About Nerf Toys

History

• Created by Parker Brothers in 1969, the first Nerf product was a small foam ball. The company called it the "world's first official indoor ball."

  The product was very successful, selling more than 4 million units in the first year. A larger version called the Super Nerf Ball was released next, and the Nerfoop (a hoop) and Nerf football soon followed. As the Nerf line was bought and sold through various acquisitions and mergers, it was expanded to encompass different types of sports balls and weapons that use little Nerf balls for ammunition.

Types

• Nerf balls come in a variety of shapes that make them resemble basketballs, footballs and other balls that are used in popular sports. They often feature images from popular culture and come in a variety of colors.

  Another Nerf product is the Nerf Blaster, which is a type of toy gun that shoots soft Nerf balls and soft darts. Nerf Blasters are used in games similar to paintball and laser tag.

  Nerf toys are also available as accessories for video games; the company has helped created softer controllers for video-game play.

Features

• Other Nerf products include Atom Blasters, which are small toy guns that shoot soft Nerf balls; The Nerf Dart Bag Hyperfire with Scoring Vest, a type of shooting tag game; the Vortex MegaHowler Football, a soft ball that makes a whistling sound as it sails through the air; a wide variety of Nerf footballs, including some with a "pro grip"; Nerfoop basketball hoops; and Nerf soccer balls.

Significance

• If you like chase games, Nerf wars are an option. A Nerf war is essentially a game of tag with Nerf weapons, and is safely played in open areas like parks and playgrounds (although players often prefer the indoors). The game is safe for basements and playrooms, since the Nerf balls pose no danger, even in close quarters.

Potential

• Nerf has gone digital with games for Wii systems: Nerf N Strike and Nerf Arena Blast are first-person shooter games that employ a real blaster and virtual Nerf ammunition. Players can also challenge friends or players around the world in multiplayer mode.