arrows; 2 long range and 1 suction cup type)
Range: 100+

The Huntress and Zombie Slayerz are new skins for the old zCurve, and that’s that.  Still the same great bow, but but with a new look.  Regrettably, no included arrow holder like they used to years ago.

Next, the zTek bow/Legends Longbow

The zTek bow is a bit smaller and doesn’t feel as powerful as the zCurve, but the ammo holders and overall feel of its own merit work pretty well.  I t doesn’t feel like the bow has the same pull as the zCurve, but it is still pretty powerful and feels very sturdy and durable, what I’ve come to expect from Zing.

STATS:

Price: Approximately $29.99 (estimate, prices were all over the place online)
Includes: zTek Bow, 3 Zartz (the arrows; 2 long range and 1 suction cup type, compatible with zCurve Bow and variants)
Range: 100+

Interestingly, the zTek and Legends Longbow have the same feel.  They also both have ammo holders in the same spots on either bow, the same enclosure for the rubber bands (the zCurve bands are exposed), and all fire the same ammo.  The Legends Longbow seems to be a variant on the zTek bow.  Either way, the ammo holders on the bow arms are nice to have.

Also, this part gets missed with the Zing bows I think – while you have the ability to pull back as far as you can (to hit upwards of 200+’ with zCurve bows) some caution must be recognized in the operation of the zing bows.  Recommended directions state to NOT pull the bow all the way back, even for target practice.  But people will want to anyway, and shoot at each other/targets with full strength.  Use caution and be responsible.

 Next, there are the Zomp (Zoom) Rocketz – Zimple enough.


STATS:
Price:  Approx. 19.99
Contains:
1 Launcher (some assembly required)
3 Zoom (Zomp) Rockets – I have versions that use either name, so that’s why I’m using both.

Air bladder connected via hose to a tube where a rocket is slid on and then propelled via air when the bladder is stomped on.  They say 200’+ is possible, but I had a hard time getting to even 170′.  I would like to try having 30or 40 of them, and seeing what happens when everyone stomps at once. Being able to have different angles to aim the rocket is a neat little feature, and some kids would especially get a kick out of this, I think.  Nerf game wise, this might make for a good objective with the right rules set.

SKY RIPPERZ 


And one of my favorites from the Zing line, the Sky Ripperz.  Possibly upwards of 200′ with these, and so simple yet so powerful.  A handle with a rubber loop is all that’s used in launching these, and hooking the rocket onto the tubing. 

In the end, the Zing Toys may seem a bit pricey initially, but definitely well worth it for the quality construction and time you’ll spend perfecting your technique and your aim (hopefully outdoors when possible!)  Also, with the Hunger Games “Catching Fire” in theaters, wouldn’t you want to tap into your inner Katniss?  In Nerf games we count these as large ammo rounds to eliminate/break shields, so implementation is what you make of it.  I personally am a big fan of Zing’s products and whether I would use these on the field or not, target practice is always fun.  In the end, the choice is yours but whatever color your bow, may the odds be ever in your favor.

FULL PICTURE GALLERY IS HERE:

https://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/picasaweb.googleusercontent.com/slideshow.swf

Chicago Toy & Game Fair – today!

Good morning, Chicago!  Headed to the Chicago Toy & Game Fair this weekend, see you there?  Follow the action on twitter: @vasthestampede and #chitagfair.

Throwback Thursday – Nerf Tournament in Des Plaines, IL!

Wow, I really let this one get away from me!  A few months ago I helped out the Des Plaines Park District (thanks for the referral, Basic Nerf) by providing them prizes (directly from NERF, thanks for the support!) and an extra pair of hands at their tournament back in July.  It was just myself and TrekkieB47 but it was a great time and a lot of fun was had by all.  Given the community, it gets tough to remember that these are still kids’ toys, but something like this is a nice reminder about where we all may have started when we first picked up a blaster.  Thanks to the park district for putting on the event!

See some of the fun here, but I can provide some pics too –

Nerf Black Friday Deals – (for Toys R Us)

SOURCE: – http://www.debtfreespending.com/toys-r-us-black-friday-ad-2013/
&
CINCY SHOPPER

 The above sites provide a proper listing of all the Black Friday deals to expect at Toys R Us!  I consolidated the Nerf deals here, but the articles have a bunch of other great offers on Transformers, Skylanders, Kids electronics, and so much more.  I am assuming these deals apply in-store only and in the U.S. but if I find any Cyber Monday deals I’ll be sure to post those as well.  Take note, and happy hunting!

Toys R Us Black Friday Nerf Deals – wanna see? (All deals are limit 2 per guest)


THURSDAY 5PM – SATURDAY CLOSE (WHILE SUPPLIES LAST)

Nerf Rebelle Guardian Crossbow – $11.99 (40% off)

Nerf Rapidstrike CS-18 – $27.99 (20% off)

Nerf, Hello Kitty, or My Little Pony Walkie Talkies – $9.99 (50% off)

Nerf Rebelle Sweet Revenge – $9.99 (50% off)

Nerf Vortex Pyragon or Praxis Blaster – $14.99-$19.99 (Save $20)

Nerf Dart Tag – $24.99 (doesn’t specify much more than that…?)

