Nerf N-Strike Elite – info lowdown:

Heads up!  Finally feeling like a human again, I’m able to put together a more coherent post of everything that happened.  Well, not EVERYTHING as some of what I heard was supa top-secret in specifics, but let’s get some business out of the way:

  • N-Strike Elite is going to become the standard of the N-Strike line.  That means the new streamlines, the Elite branding, all of it is here to stay.  The original streamlines and N-Strike brand as we know it are going to be replaced by N-Strike Elite.
    • N-Strike Elite is going to revisit previous N-Strike blasters and release Elite versions of them.  CALM DOWN.  Without going into specifics, not all blasters are going to get Elite ranges.  More recent releases than what came out when N-Strike first appeared are more likely to become Elite.
      • I CAN’T TELL YOU WHICH BLASTERS ARE GETTING THE ELITE TREATMENT.  The key phrase here is, “In the realm of possibility.”  But a Longshot is NOT (I repeat, NOT) one of them.
  • The Nerf Firevision might have something for blaster fans 🙂  That’s about all I can say until Toy Fair 2013.
  • Elite is Elite, Dart Tag is Dart Tag, Vortex is Vortex.  They like to keep the brands separated so I wouldn’t hold my breath for Dart Tag Elite and so on.
  • They aren’t done with Dart Tag yet!  Just the NDTL had been around long enough, and it was time to move on for them.  Dart Tag blasters are still going to be rolled out, but it’s up to the fans to run their own.  From what I’ve heard, Australia’s doing a bang-up job of that:)
  • N-Force isn’t over with, they’re still going to support that.  Just nothing new yet (understandable, with the N-Strike Elite and new Vortex blasters)
  • Clearly, the Nerf Vortex line is going to be supported still.
  • One Direction was NOT at the party.  :*(
  • No oversized Vortex disc shooter anytime soon 😦
  • Nerf N-Strike Elite Darts will be the standard in the future.  Micros and Sonic darts are going to be phased out, in order to make things easier for people.  Elite darts will fit better in most blasters currently released.  Dart Tag darts and Nerf Vortex discs will obviously still be available, as the lines are still supported.
  • SOME international markets (Australia, mainland China, Philippines, etc.) will have a range-reduced version due to the toy safety regulations of their governing bodies.  This means the blasters will achieve somewhere around advertised 50-55′, down from the 75′ that everyone else gets.  
  • Speaking of ranges, around a 35 degree angle is what the advertised ranges we see for darts, while Vortex is fired at 10-15 degrees to determine their range.

Questions?  Comments?  Lemme know!

Nerf N-Strike Elite – Hailfire video!

Some video on the Nerf N-Strike Elite Hailfire at its launch in NYC:

Stats:

Price: $39.99
Propulsion:  Flywheel
Batteries: 4 AAs
Ammo:  Streamlines (original, or new “Elite” version)
Range: Up to 75′ (assuming usage of Elite streamlines)
Features:

  • 8 magwells on a rotating carousel, loaded with anything from 6-35 round drums (spacing of magwells limits amount of mags of what kind)
    • Suggested configuration is 8 x 18 round magazines for a total of 144 shots before having to reload.
  • Handle on the front muzzle that rotates the carousel when a mag runs empty
  • Tac rails
  • Accelerator trigger to start flywheels
  • Hooks for bandolier connection
  • Transparent jam door

My initial impressions is this thing is ridiculous.  It was pretty light for me to handle, and the possible amount of firepower before reloading is more than any other dart blaster I know of.  Even the Powerstrike 48 had…. well… 48 shots.  Additionally, the range it was getting angled or flat was close to the advertised range from what I could eyeball even though the way you hold the blaster naturally makes it point up.  In any event, I can’t wait to get my hands on it in the field and look forward to getting a closer look as the release date approaches.  See you all 09/09/12!

Nerf Elite Launch Party – 2012

Let’s get some links outta the way – AP IMAGE GALLERY

Adult Fans of Nerf
Nerfrevolution
Click Click BAMF
NERFHQ









Amongst other people who write mainstream news articles, the above sites were in attendance to the party.  In spite of recent events, Nerf does in fact reach out to fan sites and they do in fact treat them pretty well.

