Nerf Fall 2013 Refresher (Rebelle, N-Strike Elite, Vortex, Blazin' Bow)

Just a quick look back at some of the things left to expect for the Fall in the U.S. (at least as much as my press kit from February had) - I copy/pasted many of the descriptions below from my kit descriptions.

NERF N-STRIKE ELITE STOCKADE Blaster

(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $21.99/Available: Fall 2013)

With motorized blasting capability, the STOCKADE blaster utilizes features such as a rotating 10-dart barrel and a removable stock with storage for 10 extra darts. The N-STRIKE ELITE STOCKADE blaster comes complete with 10 N-STRIKE ELITE darts as well was a removable stock accessory with storage for ten additional darts (sold separately). Blaster requires three “AA” batteries, not included. Available exclusively at Wal-Mart nationwide.

NERF N-STRIKE BLAZIN’ BOW Toy

(HASBRO/Ages 6 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/Available: Fall 2013)

Who’s ready for more NERF action? Send NERF foam arrows soaring across the sky with the NERF N-STRIKE BLAZIN’ BOW toy. The BLAZIN’ BOW toy features an authentic pull-back bow design that you simply pull back, aim, and release to fire the NERF foam arrows. The BLAZIN’ BOW toy can hit targets from up to an impressive 40 feet away, and comes complete with integrated storage for two additional foam NERF arrows. Includes three NERF foam arrows. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.

New deco for the Nerf Vortex line (should be out this Fall)

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.

NERF REBELLE VISION GEAR Eyewear

(HASBRO/Ages 8 & up/Approx. Retail Price $6.99/Available: Fall 13)

Players can accessorize their NERF REBELLE adventures with NERF REBELLE VISION GEAR eyewear, a pair of tough and trendy specs that bring both fashion and function to any adventure. A rubberized coating keeps NERF REBELLE girls comfortable, and hinged arms make the VISION GEAR eyewear easily packable for on-the-go action. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF REBELLE HEARTBREAKER Bow

(HASBRO/Ages 8 & up/Approx. Retail Price $19.99/Available: Fall 13)

The ultimate adventure accessory, the NERF REBELLE HEARTBREAKER bow features “true” bow action and powerful dart performance! Inspired by current pop culture trends, the HEARTBREAKER bow offers girls the poise and precision to take on any mission. To activate the bow, simply load a dart in the front and take aim. Then, pull back on the bow string handle and release to send darts soaring across the sky up to 75 feet, allowing for shot that shows off your skill with aim and attitude. Ready for action, the bow features an accessory rail which provides for five-dart storage for easy access to ammo and allows girls to customize their blaster with fun add-ons, like the NERF REBELLE App Cradle (sold separately). The NERF REBELLE HEARTBREAKER bow comes with five collectible darts, Available at most major retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF REBELLE SNEAK ATTACKERS Two Pack

(HASBRO/Ages 8  up/Approx. Retail Price $12.99/Available: Fall 13)Equip your best friend with a blaster and team up to take on any secret mission together with this NERF REBELLE Two Pack! This pair of mini blasters packs high-performance power beneath its pink and purple exterior, with enough blasting power to fire darts up to 60 feet! Each super stealth blaster features its own unique deco, and is small enough to stash in a pocket or purse. Stylish spies will love that these blasters have room for double-dart storage, so back-up is never too far away. Includes four collectible darts. Available at most major retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF REBELLE PINK CRUSH Mini Crossbow

(HASBRO/Ages 8 & /Approx. Retail Price $9.99/Available: Fall 13)

Stealth yet powerful, the NERF REBELLE PINK CRUSH mini crossbow is a lightweight, sleek crossbow that lets girls get in the game with confidence and flair. Don’t let its sweet pink deco fool you – when the action gets tough, so does this crossbow!  With elite performance that sends darts soaring up to 75 feet away and ample room for backup ammo on the bow’s arms, it allows players to rapidly reload at a moment’s notice. The NERF REBELLE PINK CRUSH mini crossbow comes complete with four collectible darts. Available at most major retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF REBELLE Accessory Bag

(HASBRO/Ages 8 & up/Approx. Retail Price $14.99/Available: Fall 13)
 Always make sure back-up ammo is within reach and reload on the go with the NERF REBELLE accessory bag, a stylish pack with ample room for storing accessories. The accessory bag features a pouch for holding darts, and includes 10 collectible darts. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF REBELLE Crossbow

(HASBRO/Ages 8 & up /Approx. Retail Price $24.99/Available: Fall 13)

An impressive crossbow with fast-flying dart action and flexing bow arms, this NERF REBELLE Crossbow blends blaster action with crossbow precision. Slide the front handle to flex the bow arms back and ready the blaster for play. Pull the trigger and watch the bow arms propel forward as darts soar up to 75 feet toward the target. By holding the trigger and pumping, players can instantly transition between single shot and multi shot mode, unleashing a rapid stream of darts for exciting nonstop action! Includes six collectible NERF REBELLE darts. Available at most major retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF REBELLE Dart Refill Packs

(HASBRO/Ages 8 & up/Approx. Retail Price $6.99/Available: Fall 13)

A girl has to be ready for action at a moment’s notice, and the NERF REBELLE Dart Refill Packs ensure there’s always plenty of back-up. Each refill pack includes 12 collectible foam darts some colorful and some with fun funky patterns. Dart Refill Packs are compatible with all NERF REBELLE bows and blasters (each sold separately). Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com

NERF REBELLE MISSION CENTRAL App

(HASBRO/Ages 8 & up/Approx. Retail Price $14.99/Available: Fall 13)

Girls can grab a group of friends and experience the ultimate social adventure together in an App-enhanced world of the NERF REBELLE brand! To start the fun, fans can download the free NERF REBELLE MISSION CENTRAL App to their iPhone or iPod Touch, and insert the device into the stylish NERF REBELLE MISSION CENTRAL App cradle accessory. Attach the accessory to a compatible NERF REBELLE blaster (sold separately) and then it’s time to bring friends together for some serious fun! Within the app, players can create a personalized avatar and form squads with friends for multi-player gaming. NERF REBELLE players can capture photos and videos while in play, and even share the fun with friends. Players can also go on quests, compete to win in-game benefits, and even earn accessories for their avatar within the app. The NERF REBELLE MISSION CENTRAL app will be available for download at the App Store and compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, and iPod Touch (4th Generation). Compatible with select NERF REBELLE blasters. Available at most major retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.

 NERF VORTEX REVONIX360 Blaster

(HASBRO/Ages 8 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $39.99/Available: Fall 2013)

Amp up freestyle foam blasting performance with the NERF VORTEX REVONIX360 blaster which achieves the farthest VORTEX distance yet, up to 70 feet! This disc blaster features new, awesome deco and has a revolving drum that rotates each time you fire the blaster.  Plus, the SLAM FIRE Handle gives you total control over your rate of fire – blast a single shot or hold the trigger down and slide the handle repeatedly to unleash an unstoppable stream of discs.  Includes 30 multi-color XLR discs. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.

Review: SlugTerra Deluxe Blaster Set - 15-Piece - Eli vs. El Diablo Nacho (and Burpy & Joules 2 pack)

Thanks to Jakks Pacific for the samples!  I saw these pop up in Toys R Us a few months ago, and they looked interesting to try out, so here we are.

Slugterra is a new cartoon, and this set of toys is based around it.  Here's a commercial:

What is included in the set

Stats:
Price: $32.99
Pull & release blaster; trigger is fake
Includes:  See photo
Demo video:

Size comparison

Shield Comparison

Dart comparison (without canopies)

Shield may be hanged.

SlugTerra darts w/Open canopies

How to Play

Joules figure sold separately, hood ornament deco.

Burpy figure sold separately, attaches as a hood ornament of sorts.

 MOAR PICS

REVIEW:

Whew!  Right off the bat, this isn't a typical blaster set.  It is priced and geared around a target shooting game, not tagging your opponents personally.

And yet, I was pleasantly surprised at the power this thing had.  Don't let the dart with the canopy shot deceive you, these little blasters have a bit of power in them.  I was hitting around 30'-40' with regular darts (Nerf Elite, Buzz Bee, Dart Tag, etc) and just under 30' with the darts the blasters came with without the canopies.  The canopies, being parachutes, of course limited the darts to 10', just enough range for a target shooting game for kids.  And that's just fine.  Getting the darts INTO the barrel was a bit of a struggle for some darts, but in that case barrel tightness probably helped in the range department.


