600 Registered. Approximately 400-500 players. That was this past weekend at Nation Vs Zombies… the first (I think?) attempted event of this scale where players from all over North America (and beyond) were invited to come to Missouri State University and play a game of “Human Vs Zombies”, mixing roleplay gaming elements, tag, and Nerf/toy blaster games in a two-day test of survival, planning, and cardio. More on the game later, but for now enjoy the gallery posted above!
(Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $49.99/Available: Fall 2015)
Bring NERF battles to the next level with the mighty NERF RIVAL ZEUS MXV-1200 blaster. Simply push the power-up button, then take aim and unleash motorized blasting power on the opposing team. The powerful, precise RIVAL ZEUS MXV-1200 blaster gives fans and their allies an edge in battle and features an ambidextrous clip loading and release button, safety switch, and fold-up sight. The included NERF RIVAL 12-round magazine is also compatible for use with the NERF RIVAL APOLLO XV-700 blaster, sold separately. Blaster is available in both red and blue and includes 12 NERF RIVAL Foam rounds. Six C batteries required, not included.
Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and at HasbroToyShop.com.
Nerf Rival Zeus in Red
Nerf RIVAL APOLLO XV-700 Blaster
(Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99/Available: Fall 2015)
Perfect for the heat of the competition, the NERF RIVAL APOLLO XV-700 blaster sends NERF RIVAL foam rounds soaring in the air with extraordinary velocity. To defend themselves and teammates against the opposition, pull the lever to move the RIVAL foam round into place, then take aim and launch! Blaster is available in both red and blue includes seven NERF RIVAL foam rounds.
Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and at HasbroToyShop.com.
Word has it these blasters will hit 100 fps, and up the accuracy in ways not seen before with Nerf blasters. While we won’t know for sure ’til these are released, I’m very intrigued with the intention and design of these blasters. Additional ammo, ammo tubes, and colored masks will be available when the line is launched.
I’ll continue to update with more Toy Fair reviews and thoughts as I get them done. You can imagine, there are a lot of pictures and videos to go through! Thanks!
Questions? Concerns? Leave them in the comments below!
Nerf Tek Strike! Stormshield & App from Eyespy Toys Uses Bluetooth Tech to score hits, track power ups, and more. First shown at New York Toy Fair!
Say Hello to… Nerf Tek Strike. A shield/LCD readout attachment for your tactical rail on Nerf blasters to track hits/scoring, and apparently upgrade weapons/darts. I saw this during Day 1 of New York Toy Fair, and I was really intrigued. There was a prototype available, but these folks are on a good track to figuring out a new way to play. More details after the break.
What sorcery is this? RFID signals, bluetooth connectivity (the demo I saw was running off an iPod’s bluetooth) smart darts (darts specific for this game style, a pack of 10 for $9.99 for instance). (edit) However, a smart device is NOT NECESSARY to play. You can also see hits/lives on the LCD readout of the device that faces you.
It’s still in the early stages of functioning, but from what I could see they have some great plans. It incorporates the natural habit of a player to pick up their opponent’s ammo (using the smart darts) and then firing them back. If the darts hit the shield, you score a point. If the opponent tries to be cute and hold their blaster downward, they time out and lose a life (at least that was one measure that is in the works.) To calibrate the darts to your signal, swipe them over your screen to affix them so they hit and score on your opponents.
Does not need a device in the cradle to operate. A device is necessary to act as a “base” or home for the game, but it would not have to be placed in the cradle. The model I saw had its base unit kept in a cabinet nearby.
This system is still very new, but it’s a very intriguing idea. While it would require purchasing new specific darts, I think there’s a definite place for this type of game, especially if it leads to being able to track hits without using velcro. In an FPS, you run forward and around with your barrel pointed forward, right? Maybe the same principle could be conceptualized here. I myself have a lot of nerf darts already, but being able to track hits and have power ups (like increased damage, and… some other settings I can’t mention but they’re thinking of) may just be worth the cost of a few extra darts, and maybe even if my friends and I split a few packs.
I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the developments of this system, but it is a licensed Nerf (meaning, with their blessing) product, they’re working with Nerf on how it works, and there is some serious thought going into the mechanics. I do have a video of successfully tracking hits using the screen, but I have get home first to edit it (my main computer is at home.)
