New York Toy Fair 2012 - highlights! Facts! Toys! (1st up... Nerf/Hasbro stuff)

Wowsers! Amazingly enough, I can now say I've been to the New York International Toy Fair 2 years going. Insane. I've taken this little blog o'mine and managed to rub shoulders with people from the New York Times, Wired magazine, and The Toy Spy. Not too bad.

In any event, you're not here to read me wax philosophic. You want to read about toys, all the cool things I saw, and what to expect in cool ways to play from 2012. There was a lot, so over the next few days this week I'll be putting up showroom summaries and galleries, and we'll go from there, yeah?

First up, HASBRO. Nerf. One of my favorite companies, and why wouldn't they be? My blog is based on Nerf primarily but with other companies with similar products thrown in to keep things fresh (and for mad toy street cred. Not those kinds of toys, and this isn't that kind of street.) Hasbro also has Transformers, Star Wars, and a myriad of other great licenses. Their showroom certainly didn't disappoint.

Nerf! Of course, Nerf. They had on-hand the Lumitron and Rayven, which should be out in stores, as well as the Speedswarm. Basically, if it's out now, they had it there. The Lightningstorm and Electrostorm were available as well, but being indoors and water+electronics being a bad idea, no test firing of the Super Soakers.

As you can see, the newest offering we COULD see (besides video showing the Elite line) was the Snapfire 8. 8 shots, turreted blaster for the Dart Tag line, with an adjustable power setting between range or rate of fire. Best thing about it was the blaster was primed by pulling the trigger, so it was the truest semiauto from Nerf without use of flywheels. it was a prototype though, so we're hoping to get another look later on.

Nerf did in fact release the Nerf Elite (complete with obscured silhouettes!) sizzle video from Toy Fair - here it is fresh from their youtube:

Info:

NERF DART TAG SNAPFIRE 8 Blaster
(HASBRO/Ages 8 & up/Approx. Retail Price: $14.99/Available: Fall 2012)
The NERF DART TAG SNAPFIRE 8 blaster features one-hand firing, an essential element when players are on the move during competition battle. This semi-automatic blaster allows competitors to load darts into the front and then cock and fire darts as the front barrel revolves with each trigger pull. The DART TAG SNAPFIRE 8 blaster also enables players to adjust the tension level for increased speed and distance. Includes 8 Velcro tipped DART TAG darts. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and on HasbroToyShop.com.

Nerf did show some of the licensed products like shirts, bags, notebooks, etc. I even spotted a pair of Pumas! But blaster-wise, the coolest thing was this bike with a blaster holder:

I say blaster wise because Nerf sports is coming back with a vengeance... FIREVISION. The press kit tidbit:

NERF FIREVISION SPORTS 2012 PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS

The NERF brand brings fans a completely new way to play with its sports gear in 2012 with the introduction of FIREVISION technology, an innovative enhancement featured in the debut FIREVISION SPORTS collection which allows for play in both daytime and dusk. To turn up the heat on throws, catches, and dunks, users simply put on the FIREVISION SPORTS FRAMES eyewear and flip the switch on the bridge to see reflective graphics and skins on the FIREVISION SPORTS products. Only those wearing NERF FIREVISION SPORTS FRAMES eyewear will be able to see the action once the lights are out, so whether fans want to enter into casual games with friends or test their skills in competitive challenges one thing is for certain: You don’t want to get left in the dark.

NERF FIREVISION SPORTS Football
(HASBRO/Ages 6 years & up/Approximate Retail Price: $19.99/Available: August 1, 2012)
No sunlight? No problem. Put on the FIREVISION SPORTS FRAMES eyewear and turn on the switch to see this awesome football soar. Set includes one FIREVISION SPORTS football and two pairs of FIRE FRAMES eyewear. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF FIREVISION SPORTS NERFOOP Basketball Set
(HASBRO/Ages 6 years & up/Approximate Retail Price: $14.99/Available: August 1, 2012)
Convert your room into the coolest court with the NERF FIREVISION SPORTS NERFOOP basketball set. Hang the set’s oversized backboard over almost any door, put on the FIREVISION SPORTS FRAMES eyewear, and turn down the lights. The darker the room, the brighter the reflective graphics on both the backboard and basketball glow, setting you up for a serious slam-dunk! Set includes one mini NERF FIREVISION SPORTS basketball and one pair of FIREVISION SPORTS FRAMES eyewear. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF FIREVISION SPORTS HYPER BOUNCE Ball
(HASBRO/Ages 6 years & up/Approximate Retail Price: $9.99/Available: August 1, 2012)
The NERF FIREVISIONL SPORTS HYPER BOUNCE BALL ball shines new light on the game of catch. Wear the FIREVISION SPORTS FRAMES eyewear to see the ball’s reflective skin glow in green or red and track how far and fast throws fly when the sun goes down. Includes one HYPER BOUNCE ball and one set of FIRE FRAMES eyewear. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.