The darts that the blasters come with, even without the canopy aren't very good for distance, but they look cool and fit the theme of the show.  The blasters looked cool and futuristic, good for any kid to pretend they're Eli or any of the other characters in Slugterra, and the little slug dudes are fun to look at and even engaging to a degree. 

Per the show, the little "slugs" sold in 2 packs attach to the top of the blasters. My niece and nephew (8 & 10 years old, respectively) thought this was a nice touch and that it was super cute.  Personally, I thought Burpy makes a great iron sight though this might adversely affect holstering.

The Slugterra blasters don't have triggers, but considering Jakks Pacific is the same company that brought out the recent Max Force line, I wasn't entirely put out by this.  Considering this had the other kiss of death of being a licensed property, the range being near 40' nearly blew me away considering how small the blasters are.

If you consider this as a game for your kids, then you get a huge set of stuff in box and ready to go (with the exception of some slug guys to mount on the blasters) for $32.99, which isn't too bad for an interactive licensed board game with a lot of different items included.  If you're looking for a new sidearm, these are a great size with good range, but as a dart tag player you might find the pull and release mechanism a little awkward (especially if you're bigger than an 8 year old) and maybe check out the bigger versions of these blasters.  Although, if you really need the trigger action you may want to pass on this.

Overall, I thought they looked pretty cool and for a parent looking for a simple game for their kids to play and maybe do some dart tag when the mood strikes, these aren't a bad way to go for a starter set of blasters and darts.  Again, I think the power level of these rivals some relatively similar 2 player sets and for a close if not identical cost.  I'd chalk this being a touch more expensive due to the licensing involved.

In any event, hope this was helpful!  

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!

The inventor of: The Nerf Raider CS-35 and Nerf Vortex Vigilon!

 The Toy Industry Association Facebook page posted a Flashback Friday about the Nerf N-Strike Raider CS-35, and the man behind it, Robert Victor (his company is named "Kite and Rocket")
  

Saw this posted on the Toy Industry Association Facebook page...

Photo taken from the New York Daily News, 2011

Featured for a TAGIE (Toy and Game Inventor Expo) Award in 2011 for the Nerf Vortex Vigilon, Robert Victor's Raider gave us the 35 round drums that gave us an out of the box ammo capacity that had been unheard of in recent years.  The rest of the info about him can be found in the New York Daily News Article here - but it sounds like he's still busy at work, and hopefully working on Nerf blasters still! 

Thanks, Robert!


P.S. - My favorite part of this story is how he was inspired by spring-loaded grocery store racks that ultimately might have been the basis for the Raider's drum design, as well as the other N-Strike mags (possibly?)

Tek Recon update - a beta look at the App

Tek Recon released a first look at the beta of their gaming app today, showcasing how the devices will interact in gameplay and a peek at some of the powerups, scopes, sound effects, gametypes, AMMO COUNTER, etc.  I'm really curious how the Medic and Drone powerups are going to work, as I'm assuming hits and removal from gameplay is still on the honor system.

The other question is will players have to use their data plans when wi-fi isn't available.  And if the "host" of the game's device freezes up, I assume the game drops out?

All in all though, the Tek Recon line is looking sharper and sharper with each update, and on top of that they are now just under $20,000 of their goal! (As of this writing, they are at $34,000.)

Some other quick notes - if the original metallic green isn't your color, check out the "Agent Orange" pack (as suggested by a backer, showing how Tek Recon once again is taking early feedback very seriously)!

Don't forget, continue to email/tweet/Facebook kickstarter to get Tek Recon on their weekly email blast!  It's going to need all the help it can get to hit goal to finish the race!

Nerf Centurion - Fall 2013! $49.99!

So after a few months of hubbub, here we are with the Nerf Centurion. (Popular Science got the exclusive "official" post on this, here's their take - http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2013-05/exclusive-nerf%E2%80%99s-newest-gun-fires-100-feet)

picture taken from the article, illustrating distance

Highlights:
Release is set for Fall 2013
Price: $49.99 (a bit lower than I expected, thankfully)

"As for the gun [sic] itself, we’ll be blunt: this thing is freaking huge. It spans 40.7 inches from nose to heel, and at least 2/3 of that length is barrel. As with any gun, the longer the barrel, the straighter – and hopefully the farther – shots will soar."