Now, my gallery (I also updated to include some new “Foamme Fatales” from the party) –

https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

I’ll post some additional videos up (I had my GoPro chest camera on for as long as the battery would hold out; I’ll see what came of it) once they’re done, but just wanted to make some quick notes:

  • Nerf really knows how to throw a party
  • Nerf N-Strike Elite Hailfire ranges are pretty awesome for a flywheel.  Bandoliers are a necessity, and I’m working on a technique to allow easy dual-wiellding.  The magwell rack did pretty well in letting me run and the Hailfire is definitely more mobile than a Vulcan.  Mixing and matching the drums and mags was fun.  It’s a semiauto blaster, but it really feels way more reliable than a Barricade.  I suggest giving it a try when it’s released, I know I will.  One thing I would say is, you can’t really use a sidearm when you have it.  At full capacity, the blaster bangs around a lot if you try to run with it at your side.  You really need to carry it in your hands the whole time you have it.  Nerf groups who utilize blasters as shields are going to have to reevaluate their rulesets though, as this thing is a good size for that house rule.
  • The Nerf Vortex Pyragon is fantastic.  Rogue fell in love with it.  I love the way the drum loads, and the rate of fire on it is incredible.
  • The licensed Nerf materials rock pretty hard.  The sunglasses were fantastic, and I can’t wait to try out my earbuds 🙂
  • NERF FIREVISION.  Seriously, everyone needs to have a look at that when it’s out.  I will most certainly hope to get some samples to work with, but it’s a really interesting mechanic to utilize playing sports in low light.
  • It’s a little rough having to say “’til next year” to the fellow bloggers – it’s so much fun talking nothing but Nerf with these like-minded individuals.

Ok, I’ll have more to say when I go back over the vids.  I’m finally well-rested (2 red-eye flights in 2 days makes for a tired Vas) and I’ll go over more when I review what I shot.

From Nerf N-Strike Elite Launch 2012
From Nerf N-Strike Elite Launch 2012
From Nerf N-Strike Elite Launch 2012

From Nerf N-Strike Elite Launch 2012

From Nerf N-Strike Elite Launch 2012

From Nerf N-Strike Elite Launch 2012

From Nerf N-Strike Elite Launch 2012

From Nerf N-Strike Elite Launch 2012

From Nerf N-Strike Elite Launch 2012

Nerf N-Strike Elite… Bottom line

As we close in this week on the Nerf launch party for the Nerf N-Strike Elite Hailfire, I figure it’s only fair to finally do some actual writing, this being a blog and all.

So the Nerf N-Strike Elite line.  Hit or miss?

I’ll give it a hit, but tentatively.  I really want to love it, I really do!  And I’m impressed, don’t get me wrong.  But until I have the actual Hailfire in my hands to test and check out, I’m going with reservations.  Mainly cause I don’t want to think the novelty and newness of everything is clouding my judgment.  These are some sweet new toys, and I think they’ll add a lot of value to Nerf games far and wide, but let’s still maintain a grain of salt.

What we’ve seen so far are UPGRADES to existing blasters.  Nerf’s already received some fire for reshells (Spectre was a five-shot Maverick, the Alpha Trooper was functionally a Raider, and nevermind the countless repaints.)  I like what I’m seeing, but slam-fire and a single-shot modular blaster are things we’ve seen already.  The Hailfire has a new loading mech, but functionally it’s a Barricade or a Nitron that it’s a flywheel blaster and shoots one dart at a time as opposed to say, a spread of darts/discs.  But it’s either of those blasters on steroids.  UP TO 75′, and 144 shots (at max capacity) before having to refill another magazine.  It looks small, which might defuse bulky arguments, but that remains to be seen on what magazines will actually fit and how many (the speculation leads to: 35 rnd drums).  In any event, what functional hilarity this adds to the battlefield remains to be seen, and I can’t wait to try dual-wielding it.

Thanks to SGNerf for the photo!