FREE Dart Tag Jersey when you buy any exclusive Nerf Dart Tag Item (save $20)

My Little Pony, Hello Kitty, or NERF Walkie Talkies: $9.99 (50% off)

– See more at: http://www.debtfreespending.com/toys-r-us-black-friday-ad-2013/#sthash.HfcV7RdY.dpuf

My Little Pony, Hello Kitty, or NERF Walkie Talkies: $9.99 (50% off)

– See more at: http://www.debtfreespending.com/toys-r-us-black-friday-ad-2013/#sthash.HfcV7RdY.dpuf


Batman, Hello Kitty, My Little Pony, or NERF clock radio: $19.99


NERF Rebelle Guardian Crossbow: $11.99 (40% off)

Vas The Stampede

NERF Rebelle Guardian Crossbow: $11.99 (40% off)

NERF Rebelle Guardian Crossbow: $11.99 (40% off)

Review: Skylanders Giants – Tree Rex Smash Hands (of Foam!)

How was your Halloween?  As you hopefully spent it in costume, let’s look at a toy out there for the costuming/role play/imagination bunch, Skylanders Giants Tree Rex Smash Hands from Mega Bloks!

Based on this guy:

Come these hands (sample provided by Mega Bloks) intended to protect the world.

Approx. $24.99 (based on the availability)
Range:  Uhm… what?
Comfy: Totally.  Though obviously built for a kid, these will fit on adult hands too.

Thanks for the sample, Mega Bloks!

Image originally from Megabloks.com

You use them as such:

and first things first, they protect your hands! Dress like Tree Rex, minus a lot more external bark on you.

The foam of the hands is thickest and at least a couple of inches thick at the knuckles, so while I don’t recommend using these as boxing gloves or striking people, animals, household plants, or sparring in a mixed martial arts class, they are pretty soft.  There is a small strap on the inside to hold onto while wearing the fists.  The box is open, so when you see these on shelves you can check for yourself just how soft these hands are.

Skylanders Giants and Mega Bloks offer up a way for youngsters to role play as Trigger Happy and now Tree Rex, taking the action from the video game/construction sets to getting up and imagining themselves as their fave characters.  Maybe a play group out there utilizes a melee weapon ruleset, and need something past the Hulk hands of the past.  Either way, I do like the look of these toys and hopefully we’ll see more of Skylanders Giants and their role play toys as the franchise continues.

Like it?  This is also out – Ignitor’s Flame Sword

Paper Shooters – 2nd Attempt!

They’re back!  In case you haven’t heard already, Paper Shooters returned, and is taking another shot at getting funded via indiegogo.



Back in April, I wrote about their first campaign, outlining it was a plastic blaster/shooter/model kit that used paper wads similar to Max Force ammo.  As you’ll recall, I mentioned continuously in my initial analysis that Paper Shooters was not to be perceived as most other blasters, for a couple of reasons:

1)  You had to build it out of the box; this is a construction/model kit first and foremost (according to the literature I’ve run across) and the play experience/target shooting aspect is secondary.  The functionality just adds to the experience of building the shooter.  You are responsible for the success of your own tools depending on how much care you spent building it.  Modders can understand that, I think.  And on top of that, Paper Shooters is ok with modifications performed to their kits, reinforcing the “model/construction aspect.”

2) While it was a plastic blaster, there was a specially treated water resistant cardboard skin/arrangement of sorts that was part of the external assembly around the plastic skeleton.  Essentially, you can mix and match the skins (if you had the multiple versions available.  But, that could get costly.)

3) Shells.  The magazines hold 8 shells (last I heard, and from the looks of the indiegogo acct.) and while these are supposed to hit 75′, shells might be problematic for someone looking to these for the typical blaster play experience.  Buzz Bee shells were problematic in that once you ran out of shells, you had to reload them AND locate each one to get your ammo capacity back.  Nerf magazines are limited as well, but much easier to keep track of (although bulky).  So I wouldn’t expect to use this in a typical Nerf war, maybe more for target practice or office hijinks against other folks who had Paper Shooters.

These are a few of the skins available (taken directly from the Indiegogo site), and like I said, getting started owning these shooters can get quite costly.  While the perks from the campaign include ammo, and a mould to make more paper ammo, the initial investment might be a little much.  But if you are a fan of building models, this might be right up your alley with the construction challenge and THEN you have a functioning shooter as well.  (I believe the box is STILL supposed to assemble into a zombie head, but I could be wrong or that has changed.

Either way, it’s still an interesting concept as far as getting one involved in the construction side of blaster building (if they aren’t already modding), but unless the campaign succeeds it doesn’t look like we’ll know anything solid about the products.  While the video shows what I’m guessing is a prototype that looks like it functions pretty solidly, that’s all we have to work off of, and the faith that is inherent with crowdfunding.  Should you decide to back them, it would definitely seem like you’re in for a very different experience than most other shooter kits on the market currently.  Until they’re out and funded, there’s really nothing to demo here.  But, at the very least you’re aware of this creation!

Also, if you have your doubts about how good cardboard can look, I leave you with these links: