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Nerf (trademarked in capitals as NERF) is a type of toy, created for safe indoor play, that either shoots or is made of foam-like material. Most of the toys are a variety of foam-based weaponry, but there were also several different types of Nerf toys, such as balls for sports like football, basketball, and others. The most notable of the toys are the "dart guns" (also known as blasters) that shoot bullets made from Nerf foam. Since many such items were released throughout the 1980s, they often featured bright neon colors and soft textures similar to the flagship Nerf ball. The product slogan frequently used in 1990's advertising was "It's Nerf or nothing!". It was later replaced by "Play your game", however the slogan from the 1990s is used frequently now.

[edit] Nerf material

Nerf toys are made from a solid, spongy cellular material produced by the reaction of polyester with a diisocyanate while carbon dioxide is liberated by the reaction of a carboxyl with the isocyanate. Polyester resin reacts with a compound while CO₂ is simultaneously released by another reaction. It is this gas that creates open pockets within the polyurethane that, in turn, makes the material soft and light.^[1]

[edit] History

Original Nerf ball developed by Parker Brothers

Parker Brothers originally developed Nerf, beginning with a four-inch (102 mm) polyurethane foam ball. In 1969, Reyn Guyer, a games inventor, came to the company with a volleyball game that was safe for indoor play. After studying the game carefully, Parker Brothers decided to eliminate everything but the foam ball. In 1970, the Nerf ball was introduced as the "world's first official indoor ball". Marketed that one can "Throw it indoors; you can't damage lamps or break windows. You can't hurt babies or old people."^[2] The ball filled a strong consumer need and by the year's end more than four million Nerf balls had been sold.^[3] The four-inch (102 mm) ball was followed closely by a large version called "Super Nerf Ball". Shortly after, in 1972, a basketball game called "Nerfoop" and the Nerf football joined the family. The football fast became the most popular Nerf ball.

The company continued to add to the Nerf line until they handed the ball to Kenner Products, a sister company, in 1991,^[4] when Hasbro acquired the Nerf line through the acquisition of the Tonka Corporation.^[5] Over the years, the company has continued to expand the line, adding new looks to existing products. The current line of Nerf products range from various sport balls, blasters with both dart, rocket,arrow and ball ammunition, and, now, onto even video game accessories.^[6]

[edit] Products

Example of a Nerf Reactor Gun made by Nerf

Nerf has a wide range of foam balls that are molded to look like various sports balls. They are designed with different color schemes and features, and are less likely to cause damage since they are made from Nerf material. The company also makes Nerf Blasters, which are toy guns used to shoot ammunition made of the Nerf Material in ball and dart form. Various forms of dart are available, including a range tipped with velcro that can stick to cloth materials, and another tipped with suction cups designed to stick to smooth surfaces.^[7] Nerf also has video game accessories for the Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo DSi , Nintendo DS Lite and The Nintendo Wii. Hasbro released their first Nerf video game NERF N-STRIKE.^[8] Recently Nerf also began production and distribution of toy swords.

[edit] See also

• Nerf Arena Blast, a video game based on a Nerf war
• Nerf (computer gaming), a gaming term that came from the Nerf toys
• Nerf N-Strike, video game by EA Salt Lake.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Hasbro's NERF website
• Reviews of all NERF Guns