NerfNation prompted you to come up with questions during the Vortex Event to ask the guys in charge of Nerf Blasters, and here are your answers! Brought to you first by AFoN and the wonderful Nerf PR people!
Check out the official Nerf video from the NYC Vortex Event! Both Mr. S and I are in the video, along with our friend from FoamFromAbove, Vas!
This week at La.venue in New York, Nerf held a media only event to preview the Vortex series of blasters to launch on 09/10/’11 and we at AFoN were privileged enough to get an invite. Last year at the event kicking off the Stampede we were blown away with the attention Nerf gave to showcasing the blaster, as well as celebrating 5o years of Nerf fun. This year, the event took on an energy as unique as the Vortex line itself. Impressive displays showcasing the all stars of the N-Strike series as well as the N-Force, Dart Tag and Super Soaker lines adorned the entry to the event as well as a big screen playing Nerf commercials.
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Check this out, an exclusive Comic-con Nerf Blaster! I know Mr. S was very excited about this, since he is an avid Optimus Prime Collector. Unfortunately, we learned that this was a comic-con exclusive blaster. But then, we read that not only will it be available in San Diego, but also on HasbroToyShop.com for a short time (while supplies last) after the convention is over this weekend. You can bet we’ll be eagerly waiting for this to pop up on their website once the con ends! I hope that this isn’t the last blaster we see like this, maybe next time it will be a Barricade Barricade!
Nerf is holding a sweepstakes on their Facebook page where they’re giving away 12 prize packages (1 each day) as well as a grand prize package containing some great gear from all of their product lines (they’re giving 1 grand prize at the end of the sweepstakes). This contest is open to residents of the US and Canada (Except Quebec), so hurry to the Nerf Nation Facebook page or click the image above and enter for some great prizes!
Frankly, I’m surprised it’s taken this long for Nerf to decide to create an app for mobile devices (though they aren’t saying which). I hadn’t thought of what they’d create when they made one, but I have to say that allowing the fans to decide is a great idea. The three apps that they are having fans vote on are:
Nerf AR (Augmented Reality) Challenge – Use a virtual blaster on your phone to shoot targets in an augmented reality space!
Nerf Blaster I.D. – Use your mobile device’s camera to identify your enemy’s blasters and gain valuable intel on their rate of fire, capacity, and otehr vital information!
Nerf Mission Recorder – Record video of your Nerf Missions and add video and audio effects to create an epic Nerf Video!
Visit this page to cast your vote: http://apps.facebook.com/nerfbattleoftheapps
A second video for the vortex blasters has shown up, and this one’s a bit clearer than the previous, but still in the same ‘secret video’ style. This one shows the smaller blaster, as well as a comparison of the new blasters to the ‘Gear Up’ blasters set to come out just before the Vortex line. It also shows more of the Discs themselves. The discs are actually shaped like Frisbee, so they are actually able to generate lift, and therefore fly farther with less power. In the video we can actually see the disc hit a paper cup, and deliver a satisfying pop, knocking the cups off the ledge.
I have to say, I’m looking forward to them quite a bit more than after the first video. I’m also looking forward to the next video (which I assume will be next week).
This has been a banner year for Nerf, they’ve released 7 blasters this year, and the future looks bright for the brand and all of us fans as well. This year was the year of N-Strike, and next year (without citing any specifics) looks to be the year of Dart Tag.
Now lets look at the past year of blasters from Nerf.
LongStrike/Deploy
Early in the year, we got a little teaser of how serious Nerf was about bringing out new blasters in 2010 when they released two new blasters very close together; the Deploy CS-6 and LongStrike CS-6. Both are amazing blasters; the Deploy is a throw back to the days of old, being very functionally similar to the Expand-A-Blast, while the LongStrike appears to be the spiritual successor to the LongShot. Though the LongShot isn’t gone quite yet, it’s getting harder and harder to find these days.
Clear the Way
In order to make way for the release of the 9/9/10 blaster, Nerf decided to do something that it had already done to the Maverick for the release of their N-Strike Video Game for the Wii. They made them Clear. Well, five of them at least in the initial batch. The Deploy, Raider, NiteFinder, Recon, and Maverick made their debut around August, with a clear shell on them. Seeing the internal mechanism at work while you used them was pretty damn cool. So cool, that they sold very well, and Target saw the release of the clear Vulcan, with updated belt and a slightly updated design as well.
Alpha Trooper/Barrel Break
Also in August, we saw two blasters that are store exclusives come to market. The Alpha Trooper is a superb blaster, combining the look and compactness of the Recon with the slam-fire capability of the Raider. Not to mention the fantastic 18-round mini-drum that came with it. The Barrel Break is the first Shotgun-style blaster from Nerf, as well as the first break action blaster. It’s not without it’s issues, but it’s a really fun blaster and I’ve been waiting for a long time for a rail attachment to hold darts.
The Big Kahuna: The Stampede ECS
We got a peek at this blaster about a month or so before the actual release of the blaster, but we still had no idea whether it was really what the 9/9/10 blaster. July 15th, 2010 will forever be a day that I will remember. Mr. S and I were brought to New York City by Nerf in order to party Nerf-Style and to be one of the first people in the public to get their hands on the Stampede ECS. It was the most fun I’ve ever had on a trip, and we are very thankful for Nerf and their public relations firm for allowing us to come.
At first, I was apprehensive about the blaster, as it didn’t appear to be all that great, but getting our hands on the Stampede changed my opinion of it quite a bit. It’s the first Clip system blaster to be battery powered, the first to come with a detachable Tactical Shield, Tactical Handle, and 18-round clips. I can’t think of any downsides to this blaster in my opinion, other than the fact that it uses big and expensive batteries. Other than that, it is definitely a flagship blaster of the N-Strike line. A shining example of what’s possible in the future for Nerf.
Spectre
In October we finally saw Wal-Mart’s Nerf exclusive blaster, and I was not looking forward to it. But after looking for it for the first two weeks of October I finally found it, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Though it looses one dart in comparison to the Maverick, I think that it is a worthy successor if they could get the price down at least 5 bucks (or more) it’s definitely a bit expensive. It has a barrel extension, a stationary tactical rail, a revolving drum that flips out farther, and a shoulder stock attachment. It’s as if the Recon and Maverick had a kid.
Barricade
At the end of this year (for some reason after the Holiday season) the Barricade was released. This is the first blaster from Nerf to use a dual flywheel system to launch darts, and it’s also the first blaster under $15 to use batteries to power the blaster. This blaster is a noisy one, which seems to be the only negative side to the Barricade. It’s powerful, but has absolutely no stealth ability because of the noise. I think that Nerf should definitely produce more blasters like this, but they need to fix the noise issue first.
N-Force
This year we’ve also seen several additions to the N-Force line, all very welcome. From the Stonewall shield to the Klaw Axe, Nerf has shown that they’re willing to experiment with different medieval weapons to vary the line from the initial offering of a couple of swords. My only question is what they’ll think of next. Nerf has already hinted at releasing at least two new weapons to the lineup next year, so only time will tell.
In closing
This has been a banner year for Nerf, and for us as well here at AFoN. We launched our forum, and while we don’t have many dedicated members, we are glad for those who frequent our little site. Our choice not to focus on Mods isn’t a popular one with many people, but it does separate us from the rest, and I’m glad to have something that differentiates us. I look forward to a productive year next year.
I would also like to let you know that next spring we’ll have the first official AFoN Gathering south of the Twin Cities. We’ll battle and talk Nerf and have a generally good time. More information will be forthcoming once we decide on the venue and time of the event. Once again, thank you for visiting our blog. We invite you to join us in 2011 for more Nerf News and Information.
Did you miss the NDTL Championship? No problem. Watch it here!
Toys “R” Us now has an exclusive Longstrike Package, which comes with the Longstrike CS-6 and it’s usual accessories, as well a Bandolier Kit! At $35 (The standard version has gone down to $30, from $35), it’s a great deal for anyone who has neither of these items, or someone who wants the Longstrike with a couple of extra clips. If I hadn’t already gotten a Longstrike and several bandoliers, this would definitely be on my to-get list.