My blog post and the pictures don’t really do this system justice and it’s really very early to say anything definite, but I’m excited for the promise of what it might mean for playing Nerf Tag and the cool people I met talking about it trying to bring this to fruition. Yes, you need to get new darts. But, it could be for a very good reason 🙂
What do you think? Is the idea of a Nerf-developed app/tag tracking device interesting for you, whether you play stock, modded, or HvZ?
“Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war…” – Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 1, page 13
And Engadget sure did. They posted Yet Another Nerf Exclusive and it was the N-Strike Elite NERF Cam ECS-12 Blaster. No press release, but as discussed on my Facebook page (join the conversation! “Like” me!) here is the story so far:
Integrated camera (!) – 0.3 megapixels (urk) at 20 fps(urkx2), comes with 4 GB SD card (ok).
MSRP: $75 (?!)
8 (!?!) AA batteries (4 for the camera, 4 for the blaster)
Flywheels (dat accelerator trigger)/semiauto (but looks like aRapidstrike, no?)
Allegedly hits up to 90′ (probably angled)
Photo courtesy of engadget. Opted for this one because it’s the real life prototype they used. Final will have a clear magazine and blue trim.
That being said, let’s get some quick thoughts down:
Holy carp, $75? The biggest complaint I’ve been receiving is that is just too much $$$ for a camera that isn’t even a single megapixel. Furthermore, even if it is for kids (which it is), that’s a lot for an 8 year old’s toy who either has a mobile device of some sort or some other camera in this day and age. Even if it is integrated, that price is so darn high against other tech toys with better resolution. Regardless of the blaster hitting 90′ (the Elite line originally touted 75′ ranges) I can’t see telling anyone to pay for the camera AND blaster when the camera is of such low quality. Engadget’s piece also has a video, and…. well, I hope the camera gets an improvement from this prototype to the final version. The flywheels and camera each require 4 AA batteries, so there’s an additional cost right there.
Also, the proximity of the camera to the motors. The engadget video illustrates it perfectly: “VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR” is what I heard.
Otherwise, the aesthetics and power boost (hopefully) are the better parts I can see about this blaster. While I can’t advocate strapping an expensive iPhone or iPod Touch to the top of your blaster (personally, I use a GoPro, but that’s me. Yes, maybe the camera will provide a tactical advantage cornering and yes, the camera integrated into the shell is more streamline, but a Rapidstrike is considerably less and full auto. If you need practice with trigger control, then this is more your style unless you would rather get a Stryfe.
So I’m ambivalent about this blaster. I want to love the way it looks, but I don’t know if that’s enough for me. For $75 I could buy a Rapidstrike or Stryfe and extra darts. I can remove whatever camera I’m using to put on other blasters or for a project unrelated to Nerf. But for the Nerf Cam? Thumb middle of the road until the final version. Hopefully this will be available at New York Toy Fair, and I’ll get a better look then.
Fresh from JT Splatmaster… they’re starting a way to introduce newcomers to league play and competition!
(my original review here: http://foamfromabove.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-jt-splatmaster-z100-z200-and.html) I was a fan of it then, and am still a fan of it now. Between the accuracy and the comfortable feel of the Splatmaster line, it’s a solid buy if you’ve been thinking about it. It’s nowhere near as painful as paintball (due to the decreased fps) but tons of fun at closer ranges than you might expect with paintball.
Registration: $75 for a 3 person team. But here’s the part where I find it interesting….
Divisions
JT SplatMaster
oNo previous paintball tournament experience
o4 players max per team roster
oAge Groups
–12 and under
–13 and older
oEquipment – Must use provided event equipment to participate
–JT SplatMaster z200 Shotgun
–JT Goggle
–JT SplatMaster Ammo
–Quick Load Tube
–JT SplatMaster Versus Vest
oPaint Consumption
–30 balls per player per point
oSimple Rules –
–4 minute matches
–If a player is hit directly by a ball that player is eliminated
–If a ball breaks on the bunker and sprays on the player that player is not eliminated
–No foul language
–No Alcohol
–No physical contact
oPrizes Per Age Group –
–1st Place
–Trophy per player
–JT SplatMaster z200 Shotgun per player
–2nd Place
–Medal per player
–JT SplatMaster z90 Pistol
–3rd Place
–Medal per player
So there you go. If you’re an adult and not quite sure how you like regular paintball (like many of my friends), a parent with a 13+ child and looking for a fun activity to get into together, or just looking to introduce yourself to the sport or try something new, this might be the way to go!