All the skepticism aside… let’s get to it.  The Nerf Vortex line big ranges flat, but the discs fell victim to crosswinds more severely than darts.  They were also green, which made it harder to find in well-grown grass.  The Elite darts hit 50+ flat, but the advertised 75′ comes at an angle which is to be expected.  Either way, whichever range you hit that’s more than 20-30’+ that we’ve come to expect out of recent Nerf blaster releases.  So whether you like discs or darts, anything you’ve bought previous to Vortex and Elite will find you at a slight disadvantage.  I’ve managed to shoot straight with a Nerf Nitron, and the Retaliator and Rampage are pretty accurate at 40′ and a bit more than that even.

Those of us that hold stock-ammo/blaster games are going to have some fun with this new stuff, for sure.  It changes the field a lot, having this kind of range and accuracy straight outta the box without any additional work.  Everything from the previous N-Strike line is compatible with the Elite and vice versa, so don’t fret about all the streamlines you’ve already bought!  Just use them until you can’t anymore, and go buy Elite streamlines.  They fly a tad better than the originals.

So the only real gripe is I’m still looking for something way out of left field from Nerf.  Everything here looks impressive and I am impressed with how things fire, but the functionality still feels similar.  Even their vaunted Pyragon is a disc-shooting Raider.  While things look cool, I want to see something blow my mind both in how it looks AND how it plays.  I think the last blaster to do that was the Nerf Unity Power  System because it had 3 different blasters, one of which was essentially a shotgun.  When I saw the Raider for the first time it was awesome, but then boiled down to still putting out one dart at a time, just faster.  The Deploy was hilarious in function, but past the transformation (and nobody was fooled) it was a pump-action single shot blaster, or a Furyfire.

Still though, one step at a time.  Nerf’s given us souped-up ranges, a sleek color scheme, and dark blue darts. (I hope they make the darts brighter though… given the issue with green discs, white elite darts would be easier to find than dark blue.)  The Hailfire is going to have a reloading mech that looks promising at adding new body mechanics (I will admit, I liked the thumb switch on a Proton.  Made it feel very tactile and was satisfying on some level; the little things that count) to handling a blaster, which might be enough to sell it.

Speaking of selling – here we go once more with the pricing:

Nothing outrageous, and honestly I thought the Hailfire was going to cost more.  But that’s enough talk.  Time to get back to blasting, and shooting foam at anything that moves.  The Elite line shows a lot of promise, and I would definitely suggest picking them up and giving them a go.  The darts are new, the blasters are new (on the inside), and it looks like Nerf’s paying attention to what you, the fans want.  Better ranges and accuracy.  So show your support for what you wanted, and make sure Nerf knows this line is going to sell!  The blasters should start popping up around 8/1/12, and the Hailfire around 9/9/12.  Get on it, it’s time to upgrade.

Quick edit: I was asked if the Recon barrel changed in diameter for the Retaliator, but found this instead.  When pics first surfaced people speculated but I took a pic of my clear Recon for confirmation.

Nerf N-Strike Retaliator barrel extension

Nerf N-Strike Clear Recon barrel extension

I do declare, is that rifling I see?

Walk the ladder, compadres.
@VasTheStampede

P.S. – This Thursday I’ll be back here posting LIVE from the Nerf Hailfire Launch in NYC (New York City!)  Posting – Youtube:  http://youtube.com/foamfromabove
Twitter: @vasthestampede
aaaaaand this very blog!

Nerf N-Strike Elite: Centralized

Collected a number of the videos posted about the Nerf N-Strike Elite press kits and put them all in one playlist.  We all see things a little differently, so maybe there’s something here for everyone!

So far: Rogue1283, BasicNerf, and ClickClickBAMF all have videos up that I’ve found:

Curious about other parts of the Nerf N-Strike Elite line like the new bandolier, Tactical Vest, and even the Nerf Vortex Pyragon will price out:  Shining Foam went and got the whole listing straight off Nerf’s website.  Go have a look! 

At first glance, the Hailfire and Pyragon are going for $39.99, the Rampage is at $29.99 (different from the $34.99 listed in the press kit), and Nerf N-Strike Retaliator at $24.99.  Good lookin’ out!