NERF FIREVISION SPORTS FRAMES Eyewear Assortment
(HASBRO/Ages 6 years & up/Approximate Retail Price: $5.99/Available: August 1, 2012)
Give everyone a chance to get in your FIREVISION SPORTS game and stock up on FIREVISION SPORTS FRAMES eyewear. The new assortment includes one pair of FRAMES eyewear (choose from green or red). Players place on the FRAMES eyewear and flip the switch on the bridge to see FIREVISION gear in a whole new light. Each sold separately. Available at most major toy retailers nationwide and HasbroToyShop.com.

Essentially, you wear some sweet frames (either green or red lights) and they illuminate a sport ball that has been given a reflective treatment. The tape then glows whatever color shines on it, allowing the person wearing the frames to see it. Sadly, this didn't translate well to film or photography, but the effect was astounding. Supposedly you have visibility up to 100', and this kinda tech makes me think of limitless alternative applications. If only Nerf would put the same reflective bit on their darts, or on the Nerf jerseys. Think, a bunch of zombies wearing red light sets, seeking out humans wearing the reflective tape? Night missions would finally be proper... and go!

Unfortunately, there was no Vortex Pyragon to look at and demo, but hopefully later this year we'll get a crack at that, too.

And that was just Nerf. Kreo, G.I. Joe, Transformers, KOOSH, Lazer Tag, and even the Hasbro board games are getting a new look. Clue: Elimination implements the Nerf Jolt into gameplay, mimicking the "Assassin" gametype that has been on college campuses for year.

CLUE Elimination Game
Age: 9+; Players: 2-4; Available: Fall 2012; Approximate Retail Price: $19.99
Get out of your seat and up on your feet for an active game of CLUE that sends players on a mission to seek and eliminate their opponents using CLUE blasters in a thrilling showdown to become the last player standing. Elimination takes CLUE gaming to a whole new level by marrying the thrill and adrenaline rush of blaster play with the intrigue of the CLUE brand. The game comes with 4 uniquely designed blasters, 8 darts and a deck of mission cards. CLUE Elimination: Will you be the last one standing?

CLUE ELIMINATION Refills Game
Available: Fall 2012; Approximate Retail Price: $7.99
Each refill pack includes 16 colored darts and additional mission cards.

Yep, nunchuks just to the right of the GI Joe shirt. Foam!

G.I. Joe got a redux of the Furyfire, and it looks like a new katana is going to come out to coincide with the movie. There was a foam and an electronic version, so people can choose their poison when it comes to how they fight. The above figure has a "quick-draw action" where you put the pistols on magnetic mounts on the back, hit a button, and the figure's hands swing backward and magnets in the hands pull the guns out. In Snake-Eyes's case, he draws swords.

The Transformers toys didn't have any new blasters, but here are some highlights of the coolest of the cool from the Robot in Disguise:

Battleship is going to be a big push, with a KREO line and some new editions of the classic board game. New features (like air strikes and recon planes) and some wicked KREO sets. Here's a few looks at those as well:

Please check out the rest of the pics here! Shots from the Marvel products, Star Wars, and more! Sadly, there weren't any new Star Wars foam shooters, or anything for Transformers like the Cyber Blaster from last year.

http://foamfromabove.blogspot.com/2012/02/nerf-showroom-new-york-toy-fair.html

HOWEVER - there was some new stuff for the Avengers movie out later this year. And by new, I mean everything old is new again (kinda).