Nevermind that CPX is known worldwide as one of the best fields in the nation (if not the world) but just to get out there and try something new.
I do love Nerf and everything that goes along with it, but I also keep an open mind. I’ll be checking this out, and hope to see you on the field.
Back at last year’s Toy Fair I posted this winner of a video –
and it took… a long time to get to the U.S. It was out overseas at first (due to the popularity of Dart Tag in those areas as opposed to the lukewarm reception here) and only recently did I finally spot one in a Toys R Us. Approximately $19.99, it’s that semiauto manual pistol some of us have wanted for a long, long while. Personally, I remember this old video by SGNerf:
AND FINALLY…. FINALLY….. I got to take a look at a production version Snapfire 8 up close!
More after the break>>>>
Stats:
Toys R Us exclusive ($14.99 or so)
Front-loading, 8 shot turret
2 settings, “Power” & “Speed”
Twist the dial in order to go to either “speed” or “power”
Fires streamlines and taggers
No tac rails (as this is Dart Tag)
Ranges: 50′ on “Power” (flat) and 30′-40′ on “Speed”
Annnd, size comparison:
Now to the task at hand:
“Does switching between Power and Speed do anything?”
As has been noted by other owners, the trigger pull on the Snapfire 8 feels a little weird. It’s a bit longer of a pull than I initially expected, most likely to both prime and release the catch the mechanism. The “Power” setting makes the trigger harder to pull (not unexpected) while the “Speed” setting is a lot easier to pull the trigger but at significant drop in range. Gives the impression of using versatility and modular play, but I think I would just keep it on the “Power” setting as pulling the trigger a little harder isn’t a big deal to me. “Power” might be tough for a 6 year old though, so parents be aware that you might have to help a little to fire on the “Power” setting.
Other than the trigger, the Snapfire 8 was decent. It got decent range on either setting and while the trigger was weird, it just took a little practice for me to get the hang of it. The big sell to me is the true semiauto one-handed operation- no pumping needed (like a Blastfire) and no batteries (pick one, there are tons of flywheel blasters to name out there.) This feature is also why I needed to dual-wield them, in spite of the risk of reloading both at the same time.
The Snapfire 8 handles well and with taggers it is pretty accurate. I personally got a kick out of it because I’m a big fan of semiauto pistols (lots of John Woo films growing up), although the trigger is weird. The round turret makes holstering/pocketing one a little tough, but nothing a good pair of cargo pants can’t fix. I suppose the lack of any sling points isn’t terrible either, but it would have been nice have some place to clasp one on in case my pockets get full of darts. The handle seemed a good size, it didn’t feel like I had to hold it weird or that I was enveloping the blaster with my hand, which was a good touch as well.
I think the speed/power setting was a bit unnecessary except for a few select occasions, but it’s a gimmick and needed to bring some different functionality to the table in addition to the true semiauto firing. Now and again I did have a hiccup with pulling the trigger and a dart not firing, but that could be either poor dart fit or user error. The same thing happened with the barricade, that if you didn’t pull the trigger correctly, darts jammed. With the Nerf Dart Tag Snapfire, you have take the same care when firing, as the blaster has to move all its parts correctly to fire properly.
Overall, I give the Snapfire a middle of the road. On the one hand I love love love the semiauto action, but the weird trigger pull holds it back a little as that affects the reliability of the blasters. For folks who don’t like carrying a lot of n-strike magazines on them, this is another good addition based on the mobility you have with this vs. a Swarmfire, or even a Speedswarm (not to mention a Speedswarm has that split-second rev time and suffers a bit on the rate of fire). Is it a must-buy? Depends on how much you want that semiauto electric free experience. Personally, I needed to try it and here I am.