"To get the velocity necessary (nearly 55 mph) to catapult ammo one-third of a football field, the designers had to supersize the typical Nerf launch mechanism. With a dart-filled magazine in place, you pull back on a loading handle to allow the top dart to pop into the firing chamber. Pushing the same handle forward sets the firing mechanism in place, and pulling the trigger releases a spring-loaded piston that launches the dart."

"The Centurion is the first in a new line of Nerf guns that use MEGA darts. The darts are about twice the size of typical Nerf darts, which engineers say helps them get the momentum they need to fly further. The also whistle, an oddly satisfying addition to long-range shootouts."

So we can expect more Mega blasters down the road.  This all still begs the questions-

- Extra mags/mission kits will be sold when?
- I think we can assume there will be some kind of "value" pack that comes out after the inital release (happens during the holidays especially - Double Discs/Darts, blaster packs, etc.)
- The cradle... and maybe we'll get a proper scope?
- Ranges are reported to hit 100'.  Is this with the 35 degrees that has been used in the past as the angle for max range claims? (see here) - most likely yes
- Bipod better be robust
- DAT DRAW PULL.  HOLY CRAP.

Not gonna lie though... Yet Another Ammo Type?  Just when things calmed down from Sonics/Micros/Streamlines/Taggers/Discs now Megas are in the mix.  While Sonics and Micros aren't as prevalent in stores, they are still in circulation and part of many a community dart stash.  So here we go again with one more "caliber" of sorts to sort through when cleaning up.

But don't get me wrong!  I'm excited to see range and mega darts again, for sure.  Will this change Nerf games?  How?  And it is the shot in the arm in range and performance that Nerf could use?  We'll see once it hits shelves in the Fall.  And yes, I plan to figure out how to dual-wield these, too.

Nerf Rapidstrike in the Wild? Can anyone in the Philippines confirm?

Got this dropped onto me on Facebook today that Nerf Rapidstrikes are available and out in stores there.  (Thanks to D.B. for dropping me a note on Facebook to check Nerf's Facebook page, and there we are.)

Can anyone else confirm Nerf Elite Rapidstrikes are at this location?  Send pics!

Again, no pics were posted so far and I'm waiting to confirm, but here's hoping it's true!

EDIT:
Here's the confirmed photos!  (Courtesy of Nerf Club Philippines)

REMINDER: Big Announcement this week! (Centurion?)

Don't forget to check Nerf's Facebook this week, most likely tomorrow.  They have a big announcement coming!  

Speculation out there says it is most likely the Centurion finally getting the "official announcement" treatment and confirming just what it does.

What else does this mean?  Hopefully, should Nerf do another release party, myself and the other blogs such as Adult Fans of Nerf, Basic Nerf, and NerfRevolution (most in attendance last year, with the exception of Basic) might finally get their turn at it!

Keep your fingers crossed, Nation.

Edit: My mistake, Basic Nerf did not make it last year; hopefully he will be able to this year, if it happens.

Memorial Day - from F2A to you and yours

Image courtesy of the Cobra Paintball Team-

Tek Recon's 2nd Effort! - Appeal to Kickstarter!

Tek Recon's already a little over HALFWAY to their goal, but that was the easy part.  Now comes the real effort, to finish the race and bring the total home.

To make it happen, we need to make our voices heard to Kickstarter.  Whether it is through their Facebook, Twitter Feed, or emailing them at press@kickstarter.com, we need to let them know about Tek Recon running on their own site, that it has such a great following, and to highlight Tek Recon on their weekly email blast.

This might be the effort that pushes Tek Recon over the top, and as great and welcoming the reception has been so far, the work is only 50% done.  All the great perks and effort put out there so far can't stop unfinished, we've all done great now let's finish the job.

Let Kickstarter know!  Reach out to them and ask them to support Tek Recon with placement in their email blast!


Not sure what to say?  Here's an EXAMPLE of what you can say -

"Dear Kickstarter, 

As a recent first time project backer and avid blaster fan I am writing you to ask your help to get TEK RECON the visibility needed to hit it's funding goal.

I love this concept and product and believe there are many others blaster and gaming fans like me that would love to get their hands on TEK RECON.

Please help us see this project funded so that we can experience the next level of Live Action Online Gaming. On behalf of the very large blaster community I request that you include TEK RECON in your next Weekly Email blast and help us see this project funded.

I appreciate your helping bring this product to life!!!

Thanks!" 

Don't forget to sign it ;)

You've got your orders, let's go to work.