While the price is a bit high even for this (much less 2 of them like I got) if you want that flywheel-free semiauto experience, this is your chance to get it, though it takes some practice. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go watch some 80s era Hong Kong action flicks 🙂
The Nerf Alpha Girl Mission Kit I reported on back in February has been renamed:
NERF REBELLE SWEET REVENGE Kit
(HASBRO/Ages 8 & up/Approx. Retail Price $19.99/Available: Fall 13)
The NERF REBELLE SWEET REVENGE Kit is a girl’s best friend and includes the accessories she needs to take on any NERF REBELLE mission in style. The star of the NERF REBELLE SWEET REVENGE Kit is the bold five dart revolving blaster, which features a cool purple deco and bright magenta accents. Pull back on the lever to ready the blaster and press the trigger to send darts soaring through the air up to 75 feet. Add style savvy during non-stop, action-packed adventures with the included pair of NERF REBELLE VISION GEAR eyewear. Taking a break from the excitement? Players can stow their blaster and extra darts in the included hip holster, and take the NERF REBELLE action with them wherever they go. Includes blaster, five collectible darts, and belt clip holster. Available at most major retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.
And in case anyone doesn’t remember how this thing shoots:
Not much need be said about this. The Nerf Arena at Quest in Merry Hill is operational! Looks like the attendees have had a bunch of fun, so here’s hoping they keep it going. All the best, Quest! This looks much bigger than the original NDTL inf For more info on the stats and specs of the arena, feel free to refer to my other post: or contact Quest at: info@thequest.co.uk Maybe check them out on Facebook?
So way back in October, I ran across the story about Paragon Entertainment striking a deal with Hasbro/Nerf to create Nerf Arenas. Well, the project came to fruition in a Place Called Quest:
Merryhill, I am jealous.
So the arena opens this Friday, but a pro shop of sorts and target range started up a few months ago. So, what does this mean? The UK’s planning to have a bunch more locations like this set up, and anyone who might remember 2009-2011 might remember the Nerf Dart Tag League.
Old video of mine (before I had my current cameras, obviously)
Quick history lesson – from 2009-2010 the Nerf Dart Tag League was an event that ran/traveled alongside the Dew Tour Action Sport Tour, going to a number of cities and holding events in BMX, Skateboarding, whatever. I was fortunate enough the BMX tournament stopped in Chicago, so of course I went (it was actually going to this event that got me on Nerf’s radar, and the rest is history.)
A pro video of the event:
So this format carried on for 2 years, and then in 2011 the format changed to a one-day tourney in Florida, separate from the Dew Tour and the gigantic inflatable arena was replaced by a more traditional field. Louie C3 was there, and I believe Rogue paid him a visit in that final year of the NDTL.
Some of the stats on the original battledome (the original NDTL was run by a different company, and the stats of their battledome follow):
“…100-square-foot inflatable dome for the NERF Dart Tag Tournament games. Measuring a monstrous 40 feet wide by 20 feet high by 76 feet long, the dome featured an interior maze of obstacles, home bases, and recharge centers.”
The Quest version looks WAY BIGGER, judging by the relative size of the people inside vs. where the walls, doors, obstacles, and so on. Count on it, I studied as much of the original dome as I could back then and burned it to memory.
EDIT: The new arena is “…25m x 10m. That’s 250 sqm or 2500 square feet!” (quoted directly from Paragon Entertainment)
Quick aside: Visit Quest’s Facebook page so you can have a chance to be one of the first to play in the arena, win passes, or qualify as the Biggest Nerf Fan they’re looking for! Good luck to all of you!
Games inside the dome were fast-paced, frantic, and awesome. Darts bounced off walls, people vaulted (and often crashed) into cover, and lord knows I hurdled a step or two in order to cap the flag. However, this was also with Nerf Furyfires, and the tech has changed a lot since then. The larger dome helps with the longer ranges, but I also wonder… in the promo shots those are clearly Dart Tag blasters, but I imagine Nerf Elite and other non-velcro ammo might be allowed? (Going to necessitate a follow up here, will update on my Facebook page.) While Capture the Flag and Elimination might be the order of the day, I am curious as to what other game types might evolve from this whole setup.
EDIT : Vortex, Elite, Dart Tag, all will be available for use at the arena! (Which they will provide on loan, you don’t have to bring anything they have it all for you. Try before you buy!)
While venue sizes might differ, the UK is going to see a few more of these pop up, and then hit other markets from there. As for the U.S. goes, no word on that yet but bet I’m following that news very carefully. But I think it’s safe to say that Nerf’s going international in a big consistent way. And if that happens, then the possibilities are endless!
In any event, enjoy the arena, England. Make it successful, that way they see there’s a proper market out there just waiting for this.
Foam From Above 
